R1 vs Brisbane Roar 5pm Sun 13th Oct ROF

Stein MOTM

Spoonley 2nd

We lost, but we played better style of football than past seasons and we can see the direction we are heading.

Things will get better guys!

Might take several rounds though...

I thought Caira was ok today

Adam worried me every time they attack from left

Lia - grhhh, his passing is dreadful, not tracking back and gives away fouls, Riera will take his place as soon as next round

Pretty fair result, expected us to get ripped down the left with broich on adams (why play a cb as a fullback on debut?). Well pretty much did at times.

Who cares how old he is, his technique for passing a football was shocking, he looked so uncomfortable on the ball. He played at cb for the under 20's and was equally poor imo

The thing about Lia is, he is consistently shit. It's not like he has an off day every month. In fact, he has a random great day maybe 2 times a season. Why does he play ? I can't wait for the end of the season when Ernie doesn't renew his contract.

I think James Musa is much better than Luke Adams, but I assume he's been selected on potential. Due to our absentees he had to start.

Promising.

Despite the hassles Manny and Vinny were some of the fitter players on the park. Huysegems...you feel someone with his pedigree could have put his foot on the ball and found a winning goal from somewhere. He certainly had some opportunities. But still played mostly fairly well. Hernandez is fantastic. I'm a Spoonley fan I think. Tamati must be a good keeper to keep him out at city or he's done something...cos the last few times I've seen him play, including for the 'Nix he hasn't looked out of place.

The new guys didn't show themselves up. Caira seemed better than Hogg until his injury, and less prone to woeful crosses than Lochy, though that can be down to tactics and options.

Sigmund out of the line for the first goal and was it Siggie and Manny failing to clear for the second? Bit irritating, but I hope that we'll develop a habit of getting a second goal and putting the game away if we are ahead.

Different team, different style and different start to the season than last year, but I think there'd be those among us who'd hope that we'll be in a different spot on the ladder by the end of the season too.

Embarassing was the commentators saying he was destined for higher honours

I went away, did the dishes and thought about it.

Prior to KO, I had the Roar by 2 goals so I should not be disappointed because prior to KO, I doubt many had us in this game considering the circumstances. That being said...

I think we punched above our weight. I am disappointed in the manner in which we lost (91st minute..... come on!!!) but I think even Brisbane will look at that and say they pinched it and a draw was the proper result. I am filled with confidence in a loss but its one of those 'Why? How? Fuck!' moments.... Every man and their dog has picked Brisbane to clean up based on preseason and I bet everyone on the West Island had us to get a pasting. Had we played Jets, Heart, Sydney, in fact any of the 6 in the games before us, we would have won I believe.

We had the first half. Hicks was a surprise starter (I am a fan so please view the bias) but the front guys pressured them into easy mistakes and it took them 10 mins to get into our half. Thats a great attitude and I hope it continues because that was one thing Greenie bought in last year that Ricki was missing - defensive work rate in the front quarter. I thought Carlos justified his signing and Kenny put in a ton of work. He didn't get much going up front but props for helping Adams from getting exposed. If nothing else, our imports showed a willingness to put in the work getting back which has not been a hallmark of Phoenix imports in the past.. The goal was nice and I think a typical Stein goal - right place, right time and one touch. The first half, if we played like that for the rest of the season, I think the fans would be well happy.

The second half was Brisbane. I don't know what happened and I hope someone else may have the answer but it looked like we ran out of gas. Now when you hear that this is the fittest squad we have ever had, thats a contrast with what we saw. Carlos vanished and that gives the detractors the ammo they want because he is known for that. I thought the Ifill and Boyd subs bought in nothing. Ifill looked as big as last year and considering its the first time I saw him I actually said out loud 'My ass he has lost 7kgs'. The last goal.... well I will sound like a broken record but why does a CB with Sigmunds experience let in bounce in the box... Thats all I wanna say.

Performers:

Spoonley - Would Italiano be as good as him? He fronted in a one off last year and I think he fronted well today. He was out quick and recognised the threat of Berisha when he got a hop on. He has matured and I would be happy if he was our number one. Hats off to the lad for a keeper that has been billed in the past as too short, not up to it, lacking mental toughness etc etc. Him or Stein as my MOM. Gould gets big props I think for this. Would be interested in 2ndBests thoughts. A BIG WTF on the yellow card. Thats bollocks.

Stein - His work rate up front was immense and I feel he showed why he is better than Brockie - he has a work rate. He chased hard all game and the Boyd for Stein sub was puzzling. Had it been Watson, I think I could get it but Boyd is not a striker. He should shut up the folk that said he is a waste of an import slot. Solid on the ball and one of the best touches I think we will see from a Phoenix import.

