Mariners V AU Rd 7

[Wombat]

The scales have fallen from your yellow and navy eyes?

 

[Capt. Awesome]

The scales have fallen from your yellow and navy eyes?

No... I thought your coments were quite balanced for once

 

[Wombat]

They are always balanced but often unpalatable.

I once sent my own son off against Terrigal. Harsh but needed to be done.....even Terrigal players don't deserve to be rag-dolled.

It's time for us to be a little harsh as the season is almost out of reach already.

 

[pjennings]

Mike Mulvey is available and the club should grab him while they can. We are a train wreck and I'm fearful the dreadful Scummers might even beat us next week.

Onto the game...

We actually played quite well for the first 40 mins and were the better side but our woeful defence conceeded 2 in 5 minutes the very first time they were pressured. Adelaide should have had another 2.

My observations without the benefit of TV replay....

Sim is completely lost (although his dead ball delivery is good) and out of his depth. Mossy is making a rod for his own back. Agree
We need to pay someone like Mark Rudan to come in and teach the defence the basic fundamentals of their job.
The lack of movement is criminal......don't they practice two touch football?
It makes my blood boil to see our midfield sit back when we make a break and no players available or one bloke surrounded by 4defenders once we get the ball into the box.
We create so little it's sad to watch.

Reddy 5.5. Wtf was he doing up there when we were 2 nil down and was hugely lucky not to get a red for the hack. Still is was the most enjoyable moment of the game.
Storm 6. Decided to do our midfielders job but needs to concentrate on keeping clean sheets.
Neil 6. Suspect defensively again but looks good going forward. Has to stay because Rose needs to be a CB
Zac 5. Cumbersome. Not good enough
Rose 6.5. Ball watches too much for a CB but did some good things. Sadly he and Posco should be our first choice CBs - says a lot.
Sim 4. Totally out of his depth. Bounces around without a clue. Touch is poor but dead ball delivery is good. Must have some shocking photos of Mossy in the safe. Agree not good enough
Hutcho 6. Not his worst game.
Monty 7. Mom but only because everyone else was so poor.
Caceras 5.5. Too lazy or lackadaisical for my liking.
Fitzy 5. Started off very well but faded badly and his decision making is very average. Agree
Duke 6. Left stranded again. Worked hard but looks short on confidence. Agree

Ref was a complete retard but his incompetence was dwarfed by ours. Disagree - he was at least as incompetent as we were, they should have been down to 9 before they scored.

Subs...Vernes and Cernak were ok. Agree

1 more week then time for a new coach.

 

[dibo]

They are always balanced but often unpalatable.

Ha!

So if someone agrees with you it's because they finally saw sense? And if someone disagrees it's because they can't handle the truth?

At least you're never wrong. Good to know.

 

[Garth]

After the match I was sitting with good mate of mine in one of the bars at the CCLC having a couple of after match non celebratory drinks I don't want to be the bringer of negativity but what we witnessed was concerning not 2 mtrs away Hutch and his mates discussing current coaching 1 minute later a procession of players entered bar accompanied by bespectacled gent Hutch leaps up and says lets get out of here and go to Terrigal. I will not repeat what was being discussed but believe me it will come to light in the near future. I have always found Hutch to be approachable and downright friendly, tonight we sat in silence and observed an unraveling of confidence, the body language of the guys was self explanatory both of us witnessing disgruntled players Hutch, Rose Roux and others that in all honesty were dealt an absolute shitty and lousy hand by that referee who should take a good look at itself in the mirror and consider a career change. Probably one of the worst displays of refereeing we have had to endure at Central Coast Stadium.

 

[Roy Law]

