not doom - trying to understand. The number of times last season we played so narrow. The number of times the overlapping runs of opposition got in behind the defence with ease. The number of times the diagonal ball through our defence cut us to pieces.
What has changed - that has been in the games against Ozzy opposition so far.
We play into a congested mid field and opposition defence
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyone?
Poor, poor management.There is just so much about our squad that doesn't make sense - we've had an import midfielder on the bench for what seems like two seasons, we signed another import midfielder that isn't quite up to scratch and actually reduces the effectiveness of our best player and we still haven't solved either FB problem.
a.haak
The frustrating thing for me is that these issues have been around for a season and a half now and yet it seems like Ernie just wants to keep banging his head against the same brick wall. Our recruitment was questionable again, and the squad is horribly unbalanced once more.
I know that it's hard to find decent FBs at A League level, so OK, maybe that might be let slide. Except Ernie plays a formation where the FBs are left constantly exposed because we have no traditional wide midfielders or wingers who can help them deal with opposition wide players making touchline runs. So our obviously weak FBs are basically having opposition attacks funnelled at them.
2 of our imports and one of our highest paid locals (Roly, Gui, WeeMac) are all arguably at their best in a central attacking mid role so our midfield is unbalanced from the get go. On top of that another import is also a central mid, albeit a deeper one, but he doesn't appear to be part of the first choice XI. I obviously really rate A-Rod but I also think it's retarded to use an import slot on a player who's not going to be a starter. The squad would look a lot more balanced if A-Rod's contract hadn't been extended or we hadn't signed Gui and that import spot had been used on a FB. Hell, we could have not had either of them and got 2 FBs, or a starting DM and a FB.
Then we have Kosta and Krishna, one of our best paid locals and the last import. Ernie obviously thinks he can recreate the Burns/Krishna partnership but that didn't even work for a whole season, and teams wised up on how to defend against it anyway.
But the net result of this is that it's impossible to come up with a shape which has our best players and imports all starting in their preferred roles. And even the shape we've got them shoehorned into leads to possibly the weakest link in the team, the FBs, being left with the duties of both FBs and wide midfielders. Meanwhile our central midfield is too overloaded with players who want to hold the ball up and look for a pass that we're ponderously slow in transition and passing lanes are predictable and easily covered.
Our team resembles a social team, with a bunch of guys all trying to play the same position, a slow old guy with a good touch who is only really useful on set pieces, two ringins plonked into the FB roles because no one else wants to do it, and an attacking approach that is probably best summed up as kick it in the general direction of one of the fast guys up front and hope they can do something.
I admire the optimism of the fans who think we can turn it around but I just can't see how personally. The current system just doesn't work, and hasn't since Burns went off the boil post-Asian Cup and the rest of the league realised if they sat back then we could do nothing, and now we don't have the squad to play any other way.
I think this is all a bit too negative. I don't think it is impossible to come up with a formation but it means some harder choices. To me there are 3 issues we need to solve for:
- Roly needs to play closer to goal (he isn't affecting the game from a deeper position)
- Our forwards need to play closer together (both seem to be attacking from the wings which isn't working, even Watson seemed to do it when he came on)
-We need more solidity in our wide defence (Lia can't cover both full backs bombing on)
So the fix I think is not too difficult. Lia and Rodriguez both start and stay reasonably deep (or Rufer or Ridenton). The full backs don't push on at the same time. Finkler plays behind the striker (probably Krishna) with Barabrouses wide one side and McGlinchey wide the other side.. Roly drops to the bench but can come on and play in the Finkler position if he isn't looking good. Solidify the whole thing a bit
If you are right that Roly and Finkler can't play together then why did we sign both of them? Also, Krishna is a very good player but I would rather have his pace out wide.
I think you are right about what our best line up is. I just think our best line up shows that our squad could have been configured better.
Roly isn't as good as everyone seems to think he is, he can beat a man one on one and shoot from distance but he's not a creative AM player like Finkler.
I'm guessing we signed those players late because we were looking for someone else, Doyle should be starting though.
Also it doesn't matter if your import is a bench player or a starter as long as they improve the squad. I really don't understand this idea that imports have to be the best players in the team, it doesn't make any sense.
The frustrating thing for me is that these issues have been around for a season and a half now and yet it seems like Ernie just wants to keep banging his head against the same brick wall. Our recruitment was questionable again, and the squad is horribly unbalanced once more.
