I didn't think we'd come back from conceding early again. Bloody gutsy. Impressed with LKH keeping going 90 min in midfield. Rufer back to his best. Kosta and Chico clicking. Sutts never took a backward step. Well done boys.
I'm going out on a limb here, but having been very skeptical about LKH starting it occurred to me after this that there is potential for him to be the next Rufer. Pretty calm on the ball and has his tricks to maintain possesion and move forward. You'd want to see passing range and vision. But he has some of the needed attributes to build on. Plus likely the physicality to go with his height as he grows and trains more.
Still very chuffed this morning to have messed up Sydney a bit and to hear Ufuk moaning about us post game.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
You look at LKH, and everything says he should be a CB. 1.98m and not that quick. But he showed a good engine yesterday, to keep chasing down until game end.
You are right in that he does have some nice ball control, and ability to make a clever pass under pressure with those long pins. Tommy Rogic was 1.89m
Might take a few years to work out where Lucas's best spot is. With Rufer it was a 4-5 year journey. Maybe running alongside an opponent closing them down in a crowded midfield better suits him, than playing against a more open sideline being beaten by shreer pace inside or outside.
So many of the young players at the Nix this season - Walker, LKH, Sheridan, Piper - are continously being moved around positions by Chiefy. No idea if that's a good thing, or bad thing as part of their development.
LKH is definitely a CB, sure he may have decent footwork and the ability to play the ball, but that's what you'd expect from a good CB. He may be passable in the middle of the park but he'd be at his best beside Wootten, or if we are going to persist with wingback (Payne and Sutton) then Wootten, Hughes and LKH should be the centre 3.
LKH is definitely a CB, sure he may have decent footwork and the ability to play the ball, but that's what you'd expect from a good CB. He may be passable in the middle of the park but he'd be at his best beside Wootten, or if we are going to persist with wingback (Payne and Sutton) then Wootten, Hughes and LKH should be the centre 3.
Totally agree. Left sided ball playing CB's are few and far between. He has great feet and touch for such a big guy but does not have the acceleration or the ability to change direction quickly enough to play central mid or LB/LWB. Chief is doing him a disservice by shunting him around all over the park. Left sided CB every day of the week!!
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
An outfielder took Keegan Smith's goal kicks too, but that still leaves the punts. I bet Oluwayemi's clearances are on target next week. Should be easy to fix. Good to see him get another chance anyway, especially after how he handled the Toomey incident. Thought Hughes had a good game. Maybe 3 CBs freed him up to dart into midfield more, to close down and set up attacks. Sutton also showed more intent, much improved. LT01
Dan The Man With The Pan
Oluwayemi is such a confusing player. Pulls off multiple save of the season contenders and puts every single goal kick out for a throw in.
So let's put another player on goal kicks and not play out from the back with the keeper? Not every team in football has to do it! How about playing to our players strengths hey?
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
I saw Chiefy's post-match interview last night, and just watched the press conference. It's quite disheartening. He sort of writes off the goal we conceded as a freak occurrence, in the exact same way as he did the City goal two weeks ago, and then says they didn't have many or any other good chances. Says he was disappointed not to win, because we had a few good moments on the counter to potentially create a chance from. Every single person in the world other than Chiefy would characterise that performance is a good battling backs to the wall away point, nobody else would say we looked likely to win it in the second half, if any team was going to it was Sydney.
In reality Sydney like every other team we face had significantly more good chances to score than us, and they probably also had many more "nearly created a chance" moments than us too. But Chiefy in his mind minimises the number and significance of the opponents chances and massively overstates our own.
You can also interpret from what he says that the only plan he has for us to score goals is quick transitions on the counter. No talk of even having the ambition to control games. I really can't take much more of Chiefyball and there is no reason to believe that the Nix under him will be anything other than a counterattacking team. Even if he can get it working again I don't care, I've had enough.
It's no surprise we have no control over games and no midfield presence when he is constantly playing people like Sheridan and LKH in central midfield, instead of Nagasawa and Roa Conchie. Can't wait to see who replaces Rufer in the middle for Western Sydney, probably Loke or Dublin Boon
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
theprof
LKH is definitely a CB, sure he may have decent footwork and the ability to play the ball, but that's what you'd expect from a good CB. He may be passable in the middle of the park but he'd be at his best beside Wootten, or if we are going to persist with wingback (Payne and Sutton) then Wootten, Hughes and LKH should be the centre 3.
He can't head the ball, he is not a CB.
I'm still baffled by the overuse of Sheridan and LKH when they are clearly not at the level.
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
On that topic, how fast / mobile / is Hughes? I rate him as a young CB who - while he cannot win us games on his own - stopped being the reason on his own that we lost them. But are Hughes and LKH comparable on mobility? And how does Hughes compare with Sheridan? I am more interested in their comparative speed and height as these factors are predetermined and cannot be improved by coaching.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
about 1 year ago· edited about 1 year ago· History
Sheridan could easily develop into a very good A-League right back. I have very little faith he could make it in any other position.
I don't really rate LKH, he seems to have regressed since he burst into the scene last season. Still very young though, so he could turn it around. I haven't seen him at CB either, so it's hard for me to say he couldn't do a job there.
edit: and I agree that Hughes is decent. Already belongs at A-League level and it isn't easy to do that at his age. Surman was a freak who has warped Nix fans' expectations, centre back is probably the hardest position to excel at professionally from a young age, other than maybe goalkeeper.
