WPM R22 vs Melbourne Victory | Sat 1st April | 3:00pm | SS7

From what I have seen it was not a bad game overall but our inability to defend the corner twice in one game borders on unbelievable. I miss Taylor.

Arguably the most talented squad since day 1. 

Arguably the least entertaining.

Unfortunately.

Alf Tupper

Arguably the most talented squad since day 1. 

Arguably the least entertaining.

Unfortunately.

 Dunno if I'd quite go that far mate, the Kalezic season was six months of punishment

Interesting tactical shift from Uffie. Recognising the threat of MV wide players basically played a back 3 (a little lob sided) with Sasse and Kosta more as wingers than 10s to compensate for the lack of width provided by our FBs. When we went back to our normal shape MV were better able to exploit that space in wide areas. 

Made me realise that Sasse's improved impact on games recently is heavily dependent on where he receives the ball, he is getting it in slightly wider areas playing more as an inverted winger than a 10 - which has given him a bit more time and space to account for not the greatest first touch. I don't know if that is also why Kraev has been a little underwhelming as he is more often coming up against a numerical disadvantage in central areas.

Recent games we've been bad in the box at both ends but good between the boxes, which is frustrating - feels like we are huffing and puffing but not able to blow the house down.

Bullion

Interesting tactical shift from Uffie. Recognising the threat of MV wide players basically played a back 3 (a little lob sided) with Sasse and Kosta more as wingers than 10s to compensate for the lack of width provided by our FBs. When we went back to our normal shape MV were better able to exploit that space in wide areas. 

Made me realise that Sasse's improved impact on games recently is heavily dependent on where he receives the ball, he is getting it in slightly wider areas playing more as an inverted winger than a 10 - which has given him a bit more time and space to account for not the greatest first touch. I don't know if that is also why Kraev has been a little underwhelming as he is more often coming up against a numerical disadvantage in central areas.

Recent games we've been bad in the box at both ends but good between the boxes, which is frustrating - feels like we are huffing and puffing but not able to blow the house down.

nice post

re that last bit, it's because we shark the bed whenever we get close to a real attacking situation and become determined to recycle. there's little to no real penetrative play. we seem happier to recycle and go direct to Kawada, or to no one.

Bullion

Interesting tactical shift from Uffie. Recognising the threat of MV wide players basically played a back 3 (a little lob sided) with Sasse and Kosta more as wingers than 10s to compensate for the lack of width provided by our FBs. When we went back to our normal shape MV were better able to exploit that space in wide areas. 

Made me realise that Sasse's improved impact on games recently is heavily dependent on where he receives the ball, he is getting it in slightly wider areas playing more as an inverted winger than a 10 - which has given him a bit more time and space to account for not the greatest first touch. I don't know if that is also why Kraev has been a little underwhelming as he is more often coming up against a numerical disadvantage in central areas.

Recent games we've been bad in the box at both ends but good between the boxes, which is frustrating - feels like we are huffing and puffing but not able to blow the house down.

What interested me was Sail's comments after the game where he didn't like Ufuk's tactics and thought the team should have parked the bus rather than kept trying to play. He said something like he doesn't want to play entertaining football, he want's to win games and if that's with a backs to the wall defensive effort then so be it. I wonder if that is indicative of a broader view within the team or was just an off handed remark because Ufuk has always talked about trying to play a certain brand of football, and that the results are secondary to the structure and tactics, and Dome has said the same..

Ryan

Bullion

Interesting tactical shift from Uffie. Recognising the threat of MV wide players basically played a back 3 (a little lob sided) with Sasse and Kosta more as wingers than 10s to compensate for the lack of width provided by our FBs. When we went back to our normal shape MV were better able to exploit that space in wide areas. 

Made me realise that Sasse's improved impact on games recently is heavily dependent on where he receives the ball, he is getting it in slightly wider areas playing more as an inverted winger than a 10 - which has given him a bit more time and space to account for not the greatest first touch. I don't know if that is also why Kraev has been a little underwhelming as he is more often coming up against a numerical disadvantage in central areas.

Recent games we've been bad in the box at both ends but good between the boxes, which is frustrating - feels like we are huffing and puffing but not able to blow the house down.

What interested me was Sail's comments after the game where he didn't like Ufuk's tactics and thought the team should have parked the bus rather than kept trying to play. He said something like he doesn't want to play entertaining football, he want's to win games and if that's with a backs to the wall defensive effort then so be it. I wonder if that is indicative of a broader view within the team or was just an off handed remark because Ufuk has always talked about trying to play a certain brand of football, and that the results are secondary to the structure and tactics, and Dome has said the same..

That last game clearly shows the unenviable choices we have: park the bus and grind out a result despite the fans getting a coronary, or play entertaining football of sorts and lose games while trying.  However, to me it seems we would not have had a better outcome against MV either way.

Mainland FC

Ryan

Bullion

Interesting tactical shift from Uffie. Recognising the threat of MV wide players basically played a back 3 (a little lob sided) with Sasse and Kosta more as wingers than 10s to compensate for the lack of width provided by our FBs. When we went back to our normal shape MV were better able to exploit that space in wide areas. 

Made me realise that Sasse's improved impact on games recently is heavily dependent on where he receives the ball, he is getting it in slightly wider areas playing more as an inverted winger than a 10 - which has given him a bit more time and space to account for not the greatest first touch. I don't know if that is also why Kraev has been a little underwhelming as he is more often coming up against a numerical disadvantage in central areas.

Recent games we've been bad in the box at both ends but good between the boxes, which is frustrating - feels like we are huffing and puffing but not able to blow the house down.

What interested me was Sail's comments after the game where he didn't like Ufuk's tactics and thought the team should have parked the bus rather than kept trying to play. He said something like he doesn't want to play entertaining football, he want's to win games and if that's with a backs to the wall defensive effort then so be it. I wonder if that is indicative of a broader view within the team or was just an off handed remark because Ufuk has always talked about trying to play a certain brand of football, and that the results are secondary to the structure and tactics, and Dome has said the same..

That last game clearly shows the unenviable choices we have: park the bus and grind out a result despite the fans getting a coronary, or play entertaining football of sorts and lose games while trying.  However, to me it seems we would not have had a better outcome against MV either way.

I don’t think we did either on sat tbh had we done so, I think we’d have got something. 

Got a link to Oli’s exact comments and the context for them? 

It was in the post match interview on the park so I think we'll only see it if there's a replay.