17/18 HAL Round 25 | Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City | Sun 1st Apr 2018 5:00pm

[Jeterpool]

A-League 2017/18 Round 25 Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City

FIXTURE FACTS

Overall – 23 matches between the two teams.
Jets Wins - 9, City Wins - 10, Drawn - 4


In Newcastle – 12 matches.
Jets Wins - 7, City Wins - 4, Drawn - 1
In Melbourne - 11 matches
Jets Wins - 2, City Wins - 6, Drawn - 3

Average Home A-League Crowd – 9378
Average Away A-League Crowd - 7251

Goals in Fixture
Jets – 34, City - 45
In Newcastle -
Jets – 20, City - 19

1st Goals in Fixture
Jets – 12, City - 11

Cards in Fixture
Jets - 64 (63 yellow, 1 red), City 40 (38 yellow, 2 red)

Recent Form (A-League)
Jets - DWWWL (10 point from last 15)
City - LLLDW (4 points from last 15)

Leading Scorers
Jets - Andrew Nabbout (10)
City – Ross McCormack (14)

Last Result -
Newcastle Jets 2 (Topor-Stanley 3', Hoffman 70') - Melbourne City 2 (Arzani 43' pen, Vidosic 82') at AAMI Park, A-League, Round 18, Season 2017/18

Starting line-ups from Last Meeting in Season 2017/18 Round 18

Newcastle JetsMelbourne City
Jack DuncanDean Bouzanis
Daniel GeorgievskiManny Muscat
Nigel BoogaardHarrison Delbridge
Nikolai Topor-StanleyMichael Jakobsen
Ivan VujicaScott Jamieson
Steven UgarkovicOsama Malik
Ben KantarovskiLuke Brattan
Patricio RodriguezStefan Mauk
Joe ChampnessDario Vidosic
Andrew NabboutMacin Budzinski
Jason HoffmanDaniel Arzani



FIXTURE RECORDS


Biggest Win

Jets 3 (Goodwin 56’, Zadkovich 52’, R Griffith 87’ pen) – City 0, Round 19, Season 2011/12 at Hunter Stadium, 11/02/2012.

Heaviest Defeat

Jets 0 – City 4 (Jaliens 18', Novillo 47', Williams 63', Ramsay 87') at AAMI Park, A-League, Round 21, 14/03/2015, Jets 0 - City 4 (Mooy 43', Fornaroli 56', Mooy 59', Fornaroli 62') at Hunter Stadium, A-League, Round 10, 13/12/15 and Jets 0 - City 4 (Cahill 12', Fitzgerald 65', Fornaroli 75' pen, Fornaroli 81') at AAMI Park, A-League, Round 23 18/3/2017

Leading Scorers in fixture –


Jets - Ryan Griffiths (6)
City - Bruno Fornaroli (8)



2017/18 SEASON STATISTICS

NumberNameAppearancesStartsSubbed OnSubbed offMinutes PlayedGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed Cards
1Jack Duncan15150013500000
3Jason Hoffman21192716575131
4Nigel Boogaard21210118821020
5Ben Kantarovski19172415445050
6Steven Ugarkovic24240421131310
7Dimitri Petratos22220519629820
8Ronald Vargas54142880100
9Roy O'Donovan1110138177231
10Wayne Brown1911889480040
11Patricio Rodriguez86245721300
12Mario Shabow7070900010
13Ivan Vujica19172215200250
15Andrew Nabbout222208190210740
16Nick Cowburn80801560000
17Daniel Georgievski16160412721270
18John Koutroumbis105524632020
19Kosta Petratos4040270000
20Glen Moss99008100000
22Lachlan Jackson104614230000
23Devante Clut5141590000
24Joe Champness221391111304110
27Riley McGree74314361000
32Angus Thurgate6060930000
44Nikolai Topor-Stanley24240021601140



COACHING

Coaches Head to Head – 2 matches
Ernie Merrick - 0 wins, Warren Joyce - 1 win, 1 draw