Grim Times​

Three home defeats on the bounce; dumped from the FFA Cup; seven games without a win: echoes of the grim last season under Lawrie McKinna come to mind.
Adelaide enjoyed outrageous good fortune for the first goal; benefited from disgraceful defending for the second; and had the victory handed to them on a plate when Phil Moss threw in the towel at half time.
In cooler than expected conditions, but still very humid, Phil Moss made just one change with Roux returning from international duty to replace the injured Poscoliero.
The Mariners, as they have most games this year, started the game well enough; for more than half an hour they matched the quality of Adelaide. It was a possession game with neither goalkeeper being troubled. In the 22nd minute they upped the ante: Micky Neill, playing with real authority, aggressively won the ball and drove forward to play Duke in on goal with a pass that matched the imagination and precision of any from Mustafa Amini. It was a great opportunity but Duke messed it up, tamely placing the ball at Galekovic with his right foot when he should have fired home with his left.
Five minutes later Reddy almost gave us a Pasfield moment when he tried to return the ball to Roux but passed instead to Goodwin; the Adelaide wingman was so surprised he allowed Reddy to block and retrieve the situation. Two minutes later came the best Mariners’ football of the match. Pushing forward, switching the play from one side to the other, they penned Adelaide back. When Neill burst onto a pass in the penalty area from Duke he was felled; it was a fair challenge although the crowd roared for a penalty.
Hutchinson led the way as the Mariners threw themselves into vigorous tackles; Neill poleaxed Pablo with a ball into the bread box. Montgomery won the ball and brilliantly found Fitzgerald who was fouled. Galekovic had to go full length to tip Sim’s free kick over the bar. The Mariners were looking good and then cruel luck stepped in to turn the game.
When you are unbeaten and challenging for top honours, as Adelaide are, luck falls your way; when you are struggling, as the Mariners are, you don’t get the breaks. So when Ferreira’s cross looped in the air off Neill’s boot, and over Reddy, Pablo couldn’t miss the gift and headed home. The Mariners did not deserve to be behind after their good start to the game.
There was no luck involved however in the second goal just two minutes later. These days the once infamous Mariners’ defence exists only in numbers; names on a team sheet. Opponents have nothing to fear; all pride has gone.
Tarek Elrich, a Jets and Wanderers reject, has found a new lease of life at Adelaide. Picking the ball up about twenty metres in his own half he carried the ball forward, eliminating defenders as he went. Like dominoes, half the side fell away. Fitzgerald gave up the chase early; Monty, already on a yellow, flailed without getting a touch; Anderson watched, as motionless as the Masterfood sauce bottles behind him; Roux held off, frightened to concede a penalty, and finally, Neill tamely cleared the ball to Pablo, who tucked it home. .
Two down in two minutes was harsh but going into the sheds at halftime you expected them to regroup and give it a good go. It never happened. Phil Moss effectively killed off any chance of a comeback when he replaced Duke with Cernak. Replacing a player with an awful first touch, but who is the most likely to score, with a player with an awful first touch, but who is most unlikely to score was bewildering. With that inane change Moss effectively conceded the game to Adelaide..
I know nothing about football; I am just a fan who watches from the stands or in front of a TV. I have no football badges, but I have watched a hell of a lot of football over many years. I know that if you are trailing by two goals you make every effort to at least score twice. I know that the shape of the team had to change; that Duke needed another player upfront alongside him, Trifiro or Vernes may have done the job. I know that one of Hutchinson or Montgomery would have to make way. I would have punted Sim too. But what do I know? Cernak, a journeyman player, never a striker, is brought on. Adelaide may as well have taken an early flight home. They couldn’t believe their luck; they strolled into ‘Bluetongue’ and strolled away with the three points.
The game was over as a contest but there was still some drama to come. Trifiro replaced Hutchinson; Hutchinson appeared not to agree and angrily stormed down the players’ tunnel. The Fox commentators claimed that Moss said there was nothing in it; Hutch was going for an early shower on a humid day. Well, he would say that wouldn’t he? I have never seen a player do that, especially the captain, who would have known the impression it could give. If Moss has lost Hutchinson, he really has lost the dressing room.
There was time for Montgomery to join Hutch in the shower after a second yellow. I would love to have heard the conversation.
On a poor day, with the Mariners losing heart in the second half, I give my MoM to Neill who impressed early, closely followed by Josh Rose who played calmly throughout.

 

[shipwreck]

After the match I was sitting with good mate of mine in one of the bars at the CCLC having a couple of after match non celebratory drinks I don't want to be the bringer of negativity but what we witnessed was concerning not 2 mtrs away Hutch and his mates discussing current coaching 1 minute later a procession of players entered bar accompanied by bespectacled gent Hutch leaps up and says lets get out of here and go to Terrigal. I will not repeat what was being discussed but believe me it will come to light in the near future. I have always found Hutch to be approachable and downright friendly, tonight we sat in silence and observed an unraveling of confidence, the body language of the guys was self explanatory both of us witnessing disgruntled players Hutch, Rose Roux and others that in all honesty were dealt an absolute shitty and lousy hand by that referee who should take a good look at itself in the mirror and consider a career change. Probably one of the worst displays of refereeing we have had to endure at Central Coast Stadium.

Can you elaborate please? I'm not sure what happened...

 

[yorkshireman]

Was talking to a mate at the game who has a close relationship with many of the players. He was saying that Marcos was in the ground today and had been watching. He had a conversation which went along the lines of
"What the #&$* is Mossy doing and why is Dukey playing there?" which I thought was interesting, particularly after the welcome he got in round 1.

