CCM V Heart Wednesday 18th Jan

[Wombat]

3pts Ryan
2pts Wilko
1pt McBreen

Hard to pick as we were so second rate tonight.

Were it not for a well drilled back four and the brilliance of Matty we should and could have lost by 3 goals.

 

[Golly]

Heard my link for hagasports was perfect
Anyone else on that link
Told all others were shit?

 

[Golly]

Hahasports

 

[shipwreck]

Griff made a difference, reckon mustis slump in form is due in no small part to the lack of griff muscle! He is just so much more attacking than hutch, even tho hutch is probably the best keeper of the ball with his turn and use of his body in the entire league, griff put in way more penetrator passes through the middle in his 30 minute stint

 

[greenlig]

Agree 100% with Shipwreck. As soon as Griff came on, we looked different. He has a drive forward that Hutch just doesn't have. Amini is getting the ball in the wrong areas of the park, for what he is being offered. He's either too deep, with only Ibini up front, or he is right on the edge of the box, with his back to goal. Ibini rarely runs the little angles that Matty did, and Hearfield, although busy, just doesn't offer much of anything.

Was nice to be at the game, but I didn't celebrate much when we scored. We didn't deserve that at all.

Greenlig

 

[LFCMariners]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SI2EDM6Lo&ob=av2e

If Kwassie or Matty Ryan find themselves on the D-floor at a Melbourne club tonight, one of them should request this song

 

[Roy Law]

Championships are won and Champions are made in games like this. Matt Ryan was awesome (how about the header  but I don’t agree that others didn’t play well; Wilko read their play like a book in the first half and Zwaanswijk did the same in the second. These two are clearly the best CB partnership in the competition. It is when you are under the cosh for long periods that intelligence, class and desperation come to the fore and for all Heart’s impressive play there wasn’t one chance they actually created or missed that you say they should have scored, unlike Kwasnik’s; Ryan or the defenders were always in the way.
We were our own worst enemies in that first half, making Heart look good with our policy of passing the ball to them – this wasn’t about their pressing game, this was about our poor execution. We were better in the second half but it was still Heart that dominated territorially. We dug in well, great practice for ACL road trips ahead, never better shown in the late flurry on the goal line with everyone back and Rostyn Griffiths coolly chipping the ball away. I think it is unfair to criticise Ibini or Amini, two young kids with a good future in the game. We cannot expect Ibini to be a mature Matt Simon yet he often came deep for the ball and held it up well; Amini, heavily marked, was still able to keep the ball moving with simple passes. McGlinchey typified the spirit in the team - still able to weave his magic in the lung bursting dying stages to set up Kwas.
Arnie was unhappy afterwards but sometimes games pan out this way and at least it reminded us of the other brilliant youngster in the team – marvellous Matt Ryan!
Bojic put in his usual full shift, massive physical effort, caught out often but still kept going and almost scored a brilliant goal; Rose was decent without being great, he looks more assured than early in the season. The midfield couldn’t cope, great efforts from McGlinchey and Bozanic but the class of Griffiths showed when he came on later and he must return to the starting line-up on Saturday. Hutch worked very hardand was as feisty aas ever but is too slow to move the ball. Amini will have to get used to the attention but I thought he was beginning to get things right just as Arnie took him off.
Hearfield is light weight as a starter; he’s bright and quick but must come off the bench. Bernie put in a good shift, worked hard but swamped by defenders.
McBreen did what he does best – work hard and put himself about, he looked quite good to me
Kwasnik – there is only one Adam Kwasnik! His body language was good in his decisive cameo – hope that is a sign of good things to come. We need it.
MoM - Ryan with special mention for Wilko and Dutchy

 

[MagpieMariner]

Funny how things change. This time last season we were calling for McBreen to be dumped. He looked as lazy as and was just a waste of space.
Very pleased to see how he has turned things around this season, hope he keeps it going.
Of course, he's playing for a contract this season isn't he? Or am I being too cynical?

 

[mayze88]

I don't think we can be too harsh on the strikers... I feel that recently there has been a lack of quality ball to the strikers... they really have had to chase 'through balls' instead of getting the ball to their feet..

 

[adz]

I think we deserved to win that as much as Heart deserved to lose for not putting the game away in the first half. They had plenty of chances... there was one point in the second half, I forget who it was but he was one on one with the keeper a couple of meters out and just stood there for a few seconds wondering what to do. Meanwhile, our defenders were getting back and he ended up basically hitting it at Ryan.

Weemac created a good goal in the end and I liked how calmly the super sub put it away.

I agree with comments about Hutch vs Griff. Hutch has been better this season than in others, but he is more defensive than Griff and slows play too much. It was more obvious in the second half when Griff made charging runs up the middle only to hit Hutch who would stand there and dribble a pass out to either side.

We need to improve for the Adelaide game! Heart is playing Brisbane after us, if we win and Heart wins we go 4 games clear with 9 games to play, two of those vs Brisbane and Heart.

C'mon Mariners!

 

[Muppet]

I'll take the three points. How heart did not bury us with the chances that had I'll never know. I think it came down to our defence and the immense efforts of Matt Ryan. We need to ensure we put the lad on a long term contract as he has kept us in many games now. 17 rounds gone and only 11 goals conceded, not bad.

I think since Matty Simon has gone we have lost that creative spark up front. I hope we can get that mojo back.

Having said that I reckon Kosmina would have been sitting in his lounge room sipping a latte and licking his lips knowing we are ripe for the picking this weekend. There seem to be a few tired boys out there in need of a break. Lets hope that Arnie and his team have done the preparations and we get some fresh legs on the ground. Maybe Rogic, Musialik, Pelligrino, Gallagher, Sainsbury or McDonald will get a run this weekend.