I know that it's hard to find decent FBs at A League level, so OK, maybe that might be let slide. Except Ernie plays a formation where the FBs are left constantly exposed because we have no traditional wide midfielders or wingers who can help them deal with opposition wide players making touchline runs. So our obviously weak FBs are basically having opposition attacks funnelled at them.
2 of our imports and one of our highest paid locals (Roly, Gui, WeeMac) are all arguably at their best in a central attacking mid role so our midfield is unbalanced from the get go. On top of that another import is also a central mid, albeit a deeper one, but he doesn't appear to be part of the first choice XI. I obviously really rate A-Rod but I also think it's retarded to use an import slot on a player who's not going to be a starter. The squad would look a lot more balanced if A-Rod's contract hadn't been extended or we hadn't signed Gui and that import spot had been used on a FB. Hell, we could have not had either of them and got 2 FBs, or a starting DM and a FB.
Then we have Kosta and Krishna, one of our best paid locals and the last import. Ernie obviously thinks he can recreate the Burns/Krishna partnership but that didn't even work for a whole season, and teams wised up on how to defend against it anyway.
But the net result of this is that it's impossible to come up with a shape which has our best players and imports all starting in their preferred roles. And even the shape we've got them shoehorned into leads to possibly the weakest link in the team, the FBs, being left with the duties of both FBs and wide midfielders. Meanwhile our central midfield is too overloaded with players who want to hold the ball up and look for a pass that we're ponderously slow in transition and passing lanes are predictable and easily covered.
Our team resembles a social team, with a bunch of guys all trying to play the same position, a slow old guy with a good touch who is only really useful on set pieces, two ringins plonked into the FB roles because no one else wants to do it, and an attacking approach that is probably best summed up as kick it in the general direction of one of the fast guys up front and hope they can do something.
I admire the optimism of the fans who think we can turn it around but I just can't see how personally. The current system just doesn't work, and hasn't since Burns went off the boil post-Asian Cup and the rest of the league realised if they sat back then we could do nothing, and now we don't have the squad to play any other way.
I think this is all a bit too negative. I don't think it is impossible to come up with a formation but it means some harder choices. To me there are 3 issues we need to solve for:
- Roly needs to play closer to goal (he isn't affecting the game from a deeper position)
- Our forwards need to play closer together (both seem to be attacking from the wings which isn't working, even Watson seemed to do it when he came on)
-We need more solidity in our wide defence (Lia can't cover both full backs bombing on)
So the fix I think is not too difficult. Lia and Rodriguez both start and stay reasonably deep (or Rufer or Ridenton). The full backs don't push on at the same time. Finkler plays behind the striker (probably Krishna) with Barabrouses wide one side and McGlinchey wide the other side.. Roly drops to the bench but can come on and play in the Finkler position if he isn't looking good. Solidify the whole thing a bit
If you are right that Roly and Finkler can't play together then why did we sign both of them? Also, Krishna is a very good player but I would rather have his pace out wide.
I think you are right about what our best line up is. I just think our best line up shows that our squad could have been configured better.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
Roly isn't as good as everyone seems to think he is, he can beat a man one on one and shoot from distance but he's not a creative AM player like Finkler.
I'm guessing we signed those players late because we were looking for someone else, Doyle should be starting though.
Also it doesn't matter if your import is a bench player or a starter as long as they improve the squad. I really don't understand this idea that imports have to be the best players in the team, it doesn't make any sense.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyon
yes - what was the purpose of preseason if not to try out these things
Roly isn't as good as everyone seems to think he is, he can beat a man one on one and shoot from distance but he's not a creative AM player like Finkler.
I'm guessing we signed those players late because we were looking for someone else, Doyle should be starting though.
Also it doesn't matter if your import is a bench player or a starter as long as they improve the squad. I really don't understand this idea that imports have to be the best players in the team, it doesn't make any sense.
The point is that we signed Finkler as a marquee and he improved our squad only a little. If we used that money to sign a defensive midfielder or a striker or a wing back then I think we would have improved our squad a lot more. If we didn't have Roly then signing Finkler would improve our squad a lot. We are in a salary capped league with import restrictions. Having two foreign and expensive players play one position is a bit of a luxury in this league. If you do that you will probably have weaknesses elsewhere.