He was also recently talking to a fox sports presenter who has a son playing for us and they were saying that the word is that we will be very lucky to be in existence in 2 years time and that if we don't do well this year the grim reaper may be even closer!

On the match, I can only agree, with the overall sentiment of a good opening 35 then it all went to shit although it was interesting to see Reddy make a challenge for the team at the end that a defender was interested in making.

Interesting days ahead I fear.

 

[Navy and yellow]

Generally I love reading your analysis of the game but take issue on some points from your latest report.

Phil Moss effectively killed off any chance of a comeback when he replaced Duke with Cernak.

Whatever is happening in the dressing room is one thing but that loss or "killing off any chance of a comeback"cannot be blamed on Moss. The team has to put their hand up for that one. Although the first goal was unlucky and against the run of play, as others have already said the second is some of the worst defending we have ever seen from a Mariners team. As unpalatable as its is, someone has to take one for the team, cop the yellow, and bring him down. No team in the A-league would have let that happen. The second half we didn't really look like threatening their goal.

Replacing a player with an awful first touch, but who is the most likely to score, with a player with an awful first touch, but who is most unlikely to score was bewildering.

Heaven help us if Duke is the most likely to score. He has not looked like scoring this year, his only goal was a shank off the shin and he has had plenty of chances. He has lost all confidence and deserved to be replaced. I don't think he should even be in our starting 11. Although I was skeptical about Cernak when he first arrived and in his early days with us, he has looked a much better player than Duke 2014 (not the old Duke 2012-2013). Too many fans are nostalgic about the old Duke, there is nothing to be excited about today's Duke. Cernak has looked far more likely to score than Duke with much less game time and he is far more likely to set someone up than Duke is who rarely gets his head up.

 

[Gratis]

They are always balanced but often unpalatable.

I once sent my own son off against Terrigal. Harsh but needed to be done.....even Terrigal players don't deserve to be rag-dolled.

It's time for us to be a little harsh as the season is almost out of reach already.

yeah... don't get me wrong, i like you wombat and enjoy reading your posts which often show a lot of insight, but you are usually definitely on the glass is always half empty side of things
I know I do about the opposite and don't provide the full balanced opinion either but I think between the posters altogether is where the balance comes out

 

[Gratis]

I'm wondering if the return of Matt Simon will prove to be like the return of Ibini last year -

effective and might win us a few but really just a band aid effect that only hides the strong need for necessary changes
or
band aid effect that gives the team the time and confidence they need build up to playing like they did in the first 35mins but all game and with the benefit of actual goals in the meantime
or
not much discernable effect once teams work out they just have to defend against Simon and ignore the rest of the team

really need a reshuffle during the January window. things aren't good

atrocious refereeing really made things worse than they had to be too. i thought his hand was painted yellow for a while there

 

[Leigh]

Duke still our best attacking player. He wins the ball and excellent plays... Just no one is on the end of them. Yes he's screwed a fair few shots but if people set him up like he sets them up then he'd have more chances and would put some away.

I thought we actually played fairly well first half, I think we controlled the game until a set piece. Then we were shell shocked and frustrated and conceded a second. Second half was just shit from both teams. I think at the end of the second half Adelaide got on top of us but that's just because they slowed the play and took their time, because they had the 2-0 lead so they didn't have to rush anything.

 

[nearlyyellow]

yeah... don't get me wrong, i like you wombat and enjoy reading your posts which often show a lot of insight, but you are usually definitely on the glass is always half empty side of things
I know I do about the opposite and don't provide the full balanced opinion either but I think between the posters altogether is where the balance comes out

Hmm, I wonder what happened to the other half of his glass?

 

[greenlig]

Duke still our best attacking player. He wins the ball and excellent plays... Just no one is on the end of them. Yes he's screwed a fair few shots but if people set him up like he sets them up then he'd have more chances and would put some away.

Can't really agree with that. His whole job is finishing moves off with a goal. He need to take the chances he gets, that what good strikers do. It's obviously a confidence problem. He's fine running around causing a nuisance and nodding it on, etc, but when push comes to shove he just doesn't even look like scoring when in the right position. Yesterday's shot at the keeper was pathetic on a level we haven't seen in a while.

Our problems are becoming more obvious with each game - makeshift central defence, inexperienced forwards. The average age of our attacking players is something like 23? That's really young, particularly when most of them were bit-part players in years gone. We aren't going to get many goals from them, and this is becoming clearer. To adopt the classic refrain - we need Matty Simon.

