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The way it should be!

at this moment, i couldn't give a rats arse

We can't keep chopping and changing the squad with players. How can we expect consistent results if there are so many changes happening. IMO we should continue with the same starting eleven we had on Friday provided they've recovered well. And changing Clisby for Chapman is crazy.

so we're going to play them into form then

The problem has been since day dot that JvS has not been able to translate his theoretical understanding of play into sustained, concrete performances from the team under varying situations. He no doubt understands the game from a strategy point of view but what he has lacked is the ability to get the players to perform consistently. No matter how many players we turn over and replace, JvS issues the same excuses. The problem is obvious. He lacks man management skills that define successful coaches like Merrick, Popo, Arnie or Ange. It's no accident that his win ratio is just over 30% and has been this way pretty much since he's been with us. To win silverware you need to be around 40-50%.

It all comes down to value for money. I used to be a fairly regular theatre attendee (musicals mainly) but eventually the seat prices and associated fees like car-parking at the State Theatre, booking fees etc. rose to the point where the quality of the shows did not match the costs of attending. So we don't go very often now. I don't think anyone can assume that A-League attendances across the board should keep on increasing season-by-season. Individual club attendances will rise and fall in line with club performance, but unless people perceive an increase in value for money I don't see any reason why overall attendances should rise. IMO we're not seeing anything particularly exciting and new this season right across the league. The usual smattering of Balkan "marquees" (none of whom I'd ever heard of before) and a few up-and-coming young Australian players. Nothing on the coaching front. No new club to liven up the scene. In our own case City seem to have a better squad on paper, but even if they could all get on the field IMO there's no addition that could add a new dimension to the side other than Bruno Fornaroli. In the light of our usual mediocre start to the season IMO we've done remarkably well to attract as many season-ticket holders back for another season as we have. My attitude is the same as NewConvert. I like watching live football, and buying a season ticket and having my own seat just suits me fine. I let the club worry about their targets on season tickets and attendances. As for FFA - it's just a pissing contest with the other codes and a matter of the aggrandisement of certain individuals.

I've seen this stat to many times already, get him the fuck out of Melbourne!

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics. I thought I would take you up on your notion about Paddy and Paartalu. The attached are all the statistics that I could find on the MSCF website from the Heidelberg game onwards. I went through all the statistics and plotted all on an Excel spreadsheet, created a pivot table yada yada yada. Of course I could have made some errors in cutting and pasting the hundreds of numbers so will stand corrected. So the statistics are quite surprising IMHO. Of course some players have very few passes so could be discounted. It also challenges the notions that some people here have about who are the stars and who are the duds when it comes to passing. Row LabelsSum of TPAverage of LPAverage of PAMichael Zullo90.0%88.9%Corey Gamerio90.0%88.9%Jason Trifiro421.1%87.2%Steve Kuzmanovski1021.4%83.1%Stefan Mauk1366.9%82.4%David Williams449.1%80.9%Connor Chapman26719.3%80.4%Bruno Fornaroli1622.4%79.5%Paulo Retre19615.2%79.1%Erik Paartalu1535.8%78.3%Aaron Mooy36811.3%77.7%Jack Clisby15314.1%74.9%Robert Koren997.3%73.2%Wade Dekker874.1%72.3%Patrick Kisnorbo28321.3%71.9%Herman Espindola401.7%71.7%Ben Garuccio10316.3%68.7%Jacob Melling12616.1%66.4%Matthew Millar3411.9%64.3%Stefan Zinni300.0%62.5%Grand Total24439.4%76.5%

Couldn't agree more. With regards to the colours, I think CFG has got it spot on. They were always going to change the home kit, but using the Heart home kit as the "new" away kit is a smart move. It acknowledges the history(however short that may be) of the club and allows those of us that joined when they were Heart to hold on to that history. I bought my first Melbourne City jersey this year, and it was always going to be the away kit for that reason. Yes Friday sucked, but on the whole I think they are headed in the right direction. Patience is the key. I would rather win consistently in the long run than a lot for a short period. As for crowds, I don't have numbers(happy to be proved wrong if anyone does have them) but from appearances, the GA area at the opposite end of the active area appears to have more people than the last few years. I think what makes it look like there are less is because all the premium seats are on the left and right. If we're building a club then these are always going to fill up last. I mean, why pay extra when(derbies excepted) you can pay for a GA membership and pretty much sit wherever you want at a home game. We've got some way to go but I think overall, we are headed in the right direction.

Don't go near the merri ck, the chemicals in that water will turn you into a ninja turtle!

Want to win because i havent come back to Melbourne with an away win in my 6 away trips. Want to lose so JVS can get sacked Fuck.

