Dull Draw For Disappointing Wanderers

 

Don't understand people complaining about the line up, people were calling for Tahj to start, Haliti over Santa and Beauchamp back and they got it the only noticeable rotation was Polenz. Injuries to our best 3 attacking players are causing the problems not rotation.

 

Yes this exactly, it was all over the Brisbane thread.

 

Does Popa read WestSydneyFootball for advice and tactics

 

well maybe he shouldn't 

This match was another good lesson.

What have we learnt?

A) left back is a real problem for us. D,apuzzo has gone backwards, two steps perhaps! Heffernan needs games but still, you can see he has a shocking first touch and is just too slow.

B) On form, LaRocca is ahead of Poljak for the midfield spot. Poljak hasn't reached the heights of last season, and has been quite sloppy and lethargic in midfield, perhaps still finding his fitness?

Either way we really miss Mooy in the engine room stringing passes together.

C) Hersi, Polenz, Ono and Juric really add the quality to our team. So we shouldn't expect much more then a grinding performance when there out. Although popa needs to implement a plan b as hoofing and crossing to the likes of Haliti/Santalab up front never works, and the lack of support for Mooy when played in the advanced role is piss poor.

D) Tahj needs a brain. Poor bloke tries his best but he needs to know you cant beat a player if you cant control the ball.

 

Does Popa read WestSydneyFootball for advice and tactics

 

Coming to West Sydney Football for advice and tactics is like asking Nicky Carle where to get a good haircut.

I think the guys saying people are over-reacting need to just let people rant and vent. Its just the internet after all.

I understand that its just squad rotation and that a draw in Wellington is better than losing (like last year), but that doesn't mean I have to be happy after a pretty poor performance. I'm not saying that players or staff should be sacked or that I'm suddenly not supporting the team, just that certain players need to do better when given the chance.

I think the guys saying people are over-reacting need to just let people rant and vent. Its just the internet after all.

 

I understand that its just squad rotation and that a draw in Wellington is better than losing (like last year), but that doesn't mean I have to be happy after a pretty poor performance. I'm not saying that players or staff should be sacked or that I'm suddenly not supporting the team, just that certain players need to do better when given the chance.

People have different personalities. Some don't want to talk about it because it comes across as all negative to them. Fair enough. I like to talk about it (it doesn't actually stress me out at all even if we are playing crap). Analysing players and tactics is what a love of football is all about to me. At the end of the day it's a forum where people should be allowed to give their opinions. If you don't like it then don't read it.  

The best part of this is if we don't know what card popa is going to play next neither will the opposition. Chillax people it could be a lot worse...... 
 

Too soon bro.

Too soon.

 

From a managerial perspective, Popa could not have tested the depth of his squad at a better time - Its still early in the season and he had a buffer knowing that the worst case scenario would be that we remain in second place. 

 

Coming up to some tougher games plus ACL, there really could not have been a better time. 

 

If you believed there was a chance that we could pull such a poor performance when testing the depth of the squad for ACL etc, wouldn't you prefer it was against a poorer team and in a great ladder position such as the one we are in?  

 

Not that I know Popa but it almost seems obvious that this was the case considering our games going into Christmas. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some similar changes for our Wanderland game against Heart - but then again Heart really gave us some trouble and now they've tasted goal so it will be another spanner for Popa.   

 

We were in 3rd place behind ESFC going in to the Nix game! The point took us back above them on goal diff.

 

My apologies for not making it clearer - Popa might have believed that the worst case for us would be a draw.  

we have been spoilt in this first 18 months with our team. many of us who support less dominant overseas clubs have experienced more success with the wanderers in a year than we have in many, many years supporting other clubs. perhaps need a bit of perspective - its a salary cap league with a history of yo-yo performances - everyone predicted a 'second season syndrome' and we have largely managed to dodge that so far. not a great performance tbf but we are still well placed with a couple of very winnable games on the slate. glass half full.

 

Some positives

 

7. Polenze, Santa, Spira, Dapuzzo, shown who is boss and if you dont perform you will not only not make bench you will be dropped from game day squad. Popa swung his almighty schlong and dick whacked a few players. Good wake up call.

 

9. Some fringe players were given a chance. Did they take it?? Did popa learn a bit more about these guys???

 

 

I dont agree with your point 7. I think your way off the mark. Lets just call it the way you see it, shall we. Your not a fan of Spiranovic, we get it. As for the wake up call you talk about its pure nonsense, we played our best game against Brisbane and lost. We lost to three quite unbelievable goals, all which were no fault of Spiranovic.

 

The truth is we dont know what was behind Popa's selections but whatever it was it wasn't working against Wellington.

So to your point 9 I agree. What did we learn........... we cant expect the team to play well with wholesale changes to the team. Its too many.

 

Lastly I was also disappointed with the performance of Mooy. The guy for all his supposed talent is no number 10 which is a shame because I was hoping that is a role he could fill in the future. He is ok at No 6. Was expecting Aaron to kick on this season but I have watched many of his games closely and I just cant see it happening.

All good. As per my original post it was a very positive one. Seems many are acting one point in 9 and making a bigger deal of it than was intended.

We all talk of mass changes. Is that normal? Is it rotation? Is it due to coach not happy . We just won't know for sure that why we have opinions.

Let's see.

Glad to see Michael and Hersi back~~~

Just a couple of things:-  

We are now just 3 weeks from our first period of tight fixturing.  3 games in 9 days in the heat of summer starting on 23 December.  We are going to need a large proportion of the squad ready to go and then back up for the second lot starting on 11 January.  I expect some rotations to continue so that everyone is primed for the task.

We have quite a number of players who are coming off contract at the end of the season.  Its good to see some of the lesser used players getting a run so that Popa can assess where he needs to be adjusting the squad.  Players are already allowed to be talking to other clubs.  Popa needs to be up with the pack in this so we have a chance of snaring any targets and retaining who we want to keep.