 

[localpom]

Still miserable this morning. Was tough watching yesterday after about 38 minutes. I don't think it's all doom and gloom but there are obvious issues. It's a very young, inexperienced side and that shows at crucial moments. We have lost concentration at the back this season a few times and it has hurt us badly, hardly surprising really considering the radical changes week to week. Apart from the defence the other area hurting us is decision making in the final third. We get in lots of great positions in and around the penalty area but are incredibly wasteful or there is no support.
I couldn't fault the players yesterday as they all gave 100%. We have some very talented young players
who make up the bulk of the side but we are missing just a couple of players with experience and quality. CB and a forward. What worries me is the team spirit.......hopefully all the rumours are false but i think there must be some truth to it. That and i have started to lose faith in Mossy ( i am a patient man so have given him a few games). I like Sim but he doesn't have the quality yet to be a starting A league player. Dukey should never have been taken off at half time when you are chasing 2 goals. He is our only fit forward. Put Cernak on sure...but for Sim. Vernes surely needs to start each game now, he can't get match fit on the bench. With him and Tricky on we at least looked more creative.
In the context of our season next weeks game is huge.

 

[scottmac]

Anyone hazard a guess as to who has had the most shots on target this year in the A-League? One Mitchell Duke. All for one goal. It's just poor in the extreme. He just doesn't seem to be getting any better at execution or decision making when the goal is looming. I don't think he has what it takes.

I can't fathom how people can that think that first half was good. Adelaide were poor, we were poor & it was an excruciatingly ugly half of football. Nothing about that half was entertaining. Broken play, constant turn overs & a shit ref.

I can't see us even challenging the scum next week going on that display. It was easily the worst game of the round.

 

[justafan]

Mike Mulvey is available and the club should grab him while they can. We are a train wreck and I'm fearful the dreadful Scummers might even beat us next week.

Onto the game...

We actually played quite well for the first 40 mins and were the better side but our woeful defence conceeded 2 in 5 minutes the very first time they were pressured. Adelaide should have had another 2.

My observations without the benefit of TV replay....

Sim is completely lost (although his dead ball delivery is good) and out of his depth. Mossy is making a rod for his own back.
We need to pay someone like Mark Rudan to come in and teach the defence the basic fundamentals of their job.
The lack of movement is criminal......don't they practice two touch football?
It makes my blood boil to see our midfield sit back when we make a break and no players available or one bloke surrounded by 4defenders once we get the ball into the box.
We create so little it's sad to watch.

Reddy 5.5. Wtf was he doing up there when we were 2 nil down and was hugely lucky not to get a red for the hack. Still is was the most enjoyable moment of the game.
Storm 6. Decided to do our midfielders job but needs to concentrate on keeping clean sheets.
Neil 6. Suspect defensively again but looks good going forward.
Zac 5. Cumbersome.
Rose 6.5. Ball watches too much for a CB but did some good things.
Sim 4. Totally out of his depth. Bounces around without a clue. Touch is poor but dead ball delivery is good. Must have some shocking photos of Mossy in the safe.
Hutcho 6. Not his worst game.
Monty 7. Mom but only because everyone else was so poor.
Caceras 5.5. Too lazy or lackadaisical for my liking.
Fitzy 5. Started off very well but faded badly and his decision making is very average.
Duke 6. Left stranded again. Worked hard but looks short on confidence.

Ref was a complete retard but his incompetence was dwarfed by ours.

Subs...Vernes and Cernak were ok.

1 more week then time for a new coach.

Dear Wombat, you come across to me as one of those opinion makers that likes to pick on a player and insist on writing negative comments about them regardless of how well they’ve done. Your dislike for Hutch as a footballer is obvious and well known to this forum. Tbh, I don't rate him either as a footballer but the difference between you and I, is admitting that the guy has performed well so far this season comparing to previous ones.
I do agree with some of your comments but the one regarding Caceres is unfair, unrealistic and it makes me wonder about your football knowledge as a fan. Too lazy ? Lackadaisical? You surely were under the influence of an illegal or legal substance. Were you at BT ? I doubt it. Imo and from where I was sitting, the youngster was everywhere. He ran his butt off. There was a moment, (especially after mont was sent off) that he was playing as a 6, 8, 10 and even as a striker. He was the only one applying pressure to their defense, he tackled, never lost the ball or missed a pass, created a penalty when he beautifully chested the ball inside the box and was brutally fouled by two defenders ( to my amazement no one here makes mention of it). Imo, Cass was mom due to his work rate for the whole 90 mins plus he was the only player ( both v wsw & au ) that kept ball possession and distributes it properly. Can’t expect players of his ability to deliver when he doesn’t get supplied in a decent manner. Every time cass or our attackers get the ball is because they drop and fight for it. It must be frustrating for a ball player to play for the mariners at present.

