Some thoughts on the game and the current state of play.
1. tpmyhill nailed it upthread when he said we are not playing as a team. Lots of effort and skill and determination from most players but we are not seeing combinations develop, especially the mid-field linking with the strikers.
2. The Curse Of The Long Ball. As others have noted this doesn't seem a particular effective tactic.
3. Bertos has been fantastic all season, great attitude and skill.
4. Haven't (yet?) seen much value from Waffles apart of his early goals. Would like to see Totori play for longer to see if he really has the goods.
5. Been really impressed with Fenton and to a lesser extent Boyd. Plenty of skill, energy and desire but we need to remember they are both young and need time to really develop their potential.
6. As others have noted Lia must have some incriminating stuff on Ricky
7. The quality of the referring in the A-League is at a same level as the quality of playing. Variable, shall we say.
Actually I think we are playing well and are always there, or there abouts. We have proved we can come from behind, and we are playing better away from home. But there are some issues to be addressed for us to start getting the consistent results I think we are capable of.
I think its hard Sam to say in point 1 that you agree with others we are not playing as a team, yet you surmise we are playing well. As most mentioned by others, no one really stepped up last night save Paston, Brockies goal. I don't think we are playing well at all but thats another story. Rickis teams have generally been scrappers so unless we are having a stinker, we will always be there or thereabouts. Sigmund and his story complete typify that. Not a talented footballer (he is downright scary on the ball) but will scrap till the end.
Stein looks like a class footballer but this
could simply be a case of the square peg and the round hole. Whether its the style of play and/or tactics or a coach that does not know how to use him properly I do not know. He also could be holding over from his ankle injury too ala Ifill. Its tough to know but its hard to listen to Ricki say he is a big part, when he is not getting used. It definitely points to an issue of recruitment and as I mentioned, of our 5 imports, 1 is injured, 1 is an impact, 2 gets bit part minutes so we are only getting maximum value from 1 of them. That points squarely back at recruitment. Subjectively, how many of our imports would be guaranteed to start in at least 3 other A League sides...
I agree re Bertos and most of your other points. Refereeing. Its almost like the FFA have decided that since we are the black sheep of the league, we get the rookies. We have had more than our fair share this year. I count 5 now (Shaun Evans, the guy last night, Adam Kersey, Lucien Laverdure, 1 other and the 'well performed' Matt Gillett) Thats almost half our games with guys or not pedigree or experience. The club really needs to get onto that and demand a little bit of respect.
Jeff, Thanks for your thoughtful response and apologies for not replying earlier - Christmas, New Year, the relies, etc, blah, blah. Good point about the apparent contradiction between my view that we aren't playing as a team, yet still playing well. What I was trying to say was that there are a lot of positives about the way we are playing both at the individual level, and attitude and desire. But I don't see, at least up front ad midfield, us playing for each other. Brockie's goals, for example, are more individual than team, in my opinion. Of course you want your strikers to be selfish bastards I know, but I don't see enough of the innate understanding between players that great teams have. I am want to stress the genuine positives of the team - hence 'we are playing well generally' - but I think we need something more to really challenge for the title. That comes down, in my very humble opinion, to that somewhat vague concept of 'teamwork'.
For example, you are right to stress that Waffles may be a class player, but perhaps he needs an 'enabler' to bring out the best in him. Without that he is, as you suggest, a square peg in a round hole. This is, if you will excuse the rugby analogy, the Joe Rokococo effect - great player for the All Blacks, but generally shite for the Aucks. Same player, same skills, but somehow the All Black environment brought out the best in him. ( I'm sure there are similar cases in football too.) My point is - are we getting the best out of our players with genuine quality? I am not convinced we are.
Hey you bastards I'm still here.
COYN