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Leading up to Saturday’s first leg of the major semi final, I was expecting a great tactical battle on the flanks between the Central Coast’s Graham Arnold and Brisbane Roar’s Ange Postecoglou and that’s exactly what unfolded. It was a wonderful contest, befitting two teams that rely so heavily on the wide areas, but in different ways.
It was an even more pulsating clash at Robina yesterday, and once again it was Gold Coast United that dominated the flanks over Melbourne Victory. More on that below.
First to Bluetongue, where, for every game but the 5-1 hiding to Brisbane Roar in late November, when he did his best impersonation of Pim Verbeek, Arnold has started with a narrow 4-4-2, featuring a diamond in the midfield.
The system has essentially been built for the fullbacks, Pedj Bojic on the right and Joshua Rose on the left.
With Michael McGlinchey and Oliver Bozanic tucking in, the powerful Bojic and Rose are given full license to bomb on, providing most of the width in the Mariners formation.
But it was always going to be fascinating to see just how much of an influence they would have here given that the Roar rely so heavily on the flanks as well.
Postecoglou has a different system, set out in 4-3-3, with the width provided by both the wingers and fullbacks, especially left winger Thomas Broich and right back Ivan Franjic.
Broich starts close the sideline, before cutting inside. For much of the season, Kosta Barbarouses has been on the other side, where he starts in-field, between the left back and left stopper, allowing Franjic to get around him.
But here Postecoglou stuck with the front three that did the business against Gold Coast last week, with Barbarouses through the middle and Henrique on the right.
It’s fair to argue that Arnold’s fullbacks had the better of the first half, but they didn’t have it all their own way.
While Franjic was expected to be the Roar’s major outlet, it was Shane Steffanuto who made the early running, getting around Broich and popping up in some decent positions. Everything went to the Roar’s left.
But soon Bojic and Rose started to impose their physicality on the game, bombing forward and asking Broich and Henrique to do plenty of defensive work.
There’s no doubt the German and Brazilian didn’t relish this extra responsibility. At times, especially in the humidity, they were seen gasping for air, particularly Broich.
With Matt Simon and Daniel McBreen competing for everything in the air, Brisbane were a little rattled for parts of the first period.
Meanwhile, in midfield, Arnold’s narrow four were beating Postecoglou’s three. Indeed, it was the quietest first half I’ve seen from Matt McKay all season, so busy was he trying to adjust to the Mariners’ extra number.
At one point I spotted Postecoglou up on his feet, gesturing, quite vociferously, to both McKay and Mitch Nichols to get forward, beyond the front three.
It is the way the Roar had been playing all season, but the manager was obviously frustrated that it wasn’t happening here.
While Steffanuto, Broich and Franjic had their moments, it was the Mariners who had the upper hand.
But in the second half, Brisbane started to double up on the flanks, and began to pin back the Mariners fullbacks more consistently, eventually getting on top, giving McKay space to influence, an opportunity he relished.
Four weeks ago at the same venue, down 2-0 to Sydney FC at the break, Arnold made a tactical change, going to a front three, playing three at the back and four in midfield. It worked a treat, the Mariners dominating the second half to draw 2-2.
Here, when he made his first change, I was expecting him to go to three up front. Instead it was like for like, Adam Kwasnik for Daniel McBreen.
Even when he introduced Mustafa Amini, late, he stuck with his midfield diamond.
With the fullbacks occupied, the width didn’t come.
It was much the same for Melbourne yesterday. As many Victory fans will tell you, a lack of genuine fullbacks, and width, have been the club’s Achilles heel since day one.
Starting Diogo Ferreira and Surat Sukha at right and left back respectively, they were soon being overwhelmed by Miron Bleiberg’s use of the flanks.
With Anderson and Adama Traore doubling up on the left, Ferreira was being targeted, often exposed, with Marvin Angulo and Tom Pondeljak unable to provide sufficient protection.
Meanwhile, Tahj Minniecon was having his most influential performance of the season on the other flank, giving Sukha, then Pondeljak, a working over.
Later, when Bleiberg made a few substitutions, it was Joel Porter and Chris Harold drifting over to the right to target Pondeljak, while Billy Celeski, who moved to right back when Ferreira was replaced, had to deal with Minniecon, who switched sides.
It was quite ironic that the Victory finished the season with Celeski and Pondeljak, two central men, in the fullback spots.
Injuries may have deprived them of Matt Kemp, but a lack of genuine width remains an issue for the Victory, and was exposed here.
In contrast, the remaining four teams are all top-heavy with width. Adelaide, for example, could introduce both Mathew Leckie and Iain Ramsey off the bench on Friday.
With Isaka Cernak signed, and Fox reporting that Marcos Rojas might soon join him, the Victory could finally have a couple of genuine wide players.
For now though, it’s the Roar, Mariners, Adelaide and Gold Coast that walk on, with width a key ingredient in their respective templates.
Follow Tony on twitter @TonyTannousTRBA
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