Very good second half performance. We played as a team. 3-0 is rather generous to MacArthur.
True, and also proof that xg stats are not be taken seriously. Ours was apparently 1.81, theirs was a whopping 1.41. Yet apart from the penalty Paulsen only had to make one meaningful save, while Kurto made at least four. In fact they barely troubled our defence all night.
A mew xG algorithm is needed with Paulsen on the field saving penalties Outpost
Fenix
Very good second half performance. We played as a team. 3-0 is rather generous to MacArthur.
True, and also proof that xg stats are not be taken seriously. Ours was apparently 1.81, theirs was a whopping 1.41. Yet apart from the penalty Paulsen only had to make one meaningful save, while Kurto made at least four. In fact they barely troubled our defence all night.
Very good second half performance. We played as a team. 3-0 is rather generous to MacArthur.
True, and also proof that xg stats are not be taken seriously. Ours was apparently 1.81, theirs was a whopping 1.41. Yet apart from the penalty Paulsen only had to make one meaningful save, while Kurto made at least four. In fact they barely troubled our defence all night.
yep, Kurto kept them in the first half. We had several high percentage chances and they didn't.
Hopefully we’ll follow this up with another win against WSW so we’ll remain top at Xmas. WSW are gonna have a depleted squad without Brillante, Beadling, Borello and Ninkovic
That was the perfect chance for OVH to break the duck. Feel for the guy but jeez
Good chance for him to get a bit of running under little pressure. Looking at how the rest of our team has changed with Chief’s instruction. Oscar will too.
The other thing to think about is how many times Kraev and Kosta have missed by small margins. And Kosta has a great record all around Australia and Kraev has been a European international. Missing a chance by a narrow margin doesn’t indicate a bad player. In fact the opposite in most cases.
Thought whole team was excellent tonight. I had Kraev as my MotM, but Kosta was superb and all the others out there did their bit and were brilliant too, especially those that came into the starting XI - Ball, Sutton & Old. Ball rolling back the years with that outing, and Sutts and Old just give us more potency and that bit extra getting forward.
Selection headaches for Chiefy ahead of the Wanderers.
Thanks for tonight lads, was highly enjoyable, looking forward to the double-header on the weekend. Let's do it again!
Very good second half performance. We played as a team. 3-0 is rather generous to MacArthur.
True, and also proof that xg stats are not be taken seriously. Ours was apparently 1.81, theirs was a whopping 1.41. Yet apart from the penalty Paulsen only had to make one meaningful save, while Kurto made at least four. In fact they barely troubled our defence all night.
yep, Kurto kept them in the first half. We had several high percentage chances and they didn't.
Our xg should have been at least double there's.
If we take out the pen that’s 0.6 to 1.81 which seems about right?
Very good second half performance. We played as a team. 3-0 is rather generous to MacArthur.
True, and also proof that xg stats are not be taken seriously. Ours was apparently 1.81, theirs was a whopping 1.41. Yet apart from the penalty Paulsen only had to make one meaningful save, while Kurto made at least four. In fact they barely troubled our defence all night.
yep, Kurto kept them in the first half. We had several high percentage chances and they didn't.
Our xg should have been at least double there's.
If we take out the pen that’s 0.6 to 1.81 which seems about right?
Such confident passing throughout the team. Superb team play. Congratulations coaches on your team's performance. Great balance in the team today. Sutts and Payne were always threats out wide. Old and Kosta were always threats in the middle. Bally just linked everyone together. Kraev was at his best. Rufs and Pennington did a fine job, especially considering they were on yellows for so long. Surman and Wootton were strong. Paulsen is amazing and his skills lay the foundation for the team's style of play. Nixxx, you rule.
Hey guys…living in a world where we turned down signing Saka or Garnacho because Tim Payne is a menace down the right wing with his pace, passing and footwork.
If we get good results against WSW, Victory and Adelaide it might just be our year. Long way to go though
Steady!
Superb result last night, had to head to bed after the first half but we played really well. Was chalk and cheese to last weekend. As well as things actually coming off for them. There seems to be a really good team ethic in this squad and it’s great to see. Can’t make the game this weekend, gutted ☹️
P.s so pleased for Kosta, his play this season has deserved this! Keep it coming.
Ball, Old, Paulsen, Payne, Kosta, top performances from all of them! 3-0, handing the first loss of the season to the Bulls. Love it, great comeback from last week's loss. Love the way Chiefy has these guys playing, whod have thought Payne would be a star at RB this season.
The silver lining about Zawada inevitably leaving at season's end is it seems he maybe isn't the best fit for Chiefy's system, despite how genuinely great he is. We have always looked fine with a front three of Ball, Kosta & Kraev this season. Hopefully we can get Kraev to stay, though that'll be an uphill battle too
Edit: and if Kosta & ball don't need upgrading then they'll likely need replacing sooner rather than later, getting up there in age
" The silver lining about Zawada inevitably leaving at season's end "
- you misspelled "in the January window", hope this helps
Just watched the highlights. Another fine performance from the boys and now top of the table! Not easy watching from the States due to the time difference, but I do my best!
