Forum Phoenix
Well-Known Member
Well if ever there was two games that were chalk and cheese. Congrats to El Salvador. But that was an awful performance. I'm not saying this to be bitter or smug, wait? who the hell am I kidding, but it is happily on topic 
...
I simply can't imagine a better young Australian player than Amini to have had to come on to break down that defence. Unless perhaps... it was the most prolific goal scorer from our qualifying campaign... Who sat on the bench. Till the 84th minute. While we were chasing a game. While the striker who was on, Taggart, failed to make any impact whatsoever for the entire game... Much like Hoole. Who apart from being having no idea how to defend, was dire in attack. Williams had more impact in his handful of minutes than Hoole did the entire game also.
Subs came faaaaar too late. The other most troubling and bizarre thing to me was that Okon thought there effort was "superb" while we clearly made so many errors, showed a huge lack of composure and any inability to break them down -- with Connor Payne being the one worthy exception. You really know your in trouble when the only player creating is your centre back, we were badly missing a link CAM player tonight. Da Silva fell victim to the inconsistency of youth and was not just marked out of the game, but struggled positionally throughout when he was not being allowed the same degree of space as last game. Not at all unsurprising for a 16 year old. And I'm still incredibly impressed by him, it's a very hard skill, but the great number 10's know how to ghost and get onto the ball when things are at there most tight. Amini can and very likely would have done this for us tonight. Whereas Da Silva, (a credit to his attitude) spent his time chasing down lost causes to the byline and running around perhaps trying to impress with his energy? But in games like this, creative attacking players often have to sacrifice some "intensity" to ghost. But then... you may risk the label of "unfit" or "lazy" too. Was such a joy to watch Perez do this live for the short time we had with him. A player Musti spent a reasonable amount of time alongside and modelling on.
So anyhow, now we have to beat the hosts. Our best chance is if the Turks beat Columbia. And have already topped the group, while simultaneously underestimating us after having watched our poor display tonight.
I was so looking forward to this game. Painful to watch unfortunately.
...I simply can't imagine a better young Australian player than Amini to have had to come on to break down that defence. Unless perhaps... it was the most prolific goal scorer from our qualifying campaign... Who sat on the bench. Till the 84th minute. While we were chasing a game. While the striker who was on, Taggart, failed to make any impact whatsoever for the entire game... Much like Hoole. Who apart from being having no idea how to defend, was dire in attack. Williams had more impact in his handful of minutes than Hoole did the entire game also.
Subs came faaaaar too late. The other most troubling and bizarre thing to me was that Okon thought there effort was "superb" while we clearly made so many errors, showed a huge lack of composure and any inability to break them down -- with Connor Payne being the one worthy exception. You really know your in trouble when the only player creating is your centre back, we were badly missing a link CAM player tonight. Da Silva fell victim to the inconsistency of youth and was not just marked out of the game, but struggled positionally throughout when he was not being allowed the same degree of space as last game. Not at all unsurprising for a 16 year old. And I'm still incredibly impressed by him, it's a very hard skill, but the great number 10's know how to ghost and get onto the ball when things are at there most tight. Amini can and very likely would have done this for us tonight. Whereas Da Silva, (a credit to his attitude) spent his time chasing down lost causes to the byline and running around perhaps trying to impress with his energy? But in games like this, creative attacking players often have to sacrifice some "intensity" to ghost. But then... you may risk the label of "unfit" or "lazy" too. Was such a joy to watch Perez do this live for the short time we had with him. A player Musti spent a reasonable amount of time alongside and modelling on.
So anyhow, now we have to beat the hosts. Our best chance is if the Turks beat Columbia. And have already topped the group, while simultaneously underestimating us after having watched our poor display tonight.
I was so looking forward to this game. Painful to watch unfortunately.
