By halftime in last night’s A-League clash in Coffs Harbour, Melbourne City had completed 241 passes. Newcastle had completed 95.
Luke Brattan had wafted a free kick about 25 metres too long, over the heads of all of his teammates. Nigel Boogaard had squarely blocked a Josh Rose rocket-shot with the bridge of his nose.
Where Melbourne City had enjoyed the ball, like a spoilt child rolling a sweetie around in their mouth, happily clutching a huge bag of the morsels, Newcastle had feverishly feasted on their own sweet moments of possession, desperate to make the most of them.
Desperate is the word, because both teams had reason to be just that; Newcastle, beneficiaries of the wide belt of mediocrity looped around the pudgy middle of this season’s A-League, would leapfrog two teams into the top six by winning.
City, with the Melbourne Derby coming up – and now with only the prospect of a second-place finish as a realistic goal – had to take advantage of the Victory’s loss to Sydney in the Big Blue.
Yes, these reasons were not equally weighted, but they were enough to make us believe we might see a hotly contested match, played on a super pitch, in lovely Coffs.
City though, were sluggish. When a team sets up in the manner the Jets did – the most obvious approach for any less-talented team that has to play City – their superior opponents must match the grit and gristle with an added layer of attacking zest to apply more than the usual pressure.
Big banana skin puns aside, this was always going to be a tough game for City, away from home, with complicated travel arrangements, against a team who would defend stoutly, and who have potent counter-attacking weapons.
When Andrew Nabbout beat the offside trap, and raced through one-on-one with Dean Bouzanis, it was simply a moment that confirmed which team had decided to embrace the lactic acid, to meet the long odds with relish, and buck them.
He slotted home the first goal, and Newcastle’s play following it held multiple textbook examples of how to counter-punch against a team that has been lulled into committing players forward.
Andrew Hoole conducted swift, well-oiled lateral sequences all evening, often launching from an unnaturally deep position, using his rare pace and ability to manoeuvre in congested areas. Ma Leilei, often a little ponderous in possession, but also a fine, subtle passer, was also involved.
City are notorious for scattering horribly when under sudden pressure, backtracking against a rapid break – the goals they conceded against Perth in that 3-3 draw are great examples.
Here it was the same; when Melbourne had the ball, the pitch seemed a few metres narrower, with Jets whizzing in and out looking to spoil. But when the City possession was hacked away, suddenly Newcastle had handsome room to breathe, with clear angles to pass along, making breezy progress up the pitch as City defenders backed-off when they should have stepped up, or vice-versa.
That Melbourne had a poor first half, and Newcastle a good one, was in polar contrast to their tendencies this season. At the break, with just a goal between them, a reverse of their second-half tendencies could easily have come next. And though City started with the usual post-break brightness, it was another vibrant counter-attack, again beautifully finished by Nabbout, that gave Newcastle a deserved cushion.
At that point, their energy and endeavour had paid dividends, and with a two-goal lead, Newcastle could simply defend against City’s impotent possession. A penalty won by Ivan Franjic dragged the away side back into the game, but had Leilei, or Hoole, taken their clear chances to add a third goal, the win would have been seen out much more comfortably.
There is an issue with incision for City. They ended up making more than double Newcastle’s passes, and although the stat sheet will show an acceptable number of passes into the opposition box, looking at City’s passing map shows how most of their incursions into the penalty area occurred in the least threatening parts. For a huge portion of the second half, when the Jets were raggedly holding on, there was some extended fiddling down the City right, with Bruce Kamau and others dillying and dallying on the edge of the area, without much tangible product at the end.
It is a problem that a team that enjoyed as much possession as City did, right outside the top of the Jets’ box, passed so infrequently into it.
Tim Cahill played in this match, not that you would have noticed. City had last season’s top scorer on the park, as well as Australia’s greatest goalscorer, and neither were utilised. The Jets’ defensive system neutralised them, but so little was done in response by City to impose their own quality.
“We’re going to face [deep defences],” Michael Valkanis said after the game. “Especially away from home, that’s going to happen. It’s part of the game we’re going to have to keep working on, and hopefully start capitalising on the chances we create.”
Valkanis was also asked about his defence, and the problems they tend to encounter against counter-attacking teams. His response was that his team should have nullified the danger further up the park, which is true, but the defence is also to blame.
