On the game:
While we were aggressive and showed an intent to attack and create opportunities the only team that got the ball under control and moved it around was Brisbane. They didn't do this the whole game but when they did they showed a clear difference between the two sides.
After our aggression won the opening phases, Brisbane settled into a nice rhythm where they moved the ball high up the pitch and pinned us back in our area. In that respect our goal came slightly against the run of play and broke a brief spell of Brisbane dominance. If that had continued we would've been in for a tough period.
Our attack was mostly coming from winning possession and releasing early; Stein and Cunnigham being the strongest outlets.Anytime we put our foot on the ball in the midfield to slow the game and open angles our passing was poor and we would give it away.
Their first goal started right in front of me. Sigmund came out to win a 50-50 between the midfield and defense. He won the first but was then committed to the second because if he retreated he would've been a lame duck anyway. With Sigmund out of the line the defense didn't contract well enough and Adams in particular failed to get back in line to snuff out the threat. Not Sigmund's fault.
Boxall was better than I expected though he got turned very easily a number of times.
Left-back had a tough day but think he will be up to it.
Hernandez was very good but then ran-out of puff. Just before he tired he'd done some excellent work on the left side in our half to evade 3 players and open an attack - it switched right and we created an opportunity in their box. Was thinking at the time how hard he was working, because he was, but just think that last big effort did him in.
Would prefer Manny at right-back. He's good enough for the midfield but while he's there we have a question over right-back and midfield so I say sort out right-back, because from there he can have a strong influence on the game, and find another solution for the middle. Would prefer a midfield with an emphasis on passing and control rather than tackling and fouling.
Liked the look of Riera when he was on the ball but he made all those positional mistakes you expect midfielders to make when they play at fullback - kept getting pulled in too narrow; got pulled up too high and allowed a ball in behind; not stopping crosses from coming in.
Hicks drifted and did very little. Was too wasteful when he had the chance and didn't really provide anything on our left, either by staying wide, which he didn't, or by drifting in, which he did a lot of but did nothing.
Neither side played as they would've liked and hard on us not to get the point that we'd probably done enough for.
