Mariners Park The Barge To Claim Point In Parramatta.

Have we successfully replaced our previous stars??? Saba or Shinji ? Shinji Castelen or Hersi ? Hersi Mullen or Polenz ? Polenz Adeleke or Dapuzzo ? Adeleke Ruka or Minnecon ? Ruka That's a problem for me !!!

Seriously? If you look at all the guys who started in season one who you've listed and ask if they were any further down the path of being as good after 5 games in 2012/13 as the current new players are now, or vice versa, then there be very few who you could definitively say yes...the old boys were better at the same stage. I won't judge the success or failure of whether any of the likes of Saba, Ruka, Adeleke, Castelen etc are as good as Ono, Polenz, Hersi, Mooy until they've had a lot more games under their belts, and to be honest that won't be until at least after the AFC Cup.

Having said that there has been some OTT stuff about Saba. I get his Brazilian flamboyance and eagerness to impress has already won some hearts...but at his age he is no Shinji and may never be. Right now I'd be very satisfied of he continues to develop and starts to find more ways to unlock problematic defences like we saw from the Sea Bogan bus tonight.

 why did we see Romeo and Ruka switch for a time? 

They did this against Wellington too.  It doesn't work whatever they're trying.  It just narrowed the play as both tended inside.  Maybe it was trying to unsettle and pull CCM players out of position in the hope they were man marking.  If it is, it didn't work.  They just held their shape anyway.

 

 

Did anyone else see that little 360 to nowhere from Adeleke???

 

 

Yeah I saw it...he does love turning back towards goal...

 

Attendance 14k? There's no way there were that many empty seats.

 

I think 14k is about right. No excuses on Saturday. At least 19k+

Just watched the highlights after coming home from the game ... Geez, we had a ton of chances, which is a positive sign! But how did Tomi miss that shot in the last few minutes? That one should've been in the back of the net for sure. Instead, it was a massive air swing, nothing but air. Never mind, bring on Newcastle!

The mariners should buy Liam Reddy a case of whatever the **** he wants and excuse him for turning up pissed to training for the next seven days. Christ he has never kept like that in his life.

I'm wondering if Adeleke is 'all there'? He certainly makes some interesting decisions, particularly at the start of a game. It takes him a while to get going, for the first 20 minutes he's got the touch of a rapist. Wtf is this 360 business all about? It's like he just gets lost spontaneously. Someone buy the poor **** a compass and direct him to the opposition goal.

I couldn't make the game tonight due to work so I watched the replay when I got home. There are no words to describe Ned Zelic's style of commentary. He's like a hairy version of Ray Hudson with a big gold chain but not quite as creative. At one stage he was comparing the game to a duel between a lion and a zebra and then analysed the performance of the mariners physio when he came onto the field. My favourite part of his routine is when he just starts shouting what he has to say at random moments in the game and it's highly unnecessary. He's a ******* clown but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

This picture sums up the night really..

 

https://twitter.com/ALeague/status/535026616989003776/photo/1

How was that not a card?

I'm glad the South Terrace was more than 80% full tonight, and the NT was about 75% capacity. I still believe the NT is still undersold but I'm sure we have sold more than last season. 

Almost a 15k crowd tonight on a Wednesday night, good job for those that attended..

ESFC only got 3k for their QF FFA cup game on a Tuesday night.

Did anyone notice Saba revving up the crowd before he was taking a corner on the CPC section? Reminded me of Berisha during the GF.

P.S I wish the RBB sang the Championes chant, I'm still on a high from our ACL trophy.

PPS. I loved the #NOTOANZ Banner, at least it didn't get confiscated and was allowed to be displayed on top of bay 55.. haha! We should keep that on for the whole season.

@wanderersfanatic

You don't sing championes when you're sitting bottom of the ladder LOL

My biggest relief was that "these colours" has gone back to a call and response. Yeeaaah baby!

As for the game. We had no width until the last 20 mins on the right.

Castelen was too central. On occassion our boys had the ball and no one out hugging the side line to give it too.

Im not sure whay position Castelen was meant to be playing. Was he following Popa's instruction?

Ruka was playing deeper then Juric and both were dropping very deep at times.

Promising sogns overall a few frustrating missed chances. Mariners would be happy with the point.

