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  • Crook's Crew Kill Kashima

    mack

    By mack

    An Ian Crook inspired Wanderers took everything Kashima Antlers could throw at them before a storming last ten minutes saw the reigning Asian Champions take out an battling 3-1 win in Japan.

     

    The Wanderers were sent out with Ian Crook in charge due to a touchline ban on Tony Popovic carried over from last seasons Asian Champions League campaign. An attacking and technical midfield triumvirate was given the nod, with Yojiro Takahagi, Kearyn Baccus & Nick Kalmar flanked by Shannon Cole & Mark Bridge, Juric the tip of the spear while Dean Bouzanis, Nickolai Topor-Stanley, Matthew Spiranovic, Yusuke Tanaka & Antony Golec lined up in the defensive third.

     

    Bouzanis was called into action very early as the Japanese side launched a free kick into the box that deflected off a Kashima players chest, requiring Bouzanis to dive back on his line to keep his clean sheet alive. Yet another injury for the Wanderers to deal with occurred when Shannon Cole suffered a shoulder injury after falling badly while making a tackle, the defender come winger being swiftly replaced by Labinot Haliti. Both sides went into the break scoreless. The best chance of the half came to Kashima, a defensive mixup between Topor-Stanley & Bouzanis giving Shuto a sight on goal that he only managed to fire wide.

     

    The game roared into life early in the second half, a long throw from Tanaka finding the head of Juric, his flick on found the swinging arc of Mark Bridge, and a desperate clearance from Genn Shoji sliced into his own net to open the scoring.

     

    That lead only lasted 15 minutes. Topor-Stanley & Baccus together failed to clear their lines effectively and a lighting break down the right flank gave Fernandes Caio all the space he needed to deliver a cutback that Doi Shoma volleyed expertly past Bouzanis.

     

    Just when it seemed like the Antlers would fire up and add to the domestic woes of Western Sydney, Takahagi popped up with his second goal for the club & a second assist on the night for Bridge, 5 minutes before the end of regulation Trifiro, Takahagi & Bridge combined to retake the lead. Bridge's shot on goal that might have been going just wide being turned in by the Japanese midfielder. Kashima appealed desperately for offside, but replays showed Takahagi was being played onside by his marker at the time of the pass and the goal stood.

     

    Bridge sealed the win deep inside injury time, as the Wanderers killed the game off smartly, the high press forced an error, Bridge receiving the ball on the edge of the area. The all time leading goal scorer hitting a blackjack with his 21st goal for the club.

     

    The Wanderers next match is the Sydney Derby, at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday the 28th of February.

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    Hughesy

    A big **** off LOL to everyone running their mouths about Crookie and talking **** about us not being the same without Milicic. Theres some severe whiplash being experienced from everyone changing their opinion all of a sudden hahaha

     

    All hail the Kings of Asia!

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    GunnerWanderer

    We gave away a lot of ball too easily last night but who cares a win is a win

    That's all we need at this point

     

    In some like in Asia we step up a bit and show more resilience hopefully we can carry this into derby and beyond

     

    Lots of energy in midfield last night and juric must have got an offer from Japan pre game - the hunger was back

     

    Travel safe boys seeya saturday

    Link to comment
    hawks2767

     

    No joke.

     

    What's the plan for when Guangzhou enter the country?

     

    This might be better suited for a private message conversation...

    Well, 

     

    It's Chinese new year...

     

     

    It's more the fans than the team i'm interested in.

     

    This will not end well (for them).

    Link to comment
    bosco08

    Fantastic win. Bridge's second was a superb finish. 

     

    Takahagi was fantastic, particularly in the second half. The build up to the second goal was great.

     

    Still lots to improve on, ball retention was poor at times. Golec had a nightmare. I didn't even notice Kalmar was playing, MIA.

     

    One thing that nobody seems to have mentioned was that we tried something different with Takahagi deeper in midfield (first half) and Kalmar playing #10. Interesting to see if Popa tries that in the AL.

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    marron

    Fantastic win. Bridge's second was a superb finish. 

     

    Takahagi was fantastic, particularly in the second half. The build up to the second goal was great.

     

    Still lots to improve on, ball retention was poor at times. Golec had a nightmare. I didn't even notice Kalmar was playing, MIA.

     

    One thing that nobody seems to have mentioned was that we tried something different with Takahagi deeper in midfield (first half) and Kalmar playing #10. Interesting to see if Popa tries that in the AL.

    Dude didn't you hear. It was all crook.

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    Unlimited

    Was a bit nervy in the last few minutes - I thought we would've made some time-wasting substitutions (we had one left, right?) but when Bridge scored... :meep:

     

     

    Yes we probably should've conceded more, but sometimes the ball just doesn't go in (see: ACL Final 2014 second leg), and we'll take it :P

     

    I liked how we had a ball-playing midfield in Yojiro, Kalmar and Baccus - and I feel we passed the ball better, there were times when we played the long ball aimlessly and times when we tried to be cute and times when we passed it straight to the opposition - but I felt our ball retention was better, and this is reflected in the possession stats I think.