I don't think they play the same position though. Whether they can both be on the park is another story.
Roly isn't as good as everyone seems to think he is, he can beat a man one on one and shoot from distance but he's not a creative AM player like Finkler.
I'm guessing we signed those players late because we were looking for someone else, Doyle should be starting though.
Also it doesn't matter if your import is a bench player or a starter as long as they improve the squad. I really don't understand this idea that imports have to be the best players in the team, it doesn't make any sense.
That's fair enough. I'd like to see Rufer or Ridenton given a shot in the Lia position. Rufer said in an interview the other day that he wants to be a holding midfielder. I understand that a holding midfielder and defensive midfielder have slightly different roles, but they both sit in front of the defense and have to make those clinical, and game saving, tackles. I'm usually a supporter of Lia but he wasn't great yesterday and he isn't a DM despite playing that role the bulk of his time with us. So we don't have much to loose by trying to blood in some youngsters.
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyone?
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyone?
just following Phoenix tradition
Founder
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyone?
I can understand that for cover at LB or left footed attacking player in Parkhouse but at RB we have no real first team player there, it's a toss of a coin between Tratt and Fenton (or Fox) at RB.
Can someone please explain why we left the signings of Parkhouse and Tratt so late and why they are now our starting FB's despite not playing pre-season with us? Anyone?
So the absence of the All Whites wasn't something we could plan for? We knew about it months in advance.
Should we expect to see both Tratt and Parkhouse on the bench next week?
I really think if we got rid of Finkler and A-Rod, then focused on the positions where we are actually weak, we'd have a far better looking team. Of course, this is a lot riskier as you could get another Sarpong in FB form - but you need to take risk to progress. Signing Finkler was, to me, a little crazy - I watch most MV home games live and Fink's influence has been waning for about a season and a half. It's telling that no Victory fan was really that heartbroken to see him go.
The only reasoning I could think of is that Kost and Gui came for some sort of buy one get one free deal.
a.haak
[quote=Blew.2]
chant for next home game:
We play up the middle in such a muddle.
They have no trouble lifting the ball over our rumble rubble
We struggle to keep the ball in the muddle.
We struggle to keep out of trouble.
...........End Now......................
Why do we play so narrow and our opposition drop balls wide and run in behind with ease?
Not very catchy
Fixed
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Both were stone cold penalties.
"Accidental clip" - WTF is that? He clipped him ergo it's a penalty.
I watched the replay of the Moss penalty six times and still can't see Moss getting anywhere near the ball.
The only one complaining was Durante: out of duty as he's the captain. Moss did NOT complain at all: he knew he had got nowhere near it.
chant for next home game:
We play up the middle in such a muddle.
They have no trouble lifting the ball ove our rumble.
We struggle to keep the ball in the muddle.
We struggle to keep out of trouble.
...........
A fan is a fan.
chant for next home game:
We play up the middle in such a muddle.
They have no trouble lifting the ball ove our rumble.
We struggle to keep the ball in the muddle.
We struggle to keep out of trouble.
...........
chant for next home game:
We play up the middle in such a muddle.
Our play up the flank is just as rank
They have no trouble lifting the ball ove our rumble.
Or though our middle with just a dribble
We struggle to keep the ball in the muddle.
We struggle to keep out of trouble.
Please just wait and we'll hand you a double
I didn't have is picking up any points in the first 2 games because of the window. Ok won't get near Sydney based on what we saw last night, but at least the top string line up will have had a week back together, and for the AW's - get a few home Zeds.
Need another 4 or 5 games to get a handle on where things are at. But same old question - who's gonna score the 12/13 goals you need to mount a serious challenge.
I didn't have is picking up any points in the first 2 games because of the window. Ok won't get near Sydney based on what we saw last night, but at least the top string line up will have had a week back together, and for the AW's - get a few home Zeds.
Need another 4 or 5 games to get a handle on where things are at. But same old question - who's gonna score the 12/13 goals you need to mount a serious challenge.
How about we just get a coach that can implement tactics and can actually lead us somewhere? Why should we be content with mediocrity when we have some quality players? We have a team good enough to make the playoffs but with Ernie we'll get 7th at best.
So the absence of the All Whites wasn't something we could plan for? We knew about it months in advance.
Should we expect to see both Tratt and Parkhouse on the bench next week?
