WSW Extend Winless Run To Seven

22 minutes ago, Generator said:

Are we expecting too much as fans?

Where we land at the end of the season I do not know and a large part of me has honestly stopped caring (there are many reasons why, but right now I’ll say that football is an escape but less so when the skies are burning). However, I do know that expecting too much from a mediocre team and club is probably a mistake many of us have made. 

Let’s embrace middle of the road-dom, peoples. It’s where the club sits at the current time.

Our initial successes  spoilt us I think,  and gave us a sense of almost entitlement, to success. 

That was made even stronger when our cross town rivals were so poor at that time, and we quickly got a sense of superiority that wasn't ever going to be sustainable. 

Your point about the "skies burning" is a good one - prioities.

Hope things are OK where you are! 

WTF is some of this tactical analysis

Meier passing back? He’s the centre forward who plays with his back to goal - it’s the same style as one Dino Kresinger. You want him to try and face forward and get the ball taken off him? He’s already double marked effectively. Besides he should be on the end of attacks not facing forward and setting them up.

Crosses are a bad strategy? Umm WU play with 3 centre backs and 2 holding midfielders. You’re seriously going to try playing through the middle when you have a 7 foot tall striker who is good in the air? And when they are playing Connor Pain as a wing back who has almost zero defensive skill?

I’m all for brutal honesty but let’s get serious about the analysis

8 minutes ago, Unlimited said:

WTF is some of this tactical analysis

Meier passing back? He’s the centre forward who plays with his back to goal - it’s the same style as one Dino Kresinger. You want him to try and face forward and get the ball taken off him? He’s already double marked effectively. Besides he should be on the end of attacks not facing forward and setting them up.

Crosses are a bad strategy? Umm WU play with 3 centre backs and 2 holding midfielders. You’re seriously going to try playing through the middle when you have a 7 foot tall striker who is good in the air? And when they are playing Connor Pain as a wing back who has almost zero defensive skill?

I’m all for brutal honesty but let’s get serious about the analysis

Meier would be more successful if we could cross worth a damn. Our striker is a giant and most of our crosses were either low/along the the ground, or harmlessly floated to the other side of the 18. His link up play was good, but he’s always going to be perceived as a dud if the boys on the park can’t play to our marquee’s strength. 

10 minutes ago, Unlimited said:

You’re seriously going to try playing through the middle when you have a 7 foot tall striker who is good in the air?

Is he though? He’s missed quite a few headers and been pushed off the ball rather easily when it’s in the air.

All the evidence we’ve seen is that he’s better with his feet than in the air. He’s good at laying the ball off and he’s unselfish enough to do it. I wonder what he’d look like with guys like Bridge, Vidosic, Cole around him. They got into space well and were good at playing quick short passes. Our current attackers don’t play that way, when you see a few quick passes in a row you are surprised.

I actually thought we were quite decent last night. 

Lucky not to concede within the first 90 seconds, but after that, it was a fairly even match, if not slightly in our favour. 

The lack of subs still does my head in. You can see the talent is there. We do have the squad that can compete this season, but we’ve known this from day 2. There’s just something missing, a killer touch perhaps. 

I think it was enough to buy Babbel a bit more time. 

6 minutes ago, btron3000 said:

Is he though? He’s missed quite a few headers and been pushed off the ball rather easily when it’s in the air.

All the evidence we’ve seen is that he’s better with his feet than in the air. He’s good at laying the ball off and he’s unselfish enough to do it. I wonder what he’d look like with guys like Bridge, Vidosic, Cole around him. They got into space well and were good at playing quick short passes. Our current attackers don’t play that way, when you see a few quick passes in a row you are surprised.

For a tall dude he gets out jumped most of the time , plus missed a great header chance by about 2-3 metres last night 

My view has changed slightly give Babbel to next week and if we cant beat Adelaide say Hoo Roo 

onward and upwards I see light at the end of tunnel in amongst all this doom and gloom, I was pleased last night for 95 percent of the game we fix the 5 percent and we will go a march

BUT !!!

Adelaide away next week is the big one for us if we win that we can go forward   

Meir may be getting better match fitness he was better last night , hope so!!

