I think tonight was Kerr playing with a drive and mentality that has been missing in recent times. She looked that much hungrier and active. It has felt to me like Kerr has not been putting in the effort for 'meaningless little games' but turned that around tonight. Not as effective as she has been in the past, but I think well and truly enough to warrant her place (if she keeps that up).
Foord did just as many tunnel vision runs and ball hoggers, but the balance was in her favour tonight. Mexico did not seem to shut her down in the numbers they did last game and she had more opportunities to get into space after beating her first opponents. If you give her space she can burn you. I liked her play tonight most of the time. Against a better defensive group I think she will try to do it all herself and constantly lose the ball again, but tonight she did well.
Our backline, including the keeper, were shocking in the first half. So many times they played to some sort of script rather than playing on the experience that has earned them their spots. There were so many moments that just should not have happened with experienced defenders. Heatley bore the brunt of that at half time - and fairly so on the night. Doesn't mean anything beyond it being a bloody awful game for her this time. Slight improvement at the start of the second half with Rule on but still pretty poor in their decision making. Mexico identified and exploited a weakness. We were not good enough to recognise it and counter which is a worry.
Mary Fowler seems sluggish since she came back. I am hoping that is something she will train out because her impact was nothing on what she used to do. Both her vision/execution and her speed to the challenge were less.
In front of goals she took 3 weeks to line up a shot and I have to say she wasn't alone in that. The moments we had to take advantage of a situation we generally stuffed about winding up for a shot and lost it.
I always like Raso.
Several times, in different parts of the ground, we had players getting in each others way - messing up the flow or taking the ball of another's boot. Totally understandable when we play mix and match with our squad and perfect for friendlies to iron those out. Just noting it.
Bloody commentators! After our first goal one of the commentators said 'a training ground move'. The first 'pass' was a shot that Wheeler took far too long taking that was deflected high and wider to Kerr. She tried to knock it at the goal and it bounced off the defender back to Kennedy centrally who turned and buried it. Just like they practiced it...?
The speed of our attack was significantly better than with Van Egmond in midfield. We were not clinical or overly skillful across the whole game, but having a full set of players who were capable of physically keeping up with the play going in both directions gave us options that we have been missing. In the second half, we started looking backwards then running the ball up the middle. Just having that option was a breath of fresh air where we have been limited to close plays up the wings with Van Egmond holding a place there. Please look at the difference having 3 lines of attack to mix and match is Joe and make use of that.
A much better feel to the game during the second half. Criminally poor at the back in first half. Signs of change and the hope that it continues.