Cant be too unhappy about the end result, Italiano clearly has two tactical plans, one for home and one for away games. Both seem to be based around the counter attack model but away we sit deeper and invite the press and hit on the counter with our pace out wide, hence Old getting more starts. Kosta seems to be loving this new style and Kraev seems to be taking to it as well. it will be interesting to see if anythign changes when Zawada is back and fit. We have the highest conversion rate of shots on goal to goals scored, which is awesome. We had 8 shots last night, 4 on target and scored twice. Compare that to Adelaide who had 28 shots with 7 on target and scored twice. Yes, I'd like us to have more shots but not just wildly being struck in the direction of the goal as the reds were doing. We have to remember this is the first season with this style of footy for the team - its a work in progress. Fot us to be at the top of the table at this stage of the league is insanity, ignoring what all the experts said at the start of the season (and even some "experts" on here) that we were gonna finish dead last because we had no stars and were reliant on too many young kids. We have two losses and those were down to teams that manages to work the press very well and caught us on some mistakes, last night showed some improvement on dealing with the high press, their goals came from some very nice play and movement by their Japanese import Ibusuki. Who had a massive mismatch on corners with
Al Taay marking him. Really needed a taller defender on him but maybe he was the experienced player who was heliping out the younger taller CB (Surman). Hard to know but Al Taay lost his man and he scored from a corner. The second goal was just a nice piece of iner play and a good shot low. Paulsen will probably expect to do better in the future if either situation occurs again.
Those calling for Rojaas to be called up and signed have got to be joking - he hasnt played since June 7 23 after leaving Colo colo due to not being selected, he played 170 minutes over three games last year so he's hardly gonna be football ready when (if) he arrives in Auckland. It'll be great to see him back in the Aleague but not in yellow and black.
I agree with Marto that the last 6 minutes when playing against 10 were a little frustrating, we should have been testing their keeper more - he was very average. But, if that is what Italiano wants the boys to be doing, looking for a gap and scoring then who am I to complain about it. Especially when we are not losing every away game, in fact we are actually winning away and home is back to being a fortress, and regardless of rule changes we are top of the league.