Newcastle Jets A-League Coaching Records –

Ernie Merrick - 2 matches (0 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss = 0% win ratio)
Mark Jones - 3 matches (1 win, 0 drawn, 2 losses = 33% win ratio)
Scott Miller - 3 matches (2 wins, 0 drawn, 1 loss = 67% win ratio)
Phil Stubbins - 3 matches (0 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses = 0% win ratio)
Gary Van Egmond – 7 matches (3 wins, 1 drawn and 3 losses = 43% win ratio)
Richard Money - No matches
Branko Culina – 3 matches (1 win, 1 drawn, 1 loss = 33% win ratio)
Nick Theodorakopoulos - No matches
Craig Deans - 1 Match (1 win, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)
Clayton Zane – 1 match (1 win, 0 drawn, 0 losses = 100% win ratio)

Melbourne City Coach Record – Warren Joyce 50% win ratio (1 win, 1 draw, 0 losses)



TALKING POINTS:

General

The Jets secured 2nd spot following Victory's 1-0 loss to Perth.
This fixture has provided, on average, 4 goals per game over the last 10.
The two Sunday Jets home games this season have been draws.
City have defeated the Jets 4-0 once in each of the last 3 seasons.



Key Stats from Previous Round

This was the first match the Jets have lost by greater than 2 goals.
Ben Kantarovski has scored 5 goals this season, more than doubling his tally from the previous 9 seasons.
Bruno Fornaroli has scored in 5 consecutive matches against the Jets. He's scored 7 goals during that time.
The Jets scored in their 24th consecutive A-League match.



Players

Jason Hoffman is the 9th player to reach 100 A-League appearances for the Jets.
Daniel Georgievski is 1 yellow card from receiving a 1 week suspension.
Mateo Poljak was the last Jets played to score in April - the final goal in the 4-2 thrashing of the Mariners in 2016.



Newcastle Jets

The Jets have opened the scoring against City in the last 3 home games, and 7 of the last 9.
Newcastle have won 8, drawn 2 and lost 2 at home this season. One loss was to City.
The Jets have scored over 2 goals per home game, while conceding less than 1 goal per match.
However, they've had an average of 47% possession at home this season.



Melbourne City

City haven't been kept scoreless in 11 matches against the Jets.

[Jeterpool]

Slightly rushed preview this week - A little bit on, sorry.

[Grimario]

Lose
Season over

[leftrightout]

Could be an absolute cracker of a game.
Roy back in will be huge, will Dimi be back?
Given we have nothing to play for except our best front 4 getting game time before semis, he will probably start on the bench depending on when he gets home.

City starting to get players back on the park are looking pretty strong now.

[Jeterpool]

Could be an absolute cracker of a game.
Roy back in will be huge, will Dimi be back?
Given we have nothing to play for except our best front 4 getting game time before semis, he will probably start on the bench depending on when he gets home.

City starting to get players back on the park are looking pretty strong now.

I think we need to build momentum and confidence - Ernie will start building. Remember the run we went on back end of '08? 3 wins onthe trot as we headed into the finals.

Dimi is expected to be back. Game is in London so flights shouldn't be an issue and I reckon he'd get business class.

[Jetmaster]

I think we need to build momentum and confidence - Ernie will start building. Remember the run we went on back end of '08? 3 wins onthe trot as we headed into the finals.

Dimi is expected to be back. Game is in London so flights shouldn't be an issue and I reckon he'd get business class.

Good chance he will just be on the bench tonight and may not get a run at all - Bert would have seen enough the other night and has others to look at.

[Couscous]

Remember the run we went on back end of '08?

It'll be interesting to compare Ernie to GVE. Both did well (thus far) with a squad others thought was mediocre.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

We've looked shit across the park the last two weeks. Nothing makes me think anything different will happen this week. Maybe slightly better upfront with Roy.

Thinking a draw or a loss by a goal. Our defense is just too shit without Boogs.

