MoM v. CCM

I thought Paston and Lia had very good games. I think the decision to play Lia in midfield this season was a good one, he's a ball winner and also looks to attack quickly. Still trying to work out what Brown contributes, he gets into the odd goal scoring position. But he looks very limited in possesion, seems to play side ways or backwards alot. 

Caceres was interesting. he started off quite brightly with a couple of decent touches and one excellent run and then he began taking some awful options and giving the ball away in bad areas. But, I dont think he was quite as bad as what some are suggesting, and given he made a good cameo last week im hopeful he's still got quite a bit to offer.

It's a shame though that with both Caceres and Diego we're already reduced to being 'hopeful' about them. With so much competition for those spots you want to see one of them take the bull by the horns and really force their way in with a hard-running, enterprising performance.

I feel dirty voting for Paston, but credit where it's due.  He played well, came out on time to clear some dangerous balls and made some good saves.  He looked the part and may it continue into the next game.

I voted Manny. A little bundle of anger management in defence today and even looked good with some creative efforts up front to put in some dangerous crosses. Some of his challenges looked somewhat borderline and was worried he might pick up a second booking (I think he got a yellow?).

Doesn't have to be spectacular to be MoM worthy.  Did very well sweeping behind the lines, made good decisions quickly and looked assured from crosses.  Looked slightly nervous on pressured back passes, but thats probably more the defenders fault than his.

He's always nervous with back-passes but I think (based on this game and this game alone) he's getting better.

Paston - probably the best game he's had for us. Very good decision-making in general, and reacted to a couple of awkward situations very well.

Did you still feel uncomfortable?

I feel very uncomfortable with him there most weeks, but that was his best game this season. Still not MOM though. Went for Manny

Bring Back George.

i bet Daniel is licking his lips. 

Hopefully caceres does have more to offer. Sadly it is becoming a common theme at the nix. We sign these guys and have to justify signing them so give them gametime. By which time the season is over, we havent made the playoffs the players we have signed have played poorly and then we turn around and say oh thats why no other clubs wanted these players. Name one a-league reject who has come to the nix and been good (Aloisi, kwasnik, elrich )? horseshead212009-09-29 10:34:13

Lia is doing okay.

Aloisi was very good for us. Elrich wasn't terrible, but we rightfully expected, and should have got, more from him.

Kwasnik was pants.

Also, Elrich came from Fulham, we were his first A-League side.

Exactly, so no more Premier League rejects.  If they aren't good enough for the Premier League, they arent good enough for us.

how do you define an A-League reject exactly?

If the players were playing A-league before and come here they can't be A-League rejects. Same league
Royal2009-09-29 10:50:40

 

I assume it is a player who is released happily by his existing club, which does mean Kwasnik probably doesn't count as we just offered more than CCM rather than them not wanting him.

Paston by a mile then either Manny or Paul.

I'm not the biggest fan of Mark but he played out of his skin (maybe he knows we are bagging him and he wants to show us up). 

Our defence was average at best forcing Mark to pull off some great saves. TBH I was happy about this as it has given Mark some invaluable experience and confidence heading into the game against Bahrain.  I hope Shane and the boys at Gold Coast test him too so that he is very confident in himself for the biggest AW game since '82.

It's the new boots