By Pippinu -
August 8th 2009 @ 1:25am
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Loading ...The Glory fades as their Socceroos fail to excite
It’s not every day you see three current Socceroos joining the one A-League club during the off-season. Come to think of it, we’ve probably never seen it before. So there was a bit of interest in last night’s game with Adelaide hosting Perth.
The first point that has to be made is that none of the three Socceroos in question (playing for Perth), did anything to ensure that Pim would have double-checked his mobile to make sure he had their numbers stored.
In fairness, the whole of the Perth team played as if they had only assembled together for the first time an hour or so before kick off, particularly in that first half, where one through ball after the other was played into space with no one chasing it.
And where each series of intricate short passing found an Adelaide player around the third or fourth pass without fail.
The only goal of the game was a penalty converted by Dodd after one of the Socceroos, Coyne, was adjudged to have hung onto Cornthwaite’s shirt during a set piece. Coyne must have been wondering to himself: “Geez, I would have got away with that one in League One!”
Needless to say, Cornthwaite played the part of the dirty dobber superbly, a role he has slipped into seamlessly over the past year or so.
Jamo was the one whipping in the ball when Coyne got caught out, and his first half was a bit of a highlight for Adelaide.
He won a stack of free kicks coming down the left, and his set pieces really had the Perth defence scrambling. Make no mistake: a player like Jamo is worth goals, and he will single handedly deliver Adelaide a spot in the top 6.
The other player that warrants a special mention is Dodd.
He appeared to have a bit of a free role across midfield, bobbed up everywhere to mop up stray Perth passes (of which there were plenty), and he got better as the game wore on. At one point, Perth’s possession hit the 90 percent mark late in the game, and invariably, it was Dodd involved in the other ten percent.
On Perth’s side, I think Sikora came into it when he was shifted to the right in the second half. He inserted himself between the Jamo-Cassio axis a fair bit, and had some very good touches himself – but often his team mates were failing to read him, and that was the story of Perth’s night.
There was a bit of a similarity with the Thursday night opener, but this time it was the home team with the early goal, and who then set themselves up as spoilers for the remainder of the evening.
Perth may have had the big signings in the off-season, but Adelaide had the one player capable of turning a game with just about the best left foot in the A-League.
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albe said | August 8th 2009 @ 6:16am | Report comment
Adelaide killed Perth off pretty effectively, they’ll be tough to play at home again this season.
I’d like to see Cristiano playing a bit deeper once Owusu comes in. They still lack a bit of going forward for now. Agree on Jamo, he will add some of that unpredictability in attack. I’d take him for SA over Chippers or Carney any day. (But early days on that question.)
The Glory will probably be a slow burn this season. Their first home game is week 3 so you’d hope they’ll be firing by then.
Pippinu said | August 8th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Thanks Albe.
I forgot to mention, I thought it was a very good crowd too – approaching 14.000 (recalling that the night before Melbourne only got a touch over 18,000).
One thing that was noticeable was AU’s bench – it looked light on in the extreme (and from memory, I think Vidmar only used two subs).
Also, it was obvious that Cassio was well, well short of match fitness – he’s fortunate that he had Jamo coming up behind him to support him whenever he got into a spot of bother.
MVDave said | August 8th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Excellent crowd and atmosphere but the game didn’t live up to it. As you say PG players looked like they’d been introduced to each other in the tunnel on the way out onto the ground. Their play was lifeless and poor. From a very early point in the game l thought the only goal, if it came, would be from a set piece. So disappointing to see coaches playing with such negative tactics, especially given the circumstances of 1st game big crowd etc. Spot on about Jamieson who looked to be the player that would make the difference. Dodd is also a favorite player of mine, just wish he got the ball near goal more often with the chance to run at defences.
Maybe GCU will have to be the saviours of the league to demonstrate some breathtaking all out attacking play and show the rest what is possible?? Maybe not…will soon find out.
Certainly looks like its going to be tight in most games especially in the initial 6-7 rounds…which teams have the best game breakers will make the difference?
Ben of Phnom Penh said | August 8th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment
The bench was extremely light, Pip. Owusu was still recovering from flu, Ruddan and Shin still awaitng transfers and the rest a host of niggling injuries. The kids, Marrone and Costa were called on due to injuries to Reid and Pantelis during the match yet managed to stand up.
Fyfe had a good debut, marking Sterjovski out of the match.
