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he wasn't? Harsh, it was on target right?
A-League Mens 25/26 - Round 4
- Thread starter someguyjc
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Keeper66
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Hit the post and came out, then went in off the keeper. So no, technically not on target.
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Ah fair enough
Oh well fans will credit him
He seems to have improved hia physical game out of sight. Added pace power and strength to his game
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I agree, if Patrick Beach continues to have field days and come in clutch for Melbourne City throughout the season then he could well win another A-League Men championship in his second season and find himself in the Socceroos squad for the World Cup.
WhatAmIWatching
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If he was in the WC playing & he came out to the midway line, as he has been known to do, my ticker will need a defibrillator!
Went to the Roar game - what a great little stadium. Two of those grandstands at Perry Park and we would be rocking.
I have to say up front I am pretty disgusted with our professionalism. We are playing with Faghani in the middle and absolutely everyone knows that if you talk back you get a card - so why does a professional outfit get 3 yellow cards for dissent? That is on Valkanis.
The only good part was since Bouzanis mouthed off he couldn't run the clock down again for risk of a second yellow.
That piss poor attitude and lack of intelligence is unacceptable.
Great crowd for the game and there was a bit more involvement from the grandstand with the Den than we get at Suncorp. I find the commentator encouraging noise to be annoying - it is very hard to 'make some noise' for another backpass to the keeper or accurate passing around the backline when we have had the ball over halfway and turn back.
I saw a stat somewhere that listed the top 10 teams for shots at goal so far this season and we didn't make the list - which actually speaks volumes for where we are in the table.
Sitting in the middle grandstand section I finally got to watch a lot of Vrakas in the first half. I was very impressed with him - both attacking and defending. Good, intelligent play and showing effort. Of course he was one of the idiots getting a card for mouthing off so I still have my Round 1 reservations about his temperament - but I am happy to have him playing in front of McGarry on the left.
No Long for the game so we started with Ruhs and Vidic. With our play being so far back so often they did not really do much in the front third and Vidic was more often seen popping up around centreback than up in front of goals.
Whether Jets played a very limited, controlled game by choice or we just did not close with them enough to allow them to use fast interplay their attacks were pretty one dimensional most of the game. When Jets get closed down they use their 2 and 3 support players in close to work through - but when they had numbers we seemed to hold off until they passed to an isolated player.
They created opportunities for a final pass to be put in and a couple of times we were exposed on the edges of the 18 yard box, but they did not have a player in the right spot to receive it or any penetrating power when it did go to someone.
Having said all that, I could not tell you how many times Herrington interceded beautifully to shut down situations. It is such a great thing to be able to see a defender's mind working - shown up best by one defensive run he made with a ball rolling towards the back line off a Jets pass. He was covering the run of the Jets attacker and could have cleared the ball anytime but he waited until the very last moment to slide a block in rather than panicking and booting it for the sideline. He ended up blocking the ball just after it had crossed the line so we got the goal kick but he had also covered the chance of the Jets player lunging in and getting some sort of cross in. It is a small thing, and just one of many moments of positioning, strength, height and timing, but to see his decision making in action is quite extraordinary in such a young player.
Our midfield had a good level of visibility this game. O'Shea (who had a hideous moment when he dropped back to centreback and failed to clear a ball), Stajic, Vrakas and Klein, supported by McGarry and Salas, made a lot of 1 v 1 challenges and the team covered the Jets midfielders as they tried to come through individually. As I mentioned above, when the Jets ran in small groups we tended to just drop back and it left the Jets with fewer passing options albeit closer to our goal. I find it hard to imagine that was a game tactic - just the way it looked to me.
Bringing the ball out, we faced the traditional close lines of the Newcastle Defence. It was quite frustrating to have players ready to run through the line as we looped it over only to have us pass backwards and retain possession. The result was that when we did go over the top our forwards were usually several metres too deep and no chance to get there first.
The MacNicol run was a very clear exception. At the ground I would have sworn he was offside and I couldn't yell triumphantly when the ball went in until the assistant ref had run back down the ground. Even then, it was a somewhat half-hearted exuberance by me expecting VAR to call it back.
Fantastic to see Henry Hore make his injury return as a sub with a decent amount of time on the pitch. The moment he came on and got involved we could see and feel him taking control. He holds the ball up when he needs to, picks passes and runs when he has the opportunity. I actually think his impact on the game yesterday was as good as it has ever been. The creative thought and skill to execute it is a breath of fresh air.
Defensively we had some clenching moments - especially O'Shea's dodgy clearance attempt at centre back and Bouzanis, looking to be clever, faked a clearance when he could have made a good pass and found the attacker had not bought it. His desperate, fumbling kick saw it over the sideline from a moment that should have been ours all the way and ending up a 'could have been' disaster.
A few times Jets players got in a position to pass into the box or shoot when we had either held off too much or not noticed their run. Credit to the scrambling desperation, and small amount of luck, that saw the attacks fail to produce.