Sheridan did well in the defence last night. I'm presuming he will replace Hughes if the injury keeps him out for next game. Not sure about replacing Rufer. Payne could have in the past, but he hasn't got back to his best yet since injury.
If Roa Conchie is fit and doesn't at least come into the squad for suspended Rufer you'd have some serious qtns. But I'd guess Nagasawa would start and Retre drop a bit deeper.
And I think central midfield is the toughest position to learn as a young player. You need to play both facing and not facing goal wards. Often limited time and space, and you lose the ball at higher levels, it can often mean your team is punished. Look at how long it took Rufer to become a truly classy DM. That's why need to be patient with Conchie.
At least a CB is nearly always just playing only what is in front of them
I saw Chiefy's post-match interview last night, and just watched the press conference. It's quite disheartening. He sort of writes off the goal we conceded as a freak occurrence, in the exact same way as he did the City goal two weeks ago, and then says they didn't have many or any other good chances. Says he was disappointed not to win, because we had a few good moments on the counter to potentially create a chance from. Every single person in the world other than Chiefy would characterise that performance is a good battling backs to the wall away point, nobody else would say we looked likely to win it in the second half, if any team was going to it was Sydney.
In reality Sydney like every other team we face had significantly more good chances to score than us, and they probably also had many more "nearly created a chance" moments than us too. But Chiefy in his mind minimises the number and significance of the opponents chances and massively overstates our own.
You can also interpret from what he says that the only plan he has for us to score goals is quick transitions on the counter. No talk of even having the ambition to control games. I really can't take much more of Chiefyball and there is no reason to believe that the Nix under him will be anything other than a counterattacking team. Even if he can get it working again I don't care, I've had enough.
It's no surprise we have no control over games and no midfield presence when he is constantly playing people like Sheridan and LKH in central midfield, instead of Nagasawa and Roa Conchie. Can't wait to see who replaces Rufer in the middle for Western Sydney, probably Loke or Dublin Boon
Chiefy is not overly concerned with stats like shots or possession - basically big chances (2 to 1 in this game) is the only stat that matters (other than the score line) as representative of the game (not even xg which was not that different, SFC 1.22 to our 0.75 - or 0.058 per shot for SFC and 0.188 per shot for us).
Interesting to see some of you not rating LKH have spoken to 3 senior pros in the team and the departed David Ball and ALL of them rated LKH as one of the most promising young players at the the club. The others were LBS, Rodriguz, and Supyk. Really think some of you are far to quick to right off players.
Interesting to see some of you not rating LKH have spoken to 3 senior pros in the team and the departed David Ball and ALL of them rated LKH as one of the most promising young players at the the club. The others were LBS, Rodriguz, and Supyk. Really think some of you are far to quick to right off players.
LKH is not great in the air, but he is getting better.
I think he deserves a little more credit than he is been given - he's not even 20 yet. I think he has shown more than Sheridan in the midfield role.
With his height he doesnt have to be great in the air. Give him time to add bulk and he will continue to impress. He needs to be played in his best position though - CB! Not LB, not CM.
I saw Chiefy's post-match interview last night, and just watched the press conference. It's quite disheartening. He sort of writes off the goal we conceded as a freak occurrence, in the exact same way as he did the City goal two weeks ago, and then says they didn't have many or any other good chances. Says he was disappointed not to win, because we had a few good moments on the counter to potentially create a chance from. Every single person in the world other than Chiefy would characterise that performance is a good battling backs to the wall away point, nobody else would say we looked likely to win it in the second half, if any team was going to it was Sydney.
In reality Sydney like every other team we face had significantly more good chances to score than us, and they probably also had many more "nearly created a chance" moments than us too. But Chiefy in his mind minimises the number and significance of the opponents chances and massively overstates our own.
You can also interpret from what he says that the only plan he has for us to score goals is quick transitions on the counter. No talk of even having the ambition to control games. I really can't take much more of Chiefyball and there is no reason to believe that the Nix under him will be anything other than a counterattacking team. Even if he can get it working again I don't care, I've had enough.
It's no surprise we have no control over games and no midfield presence when he is constantly playing people like Sheridan and LKH in central midfield, instead of Nagasawa and Roa Conchie. Can't wait to see who replaces Rufer in the middle for Western Sydney, probably Loke or Dublin Boon
i'd like to watch it myself, but wow that is astonishing
I think all that Chief was saying is that we had a couple of breakaways and might have pinched it. When he says he was dissapointed we didn't win, I think that's all he meant.
And, to be fair, that was a fair call. For all Sydney dominated possession they didn't have much on the xG. More than us, sure. On a good luck day for them they might have won 2-0. But they didn't create that much, and not enough for them to be sure we couldn't pinch it. That's why we were all still engaged with the game at the end. Worried Sydney might take it. But still feeling we had a chance.
I'm fine that Chief was saying he was dissapointed we didn't win. But I don't read him as meaning we were the better team and deserved to win.
He's happy with the fight the guys put up and that we were close. And he's thinking with a bit more confidence we could have been better and good enough to win.
The guy is positive and talking up his players. It's part of the job. We get to be the manic depressives.
Sydney didn't really create clear chances until the last 15 minutes which coincided with Hughes going off and Piper replacing him. We probably tired in the heat a bit too.
Up until then, we had a few chances to get in behind but were called back for offside.