Muller I tip with a few more games and fitness he step up a level for sure

Ziegler every game he is giving me more confidence 

Russell looks to be a better allround player at this stage than Wilmering as the game wore on he got better especially his crosses 

Yeboah stifled our attack with poor first touches and extremely poor vision as well diabolical shooting, bench him

Duke and Meir up front 

and Nick Sullivan beside Muller will fix that

at least we are not talking about the referee, can't remember one poor performance from that guy he is streets ahead of anything else with a whistle in this country. I thought we were ok last night, against a aide that plnety will struggle against, would of liked to see a few subs late on when Yeboah was dead and Meieir well less said the better but once again we created plenty and couldnt put one away.  If this game is taken in isolation it would of been a good performanec and result but placed with the last 4 games debacle may seem like not good enough to some.

On another note, for those who got to see that WL game earlier how good is it watching a team that just keeps going forward.

40 minutes ago, Beer said:

I actually thought we were quite decent last night. 

Lucky not to concede within the first 90 seconds, but after that, it was a fairly even match, if not slightly in our favour. 

The lack of subs still does my head in. You can see the talent is there. We do have the squad that can compete this season, but we’ve known this from day 2. There’s just something missing, a killer touch perhaps. 

I think it was enough to buy Babbel a bit more time. 

A new Ono.

Me and those I was with were pleased with the game - result was disappointing as we were the better side for most of the game and applied most of the pressure.  They play a very frustrating and pitiful game - I am no fan of Rudan's style or tactics, even if they seem to work.  Diamante is a very good player but should take on Hollywood when he retires.  Any other A League ref and he would have had them in his pocket..

I wonder if Meier and Muller are at a very different level and style than Duke and Yeboah.  Meier and Muller seem to be able to hold the ball, control it, pass it and move off the pass.  They also see other options.  Duke and Yeboah (moreso Yeboah) are run fast and have less close in touch - more hustle and bustle than finesse.  It seemed like two competing styles that aren't quite coming together i=on hte park.  I kept wanting Muller adn Meier to be brought into hte play but we can't seem to do it.  Schwegler has the skill and sometimes Baccus but most other don't - its run fast around the opposition, hoik it forward and run onto it..It is typical A League stuff that can work but Meier and Muller play a different game and that, for me is where isn't quite gelling.

Both Meier and Muller showed some class above when they were on the ball and able to use it.  Meier's first touch, quickpasses, control etc are first class - just not enough and no-one to run off him.  I reckon, as someone else said, Bridge would ahve worked very well with Meier.  Imagine Ono in there as well!

Yeboah runs really well, does some good stuff but is not the striker we need.  I would like to have seen someone like Mo on for him at about 60/65 minutes. Tate was excellent - especially for his first start this year!  They attacked his side and he dealt pretty well with it.  Schwegler adn Ziegler backed him well.  Diamante was on his side and he had Kone in the first half - Greek Class v youth and youth was not left wanting.

I don't like Rudan's style at all.  The delaying, halting play and playing games is pathetic adn I wish that every ref would call it out and do something - a few yellows and maybe it might get things going.  If Kurto delays goal kicks more than 3x a yellow.  Does it again and he's off!  He wasn't the only one.

48 minutes ago, scarcev said:

at least we are not talking about the referee

True that, he ignored all the diving (maybe a bit too much) but apart from that no stupid descions (that we get from the others). The only minor issue I had with him was that he kept on giving the hurry up to their keeper and never showed him a yellow card

Firstly, I'll talk about the W-League.

How good are our girls? Also, Heffernan showed more in his coaching ability to fit his team into a system with ease despite their late arrivals and getting the end result of the girls scoring goals and winning the game. Our girls played beautiful attacking football, the front 3 of Cooney-Cross, Williams and Hamilton are a joy to watch. The way how they link up in attack, not being very selfish with the ball, they don't dwell on the ball, they support each other, they fight to win the ball back, something that only Duke does. Our women are doing everything that I wish our men's team do. Our women's team at this current moment are far more entertaining and much better to watch than our men's team.

Now onto last night's game, I don't know why we continuously insist on playing down the flanks rather than through the middle, our crosses were aimless Meier has 3 players on him when a cross comes in, we were very lucky with that goal because it bounced off a WU player's head and Ziegler was wide open. And credit to him be cause he played very well along with Muller, Meier and Russell.

Yeboah was absolutely wasteful, he has frustrated me in the last few weeks with his poor touches and wasting chances.

