That was not a good game to watch for many reasons
1: a real midfield slog
2: both teams played high lines and it compressed everything
3: the fatigue factor for the Phoenix was very noticable.
4: The inability to hold onto any meaningful possession
5: For the Phoenix, getting too cute with the ball in our 18 when we are under pressure, just welly the fudgeing thing. Its ok to clear lines.
6: The pitch surface which was just awful. Players looked like they were running on ice and needed to do the little steps to slow down or change direction. The ball over it took a few bumps as well. How can we have one of the worst surfaces in the league when most farmers in Southland would not let their cows graze on Suncorp.
7: Our discipline. I think Manny was lucky to stay on. He really does not learn.
8: Our defending. Late in the piece they were able to slip so many balls in behind for them to stroll past us. It was great to watch but not for the reasons of being a Phoenix fan. We turned into a team of ball watchers and I think that was because of fatigue.
Is it cause for alarm? I don't think so but really, I don't think you can begrudge Brisbane the 3 points there. 1st half was even and 2nd half was theirs. That was a game where too many players had off nights and law of averages suggests that should not happen again so soon.
Lia is always the scapegoat but when you listen to Ernie on the podcast, he is one of the only talkers on the pitch. Thats why he gets picked. I get that and thats an intangible as a fan we cannot see. I do however question how effective that is. Is a player that is talkative and organises a better choice than a player that is quieter and has more skill? Unfortunately for Lia he will always be the scapegoat as much as I thought Riera, Durante and Sigmund arguably had as poor if not poorer games. Riera could not kick a ball to our man all night. There is more to just shutting down passing lanes and as shown, if you are not getting that right and then can't hit your own man, you become a passenger.
Its games like that I feel sorry for Moss at the back cause you know as some point, you are going to be exposed cause players in front of you did not do their job and thats the over-riding sensation I am left with - no one did their jobs properly to full effect.