R3 vs Perth Glory | Sun 27th Oct | 6:00pm | RoF/SS7 | City Mission Collection

While I also share the patient optimism of others regarding future improvement as the season unfolds, I am concerned that we have quite a thin squad (or, more correctly, thin quality backup of key positions - should someone in the first team get injured).  It has always been our constant problem, but it is especially visible in this season of team rebuilding..

I agree that we didn't play badly overall. We were definitely owning them for the last part of the game and we deserved that goal.

But the sheer defensive blunders that led up to their 2 goals are inexplicable and inexcusable. There's no point being the better team for 90% of the game if they score soft goals in the other 10%. This can only be a mental thing.

This is the best we've been 3 games into a season for a long time, regardless of results. We have 14-15 players all making a case for the starting XI and our focal point has played all of 10 minutes. We're competing with (and outplaying, for significant periods of time) teams like Perth and Sydney and still yet to add our best player... honestly, this is as good as I've ever felt about 3 losses to start a season. 

Individual mistakes are the biggest issue here but we've created a lot of chances in the past 2 games and I have to believe we'll start sticking them in the net. Davila and Marinovic looking like 2 massive signings, Matti Steinmann has looked better every game and I think some of these comments are being very harsh on DeVere who I think is a massive step up from Durante. Overall i think we'ver recruited very well and have the players to be a top 6 side, just need to start getting it right on the pitch in the next couple of games - a Delbridge & McLarenless City should be ripe for the picking.

Yes, it sounds a bit basic but in the periods when we have dominated (in all 3 games) we haven't scored as many as we need to, but in the periods when we aren't dominating we have conceded.  We've lost by the odd goal in all 3 games so we're closish, but we were distinctly second best in the first half on Saturday and conceded twice.

I like our work ethic and drive within this squad. Everyone prepared to get stuck in. Just lack a bit of class in the attacking third to create and convert chances (our conversion rate is 6%, lowest in the league and a factor of where and how we are shooting) when we have the ascendancy. Davila does work pretty hard but is not in the class of the better AMs in the comp. Steinmann looks like a very good DM.

My concern is that Marinovic, despite being a tall lad, apparently got the ball looped over his head on two occasions.

Was he too far forward?  Or genuinely way too good goals to prevent?

Marinovic making an early claim for best GK in the league imo.

I just want to say thank you to all the squad. After the game, they autographed my two grand kids jerseys and posters - about to get laminated. They were awesome after the game when they could have gone into shells. FULL credit to them for that. thanks guys. My two Grandchildren love you all (Players) and they enjoyed themselves.

That Grant goal was just straight up weird

Great that we are so optimistic right now. We do appear to be playing reasonably well,  but at the same time (3 games) last season we were in 6 position. We are now in 11th and regardless City have a top scorer out we really need the 3 points.

The usual thing, I guess. A bit of quality or an error, or both, decides close games.  They had Castro and they were pretty solid in D.  

We're competitive.  If Hooper can bring the quality (and provide a bit of time and space for others), and if we work on reducing the errors/poor marking/tracking and defending that space just wide of the CBs, we're in the hunt for 5-6.  

But, even loosing, we've been worth a watch this year. 

...still hurts...

I had a look at the goals against us and agree that Grant goal was one of those weird ones.

Marinovic is the one player who has played well in every game so far.

Anyway, from experience - unless we continue to be the unluckiest team on the planet - it will click for us soon. Much like teams who go on winning runs while looking kind of shark, the luck eventually turns.