Phoenix v Victory - game thread

Agree but a point away from home is still a point earned, especially before the game any of us would of taken it. we aint no premiership side where we can capatalise on misfortunes, but we still doing ourselves proud with a point. Melbourne have to be more pissed off than us!!! 

Why would we of taken it before the game? Melbourne aren't a good side this year. They are barely above us on the ladder and have had a sh*t run of form. That coupled with the fact that the Telstra Dome isn't actually a happy hunting ground for them (they even played average there last year mostly) we should NOT have been happy with a draw before the game. At all. All these facts coupled with Muscat sent off early-ish in the game makes me an annoyed supporter.

valeo2007-11-25 01:23:32

after CCM and sydney at home and at least one other late goal against us, the lesson we had to learn was not to throw away points late in the game, that might account for some of the team's caution late on

if we've now learnt that, we can add it to not conceding in the first 15 mins as valuable improvements
and if we can keep those  improvements up  then the next lesson might be how to turn possession into goals

but because you were actually there you might have a better sense of how winnable it was,

anyway enjoy the rest of your night

a couple of things, sydney and newcastle losing tommorow has become key for us now. they do and its still all on, if especially newcaslte win 4 begins to look a fair way away for everyone chasing.
lochead- wers he gone? we looked at our best wen he and daniel wer combining brilliantly down the left, that doesnt seem to be happening at the moment. is it because ricki him to concentrate on the d? maybe. only really saw the 1st half, worked during second but kept eye.
other thing, on the camera angle they use during game time lia and daneil are hard to tell apart with no commentators. in saying that so are felipe and elrich

In the first half we looked hopeless and directionless. There were two or three good ideas but the execution was that I'd expect of myself (someone who has only just properly taken playing the game up). After our goal we bossed the midfield but we should have been doing that from the moment Muscat committed suicide. We are still lacking that final pass and shot, it didn't help that Smeltz was completely out of it (I'm guessing he assured Ricki he was alright, but in hindsight he'll wish he hadn't).

One positive was the defence, while we looked inept at times in the first half we really tightened up on Thompson eventually and stopped the commentary wankfest. We didn't conceed early or late which is a good base to work off. Yes we played poorly and I'm very annoyed we squandered chances left right and centre but we can see areas we have improved in and where we still need to improve. It's about going on from here and trying to get things right for next season.

And keeping Perth off our backs.

Thankfully 'Haynaldo' wasn't playing. I wasn't in the mood for Andy with a 'Y' Harperisms last night. He did at least say one good thing, that the Phoenix have shown they're not far off being serious contenders.

I got the sense that Lochhead felt less able to get forward as part of a back three than he usually does as part of a back four, and that that part of our game suffered as a result.

Didnt see or hear the game last night because I was at a great party !!

Sounds like it wasn't a party over there though.

In the car coming home I was pleased to hear the result was a draw - That we didnt lose away is a plus for me after some of our results this season.

Plus I think Melbourne has always been a dangerous side for us to play. Alsopp and Thompson seem to have the wood on us.

I wonder how much effect the game during the week had on our usual good performers, Lochhead and Smeltz.

Also just because a team goes down to 10 men, if it a reasonably good defensive side, and Melbournes record suggests it is, then it isn't a given that we will wipe the floor with them. That is unrealistic.

Whereas our defense is poor and with 10 men, we're out for the count pretty quick

I'm pleased that we held up early and that we held up late, that is good progress for our side



hepatitis2007-11-25 10:05:39

One quick comment... Muscat, take away the first three letters of his surname and you get what he is.  Was the second foul a straight red?  It was borderline, and I think if he wasn't on a yellow from a few seconds before it would have been straight red.  He was on another planet for that minute spread.

It was a straight red. He got a yellow for tripping Brown off the ball and then a straight red for the two footed airborne lunge with force into Browns ankle.

Think Melborne or more specifically Muscat, was after Tim Brown??

it would seem possible that Timmo had got to him either verbally or just by showing him up as a footballer,

it seems equally possible that Muscat is just ahead-case who would kick a ten year old in the goolies in a backyard kickaround

He's definately a headcase. Even to his own team.

http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/show-news.asp?ID=1305

Herbet says its the finiest performance yet. Bit diffrent to whats been said on here.

My only issue is that it's a game that under the circumstances they could've and should have won. Which Ricki also says. As for the season so far i am happy with what has happened. 

Ricki was defensive as all hell - think we were just a little bit too scared and afraid to go for the win tbh. Will have to see the replay I guess thought because it looks a bit different live.

At this stage of the season where we pretty much needed a win to have a chance of getting into the top 4 I just don't understand it.
valeo2007-11-25 18:07:59

I see what you are saying, valeo. I thought we turned in a decent performance overall but last week's was definitely better in terms of determination, especially considering our lack of players.

Because of our previous defensive nightmares we were a little scared to deliver the killer blow. I noticed that in the last 15 minutes we seized up and failed to use our spare man out wide, which we had been doing pretty effectively up until then. We could've, perhaps should've, risked all for a win but in line with our team's psychology I was pleased not to lose!

I'm thinking the same way StopOut

i think the team's approach to the last 15 mins was driven by two things

1 - we can't afford to stay in the habit of conceding late on

2- this season is far more focused on not finishing bottom than it is on making the top 4  - and I'm happy with that for this season

roll on three home league games, and 2008


tigers2007-11-25 19:30:28

Many harsh lessons have been learnt so far this season. Pissing round with the ball in the m iddle of the park at the end of the game v Sydney was a classic example. We could have won last week and this week, and be a point above Melbourne today. I agaree with Stop Out, learn the lessons this year, and I'd be worried if many of these schoolboy errors were being made next season.

We are in the same boat. I would also add being competitive.Which we are. Having a competent back room. That gets a tick as well.

I really think the back 3 is working better than the back 4. Even if that is taking some adjustment for someone like Lochhead. We have such a talented midfield, why not flood it with 5 players. And 2 up front is far more effective than Smeltz roaming alone. If I was a striker I'd really hate the lone striker role. I remember Milan Baros at Liverpool, and how much he must have hated that sole striker job. I just don't really understand why it has become so common in football. No doubt more a European thing than say South American or African. 

I'd rather be wanting to win and playing like it than scared sh*tless of losing. It's not a good attitude to have. Over the course of a season being scared sh*tless of losing will do a hell of a lot more damage. We can't have that mentality if we're going to be a force next season imo.

It's understandable that we did think that way after the CCM + Sydney games though. We just have to remember that pretty much every team is equal or close to it in the A-League and we should not be scared of going for the win - against any team. (especially if they have 10 men!)


valeo2007-11-26 00:57:11

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