R2 vs Sydney FC | Sun 15 Oct | 9:00pm | SS1

Thought he looked good. Passing was good, tackling was good, running was good. I was pleased with how he played

In regards to his injury? Looked more precautionary 

Its great being at the end of the game and not having to talk about Keegan Smith. Thought his performance was good.

I'm not sure what he injured at the end of the game. And in regards to Keegan he I thought he did fine. But my heart skipped a beat when he dropped that high ball. Thank god for Dura

So what if (as a hypothetical), he smashed it into the top corner instead of looking to cross it? Would that go back to the VAR? 

This is why it's stupid.

Very happy with the result - obviously would've preferred a draw/win, but a one-goal loss and a fighting performance gives me great hope.

In previous seasons, we would have rolled over from being two quick goals down (see Victory loss 6-1 last season), but we dug deep and fought hard.

Pleasantly surprised with Dario. Would be very easy for him to come to collect a paycheck and go off to raise his son, so to see 2 in 2 is great. Onwards and upwards - COYN!!!

Alright. But to be fair Watson was still in a offside position, unless the pic I got excludes a Sydney player. So if Abass had passed it off the Watson, wouldn't that counts as offside as he directly interfered  with playafter being in an offside position? And still I think we were unlucky to not pull a point out of that game

So, first two games - how are we feeling? 

I think we've got a lot to sort out the back, but pleasantly surprised at our effectiveness going forward. Impressed with WeeMac today, I thought he really stood up in the 2nd half.

Krishna worked his ass off, but not his most effective game. 

Bit worried about our depth - looking at the bench, we really have no one who can change a game.

Based on seeing every team play twice it might be a bit of a stretch for us to make the playoffs I fear. It is a concern that all the old fellas are dropping like flies with injuries so early. There isn't much depth to get excited about. Hopefully the new man will get the organisational problems sorted sooner rather than later because I think we looked worryingly messy tonight. Good, spirited recovery against a much better team though.

Basically I'm cautiously optimistic with a dose of realism and quietly crossed fingers.

Two footed, good distance today, good availability as a sweeper. Could perhaps have done better on the last goal. I think it's a good call at this stage. Let's wait to judge, but so far so promising

How to get the best out of Krishna. This is the dilemma. Still thought he was involved in a lot that was good tonight 

Sydney given a go by poor lines refs 2 games in a row.  typical

Bugga. Oh well, at least my initial dismissal was better than me going into rage mode. What about the one Sydney had against them? When it deflected off Parkhouse to the offside Sydney player. Doesn't it not count as offside if it's off a deflection from the other team?

I think it has to be a deliberate back pass not a deflection.

Good explanations

SBS - The World Game  Quote "Sydney's chance to overtake ladder-leaders Melbourne City was controversially thwarted when an on-rushing David Carney was ruled offside despite the ball rebounding off a Phoenix player."  But no mention of the incorret offside call against the Nix!

That one is a little bit up in the air. Here is the law:

"A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:

• gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent

So it's all about whether Parkhouse deliberately plays the ball. I think he deliberately made a tackle, but seems like it rebounded to Carney(?) rather than was deliberately played to him (as in an intercepted backpass).

They live and breathe Sydney, I doubt we even exist to them.

I turned off after Sydney's second goal (poor form, but had planned to watch something on TV). I had dark thoughts of a 7-0 nightmare, so to see it was 3-2 almost felt like a win!

Yeah, but he would not have scored, Ali 100%

We got a bum call but Sydney shaded it over the 90.  We were far more organised and disciplined defensively and in midfield  but our transition didn't really get going.  Sydney had two spells sitting back and that's when we played our best football.  I can see why they want to persist with Smith (I missed last week), he will chuck one in at some stage but we and they just have to stand by him - NZ has probably never had a keeper with that ability on the deck.

I thought Mullen was pretty bad and I'd probably prefer Fox.  I thought McGlinchey came and went, when he got involved we were much better but he still drifts in and out.  I'd like to see a higher work rate from Kaluderovic, when he gets on the ball he can make things happen but he's not a work horse.  Paracki was our best player I thought.  Even though we conceded 3 I thought we looked better at the back and we just need to tweak a few things in attack so we are making the most of the good breaks we were creating from turnovers.

Except for Abbas and Parkhouse who seemingly changed the game...?

Yeah, depth isn't too bad. It probably looked worse than it was because Rossi pulled out at the last minute and so the likes of Lowry and Fox weren't available. 

The only position which is a bit weak from a depth perspective is striker, but then it's not too bad as we know that Krishna is a great striker and we have plenty of wingers.

Need to remember we're using some of that depth currently with Finkler and Rossi out.

So what happened to that offside rule where an offside player not touching the ball or anything could still be deemed to be penalty worthy if he drew in a defender, kept he goalie from being being on a one on one etc.?

I seem to remember that rule coming in the year we had burns, and it was something like if any defender acted differently because of an offside player that was deemed to be an offside penalty.  

Did that get changed or am I just totally wrong?

Re: Carney offside.

Does Galloway:

play at it the ball (and that can be in a controlled manner or deliberate attempt to play at it with a poor touch)

or did it deflect off him (no ability to make a play on the ball in a deliberate action or perhaps just a reaction due to speed and distance of ball coming unexpectedly)

If it’s the former - onside

It’s it’s the later - offside

Make up your own mind but I think it’s pretty clear. (It’s also a great coaching clip for future)

Abbas offside is unfortunate but a common hard one with defender and attacker going opposite directions with lateral separation - probably the hardest to get right.

Also wanna point out the VAR was Nick Waldron (NEW ZEALAND)

Missed the game - big weekend and in bed by 7pm. Looks like a reasonable result and game from the Highlights. 

How'd Smith go?

Goals from the highlights didn't look to be necessarily his fault - albeit positioning could've been a bit better but that's to be expected when blooding a young player. 

Not sure Roy is "great striker"..not sure what position he actually is but yes he has scored some goals.28 in 75 matches for Nix.

He was rated the striker of the decade in the NZ Premiership.

28 out of 75 is a fantastic return from someone who is usually played on the wing or as a secondary striker.

Because I was bored... Krishna is number 30 on the all time top scorers list (9 above him are still playing). He averages a goal every 2.71 games which would currently put him 11th best on the below list with only Fornaroli, Berisha, Keogh and Taggart scoring at a better rate of current players.

Vidosic keeps up his scoring rate so far he'll improve those stats

I thought Smith was far better this week despite conceding 3. He had a couple of poor moments where he dropped the ball under no pressurr and one where he passed straight to a Sydney player - but all in all his distribution was very good and he looked more confident. 

What about a change in formation this week to 4-1-3-2

                          Smith

 Galloway    Mullen     Rossi      Doyle

                          Pariski

     Krishna       McGlinchy     Parkhouse

                    AK              VID

Assumes Finklers injured and Durante. If Rossi injured still, replace with Fox

Gives us the goal scorers up front. Provides speed of Krishna and Parkhouse out wide, both of whom will do the hard yards back when required.

Good stuff. Could swap Krishna and Vid if needed. However midfield could be a chasm if Krishna and Parkhouse are forward too much