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The Crowd Says (40) | Page 1 of Comments

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  dasilva said | February 16th 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment

  This article was written before I found out about the internal fighting in the team

  I probably would have some how intergrate it. Perhaps the last point becomes redundant.

  I probably should have called this – delusion optimism from an Adelaide fan.

  Anyway I’m just going to convince myself that Adelaide played like this for the good of the country and as an act of charity to the people in victoria. An amazing comeback from a 2-0 deficit would only damage the moral of an already suffering state.

  So you MV fans should thanks us.

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  dasilva said | February 16th 2009 @ 5:16pm | Report comment

  actually the foul was to daniel mullen not jamieson

  ah mistakes

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• 

  Pippinu said | February 17th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment

  Das
  I actually did start a post on this yesterday, but was interupted and never got back to it.

  The fact that AU is still in the championship race must just about be the biggest positive of all (and the sort of thing you might find surprising, like waking up this morning, and discovering that you are actually still in the hunt!).

  Add to that that it’s a home ground prelim, and well – that’s all overwhelmingly positive (in the context of what has happened the last two weeks).

  I still think AU can get a draw and push it to penalties – time will tell – but I’m not liking all this talk about the Brazilians having formed a little rebellious sub-group.

  With Cassio now joining Diego on the outer, Cristiano having lost all form, and Alemao only being a bit player all season – might be time to rest all of them – give Griffiths a chance to start and come up with something completely new (Younis pairing Ago?), Pantelis joining Jamo on the left, maybe giving Sarkies another chance behind the front two? (if he’s fit) and telling him to try a few from distance (we know he can hit them sweetly if given half a chance)

  Or maybe you do the reverse – focus 100% on defence – a complete shut down – shut down Zullo, Murdocca and McKay – cut off the supply to Van Dijk – do what you were able to do so effectively in many of the ACL games – let Van Dijk go chasing your back four with the ball – don’t offer it up without a battle – let them come and get it – then maybe put on Younis at the end if you’ve managed to get to nil-all – he hasn’t done a lot this season, but he occasionally has shown that he’s up to the standard, a couple of assists, and then there was that cracking shot in the ACL agasint Gamba late in the game that showed he can hit it given half a chance.

  Either way, Viddy has to get a focus for the team – and the starting team has to consist of blokes who want to be there, who believe in Viddy and are willing to follow the team rules, whatever they will be on the day. You’d be surprised how good coaches can turn these situations around to become a galvanising force for the team – not saying that will happen – but it’s not impossible.

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  dasilva said | February 17th 2009 @ 12:03pm | Report comment

  Sounds good Pip
  I believe that the 100% defence focus is what’s going to happen.

  However
  I think Robbie Younis is on the outer as well.

  He had his best game for the entire year (against central coast mariners) and then was never seen again.

  What happen there? It’s also strange that a certain Salley has never been seen again since his omission from ACL. You think with all the complaints about fitness and tough schedule that he would have been invaluable in the A-league campaign and he’s a good option in the 100% defensive game plan. THen again that’s politics

  If Viddie is going to limit his selection to players not involve in player division then that will be half of the team gone.

  I can see Agostino as a sole striker if there is still some personal issues with Younis.

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  Kazama said | February 17th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment

  Younis is heading off to China apparently. I doubt he’ll play, more likely he’ll be in the Youth League team with Salley, Costanzo, Diego and Spagnuolo.

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• 

  Pippinu said | February 17th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment

  Ok – let’s assume Viddy wants to shut up shop to make life difficult for the Roar – let’s be honest, it’s as a good a strategy as any under the circumstances and:
  1. it’s playing to AU’s strengths; and
  2. it’s at least a clear focus for the team – and that’s perhaps the most important element.

  Let’s assume that the Roar goes in with something similar to last week (won’t be exact, pretty much all off the top of my head, just to further the discussion). Let’s put up AU’s best possible match ups and see where that gets us (we’ll also ignore the keepers to leave it less cluttered (the Roar in italics playing 4411):

  Mullen —– Cornthwaite —– Ogenovski —— Jamo
  ——————————- Van Dijk ———————-
  ———— Nichols ——————————————

  Dodd ———— Reid ———- Barbiero ————– Pantelis
  Zullo ——- Cernak ——– McKay ————– Murdocca

  —————————————— Sarkies —————————-
  ———————————- Ago —————————————–
  Packer ——– Moore ——- De Vere ———— Seo –

  When we view things this way, we immiediately see the problem, that in Dodd and Pantelis, you simply don’t have the defensive and marking capacity to stop Zullo (in particular) from making the by-line time after time. So Viddy really needs Dodd (and Pantelis for that matter) to sacrifice their normal games if they are going to get anywhere (as a help to their full backs), perhaps asking Dodd to watch out for opportunities to get foward later in the game (where I’d probably match his engine to that of Zullo’s).

  On the other side, AU will be looking for opportunties to release Jamo and get as far forward as he can, or at the very least, share that a bit with Pantelis while ensureing Murdocca doesn’t give them the slip – the good news is that neither Seo or Packer are odds on to hurt them in their own half – so the focus is really shutting out Zullo and Murdocca (and McKay for that matter, but Barbiero should be able to take on that role).

  The other bit of the jig saw is what Sarkies can do to drop deep and help out in defensive duties – if he hasn’t got the capacity to do that, then you are better off losing the CAM role, and getting someone who can add some steel to the midfield (and that might mean Salley or Costanzo making a reappearance in the team, if his mind is right, I would favour Costanzo because his touch is decent and his reading of the game is pretty good as well).

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• Slippery Jim said | February 17th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment

  “THE FFA may introduce a six-team format for the finals next season when Gold Coast and North Queensland Fury make their entry in a 10-team league”

  Has anyone else noticed this?! Six teams in the finals next season would be a farce. If that happens I may stop following the A-League altogether. What a mickey mouse, sorry, pissant competition! *wrings hands*

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  Kazama said | February 17th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment

  It’s a real disappointment, Jim. I guess money matters more than credibility to the FFA.

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• Vicentin said | February 17th 2009 @ 1:06pm | Report comment

  SJ – I saw this other day and think it is ridiculous too – that is just rewarding mediocrity throughout the season. I’d rather they played an extra round of games and make it first past the post the way it should be – I’m not a fan of finals series even if it does seem to be burnt deeply into the Australian psyhe (or so I’m constantly told).

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• Slippery Jim said | February 17th 2009 @ 1:07pm | Report comment

  Kazama, it makes you wonder what’s next, removing the cross bar to please the melbourne fans???

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