Derby Draw At Least We Didn't Lose

@Manfred

The refereeing was shockingly inconsistent. Easts were getting away with heavy challenges.

The referee allowed them more freedom to play the game.

That's not an excuse for the way we played. But it explains some of their dire hits in the midfield that just went unnoticed.

Some great saves by the smurf keeper, credit where it is due.   Although we were fairly fluid & dynamic in attack I still feel we can be disjointed on the odd occasion.  Still on the whole it's a significant improvement on last weeks horror show.  Onwards & upwards!!  

A few thoughts...

 

- Security was ridiculous but partly expected. As I said before in the other thread, I had no bag and skinny jeans on and still got pulled aside. If I wanted to hide a flare, there's a much more concealed spot than my bra and it's somewhere they definitely can't search

 

- No Flares!! Pleasantly surprised. Well done everyone. Now can we move on...

 

- Game was very meh. The goal was impressive and probably the stand out moment of the match. The last 20mins was painful to watch. It would have killed me if we conceded at the death to lose again.

 

- Why didn't Popa use his subs earlier? It feels like a waste to have Santa coming on in the 85th min when he's been in such good form recently.

 

- I got to finally meet Mack!

 

- That car park at Allianz is a pain in the arse to get out of. And it's a ripoff as well. The price used to be $15, then $20 and now it's gone up again to $25. I might park at one of the high schools next time. At least my money will help out the kids.

Were you two towards the back of 55?

If you (Jess) have "Jess" on your jersey, I think I've now sat near you or walked past you at 4 recent games.

You?? and Mack?? may have passed me (sitting near the stairs in 55) .... but you were past me before I realised.

In the second half, as the WSW players were getting ready for a set piece, Mitch has casually walked over to Janjetovic's drink bottle.

 

He takes a gulp and then deliberately unscrews the bottle, tipping the remaining liquid on the ground. He causally jogs back to the rest of the team and the kick is taken

 

Says a lot of Nichols' will power and focus. A lesser man would have followed his instincts and done something entirely different with that bottle....

We were lucky they couldn't get a shot on target tonight, last minute they had the best opportunity and skied it

 

Neither team deserved to win tonight, fair result

 

Reddy is an absolute mongrel, love it. Never felt like he'd **** up... If Redmayne was playing we would of been ****ed for sure

 

We were constantly dicking around at the back, was frustrating as hell.

 

We're ****ed next week

The bolded bit. So much pointless passing around by our back 4. Sometimes you need to hold possession to allow some space to open up/to reset, but it has a whiff of uncertainty and lack of vision on what to do next, where to feed the ball. And what doesn't help is that our midfield and attacking players aren't finding the space or positioning to give the backs some options. But IMO, the backs are a bit too hesitant on the ball.

Having said all that, I really didn't feel they had the better of us like some of the comments here. ESFC had their moments, particularly in the 2nd half, but I never felt a defeat was coming. I think its the same story this game as with many that we've either lost or drawn - lack of finishing whether that's the absence of a striker or failure on part of our attack to convert. Because when all's said and done, we're 1st on the table. The challenge is to convert. Popa should record a chant of 'backa the net' and get them to listen to it whilst they sleep. Some subliminal messaging. IDK, something. 

Reddy was good. I felt comfortable whenever he was one the ball. I've never been #Redmayne out, but cannot deny he looks unsure of what he should do sometimes. This is football, I am willing to give Reddy a go, and now is better than later. Less risky. And I lmao when he bounced the ball off Jurman's face. 

RBB and Active away were fantastic last night. From where I sat right on the side of the active, it was deafening. Couldn't hear esfc insomnia cure at all.

Didn't see it mentioned but how much of a c*ck is Carney?

At least he understands what a Derby means too. He gave it to us after their scummy goal.

He's definitely endeared himself to us

Just watching the game.. they boo the poznan

Cute.

