R18: Roar v CCM

[Rowdy]

Dibo will be getting a call-up for the ACL games before he knows it.

He wont be putting up with any Asian shenanigans.

 

[midfielder]

Dutchie on TWG today made an observation, that 90% of goals we conceded this year have been because of poor defending .... Further the defence has not improved ...

He then went on to say when sides play a high line [as we do] the defence must be capable of playing many different styles but we seem to attack the ball in defence and the players seem unable to adjust...

I will give him credit for it not being sour grapes as I essentially agree with his assessment.

To me on the weekend I could not understand why Storm was left at right back and not moved into a midfield position with Pasco moving to right back except we had no replacements ....

I would go a stage further our midfield generally does not shield the backs that well neither ...

With the Jerks winning today we can only hope the Nix keep losing ...

 

[Coach]

Keep it up and posts will be deleted, keep it up beyond then and accounts will be suspended. Keep it nice.

My apologies, however, I take exception to our players, whether they are playing good or bad, being called a 'C'. It is classless and not required. I have met Storm, he is a good kid, further he has played for his country and is every bit good enough to play at this level. He does not deserve to be abused by a keyboard bandit. Happy to play nice. I will answer the last question and from then on I promise not to to stir the pot.

 

[localpom]

Dutchie on TWG today made an observation, that 90% of goals we conceded this year have been because of poor defending .... Further the defence has not improved ...

He then went on to say when sides play a high line [as we do] the defence must be capable of playing many different styles but we seem to attack the ball in defence and the players seem unable to adjust...

I will give him credit for it not being sour grapes as I essentially agree with his assessment.

To me on the weekend I could not understand why Storm was left at right back and not moved into a midfield position with Pasco moving to right back except we had no replacements ....

I would go a stage further our midfield generally does not shield the backs that well neither ...

With the Jerks winning today we can only hope the Nix keep losing ...

Have to agree with Patrick. I like our young backs and keepers but we are in desperate need of a top quality CB to organize and mentor them. Wilko would be perfect and it would be a nice challenge for him.

 

[VicMariner]

I have been away for a week so I missed the game, but the loss is no big deal imo. We are not going to be winning every game. Losing to a top two team is to be expected when you are bottom of the ladder.
Grabbing wins against the bottom half of the table is what we should be looking for as well as good performances win, lose or draw.
It seems the defence has not improved and it is a bit worrying to read there was a lack of desperation. Don't want that when trying to avoid the spoon.

Bring on Adelaide!

 

[Rowdy]

Wilko would be perfect and it would be a nice challenge for him.

Whilst agree, unfortunately he's already signed with Melb.City for the rest of the season.

If he does alright with them they'll most likely offer him a deal for next season.

If not, maybe to us instead. But Yeah we desperately need one NOW.

MC & TW need to be scouring for a free-transfer CB 28-32yo with a good amount of experience, leadership/communication and is dependable as.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

MC & TW need to be scouring for a free-transfer CB 28-32yo with a good amount of experience, leadership/communication and is dependable as.

And tall + good in the air at attacking corners +fast, very fast + good distributor + .....

Not asking a tiny bit too much are we?

 

[Rowdy]

Yeah, and a cape. He needs to come with a fully functioning cape.

And I'm not talking about one of those dissapearing fck'n Harry Potter things either, more a tall buildings and speeding locomotive type.

 

[localpom]

And tall + good in the air at attacking corners +fast, very fast + good distributor + .....

Not asking a tiny bit too much are we?

We can't go another season without a quality CB......that and a proper number 10. With those 2 in place we will be ok.

 

[Rowdy]

+ good in the air at attacking corners .....

Not asking a tiny bit too much are we?

No, No - NO!

- DEFENDING ! DEFENDING the corners. (& the set-pieces)

 

[style_cafe]

Whilst agree, unfortunately he's already signed with Melb.City for the rest of the season.

If he does alright with them they'll most likely offer him a deal for next season.

If not, maybe to us instead. But Yeah we desperately need one NOW.

MC & TW need to be scouring for a free-transfer CB 28-32yo with a good amount of experience, leadership/communication and is dependable as.