City’s caretaker coach has persisted with his back four, leaving Ruon Tongyik on the bench again. There has been no difference, in terms of competence under counter-pressure, to the fluid back three that John van’t Schip used.
Osama Malik doesn’t seem markedly more stable than Tongyik, and it was him that was so meekly beaten by Hoole’s simple touch, allowing for Nabbout’s second goal.
So it was Newcastle, now deserved members of the top six, who walked away smiling. City continue to sleepwalk into defeats, and with the Victory next, are yet to be roused from their haze.
j binnie
Guest
hogdriller - Seeing you agree with Nemesis' comment about Arnold's problem last year can we all look forward to him being sacked this year to be replaced by some high flyer out of the Dutch coaching gypsies. I think not ,and neither ,do I believe , do you. "Rome was'nt built in a day" is an old adage that befits the coaching profession ideally, Forgetting Arnold the man, In his years of coaching he has produced three very good sides that I can remember, two at a rural club with very limited resources and today's team at one of the HAL's "big boys".and those are not bad figures for a football coach. Cheers jb.
Swanny
Guest
Tongyik looks a good one
Nemesis
Guest
Buddy, you clearly understand the football market. There is a huge group of the younger age group who simply cannot afford Foxtel subscriptions. I can say with certainty that, whilst I was at High School & Uni I wouldn't have been spending $800 per year on PayTV. So, unless the parents agree to pay the subs the kids can't watch ALeague so they go for pirate streams. The truth is PayTV is over-priced for people who only want to watch ALeague.
Buddy
Guest
I don't think its all that bad. I tend to think that there is a bigger audience out there to be tapped i to. Right now they are watching the action but are under the radar. I don't know if it is just a matter of cost, but if it gets ignored, then the issue will never be addressed. It is so easy to pick up a good quality feed, more often than not with english commentary too.
northerner
Guest
All I would say is that Foxtel is paying the FFA based on the data for its subscribers. If everyone is pirating, then the A League is going to be sunk because there won't be any revenues coming in from Foxtel when the current deal expires. And obviously, FTA isn't going to make up the difference.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
So you think Arnold has reached his "tradesmanship" ? After a 10 year apprenticeship it may finally have come but I don't think so. Like Nemesis said, Arnold was lucky not to be sacked last year. SFC have certainly had a good run so far but as we progress deeper into the season it will be interesting to see if Arnold returns to the Mr Grump that some here labelled him last year, the pressure will all be on him and his team due to his self proclamation of the "invincibles" tag.
Nemesis
Guest
It's becoming a huge issue for the TV networks. NFL broadcasters in the USA are suggesting that the major reason for the significant decline in viewing numbers this season is due to pirate streaming. In UK, the EPL viewing numbers are also down significantly this season. 2 major competitions in decline at the same time suggests a systematic problem is occurring.
Buddy
Guest
I realise that Foxtel nor any other organisation is interested directly in those using other platforms to view A League or anything else for that matter but ignore it at your peril. I have been a Foxtel subscriber since the days of Galaxy (anyone remember them?) However, to be honest, I only subscribe these days because my wife does not appreciate the array of options and different remotes waiting to be explored in our viewing room. I had no intention of making the switch to Optus for the sake of EPL but there is no shortage of choices ech weekend. Same goes for other tournaments and leagues. Most of the 20 somethings that play at our local club tend to watch on mobile devices and they tell me the most important thing to them is their speed and data allowance which tells me it isn't about pay tv wars. I also suspect the market out there is much larger than the various interests like to acknowledge which is another reson to doubt the stats. Meanwhile, enjoying the style of attacking being delivered by CCM tonight.
Nemesis
Guest
Buddy, you are absolutely correct about about watching via pirate streams. I must be over 1,000 ALeague interactions across all platforms (albeit they aren't verifiable as distinct people). Using this data sample, there are more people watching ALeague on pirate streams than via Foxtel Is this a true reflection of what's occurring across Australia? Well, it's probably as valid as taking a sample of 3,500 households and assuming the TV viewing habits of 3,500 households reflects 8 million households in Australia.
TK
Guest
I watched it on SBS with cold beer and a curry. Very enjoyable end to the week.
