belaguttman Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 1 hour ago, rass said: Probably the best I've seen us play without taking all 3 points. For a team sitting 3rd or whatever and at home, i thought WSW were pathetic. Guess the result is the only thing that matters in the end but they were totally shithouse, as the stats prove. And contrary to the commentary, their defence was woeful. No structure or skill; just a bunch of big blokes sitting deep and trying to fill up space. Then hopefully get a long ball out and pray Borello outsprints his opponent. If people think Rudan is a good coach, they're clueless. Any other day and we could have put 6 past them. WSW set out to not lose at home, and in that respect, they did pretty well. A little more luck though and we could have won 3-1, sometimes that happens. In the old days though, we would have lost that game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 My feeling is that wastefulness of scoring chances had been building up under PK's leadership and had become systemic. 30+ shots for one goal is just not good enough. I'm hopeful that Rado can tweak the way we play to address this. IMO we really need someone on the bench like Rafa who could come on when JMac is having an off day, and there wasn't anyone like that on today's bench. Nabbout is notoriously wasteful, and Berenguer just doesn't have the pace. That said, let's not complain too much. We were away to the third-placed side and playing in less than desirable weather conditions and we've come away with a point. As @belaguttman says, in the old days we would have lost once we went behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewConvert Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 8 hours ago, jw1739 said: My feeling is that wastefulness of scoring chances had been building up under PK's leadership and had become systemic. 30+ shots for one goal is just not good enough. I'm hopeful that Rado can tweak the way we play to address this. IMO we really need someone on the bench like Rafa who could come on when JMac is having an off day, and there wasn't anyone like that on today's bench. Nabbout is notoriously wasteful, and Berenguer just doesn't have the pace. That said, let's not complain too much. We were away to the third-placed side and playing in less than desirable weather conditions and we've come away with a point. As @belaguttman says, in the old days we would have lost once we went behind. Regarding the "old days", my Melbourne Heart therapist is trying to make peace with the past and move on. Things are different now and I don't need to compare today to an ear that lies in the past. I am trying but this forum is not helping... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr MO Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 1 hour ago, NewConvert said: Regarding the "old days", my Melbourne Heart therapist is trying to make peace with the past and move on. Things are different now and I don't need to compare today to an ear that lies in the past. I am trying but this forum is not helping... I have mostly good memories of Melbourne Heart. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bt50 Posted January 15, 2023 Report Share Posted January 15, 2023 Unlucky not to get three, reckon that was close to as well as we've played all season. Putting some good stuff out there under Rado since the Sydney game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 What i think should be highlighted is that the WSW goal was very good. They played it out from the back quickly and incisively. The ball into Najjarine and then the weight of the pass he played was excellent. These are the sort of goals that should be recognised, even when they go against your team, as they demonstrate that the A-league has moments of real quality. For that reason I don't feel hard done by with the result. I'd much rather yesterday's game than have drawn because of a blunder at the back or a lucky deflection. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belaguttman Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 17 hours ago, jw1739 said: IMO we really need someone on the bench like Rafa who could come on when JMac is having an off day, and there wasn't anyone like that on today's bench. Does anyone know what is going on with Max Caputo? He's been on the injury list for the whole season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haz Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 5 hours ago, belaguttman said: Does anyone know what is going on with Max Caputo? He's been on the injury list for the whole season Last I saw it was a knee injury, so I'm guessing he has done an ACL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belaguttman Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 On 16/1/2023 at 8:31 PM, haz said: Last I saw it was a knee injury, so I'm guessing he has done an ACL. Should we be looking for an injury-replacement striker? Otherwise, we'd have to move Leckie away from the wing if Jmac was injured or suspended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HughJass Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 38 minutes ago, belaguttman said: Should we be looking for an injury-replacement striker? Otherwise, we'd have to move Leckie away from the wing if Jmac was injured or suspended In the tarneit match Nabbout went up front when Jamie got subbed off so that's anoyher option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bt50 Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 Given we have Tilio, Nabbout and Leckie, and the latter two have both played up front for the Socceroos, then im more than content with not worrying about an injury replacement. We also have Rafa in the wings, and tbh i dont know that youre getting anyone remotely useful for the 60 oddk, if that, that Caputo is on. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 17, 2023 Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 1 hour ago, bt50 said: Given we have Tilio, Nabbout and Leckie, and the latter two have both played up front for the Socceroos, then im more than content with not worrying about an injury replacement. We also have Rafa in the wings, and tbh i dont know that youre getting anyone remotely useful for the 60 oddk, if that, that Caputo is on. Sulemani isn't so bad when he gets forward either. https://melbournecityfc.com.au/videos/id/scholarship-signing-arion-sulemani-highlights/6308936216112 I'm not even sure that the rules permit injury replacements for Scholarship players? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommykins Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 I think in terms of the youth setup there's a chance that Sulemani has supplanted Caputo as the best forward in the youth system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fensaddler Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 7 hours ago, Tommykins said: I think in terms of the youth setup there's a chance that Sulemani has supplanted Caputo as the best forward in the youth system. I'm looking forward to seeing him. I've only seen him for 20 minutes in an NPL game in Ballarat before he went off injured. I think he'd already got one by then.... But I gather he's useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewConvert Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 I s Rafa a #9? I don't have an issue with playing Nabbout or Leckie as a #9 if there is an injury to JMac but they are not out and out #9s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 2 hours ago, NewConvert said: I s Rafa a #9? I don't have an issue with playing Nabbout or Leckie as a #9 if there is an injury to JMac but they are not out and out #9s. I believe that he is. Has a goal to his credit in his limited minutes so far. IMO a very fluid and mobile player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Hack Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 In the NPL set up he plays more as an AM with Caputo as the striker. Look at there goals in NPL level, 21 from 26 games for Caputo and 9 from 20 with Rafa. I reckon he plays more like an AM as well, a little bit of incisive passing rather than an out and out shot taker. He really needs to play some games this year, I wonder if it's worthwhile loaning him out to somewhere like we did with Moudi Najjar and can really work out if he has the grade 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belaguttman Posted January 19, 2023 Report Share Posted January 19, 2023 4 hours ago, NewConvert said: I s Rafa a #9? I don't have an issue with playing Nabbout or Leckie as a #9 if there is an injury to JMac but they are not out and out #9s. The problem with playing Leckie as a #9 is that we lose his effectiveness as a wide player. The emphasis these days is on players that can play multiple positions: there's a place for that and it's important, but there's also some value in a specialist #9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bt50 Posted January 19, 2023 Report Share Posted January 19, 2023 36 minutes ago, belaguttman said: The problem with playing Leckie as a #9 is that we lose his effectiveness as a wide player. The emphasis these days is on players that can play multiple positions: there's a place for that and it's important, but there's also some value in a specialist #9 Sure, but if its just for a game or two then we can make do. If Jmac goes down with something more serious, then we can use the injury replacement rules to bring in a more credentialed striker for a more appropriate amount of money. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rass Posted January 19, 2023 Report Share Posted January 19, 2023 47 minutes ago, bt50 said: Sure, but if its just for a game or two then we can make do. If Jmac goes down with something more serious, then we can use the injury replacement rules to bring in a more credentialed striker for a more appropriate amount of money. Leckie, in particular in this league, can play anywhere in the front half. He's probably our best #10 when he moves into that position. Can easily play as a hold up #9 (strong and technical), fast enough as an off the shoulder #9 and can out jump most defenders and is a great header. Great asset. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belaguttman Posted January 19, 2023 Report Share Posted January 19, 2023 19 minutes ago, rass said: Leckie, in particular in this league, can play anywhere in the front half. He's probably our best #10 when he moves into that position. Can easily play as a hold up #9 (strong and technical), fast enough as an off the shoulder #9 and can out jump most defenders and is a great header. Great asset. Absolutely, my point, though is that the replacements in his position are less effective, lessening the effectiveness of the team. We should be giving our JMac successor more game time now so that he's ready to step up 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewConvert Posted January 19, 2023 Report Share Posted January 19, 2023 4 hours ago, bt50 said: Sure, but if its just for a game or two then we can make do. If Jmac goes down with something more serious, then we can use the injury replacement rules to bring in a more credentialed striker for a more appropriate amount of money. If it's during the game we can make do. If JMac is not available I would rather have Leckie out wide or as a #10. I also noticed that no one else is talking about Nabbout or Tilio as a makeshift #9. Which tells me that no one thinks that is a realistic position for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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