     

    The build-up to the second goal was just beautiful. When Yojiro drops into space and can dictate the play, he is so dangerous.

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    Smoggy

    Man... I love the smell of optimism in the morning :good:

     

    What a difference a good win makes.


     

    Fantastic win. Bridge's second was a superb finish. 
     
    Takahagi was fantastic, particularly in the second half. The build up to the second goal was great.
     
    Still lots to improve on, ball retention was poor at times. Golec had a nightmare. I didn't even notice Kalmar was playing, MIA.
     
    One thing that nobody seems to have mentioned was that we tried something different with Takahagi deeper in midfield (first half) and Kalmar playing #10. Interesting to see if Popa tries that in the AL.


    Dude didn't you hear. It was all croook

     

    ahh c'mon marron lol I think it is a bit tongue in cheek as there were a few here blaming Crookie for the poor form a good few times, so I don't see why we cannot switch it around ;)  

     

    You seem to be the only one taking it more seriously than it is :P  ;)

    Edited by WSWBoro
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    Nnnnnathan12

    I thought Tomi was great last night.

    But it's a shame he only comes out like that against Asian opposition.

    Needs to take defenders on a lot more in the A-League.

    Baccus and Takahagi were also good!

    Although in Australia it's harder to take on defenders like he can in Asia because here the defenders are just as physical

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    Themumf

    Unlimited made a good point ^^ we didn't have the usual midfield water carriers playing last night, and actually passed the ball around. Admittedly we were rubbish at it for long periods, but it was infinitely more encouraging than the last few HAL displays.

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    tuco

    great win.

     

    special plaudits to;

    juric

    yojiro

    and a great cameo from trifiro who made a real impact when he came on.

     

    seems like popa set up the a-league to be a pre season for the acl.

    Link to comment
    magicwand

    I hate to be a party pooper but we have played much better games in the A-League this season and came away with nothing. Sure it's great to get a win and a well deserved one at that but it's amazing how a win with a few goals changes perceptions of actual performance (don't get me started on the Foxtel pundits!!!!). Yes, we were good in spells but there were also some very poor individual performances and significant passages of dross from the team as a whole. Most alarming was what looked like another impending second half collapse. It was hard to fathom the number of turnovers we gave them in that second half. Thankfully we came home with a good last ten minutes although I suspect a somewhat rusty pre-season Antlers running out of gas might have been a contributing factor. Let's hope this is the start of a good run, although unfortunately the A-League finals is now beyond our reach. 

    Link to comment
    Erebus

    In the HAL, Bridge would have been closed down by the 4 players around him before he got the shot off for the 3rd goal.

    ACL opponents give so much more space. Hence why guys like Trifiro and Bridge shine in ACL competition. They are afforded heaps more time on the ball.

     

    This was not a dominant performance at all. Most of the 2nd half we were on the back foot defending. We scored against the run of play.

    Bacchus was good and has some good touches, Kalmar playing as the no.10 in the 2nd half held the ball too long and tried to take on the entire team instead of releasing the ball to another player or shooting.

    Juric again did well against Asian opposition because they are a bit softer. In the HAL they push him around and are more physical.

     

    We won everything in the air in our own box because we are just bigger and more physical. However they carved us up for the goal and no one marking someone on the 6 yard box.

    Our delivery on set pieces needs to improve because we should be taking advantage of our height and size.

     

    Good to get the win, but HAL/derby are a different prospect due to being quicker and more physical.

    Link to comment
    wsw2154

    In the HAL, Bridge would have been closed down by the 4 players around him before he got the shot off for the 3rd goal.

    ACL opponents give so much more space. Hence why guys like Trifiro and Bridge shine in ACL competition. They are afforded heaps more time on the ball.

     

    This was not a dominant performance at all. Most of the 2nd half we were on the back foot defending. We scored against the run of play.

    Bacchus was good and has some good touches, Kalmar playing as the no.10 in the 2nd half held the ball too long and tried to take on the entire team instead of releasing the ball to another player or shooting.

    Juric again did well against Asian opposition because they are a bit softer. In the HAL they push him around and are more physical.

     

    We won everything in the air in our own box because we are just bigger and more physical. However they carved us up for the goal and no one marking someone on the 6 yard box.

    Our delivery on set pieces needs to improve because we should be taking advantage of our height and size.

     

    Good to get the win, but HAL/derby are a different prospect due to being quicker and more physical.

    They were closing us down very quickly. It wasnt as easy as you mentioned. The problem in the aleague has been our control and passing game.

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