R16 vs Melbourne City | Mon 25 Jan | SS1 | NOW AT 10.20PM

I'd like to see some more of Joel Stevens off the bench. Has done more for us than Appiah ever did.

Start both Appiah and Stevens they give us width and speed

Appiah is pace and nothing else

How many fekin mascots do you need ?

seems to be improving... only 2 out of 3 touches too heavy now!

Stevens is good

Kisnorbo is getting away

Fornarolli needs an old fashioned kicking

the amount he's played to the ref on Manny and Dura.

yep and thats fine for the ASB championship !

can we just get rid of sarpong now

So depressing being a nix supporter at the moment!!

Nah. Hard to fight Juve with Moggi! We played plenty of football, just no finishing or cohesion on attack. Liked Stevens. Reminds me of how Fenton used to be.

Yes Appiah does give us speed, nobody can get a ball over the goal line quicker.

Peak A League at the end there. Foul on Stevens by Kisnorbo. Awful refereeing, ex Socceroo has beens protected. And preening, diving, cheating, over-rated South Americans dropping on the floor when anyone goes near them

Apart from the difference in quality there was a large gap in confidence - we have the yips

Good words from Ernie- summary Roly doesn't trust his team mates and is shooting and wasting attacking moves= 3-1. 

Need to create more good chances. Need some goal scorers.

Is he the Joel Stevens who played for the U20 AW team and scored that mean as goal at the cake tin finishing it off with a mean as flip?

How many crosses - when they eventually do come in - just float across the box into an attacker-free and defender-free zone at the far post. I swear there are 2 or 3 every game. Could someone please run to that space!

As for Appiah - well he beats defenders and gets into dangerous positions - that is more than most of the nix do and you can't say his finishing is any worse than any other Nix player. Stevens looks good. Those two were opening things up near the end. We're missing Krishna in all this. 

Well we get to go at them twice more. Would like to beat them and not lose to them in those games. That would be some progress.

Thats a bit rich saying roly is wasting attacking moves, has ernie not bloody seen the wingers and strikers all season. Roly seems to really be the only one capable of any finishing during an attack. Dont pin your poor tactics and reliance on non strikers on our best player.

Yes.

well I kind of agree. I think the tactics are good, but the players ie Appiah level subs aren't good enough. Powell didn't get much opportunity. Up front we desperately need new players.

I think the tactics are good until that last phase on goal - then it seems we seem to lose the plot with last passes loose or to gaping spaces where somebody should be lurking (assuming there is a plan at that point). I do think it will improve as this season moves on.

phew..only 3-1.

I think the forum sarcasm filter has shark itself.

I blame the FFA.

Cods.

Watched the highlights while getting ready for work this morning. Ironed a shirt, put it on and realised it had a stain on it. Grabbed another shirt, almost ironed the entire thing and then found another stain on that one.FML

If only!

does Roly's goal prove the 'we should shoot more from outside the box more' brigade right?

Maybe if we had 10 Bonevacia's

The rest can just try crossing a ball occasionally 

Last win was 5th Dec when played on a paddock, we have to go back to unplayable pitches to get 3 points again.

Well the boss isn't one of them so that's the main thing. He just needs a few blokes who can play a ball into the box and make runs in. Saw Stevens try to play an early ball in behind the defence when he came on

The 'Herald' article this morning summed it up quite well.

People am I missing something here everyone is talking about the lack of goals but what about the goals that are being leaked at the back end through poor defending. The team as a  whole front to back are average how often do you see the opposition fullbacks getting forward or the CBs stepping into midfield with the ball and under no pressure. We have players playing fullbacks and its not there natural position a CB in Dura who is dropping deeper because of his lack of pace now, and Manny who over commits.Yes we have a lack of goals but we need to score 3 or 4 because we are always conceding through crap defending

Agree. have been saying this for some time. We have to look at replacing both of these players.

For sure. City have the second worst defensive record at the moment but they have quality strikers.

I thought both Manny and Dura were poor last night (based on highlights only), Manny in particular seemed to be all over the place positionally. I personally think that Manny should have played FB instead of Ridenton or Doyle and Fox should have stayed at CB.

I also think that in terms of stabilising the team and turning results around it's better to start with the defence and work your way forward. The midfield will play better if they are confident in their defenders, and the forwards will get better chances if the mids are playing better. Which isn't to say we don't have issues up front.

Also, I just have to say it: Mooy is one hell of a footballer. Seems to get better every game I see him play.

Agree.  However, Mooy was poor in the first half, probably the worst I have seen him. First touch and his options were bad.

Now we all are talking  if you look at all the top teams around the world they concede bugger all goals.I heard Piney  this morning saying Ernie needs to have a clear out, at least six more players are needed he said I think it needs to be more a new back four for a starter

I thought Louis made a difference when he came on. Manny looked like he hadn't played in a month. Riera was good. Roly played like he'd been given a kick up the arse at half time. I admire Blake Powell's efforts, he was nearly lucky through his commitment.