R20: CCM v Victory at Gosford

[Forum Phoenix]

Not a lot of fun to watch, but MV are a very good side imo when it clicks and their movement, touch/control and defenders were simply a class above. We couldn't find a way through and a lot of that is to their credit imo - Only thing in attack I think the current players on the park could have done better is switch it quicker and Trent to back himself. He's looked in his shell these past two games. Young players...inconsistency... etc etc. I was hoping for Kubi at HT, but maybe that would have crushed Trent.

Bottom line though you can't lose the midfield battle and expect to win many games. And not being an apologist, but I don't think you can really expect mcging, berry and Fab to beat Valeri, Ollie and Troisi 19 times out of 20. Lose that and there's little service, more pressure on the backs and plenty of opportunities afforded the other way. Even with Monty, I'd tip us to lose it, but we'd have done better obviously.

We gave away some very cheap ball which is what I find the most disappointing aspect of the performance. Otherwise... I think we were largely just outclassed.

3 nil is unfair on our two CB's who I thought were both very good today barring poscos poor passes in the last 20 I thought he wa our best on park and was terrific.

Fab tried hard and was ok again I thought, but he is still not a specialist 10 and does not successfully hit the passes you hope a very good 10 will.

Everywhere else they bossed us and in attack a lot of their ball came in through the flanks, in particular storms flank via Rojas. Was not hard to see that coming, though Dibo called me a soccer mum just for worrying at it. I think we needed a plan to better handle this - MV isolated our wingers much more effectively in return and Geria and Georgievski were both very good. With Valeri playing as effectively as Monty does for us.

Oh well, not much expectation on that one. We need a bit more strengthening yet.

 

[Luca Brasi]

I changed seats today and sat much closer to the play. Didnt see the tactics unfold as usual but saw the speed, the press and the physicality much better. MV couldnt play as badly as they did against the scum and they just have a much better squad than us. I thought Troisi was a beast in the middle.

 

[Big Al]

Today was just a quality issue. We played well just didn't have the same cattle.

McGing Trent and Fab just won't get it done against the better sides.

McGing showed he is a squadie come benchie next year.

Trent has a long way to go, needs strength and better decision making and some variety

Fab has been cutting some sides open but a strong defence was ready and never looked likely. Swap Troisi we would have been a better team. Depends on what Paolo can get but Fab probably won't be here unless can't get someone of quality.

Also the attackers need to know where they are running so that Fab can put a ball somewhere for them to run onto.

First Victory goal was really nice play, Trent exposed.

While never looked likely we didn't look shit either

 

[Big Al]

Worst part is we just gave back all those goals Nix got pumped by.
We were only one goal behind now 4. Could cost us 7th or 8th

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Bingham again didn't look out of place and made me want to see more of him. I think he would have been more successful than Roy was tonight in holding up the ball and bringing us into the play in the front third.

Was Storm injured? Neil's sub was a bit strange otherwise...

 

[FFC Mariner]

Bingham again didn't look out of place again and made me want to see more of him. I think he would have been more successful than Roy was tonight in holding up the ball and bringing us into the play in the front third.

Was Storm injured? Neil's sub was a bit strange otherwise...

Maybe he got hooked? He had a shocker and was very down when he walked past us - he got really good applause but didnt acknowledge it at all.

 

[nebakke]

I think it's harsh to say he had a shocker - he had a couple of pretty good blocks and clearly was just outmatched against Rojas - like every other FB I'm the league.
I took the swap for Neil to be more a recognition that we were clearly struggling for ideas and he only had what he did on the bench. Everyone assigns me were quite surprised to - and some of those guys ate pretty hard on Storm at times.
I sort of figured that Paolo was going to maybe take Fab and push Berry up with Neil taking over the CDM role that he did have some success in a couple of times last season

 

[Wombat]

Not terrible but just the usual lapses and they have a fair bit more individual quality.
For 20 minutes we were pretty good.

1st Goal was down to Trent but the CB's didnt track Berisha who did look offside at the ground. Nice one touch Football by Victory.
When they hit the post was down to a mcGing giveaway.
We really looked toothless and paddy's one chance was a terrible finish and he was MIS in the second half when he should have been there for a tap in from a good Roux cross. Also why is he in our box defending on corners?.....it means their back 4 can camp deep in our half looking for scraps.
Pain had a poor game and looked a bit unfit. He has playing really narrow and just didnt make the obvious runs meaning we had no width. Trent did a couple of good thinks but overall was rather poor.
Berry is not really up to this level yet.
McGing was shoddy again.
Posco was my MOM. I thought both Fullbacks were quite good today and fab was ok. Rose was reasonable.
Our movement off the ball is still terrible, in fact our worst in the last 6 weeks.
Monty was missed terribly.
Basically we conceeded 3 weak goals.
MOM is very hard this week
Posco 3pts
Fab 2pts
Roux 1pt (just pipped Gallo and Rose)

 

[nebakke]

Not terrible but just the usual lapses and they have a fair bit more individual quality.
For 20 minutes we were pretty good.