[StannyCFCJET]

Need goals from Roy stat

[Alton]

We've looked shit across the park the last two weeks. Nothing makes me think anything different will happen this week. Maybe slightly better upfront with Roy.

Thinking a draw or a loss by a goal. Our defense is just too shit without Boogs.

FFS what about an injury replacement??

[Jetmaster]

FFS what about an injury replacement??

As Dave said in the pod, Boogs injury may not qualify and there is not really enough time to get someone up to speed.

[Grimario]

As Dave said in the pod, Boogs injury may not qualify and there is not really enough time to get someone up to speed.

May not qualify?!?!?!?!?!? How the **** does a season ending broken leg not qualify under IR rules?

[Superdylan]

Thank **** we are back at home.

Abit of attacking depth back this week will be huge.

We need to build some momentum before the finals and get back to the goal scoring form we had earlier in the season. We've won too many ugly games this year its time to change that.

[hawk]

We've looked shit across the park the last two weeks. Nothing makes me think anything different will happen this week. Maybe slightly better upfront with Roy.

Thinking a draw or a loss by a goal. Our defense is just too shit without Boogs.

This.

Plus our plan is to ruck it up for 5 then kick on the last till semis. House on Citeh

[plague]

City gonna teach us a lesson. Will be a turgid poop of a game.
Don't go if you've got Easter eggs to find.

Whtevs the score just bet the under.

[380]

Got a bad feeling. Heart played some of there best football all season last weekend.

[StannyCFCJET]

Got a bad feeling. Heart played some of there best football all season last weekend.

We will bounce back. We're not second for nothing

[Jeterpool]

May not qualify?!?!?!?!?!? How the **** does a season ending broken leg not qualify under IR rules?

It's only season ending because of how few games there are left. His injury was estimated at 8 weeks. Needs to be 10+ to qualify.

The only option is to use the squad spot vacated by nabbout

[Jeterpool]

The general negativity has me surprised. We've played some poor football for a few weeks after we've played a game against Sydney so this run comes, to me, as no surprise.
We've played 4 if the last 5 in the road as well so getting the player back home with a 9 day break could because is ordered.
I'm also not prepared to write Jackson off after one poor game. It's unfair to blame it all on him when the midfield was so poor in the last match.

In terms of shots conceded, last week wasn't the worst in the last few weeks. Adelaide were certain more accurate than other teams but we've been allowing plenty of chances and that's down to our attacking style of play.

It surprised me people are seemingly ready to.write off our season.

[The Dunster]

All I ever wanted from the Jets was for them to play attacking football - and scoring in 24 games straight is proof enough they have achieved it.

Absolutely no complaints about this team or the way they play from me.

I still think we are the team to beat come finals time and have no issues with Bert simply using the last few games of the regular season to get us ready to win the grand final.

We will miss Boogs no doubt but if the forwards put on a show come finals time we can score three or more against anyone.

[cobra23]

there is a decent FULLBACK at Azzurri who will do a great job..

[Frodo]

The general negativity has me surprised. We've played some poor football for a few weeks after we've played a game against Sydney so this run comes, to me, as no surprise.
We've played 4 if the last 5 in the road as well so getting the player back home with a 9 day break could because is ordered.
I'm also not prepared to write Jackson off after one poor game. It's unfair to blame it all on him when the midfield was so poor in the last match.

In terms of shots conceded, last week wasn't the worst in the last few weeks. Adelaide were certain more accurate than other teams but we've been allowing plenty of chances and that's down to our attacking style of play.

It surprised me people are seemingly ready to.write off our season.

I am thinking it's gonna be a goal fest. Throw defence out the window and just run at them all game until we knock the door down and put 4 past them.. After we have already conceded 3 ourselves.