 

Taken form Reddit:

"[–]Sydney FCyakkie215 points

2 hours ago

 

A Wanderers fan with a scarf under his jacket made it into the cove and went right down the front, whipped his scarf out and started cheering. The cove weren't impressed and beat the **** out of him before the riot police got there and dragged him out. Guy in front of me managed to choke him for a few seconds and the guy behind me flykicked him in the gut. Really incited the cove. Started having a go at the cops for letting him in"

 

For all the talk in the media about "violence" (when discussing flares), this is actual violence in the cove. They really set the standard don't they?

I'm sorry, but that's pretty stupid of that guy.

 

I strongly suspect that a Smurf would've copped the same treatment, if not worse, from the RBB gents.

The blue they had in the goal was great,      At least it was relatively minor.

 

I think the players are really starting to share the dislike of each that the fans have.

Sorry, Hughsey... I enjoy and respect so much of what you offer on WSF.

But I'm going to chip in that I disagree with that last sentence there .  After watching the replay, I watched the players from both sides approaching each other ... mostly all smiles, back slapping, hugs, ruffling each others' hair.... like the former team mates/ and general mates that may of them, in fact,  would be. They'll often make a bee line for particular opposition players to exchange what look like genuinely affectionate words.  Yes Yes.... I know what you guys thinking!   

No doubt..... an Unpopular Opinion here, but I don't think it's true that the players from rival teams dislike/hate each other. Far from it - with the exception of a few well known antagonisms (Santa-Abbas etc).  

I enjoy watching them them show their connections - the difference between intense rivalry on the pitch   and dislike/hatred ( I know that wasn't your word.... but it is common amongst fans)      .

Anyway....if you look for it, you see it!   

Embrace the hate Wendy!

How good was the rain in the first half? Big fan of rain at football games 

Embrace the hate Wendy!

Never!!!     

Go look at the end of the coverage.... it's there for all to see .... at the end of every game.... 

Love it!! 

Cheers!

Embrace the hate Wendy!

I sort of agree with Wendy. The players are mostly mates and know each other well off the field. Of course they'll get caught up in a bit of onfield banter and things can get genuinely heated, but I think after the match there would not be too many problems with shaking hands. It is mostly a thing with supporters (and even then you can narrow it down a bit).

The only player from what I can see who has issues is Abbas.

Few things:

- Smurfs playing long ball, they managed to get the ball behind our defence when our defence pushed and sat up high.

- Romeo has become too 1 dimensional with his attack, whilst he makes great runs with the ball, his decision making is frustrating, he needs to be dropped to the bench next week.

- From the 70th minute, I kept looking towards the bench to see if Santa was coming on, when we got to the Poznan, I started to think, why hasn't Popa put Santa on yet? whats the hold up? 84th minute? not enough time for Santa to settle into the game and make an impact.

- Reddy was immense, made great saves, commanded the box very well. 

- I thought Hamil played well last night. Especially when took the ball off the smurfs, made a great run and we almost got our second

- Dario probably played his best game for us last night, that goal he scored was class and was very unlucky not to get another 2 if it wasn't for Janjetovics saves.

 

 

FYI: Jess is more attractive than most of the other posters I've met.

 

 

Oh thats just mean

Agree with all of this. Completely.

Only thing I'd add is that the reason I think we looked slow on the pitch is because we weren't finding space to receive the ball. You pass, and run straight into space to be a receiver and keep that dynamic going strong. Kind of like what Isco does or Modric. Of course not at that level but it's what we should be aiming to do.

I'd like to reinforce two points you made: Castelen frustrating as ****; Santa left way way too late.

 

Embrace the hate Wendy!

I sort of agree with Wendy. The players are mostly mates and know each other well off the field. Of course they'll get caught up in a bit of onfield banter and things can get genuinely heated, but I think after the match there would not be too many problems with shaking hands. It is mostly a thing with supporters (and even then you can narrow it down a bit).

 

The only player from what I can see who has issues is Abbas.

I do not like what I've seen over the years of Ryall or Jurman... I have to admit.

