Piovaccari Scores! City Smashed!

Well see what pio has to offer after his first goal . Personally don't think 1 goal is going to change much, going through what I've seen so far.

Pio seemed much hungrier for a goal and you can see him work for some of those chances. Glad to see him get a run on the board and I hope this opens the way for more

Was it just me or was it only when he had a blow up with (don't quote me) I think it was Jamo, he got hungry all of a sudden like he needed it to hit home. Let's face it the only reason he scored was because everyone else stopped but if this will give him confidence moving forward I am happy with that.

Fred's finish was that of a world class #9      

Did anyone catch Popa's post game comment. 

Q - What do you think of the treatment Redmayne for from the stands?

 

Popa - All I could hear was our away fans who spend their hard earned cash to come down and support us.

 

Perfect answer!!!

Did anyone catch Popa's post game comment. 

Q - What do you think of the treatment Redmayne for from the stands?

 

Popa - All I could hear was our away fans who spend their hard earned cash to come down and support us.

 

Oh yeah, that was the perfect response. Huge respect to Popa for that answer.

Additionally, in the official post match presser he was asked about Pio early and stated that he knew goals were coming, much like how the team were winless after the first 3. He knew it was coming and he had great confidence in him. When pressed about other people's opinions and comments on him, he first said he doesn't particularly notice or care what people outside the club say, as they don't know the full story, eventually he just had to shut down the questions saying he's said enough about Pio and it doesn't matter what people are saying. It was a very well conducted presser, kudos to the big boss.

You know the best thing we're learning about? Our depth. Popa has so many options now, particularly in attack.

I think Castelen will force his way back in as a starting winger soon, and Sotirio and Golgol are also knocking on the door too.

For man management reasons, it would be a good idea to stick with Pio (confidence/momentum) and Fathead (fitness) as starters next week. Tactically though, Popa could bring in Castelen and Sotirio for an extremely pacey front three against to burn Mariners' defenders and wingers when they fail to get back. This sort of flexibilty is rare in the A-League, and means it'll be very tough for opposition coaches and players to prepare.

This wealth of attackers means we also have a bit more midfield coverage than we thought - e.g. Mitch could drop further back if Andreu or Dimas get injured, and Dario could move to 10.

Alternatively, if something like that happened, Alberto could do a Spira and step up to DM, given the strength of the defensive stocks. We haven't missed him hugely with Aspro playing, and Topor is adjusting well. Hamill? Further depth, and possibly a challenge for Neville on the right. An injury to Jamieson would still be a worry though.

I'm even getting a little more comfortable with Redmayne, although would love him to be set up with a sports psych to work on his decision-making and apparent anxiety on the ball. Regardless, there's not a big enough problem there to bring in Reddy, given his potential to rock what seems to be a very smooth-sailing boat at the moment.

Hopes are high for the next seven games - five at home, and CCM and Perth away. We should be entrenched in the top 2-3 after that run, and then there are some big games against both Melbournes and a couple of derbies. Plenty to look forward to - I'm predicting happy grubs for the next few months.

EDIT: Just read Chubba's post in the 'New Wanderers' thread, and completely agree (amazingly). Happy times indeed!

Best performance so far, looked very solid at the back and creative up front. 

Mitch best on park again IMO.

If Mitch keeps working hard and putting in solid performances week after week, I hear a call coming from the National team. It was good to hear his comment in the post match interview when he was asked about it as well, i.e. it's not really something he's thinking about, head down, keep working.. and you never know.

just what we need.

Popa about Nichols:

"I think he's just touched the surface. You know, he's maturing more now as a player, he's 26 years of age. He's starting to understand the game a lot better, read the game better and I think there's a lot more to come from him."

For us in the WSW that sounds like a promise, for the rest it sounds like a threat.

Other than those already mentioned I think Dimas has been really good for us week in week out and put in a good performance again. Doesn't seem to get a mention to much

I love Jamieson. He's a Bulut.

Smurfs have gone down 4-2 to Victory. What a great weekend.

Other than those already mentioned I think Dimas has been really good for us week in week out and put in a good performance again. Doesn't seem to get a mention to much

Guys with that role rarely do. Think Busquets, Matic, etc. A team doesn't win without them though

Finally managed to watch the match tonight (24 hours later)

- Butters bossed it again. The man is a machine. He might have a punchable face, but he's our punchable face

- good to se Pio score, and it's unfortunate that the controversy meant the pipe didn't get a run

- NTS/Aspro is as good a combination as NTS/Alberto (which is a wrap for Aspro and not a knock for Alberto who is a class CB)

- my love for Andreu grows deeper by the day. I hope we see more than one season of this guy.

