Mr MO

Is this the longest drought period in his career? I think I’ve mentioned it before, JMAC is captain now (wrongfully so) and something is brewing behind the scenes in terms of relationships and contract - I think Vidmar doesn’t want to put anymore oil on the fire. Not scoring and not being able assist the forward line with ball on feet is costly when the game needs it. Most CBs have him easily covered nowadays, there was a time he was double guarded creating space elsewhere. We have other issues as well of course this is just one of them.

A draw and Leckie coming off injury free would be our best outcome.

Honestly can we just stop giving the ball to Talbot in the forward half.

Not convinced about Jeggo yet, gets outmuscled a fair bit, second in most tackles and just wants the easy passes. On a technical level this is a downgrade to Sahki. Jeggo atm is too similar to Urka.

Yeah good shot at the end, but really rusty like he doesn't expect the opponents to be so close to him and then being bit easy on the pass and ball, means most get turned over.

If you mean JMAC, we would have a couple more looks on the break with a little better ball control.

Tilio and Galloway way too many turnovers in these first 30 minutes. Jeggo is looks very light for this DM role. If it wasn't for Leckie we would have not left our own half. Victory are setting up very well, we struggle to put some meaningfull passes together.

By bringing an attacking player in the midfield could certainly help with tidying up our midfield.

That’s the onfield leadership we are talking about: being vocal and time the presses accordingly.

4 weeks for saying to the ref that it will be covered in the media that the referee isn’t doing his job.

How do you see building a system around one player? Also screams that we missing good leadership on the field, perhaps with Jamo he was talking and coordination more infield.

That’s only a yellow card offense IMO.

Lam departure was publicized straight after the GF, almost in the same articles as VdV. Are you saying the CFG didn’t have time and then signed Soups? I don’t have the calendars in front of me but it seemed there was plenty of time there. Atkinson and Bos didn’t leave around the same time also they play on opposite wings, I’m failing to see the mitigation factor in the clubs favour here. However the signing of Behich was excellent I have no issues there.

On the backline, nobody forced us to sign Young, Behich and Soup. Talbot has gone backwards. Perhaps committing to Reis was one season too many. This is just complacency and under estimating the speed and strength of this league.

Perhaps this is related to facilities etc… For players I understand that we run on a strict budge as you say anything more might not be justified. We are not always being the top spender in the competition as we have an internal cap on marquee players. Often we don’t even know who our marquee players are as they are all of similar quality as the capped designated players. On the justification part, with a little more quality we could have easily earned some of the money back by progressing in the ACL.

In the glimpses we’ve seen he looks more comfortable on the ball, bigger frame to hold up play and good in the air. Not a finished product of course but it’s something we miss up front when the space isn’t there at times. It’s an annoying and complex situation, your aging marquee captain not standing up when needed most and then out of contract. We do have history of not taking JMAC despite being on one leg.

That suits us.

Excellent summary, fully aligned mostly. The only thing I can’t find myself in is that we keep saying JMAC needs more support; also last night he got his opportunities he just doesn’t put them away. I know he can’t do anything wrong for many but have our marquee expectations dropped so low we only want him to walk the ball into the goal? He’s is just out of form, this is costly for the team if you can’t contribute in open play much.

Comments on last night match below. Vidmar concluded that the team wasn’t competitive! https://sportoclock.co.uk/melbourne-city/star-striker-goal-drought-least-of-melbourne-city-fans-concerns/?fbclid=IwAR1fS7DLg7-N7k0VLznn5aw1tMUgfmSiFWywG9ooml8nFUecsAvt-MIcPQA_aem_AT-ZHADJNBZTluh2IMZGzLN6VfFXv_kmeFnYKAXHy0Y8QJ04CMbks8fdAdl_2OmGKQI

Correct and the core players who do play are past their best but we still see wrong comments that our list is the best in the league so it must be our coach or some other factor with the team. The only thing you can be really critical on is the recruitment, transfer strategy and youth development - perhaps one should be tougher to Petrillo.

Maybe we are just spoiled and have over performed looking at our budget restrictions and sustainability rules as set out by the CFG. Through covid times we managed to keep a decent squad together, a good mix between young and old, at a good age. Whilst other teams could not do this, it resulted in City becoming a the dominant benchmark. Now time and age as well as the league has caught up with us. I’m afraid real change will only come when players like Good, Maclaren, Leckie, Nabbout etc and this whole bunch of older players have departed.

The league was a lot weaker and our squad younger, it’s hard to draw comparisons. I agree I don’t know what’s going. JMAC playing guarantee in the contract? Perhaps Vidmar doesn’t want to escalate things further. Then you haven’t watch Nabbout often enough.

It’s a bit of both, trouble at the club is just a consequence. We are just stuck in the past, complacent with historical achievements without recognizing what’s happening around us. Our core players are all in their 30s with the youth players not be being at the level you see at other clubs. There was no pressure on them home game either, they just missed and were unlucky perhaps. we were lethal then now it’s the other way around. The balance is restored.

Well it makes a little sense. New midfield, don’t think these guys have ever played together. Three of the back players have not been regular starters. JMAC is not an option in build play. Nabbout and Natel try to cross to imaginary players in the box and no other options going forward.

The same as in the home game against them except this time they converted pretty much everything - every ball just flies in.