Posted April 08, 2025 04:17
· last edited April 08, 2025 04:26
20 Legend
AucklandPhoenix
Agree.
Their midfield is getting seriously overloaded, which means they lose the second ball which in turn puts serious pressure on them out wide.
Personally I think they need to go back to their initial team formation at the seasons beginning with three pure midfielders in their imports and Brimmer in the midfield.
Mata unfortunately dropped. While he frees up May to play a number 10, his actual output is limited and the fact he is getting dragged at half time and being replaced by Howieson is telling. The guy is not a striker.
I think defensively this makes the team more solid and with Moreno back, with Logan and May, they may just rustle enough goals to get them out of the hole they are in. They really have to beat Melbourne or Sydney away to have a chance.
JasperNix
Back to the football. Auckland were very average and their form is below that necessary to lift the trophy. Teams have worked them out now I think - exploiting a lack of mobility centrally and getting in behind the full backs and pressing their midfield with a mid block to stop passing lanes into the 6 or 8.
People “handed” them the trophy too early.
Agreed 100%.
Auckland felt a bit toothless at the start of the season with only May upfront, but now they're too easy to overrun with only two centre midfielders. Get Brimmer, Verstrate, and Gallegos back into midfield together.
Moreno is key to them getting some bite back. And Brimmer being on form. He looks like he's carrying some sort of injury. Against WSW it was like Gallegos was showing him what to do. Whereas the reverse earlier in the season.
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Unknown editoredited April 08, 2025 04:26
20 Legend
AucklandPhoenix
Agree.
Their midfield is getting seriously overloaded, which means they lose the second ball which in turn puts serious pressure on them out wide.
Personally I think they need to go back to their initial team formation at the seasons beginning with three pure midfielders in their imports and Brimmer in the midfield.
Mata unfortunately dropped. While he frees up May to play a number 10, his actual output is limited and the fact he is getting dragged at half time and being replaced by Howieson is telling. The guy is not a striker.
I think defensively this makes the team more solid and with Moreno back, with Logan and May, they may just rustle enough goals to get them out of the hole they are in. They really have to beat Melbourne or Sydney away to have a chance.
JasperNix
Back to the football. Auckland were very average and their form is below that necessary to lift the trophy. Teams have worked them out now I think - exploiting a lack of mobility centrally and getting in behind the full backs and pressing their midfield with a mid block to stop passing lanes into the 6 or 8.
People “handed” them the trophy too early.
Agreed 100%.
Auckland felt a bit toothless at the start of the season with only May upfront, but now they're too easy to overrun with only two centre midfielders. Get Brimmer, Verstrate, and Gallegos back into midfield together.
Moreno is key to them getting some bite back. And Brimmer being on form. He looks like he's carrying some sort of injury.