Central Coast v Adelaide

[clarence]

I was a bit upset at the stick Mrdja copped from the crowd- anyone forget who he is...give him time and i am sure he can show us why he was once considered to be arguably the best striker in Australia!
Not to mention he was awesome vs Sydney last week- just had a bad day

I think there is a general feeling that he "owes" the club and most of the banter was pretty good natured and he seemed to take it in the spirit intended (piss taking more than abuse)

Yeah that's the way I saw it too, Kareem. No use being sycophantic to players, especially when they themselves know they are not playing well or not finishing an attack move well. Nik stuffed up two good runs in the 15 odd minutes he had on, both of which could have resulted in goals.

He needs gametime to polish his finishing and touch. But he does look unfit, and he's huffing and puffing after 10 minutes of being involved in a series of plays, after just coming onto the field.

I can understand Lawrie putting on Nik, with only 15 to go. But until he starts banging in goals, he's not going start ahead of the trio we have firing at the moment.

Maybe he needs to swallow his pride a bit and ask Lawrie if he'd be considered for a full game or two in the Yoof games instead of sitting on the bench, and get his touch back, cause some mayhem with the kiddies, and impress Lawrie that way?

 

[bikinigirl]

I think the crowd (or lack thereof) was due to a number of factors:

Lots and lots of end of HSC parties last night
Threat of rain
Seeming lack of families with little kids  - tough times perhaps?

the circus across the road was packed when i saw it just before i went into the stadium

. plus the re-scheduling took a few people out, wouldn't be surprised if they exceeded hundreds in number (and these are people with paid up memberships, so cost is not an issue)

. for many of these people football dates are the first thing in the diary and take priority, everything else has to fit in around it ... which means planned breaks were probably filled with 'other' obligations weeks/months ago

 

[marinermick]

I think the crowd (or lack thereof) was due to a number of factors:

Lots and lots of end of HSC parties last night
Threat of rain
Seeming lack of families with little kids  - tough times perhaps?

the circus across the road was packed when i saw it just before i went into the stadium

. for many of these people football dates are the first thing in the diary and take priority, everything else has to fit in around it ... which means planned breaks were probably filled with 'other' obligations weeks/months ago

too true - co-commentator Trent planned his wedding around the international weekend

i counted around twenty at the wedding last night that would have been at the game

 

[bulldogmariner]

I think the crowd (or lack thereof) was due to a number of factors:

Lots and lots of end of HSC parties last night
Threat of rain
Seeming lack of families with little kids  - tough times perhaps?

the circus across the road was packed when i saw it just before i went into the stadium

. for many of these people football dates are the first thing in the diary and take priority, everything else has to fit in around it ... which means planned breaks were probably filled with 'other' obligations weeks/months ago

too true - co-commentator Trent planned his wedding around the international weekend

i counted around twenty at the wedding last night that would have been at the game

BUt it was still a poor crowd for a blockbuster match up.

 

[Sean]

I was a bit upset at the stick Mrdja copped from the crowd- anyone forget who he is...give him time and i am sure he can show us why he was once considered to be arguably the best striker in Australia!
Not to mention he was awesome vs Sydney last week- just had a bad day

I think there is a general feeling that he "owes" the club and most of the banter was pretty good natured and he seemed to take it in the spirit intended (piss taking more than abuse)

Yeah that's the way I saw it too, Kareem. No use being sycophantic to players, especially when they themselves know they are not playing well or not finishing an attack move well. Nik stuffed up two good runs in the 15 odd minutes he had on, both of which could have resulted in goals.

He needs gametime to polish his finishing and touch. But he does look unfit, and he's huffing and puffing after 10 minutes of being involved in a series of plays, after just coming onto the field.

I can understand Lawrie putting on Nik, with only 15 to go. But until he starts banging in goals, he's not going start ahead of the trio we have firing at the moment.

Maybe he needs to swallow his pride a bit and ask Lawrie if he'd be considered for a full game or two in the Yoof games instead of sitting on the bench, and get his touch back, cause some mayhem with the kiddies, and impress Lawrie that way?

Nikky missed basically a whole pre-season build up to the season and to rush himself back to fitness is such a hard task. I think he is on the right track and actually doing more than I have expected him to do so far this season as he tries to get back to his old kickass ways.

