ALM @ Home vs Wellington Phoenix

[Ironbark]

I heard a wag yell out to him as he was coming on but called him Colonoscopy Unfortunately it was the highlight of my arvo.

That's awesome

 

[Corsair]

I was at the game, 6500 crowd reported, these are still decent numbers for us. Must have sold quite a lot of memberships.

This one was a game I need to watch back. Live it was at times embarrassing to watch, we had some very poor patches. However, we also had some patches of very good play, at one stage we had some of the best passing I've seen this season.

At the moment we're severely depleted and a young team who haven't played together enough. It's clear we don't have a striker of the quality of Barbarousas or his ilk and it is a gap, we're going to struggle with scoring a lot of goals. We do have players with goals in them though, Brandtman looks very dangerous.

It's not panic stations just yet, I'm still feeling we've got a very young squad with some talent that is ripe for development. We should have scored a couple of times, there were opportunities.

The ref was appalling the first half in particular, the Nix diving really spoiled the game and he was totally sucked in by it.

On individual performances it's all been said really, only thing I'd add as a positive is some of Kaltak's pinpoint long passes to the wings were a joy to watch.

For the team as a whole, we're developing youth, there will be inconsistency and there will be excellence. We've got a good coach, it'll take time but we'll improve as the season goes on.

 

[Paolo]

The back 5 seems to create confusion or lack of clarity between the centre 3 on what their job is. They seem poor at picking men up and passing them off as attackers float across the line. Then with the ball when it transitions to 3 at the back they stay too narrow.

Happy to see the change to a 4 in the 2nd half, but severely lacking experience in the backline regardless of the shape.

 

[Coastalraider]

Brian has some lovely long balls to unlock our wings, but also has some terrible passing through the centre of the park.

Harsh to criticise, when our lone centre back is almost exclusively providing service to our forwards. At times it almost looks like our DMs are trying to deliver balls to create space for Brian rather than transitioning forwards. It’s becoming infuriating that our DMs 1st,2nd and 3rd instinct is to recycle and pass sideways or backwards.

Eames is not the answer yet and it’s unfair to expect it. But he instantly looks more composed and creative as soon as he walks out.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

My even more unpopular opinion is that he's no different to the past few seasons - he's always been terrible. He's just had a much more competent backline and an exceptional GK to cover for him. Now, his flaws are there for all to see.

That's funny I have a vague recollection of him being rated as the best centre back in the A-league last year (and not just here) and we were worried we might lose him.

 

[Corsair]

Harsh to criticise, when our lone centre back is almost exclusively providing service to our forwards

This is part of our issue, most of our distribution going through one player. I'd even like to see the ball go back to DPC and push everyone up and let him hoof it. At least we'd have the team in their half. We're a bit one dimensional with the constant play out from the back.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I would say a lot of Kaltak's problems in distribution came about because of our structure. One extra centre back is one less distribution point going forward. Added to that he no longer has Nizz or Max as options who more often than not took the ball forward rather than passing it back.
I think his good long diagonal balls were a result of realising that he had no other option.
I would like to see us back to 442 with Storm beside Kaltak and when in attack something like Monty's 4222 with the front 4 swapping around.
However, Jacko has problems trying to work out how to play with the limited and inexperienced players we have.
There was a heap of enthusiasm on the pitch yesterday but with a lot of uncertainty of what to do and what to expect of team mates. There was very little cohesion which led slow play in attack and allowed the opposition defence to get set. When in possession a player has to be fairly sure where a team mate will roughly be without having to search half the park and to have confidence to put the ball in that area.This will only come with hours together on the park and a lot of perceptive coaching.
When this comes I expect we will see a massive improvement in players like McCallmont , Feijao, Ngor, Brandtman and Eames.
Unlike Pete I expect to be close to the six and will be happy to make it. The task is that big.
Next year I will be pissed off if we are not seriously competing for silverware.
We must also give our young players a full season at least in the A-league rather than letting them go after a few games. Better for the Club and the careers of the individuals.

 

[Huddo]

We are hemorrhaging injuries, I understand we want MJ and the boys to do well and believe he's had a few hiccups in selections, but the fact is how can you have consistency in you results if you don't have consistency in your playing group

 

[FFC Mariner]

Agree. Niz or Max would drop to get the ball from the CB then look to go forward or get the ball quickly out wide
Alfie doesn't go forward and Steele never gets given the ball (presumably Alfie is the playmaker)
Alfie holds the ball inviting the press and under pressure passes back to Brian who goes long.
Simple 4411 with Storm at CB limits the damage until people get fit or reinforcements arrive to replace Paull and Diesel who were both poor yesterday

 

[Wombat]

Alfie doesn't seem to be getting the stick that others are. Creates nothing, rarely passes forwards. Arguably Eames has more vision already.
He is not what we need.
Steele is a perfectly good anchor. We don't need 2

Thinking that Steele is a better option than Alfie is misguided at best.

 

[dlanod]

So one dimensional. Doka gets a yard of space and shoots.

I can't blame him, the other option is to pass to someone who'll stand over the ball for a few seconds and then pass backwards.

 

[Corsair]

I actually thought Herrington had a good game and looks a decent prospect, guess I'll have to watch the replay after the bagging he's got here.

 

[Michael]

Agree. Niz or Max would drop to get the ball from the CB then look to go forward or get the ball quickly out wide
Alfie doesn't go forward and Steele never gets given the ball (presumably Alfie is the playmaker)
Alfie holds the ball inviting the press and under pressure passes back to Brian who goes long.
Simple 4411 with Storm at CB limits the damage until people get fit or reinforcements arrive to replace Paull and Diesel who were both poor yesterday

Alfie hits forward passes triple the amount to that of Steely.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Thinking that Steele is a better option than Alfie is misguided at best.

We dont need 2 Anchors and Steele is a better DM (I didnt say great, just better) by miles. Alfie is supposed to be the creative Niz replacement but he is so deep he is completely ineffective

 

[FFC Mariner]

Alfie hits forward passes triple the amount to that of Steely.

From too deep

 

[Meerkat]

We are hemorrhaging injuries, I understand we want MJ and the boys to do well and believe he's had a few hiccups in selections, but the fact is how can you have consistency in you results if you don't have consistency in your playing group

Yes, I think that’s the fundamental concern and without resolving this, it’s not going to change.

I appreciate Pete’s optimism and absolutely, should we have all those players he mentioned return, like De Lima etc.. we might be able to pull a 2nd half of the season revival which could have us looking at top 6. However, with the frequency of the injuries occurring, what are the chances really, of getting a consistent, strong squad?

We need injury replacements and we need to stabilise / reduce the injury count.. or it’s dire days ahead.

 

[Corsair]

 

[Corsair]

He says Theo will be available for the Jets game

 

[Tevor]

He says Theo will be available for the Jets game

Interesting we are sweating on the return of Theo, he is like a box of chocolates in that you never know what you are going to get.

 

[Big Al]

Alfie was hassling well yesterday and getting stuck in. I think he is growing to the team and league.

Steele simply had no one to pass too. He is 5m in front of the CB’s but the strikers are 30m away.

Nix setup brilliantly as well.

Jacko sets us up to go around the opposition. We don’t go through the middle because we are out numbered.