1st Goal was down to Trent but the CB's didnt track Berisha who did look offside at the ground. Nice one touch Football by Victory.
When they hit the post was down to a mcGing giveaway.
We really looked toothless and paddy's one chance was a terrible finish and he was MIS in the second half when he should have been there for a tap in from a good Roux cross. Also why is he in our box defending on corners?.....it means their back 4 can camp deep in our half looking for scraps.
Pain had a poor game and looked a bit unfit. He has playing really narrow and just didnt make the obvious runs meaning we had no width. Trent did a couple of good thinks but overall was rather poor.
Berry is not really up to this level yet.
McGing was shoddy again.
Posco was my MOM. I thought both Fullbacks were quite good today and fab was ok. Rose was reasonable.
Our movement off the ball is still terrible, in fact our worst in the last 6 weeks.
Monty was missed terribly.
Basically we conceeded 3 weak goals.
MOM is very hard this week
Posco 3pts
Fab 2pts
Roux 1pt (just pipped Gallo and Rose)

Couldn't agree more - except perhaps for the McGing bit - he had two fairly big blunders but other than that did ok I thought. Certainty been serviceable since moving to CDM - but this was still his worst game there.
I do think things would've been very different with Monty in there to help with some of the movement. Not so much because i think he'd have more ideas as such more just that i think he'd have that bit more confidence that would've changed the hold up and where the ball went.
In light of how wreak the goals were and how the rest of the game went and where the biggest blunders were - I think there's a slim chance he could've kept it at 0-0... We shouldn't rely on a single player - that's a problem - but how often do you get to say that a player could've stopped three goals? ;-)

On Pain - winced a couple of times on the turn and landing after headers - we were talking about whether he was carrying a bit of a knock.
I reckon in part the changes came too late and - much as I like Roy this would've been a good game to yeti and swap him and Bingers to try something else.

Also - how good is it to see the passion from Paolo!?

 

[soccer mad]

All in all beaten by better side Victory were in complete control , good team to watch some good lessons for our boys .

 

[dibo]

I only saw the first half before going off for my first kickaround with our O35s team, felt like a yapping young pup again.

Anyway, on the balance of the game we should've been down about 4-1 at the break, without actually playing that badly. they were simply awesome around our area, and should've scored more. But we showed good desperation (for the most part) and a bit of enterprise going forward. Fab was trying too hard to carry the load though and Buhagiar was misfiring somewhat. For all that, we've played worse than that and won (vs Adelaide, for example), so I'll wear that result.

 

[yorkshireman]

I posted this yesterday. Dismal is probably a little harsh but in the heat of the moment...

Well, I didn't see that dismal effort coming. Only one positive today and that was Posco, he was immense! Took on the captain's role when Storm disappeared (hate to say it but as usual when he is captain) and marshalled the defense. It just shows how important Monty is to us, he ensures that we don't slack off. We were poor tonight, second to 95% of challenges and VERY slow with the ball. The second goal summed it up... Looking down, no awareness of what was around us and no talk between team mates. Hopefully we have this out of our system now and will show the same hunger and desire we have for the previous 3 games. Not a case of everything lost but a definite wake up call.

 

[true believer]

i don't think monty was ever missed more . melbourne , once they new the "post" standing in the middle didn't have
his card folder on him . rode roughshod over our kids .
they had to much quality anyway. but the piece of 4x2 was just a green light for them .
as much as stormy played his heart out , he was silent .
next time we get that bozo give conner the captaincy because i don't think the ref would had the holiday he got for such a rank performance

3 posco 2 izzo 1 fab.

 

[FFC Mariner]

At least we got it out of our system before our massive game next week.

 

[neverwozza]

i don't think monty was ever missed more . melbourne , once they new the "post" standing in the middle didn't have
his card folder on him . rode roughshod over our kids .
they had to much quality anyway. but the piece of 4x2 was just a green light for them .
as much as stormy played his heart out , he was silent .
next time we get that bozo give conner the captaincy because i don't think the ref would had the holiday he got for such a rank performance

3 posco 2 izzo 1 fab.

Agree about Monty. No way troisi is as dominant with him out there.

 

[VicMariner]

Monty gone was a big problem for us.
With a team of kids, any experienced player is important. Monty more so.

I would of been happy with a draw.

 

[true believer]

mrs tb said jake mcging was in tears . mrs through a few child care words and lifted his chin and family back up.
god bless her

 

[true believer]

ok here we go .play micky neil in montys position
this is his position . neil will be playing for his future and could have a blinder as he has before .
that way we don't play anyone else of out position . it could work

i believe neil is a better call than berry at DM . we needed mongrel and didn't have it in berry

 

[Fishsdad]

i believe neil is a better call than berry at DM . we needed mongrel and didn't have it in berry

As has been pointed out by many on this thread, Monty's loss was huge. I believe any of our DM options (JMcG, Berry, Neill, or even HA) would perform far better with Monty close by, and struggle big time without him. All of them are too young and/or inexperienced to stand up to the attack from Troisi, Berisha, and co without help. It just emphasises how 'thin' we are.

Thankfully Monty will be with us for the Jets game.

 

[FFC Mariner]

i believe neil is a better call than berry at DM . we needed mongrel and didn't have it in berry

Berry played well until about 60mins when his legs gave out. There is a very good footballer in there I think