JVS: Had the Best Offseason Recruiting in the League , Has the Best Training Facilities in the League and is easily the Most Generous Owners in the League behind him and yet an full blown retard now in JA is coaching a side that is an outright five points clear of City. And its worse than that as JA was unable to do much noteworthy Offseason Recruiting prior to the Season as he is with a Club in Financial Trouble... to the extent that he hires his own brother to be his assistant. Seriously I have come to the conclusion that us MHFC/MCFC Supporters are in the Australian Soccer Landscape what Jobe was to the Old Testament.

His tackle in the box saved a goal. IMO he is being scape-goated at the moment. I don' have his stats but if I did I think we'd find his passes hit their target, and many went forward to the feet of the midfielders. Also the guy is a beast when it comes to winning balls in the air at both ends of the pitch (although where the ball ends up after is a different matter). A CB that can score as well.

happy we play away next week

@0:39 (to the tune) overhead clapping Cmon Melbourne Shalalalalla Cmon Melbourne Shalalalalla Cmon Melbourne Shalalalallalala Cmon Melbourne Cmon Melbourne (to the tune) mosh or link up and bounce (not the poznan) do do do do dodo dooooo do do do do dodo dooooo do do do do dodo dooooo do do dooo do do doooo Thoughts?

From 3:00-3:33 Melbourne City ole Melbourne city ole Melbourne city ole ole ole oooleeeeee >added an extra line so we dont gasp for air haha >every 2nd time we go through with chant we clap to the drum beat Voice 002.m4a

Im going to send this to the Melbourne City twitter account. Not that its going to have any effect whatsoever

I am making this my sig

A-League talking points: Melbourne City fail another test of character Leadership, resilience and a never say die attitude – character traits that were sorely missing from Melbourne City’s second half performance on Friday Jonathan Howcroft The 1956 FA Cup final is remembered for Bert Trautmann’s heroics. The Manchester City goalkeeper made a string of late saves despite dislocating five vertebrae in the 75th minute. Was it ignorance that made him continue? Stupidity? Sporting mythology being what it is, Trautmann’s pain threshold has entered legend as an enduring testament of character. Across town, the greatest individual performance in Manchester United’s modern era was delivered by Roy Keane when he dragged his team past Juventus in the 1999 Champions League semi-final despite knowing he would be suspended for the showpiece. “I did not think I could have a higher opinion of any footballer than I already had of the Irishman but he rose even further in my estimation at the Stadio Delle Alpi,” wrote Sir Alex Ferguson in his first autobiography. “The minute he was booked and out of the final, he seemed to redouble his efforts to get the team there. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him.” Leadership, resilience and a never say-die-attitude; character traits missing from Melbourne City’s second half performance on Friday night against the Newcastle Jets and arguably absent from the club since Melbourne Heart first took the field in 2010. The post match assessment of Steve Horvat, former Socceroo and now ABC pundit, is hard to dispute following City’s implosion from a 2-0 half-time lead to a 3-2 home defeat. Horvat suggested that the Jets’ gutsy display showed “the type of character that you build a club on”. He added in a series of tweets directed at City that, “money can buy you a lot of things, but it can’t buy a soul”. As the tide turned slowly but surely City’s callow midfield was overrun. Industrious in the first half Stefan Mauk and Jacob Melling spent the second chasing shadows. Aaron Mooy, the league’s best player, wandered aimlessly. Ahead of them John van ’t Schip’s substitutions backfired. Behind them Paulo Retre was turned inside out by Enver Alivodic. A game firmly in City’s grasp was prised off them with meek resistance. There was no character, no leadership. Youth and inexperience are obvious retorts to Friday’s disintegration. City have a long and credentialed injury list, but the spine and guts of the team is not on it. The players of character a coach would turn to in times of trouble just don’t exist at the club. As both Heart and City they have never had an abundance of character. When the going gets tough City can expect to be found wanting. For a club conceived as Heart there has always been a lack of ticker. Now in its sixth season, with the riches of the City Football Group behind it, this consistent oversight reflects poorly on the coaching and recruitment staff. Scanning City’s squad, outside of a clutch of competent defenders there is only the 20-year-old Melling who shows any appetite for the muck and bullets approach required to dig out results when the chips are down. There are no abrasive mavericks to jumpstart a flatlining contest. Van ’t Schip is not and has never been spoiled for choice over the selection of a captain. If he sees out the season the Dutchman will become the fourth most experienced coach in A-League history. He currently has a win ratio of 32%, the lowest of any manager with more than 100 appearances on the competition’s touchlines. The club he built and re-inherited has always been neat and methodical but lacking drive and a cutting edge. He has had enough time and resources to identify and remedy these inadequacies. This column endorsed Scott Miller’s Novocastrian revolution last week and at AAMI Park the league’s youngest coach outperformed his vastly more credentialled opposite number with one half-time teamtalk and a single innocuous substitution. Mark Birighitti spoke afterwards in glowing terms of the “bollocking” Miller had given the Jets during the interval. Jason Hoffman celebrated Miller’s instinct in bringing on Cameron Watson, a defensive midfielder, despite trailing 2-0 and seemingly out of the game.