I really think if we got rid of Finkler and A-Rod, then focused on the positions where we are actually weak, we'd have a far better looking team. Of course, this is a lot riskier as you could get another Sarpong in FB form - but you need to take risk to progress. Signing Finkler was, to me, a little crazy - I watch most MV home games live and Fink's influence has been waning for about a season and a half. It's telling that no Victory fan was really that heartbroken to see him go.
The only reasoning I could think of is that Kost and Gui came for some sort of buy one get one free deal.
I don't think Gui's signing was crazy at all. It was obvious the last two seasons that the Nix lacked a creative midfielder and were no threat from set pieces. Given that finding a foreign player to fulfill these duties is a) difficult b) expensive and c) a lottery, it makes to go with a player that is known. It is easy to understand how a coach, given Gui isn't yet that old and had been a top player, could assume that his waning lack of influence in Victory could be down to struggling to return from injury and coaching changes - two things a coach could be confident in dealing with. Not a crazy signing. Also it's only been two games.
I personally think A-Rod should be starting but do not think the quality or the makeup of the squad is a problem, it's a top squad on paper. There don't appear to be any major gaps, relative to other clubs - every club has a problem position or two. The issue seems to be tactical, and mental - the lack of winning mentality as has already been mentioned. Let's hope the quality squad finally clicks sooner rather than later we and do an Adelaide. I don't think the Phoenix could survive season after season of much promise but delivering such disappointment like the Warriors.
I didn't have is picking up any points in the first 2 games because of the window. Ok won't get near Sydney based on what we saw last night, but at least the top string line up will have had a week back together, and for the AW's - get a few home Zeds.
Need another 4 or 5 games to get a handle on where things are at. But same old question - who's gonna score the 12/13 goals you need to mount a serious challenge.
How about we just get a coach that can implement tactics and can actually lead us somewhere? Why should we be content with mediocrity when we have some quality players? We have a team good enough to make the playoffs but with Ernie we'll get 7th at best.
Grumpy old bastard alert
The frustrating thing for me is that these issues have been around for a season and a half now and yet it seems like Ernie just wants to keep banging his head against the same brick wall. Our recruitment was questionable again, and the squad is horribly unbalanced once more.
I know that it's hard to find decent FBs at A League level, so OK, maybe that might be let slide. Except Ernie plays a formation where the FBs are left constantly exposed because we have no traditional wide midfielders or wingers who can help them deal with opposition wide players making touchline runs. So our obviously weak FBs are basically having opposition attacks funnelled at them.
2 of our imports and one of our highest paid locals (Roly, Gui, WeeMac) are all arguably at their best in a central attacking mid role so our midfield is unbalanced from the get go. On top of that another import is also a central mid, albeit a deeper one, but he doesn't appear to be part of the first choice XI. I obviously really rate A-Rod but I also think it's retarded to use an import slot on a player who's not going to be a starter. The squad would look a lot more balanced if A-Rod's contract hadn't been extended or we hadn't signed Gui and that import spot had been used on a FB. Hell, we could have not had either of them and got 2 FBs, or a starting DM and a FB.
Then we have Kosta and Krishna, one of our best paid locals and the last import. Ernie obviously thinks he can recreate the Burns/Krishna partnership but that didn't even work for a whole season, and teams wised up on how to defend against it anyway.
But the net result of this is that it's impossible to come up with a shape which has our best players and imports all starting in their preferred roles. And even the shape we've got them shoehorned into leads to possibly the weakest link in the team, the FBs, being left with the duties of both FBs and wide midfielders. Meanwhile our central midfield is too overloaded with players who want to hold the ball up and look for a pass that we're ponderously slow in transition and passing lanes are predictable and easily covered.
Our team resembles a social team, with a bunch of guys all trying to play the same position, a slow old guy with a good touch who is only really useful on set pieces, two ringins plonked into the FB roles because no one else wants to do it, and an attacking approach that is probably best summed up as kick it in the general direction of one of the fast guys up front and hope they can do something.
I admire the optimism of the fans who think we can turn it around but I just can't see how personally. The current system just doesn't work, and hasn't since Burns went off the boil post-Asian Cup and the rest of the league realised if they sat back then we could do nothing, and now we don't have the squad to play any other way.
bang on
barbarouses is a right winger and that's all he is use him there. stretch the opposition.
why do we insist on ignoring the flanks?
