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Murfy1

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Everything posted by Murfy1

  1. Yep, this. Smeltz will probably miss the match next round as well, so there is effectively no chance of a last minute recovery. Of the 8 goals Perth scored against us over 4 games last season, Smeltz scored 6 of them (Memhet scored the other 2). Assuming we don't drop our game we should at least be good enough for a draw IMO, and the odds of us getting a win are much better.
  2. News that Smeltz might be out. If so the chances of us winning go dramatically up: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1124962/Ferguson-defends-Glory-tactics
  3. Those statistics in the head to head are off. They only include last season, where Heart won 1 and lost 1 (2-1 and the final 0-3) at Perth and lost 2 in Melbourne (1-2 and 1-2). There were also 3 draws in our first season, 1 at AAMI Park (2-2) and 2 in Perth (0-0 and 1-1). The 'form' section is misleading as well, with the last 3 stats being matches played last season, I think. Looking over all the stats and matches I don't think we have ever really been outplayed by Perth. The 3 draws against them in our first season were all pretty awful matches (the first one with truly awful refereeing, where we should of won but Perth received a penalty for a dive in injury time). Last season we gifted them their first win at AAMI, with Thompson's terrible performance as CB. Then we had a solid win in Perth. The last match of the season proper was a poor 1-2 loss at AAMI, where I think we had Good and Hamill in defence. Finally, we were absymal in the finals and we played both Good and Hamill at once again. The analysis is pretty accurate IMO. The match could go either way, and it should be an entertaining game. I think if our defence can do a good enough job we can edge a win. If Gerhardt and probably Vrankovic are solid enough in the centre of defence and just keep Smeltz from being too influential we'll win. I've got faith Vrankovic, so I don't think we should doubt ourselves at all going into this match.
  4. http://www.sportal.com.au/football-news-display/preview-perth-glory-v-melbourne-heart-204190
  5. Scott Munn's response to the tweet in the opening post: It is clear that with Aloisi as coach we are an attractive destination for Socceroos, and as opposed to marquees or internationals we'd prefer to sign Socceroos when possible. However that tweet, from a source that is inconsistent, seems to me to be wild speculation. We don't need a midfielder, and with Valeri's club apparently doing well he doesn't need to move. I can see us signing more Socceroos if Aloisi stays at the helm beyond this season, but I don't see us signing Valeri anytime soon.
  6. We have a bit of a strange history against Perth. Our competitive match history includes 3 draws, 3 losses and 1 win. But in Perth we've drawn 2 (0-0, 1-1), won 1 (2-1) and lost 1 (last season's final, 3-0). We've played worse against Perth at AAMI Park, with 1 draw (2-2) and 2 losses (1-2, 1-2). I don't think much can be made of that preseason friendly. It was a preseason match, and it is not reflective of how the teams have played in their first 2 games. Perth haven't been scoring a lot (won their first game 1-0, and lost their second 0-1), and we haven't been conceding a lot (2-1 and 1-1). But, as always, history only means so much in football and anything can happen on the day. I don't think we need to be too daunted going into this match though, but it should be a competitive and entertaining game. I think the squad will stay the same except for LW and Colosimo's spot. Gray hasn't even made the bench, so I reckon Vrankovic will start in Colosimo's place. And I'm tipping Williams to get the nod for LW.
  7. Murfy1

    Fred

    It was good that he played a full game today (without cramping). He is a top midfielder, but he isn't lethal in front of goal. We shouldn't be relying on Fred for goals though, so that doesn't particularly concern me.
  8. Pretty much agree with Tesla. If Wellington's goal went in and Colosimo didn't handball it I think we would have won by about 3 to 1. First half, especially after the goal, was overall a solid performance and we dominated. Behich has to improve his decision making in the final third, but I think he had a pretty good game. Ifill, a top player, was bossed out of the game by Behich in the first half, who stole the ball off him on multiple occasions (like for the first goal). Garcia was probably MOTM for me. Good at defending and breaking up play. Also, he gives the team direction when we have the ball and he is a smart passer. Along with Fred we have 2 excellent midfielders. So all we need is Germano, Thompson or Kalmar to step up and we'll have one of the best, if the best, midfield in the league. Gerhardt is a solid defender who wins many headers, but he needs to improve his passing. Too many long balls early in the game. I reckon once he's more familiar with the team he'll be more sensible with his passing and he'll be a solid all round player. Unfortunately Tadic only got around 48 minutes and the best chances didn't fall to him. I think he's probably better suited to be an out an out striker, and we should probably only play him as LW if we're chasing the game. We should have 3 forwards coming back next week (Williams, Garuccio, Golgol), so I think we'll have enough firepower going forward to finish more often.
  9. Murfy1

    Fred

    Real pleased to hear those comments from Fred. He sounds like someone who truly gets out there and plays for the shirt, and it's good to hear he is already hopeful of getting a contract extension with Heart. If he can stay mostly fit he simply is a must to resign. D-Mac also said Melbourne Heart is "like a family" and without any "big heads" in the dressing room. I think Heart could have a really strong season based on that team unity and solidarity.
  10. Murfy1