dont mind me im just boosting my post count before lock

Back four players' passing statistics, especially central defenders, always look better than they really are because more than half of their passes are across the back four, back to the keeper or easy passes bounced off deep lying midfielders or full backs to be then recircled across the back four or to the keeper again. That is, passes made when in acres of space and not in traffic. Numbers only tell part of the story. Deep midfielders, depending on how they play are also likely to have better stats than they deserve due to the "bouncing factor". Nice work with the stats but not sure it proves that Kis and Partaalu are passing guns. Actually I don't think Paartalu is generally a bad passer, but was just terrible against Victory and deserved to get dropped. But should have at least been on the bench against Newcastle as many have said.

Said it pre-season and I'll say it again now, Brisbane have the best squad in the league also, Maclaren and Borrello will be future Socceroos imo

i would leave the team unchanged. Backs who can't defend and midfield hell bent on expending all their energy in the first 30 minutes and cannot see out the game. This will just highlight the imbecile who is in charge and hopefully precipitate a phone call from the Sheikh. The worst thing is that it isn't the players faults. They are told a game plan and as far as we know comply to the letter. The problem is that our tactics are static and rigid and unfortunately flawed. All this is doing is to lose credibility for the players and piss off a lot of City fans who will just continue to vote with their feet every time we capitulate to a crap team.

Definitely is about opinions. I believe defending one corner of the pitch with the play constantly in front of you is different to having to defend, attack and be perceptually aware of everyone around you when playing centrally. That's why Retre has improved, not necessarily because of himself but the role he plays is much simpler to execute effectively for his level. Remember Hoffman also was one of our most consistent and best performers when he converted from midfield to right back as well.

Video of the discussion at the link Mark Bosnich says lack of leadership from Melbourne City’s senior players the reason for Newcastle Jets loss November 1, 2015 THE lack of leadership shown by Melbourne City’s senior players could cost them the best chance they’ve ever had of winning an A-League title. That’s the opinion of Fox Sports football commentator Mark Bosnich who, along with fellow Shootout panellists John Kosmina and Ned Zelic, have voiced their concerns over the dramatic collapse that saw City squander a two-goal lead and lose 3-2 to Newcastle Jets on Friday night. Kosmina got the ball rolling, suggesting that City coach John van’t Schip would have ruing the half time whistle at AAMI Park. “Melbourne City should not have lost this game,” Kosmina said. “It was one of those games where you didn’t want half time to come because Melbourne City were playing that well.” Zelic suggested that despite the home side’s dominance, there were signs that the Jets were not far away from mounting a comeback. “Towards the end of that first half they (the Jets) were getting into that advanced area where they were just lacking that final piece of quality,” Zelic said. “You’ve got a situation where Melbourne City were on top and just strolling through Newcastle’s defence and then they have come back in a way. “As a coach you have to tell your team, look they’re coming,” But Bosnich intervened, declaring that van’t Schip cannot play the match for his team and his core of established players must take responsibility for City’s abject collapse. “My real anger with the Melbourne City team is their senior players,” Bosnich said. “Thomas Sorensen their most senior player, Pat Kisnorbo their captain and Aaron Mooy ... those three, when things start going pear shaped and Kantarovski scores that goal and Newcastle are completely on top, John van’t Schip can’t come on the pitch and call a time out and say we’ve got to do something. “They’re the ones who have to take responsibility. If they’re going to collapse like that continually, people are going to walk away from them and they’re not going to do anything this season.” http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/mark-bosnich-says-lack-of-leadership-from-melbourne-citys-senior-players-the-reason-for-newcastle-jets-loss/story-e6frf4gl-1227590161670

The thing is silva what do we do then? When this team fails again do we drop them again and bring in the others? For me Mauk and Melling have shown they have the hunger and commitment to compete for their positions so they should keep their positions. In that formation you have posted you have three players that haven't played the last two games and another three that are playing new positions. That impacts not only them but the players around them. There's just too much unfamiliarity. How will the team ever gel with so many changes?

