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Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

Letting go spink and khaddour who were both under 23 years old was a big mistake for me. Spink especially was a handy back up who can be trusted. I don't know circumstances behind losing both of them but defs think both would have added much better depth to this squad and could have been put on our u23 roster instead of senior and still played across both
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
I get that and in theory wouldnt doubt what you are saying bc i agree. but it seems in this situation its less an issue of adjustment, as it is one of depth itself.. i think we dropped the ball regarding the need for depth and ended up with a chaotic difference between starters and backups which is not something any amount of time can fix, simply bc the calibre of recruitment was in truth overly poor!

We knew off bat, how many games we would play in all comps, so why then, were the only worthy addition Cox and (the fintres risky) Eliopoulos to replace Marshal?? I get some are young projects (Coveny, Charlston), the rest though are below sub par.. Lackay, Swibel, Singh, (in what paralled universe are they replacements for Aguek or Lavalle is a question for the ages) Who decided Trenkov could be a worthy backup for Javi??? Or that 'a raw' Coveny was enough as backup for our centre backs for 2 comps? This decision alone has cost us more than any other bc for the most part it has forced us to sacrifice our midfield bite having to waste Giannakop in defence for too many games!

All we needed to do was replace Marshal (tick Eliopoulos), find another centre back bc of injury risks (young fringe) that would also push Janko & Eliop for a spot even when playing with Inglese in lineup! Brought in another MF and 2 proper strikers (or 1 striker and a floating forward)! All your money couldve gone here and been complemented by existing younger talents across the park to play as required...

When you sign players just for depth then your not getting better unless they are of similar calibre to those already there!
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I guess you guys need to get your academy at a level that 17-20 year olds can step in straight away and not drop the level?

I imagine its pretty difficult to sign depth options because everyone wants to be first choice? Likely you have to drop your quality if you try and sign more than xi "first team players"
 
Disappointing way to end that match against Dandenong Thunder. Thought we were good value in the first half and it was pretty even. If Bonada had converted that chance just before halftime, we may be talking about a very different outcome.

It was a lapse in concentration that led to the two goals being conceded in quick succession. Eventually, the kids will make mistakes and the first goal was a turnover from Angelatos in the middle of the park. These kids have done a terrific and admirable job so far - no one can begrudge them that. But they are inexperienced and will make mistakes, and unfortunately it didn’t go our way on Saturday night.

My concern pre-game was the midfield. We had no spine connecting the defence to attack. In the second half, we just copped it and could not stop the Thunder onslaught.

The good thing is that we now have a 10 day break, so the players can rest and recharge their batteries. The other good outcome from the week was Heidelberg losing to St Albans. That mitigates the loss and keeps us equal first !

If you had told me after 6 rounds we would be equal first after the sheer volume of football played so far, I would have said you’re mad.

We’re doing ok guys. We just need to make some big decisions over the next 3 weeks.
 
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southmelb said:
The obvious problem is that we simply have no continuity, team cant build any chemistry. Its a real mess

By the time we play dandy city it will almost be a month since our best team played together.

What we are doing isnt sustainable.

This has been a very costly week, fucked up in honiara and handed thunder a first win...shit will really hit the fan if Tolios orchestrates an upset against us.
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The match against Dandenong City is nothing short of 3 points at Lakeside. We’ll have a full strength team and they would have had a 10 day break.

As you say, important to win this match given the conflict with OFC Pro League matches in mid April.
 
southmelb said:
Not gonna happen. Which is why we are trying to poach from Melbourne City.
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It would be interesting to know who or what kind of players we are targeting at Melbourne City Academy.

Question is - would these young kids want to leave and go to South?
 
SMFC1959 said:
It would be interesting to know who or what kind of players we are targeting at Melbourne City Academy.

Question is - would these young kids want to leave and go to South?
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The best they had last year was clearly Humbert and Anastasiadis swooped.

Usually they suspect that they arent going to be given a fair go and decide to move on. Whether we are good enough to bring in the right ones is another question.

Either way our club doesnt make superstars so we always have too look outside.
 