Great game, especially tactically in the first half when we had sub 40% possession but still had the best chances. A lot of which has to go down to how good Paulsen is with the ball at his feet and our teams ability to pass around then through the press. All of our best attacks that half (minus the goal) came with the NIX playing around the press before hitting a 30 - 40 yeard pass through the middle of the pitch to 1 of our 3 forwards who'd dropped into the whole. Clever, clever play.
Also, I'm not usually a huge fan of Old... but last nights game might change that a little for me. I personally think he has his best game in a yellow shirt. Great energy as usual, but it was his confidence with the ball at his feet and taking on players etc that really stood out. Seemed to be having fun!
OVH looked ok for me despite his miss - made good runs, was quick across the paddock etc. Hopefully his confidence grows as a result.
The silver lining about Zawada inevitably leaving at season's end is it seems he maybe isn't the best fit for Chiefy's system, despite how genuinely great he is. We have always looked fine with a front three of Ball, Kosta & Kraev this season. Hopefully we can get Kraev to stay, though that'll be an uphill battle too
Edit: and if Kosta & ball don't need upgrading then they'll likely need replacing sooner rather than later, getting up there in age
" The silver lining about Zawada inevitably leaving at season's end "
- you misspelled "in the January window", hope this helps
If anyone is leaving in January it has to be Paulsen you'd think... I know he is young and only just starting out but I wouldn't be surprised if he is raising eyebrows overseas already. Some teams might think they can get a bargain going early in on a future top notch goalkeeper.
Honestly, if Zawada is going regardless then I’d like us to sell him for a fee in January and bring in a pacey Krishna/Williams style striker in the Jan window.
There’s a bunch of free agents and off contract players that would fit the bill, but on the slim chance he would want to come back, I’d love to see us pick up Raphael Lea’i
Honestly, if Zawada is going regardless then I’d like us to sell him for a fee in January and bring in a pacey Krishna/Williams style striker in the Jan window.
There’s a bunch of free agents and off contract players that would fit the bill, but on the slim chance he would want to come back, I’d love to see us pick up Raphael Lea’i
I think on the evidence of last night we don't need Zawada, and it might be good business to sell him while he commands a high price
The only thing I'd add is that I think there is something in the commentary team's view that MU were a bit jaded, so will hold fire a bit. But still a great result. Great to see Old really growing into his role, Rufer has become one of the best disrupters and distributors in the league, Ball looks fresh again, the structure and transitional play means it is working again for Kosta, Kraev is showing the sort of impact you want from an import and the D is looking tough to break except by real pace and quality. Can't help but enjoy what's going on so far.
Its a big call to suggest we don't need Zawada just after 1 game. Some need to take a breath. We must remember he is a genuine goal scorer in this league that other teams would love to have. Although it does give the team confidence that they can go win games without him now if hes ever injured or suspended.
Our boys look fitter this year, seems like we playing out the 90 with more intensity - even in last weeks loss we were running right to the end.
Gees Clayton Lewis looked like he was carry an extra 5-10 kegs....absolute passenger for Macurther.
Actually, one other thing to add. Interesting to see Rudan in a corporate box for this game. How he looks to have WSW combat our attacking play and unlock the D will be worth a watch this weekend.
Honestly, if Zawada is going regardless then I’d like us to sell him for a fee in January and bring in a pacey Krishna/Williams style striker in the Jan window.
There’s a bunch of free agents and off contract players that would fit the bill, but on the slim chance he would want to come back, I’d love to see us pick up Raphael Lea’i
we have a chance to win the toilet seat this season, I'd hope we'd be looking to further strengthen in January not offload quality and in form players.
I loved the game last night and all respect to the team for winning away (on a Monday) in style. To offer some counterbalance: - Macarthur did not last the distance and while some players did not travel to Manila last week, many did and it seems to have affected their fitness. They were under the pump late in the second half. The game might have been more even otherwise. - My thought is that the Bulls had some dangerous moves near the box (their French striker, Valère Germain, is pretty useful) but we can thank Surman, Wooten and Rufer for the fact that Paulsen did not have to do that many saves. - I did not see very much from Davila (who did not travel to Manila). - We play a different game with Zawada and it works well against some teams but not all the teams. The Jets sussed us out last week; but I reckon Mile Sterjovski simply did not know which Phoenix team will be on the park and got caught out tactically. Impressed to see Rudan watching the game from the stands. - really happy for Ball and Kosta to have a good season; I did not think Kosta would score again and I did not think Ball would get on the park again. I was wrong on both counts, happily. - Paulsen rocks.
Geez, factor in penalty shootouts and he must be near the top of the tree outright!
Interesting as well that we’re told that penalties are .8 or that they get saved on average 20%. Does that mean most A league keepers are below average against penalties?