HEITINGA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heitinga

 

[Wombat]

He sounds good. Hopefully not too washed up. Maybe the perfect time for him to come to HAL.

 

[Rowdy]

Haha the Nix's Jeffrey Sarpong gets a mention on Heitingas wiki page as an Ajax youth wunderkid & featured with Heitinga in a documentary about their youth system.

 

[Wombat]

My apologies, however, I take exception to our players, whether they are playing good or bad, being called a 'C'. It is classless and not required. I have met Storm, he is a good kid, further he has played for his country and is every bit good enough to play at this level. He does not deserve to be abused by a keyboard bandit. Happy to play nice. I will answer the last question and from then on I promise not to to stir the pot.

Ok I just watched the game and Storm wasn't that bad. His header was worse than Pathetic (I've coached u12 and u14 girls) and than reminded me of an unco under 12...who ended up being a good keeper.
You and I could play for NZ so that's not saying much.
He is good enough to play HAL....just not as a fullback.
He looks good going forward.
Did ok but didn't get a pass mark.....but most of the team got a big fail.
I apologise to Storm for the C comment.....totally unfair and just a beered up post.
Nice guy, with good skills but not a defenders arse.....if I can be classless (and I often am).

 

[Wombat]

Ok
I watched the game tonight at it was pretty dire.

I'll start with the positives. Fab is a great player and we are lucky to have him. Posco is turning into a great defender. Bingham works hard and is a handful....like a slightly more cultured Matty(although not as good a finisher at this stage).

Monty didn't have a good game and when he doesn't fire we are in trouble.

The back four are soft, slow to close down and always caught out of position.
Only Rose looks along the line, there is no organisation. I would love to have players of the quality of a North, Donachie and Hingert.
Izzo wasn't as bad as I expected after conceding 4 but he doesn't command the box and doesn't control his backs. The back four don't look confident in him.
Only Posco got a pass mark.

The midfield is slow and sloppy on the ball. They don't shield the defence very well and their movement off the ball is no existent. They only run into space when the ball has been played there.
Only Fab got a pass mark

Bingham works hard and looks a decent prospect.

Izzo. Couple of good saves but definitely time to start Bray.
Storm. Time for a spell. 2nd goal was a nightmare. Teach him to head the ball like he has some neck muscles?
McGing. Mixed bag. North gave him a crafty push on the first goal but you have to be stronger and more desperate. Some good challenges but not convincing.
Posco. More interested in playing the man rather than heading the ball on the first goal but McGing and Rose were the main culprits. The best of a shit back 4.
Rose. At times did well but overall rather poor. To blame for the first goal and too loose too often.
Fletcher. Are you kidding me. An absolute plodder with a poor first touch. He did try and thread a couple of nice through balls but an absolute passenger. Like Fitzy but with no pace.
Monty. Not to the pace of the game and didn't close down to his usual standard. A couple of nice passes but his worst game of the year. Shows how shit we are when he was probably our 3rd or 4th best on an off day.
Rose. Didn't do a very good defensive job but still looks good on the ball. Needs to lift his tempo.
Fab. Best of a bad bunch.
Neill. Sloppy. Got caught in possession twice, one of them costing us a goal. Looks great a times but I'm not sure where to play him. Needs to switch on more as do most of his team mates. Could have scored.
Bingham. Should have scored after lovely ball from Fab.
Worked very hard. Has potential.

3pts. Fab
2pt. Posco
1pt. Bingham.

 

[tim...]

Something that's occured to me in games is that when there's a bit of yap - when our players are talking and communicating on the pitch we appear to play much better. Against Roar communication appeared to be at a minimum. Izzo and the back four need to open their mouths and get the boys going

 

[Coach]

Ok I just watched the game and Storm wasn't that bad. His header was worse than Pathetic (I've coached u12 and u14 girls) and than reminded me of an unco under 12...who ended up being a good keeper.
You and I could play for NZ so that's not saying much.
He is good enough to play HAL....just not as a fullback.
He looks good going forward.
Did ok but didn't get a pass mark.....but most of the team got a big fail.
I apologise to Storm for the C comment.....totally unfair and just a beered up post.
Nice guy, with good skills but not a defenders arse.....if I can be classless (and I often am).