The natural order of things has been restored this weekend.

We win well and ESCF get thumped, all is well again  

Happy days

Alls good expect for Paris

Lest we forget

4, 2 haha Esfc have only ever beat victory 7 times in ten years

 

 

Wow! That's why most of us are armchair critics and few of us are football coaches whilst only one of us is Tony Popovic. I can't hear Popa's critics sing I can't hear Popa's critics sing...

Open your eyes and ears. Popa critics are still there and with good reason. 3 games is only 3 games. Still has a lot to prove. I hope he can do it!

 

EDIT: In before the "you can't open your ears comments." It's a figure of speech

 

WTF? 

 

Popa has nothing to prove. His record speaks for itself and any of the other 9 HAL gaffers can only dream of his resume. 

 

 Are you forgetting that before this 3 in a row winning run, we were 4 wins from 30! Regardless oh his success in the ACL and the first 2 seasons, 4 from 30 is 4 from 30! Any other manager in world football would be sacked under them results. So don't tell me that's good enough because it isn't.

 

 

 

Wow! That's why most of us are armchair critics and few of us are football coaches whilst only one of us is Tony Popovic. I can't hear Popa's critics sing I can't hear Popa's critics sing...

Open your eyes and ears. Popa critics are still there and with good reason. 3 games is only 3 games. Still has a lot to prove. I hope he can do it!

 

EDIT: In before the "you can't open your ears comments." It's a figure of speech

Still has a lot to prove? ***** me what more do you want from our brief history? Arguably we're playing our best football since inception !!

The change in style is remarkable and demonstrates he's no one trick pony. I'm loving watching it. When without an in form striker as well.

City were rubbish though it has to be said.

 

Can have the Spanish assistants to thank for that also. They've added a lot to this team.

 

 

Wow! That's why most of us are armchair critics and few of us are football coaches whilst only one of us is Tony Popovic. I can't hear Popa's critics sing I can't hear Popa's critics sing...

Open your eyes and ears. Popa critics are still there and with good reason. 3 games is only 3 games. Still has a lot to prove. I hope he can do it!

 

EDIT: In before the "you can't open your ears comments." It's a figure of speech

 

Still has a lot to prove? ***** me what more do you want from our brief history? Arguably we're playing our best football since inception !!

 

Yes, still has a lot to prove! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure we've only won 6 of our last 42 games. That is why he still has a lot to prove! Just because he did brilliant things at one point, doesn't mean he should be here forever. Look at someone like Arsene Wenger. It's a miracle that he's still employed at Arsenal. Comes a time when a club has to say "thank you, but goodbye."

I hope Popa can work it out, don't get me wrong. But 6 from 42 is the reason why I'm saying he still has a lot to prove.

ACL champions. World Club Championship. Premiership Plate winners. Two Grand Final appearances. Second biggest club in country. RBB. Three year's old. Heads must roll !!

It's funny how the people who use the "he's only won X out of Y games" argument always start counting from an arbitrary game which is after a win and at the start of a run off losses.

If you look at win percentages over entire A-League careers Popa is in the top half of the current crop of managers. That include Scott Miller ahead of him who has a high win percentage due to a short career and a strong start, let's see if he keeps it up. None of those managers had to deal with back to back Champions League campaigns with a Club World Cup in between bringing down their averages either (and none have won any of those tournaments).

We're currently playing good football and we're a point off the top of the table (even if Brisbane win today it'll only be 3 points off). We have one of the more successful managers in the league in terms of career win statistics and one who in three and a bit seasons created a squad from nothing and led that squad to two grand finals, a premiers plate and a Champions League title.

How can someone look at those facts and say Popa out?

City active supporters were walking out before full time, others were booing the team - getting funnier and funnier by the hour.

City active supporters were walking out before full time, others were booing the team - getting funnier and funnier by the hour.

And we all got to sing the goodbye song

@JosephWSW56

We won the ACL, travelled to Morroco, had a ridiculous schedule as a result, and sent players to the NT. It shot our pre-season prep, broke the players physically and just about mentally, and killed our season.

I'll just leave this here for Joseph.

Stats are just numbers and you can almost get any outcome you want. You can look at 4 - 34 or you can look at 3 - 3 and one looks much better than the other.

I prefer to see what we achieved in our short existance. 1 Premier Plate, 2 Grand Finals and the one that sets us apart from any other team in OZ....the ACL.