R26 Reds v CCM

[ballantyne]

Zwanny's boots. It's heart, it's values. They're the Boots of Belonging. Masterstroke.

 

[Roy Law]

Mariners Pass Test of Character​

The Mariners players were fantastic today; this win showed a team of professional pride and deep character. Against a back drop of not being paid, being promised they would be paid, and still not yet being paid they could so easily have not bothered, could have just gone through the motions but they didn’t. Given the merest hint by the Wanderers that the title is still there to be won they turned up and took the game to Adelaide.

The start told the tale: a superbly crafted goal coolly taken by McBreen; a sign that the Mariners were here to play and that McBreen was back in business. The Mariners dominated the play, the pressing total team-oriented defence denying the insipid Reds. Zwaanswijk was regal at the back supported by the ice cool Anderson, Monty and Hutch won everything in the middle, Bozanic was lively and involved, McBreen feisty and intelligent and Duke chased everything until he could chase no more.

As ever, they should have scored more and went in the sheds with just the 1-0 lead. When Adelaide regrouped and came back the Mariners were desperately hanging on. Jon McKain, of all people, was bossing the show; McKain a very ordinary occasional Socceroo, showed surprising class and vision as the Mariners were put under the pump. Sainsbury, hopefully for his sake not being watched by Southampton, was turned inside out by Ramsay, the cross deflected to the feet of who Neumann couldn’t quite get the touch and the brave Pasfield denied the goal.

Ramsay then produced the most superb volley, a volley that if he had been del Pierro would have had the punters drooling. A first time volley, under pressure from Sainsbury that would have left any goalkeeper for dead, hit the woodwork and bounced over. The volley, of course, missed: there is no such thing as being ‘saved’ by the woodwork – it is a miss, not a goal. Aggrieved South Australians need to be reminded that when the Mariners played them off the park at Bluetongue Bowles scored a deflected goal against the run of play. These things even out, and the gutsy Mariners deserved the slice of good fortune after the week they had.

The tide turned back to the Mariners when Fitzgerald came on for Bozanic, whose influence had all but disappeared. Fitzgerald had Adelaide suddenly forced back, running at defenders with pace and skill. He forced corners and free kicks, he had a shot deflected; he changed the game. In the last ten minutes it was all Mariners; Zwaanswijk a target at corners causing all sorts of problems. McBreen had a shot, straight at Izzo, and then tried a half-volley from distance. Duke simply didn’t have the legs to get closer to goal and his shot was saved. McBreen had a cheeky back heel blocked to Bernie whose close effort was denied by Izzo. It was late sub Sterjovski who applied the final gloss; without a goal all season he is nonetheless a consummate volleyer of the ball. Bernie’s testing chip forward was met by Fitzgerald’s intelligent header and Sterjovski’s volley was meat and drink to the veteran. Arnie and Mossy hugged in delight, and relief.

So many Mariners stood up today; I am giving the MoM to Patrick Zwaanswijk for a display that was all class but Anderson, Monty, Hutch, McBreen and Duke all ran him close.

 

[Stoxxo]

Totally bossed the first 45, Hutch and Monty immense.
Second 45 was tight, Patrick and Zac kept our plate hopes alive, Fitz lifted the team with his energy and skill when he came on. Sterj...... well atleast he can finish

Not sold at all on Trent at RB, we loose so much attacking options on the right playing a centre half on the right. He was beaten by pace from Ramsay, and skill from Cassio multiple times.
We need Pedj fit!

My MoM Monty! He was everywhere! Outstanding!

 

[MrCelery]

Have not been a huge fan of Fitzgerald to date. But his late cameo was brilliant.

My MOM goes to Arnie for brilliant strategy and timing of his subs.

 

[nebakke]

Not sold at all on Trent at RB, we loose so much attacking options on the right playing a centre half on the right. He was beaten by pace from Ramsay, and skill from Cassio multiple times.
We need Pedj fit!

Tbf, I think yesterday was just one of those days, fitness-wise. Bernie, Cuke and Trent were all out-paced by their opposing players several times, in situations where I'd normally expect to see, at least Bernie, leave them for dead. They just didn't seem to have the legs... It happens...
Took me a while to get back into the feel of watching them play with Hutch and Ollie placed a bit higher... Opens up the defence a bit more. They still do the job, it just has to get done a bit deeper.
I also have to say, compared to last season, I think Pasfield has improved quite a bit - he seems more comfortable and certain of himself. He had a save or two yesterday that I swear he would've dropped in the past.

 

[Gratis]

nice. very nice.

i think with Pedj on the field it'd have been a higher-margin scoreline. when he's not there defences shift and can close us up a little easier. we still won 2-0 of course. Pedj just adds that energy and means we stretch teams that bit further

i like that the team actually stronger than it is after 2 nil win. pedj and mcglinchey to come back in. pleased to see ollie again, fitz strong off the bench again

 

[BrisRecky]

I ve heard people bag Fitzy since he showed up...BUT fark moi, his a machine, never stops once his on the pitch, sorta Matty simon like, best phone call we ever accepted.....I think we have discovered which part of the game Sterj should be used in..bugger starting him.

NOW if we could just pick up the pace, we'd be alright

and as much as I hate to say it...roll on the scum and put the wanderers to the sword...mind you the after game shenanigans between the Bloc and the Squadrunts will lighten up a news day lite or otherwise

 

[Wombat]

A very good win all things considered.

I thought dutchy and Ando were very good. I thought Sainsbury looked good with the ball at his feet.
I thought Monty was superb and was given bit more freedom by Arnie. Probably MOM. I thought Hutch was reasonably solid.
I thought Olly was great in the first half and the assist for Maccas goal was quality.
I thought Macca and Duke were a handful.
I thought Pasfield did well and is solid backup for Maty.
Fitzy was brilliant off the bench......he is a totally different player when injected later in the game.

Mom...
3pts Monty
2pts fitz
1pt. Ando and dutchy