Adelaide vs Phoenix Sunday December 16 7pm

To do fuck all and then pop up with a penalty.

Woeful effort from some very senior players today, a number of them didn't look like they wanted to be there and need a damn good kick up the butt. The guys that came on during the 2nd half at least showed a bit of spirit and effort.

I'm not sure what Ricki's game plan was but leaving a giant hole in midfield I hope wasn't one of them.Tactically it looked like the guys didn't know how they were supposed to play, they were at sixes and sevens.

I'm sorry to say they have to look at the coach now, any other club and he would be out. .

I know he isn't a shadow of his former self, but I certanly feel more confident watching Ifill step up to take a penalty than anyone else in our line-up.

 Is Lochhead the worst player in the league or am I biased.

So we have the worst defender and the worst goalkeeper in the league....

 Regardless of the result we did play better today than we have for a long time.

For me Paston  is still the number one keeper. I can't believe that Bertos/Manny etc. did not take the pen, although is was a fantastic save I don't think we should have put it on such a young player.

We can go on from here with confidence.

way too much negativity. Boyds pen was great. Galekovic made two world class saves.

Brockies pen last week was poo and creeped in. 

I would rather play Moss when he was not injured

Slightly unlucky today overall, however we cannot keep saying "if we'd scored then..." or "if the ref had called that correcty..." etc etc.  No ifs, no buts, it's another away defeat in the end and that's what goes into the record books.

Paston again seems to save nothing.  Couple of unlucky slight deflections but I think the guy's reflexes are just that fraction too slow now. 

Lochhead was absolutely woeful all day - distribution, defending, positioning, pace, crossing - you name it, he was woeful at it. 

Lia is as good as invisible apart from when he's popping up and missing chances now and again. 

As for Ifill, you've got to say it's looking like he might be finished at this level, at least as a 90 minute player.  Did a couple of decent things, but seems to have lost his touch and just does not look a threat at all.

I also can't understand why Totori doesn't get a start.  Proved his worth again today by carrying the ball half the length of the field and providing a decent assist at the end of it.  He is certainly more worthy than Fenton who just isn't quite up to it (yet, he's still young and inexperienced at this level).

Boyd looked good when he came on to be fair, missed pen was a bit unlucky and a great save but I thought he was far too casual with the follow up.

Sanchez proved he can at least add something different going forward.  Smith proved why he was on the bench.  Looked very laboured and lazy I thought for someone who didn't even play the first half.

Not enough clear cut chances created again IMO - the Huysegems 'goal' which was wrongly chopped off and Fenton butchering that sitter are the only 2 I can really remember?  Until the last quarter of the game we are once again just happy to pump crosses into the box (including from free kicks and corners) with no real purpose behind them, and they're not really aimed at anyone in particular.  This tactic DOES NOT WORK.  EVER.

 I think Snachez did offer a bit more than we have had in the centre of the field so far this season and should get better as he gets more game time

I think Gareth Morgan will have to pick Fenton and Boyd to start next week

turned it off at half time..

Neither Paston or Blockhead would warrant a contract at any other  A League Club  , Gareth here lies your problem, it ain"t rocket science.

Lia looked like one of our best players today quality passing and I've never had a good thing to say about him till now! I agree lochy was woeful don't know what ricki sees in him

"Defending doesnt win you games"

lol

LOL

LOL

Ifill has confirmed it was Adelaide fans, and Smith seemed to hear it from the bench.  Club have reported it to FFA.

Not sure much will happen of that though. Dissapointing though that fans do that in Aus/NZ

Ifill wasn't on the pitch

Didn't Tyler do the old start stop stall?  Was nervous when I saw him step up. 

I'm utterly depressed.  

You wanted Ifill to run on?

Is this the first time marmalade been in trouble for racist chants? Disgusts me really. Hope they get slapped a fine if first time. If second time hope get deducted points.

Way better than Brockies last week Mmmm remind me didnt that go in.Not sure how it can be termed a great penalty.Well Gareth got his wish they looked better attacking than they have for some time.Shame it came at the expense of defence.Not sure about others but i got bloody nervous whenever they started to run at us there seemed to holes opening up all over the place.Yep some shocking decisions by the officals but thank christ they didnt take any more of the chances that we gave them.

What is it with the bloody officals when we go to Adelaide.(angry smilie.)

I've got no respect for the Adelaide fans right now. There's no place for racism in our game, full stop. Hope they can identify the offenders and ban them for life.

It seems odd to racially abuse someone from the opposition when your own team has a big mix of race and colour. It's just the only form of abuse that knobs with one brain cell are capable of.

Even though it ultimately wouldn't have made a difference to the outcome, good on Boyd for stepping up and taking the pen. Shows a positive attitude I think. He'll probably be disappointed at not scoring, but those were two exceptional saves so hopefully he keeps his chin up. Liked the impact Boyd and Totori had in general - the passes they played in the lead-up to the goal were lovely. Have also been pleased at the way Bertos has gone at RB so far this season. Just unfortunate today that the other side of the field often left enough space to run a herd of buffalo through.

Despite losing 3-1 (plus the threat of conceding plenty more), I somehow feel much better after that result than I did this time last week.

And racist abuse?! Oh dear...