MV Match

[midfielder]

Gonna be difficult should be a big crowd and AP is starting to get them playing quite well...

 

[dibo]

They're really not that good. They struggled against a team that was deservedly whopped 7-2 the week before and whose improvement was meagre at best. The number of passing errors, the number of individual defensive errors, the poor execution generally...

Saturday night's game was proof that 5 goal thrillers aren't necessarily good quality games, just as our game was proof that dour 1-0 away wins aren't necessarily low quality games.

I think we'll have Melbourne, by, oh...

...let's say one goal to nil.

 

[Gratis]

They're really not that good. They struggled against a team that was deservedly whopped 7-2 the week before and whose improvement was meagre at best. The number of passing errors, the number of individual defensive errors, the poor execution generally...

Saturday night's game was proof that 5 goal thrillers aren't necessarily good quality games, just as our game was proof that dour 1-0 away wins aren't necessarily low quality games.

I think we'll have Melbourne, by, oh...

...let's say one goal to nil.

This is comforting, I haven't actually watched any MV games recently.

Either way this team should be confident to back themselves against anyone

 

[true believer]

just another away game . they ain't the roar 2010, we ain't the bling 2012.
they are the cheap shot merchants they always were.

 

[Wombat]

I expect us to win again.

Too many mugs in their team.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

I agree with Dibo, though Victory are steadily improving I think. But I don't think they have the midfield to shut is down. And we are capable of keeping them fairly quiet. I've really appreciated Sainsbury's extra notch of pace at the back. Love wilko, but it is handy. ANd combined with Rosey and Pedj's speed and Dutchy's positioning... against Archie who has punished us any number of times over teh years, I'm a lot more confident.
Also having Hutch and Monty in front means we are a very tough nut to crack.

My only real concern is every other team I have seen play MV has pressed high and capitalised on Victory trying to come to terms with Ange's style of play and play out from the back... But we won't press and they may find more rhythm as a result. We'll see.

 

[Gratis]

Looking forward to this...

 

[tsd]

I'm in the middle of production of Mike Tysons national tour and it just so happens that im in Melbourne today for a setup day and am staying at the travelodge right next to etihad. I've only slept 4 hours in 3 days but thinking I might just wrap in time. Anyone else down here?

 

[midfielder]

2-1 Mariners Mcbreen both goals

 

[midfielder]

ABC call

http://www.abc.net.au/local/players...e=itinerantone&streamTitle=Victory v Mariners

 

[midfielder]

2 all

 

[true believer]

i still don't know who is worse delovski or williams

 

[true believer]

monty mom
mcbreen
pedj

delovski is as dishonest as they come.

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Hooley Dooley!!
NFI how we scraped through with a draw on that one. Stupid of Zwaanswijk to get himself sent off, but it was a good call – it was reckless, and what I like about Delovski is that he's got the balls to make those decisions - even if that one had to go against us. Thought Zwaanswijk had a bit of a shocker though
Flores definitely deserved to go, could've even been sent off earlier – amazed Hutcho didn't pick up a card earlier, he was back to his old self a bit in this match too, though I suspect MV were trying to get a rise out of him, so it's probably a sign of his more mature self that it took him 92min to really lose his temper
Ryan had a shocker, perhaps a bit distracted from all the talk this week.
We did great to keep defending so hard in the 2nd half – but IMO when you're a man down you can't just pull everybody back and try to set up a wall. Defend long enough and they're going to get through – so we were really, really lucky – though we defended bloody well.
Rose looked like a man playing up a grade at times....both Victory's goals just came from an absolute lack of marking in the middle – which, IIRC, was how Sydney scored their two as well. Basic, basic stuff.....
McBreen....Rogic....brilliant players. Pity Rogic came off when he did, but maybe Arnold was concerned about fatigue. I think Rogic coming off really cemented that transition into a defensive mentality, coming off the back of that red card.

Anyway, what was with the Hawaiian shirts?