    Fred

    http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/253283,fred-targets-australian-passport.aspx
  11. The latest reports are that Wellington's third choice keeper, Scott Basalaj, is unavailable, so their fourth choice keeper, Jacob Spoonley, will be between the sticks. Also the herald sun wrote today that: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/heart-warned-not-to-drop-guard-against-phoenix/story-e6frfg8x-1226493967035 I find it pretty remarkable that Gerhardt has chosen not to partake in a pretty important match, qualifier for the African Cup of Nations against one of the stronger teams in Africa, Nigeria. A good sign that he is committed to nail down starting place in defence, I guess.
  12. http://www.soccerway.com/news/2012/October/11/garcia-primed-for-under-strength-phoenix/
  13. Although the media and pundits get a lot wrong (I still can't fathom why Heart were so heavily considered underdogs against Victory), I reckon they are correct for this match. I think we'll easily win. If we start as energetically against Wellington as we did against Victory we'll win easily, maybe 2-0 or 3-0. I reckon Williams will score again, because he looks like a confidence player and he has no reason not to back himself against a second string Wellington defence. Hopefully Aloisi realizes this is a perfect match to give Tadic 30 or so minutes. He'll need time to adapt to the A-League, and it will be hard for him to be effective if he doesn't start getting real game time soon. Few strikers are effective when they are subbed on with 10 or 15 minutes to go. Also, I reckon if Tadic gets 30+ minutes against this Wellington team he could quite possibly find the back of the net, which would really help him settle at Heart and help boost our chances to have a very strong season.
  14. http://www.sportal.com.au/football-match-preview-display/preview-heart-v-phoenix-202977
  15. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/melbourne-heart-lose-jonatan-germano-for-phoenix-clash/story-e6frfg8x-1226493528997
  16. http://www.golfaustralia.org.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=73154
  17. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/roving-veteran-dylan-macallisters-now-a-melbourne-boy-at-heart/story-fn63e0vj-1226492364238
  18. http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/williams-repays-second-chance-20121009-27bah.html#ixzz28rvrcMZ5
  19. Completely agree. A fantastic win for Melbourne Heart that was unfortunately tarnished by the behaviour of a few. The few who performed or condoned those actions need to clean up their act. I think Heart's going to have a very good season, so hopefully in the future we can focus on football and wins instead off the pitch misbehaviour.
  20. http://www.footballfedtas.com.au/index.php?id=15&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2012&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=10&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=228&cHash=d46b57b7333e179ee2231b3f75bbccc9
  21. I'm expecting Williams to step up this season. He showed so much quality at NQ Fury, which he's yet to show at Heart. Even though he plays a very different role at Heart than what he played at Fury, I think he should know how to play in Heart's team by now, and this season he should be able to nail down LW.
  22. http://www.sportal.com.au/football-news-display/aloisi-tips-williams-to-fire-200914
  23. Pretty good ad in my opinion. Good footage of Fred and Behich. Completely agree. We might as well get the most out of having Aloisi as our coach.
  24. Very pleased with this signing. It's good to see that Aloisi was very aware of our weakness on the left wing, with him stressing in the statement that Garuccio is left footed and a left winger. Garuccio looked good and lively against Adelaide. I was also impressed with the shot that he took from around halfway, as it showed ambition, and it also came pretty close as well. We've now got the minimum required number of players (20), so now we just need a third player aged 20 or under and we're set. That signing will likely only provide depth, as I reckon the squad is now pretty strong all around with the signing of Garuccio.
  25. Heart tried to sign Michael Owen, but it seemed to be a far too expensive proposition. The fact is Sydney were very lucky with ADP, with European clubs offering 4 to 5 times as much money, ADP not being interested in moving to Asia (unlike other big names, e.g. Drogba and Anelka) and the MLS not being an option because ADP was only interested in playing for LA Galaxy. The simple fact is most big name players will take one of the many options that ADP overlooked before agreeing to move to Sydney. Also, like Owen, most big names in football price themselves outside of A-League clubs' price range. That is why the richest clubs, Sydney and Victory, are the only clubs to have signed proper marquees. Heart are going about things just fine, IMO. I think Western Sydney don't need a marquee primarily because they have a massive football market (I understand Western Sydney is the region with the most registered footballers in Australia), with their geographical identity only being a secondary factor. Melbourne has been a more fickle market for association football than many expected, with only so many people supporting Heart ATM, but I think Heart just need to get the fundamentals right. Heart finished 8th in their first season and 6th in their second, which is a much bigger factor explaining Heart's crowds and membership numbers than Heart's absence of a marquee IMO. Also, in the A-League I reckon it's pretty relative which players pull a crowd,and footballers don't need a name recognized worldwide to pull a crowd in the A-League. Flores draws a crowd and builds up hype despite him not being a big name in football globally. If Tadic or even Garcia have a big season I reckon that could be just as valuable as splashing a few million on a marquee player (and much better value for money). If Heart take care of the football the crowds and membership numbers will take care of themselves. It is a less showy approach than using a marquee, but I reckon it's the right approach to take.
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