We can feel a little unlucky not to get a point (you always do when it's 0-1), but equally Queensland were a bit better and worth their win.
Yeah, I think this is key. Queensland outplayed us in the first half, got their lead, and although we played much better in the second, Queensland still looked way too comfortable, and always dangerous on the counter.
I know a lot of people are saying we created chances, but did we really? Leo's shocker aside, the only chances I can remember is LeiLei's header and Smeltz's volley over the bar late in the second half. Haven't seen the replay yet, but I'm really struggling to remember anything else we did.
The same could be said for the Roar, in fact apart from the goal and Fat Bastards free kick I can't really think of another instance when they really threatened. So the difference between the 2 sides? 1 piece of sloppy defending from us (if you're on the post stick to it ffs!) and we didn't take our chances. It's a game I think that got away from us and we could have (and perhaps should have) won so why the hell are we getting so negativeYes, we didn't shoot enough and yes, we didn't get enough crosses in and yes, we slowed down too many attacks and turned back to MF too much and I'm sure that these are things that they'll be working on at training.But there are definite improvements over the last few weeks, we finished looking the better team and there were times when Queensland looked rattled.So, how about we get off their backs and if we're going to criticise, at least try and be positive.Try this:For me, I think we start games too slowly and should get out of the blocks a bit quicker. At the end, the formation we were playing with was the same as one of our pre-season games (4-2-3-1) with Daniel, Leo and Gao behind Smeltz and as with the pre-season game we were all over them going forward. So, what I'd like to see for the next game is start with these 4 up front and go at a team from the start.
True - we've had three good results, followed by a loss and hopefully we can get going again next week. As Ricki said midweek, it's rare for teams to go on a 6 or 7 week tear in this league. That's the point of the salary cap, to keep things as even as possible. I'm disappointed, but far from suicidal over the loss. As I've said before, I'm prepared to be patient with the Phoenix. We all gave them leeway last year, but it's a bit unrealistic to expect the water to be wine just because it's season two.
However, like Marius, I feel that things seem a bit laboured at times. It seems to me sometimes that the other teams (with the possible exception of Perth) are a little sharper mentally and their decision making faster. The seems to be a small but clear gap between us and the rest of the league.
I didn't see last season, but from what I've seen this season, the team seem to be hanging in there in games, but never in comfortable or controlling situations (Sydney perhaps an exception). What I mean is we seem to be clinging on to draws or 1 goal leads, or fighting for equalisers, but never sitting on a comfortable 2-3 goal cushion.
Perhaps your suggestion that we're slow out of the blocks may be the problem, but what ever it is, it needs fixing.wolfman2008-10-28 23:47:22