But in the post match interview, when Jurman smiled rather sheepishly about the altercation between him and Reddy.... well... I even softened towards him.   

 OK ... Ok ....now  I'm ashamed of myself!  

Why TF was there a 'let them stay' banner in the RBB last night?

Oh god...

We have antifa ******** in our support base.

 

The blue they had in the goal was great,      At least it was relatively minor.

 

I think the players are really starting to share the dislike of each that the fans have.

 

Sorry, Hughsey... I enjoy and respect so much of what you offer on WSF.

 

But I'm going to chip in that I disagree with that last sentence there .  After watching the replay, I watched the players from both sides approaching each other ... mostly all smiles, back slapping, hugs, ruffling each others' hair.... like the former team mates/ and general mates that may of them, in fact,  would be. They'll often make a bee line for particular opposition players to exchange what look like genuinely affectionate words.  Yes Yes.... I know what you guys thinking!   

 

No doubt..... an Unpopular Opinion here, but I don't think it's true that the players from rival teams dislike/hate each other. Far from it - with the exception of a few well known antagonisms (Santa-Abbas etc).  

 

I enjoy watching them them show their connections - the difference between intense rivalry on the pitch   and dislike/hatred ( I know that wasn't your word.... but it is common amongst fans)      .

 

Anyway....if you look for it, you see it!   

 

It's a show for the cameras.....

I can confirm that there was a 17vs17 cage fight between the players approximately 25 minutes after fulltime.

With flares.

 

 

Embrace the hate Wendy!

 

I sort of agree with Wendy. The players are mostly mates and know each other well off the field. Of course they'll get caught up in a bit of onfield banter and things can get genuinely heated, but I think after the match there would not be too many problems with shaking hands. It is mostly a thing with supporters (and even then you can narrow it down a bit).

The only player from what I can see who has issues is Abbas.

 

I do not like what I've seen over the years of Ryall or Jurman... I have to admit.

 

 But in the post match interview, when Jurman smiled rather sheepishly about the altercation between him and Reddy.... well... I even softened towards him.   

 

 OK now I'm ashamed of myself!  

Jurman is a **** on the field. So is Ryall. I would say it is our supporters that fire them up more than anything though.

 

 

The blue they had in the goal was great,      At least it was relatively minor.

 

I think the players are really starting to share the dislike of each that the fans have.

 

Sorry, Hughsey... I enjoy and respect so much of what you offer on WSF.

 

But I'm going to chip in that I disagree with that last sentence there .  After watching the replay, I watched the players from both sides approaching each other ... mostly all smiles, back slapping, hugs, ruffling each others' hair.... like the former team mates/ and general mates that may of them, in fact,  would be. They'll often make a bee line for particular opposition players to exchange what look like genuinely affectionate words.  Yes Yes.... I know what you guys thinking!   

No doubt..... an Unpopular Opinion here, but I don't think it's true that the players from rival teams dislike/hate each other. Far from it - with the exception of a few well known antagonisms (Santa-Abbas etc).  

 

I enjoy watching them them show their connections - the difference between intense rivalry on the pitch   and dislike/hatred ( I know that wasn't your word.... but it is common amongst fans)      .

 

Anyway....if you look for it, you see it!   

 

It's a show for the cameras.....

I can confirm that there was a 17vs17 cage fight between the players approximately 25 minutes after fulltime.

With flares.

     Liked because it's so funny, Jacko!  

 

 

A few thoughts...

 

- Security was ridiculous but partly expected. As I said before in the other thread, I had no bag and skinny jeans on and still got pulled aside. If I wanted to hide a flare, there's a much more concealed spot than my bra and it's somewhere they definitely can't search

 

- No Flares!! Pleasantly surprised. Well done everyone. Now can we move on...

 

- Game was very meh. The goal was impressive and probably the stand out moment of the match. The last 20mins was painful to watch. It would have killed me if we conceded at the death to lose again.

 

- Why didn't Popa use his subs earlier? It feels like a waste to have Santa coming on in the 85th min when he's been in such good form recently.