Ernie - This team played a style far removed from last year. The long ball is dead. The style needs some work still but its encouraging considering the parts he has inherited. I have no problem sitting down and getting excited to see a team that shows that it can play football. As Manny said 'last year was last year' and I think he is right. WIP but he has done well to knock the crap out of them.

Question marks - a few of them

The midfield - we were ok for the most part considering it is recognised that it is our biggest and most glaring weakness. It was said before game the Brisbane would dominate us in midfield and I don't think they did. However I'm not so sure that the consistency of performance is going to be there. Lia did some dumb stuff, Manny not so much. Shaky, but not poor. I expect if Lia stays in the midfield, he will be suspended by round 6 for yellow card count.

Carlos - a solid first half and then impersonated Brockie in the 2nd. What happened? I think as fans, considering his knock has always been his shape and fitness, is this a sign of what we have bought into for a player that is in the best shape he has been in? 1st half he showed the value he has but the 2nd.... had he stepped up and given us anything in the 2nd, we may have won that. It was like we were carrying him.

Fullbacks - big question mark going into the game and I think they did a satisfactory job. Kenny helped Adams a lot so he was not as exposed. I was accused of watching the wrong game by horsehead21 and I accept that I may well have but I thought Caira was satisfactory without going 'yup, thats why he was signed'. Would Lochhead have done better is the key question because Lochhead is the standard and its accepted that Hogg and Rowe were not better last year. Was this guy? Time will tell.

Boxall - I feel obliged to mention him and I'm not sure where to place him. I thought he was ok. We were told he worked on his shit at Oakleigh and on the face of it, looks like he has. Question is, if we drop one of our aging CBs next year, is he the fill in guy? I thought he was reasonable.

Hmmmm

Boyd - Harsh but I have to ask why this lad is near the squad. 2 years ago I watched him at Waikato and thought "what great poise and balance he has'. Last year I thought he had 1 dimension and not a clue about professional football. Today, I thought he was ineffectual. It is harsh as he has been injured and was in a cast but he is a year on from being a rookie so I want to see something. I didn't see it. I am open to criticism on this but this lad has to kick on this year because as someone else said, Rufer is a better option on face value.

I can take todays result on the face value we were going into this up against it and probably going to get toweled. I guess over the next 3 weeks, this result will come into perspective very clearly.

On the 442 site the Roar fans are complaining how they played poorly due to the conditions.   They were asked what was wrong with the conditions and they blamed the wind/pitch and it being cold lol

Re Adams.

OK lets just cool it. Bad first game for us true. To me it actually looked like nerves got to him. We need to give him a break.

Lia was one of the fitter players??????? Wtf???!!!

Well done to those who kept chanting after the 2nd goal. Shame we couldn't keep the pressure from the start.

I enjoyed today. When we have possession we look like an entirely new side compared to last season, the tempo was good. Same old silly mistakes cost us though. I think with Durante back in the squad we're going to be even better again, we were missin him today. We'll do well this season.

I didn't even realise Boyd played. I don't know why people are expecting Hernandez to play his A game for 90 mins. He never has.

Oh and Kenny did nothing to prove himself today. People said he was fast.......he isn't.

Nice to meet you @ the urinal news. Will bust out the suit next time I'm in welly. Probably best we didn't shake hands. 

Gutted but philosophical about that. It wasn't boring, that's for sure.

Agree , the brand is definately worth watching. The intent is positive and we did create more than usual. One glaring issue... Fitness. If nothing else you expect a professional footballers to be able to physically handle 90 minutes of football. There were a handle of players who did not look fit , some of the usual suspects

Always interesting to read opionions of people who watched it on the telly rather than live. 

I seem to be disagreeing with a few people..

There's no hiding errors on tv

How many years is it going to take to have us stop throwing money at attacking players and buy some defenders. A good offense is the best offense is not an adage; it's moronic, especially in football.

shame to lose to a last minute lucky goal - htought we did enough for a point. The young lads loked lively all game, Caira did well enough for me, as did boxall, siggy worked hard and made some awesome stops and intercepts but again with the charging out off the line leaving his mates stranded. Thought manny looked a lot better at DM, Lia is not the answer to help hom out, Riera looked a lot better when he came on. Front three of King kenny, Stein and Hernandez looked sharo and reall promising, Brockie is going to have to work hard to get back - couple of times I though Stein could have shot earlier but still he looked good. Overall I'm happy with how the lads played, a couple of errors let the Roar into the game, hopefully that can be changed in the next couple of games.

Ifill's illusion was the haircut... Made him look trimmer. Thought Lia looked really unfit and kaira also.

I just love these comments about Hernandez being lazy. I'll speak for all of us when I say I'm really surprised......

sarcasm by the way.

Not going to go back through all the pages but like these two posts on this page.

A good hit out and some very nice footy.

Apart from the late goal (these things happen) I enjoyed the game and we should be able to kick on from this (maybe Gareth did have a point about playing attractive football)