And as for Babbel, him not making a substitution was just baffling, I am watching the subs warm up, hoping for someone to come on to give us some new energy and maybe that extra dimension in attack, I was hoping for Sullivan and Mo Adam to come on. Alas we score in the 80th minute, suddenly Rudan makes an attacking change and the momentum shifted their way, they got their goal. Babbel does nothing and we were on the back foot since we scored. Why didn't Babbel make a change after they scored I will never understand. I am just trying to understand Babbel's logic to not use his subs at all.

7 minutes ago, SBW said:

Yeboah was absolutely wasteful, he has frustrated me in the last few weeks with his poor touches and wasting chances.

Agree. 

We need Sullivan as AM and Muller on the right wing. Yeboah can off the bench.

I watched the presser with MB (f*** wit Bossi was in the Grand Inquisitor with Michael Lynch as his sidekick). 

MB said they failed to note the tactical switch by Rudan to a a back 4 and that was reason for the goal. He also criticized Rudan's behind the ball tactics. 

8 minutes ago, Paul01 said:

MB said they failed to note the tactical switch by Rudan to a a back 4 and that was reason for the goal. He also criticized Rudan's behind the ball tactics. 

"They failed..." meaning our players?

2 hours ago, Unlimited said:

WTF is some of this tactical analysis

Meier passing back? He’s the centre forward who plays with his back to goal - it’s the same style as one Dino Kresinger. You want him to try and face forward and get the ball taken off him? He’s already double marked effectively. Besides he should be on the end of attacks not facing forward and setting them up.

Crosses are a bad strategy? Umm WU play with 3 centre backs and 2 holding midfielders. You’re seriously going to try playing through the middle when you have a 7 foot tall striker who is good in the air? And when they are playing Connor Pain as a wing back who has almost zero defensive skill?

I’m all for brutal honesty but let’s get serious about the analysis

I didn’t say crosses were a bad strategy. I said we kept hitting crosses low that they kept crowding out. 

I’m also yet to see any evidence he is good in the air. I’ve seen him get his head on a head a few, and miss a bunch of positions he shouldn’t miss.

Dont mistake height for being good in the air. The best header of the night came from one of the shortest blokes on the park

Yeah I want to know what Sullivan has done to not get some time on the park. Ditto Mo Adam. 

11 minutes ago, wendybr said:

"They failed..." meaning our players?

 

No the coaching staff to adjust to the change.

7 minutes ago, Paul01 said:

No the coaching staff to adjust to the change.

He admitted he didn't see it or adjust?

3 minutes ago, wendybr said:

He admitted he didn't see it or adjust?

Have to rewatch the presser

4 minutes ago, Paul01 said:

Have to rewatch the presser

He outright put it on the players. Pretty sure he thinks his job recruitment, doing pressers and wearing funny hats

Someone else might have seen it.

I was interested in knowing whether he was being critical of the players.

ETIT...And Upthehill just answered that.

Pathetic if he dumped...yet again...on his players!

If we take the gist of Bossi's articles and apply it to the team and it's performances then Babbel has done nothing wrong as it's JP that's pulling the strings. 

#JPOUTnotBABBEL

2 hours ago, BoyFromTheWest said:

Me and those I was with were pleased with the game - result was disappointing as we were the better side for most of the game and applied most of the pressure.  They play a very frustrating and pitiful game - I am no fan of Rudan's style or tactics, even if they seem to work.  Diamante is a very good player but should take on Hollywood when he retires.  Any other A League ref and he would have had them in his pocket..

I wonder if Meier and Muller are at a very different level and style than Duke and Yeboah.  Meier and Muller seem to be able to hold the ball, control it, pass it and move off the pass.  They also see other options.  Duke and Yeboah (moreso Yeboah) are run fast and have less close in touch - more hustle and bustle than finesse.  It seemed like two competing styles that aren't quite coming together i=on hte park.  I kept wanting Muller adn Meier to be brought into hte play but we can't seem to do it.  Schwegler has the skill and sometimes Baccus but most other don't - its run fast around the opposition, hoik it forward and run onto it..It is typical A League stuff that can work but Meier and Muller play a different game and that, for me is where isn't quite gelling.

Both Meier and Muller showed some class above when they were on the ball and able to use it.  Meier's first touch, quickpasses, control etc are first class - just not enough and no-one to run off him.  I reckon, as someone else said, Bridge would ahve worked very well with Meier.  Imagine Ono in there as well!

