R7 vs Melbourne Victory | Tues 17th Jan | 7:45pm | RoF

Interesting though that both Griff (and Smeltz if you count him) came in part way through a season.  Watson was signed as a back-up and is proving to be so...

Reality is though that he never went big on a striker, and never really favoured a game plan with a genuine back to goal option up front.

Very much A-Rod in a holding job. 

Couldn't Finkler do the job Roly did last night?

Does anyone know where I can find highlights (or videos of the goals at the very least)? I've watched all matches this season except two, and unfortunately this awesome display was one of them!

quite adequately. But differently. 

Roly is a massive presence there and I'd say is much more physical than Gui. Most of his great moments are surging forward on runs from the start of their half and either banging it home or feeding it for a goal...

It would be uncharitable to say straight out "no he could not".

However, Roly knew what was expected of him in that centre-forward role - he went to hell and back being a DM - so he had a motivation to excel, and he also had the benefit of having played that role already early on after being signed before Ernie asked him to move back.

With the benefit of hindsight it shows that a new player takes a while to find a place in a team even if he is on the park every week. That assumes he has not left his best years behind, which might be the case for Kosta - he was excellent at Roar having left Phoenix way back when, and played well at MV as well. The jury is still out if this is a case for Finkler. In contrast Smeltz seems to know what to do at his more advanced age (what skills to rely on) - less hard-nosed attack and more careful positioning.

In any case. Roly is more robust than Gui Finkler and remains more physical of the two - this might be what was needed last night. And finally, it might have been a precaution to bench Finkler after his long flight home and return, long-distance flights are not that great on a player's condition let alone the jetlag.

double post

You are correct, post amended

Roly's best game for us >> than Finkler's best game for us, so currently unproven

Marius had a 4th child and fell into the abyss. Cnut moved to Auckland for work and now lives in California. The only bloke really left involved from the very early days is Hard News, the Gandalf of football fandom in New Zealand.

And he's got the cheek scars to prove it.

Yep, completely different players. Roly is more likely to track back and drive us forward through sheer force of will. Gui more likely to lay off quick short passes or play a ball in behind

I feel like Roly can do everything Gui can do, but Gui can't do everything Roly can do.

They have completely different skill sets IMHO, in general when Roly gets the ball all our forward momentum stops as he tries to beat a man, whereas Gui can put through that killer pass. I'd love to see what Gui can do for a large part of the game in front of our two holding mid fielders and with Smeltz to provide service to.

Hard News the Whipped

Thanks for the update Smithy

Just noticed that Marco was marking Tratt for the second goal. Never going to end well.

Tratt is a big lump of a boy, if not a fullback, he'd slot in as a center back no problems. I loved several runs he did and really created some attacking options. Inspired play by him. Smeltz is bringing so much to the forward line, such as organisation. His goals will come but in the meantime he is creating gaps and chances. Excellent stuff.

Nah, then he will carry on suggesting our recent form was a fluke.

He certainly looks a lot more comfortable there than Fenton. Perhaps now is the time to move Fenton back to further forward although I wonder if his shoulder is still a source for concern??

He could end up being a fantastic centre back with his quality on the ball

just watched the highlights again. feels good. might watch them another 3 times before lunch...

The full game game, well done, it was a good game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaCd66jPBXQ

I am sorry to say this, but I do not see Fenton as competing for a place at the moment. In the team that played against Victory he would not offer anything that we did not already have on the park. By all means he is a useful backup option on the bench if someone gets hurt but I suggest that otherwise he is not a first team choice in this particular squad.

I expect Fenton to be released at the end of his contract because I don't think he is good enough anymore. A large part of that is gunshy because of his injuries. Its unfortunate for him but do we keep a guy cause he used to be ok or find someone that is ok.

SHARKCOD

I see Fenton and Parkhouse as being very similar, with more potential with Parkhouse.

Re watched the last 20 minutes. Gave a lot of slack to Kosta in the past, but his work rate and involvement in almost every attacks was super.

Also good to see that our right back scores with a header in a regular attack in the 90 min in a 1:0 lead, parking the bus was not an option, show the confidence of the guy.

Still buzzing. Hope we can keep the moment going.

Fenton should be what Kosta is - attacking winger who can beat a man, put in crosses etc.  If he can't do that then he goes.  I have tremendous sympathy for him because he has been completely screwed over, played out of position as a young player plus the injuries.  But he has to compete as a backup to Kosta, not to Tratt, because he can't defend

I agree completely with regard to a deep sense of sympathy to Fenton.  But the team needs improvement and he is not the answer to any of the questions ahead of Greenacre and Buckingham.  Fenton is about the same age as Parkhouse and Tratt (they're all one year apart).  But Tratt is fast and muscular for a tall lad. He is 1.90m tall which really worked well last Tuesday night when Rojas tried to outjump him for the headed goal cross. Fenton does not have Tratt's muscularity or height. His best contribution came before his shoulder injury.

While Kosta at 1.72m is even shorter than Fenton he is not afraid of a tackle, he can score, and he can run. He played at good clubs before (he played surrounded by good players) which is a real bonus, and he is barely 26-27 so he should be in his prime for a winger. I have been critical of his performances so far this season but there were some encouraging signs last weekend against Victory.