Thanks Wombat - I won't contniue to stir things up - as requested my thoughts on coaching them;



I do believe we have a group of competent backs despite our ability to leak goals each and every week. I think Storm is every bit the new age fullback overlapping regularly, his problems, and that of the other backs do not relate to their natural ability. Rather, as a I have probably ineloquently described before, they are product of the position they find themselves in. I agree with most posters here so I didn’t see much value in adding the same comment, we need to find some experience. They all appear to have the necessary physical characteristics of a pro defensive player, agility, speed, technical prowess what they lack is experience, ability to read a game, anticipation and direction. I see four main issues;

1. Communication – These guys are having enough trouble doing their own job let alone barking directions, this makes them hesitant and their thinking unclear. The Storm header is a classic example, it was not his lack of heading ability (however, coaches in Australia now do very little in the way of heading practice in my experience). I’ll bet Monty said nothing, Storm said nothing and as Storm went to head he was spooked by Monty running at him – re-watch it, I think you will see what I mean. They are not communicating, Posco should have been screening at McGing to stay, instead, undirected to the threat behind him McGing wandered and tried to assist Rose – he did neither. An experienced centre half would at least be marshalling them, they may make mistakes but I have found that a committed mistake is better than uncommitted involvement (or lack thereof). Solution – as said many times here, get an experienced Centre Half, not Wilko I’m thinking more like Royston Griffiths. I also think we are asking Monty to do a job he isn’t cut out for he is not an organiser, we also need a central midfielder to take control, Monty is the work horse. I think Young Rose has great potential but he needs to be subbed at 60-65mins, he simply disappears about this time of a game, he needs to build his stamina, again this adds to the defensive pressure. This is constructive, he is only 18yrs old.
   
   
2. Amount of Defence – We are regularly recording 30-40% possession per game. Plus we have fewer players defending. This means we defend more, this by itself means we struggle. The more we defend the more chance that we will make mistake/s. Of course we see teams O/s that park the bus for 90mins and are effectively impossible to break down and play off the counter, they appear consummate. Please see point 1 & 3, this takes a great level of communication and direction, plus confidence in your experience to pull off, we don’t have that – YET. Why do we experience so little possession – well that is simple, Austin (12 tackles all season) and Fab (9 tackles all season) don’t defend. They are counter attackers often going the other way, this coupled with a Striker that is very inexperienced and prone to panic (natural for a youngster) means that we hardly ever hold the ball for any period in the attacking third. To bolster this we are playing 3 screening mid fielders, this by itself invites them in! It also means that our fullbacks often have two players running at them - that Wombat is why they don’t press because they find themselves regularly outnumbered, they don’t know who to take, they don’t have eyes in the back of their heads and there is no direction coming from behind. Solution - Encourage Austin and Fab to do just a little bit more, see point 1 re some experienced players to coordinate the defence.
   
   
3. Confidence – These youngsters have generally been successful all their lives, that’s how they got here so quick (sort of) now, maybe for the first time, things are not going well. I give most of them a great deal of credit for keeping their heads high, despite the criticism from supporters and the press (particularly Bosnic) but it impacts on their decision making and general application. They are reducing their risk taking to a minimum where, in the past, they have taken risks and their ability has got them through. This applies particularly to Neill and Rose, they both have the ability to beat people but compared to last year they are taking the very low risk option all the time, this puts very little pressure on your opponent. Solution:- Tell the mid field to take risks, pass long to the wings, take on the man in front of you if the odds are good and…………………….point 4
   
   
4. Speed of Play – I think Garcia is showing the way, he has shown a bit of quick ball movement which initiates uncertainty in the opposition (his rep also helps lol). We are so slow is circulating the ball, transition is often drab – see point 3 re confidence. So, go forward one/two touch football, move the ball quickly. We also need players running off the ball to take the pressure off Garcia/Rose/Neill and Monty. Quite simply if you turn them around at speed, make your opposition make snap decisions then release the likes of Fab and Austin I think the results will be much much better.