The mariners should buy Liam Reddy a case of whatever the **** he wants and excuse him for turning up pissed to training for the next seven days. Christ he has never kept like that in his life.

 

I'm wondering if Adeleke is 'all there'? He certainly makes some interesting decisions, particularly at the start of a game. It takes him a while to get going, for the first 20 minutes he's got the touch of a rapist. Wtf is this 360 business all about? It's like he just gets lost spontaneously. Someone buy the poor **** a compass and direct him to the opposition goal.

 

I couldn't make the game tonight due to work so I watched the replay when I got home. There are no words to describe Ned Zelic's style of commentary. He's like a hairy version of Ray Hudson with a big gold chain but not quite as creative. At one stage he was comparing the game to a duel between a lion and a zebra and then analysed the performance of the mariners physio when he came onto the field. My favourite part of his routine is when he just starts shouting what he has to say at random moments in the game and it's highly unnecessary. He's a ******* clown but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Zelic... a motormouth.... more amateurish/irritating than enjoyable. The Foxtel producers should give him some blue pills and tell him to calm/slow down... or simply shut up!

 

The mariners should buy Liam Reddy a case of whatever the **** he wants and excuse him for turning up pissed to training for the next seven days. Christ he has never kept like that in his life.

I'm wondering if Adeleke is 'all there'? He certainly makes some interesting decisions, particularly at the start of a game. It takes him a while to get going, for the first 20 minutes he's got the touch of a rapist. Wtf is this 360 business all about? It's like he just gets lost spontaneously. Someone buy the poor **** a compass and direct him to the opposition goal.

I couldn't make the game tonight due to work so I watched the replay when I got home. There are no words to describe Ned Zelic's style of commentary. He's like a hairy version of Ray Hudson with a big gold chain but not quite as creative. At one stage he was comparing the game to a duel between a lion and a zebra and then analysed the performance of the mariners physio when he came onto the field. My favourite part of his routine is when he just starts shouting what he has to say at random moments in the game and it's highly unnecessary. He's a ******* clown but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

 

Zelic... a motormouth.... amateurish/irritating than enjoyable. The Foxtel producers should give him some blue pills and tell him to calm/slow down... or simply shut up!

Im just putting it out there but it looks like he is on some sort of stimulant

We must do goal practice drills,, we should of won 3-0 last night...

i thought we looked much more dangerous when saba came off. It was also great to see Ruka and Romeo swap wings, and run deep in the box and look threatening.

also, Shannon cole

i thought we looked much more dangerous when saba came off. It was also great to see Ruka and Romeo swap wings, and run deep in the box and look threatening.

 

also, Shannon cole

Agree with Bridgie coming on and Castelen pushing wide we looked better.

Strange game in some ways for guys like Saba. He played solid enough. Good technique without been too effective in terms of openingnup CCM.

For those wondering about Adeleke's 360's I reckon he watched tapes of us playing last year and saw Mooy do it a few times a game.    I'll never forget Mooy's 720 when there was no opponent near him.

 

Strange game in some ways for guys like Saba. He played solid enough. Good technique without been too effective in terms of openingnup CCM.

 

Yeah, Saba didn't seem to command the ball last night like he has done in previous games from the bench.

Just wasn't our night tonight, still I'll take a draw

over a loss anyway

 

Another game, more time the players have working together, we'll come good, bring on Saturday

 

Btw did any of u mofo's get a wanderdog? Went behind the south terrace and got told not selling them but then they were advertised pre game when players warming up.

Ooh! I had one, my first ever one. It was pretty good. $8.50 is a bit steep but... it had bacon so... can't really complain.

I went behind the South Terrace and the guy there said that the East Terrace food stand (in the glass doors area) sold them. And I got one there.

Then I had to walk all the way back to the Western stand to eat it... but it was dinner last night, and it was pretty good  

Little bit like season 1 taking us a while to get going when we destroy Esfc in the derby will be the catalyst to change the season

A positive to take out of the match was Adeleke, we know by now that Castelen is good but Adeleke was an unknown quantity.

I think he'll do fine.