 

- I got to finally meet Mack!

 

- That car park at Allianz is a pain in the arse to get out of. And it's a ripoff as well. The price used to be $15, then $20 and now it's gone up again to $25. I might park at one of the high schools next time. At least my money will help out the kids.

Were you two towards the back of 55?

 

If you (Jess) have "Jess" on your jersey, I think I've now sat near you or walked past you at 4 recent games.

 

You?? and Mack?? may have passed me (sitting near the stairs in 55) .... but you were past me before I realised.

I still reckon I sat in the row right behind you at a CCM game in Gosford late last year. I swear it was you.

I have Jess on the back jersey if anyone wants to spot me at a game. Feel free to say hello. I haven't seen anybody else with it on their jersey so there's a pretty good chance it's going to be me.

I missed Abbas last night. I was looking forward to giving it to him.

 

Were you two towards the back of 55?

 

If you (Jess) have "Jess" on your jersey, I think I've now sat near you or walked past you at 4 recent games.

 

You?? and Mack?? may have passed me (sitting near the stairs in 55) .... but you were past me before I realised.

 

Yeah that was us.

 

I still reckon I sat in the row right behind you at a CCM game in Gosford late last year. I swear it was you.

 

I have Jess on the back jersey if anyone wants to spot me at a game. Feel free to say hello. I haven't seen anybody else with it on their jersey so there's a pretty good chance it's going to be me.

Yep re Gosford.... but you (well the girl with "Jess" on her jersey I now know to be you) were half way down the aisle.... when I spotted your name ....at the end of the game.

 I will tap you on the shoulder and say hello next time I see you, now that I know for sure!  

I missed Abbas last night. I was looking forward to giving it to him.

Yeah...what happened to the Crippled Saviour of Football Journalism in Australia?

Actually don't answer, don't care. Fook him

 

 

I missed Abbas last night. I was looking forward to giving it to him.

Yeah...what happened to the Crippled Saviour of Football Journalism in Australia?

 

Actually don't answer, don't care. Fook him

Awwww, I think I feel something for him.

Wait a minute...

*Buuuuuuuuuuuuurp*

Lol scrap that, just a bit of gas.

 

 

• After the game we followed the signs to Central Station. After a sight seeing tour of that ridiculous monstrosity of a bridge we ended up somewhere in Cleveland Street, nowhere near the station. 

 

 

i can't believe they spent 40 million building that white elephant piece of **** for it to end up nowhere.  

 

I think it was 48 mill.

Yes....It IS in an absurd location!

I feel guilty now not posting my review of that bridge after last derby there. I thought maybe I was the odd one out who couldn't figure out where this bridge was supposed to lead after I crossed it, looks like it really doesn't go anywhere.

It's about 200 metres from being where it might be of some use to people heading to or from Central.

It could be that it will link up to the light rail proposed for somewhere there??

If not, it's an utterly shameful waste of public money from what I can see.

It's job is to get people over Anzac Parade without making them walk 500m either way, clogging up the crossings at either end. It's still over a KM away from Central station, it's not meant to get people directly to Central, just get them over the road without having to build any more pedestrian crossings. It'd be like complaining that the crossings over the railway at Parramatta Station don't get you straight to Parra stadium.

IMO they should redevelop Moore Park Road intersection with pedestrian overpasses.

It's job is to get people over Anzac Parade without making them walk 500m either way, clogging up the crossings at either end. It's still over a KM away from Central station, it's not meant to get people directly to Central, just get them over the road without having to build any more pedestrian crossings. It'd be like complaining that the crossings over the railway at Parramatta Station don't get you straight to Parra stadium.

 

IMO they should redevelop Moore Park Road intersection with pedestrian overpasses.

But   but   but....at least during sporting events, where are people going when they cross Anzac Pde???? 

Heaps of people park in Sydney Boys High.... and cross at the lights.

For those going to or from Central.... it's just in an inconvenient place. 

Plus.... it takes about 10 mins to cross......it's sooo long!