 

[hasbeen]

Ibini was lazy. He is certainly no Matt Simon. Hearfield was hopeless, should have got 7 minutes not 75. Bojic didn't overlap as much as usual, and Rose looks like he's tripping over his own feet (what happened to last season's form?). Bozanic is improving (thank god), and Matty Ryan had the game of his life (we could have lost 4-1 easy). Still to play badly (my opinion) and still get the points, well I'm not complaining. Roll on Saturday.

 

[marinermick]

I would rather say we were outplayed than lucky. However, we were the better team.

Core competencies for football teams are finishing and goalkeeping. Poor finishing by Heart cost them the game and these are skills taught on the training paddock after getting the recruitment correct. Ditto for goalkeeping.

We cannot be deemed lucky if we recruited a fine young talent and developed him into a impenetrable force.

Conversely we cannot be seen as lucky if Heart did not properly coach and recruit players capable of scoring goals.

 

[Muppet]

Conversely we cannot be seen as lucky if Heart did not properly coach and recruit players capable of scoring goals.

This. Our top scorer for the season is a defender. Even Bojic has more than McBreen and Hearfield. Ibini does not look like scoring anytime soon, Neither does Hearfield or McBreen. We need a decent striker ASAP. I hope that Arnie bites the bullet and ships Ibini back to the Youth side for a stint and drags Mitchell Duke up for a shot at the big time. The more I am seeing of Ibini the less I am liking it.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

http://www.thefootballsack.com/2012/01/things-matt-ryan-could-stop.html
heh

Starting to agree with Ibini - he seems to have lost his hunder after scoring a few goals. But then again, it took Matt Simon a long time to be anything other than rubbish when he was starting.
Ibini was flat last night, but so was everybody else. Most games he still has moments of brilliance, and I've been hugely impressed by him more games than not lately.

Bit harsh to dump on him so much after last night - after all, there weren't many players that did anything particularly useful.

He strikes me as one of those strikers - not as hardworking as Simon, but he'll pull through with moments of brilliance.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Funny how things change. This time last season we were calling for McBreen to be dumped. He looked as lazy as and was just a waste of space.
Very pleased to see how he has turned things around this season, hope he keeps it going.
Of course, he's playing for a contract this season isn't he? Or am I being too cynical?

And last week many were suggesting we could do without Kwassie, this week they want him leading the line. Now people here are suggesting Bernie should be dropped.

I think Wombat's summation was pretty good although a too tough on Dutchy and Wilko who I thought were towers of strength yet again.

For Saturday, Griffiths in for Hutch, Kwas in for Hearfield who was just minding the spot until Kwas was fit, and I think Arnie will start McBreen and give Musti a rest or possibly Bernie. Bench Hearfield, Hutch and Amini/Bernie.

We are getting out muscled up front. Mariners teams should never be outmuscled.

For the future I do think Kwas and Bernie will be our strikers but think we need a third as back up. While very useful players neither Hearfield nor McBreen are the solution. Hearfield is a good back up for other positions while McBreen is our alternate number 10. Maybe Duke is the answer, maybe not, maybe Arnie is keeping him hidden until after the transfer window.

With the loss of Matty I think we are in a similar position to that at the start of the season when we were searching for the right combinations. The difference now is that we are not losing.

The next couple of weeks should prove to be interesting times on many fronts.

 

[MagpieMariner]

I think if any of our younger players were where Kwassie was last night the pill would have ended up on the runway at Tullamarine.

 

[finally retired]

I think if any of our younger players were where Kwassie was last night the pill would have ended up on the runway at Tullamarine.

gee....I was actually thinking when Mcglinchey sent it across "anyone but Kwas!!!" but luckily I was wrong. I have to admit I'm not a Kwas fan....he's far too hot and cold. But he's redeemed himself just a little with the finish last night.
As others have said on here, we are missing some "muscle" up front since Matty left but we have very limited "muscle" that can play up front. I am probably one of the few on here who thinks McBreen is OK and who does what he's asked....but I also think generally that McBreen should start at #10 with Amini coming on later. Unfortunately we have too many "impact" players up front...Hearfield (and Bernie?) and Kwas.... which gives us a problem. I hope Arnie and co. have been looking at how to address that.

 

[shipwreck]

First 65mins

----------Ryan-----------
--Pedj---Wilko-PZ-----Rose

----------Griff-----------

Glinch-----Mcbreen------Oli

----Kwasnik------Ibini-----

Final 25

----------Ryan-----------
--Pedj---Wilko-PZ-----Rose

----------Griff-----------

Glinch-----Amini------Hutch

----Kwasnik------Mcbreen-----

 

[MrCelery]

http://www.thefootballsack.com/2012/01/things-matt-ryan-could-stop.html
heh

Starting to agree with Ibini - he seems to have lost his hunder after scoring a few goals. But then again, it took Matt Simon a long time to be anything other than rubbish when he was starting.
Ibini was flat last night, but so was everybody else. Most games he still has moments of brilliance, and I've been hugely impressed by him more games than not lately.

Bit harsh to dump on him so much after last night - after all, there weren't many players that did anything particularly useful.

He strikes me as one of those strikers - not as hardworking as Simon, but he'll pull through with moments of brilliance.

Agree that Bernie needs to pick up in the scoring department, but I noticed last night that he shielded the ball much better than in the past matches, and wasn't pushed off it as easily. He's only a young 'un still, so still some more toughening up needed. There is still that feeling of anticipation when he's around. So much to early to write him off.