WSW - Match

[Ancient Mariner]

My two bobs worth.

WSW got everybody behind the ball and were be very difficult to break down. I suspect they will play a lot of 0-0 draws this year.

That was the best we have played with a 4231 formation, but now it should be put back in the cupboard and only brought out when necessary.

We looked much better when Bernie and Monty came on. Was that due to their influence, WSW tiring or the change of formation back to 442. I suspect all of the above but mostly the latter.

Rogic was strong on the ball, lasted well and was probably one of our best. I still do not know if no.10 is his best position with us. He was marked strongly last night by WSW and was prolly seen as the danger man. However great improvement on last season. Time will tell.

I was impressed with Duke last night. He showed a lot of enthusiasm through out the entire 90 mins along with some great skills. He is a natural striker and I suspect will go on to be an exceptional one. This was not a good game for Kwassie to miss, he will have his work cut out to force his way back in. What a great place to be in as regards strikers, five fighting for 2 positions. We would probably do better to consider Sterj as a midfielder.

Very impressed with Sainsbury, another off season improvement, get his signature for 3 years it will pay off.

Wee Mack must stay on the right.

Pedj was Pedj.

Still lacking creativity and penetration, however very hard to get through a strong defense like WSW presented.

 

[Gratis]

Nicely summed up folks, I have to agree with just about everything I've read.

I reckon Glinch is going to have his best season yet. He does need to be on the right though, every game we switched it last year didn't work too well either. I also agree the diamond needs to be the staple with alternative structures used only when it's not working for us. We really didn't have any teeth until the switch back to the diamond and Ibini I thought had a great touch and strength to him.
Very pleased with Monty...he's going to work out nicely.
I was happy enough with Pellers but still should be a sub for now. the team needs it's rhythm first which he can then slot into.
Thank the deities we kept Maty (at least until January)! The difference he makes/will make is considerable. Even just the comfort the players had to pass to him to redistribute was good.

TBH - the only change I would make for next week is Montgomery on for Pellers and starting with a 4-4-2 diamond with Sterj and Duke together. Bernie can come on with 30-35 to go and cause some damage then.

spot on. that said we need to get the 2nd formation more practiced for when we need it so it'll be a hard balancing act. i suspect it'll come out for more part-games in the future, ideally when we're up 2 or 3 goals first!

 

[Gratis]

Arnie's explanation of the game

While there was little of the fluent and composed football that saw the Mariners claim the Premiers Plate last season, Arnold said it was due to a new system he is trying to implement with his side.

Instead of playing with a diamond formation in midfield, the Mariners have reverted to using two holding players in the middle of the park to add a bit more stability.

Arnold said it was natural for it to take a bit of time for his troops to gel to the style and is confident it will make them more adaptable and unpredictable as the season goes on.

"I wanted to rechallenge the players in long off-season and that was to change the system a little bit," he said.

"With the diamond at times you can get stretched when you play against real good teams.

"We've worked on something over the last six weeks to try and break down the long off season with different system we can revert too.

"You could see when I changed it in 70th minute and went two up front, because it was so entrenched in them (from last season) they know exactly how to play it.

"It's great we can go to another system in the game and carry it out well."

Asked if he was disappointed at the lack of chances his side created, Arnold said: "It was just a bit of ring rust.

"It's been a long off-season. The boys have worked hard and are extremely fit but we've had a few hiccups as well.

"Tony (Popovic) had them well organised and up for a fight and battle.

"That's what I said to the boys before the game that if you're not going to fight with them you're in for difficult night and turned out that way."

http://www.sportal.com.au/football-news-display/arnold-mariners-lacked-focus-202334

 

[offtheball]

Is McGlinchey on international duty next week?

 

[Bladesman]

After being very excited leading into the game I have to say after watching that it has left a lot of questions.

While I can understand that the change of style may take a little getting used to and Arnie is blaming that the problem is with the players he has brought in to do it. The new style requires a much quicker speed on transition and with the midfield we started with there as absolutely no speed of transition, we went sideways and backwards, just have to look at the possession and territory stats to see that all the possession no territory. Our passing was woeful which lead to a lot of the problems, even Dutchy was missing the mark consistently. The lack of movement and players just walking around when we were in posession was also very disappointing, I lost count of the number of times we ended up back at the keeper from around the edge of the Western Sydney penalty area.

