R10 vs Brisbane Roar | Sat 9th Dec | 7:30pm | SS4

Carrying on from the good old GCU days...

80 odd km's from Brisbane to Gold Coast. Good transport options to and from the ground itself but it's basically in the middle of nowhere next to a train station and a shopping mall (sorry if you're from/fond of Robina, but it's shark). Not a football catchment area either.

League - GC Titans: average team but better than the Warriors - 13,000 to 17,000

AFL - GC Suns: bottom four last 3 season's - average crowds between 11,500 & 13,000

A-League/FFA probably trying to coat tail on those numbers but failing miserably, . 

Spoke too soon..

Now's the time to be mentally strong and keep making good decisions.  They've looked a bit calmer tonight, I think.  Less overly hopeful balls and dangerous turnovers.  Now do it under a bit of fatigue too.

We've been poor going forward withut Krishna but mostly better at the back (so far). Our issue is when we let one goal in, it seems like we're going to let in 20. So hopefully we keep it tight until the end, 0-0 wouldn't be the worst result in the world. Need a bloody clean sheet.

and then an overly hopeful ball from Doyle

So frustrating when his corners or free kicks don’t pass the first man though.

Jeeze we deserve three points here. 

Bring on singh for rufer

I'm not a huge Ridenton fan, but his delivery is actually one of the best in the league. Genuinely.

Oops! Jinxed it.

Slater: Maybe he should have gone for another option there.......

Doyle was wronged.

time to tread on Brisbane Rufer.

That's a red. Deliberate foul play.

Oh FFS. Wasting so many free kicks this game

What did Doyle actually do there?

Even in replays I couldn't see it.  Just looked like Brissie player jumped to the ground.  Did he lift him or something?  Or was it for being verbal and the words hit him so hard he got launched into the air?

Tripped him after he got stood on.

Ta

Good.

Good.

Something to work from.  Clean sheet.  But Brisbane should have got beaten.

On the bright we looked pretty good in my eyes. We'll make it right against Perth

picked him up.Mostly good reffing, but that bit lacked courage. Only a little off the ball studs into the feet. Refs? Is there such a thing?

We got a point, but IMHO we were absolute rubbish. Dear oh dear.

Both teams deserve their league position.

not a loss I guess.

ZING!

Better than a loss I suppose.

Needed Krishna, and would have liked to give Singh 15mins

and WSW

After the week we've had and the players we were missing I'm happy with a point and a clean sheet away from home. Far more assured game and we looked comfortable in possession more than we have so far this season.

Rufer and Ridenton both great, Rufers close control is something else. Rossi, Doyle and Italiano impressive as well.

Definitely something to build on for next week.

some uncharitable miserable gits posting on here. This was clearly not stellar but a good fighting performance. With a bit of luck we would’ve won by two or three.

Considering we were without Krishna and McGlinchey, there were some encouraging moments in there. Unfortunately, we need more than that if we are going to get back into playoff contention.

Ridenton seemed to enjoyed playing in a midfield role where he had a bit more freedom. Managed to escape his marker a few times and looking threatening from corners. Probably should have been subbed for Singh with 15 minutes to go though as he looked exhausted.

Pleasantly surprised by Rufer's performance and was good to see Vidosic get involved more in the buildup play.

Deserved the three on the run of play.  But still weren't good enough to win it.  We had a decent enough game against one of the bottom sides.  But nowhere near the top four or five sides.  

That said, it's been a tough period and happy enough with the clean sheet and the better control of midfield. Get Krishna and McG back and a replacement for Finkler and let's see how much we can improve.

Krishna in for Parkhouse is the only change I would make.

We need another forward who is able to make something for themsleves...like Ifill etc etc. We've got guys at the start of their career and guys towards the end. Kalu doing ok. Rossi a legend.Galloway and Doyle ok. Paracki lost his mojo.

But we need someone who can beat a couple of folks and score. Cos there hasn't been a killer instinct out there. 

Come back Paracki!

Both teams had their chances, but the ref (sprig burn aside) had the best game. 

Considering what we've been through - it was far more assured. Good to see Rufer and Ridenton play well. Ok we didn't score tonight, but that hasn't been our problem. The clean sheet was the bit that was needed, and now a week in Oz together gives us a chance to chase some momentum.   

He played a very disciplined and strict defensive role tonight and did it well I thought.  Wasn't flashy but blocked a lot of passing channels.