 

[Blair]

[glow=red,2,300]Danny[/glow]-Great game, good  saves, didnt give the Reds anything. 9/10
Porter- Good had a hand in a few of the goals but still think he would do alot better the hutcho in the midfield the only thing that lets him down sometimes is his passes but a good game all the same. 7/10
Boogs- Played well made a good attacking run straight down the middlewhich i like to see. Did what he needed. 6/10
Wilko- Played OK kept the attack from doing not much at all. Didnt do much that was out standing but did enough. 6/10
Pedj-Played well really like his wing runs but needs to work on his crosses.7/10

Defence-played well earned there clean sheet. Average 7/10

Mile- Really you would have to say without this man we would be nothing he is the linchpin of the team the link between defence and attack big things for this guy. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time and his passes are amazingly good. Socceroos he's your man pick him Pim. 8/10
Hutcho-Omg needs to work on his game last year he was amazing this year either Porter or the italian stalian need to replace him. Many break aways he stuffed up but The Gaffer like him so im happy for what ever he plays him in. 5/10
Adrian- Loved the goal celibration. Played well did what was asked of him and more. The strike was perfectly place loved it. Attcks well puts a great though ball in.7/10

Midfield- Hutcho let them down but played well thumbs up to Mile and Adrian. 6.6/10

Sasho- played really well its the best game i have seen him play for a while i ran after the ball insted of standing there. 7/10
Macca- has to be one of the hardest working players and has a great pass on him he should have had a goal because of his work rate. 8/10 Because i am a bit biest
Simone - What a player we have found man i carn't believe if you were to ask me who would be our top scorer i wouold have said macca or nicky not simone he is our saviour go Simone. I remember the last home game we played against Adle at home last year got one disaloud but in newi at the start of the year we went nuts best feeling you felt how happy he was and it was at the other side of the stadium haha. 9/10

Attack played well out standing best in the league glad to be a fan. 8/10 Man of The match is in red
Good work boys

 

[Exile on Mann Street]

Are we Gamba in disguise ? - LOL

 

[RADINHO]

mrdja was hopeless

 

[Blair]

Mrdja scored last game thats not hopless.
Matty didnt score for a whole year would you call him hopeless now.

 

[tuftman]

Mrdja scored last game thats not hopless.
Matty didnt score for a whole year would you call him hopeless now.

I think Radinho was more hinting at the fact that mrdja had some very very poor touches, probably should have scored on one occassion, there was that long range shot on the break probably better options available(though his first touch to start the break was good), and there was the touch, or lack of, on the sideline when the ball was played to him and he clean missed it..he isnt hopeless as far as ability, but just.....application maybe?

 

[Bex]

Mrdja came on late in the game. He didn't play well for that short period of time, but its not like he any time to make amends either. I would hardly use that short period of one game to judge whether he is any good or not.

He has had short stints in other games where he has looked really good.

I'll wait till he is match fit and plays a whole game before judging him.

The hard thing for Mrdja is we've got three other strikers and two midfielders who are scoring regularly at the moment and i would have thought its unlikely he will get a start in front of any of them unless they stop scoring for a few matches or get injured.

 

[serious14]

Adrian Caceres, duh duh duh duh.

Serious - I assume you don't rate him.....  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

You assume incorrectly. 

Serious, sing us a song. Serious, sing us a song. 

*shakes head in shame*  _Total_ mind blank, I've no idea what happened there.  I'll do better next time.

 

[tuftman]

Yeah thats pretty much where he sits at the moment, he isnt short on quality, just game time. I wouldnt be surprised to perhaps see him start playing larger chunks of games now, perhaps bringing him on at half time should the game be in the bag maybe.

 

[clarence]

Yeah that's the way I saw it too, Kareem. No use being sycophantic to players, especially when they themselves know they are not playing well or not finishing an attack move well. Nik stuffed up two good runs in the 15 odd minutes he had on, both of which could have resulted in goals.

He needs gametime to polish his finishing and touch. But he does look unfit, and he's huffing and puffing after 10 minutes of being involved in a series of plays, after just coming onto the field.

I can understand Lawrie putting on Nik, with only 15 to go. But until he starts banging in goals, he's not going start ahead of the trio we have firing at the moment.

Maybe he needs to swallow his pride a bit and ask Lawrie if he'd be considered for a full game or two in the Yoof games instead of sitting on the bench, and get his touch back, cause some mayhem with the kiddies, and impress Lawrie that way?