With the exception of Rogic I can't remember any of our other midfielders beating a man and creating space. That is the reason that Western Sydney could get so many people behind the ball.

Not sure what Pellers showed in pre-season to get selected but he certainly left it there. Also hope hutch's position is "club captain" as until he can start playing forwards instead of sides ways or backwards we are not going to go anywhere in this system.

Positives were Matty as usual Duke and Sainsbury as well as the fact it will be impossible to Pedj to mis-control so many balls in any other match.

 

[yellowcake]

I didn't see too much that needs throwing out with the bathwater last night.
Mainly agree with FP's fine summary except I thought Sterj looked pretty classy and Hutch put in a good initial captains knock. We definitely need to be better in the final third but our composure, completed passing and possession generally looked good. I thought we were the better side and the Wanderers should be happier with the draw than us.

Also thought the ref had a good night and credit where it's due for the WSW home end. The Sydney derby should have a great atmosphere. Good away support too

Had to laugh at the Wanderers yobbos who fronted us after the game....dear oh dear some right mugs who will do the game no favours unless the club can weed them out.
Easy to see why they had trouble in Campbelltown preseason.

This.
What was with that group, all mullet, wog and hoodie choosing to the get closest to away support and spending the whole night chanting at us with their fingers up, goading to start something. That's what their club / the game doesn't need.


Speaking of chants, had to laugh at the Ono one! Except technically Shinji's not Vietnamese, so might need tweaking. Maybe "Shinji Ono ate my whale". But then I suppose that gives "sliced him, diced him and put him in a wok" a much greater degree of difficulty ;D

 

[pjennings]

Rogic was strong on the ball, lasted well and was probably one of our best. I still do not know if no.10 is his best position with us. He was marked strongly last night by WSW and was prolly seen as the danger man. However great improvement on last season. Time will tell.

I was impressed with Duke last night. He showed a lot of enthusiasm through out the entire 90 mins along with some great skills. He is a natural striker and I suspect will go on to be an exceptional one. This was not a good game for Kwassie to miss, he will have his work cut out to force his way back in. What a great place to be in as regards strikers, five fighting for 2 positions. We would probably do better to consider Sterj as a midfielder.

I agree about Duke - I think he will be a standout for us this year.

I also am not sure about Tommy as a #10 though he played well as individual he did not seem to create anything for Duke. I would prefer seeing Sterj supporting Duke. If we are to persist with a 4-2-3-1 I'd like to see.

-----------Maty------------

Pedj---Trent-Patrick---Josh

------Monty---Hutch------

WeeMac-----Sterj------Rogic

-----------Duke

This format can quickly morph into a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 in attack.

I'd see Olly as one sub to cover Monty, Hutch, Sterj and Rogic, Bernie as another and probably Troy as the last since he can cover as striker, RB, RM. To my mind if Pellers is to play and not upset the balance of the team it is at RM when WeeMac is injured or unavailable. With the FIFA date coming up they may sooner rather than later.

 

[nebakke]

I have to say, I thought it was a fairly even game, good for WSW.

But I still don't understand what Pellers is doing on the pitch. He might be a nice fellah and certainly works hard, but the way I saw it, he lost more balls due to bad handling, than pretty much anyone else on the pitch. To me, he was, by far, our weakest player.
I'm a bit disappointed with Sterj too, I think he will struggle with playing up there on the wing. That role requires pace, something he clearly doesn't have. So from that point of view, yes, it probably would make sense to, as some here have already suggested, play him as a #10 type player, take advantage of his experience and presumed vision to function as a sort of play maker in stead.

Overall though, while it wasn't all that entertaining, I was fairly happy with the abilities being shown. In my perception we held on to a lot of balls that we would have lost last year, so there's improvement. Rogic especially, has grown a better understanding of when to keep the ball and when to pass it and of what he can do in general.
Would've probably looked a lot more dangerous if we'd played 4-4-2 from the start, but then again, that's probably what they'd have expected so who knows. Either way, in the grand scheme of things, I think WSW deserved a point, based on their quality alone. I have no doubt that they'll pose a formidable challenge to anyone.