My 2c:-

• Adeleke was good. Looks a capable defender. Not as threatening going forward (yet) as Jerome.
• Romeo seemed to run into trouble, took some poor options maybe
• Mariners had a game plan, (and we have been the best at executing game plans in the AC), so fair dues to them. They got their point.
• Juric seemed a bit like Bambi tonight, falling over his own feet.
• Saba was promising and I think will steadily improve as he works on his strength and conditioning.
• Thought the ref was OK in the main.
• Best moment of the match was Bridge's turn which left two Mariners for dead.
• Win our next two games and we will leapfrog the Roar.
• Great to be back home in the league. Beautiful evening too..

Our front 4 were interchanging positions more than I've seen previously..

No doubt tactical.

this isnt much to do with the game but its fantastic how there is a subway all season for the Western Stand

Do they have prawns in them?

..and love the little gold star above the badge on the front page of the programme!

• It was good to be back at Wanderland in an A League match for the first time since the semi against the Mariners, and that feels like a loooong time ago now.
• Almost 15k spectators on a Wednesday night ain't half bad, but still a little disappointing.
• The atmosphere seemed a little subdued. Maybe the pre match beer lubrication was missing.
• No goals = no beer showers.
• Strong squad. Happy with the performance. The chances were there.
• No need to complain about the Mariners. They got a result. We just weren't able to break them down.
• Very happy with our wing backs. I didn't miss Polenz this time. Adeleke is a great footballer.
• Spira, Castelen, Adeleke and Juric all did 90 minutes which was good to see. Both Saba and Ruka are getting there.
• I am not sure about the La Rocca – Poljak combo any longer when we are supposed to take the game to the opposition at home. To me there was something missing in midfield last night.
• With wingers like Ruka and Castelen the long balls need to be timed a little better, then they will carve up defences.
• Nobody seems to be capable to shoot ***** from the distance.
• Line up against the Jets: Covic – Golec – NTS – Hamill – Mullen, Poljak/LaRocca – Spira/Trifiro, Haliti – Bridge – Sotirio – Juric?
• Popa said: “It's difficult when you're playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, with the travel from Perth but we'll assess that. These are the cards we're dealt, in terms of the fixtures and the travel. Would we like it all different? Yes we would. But would I change winning a Champions League? No.†- Amen to that.

   

One word: uninspiring. That word can just as easily be applied to the Mariners, too.

 

Multiple words: that was one of the more forgettable games that I have ever witnessed at Parramatta, and that includes the odd trip to watch Northern Spirit play Power in the NSL. Our team tonight was OK, but nothing more than that - unfortunately any individual moments of flair were offset by the multiple instances where our players would clash when trying to reach a ball. As for the defence, it still seems like there are more gaps than in our previous seasons, especially on the left... A bold statement, but the lack of cover whenever the left back went forward was glaringly obvious.

 

Anyway, I regret heading up from Canberra for this one - multiple inconveniences on a work and personal front for a totally forgettable game. Hell, I could stomach a loss because that would at least give me something to really whinge about, whereas what I witnessed tonight... Again, uninspiring. Hopefully the team can pull it together a little better on Saturday.

Our paths might have crossed before, I used to go and see Parra Power and Northern Spirit, there weren't many of us there in those days so chances are we probably sat next to each other

Anyway I guess you weren't at the Nix home games last season, or the Adelaide downpour game, or the Newcastle Jets home game (the RBB protest game I think), all of those games were far far far more dour than last night, in fact the Nix home games and the Jets home game were coma inducing!

That is the way it goes, you took a punt traveling up from Canberra and fair play to you for that, but you know you will be back in similar circumstances because you are hooked, we all are. We could be sat on 1 point still come April and rooted to the bottom and I would still be at Parra Stadium every home game.

2 things really ***** shitted me last night and i have a feeling there's one farking carnt responsible for both.

If anyone knows the polesmoker responsible for playing that big bad wolf shite and playing that dancy crap over the top of glorious you have my permission to smash him in the face with a schooner glass.

You beat me to it.

Farking surely they can stop the pre match music as soon as Glorious kicks off.... Surely!!!

 

2 things really ***** shitted me last night and i have a feeling there's one farking carnt responsible for both.

If anyone knows the polesmoker responsible for playing that big bad wolf shite and playing that dancy crap over the top of glorious you have my permission to smash him in the face with a schooner glass.

You beat me to it.

Farking surely they can stop the pre match music as soon as Glorious kicks off.... Surely!!!

