CCM v GCU

[LFCMariners]

PHEW! Had a lot of chances, thankfully one of them netted in the end. My Roar supporting mate said the Mariners were playing some very Brisbane-like football, lots of flare and quick passing. Should probably have been 2 or 3-0 us, but I'll take the ACL spot thankyou very much!

 

[Jerem]

RYAN MOM 9 bye a mile, quick reflexes on a number of occasions kept that lethal front third at bay
McBREEN 3 just always too much behind the eight ball
ROSE, 6 not his best match but always lookd dangerous
ZWAANSWIJK (2nd)solid as the mountains, brilliant understanding ofthe game and vision, timing to perfection.
HUTCHINSON time filler, would have brought isei on for 10 and maintained pressure
GRIFFITHS 6.5 solid performance, that artwork of a tackle late in teh first half summed up his performance, PEREZ 6 not his best, hope he is not injured either:S
BOZANIC (3rd) 8 game of the season for him, gave that flanks defenders and midfielders some serious trouble, he is also really starting to sharpen his radar!
McGLINCHEY 6.5 not his best game stilltried to fight on without his usual partner bojic who for a while was missed this morning
SAINSBURY 6 just like ryan start of season nervous, but finding his confidence
WILKINSON 7 has grown with the big dutchie on his flank.
SIMON 7 forsomeone witha gashed foot, pretty spritely cameo
AMINI 8 THE SPARK THAT WAS NEEDED, holy shit!! timing vision and almost another netfinder
KWASNIK 8 he had one of his good days, clinical finish, and gave the defence alot of trouble

special mention for the ref! best job ive seen all season!

 

[Jerem]

and a little too much falling over from the GCU
they may as WELL play in asia, or move there. . .

 

[bobandbill]

Good we won - felt we were the better team. We did seem a bit off with some of our passing personally but when Amini came on and in particular Simon for McBreen it felt far more a matter of 'when will we score' as opposed to if.

Griffths had some nice passes I thought, and Sainsbury was pretty solid in defence - I'll admit I was a bit worried about him but he was up to it, although he could take on the defense and connect with his shot at the end of the 1st half better imo. Hopefully Perez's injury is only minor and he'll be right for the final but Amini looked good coming on. Hurrah for Kwas having a decent game again - about time!

And how about Ryan, he had an immense game especially with that double save. Pity about the crowd but I guess that's what happens with poor gloomy weather all day and when the FFA decides to jack the prices up.

Time for Brisbane, take... er, 6 I guess. =p Bring it on.

 

[scottmac]

Hope Simon can do 90 mins next week cause McBreen was absolute pish tonight. Kwas was a different player when Simon came on and we really benefit from having someone that can hold the ball up and play the moving mids in.

shame to see Perez injured but wasn't his best night, I'm blaming that on McBreen's inability to hold or control the ball.

We're back in Asia baby!

 

[cbowden9000]

HELL YEAH!!!!! GF AND ASIAN HERE WE COME!!!

WOOOOOOOO!!!! verhead:

 

[gull]

What a season! GF, Asia and second spot for the regular season, plus terrific football to boot (pun intended).

We are the only team that can beat meow amd we deserve the chance to do so.

Despite the crowd (surely more than 7,500?) the atmosphere was electric, and the stands are finally starting to join in with the active support. Really can't ask for much more as a fan.

Griffiths has been excellent this season, and had another wonderful game tonight, but he was one of many throughout the year that have got us where we are (Matty Ryan - WOW!).

Well done Mariners! Thank you for a wonderful season, and let's put the icing on the cake next week!!!!

 

[garlo]

Mcbreen in the second minute ...all I can say Is wow ...even mrdja woulda got that

 

[promdi442]

​

COACH OF THE YEAR?????

JOHN CRAWLEY. What a great job he has done on Matty Ryan. The double save in the second half was a testament to the hours of training that Crawley has put into our goalkeepers. Ryan's distribution was spot on and the catch as the last play of the game from the Gold Coast cross typified how far he has come this season. Congratulations John Crawley.

 

[yellowcake]

Congratulations John Crawley.

+1

Notice that every game (including tonight) JC brings Matty out into the goals he will defend in the upcoming half and whacks balls at him?


