Simon or Sasho

[Rowdy]

For the record; Sash does have 5 & Matty 0, but we ALL know that he wasn't offside AND has scored what should have been recognised for what it was, a great goal from a great header.

And this is where I think Matty/JA might score more goals than say a Sash/JA combo. Ultimately you start players that will help you win games as a team, not start a team of individual winners.

I liken it to the Master & Apprentice scenario, whereas the alternative is more like a 'pissing/my dick is bigger than yours' competition which JA could care less about, but Sash does.

That's not to say that a Sash/JA combo won't produce goals, this combo really relies on the the TommyP factor. If he's in behind them then I think the trio could be very potent, Tommy scoring as well as defenders will at times be tripping over themselves, tracking the runs of JA & Sash, which will on ocassions open up lines of sight for Tommy to put it into the back of the net himself.

Time will tell as to which combo becomes the most productive. Who plays in behind the strikers I think will be a crucial factor in determining this. Kwassie there against QLD showed he's NOT a creative player but better suited playing on the end of balls from someone who is.

Grego also needs to shape-up or ship-out in this department as well, otherwise he's just another flanking midfielder, which we have others who I'd rather see play in the wider position than him, based on his form in this position of late.

 

[soccersensei]

Well I know I would be sitting down at game time friday with a very good feeling if I knew we were going in starting with all three!

Sahso and St John upfront with Tommy feeding and slicing through from behind, while pacey, super hard working Matty pushes up the wing, creating some of the width across the park that all good teams need, delivering unselfish balls, and also still creating the vital running play into and or towards the box which forces defenders to commit and thereby gifting St John with the essential glimpses of breathing space he needs to shake free and deliver with his heavenly boots. This is why IMO Matty is currently partnering so well with Aloisi and think it has little to do with Sasho's character but rather everything to do with Sasho's differing skill set. Lest we forget, there has actually been some great link play between Sasho and ST J, and damned if it wasn't namely in the last game against ADL fundly enough, where they linked exceptionally well, pulling off some very sharp and impressive needle threading, as they carved opportunities out of the ADL defense where there seemingly wasn't even room to swing a Joel Griffiths cod piece!

In this aspect of partnership with ST J, Sasho is superior in skill to Matty S. Sasho also clearly still has a better first touch when it comes to striking and or firing a shot quickly off the turn, and so he presents a greater danger in the box in my opinion than Matty, especially when it's coupled with Sasho greatest skill... Sasho is unarguably the lord of SCRAPS! It's uncanny, but every time I look heavenward when Sasho's on the field, I'm convinced the Seagulls are actually studying Sasho in the hope they can pick up tips! And though I may seem to jest, this is certainly not a skill which should not be dismissed lightly in my opinion... Beacuse with Matty S feeding a hungry Aloisi, while Sasho the ultimate scavenger is perched to dive on the offcuts... well damned if my mouth isn't beginning to water at the mere thought

LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY YELLOW ARMY!!!
and best wishes all

 

[midfielder]

[

.
These two points indicate a better right side attack (presuming Matt would play RW and Porter RB).

People coming to my conclusion to play Matty at RM, I see soccersensei also agrees.

JA & Sash up front, Jedi & Tommy behind in the center, Hutch LM and Matty RM.

IMO the best midfield attack we have.

 

[soccersensei]

Yeah it's a very good call Midfielder

 

[Deej]

In all fairness playing RM in the HAL is very different than playing there for Central Coast Lightning......until Owens proves he deserves to be dropped Simon can continue learning and coming off the bench when required.

 

[Pete]

In all fairness playing RM in the HAL is very different than playing there for Central Coast Lightning......until Owens proves he deserves to be dropped Simon can continue learning and coming off the bench when required.

I agree that is the case DJ, but the precedence for switching a Striker into RM was set by God (Lawrie) himself last season with Kwassi. Remember that Kwassi was initially recruited as a striker and was understudy to Petrie and Mrdja? Nowadays even Lawrie thinks of Kwassi as a wing Midfielder.

Simon has similar traits to Kwassi (when Kwassi's not injured that is - hope he gets fit soon), in that he is fast, won't stop trying and can run with a hell of a lot of enthusiasm for the whole match - or most of it. Gumps, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have the same tank as Simon does. But Gumps is the more experienced campaigner and when he comes on as a RM late in a match he can make an impact.

Owens runs out of puff too, and I prefer to see him closer to the forward line rather than out wide. He possesses good touch and can pass to close-by players very smartly, but out wide that is all lost as he has the natural tendency to want to get close into goal and eventually loses the ball. He doesn't think to cross naturally.He has a hell of a boot on him too, which is more potent close in taking strikes on the rebound off say, Aloisi or Petrovski.

I also suspect that Lawrie likes to, or Aloisi prefers, to have people feeding him - and working close by to him- who possess good technical passing ability. Tommy and Owens fit that bill, and Hutch to some extent -although when Hutch plays CM he tends to stay back more than Tommy.

There is a stronger case, I reckon, to having Owens at attacking CM than having him at RM. Given the season's form of Hutch and then Tommy in the CM position that hasn't had much of a  chance for a run for Owens.

Just my views, I'm not trying to start any argument about what is the best etc. but there seems to be some selection alternatives for Lawrie to think about, which is probably more good than bad.

 

[marinermick]

I think this weekend just answered the question.

Saso was brilliant and the linkage with JA at times was sublime.

The scary thing is that they can only get better together.

 

[Ursus]

Prefer Sasho, great poacher.
However, the real key is Tommy.

What a wonderful position to be in. As time goes on and understanding builds a lot of the wrong options taken last Saturday will be corrected.
We have enough attacking players to scare the pants off any opposition.
I am looking forward to our first 5 goal win. ;D

 

[marinermick]

Prefer Sasho, great poacher.
However, the real key is Tommy.

What a wonderful position to be in. As time goes on and understanding builds a lot of the wrong options taken last Saturday will be corrected.
We have enough attacking players to scare the pants off any opposition.
I am looking forward to our first 5 goal win. ;D

also having hutch is important with his work rate

talking to heff on sunday and he said he had so much more confidence to get forward because hutch was playing in front of him

 

[Statue]

This is a good thing to actually have, i think it is the first time really in all three seasons that we have been able to have arguements on who should start in what position considering the number of injuries we have had in the past.

 

[Pete]

True Farthing, selection arguments are a blessing I guess.
The midfield selection we put on the field vs. Adelaide was the most attacking midfield I think the Mariners have fielded.
Bar Jedi, who had the DM role, all 3 other midfielders (Tommy, Hutch and Greg O.) have had quite a deal of success in getting goals over these 3 HAL seasons. Put in front of that midfield a current Socceroo striker and a striker with a great rep as a poacher, and you see it's no wonder that players like Heff start expressing more confidence.

 

[Sacko]

Sasho for me as imo Simon couldn't finish a book!
Now go Matty go and prove me wrong by getting a hattrick against the ex-Bling!

 

[Tez]

Sasho for me too, he is a proven goal scorer, and at the end of the day thats what you need - a goal scorer. Im sure Matty will be that one day but he is still learning.
and he has 2 great Strikers to learn from.