WPM R12 vs Melbourne Victory | Wed 9th February | 9:05pm | SS7

if you play advantage, can you still give a yellow?

How the Fudge does Hamill get away without a card for that one? Held Gael back at least 3 seconds and the whistle doesn't blow...

eish, lucky there. but also unlucky we couldnt make more of our passing at the other end

kwlap

how is winning percentage calculated? odd that we are almost 50% on to do this....

" Points Deserved"

kwlap

if you play advantage, can you still give a yellow?

yeah, which is what should have occurred.

kwlap

eish, lucky there. but also unlucky we couldnt make more of our passing at the other end

And, again, decent opportunity for Ball. 

Unlucky for Ball did so well there

Unlucky Ball. Great take down and control. Keep it up boys.

kwlap

if you play advantage, can you still give a yellow?

Yes and that was as clear a yellow as you can get. 

Loving a bit of Uffie running commentary on the sideline 😆

oh shark, that should have been in by bally. great delivery.

Jeeze, there's been a lot happening for just 30mins.

Really impressed with Payne and Sutton so far. Piscopo looking lively too. The latter just needs another metre of space in between the lines and he can make something happen between himself, Sandoval, Ball and Sotirio going forward.

Piscopo is starting to show what a class act he really is...  👏 

beautiful from Reno and then well... a standard Rufer shot. Geez I hope one day he scores ay!

Rufer is actually having a decent game but "If you're in Row Z and you're hit in the head, it's A. Rufer !!"

Jeez Ball needs a goal

kungfu panda

Piscopo is starting to show what a class act he really is...  👏 

He always needs another attacking player to take the heat off him. Sandoval isn't great imo, holds onto the ball too long and doesn't seem to have the vision of a Davila, but he does the job.

rufer is playing well, but he still dwells on the ball too long ay. I wish he could sort his options before he gets it rather than having to take a touch backwards and then assess what is going on. If he can increase the speed of his distribution then we could be much more effective on the counter or pulling vuc defenses out of shape. 

kwlap

rufer is playing well, but he still dwells on the ball too long ay. I wish he could sort his options before he gets it rather than having to take a touch backwards and then assess what is going on. If he can increase the speed of his distribution then we could be much more effective on the counter or pulling vuc defenses out of shape. 

Most of the time he's waiting for runners, it's part of how we play - nothing wrong with it. Lewis hits it first time with his left if we need to speed it up.

We need more out of Sandoval going forward, for me. Not sure what others think of him, but he's not quite the explosive creative force I was hoping for. Works hard, though his tackling technique is suspicious

Wellington Phoenix just "shading it" at half time. WTF?? 60% possession is hardly "Just shading it".

valeo

kwlap

rufer is playing well, but he still dwells on the ball too long ay. I wish he could sort his options before he gets it rather than having to take a touch backwards and then assess what is going on. If he can increase the speed of his distribution then we could be much more effective on the counter or pulling vuc defenses out of shape. 

 Most of the time he's waiting for runners, it's part of how we play - nothing wrong with it. Lewis hits it first time with his left if we need to speed it up.

 yea but there is no reason why lewis can do it but rufer cant. hes not hitting runners every time. 

That Wollongong sure looks like a nice place

Is there a bonus point for having possessions closest to the goal?  Because faaaaarl I've had soem clenching moments.

Cagey-ish first stanza. No real clear cut chances for either side, but we've been good in possession, working Victree from side to side. Maybe need to change it up, mix it up and go direct a little more for a bit of variety? Happy to take the 0-0 at the half though, but will be looking for a bit more incisiveness before Victree call on their bench power in the 2nd.

Playing well but really need to take our chances or else we’re gonna be punished when they bring on Rojas and co

we are getting into good wide areas but missing having Hooper in the middle to do his thing. Hopefully we can catch them on the break with Sotirio

valeo

kwlap

rufer is playing well, but he still dwells on the ball too long ay. I wish he could sort his options before he gets it rather than having to take a touch backwards and then assess what is going on. If he can increase the speed of his distribution then we could be much more effective on the counter or pulling vuc defenses out of shape. 

Most of the time he's waiting for runners, it's part of how we play - nothing wrong with it. Lewis hits it first time with his left if we need to speed it up.

We need more out of Sandoval going forward, for me. Not sure what others think of him, but he's not quite the explosive creative force I was hoping for. Works hard, though his tackling technique is suspicious

He was always advertised more of an out and out winger that play the same role in terms of taking the heat off our other #10, but his route to goal is going to be different. Victory aren't pushing their left full back forward at all really, not a lot of space for Sandoval to utilise. if he had the space to run in behind with the ball at feet, at pace, I think you'd see a bit more.