But despite those few negatives we were solid, organised, and effective at the back - shutting down attack after attack. Herrington and Valkanis are a good combination and the rest of the team is willing to get back and help out all game. Perhaps too willing when we are hoping for positive attacking football when we have the opportunity.
I have to admit I am a fan of Faghani in the middle. I cannot agree with a lot of his decisions or non-decisions and I see a lot of inconsistency in his whistleship. Things like two handed pushes in the back being allowed several times then pulled up the next leaving players totally clueless about what they can get away with or be protected from. But a ref who tells players to shut it and be respectful is a good thing. It is on the players, coaches and clubs not to be as stupid as our lot currently are and get multiple avoidable cards (3 onfield and I think 1 to Valkanis). Stupid. You will not change a refs vision and judgement on any decision - they would not have called it if that is not how they saw it.
A good game to be at - the crowd and the win making it an extra special outing 'away from home'.
I can't say if we mainly controlled Jets out of the game or the humidity and their game plan kept them quiet, but it was pretty much our day and a result that reflected it. Regardless, it was not the attacking, free flowing Jets style I expected.
We will be a lesser side when Herrington goes - that is without question. Who will step up for us and how much game time will they have had?
I have to say up front I am pretty disgusted with our professionalism. We are playing with Faghani in the middle and absolutely everyone knows that if you talk back you get a card - so why does a professional outfit get 3 yellow cards for dissent? That is on Valkanis.
The only good part was since Bouzanis mouthed off he couldn't run the clock down again for risk of a second yellow.
That piss poor attitude and lack of intelligence is unacceptable.
Great crowd for the game and there was a bit more involvement from the grandstand with the Den than we get at Suncorp. I find the commentator encouraging noise to be annoying - it is very hard to 'make some noise' for another backpass to the keeper or accurate passing around the backline when we have had the ball over halfway and turn back.
I saw a stat somewhere that listed the top 10 teams for shots at goal so far this season and we didn't make the list - which actually speaks volumes for where we are in the table.
Sitting in the middle grandstand section I finally got to watch a lot of Vrakas in the first half. I was very impressed with him - both attacking and defending. Good, intelligent play and showing effort. Of course he was one of the idiots getting a card for mouthing off so I still have my Round 1 reservations about his temperament - but I am happy to have him playing in front of McGarry on the left.
No Long for the game so we started with Ruhs and Vidic. With our play being so far back so often they did not really do much in the front third and Vidic was more often seen popping up around centreback than up in front of goals.
Whether Jets played a very limited, controlled game by choice or we just did not close with them enough to allow them to use fast interplay their attacks were pretty one dimensional most of the game. When Jets get closed down they use their 2 and 3 support players in close to work through - but when they had numbers we seemed to hold off until they passed to an isolated player.
They created opportunities for a final pass to be put in and a couple of times we were exposed on the edges of the 18 yard box, but they did not have a player in the right spot to receive it or any penetrating power when it did go to someone.
Having said all that, I could not tell you how many times Herrington interceded beautifully to shut down situations. It is such a great thing to be able to see a defender's mind working - shown up best by one defensive run he made with a ball rolling towards the back line off a Jets pass. He was covering the run of the Jets attacker and could have cleared the ball anytime but he waited until the very last moment to slide a block in rather than panicking and booting it for the sideline. He ended up blocking the ball just after it had crossed the line so we got the goal kick but he had also covered the chance of the Jets player lunging in and getting some sort of cross in. It is a small thing, and just one of many moments of positioning, strength, height and timing, but to see his decision making in action is quite extraordinary in such a young player.
Our midfield had a good level of visibility this game. O'Shea (who had a hideous moment when he dropped back to centreback and failed to clear a ball), Stajic, Vrakas and Klein, supported by McGarry and Salas, made a lot of 1 v 1 challenges and the team covered the Jets midfielders as they tried to come through individually. As I mentioned above, when the Jets ran in small groups we tended to just drop back and it left the Jets with fewer passing options albeit closer to our goal. I find it hard to imagine that was a game tactic - just the way it looked to me.
Bringing the ball out, we faced the traditional close lines of the Newcastle Defence. It was quite frustrating to have players ready to run through the line as we looped it over only to have us pass backwards and retain possession. The result was that when we did go over the top our forwards were usually several metres too deep and no chance to get there first.
The MacNicol run was a very clear exception. At the ground I would have sworn he was offside and I couldn't yell triumphantly when the ball went in until the assistant ref had run back down the ground. Even then, it was a somewhat half-hearted exuberance by me expecting VAR to call it back.
Fantastic to see Henry Hore make his injury return as a sub with a decent amount of time on the pitch. The moment he came on and got involved we could see and feel him taking control. He holds the ball up when he needs to, picks passes and runs when he has the opportunity. I actually think his impact on the game yesterday was as good as it has ever been. The creative thought and skill to execute it is a breath of fresh air.