Nikky missed basically a whole pre-season build up to the season and to rush himself back to fitness is such a hard task. I think he is on the right track and actually doing more than I have expected him to do so far this season as he tries to get back to his old kickass ways.

Perm, I have read numerous excuses for Nik's poor state of fitness over the last 3-4 seasons. He was training in the pre season start, I'm sure I saw him training with Osman and Heff (rehab training) in photos. And we are now what Round 11 or 12 into the season?

I believe he has had more time to train than you allude to, to get fit. If he's been bludging he deserves to be ribbed, both here and when his lordship graces us with his presence on the field.

Lawrie may want him on the senior's bench for now as backup to Matt, Dylan and Sasho, but for the good of Nik's career he has to work out a way to be fit.

The solution, if he doesn't have any further injury niggles, is to play a game or two of Youth League matches and get back into match condition, if his aerobic fitness is already there (it doesn't look it though).

Maybe once he does that, and gets more confidence in himself, he could tell Lawrie he's OK for a bench spot too, and do a 'double shift' and prove once and for all that's he's fit to go a full 90 in seniors.

He's gotta do something to impress Lawrie, otherwise he's destined to stay on the bench and do only 15 minute cameos. Maybe he just wants that though?

 

[scottmac]

The solution, if he doesn't have any further injury niggles, is to play a game or two of Youth League matches and get back into match condition, if his aerobic fitness is already there (it doesn't look it though).

Maybe once he does that, and gets more confidence in himself, he could tell Lawrie he's OK for a bench spot too, and do a 'double shift' and prove once and for all that's he's fit to go a full 90 in seniors.

He's gotta do something to impress Lawrie, otherwise he's destined to stay on the bench and do only 15 minute cameos. Maybe he just wants that though?

The bloke isn't coming back from 1 injury! He is coming back from 3 yrs of injury! For the sake of his career, he needs to take it slow and the 4 months of training for him would not have been at full tilt like an un-injured player.
Also LM is in the situation of having the team playing well with 3 strikers on the ground. You can not play that formation, with the players we have, without another striker on the bench. He probably would like Nik to be a part of the yoof league for a few weeks, but right now he needs him on the bench.

 

[bulldogmariner]

Mrdja scored a goal against Sydney REMEMBER!
Just shows how some of you have short memories.
Nik worked hard for the 15 minutes on the field and he created chances. What more can you ask? Remember Matt Simon last year doing the same thing. Just be patient because we have 4 quality strikers in  our squad on a regular basis and the 4th striker is Nik. Unless there is an injury to our fantastic 3 Nik will remain on the bench and comeon for late cameo's and maybe score like he did against Sydney.

 

[graaant]

Also, apparently, Nik cannot train on consecutive days.
Doctors orders were to train one day, rest one day.

This approach isn't very good for his strength or consistency.
We've got 3 other blokes banging them in, we don't need to call the hangman on Nik just yet.

 

[bulldogmariner]

Also, apparently, Nik cannot train on consecutive days.
Doctors orders were to train one day, rest one day.

This approach isn't very good for his strength or consistency.
We've got 3 other blokes banging them in, we don't need to call the hangman on Nik just yet.

Nik trains most days but does take it easy every couple of days as he cannot afford to break down again.

 

[bikinigirl]

. i think a couple of comments about nik have been taken out of context ... and now the conversation has moved in another direction

. normally nik has about the best first touch in the team ... on the weekend he was pretty crap. buggered up more things than he got right - regardless of his fitness level and short time on the pitch. we expect better and no doubt he does too

. i disagree that playing 3 up front we need him on the bench - if one of the strikers comes off we can change formation you know - although i understand with the three upfront they should be getting through a lot more work than otherwise (tracking back, etc)

. i think the three upfront and 4 strikers in the squad came out of necessity, because the fittest 15 we had included 4 strikers ... it turns out this has been a great thing for us

. nik's most obvious stuff up was going for goal when dylan was available and un-marked. i appreciate his attacking instincts - it is good to see him with the confidence to shoot. but if i was dylan i probably would have dropped the bloke. plus i would have more respect for him as a striker for laying it off for a better positioned teammate - regardless of the scoreline

. as to whether we can keep all four of them for next year ... who knows. i think it is a big ask, we have the acl coming up and we should be coming off a successful season this year but market forces are likely to see one of them heading elsewhere with the two new teams