Nix Midfied

Okay so we know they are pants so far. Passing is wayward, their marking almost non existant, but how much of it is there fault and how much is the back lines fault.

I'm asking this because every time we attacked and lost the ball we seemed to be under a threatning counter... why??

Well we'd lose the ball in around their box, they'd pass to Del boy, who'd turn and loath and behold our back line is already 15 meters behind halfway and inviting him to run into space.

The back line didn't push up at all yesterday in an effort to shorten the space between them and the frontline. It created too much space which Sydney loved!!

Really basic positioning commonsense, nowhere to be seen.

Too many players forward (with little effect) who then make little effort to get back. Lia and Smith simply aren't good enough to cover the gaps and often give up possession too cheaply themselves either by dithering on the ball, or in Lia's case, over hitting passes out of the field altogether. 

We need a real leader in the centre of the park who can drive the team on and pass a ball accurately. Easier said than done to get said player I admit.

Wonder if Simon Elliot would be keen to come over for a guest stint? Reckon that'd go well.

Dan Keat has been released by the galaxy.  Would we want him or does he have his heart set on staying in Amerigun?

 What does this thread add that every other thread angsting about coaching, the game and players don't have?

Except a typo in the title.

Leave this alone, I want to see what will come of it....

We didn't have one last night, that's a problem.

 We haven't had one for months.

This thread is on borrowed time.  If I could merge it into somwething else I would.

 No.  Lazy-arsed typing.

We were poor and Lia and Smith and getting it large like everyone else, maybe even more so, which might be a little unfair??

I just think that it wouldn't be half as bad if the defensive line pushed up and filled in the spaces as opposed to sitting back saying run at me.

Not that i'd recommend anyone watch the game again, but for me, that was the worst part of our game defensively.

 Interesting as Siggy is getting lynched for running out of the line and filling gaps.

I thought this was about fried food for a second.

 What midfield?

Midfied was non-exsistant. So was the Midfield for that matter.

Manny will make a difference. Mark my words !

Even a top of his game Manny needs support or they'll just triangle around him. But Who??

Manny or at least his elbows should be feeling pretty shit right now.

It's noticable when we go forward and the opposing team breaks - there is a HUGE gap between our lines; there's usually 1 against 5 in midfield. It's actually kind of ridiculous. 

Zenon Caravella has just been released by Adelaide ...

I think Ricki has a massive blind spot when it comes to central midfield.  I don't think he actually knows what a good functioning central midfeld actually looks like.  Or maybe he just doesn't seem to value midfielders in the same way he doesn't value right backs?  It's the same with the AWs - there is so little attention paid to that part of the pitch and he often seems willing to sacrifice a midfielder to get an extra attacker on the pitch or play someone out of position there.

Started off ok with Ross Aloisi, Richard Johnson, Felipe, Lia, Ferrante and Tim Brown - easily our best midfield crop in my opinion (also had Jeremy Christie though - pretty yuk)

Lost Felipe and Aloisi and it's been pretty much down hill since then.

McKain did an ok job in there at times, but he's not really a midfielder.  The Muscat switch has worked ok at times too, but again he's pretty limited.

The league moved past Ferrante pretty quickly and has done the same to Lia (crazy we re-signed him in hindsight).  Manny I'm concerned is going the same way, although if his job is limited to getting the ball back he might be ok.

Sanchez was signed, then played out of position, now looks a bit lost and light weight.  Alex Smith is basically a utility player doing a job in midfield and is woefully out of his depth at A-League level.

Toto, Diego, Simon Elliot, Cameron Lindsay, David Mulligan, all signed and barely given a game.

Simon Elliot slotted straight in, and was so woeful he ended up getting dropped. 

Mulligan was also woeful, but barely given a chance in midfield. Which I guess strengthens your point. 

Diego played a fair bit didn't he? Don't remember him particularly standing out in any way. 

Toto...awful touch? 

Plodder - yuk. Filled a hole at the right of defence, barely. 

Ferrante and Richard Johnson? Hilarious. 

Cameron Lindsay just isn't that good. Why we gave him an extension when he clearly isn't good enough to play for the nix, I will never know. 

Mckain is a defensive midfielder, and would have him back. Also can play centre back and was a great pairing there with dura. 

Felipe and Aloisi were great, I agree. 

Tim brown is probably best of the lot. Which is quite sad. I'd have said manny was best, but his form this season has been that bad that I decided against it. 

Oh yeah not implying that those not given a game deserved one!  Elliot wanted to get it off the back 4 and build from the back and it just never worked.

Diego - just checked wikipedia, 12 app first season and then none in his second.  RH does have a track record with midfielders of them just not getting a game at all.  Happened with him, Toto, and Mulligan and now Lindsay who clearly isn't going to get a game any time soon.

McKain was good at the time although I don't think it's his best position and not sure how he'd go now.

I can accept the point that for the Phoenix midfield, Ricki cops it fair and square. AWs... He can only pick players that are elligble. He also has no hand in the development of those players. Did Ricki turn Reid and Wood into calibre footballers? That was the club coaches. Ricki can cop it for the Phoenix but I don't think the shoe fits for the AWs

Brian Clough said he played 5-5-5. He explained "when we attack we play 5 in midfield and 5 up front, when we defend we play 5 at the back and 5 in midfield" 

Just like rugby! 15 aside.

Big gaping holes in the midfield again today when the jets countered