Defensively we had some clenching moments - especially O'Shea's dodgy clearance attempt at centre back and Bouzanis, looking to be clever, faked a clearance when he could have made a good pass and found the attacker had not bought it. His desperate, fumbling kick saw it over the sideline from a moment that should have been ours all the way and ending up a 'could have been' disaster.
A few times Jets players got in a position to pass into the box or shoot when we had either held off too much or not noticed their run. Credit to the scrambling desperation, and small amount of luck, that saw the attacks fail to produce.
But despite those few negatives we were solid, organised, and effective at the back - shutting down attack after attack. Herrington and Valkanis are a good combination and the rest of the team is willing to get back and help out all game. Perhaps too willing when we are hoping for positive attacking football when we have the opportunity.
I have to admit I am a fan of Faghani in the middle. I cannot agree with a lot of his decisions or non-decisions and I see a lot of inconsistency in his whistleship. Things like two handed pushes in the back being allowed several times then pulled up the next leaving players totally clueless about what they can get away with or be protected from. But a ref who tells players to shut it and be respectful is a good thing. It is on the players, coaches and clubs not to be as stupid as our lot currently are and get multiple avoidable cards (3 onfield and I think 1 to Valkanis). Stupid. You will not change a refs vision and judgement on any decision - they would not have called it if that is not how they saw it.
A good game to be at - the crowd and the win making it an extra special outing 'away from home'.
I can't say if we mainly controlled Jets out of the game or the humidity and their game plan kept them quiet, but it was pretty much our day and a result that reflected it. Regardless, it was not the attacking, free flowing Jets style I expected.
We will be a lesser side when Herrington goes - that is without question. Who will step up for us and how much game time will they have had?
erogenouszone
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Your coach is a colourful character I suppose however I don't see much substance there in terms of proper tactics. Putting aside doing nothing against 9 men thing the goals conceded were a direct result of poorly thought out tactical considerations both this season and last season. Get rid of him now, take the band aid off, I can see where this is going.
Muz
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He had a blinder in the ACL game. Only saw the highlights but it looked like he won them the game and Saturday he came up big too. No wonder he's in the latest socceroos squad.
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Being dog shit on field for 18 of the past 20 years, club owners being embarrasing and useless for past 20 years, eventually supporters lose faith in the club.
Unfortunately I know so many people who would attend every game who stuggle to even get to one game per season these days.
On the flip side, if the club has a few years of sustained half decent performances, crowds of 10k+ would be the norm.
Also, the community engagement these days is piss poor. I remember being at school and players would come visit on the regular, don't think that is the case anymore.
Fortunately in the early days the club was succesful and will always have place in the Perth sporting landscape.
West Coast Eagles are in a similar predicament now, they get 30-35k every game, when in reality, they would/should be getting 50k every game no questions asked, but are a basket case at the moment. And FWIW, West Coast are HUGE over here, they run the town.
Football us life
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Good post.
If clubs in cities like Perth and Brisbane cannot get the basics right then the game at A League level is always going to struggle for fans.
It's sad in a way as the appetite for the Glory is there and could be doing much better.
The same thing has happened in both Brisbane and Newcastle it seems, and the same thing is happening at WSW.
The fans are there, but the clubs are just a mess at the top.
erogenouszone
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The Wanderers have been a basketcase for years, no wonder they've won nothing since the ACL. Sydney FC have such high expectations that one dogshit season ( like the last one ) and they hit the change button straight away & I have no doubt that Talay has been told, hard, and look at their season so far compared to the Wanderers. Perth blaming DZ for being crap is indicative of a culture issue as DZ would be welcome anywhere as a coach.
Why have the Wanderers been so bad on field for so long? New coaches, new players, they splash the cash and are still terrible year in, year out. It just makes no sense.
Good by the Sydney board imo, perform or your out. This is where i think Victory have screwed up with Diles, they have settled with mediocrity.
Nah, you can see with Zdrilic whatever tactics he was trying to implement was not coming off. Popovic came in a few years back and instantly the team had structure and all palyers knew there jobs.
someguyjc
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It's definitely an odd one. On paper they almost always look like they are going to be competitive, but then seem to end up in the middle.
Stajcic
- 24/25 — 4th (knocked out in first final)
- 23/24 — 7th
- 22/23 — 4th (knocked out in first final)
- 21/22 — 10th
- 20/21 — 8th
- 19/20 — 9th
- 18/19 — 8th
- 17/18 — 7th
- 16/17 — 6th (knocked out in first final)
- 15/16 — 2nd (lost in GF)
- 14/15 — 9th (Won Champions League)
- 13/14 — 2nd (lost in GF)
- 12/13 — 1st (lost in GF)
melbcityguy
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So the question is why don't we have any decent football administrators?
Its dissapointing that none of the "golden generation" are invovled these days
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I guess its a broken record, but p&r puts more pressure on administrators to perform
melbcityguy
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I hear ya but surely losing money also puts pressure
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probably not as much as its a slow attrition rather than a big shock where half the people in the club lose their job due to downsizing in a single off season
Over 12,000