We've locked in 2nd place, all Ernie needs to do in the next couple of weeks is the following;

- Get Roy scoring again. Easy enough, if he scores 1 he will be banging them in for fun again.
- Get Vargas and Pato into the squad and fully fit. Work out the best way to play them, whether that means both playing or one off the bench so be it.
- Sort out the communication between Jackson and Topor. Make them sleep in the same bed for the next few weeks if he needs to. They need to cover each others weaknesses better. That has been Topor and Boogs strong points this year.

Nothing too hard to work out. Let's start booking our GF tickets.

[Jetmaster]

So Kanta in Boogs spot this weekend even though Brown is out to cover his midfield spot.

Not sure if I agree with this sort of tinkering so close to the finals.

[StannyCFCJET]

So Kanta in Boogs spot this weekend even though Brown is out to cover his midfield spot.

Not sure if I agree with this sort of tinkering so close to the finals.

Some thing had to change Jackson has looked out of sorts

[Jetmaster]

Some thing had to change Jackson has looked out of sorts

I don't like the idea of breaking up the Kanta/Ugar partnership for the season - would be like Sydney putting Brillante at right back. If it is a one off though I can live with it.

[StannyCFCJET]

I don't like the idea of breaking up the Kanta/Ugar partnership for the season - would be like Sydney putting Brillante at right back. If it is a one off though I can live with it.

Who else plays CB but?

[Grimario]

Johnny K


Why does everyone forget about one of the few shining lights from our disastrous last season?

[Macca]

So Kanta in Boogs spot this weekend even though Brown is out to cover his midfield spot.

Not sure if I agree with this sort of tinkering so close to the finals.

Have to tinker, as the current solution isn't good enough. Even in Brown's absence, McGree could probably step into DM alongside UG (or Cowburn possibly).

Ernie needs to sort out the defence, which has been very leaky the last two weeks, but also get some fluidity happening going forward too which has been missing. Arguably the attacking is more important, as that has been our identity this season so far. And especially early in the season, our defence was still pretty ordinary but we scored enough to cover it.

[StannyCFCJET]

Johnny K


Why does everyone forget about one of the few shining lights from our disastrous last season?

Because he hasnt been mentioned as a CB at all under Merrick and there must be a good reason for this

[Jeterpool]

Ernie mind games

[Cunning stunts]

my thoughts how we will line up

IVan
Toppa
Kanta
George

Urg
Mcgree/cowburn

Pato
Vargas
Dimi

Roy

[Couscous]

That is an incredibly lazy front third.

[StannyCFCJET]

That is an incredibly lazy front third.

Agreed Ronnie and Pato's lack of work rate killed us against the reds. I dont think you can have both in the same team

[Cunning stunts]

I Agree, but Merrick did come out saying if Pato is fit he will be starting i just assumed that would be the case for Vargas also with him being our marquee

[StannyCFCJET]

I Agree, but Merrick did come out saying if Pato is fit he will be starting i just assumed that would be the case for Vargas also with him being our marquee

Then Roy Mcgree and Dimi need to work twice has hard off the ball as well as our midfield

[mic22]

Johnny K


Why does everyone forget about one of the few shining lights from our disastrous last season?

Wasn't that hard to look like a shining light last season...

[Jetmaster]

According to Fox publicity tonight the games this weekend are George v Wanderers and Arzani v Jets.

[plague]

According to Fox publicity tonight the games this weekend are George v Wanderers and Arzani v Jets.

All trash.

[hawk]

According to Fox publicity tonight the games this weekend are George v Wanderers and Arzani v Jets.

Its just newcastle v Nobodys

Journo grubs need some bottle and call it for what it is.

[Mark325]

Cowburn has been put in the starting 11, presumably in the midfield. Big game for him, if he impresses he could earn a spot going into the finals

[StannyCFCJET]

Cowburn has been put in the starting 11, presumably in the midfield. Big game for him, if he impresses he could earn a spot going into the finals

If Kanta does well at CB agreed

[Hunter403]

Hope Ivan is feeling fit. That Arzani kid is a shed load faster

[Retro Jet]

Far side linesman:
I didn't think they let Hobbits do ref's tickets....