Either way the team is playing exceptionally well between the lines tonight, haven't seen that sort of structure in a while. Victory seem to be a little lethargic in their press which probably helps.

Good half, lacking a bit of a cutting edge up top, but have a feeling that it might come.

Wotton and Laws seem to have been largely untroubled. 

Sutton and Piscopo beginning to play well off one another and creating space for one another. Piscopo looks twice the player with Sondoval on the pitch.

MetalLegNZ

Good half, lacking a bit of a cutting edge up top, but have a feeling that it might come.

Wotton and Laws seem to have been largely untroubled. 

Sutton and Piscopo beginning to play well off one another and creating space for one another. Piscopo looks twice the player with Sondoval on the pitch.

Dunno, I've thought we were in real trouble two or three times. But the 'Nix scramble did enough. 

But agree, some very tasty Nix play without the finish so far. 

Victory looks like the coach reamed them at half time

djtim3000

valeo

kwlap

rufer is playing well, but he still dwells on the ball too long ay. I wish he could sort his options before he gets it rather than having to take a touch backwards and then assess what is going on. If he can increase the speed of his distribution then we could be much more effective on the counter or pulling vuc defenses out of shape. 

Most of the time he's waiting for runners, it's part of how we play - nothing wrong with it. Lewis hits it first time with his left if we need to speed it up.

We need more out of Sandoval going forward, for me. Not sure what others think of him, but he's not quite the explosive creative force I was hoping for. Works hard, though his tackling technique is suspicious

He was always advertised more of an out and out winger that play the same role in terms of taking the heat off our other #10, but his route to goal is going to be different. Victory aren't pushing their left full back forward at all really, not a lot of space for Sandoval to utilise. if he had the space to run in behind with the ball at feet, at pace, I think you'd see a bit more.

Either way the team is playing exceptionally well between the lines tonight, haven't seen that sort of structure in a while. Victory seem to be a little lethargic in their press which probably helps.

I haven't seen any pace from Sandoval unless I'm missing something. Don't get me wrong,  he's done fine, just not setting the world on fire.

Vic coming back into it, a lot of space down our right hand side with Payne running forward.

valeo

kungfu panda

Piscopo is starting to show what a class act he really is...  👏 

He always needs another attacking player to take the heat off him. Sandoval isn't great imo, holds onto the ball too long and doesn't seem to have the vision of a Davila, but he does the job.

Sandoval is in a hard situation, coming in and everyone comparing him to Davila - arguably our best ever player - because he's Mexican. If we are going to make comparisons though, I remember some people being critical of Davila early on too.

I also disagree he holds on to the ball too long, he's made some nice first touch passes/flick ons that most in the team aren't capable of.

Falami getting way too much space, he needs to be closed down as soon as the ball reaches him.

saying Sandoval isnt great after 2.5 games is really not the smartest. Davilla had similar and he left with the GOAT tag for us, in one season.

siac

valeo

kungfu panda

Piscopo is starting to show what a class act he really is...  👏 

He always needs another attacking player to take the heat off him. Sandoval isn't great imo, holds onto the ball too long and doesn't seem to have the vision of a Davila, but he does the job.

Sandoval is in a hard situation, coming in and everyone comparing him to Davila - arguably our best ever player - because he's Mexican. If we are going to make comparisons though, I remember some people being critical of Davila early on too.

I also disagree he holds on to the ball too long, he's made some nice first touch passes/flick ons that most in the team aren't capable of.

Completely fair, also saw he had a ice pack on his knee at the end of the last game and coming in mid season is always tough.

theprof

saying Sandoval isnt great after 2.5 games is really not the smartest. Davilla had similar and he left with the GOAT tag for us, in one season.

Davila had one bad  game (his first)

Difference is, Sandoval likely only here for half a season so needs to contribute straight away

I am stoked with the quality of the game, and have no issue with how Sandoval is playing.   We may have some issues once the subs come on for Victory, but this is also why Uffie is also holding back with our subs.

valeo

theprof

saying Sandoval isnt great after 2.5 games is really not the smartest. Davilla had similar and he left with the GOAT tag for us, in one season.

Davila had one bad  game (his first)

Difference is, Sandoval likely only here for half a season so needs to contribute straight away

well he's on loan till the end of the season, with an option for us to sign if we want. For mine, whilst he's not set the world alight yet he has done enough to say he's worth it.
and I wouldnt say sandaval has had a bad game in his 2.5. He scored in his first and was busy in his second and this game too.

Great tackle