R13: NYE @ Home v City

[Big Al]

Monty was definitely booked in the 2nd half when brought down Caceras. Must've been close to 80' or so

Yes A League match stats has him down for a yellow in 80th minute on Caceras. Thought he got away with it.

Some good professional fouls tonight stopping breakaways. Both Berry and Monty got yellows for these fouls but are the type of fouls we need to be making.

Neill also tried one at half way but got away with his.

Thought the ref had a good game

 

[FFC Mariner]

I stood next to the bagpiper at Sydney away once and he played for 90 minutes pausing only to drink another swig of scotch.
Great guy, used to see him at the odd away game but not for ages

 

[Big Al]

JVS
we were OK, we came up 1-0. It was a great goal. In the second half when we started we just lost control. They won every ball, we couldnt keep the ball. They had more passes. In saying that we had one of the biggest opportunities to go 2-0 up, with Brucey Kamau one on one with the keeper.

"But then he decided to cross it instead of keep on running it in and have a shot. We got a corner out of that situation and they scored on the break from that corner. So... instead of going 2-0 up it was 1-1. And after that we just lost control.

I think Trent suffers from this and happened a once or twice last night. He gets half a yard in front of the defender and instead of angling in and taking a shot he slows and crosses when the defence is there. Some of his crosses are absolute peaches but just needs to add attacking the goal and keeper. His left foot strike was awesome though

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Just watched the replay, I find it easier to look closely at individuals performance than when I am at the game.

Midfield.
Monty was immense and was everywhere in defence, he also was the distributor and go to man in attack which is not really his game but carried it out admirably.
Powell was solid but was not involved enough. Needed to be more mobile to provide Monty with an out on many occasions and to be the attack organiser. Unfortunately not his position, we need a true #10. Fab provided that spark when he came on fresh and ran tired defenders. A good cameo and maybe worth doing again rather than putting him there from the start.
Berry, a great defensive performance at times he was Montyesque. On last night's performance a much better option at DM than Rose.

Overall the midfield took control and made a much more experienced and costly bunch of players look toothless for much of the game, and in turn took a lot of pressure off our central defenders allowing them a more comfortable game.

Defence
Both McGing and Ascroft had solid comfortable games with only the odd mistake, both still learning the trade and looking better with each games experience. I am more comfortable with this pairing than I was.
Galloway was much improved on last week and but for that one costly mistake had a very good game.
Micky Neil, how do I phrase this? He had the best game I have seen him produce as a left back. He effectively closed down Kamau for most of the game and looked dangerous in attack. Sure he hesitated a couple of times going forward but I think on most occasions he made the correct decision to prop and retain possession. In the last 10 mins Kamau got goal side of him a couple of times far too easily but at that stage he was absolutely stuffed and had run out of legs and but for the early sub would have normally been replaced. He played with more confidence than usual which may be the factor which has been missing. Look to the future with interest.

Attack
Roy as usual ran his butt off and one day soon he will catch a slow keeper. Got caught offside a few times but that goes with the territory of being an off the last defender's shoulder type of attacker. Great finish for the goal, unlucky to miss the one that almost nutmegged Bouzianis, but for the trailing leg and will be kicking himself for missing the tap in after following the strike in. Watching it in replay I am still not sure whether he was trying to tap it in or just putting it past the keeper for Trent to finish. Oh well, unfortunate.
Trent had a great game and what a great goal. He has something that you cannot teach - blistering pace, but is also showing and amazing acceleration in development, if it continues he can be great.
Appiah is a solid bench player but not a starter, hopefully Pain can refind his Mojo.
With a skilful #10 this attack could rip a new one for any other team in the A-League. Please...........

Look forward to Wombat's views when he surfaces.

 

[Big Al]

.

Saw the interview with the kid on FoxSport news this morning and it was premeditated.
He and his mates planned they'd do it.

Best thing after the game Shaun took him over for a photo with Tim and Tim obliged but was what are you doing this is the kid who made me look like an arse

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Hammy right in front of me . He looked gutted . Looks like his kids were here for xmas to. Dame shame .

