bt50

Im probably confident enough in us that i view more games as more likely to win it as it reduces the likelihood of a banana skin result determining your fate. I also dont think any of the other sides are that good that they'll win more than 7/8 of their final 10/12 games. I think if we win 9 of our last 12 then we'll probably do it by 6 or so points tbh.

It's fine to discuss it and theres obviously a relevance to it for the clubs particularly. But to me it just seems that many people seem to put this disproportionate focus on crowds and membership numbers like theyre some sort of badge, rather than actually focusing on the football and atmosphere. I know some people will immediately try to link atmosphere to crowds numbers but i dont think theyre mutually exclusive; as was previously mentioned Yarraside often ran with smaller crowd numbers than we have in the City era yet the atmosphere was second to none. Bigger crowds help on average sure, but to suggest bigger crowds always equals better atmosphere is incorrect imo.

This is the game. Win this and the belief that we go on with it will permeate through absolutely everyone. FWIW i did think the Mariners game was a bit of a glass ceiling too but this one will leave no doubts imo.

FWIW this one is wrong. Talking City have taken over pre-match and half time coverage this season with analysis and preview type stuff.

Now im no conspiracy theorist, but theres not a snowflakes chance in hell that COVID didnt leak from that lab in Wuhan. COVID is Chernobyl 2.0 for sure.

They were brilliant, but the crowds weren't actually much, if at all higher. They were just concentrated into the active area. FWIW Mooy days was Melburnians, who started well but ran out of gas after a couple seasons.

Keep winning. Get the fan engagement basics right (which imo we have REALLY improved on in the past couple seasons.) Restore the wider interest to the league by getting TV, media and streaming deals right. Other than that, just enjoy it. I've never got the obsession with crowds and members by the punters. It's a weird thing that people hang their hat on imo, just enjoy the experience on the day.

I tend to be more subscriptive to this view too. We're playing beautiful football and getting results. That's not to say we're legoman and everything is awesome, cos its not, we've definitely still got plenty we can improve on but i think a lot of people seem to lack perspective when they make criticism's too. Last night, and Western for that matter were still two pretty damn good performances we generated 57 shots over two games. I'd suggest thats never been done before in the history of the A League. This is far and away our best form and results-window in our clubs history. Our finishing is clearly a bit off at the minute and i think we can be a little bit guilty of trying to walk it into the net on occasion, our reactivity last night cost us goals and threatened more, but overall the performance is there. Last night was less about physical fatigue in my view, as we were still covering the ground pretty damn well for the 90 minutes, but more about the mental side of things. Sloppy touches under no pressure and being a bit more automatically reactive rather than stepping ahead of the game were signs to me of players who are physically up to it, but perhaps a bit mentally drained after a block of games in a short period. I was pretty hard on PK on the back of the three losses, but im actually prepared to defend his lack of using the bench a bit here; we have clearly been dominating general play and creating bulk chances so i totally understand why anyone would want to mess with a winning formula. I definitely don't agree with making changes for changes sake; there needs to be a reason to do it in the context of winning the match. In saying that, the young boys coming on last night was clearly invigorating for the team and we instantly reaped the rewards. Hopefully they do build their own confidence, and PK's confidence in them as well and kick on with it, subs that scare the opposition as much as starters are a rare privilege in this league. Agree this will be the likely result when Jamo is back. Garrucio is a solid A League player imo, but theres no doubt an attacking weapon like Natty is exceptionally hard to replace.

Noone by so far its not funny, fuck me he was good tonight. Nabbout and Flo def honourable mentions but holey moley, a fit and firing Noone with Jmac and Nabbout is nearly unstoppable.

Legitimately think this was one of the greatest moments in our clubs history. When ex-players, staff etc are ever asked to describe why one club left a lasting impression etc, moments like this are far more integral than trophies and awards imo.

Must have really jacked off fellow commuters.😡

https://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/news/match-report-city-2-0-central-coast

Bit unfair tbh, Galekovic did win the best and fairest that season.

Metcalfe for me but honorable mentions for Noone, Good and Jamo who were all outstanding. Not a bad player once again.

Curious, on what basis? If hand is outside of the natural shape then its clearly a handball isn't it. IFAB have made it crystal clear that reaction time is irrelevant and unless it comes off another part of his body i can't see how its not given.

Total fuck up imo. I'd love to know what their angle for denying the pen was, cos i sure as hell can't find it.

Even then, some of the hardest football nuts are clueless sometimes haha

Dont disagree with any of that, but theres also a lot of fans who wouldnt understand what was tactically happening a game either, even some of us that profess to know what were talking about I agree that the coaches player in the AFL is arguably the best award in terms of reflecting actual performance although id suggest there still a case that defenders can get slightly overlooked, especially when it comes to the opposition.

Yeh exactly. Clearly it didnt necessarily reward consistency cos Castro took 8 or 9 games to get going, but he was very clearly excellent in that second half of the season that year, and his peers agreed. And tbh the players hes playing with and against are probably far better judges than us mug fans

not 100% sure to be honest, but that was definitely the case that season because i went to the club Player of the Year award and one of them was explaining it to me. Last seasons article on aleague.com.au disclosed this : Diamanti received 34 points from a panel that included former professional players, technical experts, match officials and media representatives. He was followed by Milos Ninkovic (Sydney FC – 28 points) and Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City FC – 25 points) with Diego Castro (Perth Glory – 23 points) and Ulises Dávila (Wellington Phoenix – 23 points) in equal fourth place. And the corresponding ftbl.com article : The Johnny Warren Medal is based on regular-season form, with former NSL and A-League players, the particular game's match officials, FFA technical staff and members of the media each voting on a 3-2-1 basis on all 143 games. Those votes are tallied and independently audited, with the player(s) who accrue(s) the most votes named the winner.

Actually the voting system that season was a player led vote, and they voted 3 times, at rounds 9, 18 & 27. Castro started shit and basically didnt poll in the first block but took full points in the second two phases. It was enough to pip both Bruno and Mooy who were a smidgen behind. Wierd system tbh but nevertheless, guess he was effectively the players choice

Stay tuned 👀

I don't necessarily disagree with any of that, but i can also sympathize with the view of bedding in a first XI and becoming a well oiled machine too. I think its fair to say Sydney's approach over the last five years (not so much this year) has been very first XI/squad of 14 focused and its been hard for anyone below that to break in.

Im not really someone that cares too much about crowds as a general rule, but they drew less than 400 more than us this weekend. Tide is turning.