 

[Gratis]

Apart from the weak goals we let in I'm quite happy with the performance yet again. Shame it cost us top spot but keep that kind of performance up and will be back to it soon enough

Of note Anderson slotted in seemlessly which is very good to see.

 

[midfielder]

Mixed feelings ... when things got tough tho we struggled to attack... held well together in defence but struggled to hold the ball .....

Zac & Trent will make a great centre pairing next year especially if Dutchie is the defensive coach...

 

[Ted]

Trent gives possession away too easily with risky passes. I lost count of his silly turn overs which kept us under undue pressure. Would like to see Zac and Pat as our defensive centre pairing. I feel Zac is safer offers more with his distribution and positional play than Trent does.

 

[Wombat]

Trent gives possession away too easily with risky passes. I lost count of his silly turn overs which kept us under undue pressure. Would like to see Zac and Pat as our defensive centre pairing. I feel Zac is safer offers more with his distribution and positional play than Trent does.

Can't agree. He gave the ball away less than Hutcho. I thought he had an excellent game. Zac did well but did nothing to jump the pecking order IMHO.

 

[Wombat]

Well that was a gutsy effort.

We are pretty good but there is something wrong with our style that I can't work out???

Is it playing two defensive middies? Is it a highly talented but ponderous attacking mid? Is it our lack of a proper attacking set up?
Is it our shape or slow drive to support our strikers? I'm not sure what's wrong but it's stopping us going to a Brisbane Roar standard of the last two seasons. We are good but flawed.

Ryan 5. Barry Crocker. Send that to Hull City and we should be sweet for next year.
Bojic 7. A few silly fouls and only average in attack but a tough battling defensive display. You can never question Pedj's ticker.
Rose 6. Poor defensively but good going forward.
Dutchy 6.5. Two stupid yellows but was looking composed before getting sent to the showers.
Better than Tescos. 8. Good game. A couple of small errors but overall immense. Very impressive for mine. Streets ahead of Leijer.
WeeMac 7. Very Good at times but also occasionally careless.
Rojic 7.5. Superb ball for the first goal. Lovely touch and dribbling but still not dynamic enough just yet. Becoming a great player but Arnie was correct to hook him once the chips were down.
Hutcho 6. Worked his arse off and combative but sloppy with his passing on many occasions. Lion hearted but his passing is shite and caught in possession several times.
Monty 8.5. My MOM. This bloke is a machine. Rescued his teammates on many occasions. The best tackler in the team, even better than Dutchy. No frills type of player but tough as teak and smart too.
Sterj. 6.5. Mixed game. Shows quality but is still below par. Showed plenty of heart and will be fitter after that game.
McBreen 8.5. Wow....brilliant effort from the old boy. Looks sharper and faster than he has ever been. Tough, gutsy and starting to become a legend.

MOM
Monty 3pts
Macca 2 pts
sainsbury 1pt

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I have watched the replays a couple of times
Here are my views.

I think Delovski does not like Swanny, both yellows were very, very soft. He also ignored the blatant shirt pulling, that happened right in front of him when Patrick was attempting a header from the early corner. Appears to be a home town ref. Sydney were not impressed with him in the 7-2 game. I tend to agree.

I agree Wombat something appears to be not quite working, but suspect it may just be a perception. The new formation with two defensive mids is working pretty well but neither of them get forward.
I thought Hutch was caught too often last night in possession. I am still not sure whether the problem was Hutch dithering or lack of options for him from other players, probably both. Do we need him getting further forward? Maybe, I am not sure.
Probably not necessary with very attacking left and right backs. When they go forward Hutch drops to support the centre mids giving us 3 across the back in defence. Pretty useful if we lose the ball and have to defend a fast break.

At the moment I would probably leave things the same. The defence is good and we are scoring goals.

The only change I would make would to have Kwass on the bench rather than Bernie.

Interesting that Arnie had Pele on the bench in place of Hearfield, probably as a replacement for Tommy when he tired after travelling.

Will be interesting to see our defence next week without Patrick. A preview of next year.