 

[Gratis]

Slow movement of the ball was my main gripe, though instruction may have been to keep the tempo low early both to disrupt any new team enthusiam from WSW and so as not to make too many mistakes in the 4-3-2-1....that said we needed quicker transition 'cause WSW just got everyone back and snuffed out any attacks. In time as they get better at it they'll get quicker I suppose.

It seems Arnie is keen to get this new formation practiced for when we play Roar-like teams. As I said earlier I suspect we'll see it in more games until they get comfortable with it and then it'll be tactical which formation he chooses at which tiimes.

Could be right using Sterj as a #10 though we haven't seen him up front in a 4-4-2 yet. Being further forward the experience might counter for speed and alongside Duke or Ibini could really work out. In Rogic's defense they marked him heavily, which, in his inexperience, is going to be a problem. He'll have to learn to live with that.

All the young guys did quite well last night I thought. Very encouraging.

 

[yellowcake]

Well, finished the weekend ahead of Sydney, Jets, MV and the Roar verhead:

 

[Wombat]

Ok

Watched it on tv.

Trouble was both teams played with defensive line ups.

To my mind you would only play with one striker if you are playing for a draw.....so to have both sides do so, no wonder it was such a lifeless game.

Pros...we looked composed.
The young guys stepped up....although I don't subscribe to the Duke love in just yet. His first touch was not sharp in fact Bernie impressed me a lot more in his second game. Having said that his work rate and aggression is brilliant and he is way ahead of Matty Simon in his first 20+ games...so the potential is there.
Rogic looks to have stepped up a level and with proper team structure and strikers making better runs....he could end up our player of the year.
Matty Ryan proved himself the best keeper in HAL (only needs to learn to stop the odd penalty to be a legend).
Monty got his first taste.

Cons.

Movement off the ball was appalling. Show yourself once you have given the ball. This is what kept forcing us to play back into our own half when we should have been probing around the penalty box...no options.
Two average defensive middies who are not specialists in that position is not very inspiring. Hutch and Pelle were both OK but nothing more and thats not good enough.

Fullbacks both need to sharpen up.

Mom...Ryan 3pt
2pt Rogic
1pt. Sainsbury





Toothless formation...it might suit Italy trying to sneak a 1.0 victory but it's no good for us.


Next week id like to see the midfield as



Monty
Hutcho Rojic WeeMac

 

[Forum Phoenix]

I'm nowhere near as pessimistic as some on here. There was plenty to like out there - it just needs to be tweaked.

Firstly - Pellers might have lost 8 kgs - but he still shouldn't start. He just upsets the balance of the squad.

When he went off and we reverted to Hutch on the left and Weemac on the right we looked quite dangerous. Really no surprise since it put the Hutch/Rose and Pedj/WeeMac combos back together. TBH - the only change I would make for next week is Montgomery on for Pellers and starting with a 4-4-2 diamond with Sterj and Duke together. Bernie can come on with 30-35 to go and cause some damage then.

Yeah this is very much how I saw things. I agree with everyone else re 442. And PJ Monty on for Pelle. However Mile was too quiet for my liking and I'd be switching him for Bernie. But perhaps I'm being too premature. It's one game against a team who pressed hard and we bossed possession, just couln't penetrate at all. But getting some striking combinations going early and strong for once would be a nice change. Though I don't think Arnie will bench Sterj yet regardless. So hopefully he improves.

 

[ballantyne]

Like everyone here I'm nervous of a new system with Pellegrino at its heart, but this and the two local pre-season games indicate that 4231 is our new formation and we better get used to it. We can judge it better when we meet a team out to beat us ie. Sunday against Perth.
I was impressed by Aston Villawood's support but not their ground announcing. I thought western Sydney was supposed to be multicultural, but they couldn't pronounce non- anglo names and the English guy said the game was their "christening". However this was the first time I've seen hijab at an A-League game.
Sydney were rubbish tho. How good was that!

