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Women's Asian Cup match discussion thread

Decentric said:
Also, Kennedy made a 3 person CB defensive line at times, whilst the full backs went forwards in a 3-4-3 on occasions in possession.

If Aus lost the ball still in the defensive half, Aus reverted to a back 5 late in the game too.

Despite not being nimble at times, Kennedy won plenty of rugged hard balls. She isn't as nimble as Wheeler, CC and Gorry in jockeying, or turning and chasing if beaten, but she has immense strength and uses her body superbly in 1v1 physical contact duels. Kennedy is a decent distributor too - if she has adequate time on the ball. Plus Kennedy proved extra aerial power at both ends of the pitch at stoppages.

A lot of the game was played in the Matildas' half. China often boxed Aus in, with a Full Press and some judicious Intensive Squeezing.

I was really impressed with China's positioning and use of space as a team unit in Ball Possession Opposition at times, and their ability to close down space with well timed runs at Aussies.

Then again, by so often committing so many players in the Aus defensive half and the Chinese attacking half, when Aus managed to play through the first 2 Chinese lines, there was space to exploit between the Chinese defensive line and their midfield line.

Australia's accelerated attacks came off sometimes - with China lacking numbers at the back - and - having to turn, defend and run towards their own goal.

Totally agree, Quicky, about Montemurro making a good call. When Hunt was unusually having a worse game than normal, bringing Heatley on was prudent. If it hadn't been for Torpey's superb performance against North Korea at Left Back, I'm sure Heatley would have been CB and Catley Left B.
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Torps good cause it was her birthday!
 
Decentric said:
Some players play differently in the national team set up than their club scenarios at particular times, under specifc coaches.

Despite whatever their current club scenarios are, Kennedy, in midfield, and Torpey, at Left Back, have played as well as anybody in the team in the Asian Cup thus far, under the tutelage of Joe M.
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Hayley Raso is a prime example of this. She’s only started one league game for Frankfurt and was scapegoated for every problem at Spurs last season. She did finally score though (albeit in the Europa Cup).
 
Quicky said:
If it wasn't, it should alway's have been the intent to play Catley at centre back. She was nominated for a Ballon D'or in that role. I also think the South Korea game showed we lack speed there, and Catley is quicker than Hunt and Heatley. I think we've found our balance.
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Good point about lack of speed - or - that fast Chinese forward or two, anticipating mistakes, or executing well-timed runs whilst still staying onside to through balls.

Didn't realise Catley was nominated for a Ballon D'or as a CB? Thought she occasionally played CB?
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Hayley Raso is a prime example of this. She’s only started one league game for Frankfurt and was scapegoated for every problem at Spurs last season. She did finally score though (albeit in the Europa Cup).
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Sadly, it happens and will continue to happen.

Some players are not comfortable in some club scenarios - and - some coaches have different opinions about the same players and fitting them into game plans.

Raso has usually looked good for the Roos. Funnily enough I've liked her more than EVE, but successive Matildas coaches have all rated the most capped Matilda.
 
Quicky said:
If it wasn't, it should alway's have been the intent to play Catley at centre back. She was nominated for a Ballon D'or in that role. I also think the South Korea game showed we lack speed there, and Catley is quicker than Hunt and Heatley. I think we've found our balance.
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Another factor that can compensate for lack of speed (like Kevin Muscat as he aged) is reading the game quickly. If a player is reading the play ahead of the game they can move into position to anticipate it before it unfolds.
 
Quicky said:
That game was a pleasure to watch and a window into how we can play.

I think we have hit on a formula with the team that finds a good balance. Kennedy screening our centre backs gives us extra defensive cover when we're open. It was great to have Catley back passing to midfield. Torpey was great again. Carpenter almost flawless defensively and her drive forward was crucial.

I'm not a big fan of Gorry but her pressing unsettled China and was so important, especially late. The biggest change though was Cooney-Cross in midfield. She works hard to present an outlet and she can dribble through or pass around. Great decisions and perfectly weighted passes.

Kerr, Foord and Fowler were class and super dangerous. I think Catley, Cooney-Cross and Carpenter from defense/midfield to attack created some great movement and provided good service to our forwards.

A special mention to Montemurro. When Hunt struggled he made the right call bringing on Heatley and it settled us. When Cooney-Cross stopped presenting for passes he brought on fresh legs. Every sub he made was the right call and timing.

I loved seeing the cohesion and swagger. It feels good to win. Now we just need to nail the final.
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Quicky said:
I'm not a big fan of Gorry but her pressing unsettled China and was so important, especially late. The biggest change though was Cooney-Cross in midfield. She works hard to present an outlet and she can dribble through or pass around. Great decisions and perfectly weighted passes.
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For a period of time a few years ago, I thought Gorry was our best player.

I have thought her off the ball movement to support the ball carrier and open passing lanes has been pretty decent.

She is also a proficient ball winner and has created opportunities with good vision and the ability to execute actions to bring teammates into the game.

