Pre-season 2013/2014 - vs Phoenix B - Ring of Fire - Sunday

legend ala Colin Meads playing test rugby with broken arm

looking forward to updates from you chaps who head out there.....

*clears throat*

Moss 

Fenton adams durante caira lia muscat hernandez rufer ifill huysegems start

Lindsay gulley mcpeake bench

2-0 up, hernandez just hit the bar

5-2 fulltime, Ifill and Stein two each, Gulley with the other.

Ifill looking good, can tell he's been working hard during the off season. Carlos smashed cross bar from a free kick from a wee bit out, looking forward to more of that 

Based on preseason so far I'd expect us to looks like this.....

                            Moss

Fenton     Sigmund   Dura         ??

                 Lia                 Muscat

     Cunningham   Carlos       Ifill

                     Huysegems/
                          Brockie

how'd rufer go?

[/quote....... Muscat and Lia have not shown too much against against lower opposition....training game yes, but neither of them ever look happy in the attacking 3rd...and both never score.....Mannys best  at full back

Ifill was a bit hit and miss - might just be all the travel etc though.

Not really impressed by Caira - a few nice touches but some really poor defending as well. Did have some gas though.

First I've seen of Adams and I thought he looked pretty solid. Fenton was pretty good going forward but not tested much defensively.

Overall I thought we were a lot better in the 1st half, where we kept possession really well, and built nicely. 2nd half we started reverting to looking for magic passes which didn't come off a lot, and let them in the game a bit more. But on the whole I thought we looked better than similar pre-season games I've seen in past years.

who scored for the mar?

Needs some oioi edgecumbe ratings... 

I thought Carlos was really good last night, even taking into account the quality of the opposition.  He is a player who seems to be able to get the ball and move it on that bit quicker than all the other players, which is essential if you want to play a passing game.  Most players get the ball, have a touch, have a look and then pass it on, but he seems to already know what he is going to do before he receives the ball.  There were no 60 yard passes, but I am not sure he has ever been that kind of player - just someone who will help break teams down by his speed of thought and pass.

I think Carlos is someone who steps up depending on the opposition too - I remember watching a few pre season Victory gaes and he was usually pretty quiet.  Either way, he is a huge step up in class from any of our other midfieldrrs

Oh what about Moss's howler leading to Mar's 2nd goal? lol. Completely forgot about that. Reminiscent of David James vs Chelsea a few seasons back

We're sommet sports broadcasting this game live?

I think you'll find that Sky has outbid Sommet on all pre-season training runs for the Nix.

Sky said that it spared no expense to secure rights and to make it's subscibers wuv them.

A spokesperson for Sommet said "meh".

I'm most interested in hearing how adams, caira, rufer, gulley and mcpeake (whoever he is) went. Any more comments on them?

Proably because he was on the bench for most of the game ;)

after the shocking error for the first Miramar goal, Reece's went to pieces.  Not sure what he was like in the first half (as he was on the other side of the pitch from the supporters) but he did not really demand the ball, or really bust a nut to get into positions to get the ball.  It may be a little bit of fitness lacking and he was getting tired later in the game, but to me it seems he was hiding a little bit which is not a great attitude if it was caused by making a mistake in a pre-season kick about.

anyone do ok for the 'mar?

Corey had a good game for Mar, some good runs and turns. I thought Henry also played quite well.

I reckon the player who will really shine this year under Ernies new style will be Huysegems. He is the one guy who looks like he has the skills to benefit from a "ball on the deck, pass and move game". Stein really struggled under Ricki last year...Rickis game(whatever it was) did not suit him at all. A big year coming up for Steiny IMO