TK
Guest
I agree. The pace of ball movement in attack was a delight to see from the Jets and should be instructive to Aloisi bros on how to get the best out of their striker rather than lumbering up the field at snails pace. Nothing wrong at all with playing througj or over the defense to give your attack clean grass in front of them to go to goal. Sure beats expecting miracles in a crowded box from crosses in from the corners. Interestingly the commentary team observed how slow city were with their ball movemt and threatened very little as a result. Be interesting to see if brisbane learnt anything from the game that they could apply tonight against the wanderers. Heading in now for a pre game beverage. Certainly going to be hot playing tonight so I think it'll be and arm wrestle.
northerner
Guest
I believe that Foxtel ratings are like TV ratings - a selected number of houses are equipped to send back data on viewing patterns and then that's extrapolated to the larger population. I know that Oztam TV ratings concentrate on the major cities, and that, while Regional Tam collects some regional data, it's not very consistent or extensive, so the numbers are a bit iffy. I'd say, though, that Foxtel isn't going to be interested in anything other than the viewing patterns of subscribers to its services. The people stealing the data by illegal streaming, aren't paying Foxtel subscriptions or earning Foxtel any advertising revenue. Anything Foxtel pays the FFA will be based on the number of paying subscribers who watch the A League, so the FFA will lose out on the value of those viewers as well..
Buddy
Guest
I confess to being somewhat sceptical about anything to do with ratings. Does anyone believe in the accuracy of anything in place? How does Foxtel know which channel I am watching? There is nothing going out of my set top box sending information, that all disappeared when NBN came along. I know many people who watch games on tablets and portable devices, usually illegally but there are some really good quality links available for almost any game being played around the globe. Just a matter of how many are not being captured in any ratings game.
j binnie
Guest
Mark - Your observation is 50% correct, If fast transition is required to get through a "stacked" defence speed of ball movement makes up about 50% requirement but the other 50% requires a high percentage of accuracy in the actual pass and it is in this area many of our HAL players are found wanting, especially when unconsciously being compared with top class players and teams on TV. This will only be "cured" when our young players acquire a higher standard of basic skills.jb
j binnie
Guest
Ruudolfson - Without knowing much about the lad you mention I tend to agree with your observatuion The lad has been playing so much good football lately that I was forced to look up his CV to see from what overseas club they had sourced him. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was a product of the Adelaide United youth system and was still only 20 years of age. I'll watch this lad's progress with great interest, he has a style and composure about his play that "shouts" future Socceroo. jb.
j binnie
Guest
cambrai - You do know that what is a hidden suggestion in your comment is in direct confrontation to part of the FFA's curriculum, to supply a path for young Australian players. There is no doubt we could see an improvement in football standard very quickly if and when they lifted the limitations on overseas players but the debate would be long and hard over whether this would be desirable. Cheers jb.
j binnie
Guest
Sorry about your Common Sense Test I did say that Tony P. didnt win the Asian Championship,you did. I did say he had "contributed", which is a fact. Nowhere did I say Arnold had won anything. I did say he has been coaching successfully for much longer than most in the HAL but just like Tony P. I deem him to have "contributed" to any success achieved. Don't know about your "Common Sense Test" but your "Comprehension of the Written Word Test" surely needs to be brushed up.Cheers jb.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
The majority of goals are scored from the area around the penalty spot. The possession based game advocated by Ange/Musky/Popa etc (and now it seems Valkanis) seeks to pass the ball around until you can fashion a shot from around that area. It relies on waiting and waiting and waiting. If you have the players like Barca do, you can wait and do that. If your players are not technically superior, you will sometimes wait too long and miss out on getting the ball into that spot before you lose it. The issue I have is that against good team, my team, MVFC and also the Socceroos, will miss getting those opportunities because they wait too long and the other team wins the ball back from a bad pass, or a forced shot that is blocked. i think that they need to look at sometimes getting a quick shot off when they are outside the area and then getting the second ball when it rebounds off the keeper if it doesn't go in. Sometimes. The issue for teams in the A-League is that the speed of ball movement needs to be faster if you want to pull the other teams defenders out of position and City are moving the ball too slowly.
Ruudolfson
Guest
It was bizarre that Malik was picked ahead of the talented Tongyik in the last couple of games, the later has been impressive to date.
Nemesis
Guest
I too watch a lot of ALeague. In relation to the tempo; I agree. However... get the EPL to play in 40C temperatures & high humidity and let's see how the tempo compares.