Last night, when the team had the ball, she was supposedly playing as a number 10 or AM in a rotating midfield triangle, defensive and attacking.

In the past Gorry has been more comfortable as a deep lying playmaker, DM, or as Pim termed - a controlling midfielder. Instead Joe M used Kennedy for a lot of graft in breaking up attacks and winning hard balls, plus aerial power, like Jedinak used to do for the Socceroos.

Gorry, last night filled the role that Fowler or Van Egmond usually do in a more advanced position. Because China committed so many players forward, and due to their effective pressing in BPO, Gorry, and Kerr in particular were starved of the ball a bit, particularly in the first half.

For all the hard work and closing down of space that Kerr did, I was delighted to see her score that amazing goal from such an acute angle, whilst running at high speed too. Fantastic!
 
Decentric said:
Good point about lack of speed - or - that fast Chinese forward or two, anticipating mistakes, or executing well-timed runs whilst still staying onside to through balls.

Didn't realise Catley was nominated for a Ballon D'or as a CB? Thought she occasionally played CB?
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Plays CB for Arsenal now. We're just used to her as a LB for the Matildas.
 
I think Paramount have assembled some excellent female pundits.

The pro journos/reporters are decent.

Grace Gill is a good match caller/analyst.

Ashley Sykes, Elise K-K, Chloe Logarzo and Kyah Simon comprise a panel displaying a great deal of football insight too. Plus the latter three are seriously easy on the male eye!

I know others prefer more controversial pundits. I'm a bit shocked when I see the Stan panel, or the old SBS and Fox GGs strut their stuff. Much prefer the Paramount/Ten team.
 
I feel like Joe M has the Matildas playing more like a contemporary Aus team.

Tony G struggled to do this. I've forgotten her name, but the assistant coach, was supposedly a CCM, W League coach. Good to see women coaching women.
 
Quicky said:
If it wasn't, it should alway's have been the intent to play Catley at centre back. She was nominated for a Ballon D'or in that role. I also think the South Korea game showed we lack speed there, and Catley is quicker than Hunt and Heatley. I think we've found our balance.
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She’s been moved to CB at Arsenal and was subsequently moved there for the Tillies. No idea why for this tournament she reverted to LB. I was expecting Nevs to take LB.
 
Decentric said:
I've forgotten her name, but the assistant coach, was supposedly a CCM, W League coach.
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Emily Husband was head coach of Central Coast Mariners and won an A-League Women Championship with them last season before moving to the Matildas, and her experience coaching in the Dub has proved to be immensely helpful in getting Montemurro's coaching philosophy across.
 
Decentric said:
Sadly, it happens and will continue to happen.

Some players are not comfortable in some club scenarios - and - some coaches have different opinions about the same players and fitting them into game plans.

Raso has usually looked good for the Roos. Funnily enough I've liked her more than EVE, but successive Matildas coaches have all rated the most capped Matilda.
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The Roos?

As for EvE, her being the most capped Matilda comes down to a few factors:
  1. Her age (32)
  2. A lack of injuries
  3. Favouritism from coaches
  4. She never got pregnant (she did get married and has a daughter but her wife had the baby)
Sam had a big setback with her ACL injury so she’s fell behind in the list. Mini is 33 (older than EvE) but had got pregnant with her daughter as a single mum which obviously saw her drop down a bit (her wife later gave birth to her son).
 
Decentric said:
I think Paramount have assembled some excellent female pundits.

The pro journos/reporters are decent.

Grace Gill is a good match caller/analyst.

Ashley Sykes, Elise K-K, Chloe Logarzo and Kyah Simon comprise a panel displaying a great deal of football insight too. Plus the latter three are seriously easy on the male eye!

I know others prefer more controversial pundits. I'm a bit shocked when I see the Stan panel, or the old SBS and Fox GGs strut their stuff. Much prefer the Paramount/Ten team.
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Other than this blunder from Chloe Berryhill (née Logarzo):

 
HonestSpursFan said:
As for EvE, her being the most capped Matilda comes down to a few factors:
  1. Her age (32)
  2. A lack of injuries
  3. Favouritism from coaches
  4. She never got pregnant (she did get married and has a daughter but her wife had the baby)
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Favouritism from coaches and the selection policy I think are the main factors which have contributed to Emily van Egmond breaking Clare Polkinghorne's record and becoming the most capped Matildas player, and unfortunately if she still gets picked for Tillies squads then I won't be surprised if she ends becoming the first Australian footballer, men's or women's, to reach 200 caps before calling time on her career.
 
Good win in the end. We are scraping results it seems, and sometimes in tournament football that's all you need. There are definitely areas that are coming up as concern, so hopefully Joe is identifying them and has a plan to work on it moving forward. We definitely get run down in midfield, which makes me question Gorry. Is she not supposed to be the enforcer holding things so that it allows Fowler and Kyra to play their creative game.

Some of Gorry's passing and decision making for me was questionable.
 
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