Perth's second goal highlights a major Nix weakness. Our full back pushes up wide and then the play breaks down. Perth counter attack down the same flank with nobody covering resulting in a goal. From memory Newcastle punished us 3 times last season in 2 games from quick counter attacks down the same flank.
Yeah 'whatever', I'm sure Graham Arnold and crew has had a good look already.
And you also highlight what most people are frustrated about.
New season, same problems.
That's the DM's role to tuck into cover the break and to be an outlet if momentum stops, but Lia is holding to central and pushing into the middle, yeah, its great in his mind because he gets the ball with time in a central area, but it leaves us short, chasing runners while trying to close space.
He's better tucking in and then looking to rebuild through the back and maintain possession and then tuck back into the middle and look for options....
Lia needs to know when to hold, push and drop in... seems to lack positional nous.
So the absence of the All Whites wasn't something we could plan for? We knew about it months in advance.
Should we expect to see both Tratt and Parkhouse on the bench next week?
I really think if we got rid of Finkler and A-Rod, then focused on the positions where we are actually weak, we'd have a far better looking team. Of course, this is a lot riskier as you could get another Sarpong in FB form - but you need to take risk to progress. Signing Finkler was, to me, a little crazy - I watch most MV home games live and Fink's influence has been waning for about a season and a half. It's telling that no Victory fan was really that heartbroken to see him go.
The only reasoning I could think of is that Kost and Gui came for some sort of buy one get one free deal.
I don't think Gui's signing was crazy at all. It was obvious the last two seasons that the Nix lacked a creative midfielder and were no threat from set pieces. Given that finding a foreign player to fulfill these duties is a) difficult b) expensive and c) a lottery, it makes to go with a player that is known. It is easy to understand how a coach, given Gui isn't yet that old and had been a top player, could assume that his waning lack of influence in Victory could be down to struggling to return from injury and coaching changes - two things a coach could be confident in dealing with. Not a crazy signing. Also it's only been two games.
I personally think A-Rod should be starting but do not think the quality or the makeup of the squad is a problem, it's a top squad on paper. There don't appear to be any major gaps, relative to other clubs - every club has a problem position or two. The issue seems to be tactical, and mental - the lack of winning mentality as has already been mentioned. Let's hope the quality squad finally clicks sooner rather than later we and do an Adelaide. I don't think the Phoenix could survive season after season of much promise but delivering such disappointment like the Warriors.
Would you have re-signed Roly then?
That's the DM's role to tuck into cover the break and to be an outlet if momentum stops, but Lia is holding to central and pushing into the middle, yeah, its great in his mind because he gets the ball with time in a central area, but it leaves us short, chasing runners while trying to close space.
He's better tucking in and then looking to rebuild through the back and maintain possession and then tuck back into the middle and look for options....
Lia needs to know when to hold, push and drop in... seems to lack positional nous.
I would agree with the above. The role Lia has now in this team requires more speed / nimbleness. Even if his positional nous was any better chances are he would not have the legs to get there, especially with the speed and accuracy Perth was playing.
It makes sense to use A-Rod more simply because he is younger and fitter, and not any less skillful than Lia, assuming it is the same position.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
I don't think Gui's signing was crazy at all. It was obvious the last two seasons that the Nix lacked a creative midfielder and were no threat from set pieces. Given that finding a foreign player to fulfill these duties is a) difficult b) expensive and c) a lottery, it makes to go with a player that is known. It is easy to understand how a coach, given Gui isn't yet that old and had been a top player, could assume that his waning lack of influence in Victory could be down to struggling to return from injury and coaching changes - two things a coach could be confident in dealing with. Not a crazy signing. Also it's only been two games.
I personally think A-Rod should be starting but do not think the quality or the makeup of the squad is a problem, it's a top squad on paper. There don't appear to be any major gaps, relative to other clubs - every club has a problem position or two. The issue seems to be tactical, and mental - the lack of winning mentality as has already been mentioned. Let's hope the quality squad finally clicks sooner rather than later we and do an Adelaide. I don't think the Phoenix could survive season after season of much promise but delivering such disappointment like the Warriors.
Would you have re-signed Roly then?
Yes I think so, brings a lot to the squad in terms of technique, versatility and potential to take the game to the opposition. He does seem to lack that championship winning mentality though.