I agree in relation to Jameison and hope he gets a call up for the Socceroos friendly in Korea and for some of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
AndyRoo said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
For a pre season that felt like forever the teams still dont seem to be near top gear.
jimbo said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
I didn’t think it was that bad a game. It was a very well contested game and no love lost.
No lack of effort from either side and some great passing moves out of midfield especially by Perth, but AU marked very tightly and Perth will improve on that.
The new Perth signings will take some time to settle in and they weren’t given an inch by the AU midfield, but I still expect Glory to make the finals.
Watch them in their next home game and you’ll see the returning Socceroos in a different light.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment
I tend to agree, Jimbo
The Bear said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Wow, the two games so far have been nothing short of intense!!! World cup year, so probably not expecting anything less.
Pippinu said | August 8th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
…not sure if MV’s effort could be described as such!!
Midfielder said | August 8th 2009 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Great game last nigh IMO…. PG when they get themselves together are going to be very hard to beat especially in the west with the time thing working in their favour…
Agree with Bear two excellent opening games …..
Pippinu said | August 9th 2009 @ 7:10pm | Report comment
Two forgotten socceroos
I was going to make this a seperate article, but I decided to add it to here because it sort of fitted.
The final game in the first round featured a forgotten socceroo defender on either side (both around a similar age too). McKain playing with the Nix and Ljubo playing with the Jets; and you’d have to say one really shone above the other.
Going back to two seasons ago I was devasted when 1. Ljubo was injured so early in the first game of the season; and 2. following an altercation with club officials after a game in Adelaide, it was clear that he had no future at MV. I knew at that precise moment that MV would not be able to defend its title.
I always saw Ljubo as a classic libero – a defender who could create and make things happen, and playing with a back three and attacking wing-backs, I reckon he would have been great for MV.
We saw a glimpse of Ljubo the LIbero this arvo, and boy didn’t he look the part. Of course, he had Vignaroli’s intelligence ahead of him, and there were moments where both together were playing at a completely different level.
One such moment was when they broke following a Nix set piece, shared it between themselves, noticed that no Jets player was making a move, and Lubo took matters into his own hand, made a 30 metre dash, Vignaroli honoured it with a beautiful through ball, Ljubo took control of the ball, went forward a few metres, and pinpointed Hoffman at the back post with one of the very best crosses you will ever, ever see (Hoffman missed the perfect opportunity for a hattrick).
That’s the Ljubo I had dreamt of seeing at MV two years ago, but it wasn’t to be.
I tell you what folks – Vignaroli looks the part as well – absolutely everything he does says out loud: I’m an intelligent footballer.
whiskeymac said | August 9th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
thanks for the summaries Pip. so round one is over and is the verdict mostly positive? It maybe early days but it seems most of the posts and reviews have highlighted suprisingly good and well contested games from the “expansion” teams – pooh poohing the worry that the talent would be spread too thin -and that there are some players (like Vignarolli, Danning, Ljubo, McGlinchley, Jamo, Robson, Fowler and Culina) who have set a higher overall median standard of play than in previous seasons. There have always ben good players (dodd, Hernandez), there are just more of them now in the HAL.
round one then a B plus grade for the HAL (overall well done but crowds might be better if advertised properly).
Pippinu said | August 9th 2009 @ 9:41pm | Report comment
Whiskey
naturally, I was pissed off at MV losing its first game of the season, and also thought they should have had a larger crowd – but I thought the crowds elsewhere were pretty good.
There is absolutely no doubt that the quality on the park is much higher than it’s ever been – unbelievable when you consider how many left over the pre-season!!
GeneralAshnak said | August 11th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
It was a very good first round, must admit PG were a massive disapointment to watch. Was hoping for more from them. AUFC defended very well and it was great to see Cristiano running and harrying the defenders. PG were very vulnerable to our set piece play. Jamo has gotten even better with his crosses, Dodd was back to his best for the game. Really looking forward to what AUFC can do with the addition of Owusu, Shin & Rudan to the line up. I actually felt sorry for Vargas Pips, very unlucky defelection – harsh calling it an own goal even!
Pippinu said | August 11th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
General
thanks for the comment and congrats on a solid first round win!
Jamo and Dodd were terrific
Don’t worry about Roddy – did you hear about Theo letting in 7 big ones on debut!!
GeneralAshnak said | August 12th 2009 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Oh yes I did, what it said to me is that the MV defence made him look good and the new defence made him look bad!