LD_Hellas said:
Preston’s midfield would destroy our junior’s/23’s. Unsure on the timeframe of Koubilay and Adekoubi’s return either. Need Pasquali and Giannokopolous together in midfield vs them or I fear we’ll get walked over.
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I said hold them speed wise, not that we could control the midfield... the youngesterd=sa did well, both against Gully and Thunder (1st half) I fear Oakleighs midfield more than Prestons atm.
 
southmelb said:
The obvious problem is that we simply have no continuity, team cant build any chemistry. Its a real mess

By the time we play dandy city it will almost be a month since our best team played together.

What we are doing isnt sustainable.

This has been a very costly week, fucked up in honiara and handed thunder a first win...shit will really hit the fan if Tolios orchestrates an upset against us.
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THIS, exactly. NO chemsitry, Sisi got outcoached on teh weekend and the youngsters didnt even have the chemsitry to overcome it.. (not their fault)... Thunder are garbage, absolute dogshit garbage, that was a game of beach volleyball, I reckon the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground..... so what did we respond with to that game plan? EXACTLY the same tactics... we lost the midfield because we forgot we had one.... Not to mention Bonada finally leads the line and who is there to whip balls into the box????
 
SMFC1959 said:
Disappointing way to end that match against Dandenong Thunder. Thought we were good value in the first half and it was pretty even. If Bonada had converted that chance just before halftime, we may be talking about a very different outcome.

It was a lapse in concentration that led to the two goals being conceded in quick succession. Eventually, the kids will make mistakes and the first goal was a turnover from Angelatos in the middle of the park. These kids have done a terrific and admirable job so far - no one can begrudge them that. But they are inexperienced and will make mistakes, and unfortunately it didn’t go our way on Saturday night.

My concern pre-game was the midfield. We had no spine connecting the defence to attack. In the second half, we just copped it and could not stop the Thunder onslaught.

The good thing is that we now have a 10 day break, so the players can rest and recharge their batteries. The other good outcome from the week was Heidelberg losing to St Albans. That mitigates the loss and keeps us equal first !

If you had told me after 6 rounds we would be equal first after the sheer volume of football played so far, I would have said you’re mad.

We’re doing ok guys. We just need to make some big decisions over the next 3 weeks.
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We're riding our luck I feel... Everyones concern was the midfield but when you bypass it completely that doesnt achieve anything either, just ask Esteban :(
 
southmelb said:
The best they had last year was clearly Humbert and Anastasiadis swooped.

Usually they suspect that they arent going to be given a fair go and decide to move on. Whether we are good enough to bring in the right ones is another question.

Either way our club doesnt make superstars so we always have too look outside.
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But our club IS a fantastic shop window, even if the death riders try and pretend it isnt...
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Max Mikkola started and played 70 minutes for South Melbourne in the 3-0 loss to Dandenong Thunder before being subbed off but as one of the key options in midfield you'd expect him to be creating more chances.
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You realise I am physically at all of these South games don't you?
 
If you simplify it you cant cover the players absent on the weekend. Yuki, Tommy G, Seb and Menalaou are 4 killers, but then we cant even use the depth types Leech and Pope. Thats 6 players and 4 of them are genuine superstars.

Realistically what can you expect? Decimate Preston, Heidelbergs, Oakleighs midfield like that and they wouldnt win a game either.

The other problem is when everyone returns we dont have a prolific striker and our front line is painfully slow.

My other gripe why are we playing a home game on a Tuesdsay night at the same time the socceroos are playing at aami?
 
southmelb said:
My other gripe why are we playing a home game on a Tuesdsay night at the same time the socceroos are playing at aami?
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Due to availability of Lakeside Stadium. The Maurie Plant Meet athletics event is being held from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd March. I'm assuming the ground would not be ready in time for a football match on a Monday night kick off.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Max Mikkola started and played 70 minutes for South Melbourne in the 3-0 loss to Dandenong Thunder before being subbed off but as one of the key options in midfield you'd expect him to be creating more chances.
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Unfortunately his return match from injury was not good. Let's hope with the added break he can work at training on getting back to his old form.
 
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