CCM vs Western United round 7 (home)

[Avoca]

Sunday 7th February.

We’ve currently played the most games (equal with the Jets at 6 matches).

Our attack looks promising. Kuol has the third most shots taken in the A-League (13), & the team has the highest on target shots (26). Clisby has the highest chances created (16) and crosses (45).

Our defence will have to be solid against Western United. In four matches, Rudan’s men have averaged 8.25 corners per game (we only have 5.8). However, WU get caught offside more at 2.75 per match (we’re disciplined at only 1.1). Clearly they’re keen at taking a chance & pushing forward.

Our possession, some might argue, needs to increase, as we’ve only been over 50% once. Conversely, WU have only been under 50% once. We need to hang on to the ball.

 

[style_cafe]

I was just thinking about this weekends game and noticed there wasn`t a topic on it as yet.

Squad selections must be starting to give Staj a headache.
With everyone firing atm the easiest way out is to rest anyone that`s injured.
However, a player like Miller could possibly lose heart with so many in front of him.
I think Staj has to keep giving the imports more and more minutes,whilst rotating players like Smylie, Balard,Hall,Miller etc.
We can`t afford to have disgruntled players in the ranks so the use of substitutes becomes a major factor in out success.

Western haven`t been playing too badly either and players like Berisha, Conner Paine, Diamante have to held in check whilst they are on.
Paine is playing extremely well atm and Janota/Nizz if he plays will need to close him down quickly.

I think Staj will keep the Simon/ Urena partnership going to start with to give us some grunt up front then bring on Kuol and maybe Smylie to have a run against the tiring Durrante and Uskok.

It should be an interesting game with showers forecast, which may hold back an increased crowd...

 

[style_cafe]

I was writing a new Western thread as you posted yours mate.
Any chance we can merge them?

 

[adz]

I was writing a new Western thread as you posted yours mate.
Any chance we can merge them?

Yeps

 

[midfielder]

This will be a test as they have a strong defense and foul a lot....

If we can win this we should see lots of off park things start to improve around pubs and clubs...

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Big game in my family! My wife decided to be a foundation Western United member, despite me trying my best to convince her to be a Mariner, so hopefully we can get the win over them.

 

[Allreet?]

Our possession, some might argue, needs to increase, as we’ve only been over 50% once. Conversely, WU have only been under 50% once. We need to hang on to the ball.

We've been really effective with what we've done with the ball when we had it. Possession stats can be misleading.

 

[Huddo]

We've been really effective with what we've done with the ball when we had it. Possession stats can be misleading.

Agreed, Leicester had a 40% average when they won the league ( mind you they are the exception the closest possession to them for a epl Victor was 59%).
But the point remains if we are naturally a defensive team, we get it right and everything else will click.
Fighting it means fighting the way we feel most comfortable in the game, and we've seen 7 years of that.

 

[true believer]

We've been really effective with what we've done with the ball when we had it. Possession stats can be misleading.

with okon ball we had 4 wins . possession means bugger all .

 

[Wombat]

Big game in my family! My wife decided to be a foundation Western United member, despite me trying my best to convince her to be a Mariner, so hopefully we can get the win over them.

I hate Domestic violence BUT.....

 

[Huddo]

Get to bed jessica!!!

 

[marinermick]

with okon ball we had 4 wins . possession means bugger all .

Exactly right. Possession based football to win games became redundant when Chile blew Spain out of the 2014 WC and Germany went on to win through a fast, counter attacking brand of football.

Okon and his other curriculum cronies at the FFA never caught up. Look at how poorly Milicic is doing with an outstanding team on paper.

The reality is that we don’t have the money to play a possession based game. This style requires buying players of high technical ability who can also compete physically. These players are more expensive.

We have the perfect plan for the players we have. Don’t faff too much at the back and get the ball to the final third quickly where we have players who can compete with physicality and pace. On top of that make sure these player are fitter than anyone in the league.

All stuff we can do without money.

 

[booney]

I think you will find that it was the Dutch who wiped Spain in the 2014 WC. The Dutch played a mixture of possesion based football but also scored goals from counterattacks.This is the way the Mariners have been endeavouring to play this season as far as I can make out.

 

[Ironbark]

Rudan said the Mariners' form repaid the faith the club showed in Stajcic after a tough run last season.

"It wasn't a one-off when they beat Sydney FC, or Macarthur," Rudan said.

"They've knocked off a championship favourite in Melbourne City - (from) down 2-0 as well, playing three days later.

"This team is the real deal as far as we're concerned - they're top of the table for a reason and they deserve to be top of the table. So we play against the best team, for me, in the competition." https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/hes-turned-the-place-around---stajcic-is-a-magician-rudan-560714

I couldn't have dreamed of comments like this at the end of last season. Cloud 9.

 

[scottmac]

Rudan said the Mariners' form repaid the faith the club showed in Stajcic after a tough run last season.

"It wasn't a one-off when they beat Sydney FC, or Macarthur," Rudan said.

"They've knocked off a championship favourite in Melbourne City - (from) down 2-0 as well, playing three days later.

"This team is the real deal as far as we're concerned - they're top of the table for a reason and they deserve to be top of the table. So we play against the best team, for me, in the competition." https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/hes-turned-the-place-around---stajcic-is-a-magician-rudan-560714

I couldn't have dreamed of comments like this at the end of last season. Cloud 9.

If we win I'm predicting an all time blow up from Rudan on the sideline. I'd put money on it. ???

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Short odds.

 

[scottmac]

Short odds.

All right (looks around for the Mrs) put the house on it......

 

[BrisRecky]

I think you will find that it was the Dutch who wiped Spain in the 2014 WC. The Dutch played a mixture of possesion based football but also scored goals from counterattacks.This is the way the Mariners have been endeavouring to play this season as far as I can make out.

HUP HOLLAND HUP ....not that I got any Dutch genes or anything

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Sunday 7th February.

We’ve currently played the most games (equal with the Jets at 6 matches).

Our attack looks promising. Kuol has the third most shots taken in the A-League (13), & the team has the highest on target shots (26). Clisby has the highest chances created (16) and crosses (45).

Our defence will have to be solid against Western United. In four matches, Rudan’s men have averaged 8.25 corners per game (we only have 5.8). However, WU get caught offside more at 2.75 per match (we’re disciplined at only 1.1). Clearly they’re keen at taking a chance & pushing forward.

Our possession, some might argue, needs to increase, as we’ve only been over 50% once. Conversely, WU have only been under 50% once. We need to hang on to the ball.

Not necessarily, I don’t care whether we win the possession stat, just the most effective possession stat. its worked so far.

I’m not against having more possession, but two of our key strengths has been more direct play and a focus on strong defensive shape and forcing turn overs. Working a treat imo. So I’d be wary about looking to increase possession as a general note, because our safety first approach at the back as one example has been bloody refreshing and sorely missed in recent years imo.

*edit* just continued reading and saw all the other responses re possession. Not trying to flog a dead horse FMTA.

 

[shipwreck]

Need to win this one to get back on top of the table! Roar have 4 consecutive wins now, we seem to be getting all the praise but they're quietly doing their business too.


The draw is so f**ked up now that it's hard to draw parrelels, they have played a horrible Victory twice now for an easy 6 points and a good goal difference. Are they good or have they just played very shit teams?