[Hunter403]

Jeez we are living dangerously. That diving bastard Arzani is a real handful

[Hunter403]

Sitting behind Joyce. Everytime Arzani gets it he's yelling "get at him". No prizes for guessing where they think we are weak

[Couscous]

Cheryl Salisbury is so bogan. So Newy.

[Hunter403]

For those at home, did Ivan get him or was it, like most at the ground believe, a dive?

[Hunter403]

Also, is Vargas playing?

[hawk]

The general negativity has me surprised. We've played some poor football for a few weeks after we've played a game against Sydney so this run comes, to me, as no surprise.
We've played 4 if the last 5 in the road as well so getting the player back home with a 9 day break could because is ordered.
I'm also not prepared to write Jackson off after one poor game. It's unfair to blame it all on him when the midfield was so poor in the last match.

In terms of shots conceded, last week wasn't the worst in the last few weeks. Adelaide were certain more accurate than other teams but we've been allowing plenty of chances and that's down to our attacking style of play.

It surprised me people are seemingly ready to.write off our season.

Delusional pandering gets you nowhere. We're playing sh1t.

Plus wtf is the shitcvnt ref? 5000 word intro is a waste without the real info

[The Dunster]

The team hasnt worked since Roy, Pato and Ronnie returned. Blokes that were doing a great job were dropped to fit these guys in - but it does not seem to be working. The confidence looks shot and the potent attack looks to be a fading memory.

Our only hope of playing in the ACL now is SFC winning the grand final.

[The Dunster]

Cowburn has been put in the starting 11, presumably in the midfield. Big game for him, if he impresses he could earn a spot going into the finals

If Cowburn is good enough for a starting role they should fold the club.

He's a squad player at best in any top 4 a-league team.

[Roundball Enthusiast]

We've looked shit across the park the last two weeks. Nothing makes me think anything different will happen this week. Maybe slightly better upfront with Roy.

Thinking a loss by 3-4 goals. Our defense is just too shit without Boogs.

I'll just leave this here, with my revised score prediction.

[Hunter403]

The team hasnt worked since Roy, Pato and Ronnie returned. Blokes that were doing a great job were dropped to fit these guys in - but it does not seem to be working. The confidence looks shot and the potent attack looks to be a fading memory.

Our only hope of playing in the ACL now is SFC winning the grand final.

We haven't been the same since Nabbout left. His loss is huge.

[The Dunster]

We haven't been the same since Nabbout left. His loss is huge.

Agreed.

[MonkeyKplunk]

Is it seeming more and more like we've just swapped Hoole for someone just like him in McGree?

Constant through balls for himself rather than the safer options around him and every time he has the ball and moves forward he turns it over almost instantly.

[Retro Jet]

Musk-kh**t warming up.
Nothing to play for.
Get the winners back Ernie...

[Grimario]

People's chump has been pretty bad tonight.


We'll be one and done in finals playing like this

[The Dunster]

City aren't anything special we are simply not showing up for the contest.

Anyone still doubting Boogs value to the team?

[Hunter403]

No Boogs and we're a basket case at the back. Vargas just not in the game and with him invisible, so is Rot

[The Dunster]

Refs not helping us much as far as pushing in the back and shirt pulling shit city are doing.

[Retro Jet]

lol This game is so rubbish all they can talk about is a players nervous sh!t!

[The Dunster]

Pato seems to have lifted us a bit.

[The Dunster]

Is that Gillet?

[StannyCFCJET]

3 number 10s who all want to play in the middle so they cut infield and we have no width. Vujica and Georgogrvski off form. No partner for NTS who hasnt stepped up in boogs absence and two of those number 10s are luxury players and you need high workers around them which means we need Roy and I think Champess starting

[The Dunster]

Vargas experiment is over. He's not the same player post injury. I'd be reluctant to play him again and would not consider retaining him for next season.

[Retro Jet]

Record over/set.
That's all we'll get from this season.
Hope we beat the sCCuM in two weeks but on that performance, nope.
Personally, I think we peaked v Sh!tney.

[rhysd]

Vargas experiment is over. He's not the same player post injury. I'd be reluctant to play him again and would not consider retaining him for next season.

Someone needs to kick Vargas at training. Do 50-50s, air challenges, landing drills and doggies. He needs confidence in that ankle/leg. At this rate he is earning nothing but a bench spot for next game.

Boogard is a massive loss for us.

[hawk]

I am thinking it's gonna be a goal fest. Throw defence out the window and just run at them all game until we knock the door down and put 4 past them.. After we have already conceded 3 ourselves.

We've locked in 2nd place, all Ernie needs to do in the next couple of weeks is the following;

- Get Roy scoring again. Easy enough, if he scores 1 he will be banging them in for fun again.
- Get Vargas and Pato into the squad and fully fit. Work out the best way to play them, whether that means both playing or one off the bench so be it.
- Sort out the communication between Jackson and Topor. Make them sleep in the same bed for the next few weeks if he needs to. They need to cover each others weaknesses better. That has been Topor and Boogs strong points this year.

Nothing too hard to work out. Let's start booking our GF tickets.

You and Jeterpool need help, fairdinkum. The excuses for our rubbish football is terrible

[The Dunster]

We need to set the team up based on form not reputation.

[StannyCFCJET]

Vargas experiment is over. He's not the same player post injury. I'd be reluctant to play him again and would not consider retaining him for next season.

Sadly I agree Pato can go as well

[redwah]

Boogard, Nabbout......enough said

[StannyCFCJET]

Boogard, Nabbout......enough said

Hoffman as well

[MonkeyKplunk]

We just ensured that we'll have to play those pricks in a knockout final in a month.
That's gunna be a fun game

[Mark325]

The whole team just looks flat and lost

Mcgree looks considerably worse then his first couple of games, Pato and Vargas are drastically underperforming and the same can be said for Roy and we can’t pick a pass to save our lives. Ernie needs to really get some sense into this team, we don’t even look like we’re gonna beat the mariners at this rate and if we lose then that then the finals are already over

[Couscous]

Where's the Member

[Jetmaster]

Well that was fun. The thing that shits me is that Fux will write us off and start planning and tipping for a Smurf/City GF.
Aint over yet and we still have time but this is the team I dont want in the final. Their run suggests we will though.

[Jetmaster]

Where's the Member

Plague found him and killed him.

[la bazzle]

Thought Pato was pretty decent hey. Looked keen too

[380]

Thought Pato was pretty decent hey. Looked keen too

This. He looked more keen than some others out there this evening. IMO with the exception of the first 10 mins the only other time we looked likely was when he was introduced.

[StannyCFCJET]

This. He looked more keen than some others out there this evening. IMO with the exception of the first 10 mins the only other time we looked likely was when he was introduced.

Didnt look like that against the nix and Adelaide

[plague]

Plague found him and killed him.

the Member cannot be killed, only stalled long enough to let you escape.

but he will track you down, and he will unleash his takes.

[Jeterpool]

Plus wtf is the shitcvnt ref? 5000 word intro is a waste without the real info

I don't understand, sorry mate. You've lost me.

[Jeterpool]

Record over/set.
That's all we'll get from this season.
Hope we beat the sCCuM in two weeks but on that performance, nope.
Personally, I think we peaked v Sh!tney.

Yeah, I think we played our Grand Final a few weeks ago.

What bothers me is that whoever we play on the semi final will.be coming off a win.

Think we miss Nabbout more than Boogs. He gave us an outlet. That kept their defence back a bit bit he also had the strength to hold it up.

Someone said it before about 3 number 10s playing. There's no width.

Arzani had fun out there today.

Vargas can't be carried. I'd personally be putting Hoff back up top...once gorgeous George serves his suspension

[monz6]

If Cowburn is good enough for a starting role they should fold the club.

He's a squad player at best in any top 4 a-league team.

He is a squad player but? He’s only starting because of injuries. Do you want us to start with 10?

[The Dunster]

He is a squad player but? He’s only starting because of injuries. Do you want us to start with 10?

If you look at the posts here quite a few people believe he should be starting every week. I don't agree with them.

[Jetmaster]

Too late to start tinkering....at finals time we will have the full squad we started with less Nabbout. So the capability is there.

First, keep Kanta and Ugar together with Brown as backup. Keep Roy as he will get goals eventually. Leave Dimi in the 10 with Ronny as the shock tactic.

The issue is centre back and tbh I would just leave Jackson there the rest of the season to build a rapport with Topor. Only option if Johnny K stepped up. George and Hoff once suspensions are served.

Pato, Riley and Joey fight for the other two spots.

Back to basics.

[BP Super Dynamos]

Jetmaster speaks much sense

[Hunter403]

Too late to start tinkering....at finals time we will have the full squad we started with less Nabbout. So the capability is there.

First, keep Kanta and Ugar together with Brown as backup. Keep Roy as he will get goals eventually. Leave Dimi in the 10 with Ronny as the shock tactic.

The issue is centre back and tbh I would just leave Jackson there the rest of the season to build a rapport with Topor. Only option if Johnny K stepped up. George and Hoff once suspensions are served.

Pato, Riley and Joey fight for the other two spots.

Back to basics.

This

[rhysd]

Too late to start tinkering....at finals time we will have the full squad we started with less Nabbout. So the capability is there.

First, keep Kanta and Ugar together with Brown as backup. Keep Roy as he will get goals eventually. Leave Dimi in the 10 with Ronny as the shock tactic.

The issue is centre back and tbh I would just leave Jackson there the rest of the season to build a rapport with Topor. Only option if Johnny K stepped up. George and Hoff once suspensions are served.

Pato, Riley and Joey fight for the other two spots.

Back to basics.

Roy appeared to let the cat out of the bag last night.. appears as though the squad are bracing for imminent return of boogs..

[StannyCFCJET]

Roy appeared to let the cat out of the bag last night.. appears as though the squad are bracing for imminent return of boogs..

Say what?

[StannyCFCJET]

Also disagreed with most of Merricks press conference. Talked like it was a close game and we played well

[rhysd]

Say what?

https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/odonovan-ernies-giving-us-a-good-talking-to-488054

I’d say we will see boogs return for our home semi.

City played for free kicks around our box. A little more experience in that defensive third would have been telling.

3 shots on target from city..

[hawk]

I don't understand, sorry mate. You've lost me.

wanted to know who the ref for that game and couldnt find it in the first post. Important info for punters as certain ones almost ensure results

[hawk]

He is a squad player but? He’s only starting because of injuries. Do you want us to start with 10?

not much difference is there.

Good for a 10 min cameo to save 3pts and not much more. Most of our ressies are of that calibre. Mgree needs more time to gel, like 5yrs

And aerial defence is non existent. probs been said already x1000

[Jeterpool]

wanted to know who the ref for that game and couldnt find it in the first post. Important info for punters as certain ones almost ensure results

Ah right. That info comes out about 2pm Thursday and is listed in the A-League website "Ins and Outs". I don't generally add it anymore - and last week didn't see me get much forum time to list it.

[Jeterpool]

City did exactly what I would have done - put Arzani on Vujica. The free kick that lead to the third goal was soft, but they played for it and got it. We just need to do the same.

Agree Boogs is a massive loss and it will be huge if he is back for the home semi. A massive boost. But last night we had zero pace out wide, let alone any width! That killed us. And our slow ball movement. The times we looked good we moved the ball quickly.

Agree with JM - Kanta needs to play next to UG. His move to CB didn't negate the loss of him in the centre of the park.

Also, against City, we need to do a job on Brattan. He controls their play, their focal point. Shut him and severely hinder them. Pace out wide to make their fullbacks think twice about pushing up. We tried to put Pato on Atkinson, problem was he got double-teamed immediately. We didn't do the same on Arzani.

Roy gpot 13 touches in 90 minutes, Champness 2 in 16. The service to both, Roy in particular, shut us down. Mind you, maybe Roy needs to go looking for it like Nabbout did.

[plague]

Also disagreed with most of Merricks press conference. Talked like it was a close game and we played well

I thought we went ok. Just stuffed up one area

Now we all know Arzani is trash, but the one thing he can do is dribble (pretty much always to nowhere). For some reason we left him open all night for the big switch and there was never any pressure on the player making the pass out to trash boy. Nabbout was always the bloke closing that shot down up top. Someone needs to step up, but Ernie also needs to let em know.

Other than that we weren't as horrid as blokes on here making out. Vargas and Mcgree were looking for the ball, but it all starts with Ugabooga man as it has all year . he isn't at his best and its affecting us big time.

[Mark325]

If you look at the posts here quite a few people believe he should be starting every week. I don't agree with them.

I don't believe he should be starting every week, he's a squad player. But, if we were to commit to Kanta at CB, then this was gonna be a chance for Cowburn to gain a starting spot with Brown possibly out for another week, if he went out there and really impressed, with the way the squad is now he coulda done it. He played like shit, proving he's a squad player.

[380]

This moving Kanta from his more natural position next to Ugar to play at the back with NTS is just creating two dodgy spots on the park. Either persist with Jackson or give Johny K a crack. Moving Kanta is just screwing with two positions.

When Champers came on i would have thought Pato would have moved ( on a official basis not of his own accord LOL ) ) in to the middle of the park and used Champers out wide.

Melbourne City's tactics need to be called out for what they are, Just plain cheating and against the spirit of how we like to see the game played in this country. This having attacking players deliberately running at defenders and throwing there bodies in to them then falling to the ground pleading a free is just down right f&^%(*g horse shit. If this is the extent of Joyce's coaching ability and tactical nous he can piss right off on the next Mother Country Airways flight along with his Roll r roli and that diving cheating prick Arzani. Sadly the powers at FFA are not capable or brave enough to stamp out this shit. That free to Arzani in the first half was just downright embarrassing to the game, himself and the city club. I can recall when Geronimo and Patricio Perez for that matter first started out in the league they were doing this diving crap and were quickly pulled into line by there own clubs and players, These blokes Roll r roli and Arzani seemed to be encouraged and applauded for acting out this way by there club and team mates.

[StannyCFCJET]

I don't believe he should be starting every week, he's a squad player. But, if we were to commit to Kanta at CB, then this was gonna be a chance for Cowburn to gain a starting spot with Brown possibly out for another week, if he went out there and really impressed, with the way the squad is now he coulda done it. He played like shit, proving he's a squad player.

He impressed Merrick according to his presser

[mic22]

I only watched the highlights... but honestly, 3 goals from set pieces - again. What is the total this season? A bit too many...
Comments seems to suggest we were dominated, but it also looks like we had a few chances... was it really that bad?

[MonkeyKplunk]

Also disagreed with most of Merricks press conference. Talked like it was a close game and we played well

I think what Merrick portrays to the media and what he says in the sheds/at training are basically night and day

[Couscous]

I am struggling mentality with our drop in form.

[furns]

I am struggling mentality with our drop in form.
Drink, Bodes

[Couscous]

I can't even spell. I blame Nabbout, and forumites' overestimation of Ernie's coaching prowess.

[Jeterpool]

:rof:
Drink, Bodes

[hawk]

Comments seems to suggest we were dominated, but it also looks like we had a few chances... was it really that bad?

Yep we were dominated but mainly due to our inability to pass and move to create space. So many passes went wrong. it looked like they were playing for the first time together. Players put a foot on the ball and raised their arms, "where is everyone".

The impact of a changing squad has decimated the system.

At the back especially in the air we are non existent. Their is no answer.