Match 1 vs Sydney | Sat 2nd Jan | 7.05pm | SS7

Can't be mad losing 2 - 1 to two absolute worldies. 

Loving the look of Hemed.

Decent showing today. We were unlucky to not get a point. A lot of room for improvement, but we weren't bad by any stretch

I will have some of what you have just had.

I bet you'd love some. You sad old man.

Our goal was better ?

Agree. A tough loss against a good Sydney side who scored two beauties. Unhappy with Marinovic on the second one but these things happen. When we have our best XI on the pitch we fire up so I look forward to seeing Davila and Hemed fully fit. 

Thought we deserved a draw but if we look at last year's early performances (and results) this isn't too bad. 

I love scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch. Here it goes down. Down into my belly. Mmmm mmmm mmm!

Cracking game.  Sydney hit 2 excellent goals that you don't expect on most games. 

We looked awesome, some really good moves and kept our cool for the game and kept playing clever structured football to the 90th minute. 

Optimistic about the year ahead. 

We're lacking pace from any of our wing backs, really wish we'd kept Elliot as the speedy wingback who would take on the line. Its gonna be a hard adjustment post Cacace. We played well in patches and Tomer is gonna be good if we keep giving the front good service.

Feel like we deserved at least something from that game. You could tell it was our first proper run out but there were signs of things happening. As others have said, we looked infinitely better when Davila and Hemed came on. Thought Louis played well too, Hemed should have tested the keeper with that header.

Sore one to take, but there were lots of positives from that, and this team will only improve. May take a few games, but we'll get there.

Oh, and fudge Fox sports. Sharke coverage.

Based on that, we should be able to have another decent season. 

Sotirio wasn't any good, his pace may 'cause issues', but not really when he doesn't do anything with it. We'll be better when we're full strength and him off the bench.

Ridenton haters coming out swinging at him already, but he made some good passes when came on.

Positive performances in general, and room to improve.

He wanted to go, don't think Nix had a say in it. But I agree with your point though.

We looked pretty good in that game,  very unlucky to not get at least a draw.

Bring on the rest of the season

Someone else also watched the recent 50th screening of Shawshank Redemption on the telly.

Only saw the 2nd half (with sound off), but seemed a rewind of the SFC games from last season. Nix going toe to toe with the league's best side, but lacking lady luck.

Considering Hemed & Davila have hardly played a game of football in 4-6 months, lots to look forward to. Think the Israeli is going to score a few. Rufer with some very nice passes through the middle.

The free kick goal by Brattan was certainly good. But by Balls reaction, was it really a hand ball for the free kick. (no replays shown). Sydney perhaps lucky once again I suspect.

Flashing back to first game of last season where most people slagged off Davila... Happy with how the team performed, considering the circumstances.

That being said, I can't wait for Piscopo to be back and have Sotirio safely on the bench

Yes, Davila had a shocker that match. Our players on debut played better than that tonight.

thought the defence did pretty well against a very good attack. Midfield grabbed the upper hand in second half.  A good over all showing. 

Best: Cammy, Payne, Sotirio. 

Looking very promising Hemed.

Given it was our first game and against Sydney i see a lot to be positive about. The way Bozza was tonight I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled the TV cord out himself when we scored 

any description of the goal? Saw a few yellow shirts there 

https://www.facebook.com/aleague/posts/10159148728...

I remembered how much I dislike Aussie commentat

Bloody glad its Talay who is in charge and not some of you guys. Would guess Sotirio is doing the job he wants from him or he wouldnt be selected. Good start should be fun once everybody is match fit.

Sotirio is good for the balance of the team, not enough pace without him. Probably one of the reasons Sydney were so tired the last 15 mins. 

Can't complain about losing to those 2 fine goals. Can't wait for our full strength line-up to start. Think we'll be a nightmare to play against - and yes we need Sotirio's speed. Really liked the way we retained our structure when the key subs came on. Sydney were out on their feet.

Diddums 

Does Bozzer simply demonstrate unconscious bias or should the patronising commentary be considered a compliment?  

DeVere needs to go back to doing some basic training as he couldn't string two passes together, he did some things ok but just lost the ball most times with bad passing. Besides that we looked alright only in the last 15min of the game.

