Pre-Season Games

[Mini In Bay 6]

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

 

[Rowdy]

Peterson got done there, Scum should have had a tap in

 

[nebakke]

Phew Nice to finally see a win for the boys... Even if it's just a friendly.

 

[Rowdy]

Typical CCM 'switch-off' with the back4 in the last play of the game, statues giving a free header that should've made the net.

 

[sydmariner]

Phew Nice to finally see a win for the boys... Even if it's just a friendly.

It's NEVER a friendly when we play the scum FTS

 

[FFC Mariner]

FTS

 

[Rowdy]

I think Green Gully were a better standard of opposition than the Scum's line-up/performance today, so therefore can't really say that we've improved on the FFA Cup loss, but definitely a bit better with Pain, Powell & RO'D in the front third attacks.

 

[BrisRecky]

Conor and Royo were brilliant

 

[Rowdy]

Still don't think Berry's got what it takes to be the 2nd DM, even if/when Monty is reinstated there (because he needs to be reinstated there imo, it worries me that he'll possibly be considered to play CB at all this season)

As was said earlier, McGing does look better at DM than at CB & I think the same could be said of Ascot as well, which to me just adds more weight to the possibility of us needin a soecialist/experienced CB and then utilise Jake & Harry as the back-up's for CB'some.

 

[Rowdy]

Which leaves the x2 DM positions a sea of possibilities & combo's.
Monty & Tavares (first choice)
Junior
Ascroft
McGing
Berry
Neil & McDonald in a pinch.

That's well and truly stacked.

Whereas the CB position? which of the above moving back there gives you confidence ???

For mine, only Monty ..... but he offers far more to the team at DM.
Ascroft & McGing .... if we're talking injuries/suspensions.

As Lawrie said at the beginning of the game in relation to this very subject (CB),
"Monty was without a doubt the best DM player in the entire A-League last year"

 

[nebakke]

Which leaves the x2 DM positions a sea of possibilities & combo's.
Monty & Tavares (first choice)
Junior
Ascroft
McGing
Berry
Neil & McDonald in a pinch.

That's well and truly stacked.

Whereas the CB position? which of the above moving back there gives you confidence ???

For mine, only Monty ..... but he offers far more to the team at DM.
Ascroft & McGing .... if we're talking injuries/suspensions.

As Lawrie said at the beginning of the game in relation to this very subject (CB),
"Monty was without a doubt the best DM player in the entire A-League last year"

Where was that sort of Gusto when Rudan attacked last year?

 

[Rowdy]

Rudan attacked Monty's integrity not his ability.

 

[dibo]

He was unbelievable at the start of the year but faded. Would love that back again!

 

[true believer]

i thought we looked a lot better with faty on the park.
threw in a few nice long balls that could of lead to anything for good measure.

much improved on the green gully debacle .

 

[pjennings]

Mariners started with 7 of the starting XI and after were back to 6 after 17 minutes. Newcastle were also minus Boogaard, Haliti, Nordstrand and Kokko. I really couldn't take much from the game except match fitness.

 

[nebakke]

i thought we looked a lot better with faty on the park.
threw in a few nice long balls that could of lead to anything for good measure.

much improved on the green gully debacle .

It's a bit hard to assess without Posco in there as well, I think... However, I thought he looked like he brought a whole lot of calm to the defence... We still had our problems, but it never really felt like they hit that complete state of panic that they would in most games last year. With him in, they held a nice line at the back and there seemed to be a bit of understanding there.
Izzo did alright, but I gotta say Necevski doesn't look too bad in goals either - starter for mine, at this point.

 

[Wombat]

Not great but at least we got a win. We looked slightly better structured.
The defence is frail and the fullbacks got turned over alot. The right back is slower than a weekend in Toukley and Neill likes to go walkabout (he does look good going forward)
The postives were Pain and Royo....both were excellent. I don't think we will miss Austin at all.
Monty and Faty were fairly good. Powell looks quite good and McDonald was very good.
Now if we can start a game with our starting 11, all in correct position, we can start to move forward.

 

[Rowdy]

I don't think we will miss Austin at all.

Lawrie hilariously did ........ totally missed remembering his name during the commentary, trying to talk up 'that speedy left winger that went Melb.City' ??????

Until finally, some lackey from the Jets stepped in with a whisper of Mitch Austins name to relieve Lawrie's Alzheimers.

 

[Big Al]

Monty's strength is aggression, which he is not able to utilise in CB.

He's a quality player but moving to CB not easy.

Must be in Midfield or nothing. We are so ordinary in the middle ATM. Need to play Monty and Tavares together soon to see how it goes

 

[Capt. Awesome]

My son and I made the trip up yesterday. Was a very good atmosphere and the Tamworh people were very receptive to the show.

A couple of observations.

We had trouble keeping possession and playing out from the back. This is mainly due to our non existent inexperienced midfield. We were however very effective on the counter when we quickly bypassed the midfield. Conner, Blake and Roy were working very well together and seem to be starting to click. Unfortunately Fabio was injured early but didn't show too much when he was on.

Conner is a more complete footballer than Austin and worked hard in defence and was our most effective attacking weapon having a hand in both goals.

Micky Neill seems to be lacking confidence. Would play passes back more than he needed too and was not comfortable going forward. I like what Peterson did as a young player on debut. He will only get better.

I think we can be competitive again when Monty is playing DM with Taveres and Posco in the backs with Faty. I'm happy with our front four of Roy, Blake, Fabio and Conner. They will do a lot of damage.

Overall probably didn't deserve the win as Newcastle had a lot more shots and chances than us. Newcastle was opposite to us. Had a good midfield and kept possession well but lacked quality finishing.

The best thing about the game was it looked like we are starting to get the Mariners spirit back. There was a moment after the where Hutch got all the players in a shoulder to shoulder huddle showing a united playing group.

Things are looking up.