 

[Wombat]

Thanks Wombat - I won't contniue to stir things up - as requested my thoughts on coaching them;



I do believe we have a group of competent backs despite our ability to leak goals each and every week. I think Storm is every bit the new age fullback overlapping regularly, his problems, and that of the other backs do not relate to their natural ability. Rather, as a I have probably ineloquently described before, they are product of the position they find themselves in. I agree with most posters here so I didn’t see much value in adding the same comment, we need to find some experience. They all appear to have the necessary physical characteristics of a pro defensive player, agility, speed, technical prowess what they lack is experience, ability to read a game, anticipation and direction. I see four main issues;

1. Communication – These guys are having enough trouble doing their own job let alone barking directions, this makes them hesitant and their thinking unclear. The Storm header is a classic example, it was not his lack of heading ability (however, coaches in Australia now do very little in the way of heading practice in my experience). I’ll bet Monty said nothing, Storm said nothing and as Storm went to head he was spooked by Monty running at him – re-watch it, I think you will see what I mean. They are not communicating, Posco should have been screening at McGing to stay, instead, undirected to the threat behind him McGing wandered and tried to assist Rose – he did neither. An experienced centre half would at least be marshalling them, they may make mistakes but I have found that a committed mistake is better than uncommitted involvement (or lack thereof). Solution – as said many times here, get an experienced Centre Half, not Wilko I’m thinking more like Royston Griffiths. I also think we are asking Monty to do a job he isn’t cut out for he is not an organiser, we also need a central midfielder to take control, Monty is the work horse. I think Young Rose has great potential but he needs to be subbed at 60-65mins, he simply disappears about this time of a game, he needs to build his stamina, again this adds to the defensive pressure. This is constructive, he is only 18yrs old.
   
   
2. Amount of Defence – We are regularly recording 30-40% possession per game. Plus we have fewer players defending. This means we defend more, this by itself means we struggle. The more we defend the more chance that we will make mistake/s. Of course we see teams O/s that park the bus for 90mins and are effectively impossible to break down and play off the counter, they appear consummate. Please see point 1 & 3, this takes a great level of communication and direction, plus confidence in your experience to pull off, we don’t have that – YET. Why do we experience so little possession – well that is simple, Austin (12 tackles all season) and Fab (9 tackles all season) don’t defend. They are counter attackers often going the other way, this coupled with a Striker that is very inexperienced and prone to panic (natural for a youngster) means that we hardly ever hold the ball for any period in the attacking third. To bolster this we are playing 3 screening mid fielders, this by itself invites them in! It also means that our fullbacks often have two players running at them - that Wombat is why they don’t press because they find themselves regularly outnumbered, they don’t know who to take, they don’t have eyes in the back of their heads and there is no direction coming from behind. Solution - Encourage Austin and Fab to do just a little bit more, see point 1 re some experienced players to coordinate the defence.
   
   
3. Confidence – These youngsters have generally been successful all their lives, that’s how they got here so quick (sort of) now, maybe for the first time, things are not going well. I give most of them a great deal of credit for keeping their heads high, despite the criticism from supporters and the press (particularly Bosnic) but it impacts on their decision making and general application. They are reducing their risk taking to a minimum where, in the past, they have taken risks and their ability has got them through. This applies particularly to Neill and Rose, they both have the ability to beat people but compared to last year they are taking the very low risk option all the time, this puts very little pressure on your opponent. Solution:- Tell the mid field to take risks, pass long to the wings, take on the man in front of you if the odds are good and…………………….point 4
   
   
4. Speed of Play – I think Garcia is showing the way, he has shown a bit of quick ball movement which initiates uncertainty in the opposition (his rep also helps lol). We are so slow is circulating the ball, transition is often drab – see point 3 re confidence. So, go forward one/two touch football, move the ball quickly. We also need players running off the ball to take the pressure off Garcia/Rose/Neill and Monty. Quite simply if you turn them around at speed, make your opposition make snap decisions then release the likes of Fab and Austin I think the results will be much much better.

An excellent and well thought out post. I agree with a fair bit of what you say.

 

[dibo]

Frosty chocolate milkshakes all round