Agree we can't keep chopping and changing the starting lineup. 1 change at most to the starting lineup IMO. We should have a different bench though, and I'm hoping we can have a fit Gameiro and Novillo coming off the bench, and Paartalu or Koren or Trifiro to replace Mauk or Melling (whoever's more tired and less effective late in the game). Definitely have the cattle, and will have more players back by Thursday. As Gaurccio said post-match, the 1st half against Newcastle was exactly the gameplan they are pursuing--pro-active defence with pressing, possession and lots of shots at goal. Time to start producing the gameplan over more than 1 half of football.

It's interesting that as a player in Italy JvS was suspended for several matches for challenging what the coach wanted the team to do... Anyway, in addition to the issues of recruiting injured players, injury management - I'm getting somewhat suspicious about the long times that certain players are apparently still "injured" - do they really want to come back?, curious squad selections and bench management, I think it's pretty clear that once again there are dressing room issues within the club. As there were back in S1 with Simon Colosimo. "I don't think it will surprise anyone to say I didn't get along with the coach. We didn't see eye to eye. Don't get me wrong, I love playing great football, but I want to be fighting for the title. John (Van't Schip) said I could leave, but then he reneged on it." The Perth and Newcastle matches were huge opportunities for us. We blew both. Not good enough.

I think JVS is instructing this, but it appears Paddy is ignoring instructions from JVS. During the game vs Newcastle I heard JVS instructing Paddy K to spread wide when Sorensen had possession for Paddy to wave him off dismissively. This also occurred with Willo ignoring JVSs repeated screams for him to push up wide. It is quite clear that JVS lacks the man management skills to either command the player and/or sell his game plan to them.

i think you should be doing English going by that post

Wow, was exactly thinking this today

He's a cluey fuk... He recruits injury prone players knowing full well that he can always have the 'too many players out injured' excuse as a reason why we lose games. There's always an excuse for this guy. We just need to start with someone new who won't take any excuses for shit.

Mauk's good but a real stretch to say after a few games he should be picked ahead of Koren. Still believe Koren can feed the Tuna more quality. For mine though, I'd have them interchangeable each game as I don't think either of them can play a full 90. That way Bruno won't have to play isolated for half a game.

Really? Unless it was Sky blues or tards I wouldn't hesitate to pick Koren. Mauk needs to take his fitness more seriously.

Not a 90 minute player yet, but Mauk's producing some quality football ATM. 2 goals in 3 A-League matches, whilst showing an excellent first touch and composure on the ball, together with excellent forward runs and end-product in attack. His last goal showcased what he can do: With Mauk playing like he is ATM, it'll be interesting what happens when Koren is fit enough to play..

bring in jose

cc: Strider

He's probably on notice, so JVS will throw us a bone and buy himself another 2-3 weeks. Seen it all before.

I'm beginning to think that if anything we were under-hyped going into the season.

I have been saying JVS is a terrible coach since our first season. Certainly not going to change my option if we win this game .

I know this thread is a joke but I am so fucking annoyed about last night I will actually make a serious comment. For those who have been blaming the squad for our lack of success over the years, last nights game is a great example of how a good coach can turn an average squad into a competitive one. But a good squad cant turn an average coach into a competitive one.

would prefer Obafemi Martins

I've seen some jaw dropping Heart / City moments in my time. Engelaar's goal in our own half, Terra's bicycle kick, but the double substitution at 55 minutes just had me gobsmacked. It was obvious to a few of us watching that Mauk had run out of legs at 50 minutes, and Melling was starting to struggle but still gut-running as he does. At 55 minutes it was clear the midfield shape was gone - Melling sitting too deep and Mauk too far forward to the strikers, and with Carney dropping sporadically into the middle we were struggling - or should I say overrun. It just begged to be addressed. And the solution - take off the forward line that had pressed and created (and for all the Williams haters out there - he worked hard both ways) for two youngsters including one out of position (and watch the lack of defensive tracking three minutes after they came on for their first goal). Fuck knows what's going on with Paartalu, but to pick a bench with no backup midfielders when you have two youngsters in the middle and one coming back from injury was just suicide - and it turned out to be. And to chase the game - well you couldn't with that bench. So we bomb the ball long over a dysfunctional non-existent midfield to a 1.75m CF with no change in a clearly failing shape. Fuck, put Kisnorbo up there if that's all you got! You can talk about ticker in the players, you can talk about fitness, you can talk about youth failing, but what happened tonight has to be blamed on the coaching staff and only the coaching staff. After the FFA Cup debacle managerially, surely this has to stop. I'm done - JVS has to go to circuit break this cultural rot. 180 km round trip and three disappointed kids in the car and one severely pissed off adult. Fuck this is getting harder each year.

Willing to try it

Only if you knock out the existing capo and steal his mega, it's the ultraz way

We won the NYL last seseason. That's on par with the W-League in my eyes.

I didn't try sorry. So much stuff going on but is one of my favorite chants

Nice and simple, I like it.