Funny thing is it's been a strangely poor season for keepers in the A-League.
The young guys at CCM and City have made some mistakes, Olu and Sail have both had some calamities, Devenish-Meares for Sydney come under criticism, Adelaide cycled through three different keepers, and even the experienced Lawrence Thomas has made a few blunders like yesterday.
Of course apart from Kurto (who is outstanding), Olu is the only visa player amongst them so is judged to a different standard, but it's certainly interesting.
The A League has always had a fair bit of dodgy keeping but you are right, it has kicked up a notch this season. Partly it's to do with the high number of inexperienced keepers in their first season at this level and partly it's the outcome of tactical changes in the game which have put the aggressive press at the forefront.
You don't need much skill to press effectively but a defence has to have a high degree of confidence, organisation and experience to deal with it. A lot of teams, even some quite high up the table, are struggling to do this. It's no surprise that as we head towards the end of the season more teams, like the Nix, are acknowledging that their keepers aren't up to the task of playing out from the back and are choosing to go long instead.
Best keepers for me have been Kurto, Paulsen and Matt Sutton for WU.
Well we won, but it wasnt pretty. Second half was dire. Still not sure what Italiano is thinking starting 6 defenders with three of them in midfield. It worked but mainly because Payne is relatively attacking. Kosta looked good as always. Not sure how their goal stood, Josh was clearly impacted by the attacker backing in to him, sure the contact was minor but as the commentators mentioned you literally breath on a keeper and the goal is overturned most weeks.
To be fair to Josh he was fully extended reaching upwards and the Newcastle player did way more than just back into him - he was airborne and going backwards through Josh's very exposed and extended ribs - I don't know about you guys but when I've been hit like that I've ended up been winded and on the ground gasping for air. There's no doubt in my mind it was a foul as it clearly impacted Josh's reach and knocked the ball loose as well. That has happened to him before except the previous time it was one of our defenders doing it. How anyone can think the goalie is somehow at fault in either situation is beyond me. As many have said, 99% of the time in other games its whistled as a foul for sure - especially if there is a VAR view where its clearly obvious. I've got no idea how that got let go. But justice was served in the end when Josh did end up saving the day.
The A League higher ups will review it and say they got it wrong and we will all move on.
Even that would be nice. Even better would be the league funding the ‘Eternal Sunshining’ of the second half from all fans, given how poor both teams were…
The last two games we have taken 4 points and AFC only 2. The tide is turning. I am quitely optimistic for next season after seeing some good signs recently. Our season could have finished a total disaster. If we get our recruiting right then we can be positive. Need to sign Chico, get a decent experianced mid to replace Retre and some good defenders. I agree with the commentators who said about our Japanese players that often imports are way better second season.
VaR is absolutely useless in this day and age. I'd say scrap it.
agree it was a foul. But that does not hide a glaring deficiency in his game. In that situation you either punchbthe ball or deflect it away to the side.
VaR is absolutely useless in this day and age. I'd say scrap it.
The tool itself has value it's the operators who are the issue, which is the same problem that VAR was brought it to solve with the actual referees. Maybe we need a VAR for VAR??
VaR is absolutely useless in this day and age. I'd say scrap it.
agree it was a foul. But that does not hide a glaring deficiency in his game. In that situation you either punchbthe ball or deflect it away to the side.
Disagree, no foul on him and he's caught the ball and we in control of possession.
AFC have also taken 4 points from their last two games.austin111
The last two games we have taken 4 points and AFC only 2. The tide is turning. I am quitely optimistic for next season after seeing some good signs recently. Our season could have finished a total disaster. If we get our recruiting right then we can be positive. Need to sign Chico, get a decent experianced mid to replace Retre and some good defenders. I agree with the commentators who said about our Japanese players that often imports are way better second season.
So, now on Sky it says an Live A League Women's game is on Sky sports 6 at 7pm. What the hell!!
The best Phoenix performance and result for months and Sky stuff it up by not listing the game on the Electronic Program Guide on the Sky box, which is the way most of us Sky subscribers find when a game is on and where to watch it and it also means it can't be recorded etc. It is highly unusual for that to happen. It means that not many people would have watched it unfortunately. The Nix really are cursed this season...... I only found out which Sky Sports channel to watch it on, on this forum because someone had looked up the online TV guide on the Sky website and posted that info early in this thread.
