Round 18. Newcastle away.

[Forum Phoenix]

It still baffles me with our current formation hue at no time do we seem to have a numerical advantage anywhere in the pitch.

even though we play 2 up front at times, there is never anyone in the box. When we play a 4222 we never have numbers in midfield. And when we play 5 at the back, we stand off and their attackers have a huge amount of time on the ball.

it always seems like the opposition has with space and time up the middle to make easy ground, or they just switch to a diagonal and run the ball up the wing 50m - only for 1 of our supposed back 5 to have to run wide and cover, leaving 2 or 3 opposition players unmarked in the middle.

it’s absolutely baffling that we actually have a full team on the park.

This is painfully true. Is it bad coaching? Structural confusion, poor quality or non committed/interested players...? What combination is hard to tell. But it's now beyond a shadow of doubt that the only way we can tip the balance again is to splurge. If MC says he doesn't have the cash. We're screwed. Because no matter how hard we seem to work in pre season or the intentions of the coaches, poor players doing stupid things has killed too many games and destroyed any chance we had of a decent season to rebuild our team and crowds off the back of.

 

[turbo]

Haven’t caught up on the thread yet and just finished watching the game. What a shitshow.
- Our midfield was dogshit. Duric terrible for 2 games in a row
- Rowles defending on corners before injury was horrible
- I disagree with the double sub for Jair and Simon, one of them sure but we didn’t address the middle at all. IMO you had to go DDS for Duric or Silvera there.
- Clisby, just when I think he might have atoned for his failings he coughs it up and they score (again)

The good - Harold and Tongyik.

 

[style_cafe]

It still baffles me with our current formation hue at no time do we seem to have a numerical advantage anywhere in the pitch.

even though we play 2 up front at times, there is never anyone in the box. When we play a 4222 we never have numbers in midfield. And when we play 5 at the back, we stand off and their attackers have a huge amount of time on the ball.

it always seems like the opposition has with space and time up the middle to make easy ground, or they just switch to a diagonal and run the ball up the wing 50m - only for 1 of our supposed back 5 to have to run wide and cover, leaving 2 or 3 opposition players unmarked in the middle.

it’s absolutely baffling that we actually have a full team on the park.

What we lack is overall quality.
At the moment we have Birras, play the others anywhere you like and we still don`t have quality.
The only way to improve is to bring in better players.It`s that simple.
If the club won`t spend we can`t compete.
Sure we`ll jag a win here and there but they will be few and far between.
Unless Anton or someone else buys the club we`re done...sad to say but it`s a fact...

 

[Justin Cooney]

You only would have got hate if you lost.

Doubt it. Everyone here would flip if we got into a scrap with those animals.

 

[Michael]

The only major gripe I have with staj’s coaching is that there’s a f**king glaring lack of any kind of defensive or offensive structure. What we lack in quality can always be made up in structure. And no that doesn’t mean parking the bus.
We never even do the simple thing setting areas of the pitch to heavily press and where not to etc
And if just one player is out or even being slightly lazy (so always) we’re as open as an 20yo blonde after 4 cruisers. And that leaves other players to make desperate decisions that lead to mistakes.
and whilst for a lot of games until the last month or so we had some kind of plan with the ball, now everyone seems so incredibly lost whether it’s the ball carrier or the attackers movements off it.

the best teams in the comp each have their own type of structure and whilst they have extra quality they’d be f**ked without their perfected structures.

 

[marinermick]

Doubt it. Everyone here would flip if we got into a scrap with those animals.

I wouldn’t have and if I was there I would have been right next to you

 

[Ancient Mariner]

After last night's game I ended up in hospital with extremely high blood pressure.
There will be a search over the next little while for a reason.
The doctors do not believe it comes about from following CCM.
I tend to disagree.

The only comment on the game I will make is that for the past few games we did not have an effective midfield going forward.
Yesterday we had no midfield at all.

 

[Ozhammer]

But seriously, what's the point of having 5 at the back if none of them can defend?

Problem with going 5 at the back is that you will likely lose the midfield contest, which is exactly what happened yesterday imo. The Jest had so much space to utilise it was embarrassing and how that wasn’t another 8-2 defeat is beyond me.

 

[AuzDutchy]

Week after week we stand off and let attackers just walk the ball up the pitch and into our penalty box, we TRY to cut passing lanes and block shots but generally we dont apply any pressure in the midfield.

While i think Staj is a good manager, it would seem we have a distinct lack of coaches in our staff, namely a Defensive coach and Striker coach.

 

[jacobsfl]

After last night's game I ended up in hospital with extremely high blood pressure.
There will be a search over the next little while for a reason.
The doctors do not believe it comes about from following CCM.
I tend to disagree.

The only comment on the game I will make is that for the past few games we did not have an effective midfield going forward.
Yesterday we had no midfield at all.

Damn. Hope all is good.

 

[Elite]

To dish up that against our biggest rivals is so bloody disappointing. Intensity and urgency simply wasn't there for the most part. Still fuming this morning.

