We've been 2-3 goals beter than them all game. The substitutions were fine, but the subs themselves have been poor
Feels like a loss.
Van Hattum and Old didnt make an impact. We also messed up two 2v1's and a 4v2 in the second half, plus Gael's second chance and Ball's cross across the face with no one on the end of it... should have been out of sight.
Deserved much better from a completely dominant performance. Should have put more away. Should have chewed up time with that free kick. Sail near post. So many should haves! Don’t really feel like I can blame one player…we did enough to win, but also they did very little with their possession around the box too.
Still 10 points from 4 games, not so unhappy that.
Pissed off at conceding that late goal when I thought we were good value for the three points. But in saying that, can't fault the effort tonight, boys running themselves into the ground for the cause, and I guess, a point apiece is a fair reflection at the end of the day.
Lack of a final pass and that final finish did come back to bite us unfortunately. That, and Gauci really saved them to be fair - and they can thank him they weren't down 2-0 at least at H/T.
pity ben waine seems to be irrelevant to talay these days..likely will be destroying his confidence..seems a waste as hes a proven goal scorer...good effort by the team...talay not so great today...sometimes wonder if he has no confidence in his bench
pity ben waine seems to be irrelevant to talay these days..likely will be destroying his confidence..seems a waste as hes a proven goal scorer...good effort by the team...talay not so great today...sometimes wonder if he has no confidence in his bench
Talay must see something, but Van Hattum over Waine, when a game is still in the balance... yeah i don't get it.
you have to wonder what is going on the good news for waine is that three attacking players who took the field ahead of him today offered nothing
djtim3000
veterandiamond
pity ben waine seems to be irrelevant to talay these days..likely will be destroying his confidence..seems a waste as hes a proven goal scorer...good effort by the team...talay not so great today...sometimes wonder if he has no confidence in his bench
Talay must see something, but Van Hattum over Waine, when a game is still in the balance... yeah i don't get it.
I know it's early days, and I know he's got some pretty big boots to fill, but just have to say that Wootton at the back could be a really good pickup for us.
He hasn't had heaps to do, but the positions he takes up and the interventions he has made these past couple of games, as well as the sense of calmness and composure he's brought to our backline, for mine (as a former CB myself) it's good to see a bloke like this at the heart of our defence. He's definitely got some big expectations to live up to after Taylor's departure, but I think he's been good value for us these past couple of games.
pity ben waine seems to be irrelevant to talay these days..likely will be destroying his confidence..seems a waste as hes a proven goal scorer...good effort by the team...talay not so great today...sometimes wonder if he has no confidence in his bench
I’m hoping it’s like Sutton- I couldn’t understand why McGarry was preferred to Sutton earlier in the season based on last year. But now Sutton has arrived in our season like a new signing: stronger, revved up and really playing very well. Hope it’s something like that with Waine!
I know it's early days, and I know he's got some pretty big boots to fill, but just have to say that Wootton at the back could be a really good pickup for us.
He hasn't had heaps to do, but the positions he takes up and the interventions he has made these past couple of games, as well as the sense of calmness and composure he's brought to our backline, for mine (as a former CB myself) it's good to see a bloke like this at the heart of our defence. He's definitely got some big expectations to live up to after Taylor's departure, but I think he's been good value for us these past couple of games.
Looking along the backline and midfield at players capable of playing a good accurate long ball or a switch: Payne, Sutton, Laws, Wootton, Lewis, Rufer, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
Makes it hard to shut down one player or keep us hemmed in.
Re Waine: could there be some cause in his contract stopping him from playing like a pay rise after a certain number of games or a high appearance bonus that the club do not want to pay out. He might also be on his way out like a certain American forward for the Nix was, half a decade or more ago.
I think that the improvements have come in Piscopo, Ball, Sandoval, Sotirio and Wooton. Without those guys playing in the way they are now we'd still be losing every match. Clearly Sail and Rufer, threatened from within have pulled their socks up. But the real improvement has come in the first 5 mentioned.
As for Ben Waine being sidelined well it's the same for Pennington but both of them are really just 1 place outside of their positions. An injury and either one could be playing regularly. Football is funny, you think someone is sidelined then all of a sudden something happens and everything changes.
Talay seems to have a pretty settled starting 11-12 now (Hooper in for Sotiro), and it's actually pretty experienced, at least at ALM level.
Even Laws, Sutton & Piscopo all have a few seasons experience now in the A League.
But as with Old & Van Hattum last night, the younger players are yet to be contributing consistently. Hence why at the moment Uffie is loathe to rotate his squad in this tight schedule. Van Hattum ahead of Waine at face value seems an odd one, even last season Waine did so well.
Surman's probably been the most impressive of the young kids lately, but due to the coach wanting to load his bench with attackers last night, didn't make the pine.
I think Talay will just keep playing his preferred starting 11-12 as long as he can. Light training sessions, hope for no injuries, and limited hot humid draining weather. Just keep riding the good form momentum.
He knows that he'll definitely need to call upon the younger brigade mid March (if not before).
Can see Sail, Payne, Lewis and Sutton all being called up for the AWs. Even Rufer now, that he is playing well and Hay will likely have to do without Bell, Thomas and Singh for the first 2 pool games. Even Stamenic & Garbett maybe unavailable.
So Nix likely without 5 of their starting 11, for 3-4 weeks in March/April.