I think I must have watched different game.  DeVere was decent. He stepped up to the role that Taylor performed last season. Granted he was more restrained (apart from one or two attempts at a header in a SFC goalmouth scramble) but that was also because he had a rookie next to him in our backline so had to stay back way more.  

If you consider that both SFC goals came from a long range shot, the defence largely did its job. There were a couple of opportunities where only Marinovic save, or a glaring SFC miss, kept the score unchanged.  It is however early days yet.

watched the replay. I think first half was sloppy and Sydney found lots of space through our wings (Payne and Mcgarry I thought were exposed early on. We grew was game went on and probably had to do with Sydney sitting back and probably a fitnes thing for them as they had to get out of 2 weeks isolation a few weeks before the game. With teams like Sydney you need to be on 100% of the time. In to next week

I know Devere had a couple of poor passes intercepted in the first half, but he did very well over all, leading a new defence. It was a good showing defensively. 

Some random post-match thoughts:

- First half thought we looked disturbingly like a typical Mariners team, ie, plucky but lacking quality, experience and any goal scoring threat up front. 

- Quite pleased overall with the new lads even though they are definitely a step down in quality from what we need. Nice passing and movement from McGarry, Lewis was very hardworking, Muratovic was in the right place at the right time and did what Sotirio couldn't. Under Talay they will get better and better.

- Libby is a huge loss. Decent effort by Louis to rile things up down that wing but no one in that squad comes even close to Libby and it's going to cost us though the course of the season.

- Good games from Rufer and Devlin but frustrating that they are going to figure prominently this season but don't appear to have a goal between them. Then you watch some fresh faced Sydney kid on his debut smash in a pearler just to rub it in. 

- Hemed, Davilla and Piscopo: we need these three on the pitch as many minutes as possible this season if we are to make the finals again.

- Our defence worries me. De Vere is doing a good job but for me he's just an average A League defender. With an inexperienced CB next to him and no natural LB there will be some fun and games at the back there, especially when injuries set in. 

Having said all that you have have to be impressed with the way we took the game to Sydney and nearly/should've snatched an equaliser. I love how Talay has instilled such a never say die attitude in the Nix.

Y to all.

We are missing two imports through the midfield and defensive spine. Does this mean we have two left footed CBs? Lets say an opportunity for reputations to be made there. 

Also think Elliot a loss. 

Will have to see what the standard of the league is. And Devere needs to back himself and show his authority on the field. I remember him doing it against us, but I think him finding a leadership style is something that can come through this season. Unless the plan is to look for an import to follow Taylor, but I can't see that happening.

Some here were predicting more goals from Rufer this year so watch that space.

We aren't as good as last season, but in this new league can we be good enough? 

Who is putting pressure on Rufer and Cammy? Lewis? Can Muratovic play centrally? 

Last season we saw a formation change to suit our players. What other formations might Uffie deploy?

It looked like we switched to a 4-2-3-1 when Dávila and Hemed came on. With the full squad available to start it could look like

               Hemed

      Piscopo Dávila Ball

            Rufer Devlin

McGarry Laws DeVere Payne

               Marinovic

Hemed

Piscopo Dávila Ball

Rufer Devlin

McGarry Laws DeVere Payne

Marinovic

This is exactly how I see us starting from next week.

I think Sotirio will hang on to his starting spot for a wee while yet. I think Uffie will be careful introducing Piscopo back in, and Hemed too. 

Wouldn't mind looking like the mariners right about now...

Lewis is a CAM or at least an attacking player. He's creative so I'd see him putting pressure on DaVilla if anyone. He's a good passer of the ball, intelligent player,  so as you mayve seen from the game, he was trying to release Sotorio quite often - but there seemed to be a breakdown in communication between the two - which will get ironed out with time.

Lose the Man Buns, it's the Peaky Blinders "look" this season. I think the 4-2-3-1 formation will really work for us. 

Yes the game finishing man bun midfield didn't look very intimidating. 

Would have been interesting to hear what Talay was saying sideline to the SFC bench. Pub I was in had the sound off. Uffie seemed very animated. Devlin also. Was good to see.

Looks like Uffie has instilled real confidence to go toe to toe with the league's best, but will be bugging him that in 4 games now against his former employers, still yet to get a win.