 

[CCFCFAN4EVER]

Some good comments on Saturday's nights performance, but clearly work in progress. I'm a bit surprised that Matty Ryan hasn't had more compliments for a great game, in essence he saved (sorry about the pun) us from an embarrasing loss. He looked so confident and assured in goals, even when they were bearing down one on one I felt he had the situation totally under control.

Highlight of the attacking play was when Duke dropped his shoulder into Covic and sat him on his backside, pitty when he got the ball back from that collision he didn't have a shot on goals.

Arnie needs to make a decision how long he will persevere with a system that will lose us valuable points which we may come to regret later in the season. Surely fine tuning a system that saw us win the Premiers Plate last year should not be ditched particularly when we come up against the weaker sides. Because of the system we played and we shouldn't be too one eyed, they created the better chances and were probably unlucky not to get three points !

As for the Ono song, please don't show your total ignorance, he's Japanese, its Korean's that eat dog and the Wok is a Chinese cooking pan.

 

[style_cafe]

Some good comments on Saturday's nights performance, but clearly work in progress. I'm a bit surprised that Matty Ryan hasn't had more compliments for a great game, in essence he saved (sorry about the pun) us from an embarrasing loss. He looked so confident and assured in goals, even when they were bearing down one on one I felt he had the situation totally under control.

Highlight of the attacking play was when Duke dropped his shoulder into Covic and sat him on his backside, pitty when he got the ball back from that collision he didn't have a shot on goals.

Arnie needs to make a decision how long he will persevere with a system that will lose us valuable points which we may come to regret later in the season. Surely fine tuning a system that saw us win the Premiers Plate last year should not be ditched particularly when we come up against the weaker sides. Because of the system we played and we shouldn't be too one eyed, they created the better chances and were probably unlucky not to get three points !

As for the Ono song, please don't show your total ignorance, he's Japanese, its Korean's that eat dog and the Wok is a Chinese cooking pan.

Re.. the ONO song.
Lennon & McCartney wrote wrote I AM THE WALRUS none of which made sense.
We were sitting above the Yellow Army when they started singing it & it was just so funny,one of the best I`ve heard.

Keep it guys you sounded terrific all game...

 

[Roy Law]

We all take Mat Ryan for granted, that's how good he is. It's the same for Galekovic at Adelaide.

 

[true believer]

yeah wsw were a lot better than i thought. i expected them to tire after 30 minutes once the emotion wore off . solid defence quality midfield they'll be hard to beat for anyone.
matty was all class .sainbury excellent and weemac hit the bloody ball first time

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Agree with everything being said about the team/game.

Wombat nailed it regarding two defensive lineups and movement off the ball/presenting.

On the 4231, happy to see the back of it. However I do think it's good for the kit bag. Nice for tactical changes for times such as the two nil lead or weathering periods during a game, various away games and the ACL in particular.

Maybe I'm misreading, but from Arnie's comments I'm taking it that it's something he wanted to have in the kit bag, but the 442 is definitely also still on the cards - and personally I suspect we'll see it against Perth.

Should definitely start Monty against Glory I think. A 50-50 with Burns would be worth the price of admission alone .

I thought they were stronger than Roar and were definitely physical. I think They'll come at us and I'm not convinced Mile and Pellers will weather it.

I miss Olly.

 

[Kareem]

However this was the first time I've seen hijab at an A-League game.

We have 3 hijab wearers that have attended most home games for last 3 seasons
And 2 of them are season members this season...Used to have season tickets in Bay 7...but now we sit in General Admission on the Eastern side.



Plus they attend a couple of away games in the past 3 years
In fact, I got offended when everyone in Bay 7 was talking about spotting the 3 whilst watching the game on FoxSports...when mariners played away in Melbourne (2009).
Nobody noticed me... lol


But I must say...Saturday was only the second time (once saw a sydney away fan at Bluetongue) I've seen hijab wearers other than my family...
I've been to Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane, with no 'sightings'

But yes, they were all over the stadium last week.

 

[Roy Law]

Does that mean the Muslims are coming...and not the Russians?