Yeboah runs really well, does some good stuff but is not the striker we need.  I would like to have seen someone like Mo on for him at about 60/65 minutes. Tate was excellent - especially for his first start this year!  They attacked his side and he dealt pretty well with it.  Schwegler adn Ziegler backed him well.  Diamante was on his side and he had Kone in the first half - Greek Class v youth and youth was not left wanting.

I don't like Rudan's style at all.  The delaying, halting play and playing games is pathetic adn I wish that every ref would call it out and do something - a few yellows and maybe it might get things going.  If Kurto delays goal kicks more than 3x a yellow.  Does it again and he's off!  He wasn't the only one.

Agree. I feel our lack of quality in duke, yeboah and at times baccus and georgevski is what is stopping our ability to finish, our ability to put the ball in the back of the net having worked hard to get there. Those players are responsible for a large portion of poor first touches, poor releases, poor inaccurate passes at crucial moments, and poor choices on who the pass should go to.

Don't get me wrong, i love their passion and committment, especially duke and georgevski, and i dont think theyre awful players, they just dont seem to have the ability to deliver that quality.

I suggest we dock any player $100 for stray passes, wild shots on goal, and lets who wracks up the biggest total. It ain't Meier and it ain't Muller.

Edit to add

No subs is crazy. I truly want to know what Babbels reasoning is. My amateur football brain doesn't understand. Yeobah and duke were cooked, bring Mo on. 

Re Babbel' s reasoning for no subs.

 He said, straight after the game when asked, that his observation was that the boys were all fine. Noone looked to need replacing and things were working.

Something of that nature anyway....he didnt feel the need.

Dont know if he elaborated in his presser. He probably did.

No mention of another pissed off individual so far.................................KGJ probably the most pissed off chappie at Bankwest last night, denied his chance to give another s**t penalty decision.

Also one fact that wasn’t mentioned too much: other than a couple of passes in the first 5 minutes, did Diamanti, Kone, or Berisha do anything?

Defence kept them well marshalled

When Berisha was subbed off I literally didn’t even remember he was playing, he was so ineffective

3 minutes ago, Unlimited said:

Also one fact that wasn’t mentioned too much: other than a couple of passes in the first 5 minutes, did Diamanti, Kone, or Berisha do anything?

Defence kept them well marshalled

When Berisha was subbed off I literally didn’t even remember he was playing, he was so ineffective

For most of the 2nd half I thought I'd missed Diamanti being subbed off

1 minute ago, Unlimited said:

Also one fact that wasn’t mentioned too much: other than a couple of passes in the first 5 minutes, did Diamanti, Kone, or Berisha do anything?

Defence kept them well marshalled

When Berisha was subbed off I literally didn’t even remember he was playing, he was so ineffective

Diamanti was quiet in the front third. Schwegler stayed glued to him. But he did collect a lot of 50/50 balls in the middle then draw fouls pretty much constantly. He eased the pressure on WU a lot by doing that.

Berisha was starved out of the game. Baccus and Schwegler cleaned up quite nicely

5 hours ago, Generator said:

Are we expecting too much as fans?

The team wasn’t horrible, which is a vast improvement on recent years. I see some merit in the game plan, even if the lack of subs and tactical reminders from the bench is a little puzzling (Babbel has often said the players just need to stick to the plan, but I can only gather the players aren’t remembering when to adapt as per the plan...).

Where we land at the end of the season I do not know and a large part of me has honestly stopped caring (there are many reasons why, but right now I’ll say that football is an escape but less so when the skies are burning). However, I do know that expecting too much from a mediocre team and club is probably a mistake many of us have made. 

Let’s embrace middle of the road-dom, peoples. It’s where the club sits at the current time.

Western Sydney isn't a middle of the road part of the country for football though, this is my personal gripe.

We've done the heavy lifting when it comes to producing players, the game that's always played second fiddle to other codes has it's spine in the West.

I want a club that reflects that, with the Academy up now and stages 2 and 3 of that project underway we'll get there but at the moment it's not happening.

If Babbel was able to grasp that WU subbed off a defender for an attacker and switched to a 4ATB formation then that’ll just about do me.

It is his job to see this, blind bloody Freddy could’ve, and react to it in a way that slows the game down (ie, sub off an attacker for another midfielder or defender). 

The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that Babbel cost us another 2 points last night.