R13: NYE @ Home v City

[Wombat]

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.

Soon buddy soon....Done.

 

[Wombat]

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

Impossible to play worse!!!

showed some glimpses of his talent but still showed flawes!

 

[Pirate Pete]

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

I didn't see Wednesdays game. I was driving in Sydney and had to stream commentary from the ABC.
Now normally I'm a fan of the ABC, but the commentary was woeful.
However they did mention in the first half how well Neill played.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

while watching the replay I was very impressed by Danny McBreen's commentary. No dramatics, no bullshit, just good informed and well thought out comments as to what was happening.
A breath of fresh air, hopefully we will see more of him and less of the other clowns.

 

[nebakke]

while watching the replay I was very impressed by Danny McBreen's commentary. No dramatics, no bullshit, just good informed and well thought out comments as to what was happening.
A breath of fresh air, hopefully we will see more of him and less of the other clowns.

Just watched through it... My wife has long since stopped watching the games on tele, with me, because she gets frustrated to the point of anger at some of the commentators.
But she actually asked me who it was that was commentating - before realising it was Macca obviously - because she found his comments insightful and found it much easier to enjoy the game, because he wasn't getting drawn in to odd speculation or attacks on either team and he was able to explain what he felt was happening, quite well...

Macca for Fox-sports commentary

 

[Big Al]

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

We didn't don't believe the team sheet

McGing played RB Faty and Ashcroft CB's and Galloway LB

When Faty went off Galloway to RB, McGing to CB and Neill to LB

 

[Wombat]

Pretty good effort.
Izzo was solid again.
Happy with the back 4. Still sloppy at times but overall good. Ashcroft is quite a decent young CB. Galloway is a great little player but he was a bit sloppy with some passes and the penalty was very stupid but overall I really rate the kid.
Midfield need to close down those opportunities on the edge of the box more quickly.
Monty was great but not as good as some have said.
Berry is a better option than Rose.
Appa has plenty of grunt. Not starting 11 but he didn't let us down.
Powell is still a 50/50 proposition.
Fab was great off the bench and Trent should start every game
Roy should have down better with that chance that would probably have won us the match.
Crowd was good considering how shit we have been for 2 years.
Ball boy is a hero.....well played ya cheeky bugger.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

I was very proud of Mickey Neill he made plenty of mistakes but he kept trying, kept working and pushed through. That's so difficult to do especially after the experiences he has had in professional football. He certainly isn't a perfect player but I think last night showed that Paulo can get the best out of any player and really inspire them.

 

[Luca Brasi]

Another really enjoyable home game. Most fans would have taken a 2-2 draw before the start but to lead 2-1 with 5 to go made it feel disappointing. Clearly meant a lot to the club, Okon and Shaun were embracing over the fence after Roy scored.
I thought the defence did well to adjust with Faty going off so early and Micky Neill did a better job than Marc Warren against Kamau (however I still think he is a liability).
Both goals came from quick breaks from the middle third but the difference was that we had players close enough to work in combination, often the attack are too far apart that leads to a hopeful cross to an outnumbered Roy. Not convinced that Fab is a #10 but we might see him start there next week. Monty and Berry work well until they move too far apart and the hole opens up in the middle.
The game has not convinced me that we are fully competitive yet, I think we benefited from City's arrogance. After dominating the first half they bring on two 17 year old subs and fail to replace Brattan after a heavy head knock. Their press dropped off and gave our midfield much more space.

 

[ballantyne]

I'm not sure I buy this Appiah-not-starting-XI business.
Is he not fit enough? If so he will get it through starting.
Is he not skilled enough? If so why even have him on the bench?
I say let's support him.

 

[ballantyne]

Just watched through it... My wife has long since stopped watching the games on tele, with me, because she gets frustrated to the point of anger at some of the commentators.
But she actually asked me who it was that was commentating - before realising it was Macca obviously - because she found his comments insightful and found it much easier to enjoy the game, because he wasn't getting drawn in to odd speculation or attacks on either team and he was able to explain what he felt was happening, quite well...

Macca for Fox-sports commentary

Just from the highlights you could tell he's good at it.

 

[Big Al]

Both goals came from quick breaks from the middle third but the difference was that we had players close enough to work in combination, often the attack are too far apart that leads to a hopeful cross to an outnumbered Roy.

The second goal was beautiful team play.
Berry to Pain control through ball to a great run from Trent who crosses beautifully for a Roy tap in. Swift, movement and direct. Great goal. Was interesting to see Pain and Trent on same side for the goal and Fab on the far side.
We looked sharp with Roy, Fab, Pain and Trent. Very quick because two were fresh and Trent is a jet anyway. May have only looked good because it was late and the defence was tiring and we probably prefer some of them on early but did work the other night

 

[Wombat]

I'm not sure I buy this Appiah-not-starting-XI business.
Is he not fit enough? If so he will get it through starting.
Is he not skilled enough? If so why even have him on the bench?
I say let's support him.

He is not skilled enough to start. In our weak squad he is good enough for the bench and his speed can hurt a tiring opposition.

 

[Capt. Awesome]

I thought we played well with Fabio as a 10. He had good control and vision for Trent's goal. Was good in traffic. I'd like to see him start there over Powell to give it a go.

 

[MagpieMariner]

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

I thought he played out of his skin compared to 1-1/2 seasons!

 

[Wombat]

Powell isn't working at all as a 10. I'd give Fab a run there. He is less gun shy than Berry and Rose.

 

[Wombat]

I thought he played out of his skin compared to 1-1/2 seasons!

Still dodgy in parts but some pretty good moments mixed in as well. He is not starting 11 but can do a job at LB or LM off the bench.

 

[nebakke]

I thought we played well with Fabio as a 10. He had good control and vision for Trent's goal. Was good in traffic. I'd like to see him start there over Powell to give it a go.

I don't feel like he had anywhere near enough time on the ball in that role to really show one way or another tbh... But I'd be happy for them to give it a try. May as well...

 

[FFC Mariner]

The closest to a 10 we have is Rose and he is playing poorly right now.
Fab isnt a 10 - too lazy when we dont have the ball.
Sadly the "system" cant be changed to suit the current squad. Until we sign the 10 we are reportedly chasing it wont get better

 

[pjennings]

I know we were advertised as a 3-5-2 on the weekend and maybe that is we way we would have played if Faty was not injured. Would Fab work as a #10 in that system. Assuming Faty and Posco unavailable

Izzo
McGing-----------Ascroft --------Galloway
Roux------------------------------------------------Pain
Monty---------------------Tavares
Fabio
Trent-----------------Roy
​

The bench Could have Appiah, Bingers, Berry and Rose/Powell with Monty dropping back if a defender is injured