One on one misses happen, but they hurt

[/QUOTE] He can still sprint though he put alot of pressure on Moore and Mundy. He created chances just doesn't seem to be able to finish anything.[/QUOTE] It really does my head in when I read comments like "Covs ran all day" or "he put pressure on their back four"... he is NOT in the team to run hard and tackle... he is a striker and there for two things.. one- put ball in back of net; two - give the ball to someone else to put in the back of the net...

Quit your moaning ffs.  Bertos is the only player in the Phoenix with the pace to pull off runs like that and he panicked at the final shot, big deal.  Sure it was a great chance but its not like it was the only good opportunity we had and if he can keep breaking like that then we're going to be dangerous.

Shooting and 1v1s are something that we can work on, he already has good pace and ball control but he missed because he panicked and hasn't had enough game time.

IMO Ricki should play Bertos up front, let him get more of these opportunities and he'll start putting them away.  The game right before he was injured he played up front and did well, even got a couple shots on target.  More gametime up front and he will score goals.  More than Coveny at least, and he's got far more utility.
Nickel2008-10-26 21:04:07

I see your point, and saw that before I posted. I think that we all view the game differently. I for one was very frustrated at the amount of times we were attacking and getting so close late in the first half but not actually getting in. PERSONALLY - and I am accused of talking out of my arse a lot - I think that this sustained attack being constantly repelled by Q'land played a major part in the events the followed.

Q took their chance, We didn't. And despite how well we were going to play, we weren't going to get past their tubby goalkeeper.

That's my view of it. One on One, One on None...we wouldn't have scored (and we didn't).

I took some heart in the way we played that second half, especially when I remember how we played 4-5 weeks back. I'm not sure we would have even got in to those positions (to miss) in those bad old days. My only concern is obviously the finishing which I'm sure will come. If we play for the rest of the season like we did in the second half then we'll trouble most teams. We were looking great then had to build again once Daniel came on, but once we clicked those really good chances came. Other than that, pass marks to most, except Kwasnik. He'll be bench warming next week

Better players have missed easier chances. get over it!

People can miss the odd 1 on 1's but really 90% they should go in. Smeltz would have got that goal, no one else in our team would have. We should have won but because we can't finish and turn possession into goals we didn't.

Did we really make many scoring chances? Man I don't know. Its hard work the A-League sometimes not a lot of quality in the last 3rd. Bertos? Heaps of great players have missed these chances but most would at least have hit the target. When he missed I threw my beer and just went to the toliet. Im pissed off. Too much emotion?

Hmmm..big call. Boom Boom's strength is flying down the flank...I don't think back to goal up front is his thing..not enough space to work with. And clearly he is not a natural goalscorer.

With a performance like that I would not be surprised if Smeltz left.  We managed to get the ball into their third who knows how often but our strikers couldn't finish a sandwich.  Yes, Bertos was clearly offside but any player could get that on target.  Add to it that he wasted a very good freekick opportunity.  However, he's a good player with pace so we won't hold that against him.

And who was on the post when they scored?  Either Sigmund or Kwasnik (can't remember which) but they could've moved slightly to clear the header but did nothing. 

We certainly didn't play badly, but our lack of finishing is worrying.

Ah, no.  Bertos is synonymous in this league with missing the target.  Leave him wide where he won the league assist title for Perth, don't rely on him to score.

Every player to ever miss a 1 on 1 should be sacked. there goes 90% of our team...

NO your wrong there,as our team hardly ever shoots so doubt 90% of them would need to be sacked.
ballane2008-10-26 22:29:59

That's it then. Henceforth all players whilst on the pitch for Wellington Phoenix must be PERFECT. There will be no allowances for, or acceptance of, human frailty.

2nd classic moment of the match for me, after bertos missing, turning around and seeing Harry Hotspur down on his knees hitting the concrete in frustration. If my puku wasn't so big, I'd have been doing the same.

Seriously? 

 
I'm not surprised after the last few football weeks he's had.

I don't disagree that Super Leo is best out wide, its just that I really think we need some pace up front and he's someone that can provide it.  Then again he was playing wide today and still got that sweet run going on, but I still think he could be a good option up front even if just to mess with opponent defense and feed Smeltz.

So your a fan of coveny up front? He has tonnes of pace...

It was the worst effort ive seen for a long time.  BUT he really looked good when he came on, gave us pace and a target down that side and he can cross.  What cost us that game was sleepy boy on the far post watching the ball go in the corner, exactly why you place someone on the post.  I also dont understand why we dont seem to look like we want to win at home until we have nearly lost. Garry2008-10-27 07:28:15

It was Kwasnik. Should have been an easy clearance. The man is a waste of space.

Those angry will take solice in the fact Leo wqs probably in bed by 11 and awake til 2.30 with the miss haunting him, then awake again at 3, 4 and 5am.

As Piney rightly says in his new 4-4-2 blog, Leo would probably miss it if he tried o re-enact it.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/aleague2008_club.aspx?team=wellington

agree with piney

but the comment left by convict wtf??"yellow fever stop governing" if you want to chant, chant mate

Even Bobbolton has (mostly) accepted that the Fever had nothing to do with it... and he's the person that is being referred to.

oh is he up the back in 23 ??  giddyup2008-10-27 11:07:43

He was.

he was ?
man i'm so behind in all the goss or maybe i just don't pay as much attention as i should

By doing the re-enactment accurately.

I like Kwasnik as a player and have tried to stick up for him but he really hasn't been doing well at all.  I would certainly put Bertos on ahead of him next week, and if Kwasnik doesn't want to go the same way as Mulligan he had better do something pretty special.

"The one obvious black mark on Leo�s game was the dreadful miss when he was one-on-one with Liam Reddy. I�ve watched this several times on replay. Bertos is certainly onside when the ball is played through, so there�s no problem there.

He then takes four touches � the first to control it on his chest, the second to push it ahead and into the penalty area, while the fourth is the shot at goal.

It�s the third touch that is his undoing � just a little touch which gave the Queensland defender time to make a final desperate lunge and for Bertos to be caught in two minds about where to place the ball." Stevo2008-10-27 14:22:52

sometimes having too much time to size up options is the worst thing. you can end up analysing too much in your mind before making a decision, rather than doing what comes instinctively. maybe that was a factor too.

well, i just watched ameobi from newcastle utd miss one like leo did in the derby v sunderland. it happens everywhere sometimes. just skied it way wide when there should have been no excuse not to get it on target. oh well.

I'd feel more comfortable if Mark Richardson or Russell Coutts was bearing down on goal than Leo Bertos.  Was it just my eyes or was there someone on his right as well (A nix player), if that player was on side (none of them were surely or else the Roar defence was WAAAAYYY too far up) Bertos should have gone to him.  Leo couldn't beat time with a stick in front of goal, fast guy, terrible shooter.

Speaking of Mark Richardson and parallels to the Sunderland/Newcastle game - his free kick from just outside the box was freaking amazing.  Phoenix also got a great chance for a shot like that but just smashed it straight into the wall.  We SHOULD be putting those chances away as well, or at least beating the wall.