 

New RBB banner needed for when the teams run out 'Turn off the **** music' lol

It was interesting how often Poljak would drop into left back when we had possession to allow Adeleke to bomb forward. Interesting idea to get an overload on the wing but Adeleke's crossing was pretty bad.

 

Ruka and Castelen made heaps of space for themselves to receive the big diagonal cross field ball in behind but we never really played it.

 

I'm partly happy that we've got our first point and partly concerned that we played an ordinary Mariners side at home with our strongest XI (minus NTS) and didn't get the win.

Definitely agree with the Ruka and Castelan part. I reckon they ran them selves ragged with these runs for space, and at the end of the day it comes down to our midfielders (La Rocca and Poljaks) and thier inability in this department. Who in our current squad has this ability because were crying out for an alternative. Trifiro cant, he can be tidy but even thats a gamble. Hoping Baccus has this element to his game, or any of our youngsters can.

The only time we looked to play a splitting ball to our flanks in space was when Saba recieved it and that was often too late in the play. 

That being said, when Bridge comes on he acts as another playmaker from the left and it kinda works with our 2 DM system.

I suspect Bridge will start Saturday, Ruka on the bench..... but who knows with Popa, he may mix It up again.

 

• It was good to be back at Wanderland in an A League match for the first time since the semi against the Mariners, and that feels like a loooong time ago now.
• Almost 15k spectators on a Wednesday night ain't half bad, but still a little disappointing.
• The atmosphere seemed a little subdued. Maybe the pre match beer lubrication was missing.
• No goals = no beer showers.
• Strong squad. Happy with the performance. The chances were there.
• No need to complain about the Mariners. They got a result. We just weren't able to break them down.
• Very happy with our wing backs. I didn't miss Polenz this time. Adeleke is a great footballer.
• Spira, Castelen, Adeleke and Juric all did 90 minutes which was good to see. Both Saba and Ruka are getting there.
• I am not sure about the La Rocca – Poljak combo any longer when we are supposed to take the game to the opposition at home. To me there was something missing in midfield last night.
• With wingers like Ruka and Castelen the long balls need to be timed a little better, then they will carve up defences.
• Nobody seems to be capable to shoot ***** from the distance.
• Line up against the Jets: Covic – Golec – NTS – Hamill – Mullen, Poljak/LaRocca – Spira/Trifiro, Haliti – Bridge – Sotirio – Juric?
• Popa said: “It's difficult when you're playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, with the travel from Perth but we'll assess that. These are the cards we're dealt, in terms of the fixtures and the travel. Would we like it all different? Yes we would. But would I change winning a Champions League? No.†- Amen to that.

   

 

Wholeheartedly agree with all your points. I think the atmosphere will be amped up on Saturday also, wednesday working blues definitely subdued things a little.

 this is the most prominent point.

• I am not sure about the La Rocca – Poljak combo any longer when we are supposed to take the game to the opposition at home. To me there was something missing in midfield last night.

I think against the Jets Hamil and Poljak will be due rests. And also a few of last nights boys should be able to backup and it will be great for thier fitness.

_________________Covic__________________

Mullen_____Spira________NTS______Adeleke

__________La Rocca____(Someone with a long range passing game!!)

__Sotirio___________Saba__________Bridge___

________________Juric___________________

With Ruka, Castelan and Haliti to come off the bench. Golec to start for Adeleke but id love for him to get the match time.

One word: uninspiring. That word can just as easily be applied to the Mariners, too.

 

Multiple words: that was one of the more forgettable games that I have ever witnessed at Parramatta, and that includes the odd trip to watch Northern Spirit play Power in the NSL. Our team tonight was OK, but nothing more than that - unfortunately any individual moments of flair were offset by the multiple instances where our players would clash when trying to reach a ball. As for the defence, it still seems like there are more gaps than in our previous seasons, especially on the left... A bold statement, but the lack of cover whenever the left back went forward was glaringly obvious.

 

Anyway, I regret heading up from Canberra for this one - multiple inconveniences on a work and personal front for a totally forgettable game. Hell, I could stomach a loss because that would at least give me something to really whinge about, whereas what I witnessed tonight... Again, uninspiring. Hopefully the team can pull it together a little better on Saturday.

have never regretted going to a wanderers match.