Reddy: 4. Awful. Totally responsible for the first goal.
Storm : 5. Picks wrong options.
Ando: 5.5 for the last 10 mins
Rose : 6. Our best defender.
Neill : Good going forward. Needs to pause and think. Defensively too innocent still.
Sim: 4. Bench.
Hutch : 5. Still better than last season
Monty: 6 for heart, 4 for football. Red card very unfair.
Caceres: 7.5. Pushed forward, always trying to play football and his work rate was tremendous.
Fitzy : 5. Still not the same as last season
Duke: 4.5 Poor display. Bad on the ball and not the usual intensity.


Vernes : 5.5 A couple of good things.
Trifiro : 5 Bad free kick. Not much else.
Moss: Not to blame for the poor team effort. He fielded the best and fittest players available. Maybe should have replaced Sim and Hutch much earlier.
Referee : - 100 Disgraceful. A f**king incompetent wanker. The refs are not helping to improve our game.

 

[Gratis]

honestly i thought a number of players had great games (or a great first 40 mins), they worked hard, pulled off some excellent pieces of work and were very positive.
it lacked at the back but that we were playing adelaide, the best attacking side in the comp imo.

problem was 2-fold - firstly, despite the good individual work it didn't gel so well as a team primarily in the final third. second was the lack of cohesion that appeared after the goals, we lost what we had up until then. in some ways i'm impressed we didn't concede again

it's funny 'cause there's a lot to be concerned over, but a lot to be pleased about in the areas we are doing well

 

[localpom]

Dear Wombat, you come across to me as one of those opinion makers that likes to pick on a player and insist on writing negative comments about them regardless of how well they’ve done. Your dislike for Hutch as a footballer is obvious and well known to this forum. Tbh, I don't rate him either as a footballer but the difference between you and I, is admitting that the guy has performed well so far this season comparing to previous ones.
I do agree with some of your comments but the one regarding Caceres is unfair, unrealistic and it makes me wonder about your football knowledge as a fan. Too lazy ? Lackadaisical? You surely were under the influence of an illegal or legal substance. Were you at BT ? I doubt it. Imo and from where I was sitting, the youngster was everywhere. He ran his butt off. There was a moment, (especially after mont was sent off) that he was playing as a 6, 8, 10 and even as a striker. He was the only one applying pressure to their defense, he tackled, never lost the ball or missed a pass, created a penalty when he beautifully chested the ball inside the box and was brutally fouled by two defenders ( to my amazement no one here makes mention of it). Imo, Cass was mom due to his work rate for the whole 90 mins plus he was the only player ( both v wsw & au ) that kept ball possession and distributes it properly. Can’t expect players of his ability to deliver when he doesn’t get supplied in a decent manner. Every time cass or our attackers get the ball is because they drop and fight for it. It must be frustrating for a ball player to play for the mariners at present.

Reddy: 4. Awful. Totally responsible for the first goal.
Storm : 5. Picks wrong options.
Ando: 5.5 for the last 10 mins
Rose : 6. Our best defender.
Neill : Good going forward. Needs to pause and think. Defensively too innocent still.
Sim: 4. Bench.
Hutch : 5. Still better than last season
Monty: 6 for heart, 4 for football. Red card very unfair.
Caceres: 7.5. Pushed forward, always trying to play football and his work rate was tremendous.
Fitzy : 5. Still not the same as last season
Duke: 4.5 Poor display. Bad on the ball and not the usual intensity.


Vernes : 5.5 A couple of good things.
Trifiro : 5 Bad free kick. Not much else.
Moss: Not to blame for the poor team effort. He fielded the best and fittest players available. Maybe should have replaced Sim and Hutch much earlier.
Referee : - 100 Disgraceful. A f**king incompetent wanker. The refs are not helping to improve our game.

Agree with your thoughts on Caceres and the ref. Cass was far from lazy, i forgot how many time he got smashed in a tackle and just got up and got the game moving again. With a few more games under his belt he will be even better. People have to remember that it was only his 2nd game this season in that position and there's been lots of change around him. I rate him very highly as well as Micky Neill. We have plenty of very talented young players. If we are not going to continue with Mane and Kim and we get a chance to replace them, then depending who comes in that could define our season and maybe Moss's future.