We need to throw everything we have at retaining Birraz. What a talent. Some world class saves.

Harold really the only big positive for me. Tongyik and Majok both deserve some credit too. Thought they were pretty impressive for the limited minutes they've had.

 

[soccer mad]

Just a thought has Staj lost the dressing room because the team doesn't seem to be responding certain players have completely dropped off . Newy for all there mistakes they showed up for a fight and got the result

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Damn. Hope all is good.

Thanks.
I am sure it will improve with some wins.

 

[Ironbark]

After last night's game I ended up in hospital with extremely high blood pressure.
There will be a search over the next little while for a reason.
The doctors do not believe it comes about from following CCM.
I tend to disagree.

The only comment on the game I will make is that for the past few games we did not have an effective midfield going forward.
Yesterday we had no midfield at all.

Sorry to hear it friend. I hope it resolves quickly and easily.

You can send any medicare gaps directly to the club.

 

[Ironbark]

That lack of intensity and ease of transition for them was what probably upset me the most.

Yerp. I was going to comment during the game - whenever they had the ball EVERY one of our players stood off and let them do whatever they wanted.

HUTCH WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD FOR THAT S#!T

It was like we believed all we needed to do was attempt to block the shot at the end (4 own goals anybody?)

 

[Ironbark]

Looking forward to more from Harold but can't expect him to carry the whole team. Play Tongyik and Harold up front together!
(joking...just in case)

 

[turbo]

Just a thought has Staj lost the dressing room because the team doesn't seem to be responding certain players have completely dropped off . Newy for all there mistakes they showed up for a fight and got the result

We had no fight in two obviously critical games and that's unforgivable. Mistakes happen, you cop unlucky moments or a worldie sometimes, players have bad games but almost the whole team couldnt care less yesterday and barely turned up for Brisbane. It could be Staj losing the dressing room but I do wonder if there has been some drama in the January window we dont know about, influential figures not offered extensions? Signings elsewhere we don't know yet? The guys arent playing for each other or themselves and certainly not for the club & fans. If we had the depth I'd rest Duric, Stensness and Silvera after that effort but if needed let Stensness play.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

We had no fight in two obviously critical games and that's unforgivable. Mistakes happen, you cop unlucky moments or a worldie sometimes, players have bad games but almost the whole team couldnt care less yesterday and barely turned up for Brisbane. It could be Staj losing the dressing room but I do wonder if there has been some drama in the January window we dont know about, influential figures not offered extensions? Signings elsewhere we don't know yet? The guys arent playing for each other or themselves and certainly not for the club & fans. If we had the depth I'd rest Duric, Stensness and Silvera after that effort but if needed let Stensness play.

Nailed it.

 

[BrisRecky]

MOM
3 Harold
2 Birra
1 Tongyik
Everyone else can go.....well you know
As relates to the coaching, sure we’re blaming Staj BUT how much of this shit show can we dump at the feet of Arrarte....I mean we were all over the idiot Ivan at Okon time but no one seems to be questioning Nahual at all

 

[Insertnamehere]

What can you say or what can you do.

Until we change owners then it will be one false dawn after another...

IMO we keep burning money trying to have "depth" which is just a team of squadies.
Fill the first xi with the best quality we can afford then get the squaddies we can afford.

Miller——-Ziggy——Stens——Rowles
Harold——Kim——Nisbit——-Clisby
——————-Simon———————
——————-Murray———————

Duric - Simon
Jair - Murray
Oar - Clisby
Desilva back up mid.

* Giving Simon another chance to hold up ball and provide some lay-offs.
He didn’t even get the ball near him especially after the yellow and the goals.

* Jair does have some energy but I think I would try him as a super sub up front and have Murray’s energy from the start.

* Duric has lost his legs and other teams have caught up fitness wise so I think his quality could also be handy to see out games and snag those long shots when team are tired.

* Harold did put that nice one away but we desperately need some quality moving the ball diagonal to use width.
And if the team is sliding correctly to compact themselves he should end up in the middle a fair bit.

* Clisby! Haha. Get him out of the backs but his crossing is low hard and has some whip and he has pace and determination so why the f**k not unleash him.

* Stens lacks attacking quality but has been great in running down and fowling players tactically. He has good physical presence and can clear with the head.
And also solves the left back weakness by as lots have mentioned trying Rowles at left.

* Kim and Nizzy need to stay in the middle!
None of this in and out of the back shit.
They could be great together and control games.

The move of Stens to CB and Clisby to Left Wing + Harold gives us tactically more width and pace in attack.
Stens is a DM and should be able to take that load off Kim moving the ball forwards.

Tonj and Majok did alright but I think it was more the illusion of Newcastle being in front and letting guard down / Mariners trying to fight back.
Similar to how we score than almost immediately let the other team back in.

So that my long winded tactical solution to give some depth and width.
And also have some quality and experience to finish the games.

Just found this post Ads. Stens as a CB isn't a bad idea. His natural game suits imo