OT reminicing: JC obviously had a massive influence Danny too. I recall in a player profile thing in V1 (fun - fave food, etc) there was a 'favourite player' question (like Maradonna, Ronaldo). Danny's - "John Crawley". JC's - "Danny Vukovic".

 

[Deej]

which is why he should and will start........he's due a good game (surely)

That is all

 

[dibo]

Cheeky prick! Well played Deej.

 

[MagpieMariner]

Matty now has the clean sheet record on his own. First keeper to achieve 13 clean sheets in a season. Even if the worst happens next week Theo can only share, and Matty was there first. What a season Matty Ryan, congratulations young man. Congratulations also to Arnie for having faith in him.

 

[midfielder]

Que Sera Sera
were in the Champions League


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc

 

[Forum Phoenix]

verhead: verhead: verhead:

 

[Ezz]

Wow, what can I say after such an amazing night.

Fantastic game Matty Ryan. As many ppl have said b4 me, that double save was amazing and then to see him scream his encouragement to the boys after, great display.

Kwas - will admit I do have a bias here, but fantastic game. Even when he wasn't scoring at least he was putting in the defensive effort.

McBreen - hmmm, he just looked totally uninterested in getting above a walk for the majority of the game. Arnie, please leave him out for next week and give one of the young boys a chance, they at least show enthusiasm and love for our fantastic team.

 

[MrCelery]

 

[BaysideMariner]

Wow, what can I say after such an amazing night.

Fantastic game Matty Ryan. As many ppl have said b4 me, that double save was amazing and then to see him scream his encouragement to the boys after, great display.

Kwas - will admit I do have a bias here, but fantastic game. Even when he wasn't scoring at least he was putting in the defensive effort.

McBreen - hmmm, he just looked totally uninterested in getting above a walk for the majority of the game. Arnie, please leave him out for next week and give one of the young boys a chance, they at least show enthusiasm and love for our fantastic team.

I hope that Mcbreen is leaving at the end of the season. But like you said, Matty Ryan was fantastic.

 

[Roy Law]

It wasn’t the best of goals but it was a thing of importance, achievement, and unrestrained joy; Adam Kwasnik’s poacher’s strike putting the Mariners into the Grand Final for a remarkable third time in six years. The crowd, outrageously stated as 7,000, had been noisy all night giving the team great support but had little to cheer about in the first half as Gold Coast, the team of all the talents, set about sending the Mariners to sleep with their soporific game. Typically, with such a defensive mind set they nearly stole the lead through Djite but Ryan stood tall. And typically too, Perez missed a fizzing first timer and Trent Sainsbury, a shaky as a Christchurch tower block, somehow shanked a golden opportunity on half-time.
Something had to change, said my Crystal Palace mate, watching the Mariners for the first time, someone has to gamble. It was Arnie who made the change, not a gamble, but a proven change: the subtle switch to 4-3-3 with Perez pushed to the front line. It made the difference as suddenly the ball was moved forward quickly, not sideways, and the pressure mounted. When Musti replaced the battered Perez the team lifted even more. Attacking like sets of waves at Bell’s something had to give and it was Kwasnik who rammed home the decisive goal. All that was left was for Ryan to demonstrate that Amini is not the only truly talented teenager in the A League with a remarkable double save and we were there. The team warmly acknowledged the crowd and the achievement with a lap of honour (Musti may well still be there; he was taking his time – top kid) and Arnie couldn’t take the smile off his face: stuff you 442!

 

[Roy Law]

Ryan was magnificent, again, he seems to like Finals football; Zwaanswijk was powerful, dominant, cool and commanding with Wilko providing the intelligent cover; Sainsbury somehow managed to keep it together just enough with McGlinchey working his socks off to help; Rose was double marked all night but Bozanic compensated with an influential display, one shot producing a good save from the impressive Glen Moss; Griffiths ruled: a masterly display combining slalom like dribbling with Jedinak ball winning; Perez’ game was off, some misplaced passes but he still caused trouble when he ran at the big defenders and when Mustafa Amini came on he gave us his usual joyful, creative shift; McBreen battled hard (that’s three of them he’s crocked said my admiring Palace mate, if he kicks another defender he will have the set) and Kwasnik looked up for it against a brutal defence. Simon did enough to show he will be fit by next week and Hutch got another yellow, soft as, but he’ll wear that with pride – a true battler.
And Arnie, Moss, Frawley and Clarky, and Walmsley, all deserve this. Well done verhead: