Bridge Blasts Wanderers To Summit Of A-League

Though I should say that I've never played football in the rain so I don't know whether ball grip dynamics and shot accuracy and whatnot change dramatically in the rain.

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

Fantastic night. What a great contest it was. NFI how Archie missed that sitter at the start and first 20 mins we were under pump. After that it evened out.

Some great sets of play by both teams

I thought most of our players were sound Topor and Spira did well at the back and La Rooca worked his socks off in the middle. Haliti made that goal from nothing. Beautiful piece of play. Santalab tonight was a little ineffective and struggled in the Juric role. 

 

Love a match in the rain. Probably be sick tomorrow but was worth it

Edited November 16, 2013 by GunnerWanderer

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

 

Yes, Labi was immense. There is something going on behind the scenes that is factoring into Labi's absence. Don't know if Popa doesn't like him, or whether he's done something wrong. At any rate, Labi looks considerably more dangerous than Cole, Santalab or any other alternative.

I'd like to point out Minniecon as well. Is that the second or third time this year we've scored almost immediately after he's come on?

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

I think Haliti was on for much less than 30 mins. 15 mins at most. But you are 100% right about what you say. Thing with Haliti is that he seems to play extremely well in the wet.

Thought we were poor in the first 20 mins, however as the game went on we got a lot better. Every player towards the end of the match did very well. Topor as my man of the match. D'Apuzzo much improved performance. Still the team needs to work on getting better at maintaining possession of the ball.

Edited November 16, 2013 by Montalbano

 

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

I think Haliti was on for much less than 30 mins. 15 mins at most. But you are 100% right about what you say. Thing with Haliti is that he seems to play extremely well in the wet.

 

 

Wow this is a really good point. Melbourne Heart and Central Coast last year he scored goals and they were both in the wet. 

My thoughts:

 

Tops:

• Man of the match: Archie Thompson. He could/should have buried us with three goals, but he didn't. Couldn't have happened to a more pleasant player.
• Melb Vic in the first half. I cannot remember seeing such a dominate and domineering team at Parra. Maybe Brisbane in their first match last year, but no one after that. Very slick. Their quick passing caused us all sorts of trouble at times. But in the end they did in beauty.
• WSW in the second half. We worked ourselves into the game.
• Mark Bridge (and Haliti's assist): what a goal! Couldn't have happened to a more well deserving player.
• La Rocca and NTS: they closed the gaps when we looked shaky in first half. Especialy NTS is getting better and better and better. Amazing.
• Spiranovic: plays as if he's always been there. Very solid performance.
• The result. The way the match was going I would have been happy with a draw. We didn't exactly win three points today, it was more a matter of VIC losing three.
• The weather gods providing free showers for the RBB (or is that a flop?)
• We keep winning without Hersi
• Boban who was kind enough to offer me one of his spare seats. Many thanks!
• Polenz. Great runs.
• Those who came and sang despite the rain.
• We are too slow in midfield, holding the ball too long. We are not going towards the ball, but waiting for it and Vic players kept sprinting in between. We got away with it today (see above), but it could have been a very different evening.

 

Flops:

• Refs and Linesmen. Maybe they had their period, or the rain got under their contact lenses. Whatever it was, their decision were hit and miss today.
• Mooy. He looks very shaky when under pressure, and there was a lot of that today especially in the first half. He is not Socceroo material. If he doesn't pick up then he won't be even considered top A-League material by the time this season comes to an end.
• Shantalab and Cole: I hate to say it, but somehow they didn't want to score a goal today. Woeful efforts.
• Some of the VIC fans exchanging punches with WSW fans well before the match. However instigated it may want to reflect on it. Not smart.
• Another sell out with 4000-5000 empty seats. WTF!
• Polenz: why does he keep trying to amputate his oponents legs this season?

 

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

 

 

Yes, Labi was immense. There is something going on behind the scenes that is factoring into Labi's absence. Don't know if Popa doesn't like him, or whether he's done something wrong. At any rate, Labi looks considerably more dangerous than Cole, Santalab or any other alternative.

Probably easier to make an impact in the last 30 as a sub than a tough 60 as a lone striker . Labs tends not to have as much impact when he starts . Santalab puts away his chance and its a whole different story . Bridge I thought was average again just a bit off the pace , the only thing that kept him on the pitch was that cole was worse .

 

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

I think Haliti was on for much less than 30 mins. 15 mins at most. But you are 100% right about what you say. Thing with Haliti is that he seems to play extremely well in the wet.

Thought we were poor in the first 20 mins, however as the game went on we got a lot better. Every player towards the end of the match did very well. Topor as my man of the match. D'Apuzzo much improved performance. Still the team needs to work on getting better at maintaining possession of the ball.

 

     

My thoughts: Tops:

• Man of the match: Archie Thompson. He could/should have buried us with three goals, but he didn't. Couldn't have happened to a more pleasant player.
• Melb Vic in the first half. I cannot remember seeing such a dominate and domineering team at Parra. Maybe Brisbane in their first match last year, but no one after that. Very slick. Their quick passing caused us all sorts of trouble at times. But in the end they did in beauty.
• WSW in the second half. We worked ourselves into the game.
• Mark Bridge (and Haliti's assist): what a goal! Couldn't have happened to a more well deserving player.
• La Rocca and NTS: they closed the gaps when we looked shaky in first half. Especialy NTS is getting better and better and better. Amazing.
• Spiranovic: plays as if he's always been there. Very solid performance.
• The result. The way the match was going I would have been happy with a draw. We didn't exactly win three points today, it was more a matter of VIC losing three.
• The weather gods providing free showers for the RBB (or is that a flop?)
• We keep winning without Hersi
• Boban who was kind enough to offer me one of his spare seats. Many thanks!
• Polenz. Great runs.
• Those who came and sang despite the rain.
• We are too slow in midfield, holding the ball too long. We are not going towards the ball, but waiting for it and Vic players kept sprinting in between. We got away with it today (see above), but it could have been a very different evening.

Flops:

• Refs and Linesmen. Maybe they had their period, or the rain got under their contact lenses. Whatever it was, their decision were hit and miss today.
• Mooy. He looks very shaky when under pressure, and there was a lot of that today especially in the first half. He is not Socceroo material. If he doesn't pick up then he won't be even considered top A-League material by the time this season comes to an end.
• Shantalab and Cole: I hate to say it, but somehow they didn't want to score a goal today. Woeful efforts.
• Some of the VIC fans exchanging punches with WSW fans well before the match. However instigated it may want to reflect on it. Not smart.
• Another sell out with 4000-5000 empty seats. WTF!
• Polenz: why does he keep trying to amputate his oponents legs this season?

To be honest I thought Melbourne created more chances at the beginning. But over the course of the whole game I thought we created more. I also thought we created the more clear cut chances with a couple of one on one's with the keeper which we butchered.

 

There was no malice in the Polenz tackle. Clearly an accident. Got a yellow card for no reason.

Edited November 16, 2013 by Montalbano

 

 

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

 

Yes, Labi was immense. There is something going on behind the scenes that is factoring into Labi's absence. Don't know if Popa doesn't like him, or whether he's done something wrong. At any rate, Labi looks considerably more dangerous than Cole, Santalab or any other alternative.

Probably easier to make an impact in the last 30 as a sub than a tough 60 as a lone striker . Labs tends not to have as much impact when he starts . Santalab puts away his chance and its a whole different story . Bridge I thought was average again just a bit off the pace , the only thing that kept him on the pitch was that cole was worse .

 

 

He hasn't started very many games at all. If I recall correctly;

 

Perth (away) - scored

Heart (away) - scored double

It was great to see Bridge busting his balls trying to get on the end of Haliti's cross. He deserved that goal just for his sprint.

Oh forgot to mention.

A Call To Arms is quickly becoming my favourite chant. Love the sideways reverse Poznan we have going now.

Watching the replay back, when it's on camera, it looks sick.

 

 

 

Haliti accomplished more in his 30 minute cameo tonight than what Santalab has in two games. Surely Haliti gets the nod up front next week with Minniecon on the right. That is of course, assuming Hersi is still out.

I think Haliti was on for much less than 30 mins. 15 mins at most. But you are 100% right about what you say. Thing with Haliti is that he seems to play extremely well in the wet.

 

Wow this is a really good point. Melbourne Heart and Central Coast last year he scored goals and they were both in the wet.

Funny, I was saying the same thing just after the game. I think La Rocca's been up there in the wet too.

Oh forgot to mention.

A Call To Arms is quickly becoming my favourite chant. Love the sideways reverse Poznan we have going now.

Watching the replay back, when it's on camera, it looks sick.

Haha we are now referring to facing forwards as the reverse poznan? 

 

 

Oh forgot to mention.

A Call To Arms is quickly becoming my favourite chant. Love the sideways reverse Poznan we have going now.

Watching the replay back, when it's on camera, it looks sick.

Haha we are now referring to facing forwards as the reverse poznan?

It was a terrible attempt at being funny okay

 

 

Oh forgot to mention.

A Call To Arms is quickly becoming my favourite chant. Love the sideways reverse Poznan we have going now.

Watching the replay back, when it's on camera, it looks sick.

Haha we are now referring to facing forwards as the reverse poznan?

It was a terrible attempt at being funny okay

 

Not true cause it did make me laugh

Excellent. Just like your SFCU trolling has made me laugh hahahahaha

Spiranovic is very good but I don't know if he's better than Beauchamp. 

Excellent. Just like your SFCU trolling has made me laugh hahahahaha

I perhaps spend too much time trolling their forums, bit of a guilty pleasure. 

Spiranovic is very good but I don't know if he's better than Beauchamp. 

He has to be injured or something right? I cant understand why he wouldnt have started this if he was fit.

 

Excellent. Just like your SFCU trolling has made me laugh hahahahaha

I perhaps spend too much time trolling their forums, bit of a guilty pleasure. 

Spiranovic is very good but I don't know if he's better than Beauchamp. 

He has to be injured or something right? I cant understand why he wouldnt have started this if he was fit.

 

 

Popa mentioned in the press conference that he isn't injured at all and that he wanted the same lineup from last week.

I'd like to point out Minniecon as well. Is that the second or third time this year we've scored almost immediately after he's come on?

 

2nd time! 

 

Both times when he replaced Santalab.

We won!!! Now to take top of the league and continue our unbeaten run against the roar

Santa has been a massive disappointment.

Dare I say it, Dino was far more effective last season!!

Santa has been a massive disappointment.

Dare I say it, Dino was far more effective last season!!

 

We still have him for another 2 seasons.

Soaked, sick, no voice but worth it to be up at 5 am driving my Victory mate to the airport listening to him redo the math on their chances this year. Just when I thought Call to Arms could not get better it did. To do the reverse Zorba Poznan on concrete was gold. To begin the second half this way was double gold. The RBB struggles to find voice at the beginning of second halves most still in the dressing sheds etc but to begin with Call to Arms should become a tradition for us like The Poznan at eighty. Up till then we struggled a bit and the WDWSF C&R had its wheels fall off when we stuttered with The South Bloc and tried to bring in the whole stadium too quickly. If we are strong the rest will follow and they wait for the lead so it's our call to get stronger. Its easy to go mental after a goal but harder under the pump. For all this we are much stronger than last year. Our sympathy chant offering to adopt the Victory supporters who cannot find their dads was magic. I was pissed that after using it at Penrith we didn't take it to The Derby but so glad we opened our arms and hearts to the southern refugees who knew their mothers but not their fathers. The return of matriarchal society. Thanks to the lads in 56 row b & c who stopped chanting to help me find a piece of my glasses that fell off during CTA. They looked under seats till they found it and I was just so impressed with their efforts. True bloods. Great to win the last two games at the death at home and without Hersi. Hope our leopard returns for The Roar,  

I think Spiranovic is going to be extremely hard to keep out in the future.

 

He is a class act, how long is he signed up for ?

 

You can see the respect he gets from the other players too, how many times they just kept giving him the ball.

Oh forgot to mention.
A Call To Arms is quickly becoming my favourite chant. Love the sideways reverse Poznan we have going now.
Watching the replay back, when it's on camera, it looks sick.

 

That looks amazing from the stands ....... I was wishing I was in there when that was pumping.

Well done boys. Team and supporters were immense. What a night.

 

My thoughts:

 

* March was a lot better. Great to see capos moving through the entire march column and revving people up. Also not sure if it was by design but la banda was at times abiut 20-30 metres behind the front line. Really got more people going.

 

* the holy sh it moment of the day. Going over the bridge and feeling it shake as we sang and jumped up and down.

 

* singing f uck the Victory in Parra. About time we dont pussy foot around offending people

 

 

* our entrance into the stadium "ale ale ooohhhh" brilliant.

 

* Tifo - amazing well done guys.

 

* Anyone else notice old NSL lgend Andrea helping to carry the stop the violence against woman banner. Great to see.

 

* our boys were compact and we got the result without Hersi orJuric.

 

* one slight improvement we can make. After the goal we started with the anti Victory songs. Nothing wrong with those per say. But maybe better to have had a more all inclusive song because you could see the entire stadium was ready to join in and cheer the boys home.the noise levels would have been immense.

 

Well done to all - Capos were fantastic.

Edited November 16, 2013 by westofcentre

 

 

Personally I thought we were great in the stands. Would like to say a big thanks and well done to the capos. Can't do much about the whole stadium WDYSF when the stands were too absorbed in what was happening on the field.

Great moments when the goal went in, jumping into the aisle and hugging total randoms...

 

Excellent Tifo.

Wasnt the 3rd wdwsf aimed at South? Certainly the reason those around us didnt join in. Just thought south didnt notice coz we had a corner at that moment.

Almost certain it was meant to be full stadium.

 

 

No before the whole wdwsf started I saw capos telling people around them that they were also going to include the south terrace, they were clearly pointing at them, the east and west got involved good, but once it came to the south they had no idea what was going on, and the RBB were indicating a wdwsf to the south, only after there was no response from the south they started to try to get the east and west involved again.

 

Perhaps low attendance in the south was a reason for them not getting involved, or that they were drowned out by victory fans and couldn't hear the RBB?