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I woke up this morning feeling miserable. I haven’t felt like this since the Grand Final loss last season. Last night’s result was disappointing on so many levels I’ll probably struggle to get all my thoughts out in this post.
As pumped up as I was for this game, I had a bad feeling deep down inside that it was going to be bad news. From the opening minutes, that feeling remained and lingered for the entire 90, even after Kruse’s equaliser.
To be brutally honest, Heart were the better side on the night. It hurts to say that but it’s true. They totally dominated us all over the park and we had no answer to their fast breaks down the wings.
We definitely weren’t at our best last night, which was quite obvious, but I feel Merrick simply got his tactics wrong and failed to adjust. After getting ripped in the first half I was hoping the break would allow us to regroup and refocus. However, the manager opted not to change a thing and Heart continued to take advantage of us on the flanks and all the space we allowed them.
Surat Sukha, despite having had a great season so far, was dreadful and simply couldn’t deal with Alex Terra. I fear that big games and the pressure that comes with them tend to get to him.
Going forward, we failed to take the few chances we had, as has been the story of our season so far. Kellaway should have done better when one-on-one with the keeper and Carlos should have buried his header after a brilliant Adrian Leijer cross.
The only positive up front, Kruse’s goal, was a nice touch combined with good movement off the ball.
Whenever we started an attacking play we were too slow on the break and failed to get into a rhythm, with our players just standing still most of the time and not executing the pass-and-move.
Frustratingly, we continue to play long balls onto Ricardinho’s head which is clearly not effective. I don’t see why this has continued.
In the second half when Heart went down to 10 men, we really should have taken the game to them, but we just didn’t pressure them enough. Shortly after we conceded the second goal, Merrick takes off Ricardinho, our only recognized striker, at a time when we need to score.
I just don’t understand how he can justify a decision like that.
Merrick also left it too late to introduce Dugandzic off the bench, who in my opinion should be starting every game ahead of Pondeljak.
Michael Petkovic was once again unconvincing, which is no surprise to me really. He should have done better with the first goal, though. Aloisi’s header wasn’t powerful at all and Petkovic was just too slow to react.
Things could have been worse, however, but luckily many crucial decisions went our way. Leijer should have been sent off, Heart should have had a penalty for handball in the box, and many free kicks went in our favour, which we then carelessly turned over immediately or played useless quick free kicks to nobody.
One thing I was happy about was the manager’s comments after the match.
Ernie Merrick is usually one to stay positive, even when we don’t play well but this time he spoke honestly: “I thought we played really poor football tonight. I think that was our worst performance this year and it’s a pity because it was a fantastic atmosphere out there.”
I respect Merrick for having the guts to admit how awful his team played, but some of his other comments left me confused: “I think he’s coming on all the time Ricardinho, I think it was more to do with the service tonight, I just didn’t think we got our midfield going.”
True, Ricardinho hasn’t been getting the right service from midfield, but maybe if you’d stop instructing your players to play long balls to him and instead give him the ball at his feet he might not struggle so much.
“I was happy with the defence, we didn’t give away too much.”
I’m sorry, Ernie, what?!
Our defense was clearly getting ripped to shreds and only luck prevented us from conceding any more than we did. Seriously, wake up.
No wonder we were tactically outplayed.
Last night’s display doesn’t give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. If we play like that against Adelaide we’ll surely get torn a new one. We are missing Archie and Kemp terribly (and Langerak).
Their return can’t come soon enough.
Well, I could go on and on but I think I’ll leave it there for today. Another big game is ahead next week against Sydney, who are currently without a win. To hand them their first of the season is unthinkable but with the way things are going at the moment its entirely possible. The team and the coaching staff have a lot of work to do between now and then.
We must put things right next week. I don’t know if I could handle two consecutive losses to two rivals.
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