So the absence of the All Whites wasn't something we could plan for? We knew about it months in advance.
Should we expect to see both Tratt and Parkhouse on the bench next week?
I really think if we got rid of Finkler and A-Rod, then focused on the positions where we are actually weak, we'd have a far better looking team. Of course, this is a lot riskier as you could get another Sarpong in FB form - but you need to take risk to progress. Signing Finkler was, to me, a little crazy - I watch most MV home games live and Fink's influence has been waning for about a season and a half. It's telling that no Victory fan was really that heartbroken to see him go.
The only reasoning I could think of is that Kost and Gui came for some sort of buy one get one free deal.
I don't think Gui's signing was crazy at all. It was obvious the last two seasons that the Nix lacked a creative midfielder and were no threat from set pieces. Given that finding a foreign player to fulfill these duties is a) difficult b) expensive and c) a lottery, it makes to go with a player that is known. It is easy to understand how a coach, given Gui isn't yet that old and had been a top player, could assume that his waning lack of influence in Victory could be down to struggling to return from injury and coaching changes - two things a coach could be confident in dealing with. Not a crazy signing. Also it's only been two games.
I personally think A-Rod should be starting but do not think the quality or the makeup of the squad is a problem, it's a top squad on paper. There don't appear to be any major gaps, relative to other clubs - every club has a problem position or two. The issue seems to be tactical, and mental - the lack of winning mentality as has already been mentioned. Let's hope the quality squad finally clicks sooner rather than later we and do an Adelaide. I don't think the Phoenix could survive season after season of much promise but delivering such disappointment like the Warriors.
the Arsenal.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
I think their is no direction in the final third, which is fine when you have really talented players (we don't). Also the spacing in our buildup play is too small/narrow, players are much too close together and we have too many players involved in the first pass our of the defence so when we do get the ball forward we are outnumbered and struggle to keep the ball high up the pitch
Correct and that's the way Ernie's set it up from the start of his reign. Don't get it either.
barbarouses is a right winger and that's all he is use him there.
Apart from that one time he was played as a striker and won the A-League as the second highest goal scorer...
barbarouses is a right winger and that's all he is use him there.
Apart from that one time he was played as a striker and won the A-League as the second highest goal scorer...
He played on the right of the front three for Brisbane, didn't he?
That's the DM's role to tuck into cover the break and to be an outlet if momentum stops, but Lia is holding to central and pushing into the middle, yeah, its great in his mind because he gets the ball with time in a central area, but it leaves us short, chasing runners while trying to close space.
He's better tucking in and then looking to rebuild through the back and maintain possession and then tuck back into the middle and look for options....
Lia needs to know when to hold, push and drop in... seems to lack positional nous.
I would agree with the above. The role Lia has now in this team requires more speed / nimbleness. Even if his positional nous was any better chances are he would not have the legs to get there, especially with the speed and accuracy Perth was playing.
It makes sense to use A-Rod more simply because he is younger and fitter, and not any less skillful than Lia, assuming it is the same position.
If we are losing 6 games in a row, not scoring a goal so far this season, and bottom of the league, why are we playing Lia? We can achieve the same thing ie nothing just by playing the youngsters, at least they may improve.
barbarouses is a right winger and that's all he is use him there.
Apart from that one time he was played as a striker and won the A-League as the second highest goal scorer...
He played on the right of the front three for Brisbane, didn't he?
yip, he sure did
hi tim :-)
That's the DM's role to tuck into cover the break and to be an outlet if momentum stops, but Lia is holding to central and pushing into the middle, yeah, its great in his mind because he gets the ball with time in a central area, but it leaves us short, chasing runners while trying to close space.
He's better tucking in and then looking to rebuild through the back and maintain possession and then tuck back into the middle and look for options....
Lia needs to know when to hold, push and drop in... seems to lack positional nous.
I would agree with the above. The role Lia has now in this team requires more speed / nimbleness. Even if his positional nous was any better chances are he would not have the legs to get there, especially with the speed and accuracy Perth was playing.
It makes sense to use A-Rod more simply because he is younger and fitter, and not any less skillful than Lia, assuming it is the same position.
If we are losing 6 games in a row, not scoring a goal so far this season, and bottom of the league, why are we playing Lia? We can achieve the same thing ie nothing just by playing the youngsters, at least they may improve.
Grumpy old bastard alert