It cost a sub to .if we could have got traves on at 2-1 ,i think he controls the game and we win .

Yeah exactly my thoughts too. Team that tired, losing a sub has a much bigger cost.

34 year old returning from injury backing up 3 days later... not a great decision in truth, but hard to blame Okon wanting to start him and get Galloway back out on the left. One more reason why Monty's performance blew me away.

So he's taken the field unfit and/or not warmed up. If I were the coach I'd be asking some searching questions there.

Backing up 3 days later at his age and the likelihood of a soft tissue injury is high. As just said can't really blame Okon for playing him, but certainly shouldn't be blaming the player. He played a great game against Victory in brutal conditions.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Okon's presser.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video/f...-conferences/mariners-press-conference!602032

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Hammy right in front of me . He looked gutted . Looks like his kids were here for xmas to. Dame shame .

It cost a sub to .if we could have got traves on at 2-1 ,i think he controls the game and we win .

Taves was never going to come on, you only had to look at his shorts. I am sure there is an interesting story there.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Saw the interview with the kid on FoxSport news this morning and it was premeditated.
He and his mates planned they'd do it.

Best thing after the game Shaun took him over for a photo with Tim and Tim obliged but was what are you doing this is the kid who made me look like an arse

Thanks for finding that. Missed it. Just made my afternoon. Give the kid a years membership please Shaun.

Peter Prior, Tiffo something to do with the ball boy next time we play City please.

 

[ballantyne]

34 year old returning from injury backing up 3 days later... not a great decision in truth, but hard to blame O
Backing up 3 days later at his age and the likelihood of a soft tissue injury is high. As just said can't really blame Okon for playing him, but certainly shouldn't be blaming the player. He played a great game against Victory in brutal conditions.

Not blaming the player.

 

[ballantyne]

There is staff specifically tasked with preparing players for a) selection and b) kickoff. We can't expect tactical sophistication without those guarantees.

 

[true believer]

Taves was never going to come on, you only had to look at his shorts. I am sure there is an interesting story there.

Yeah we talked about the shorts .
I thought they were just trendy undies

 

[Big Al]

Central Coast Mariners ball boy becomes internet sensation after trolling

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...l/news-story/7a418eb663a61f6c449be3c3160a69d4

Great little story about our ball boy going global. He stared down Cahill as well. What a legend

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Not blaming the player.

So he's taken the field unfit and/or not warmed up. If I were the coach I'd be asking some searching questions there.

Ok sorry Ballantyne. That was how it read to me. I see from your next post that you're referring to Bryce. Okon mentioned the costly inclusion of Faty in his presser. Sounded like they were obviously aware of the risk of him backing up but Okon said with multiple other changes he wanted to try and keep some continuity.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Ok sorry Ballantyne. That was how it read to me. I see from your next post that you're referring to Bryce. Okon mentioned the costly inclusion of Faty in his presser. Sounded like they were obviously aware of the risk of him backing up but Okon said with multiple other changes he wanted to try and keep some continuity.

They didn't really have to many options on what they could do. If Posco was fit I doubt Faty would have started. So McDonald and Fletcher haven't played in the youth all season does that mean the club has basically released them? Or are they injured?

 

[pjennings]

If, as Faty suggests it is a tear then depending on the severity it could be for all intents and purposes be season ending. What are the ramifications of a visa player needing an injury replacement - can they be replaced by another visa player?

 

[Capt. Awesome]

Can anyone comment on how well we played regarding using 3 at the back? Team sheet said we played 352.

 

[Pirate Pete]

Can anyone comment on how well we played regarding using 3 at the back? Team sheet said we played 352.

Looked like we played four at the back to me.
Granted Neill took a while to get back at times, but it was definitely four at the back

 

[Ancient Mariner]

If, as Faty suggests it is a tear then depending on the severity it could be for all intents and purposes be season ending. What are the ramifications of a visa player needing an injury replacement - can they be replaced by another visa player?

The way he went down I would not be surprised if torn.

 

[tim...]

I thought Neill played out of his skin last night compared to Wednesday