R23: Victory vs Mariners

[VicMariner]

Game on! COYY

 

[VicMariner]

Cernak!!!

 

[ballantyne]

I think we made the right move re Phil Moss

 

[ballantyne]

Reminded of Tomy Rogic's opener here a couple of years back. Was it his first in the A-League?

 

[MagpieMariner]

Who was supposed to be minding Finkler?

 

[Big Al]

Surprise surprise. Give up a goal after scoring and just before half time.

Playing alright though.

 

[midfielder]

Fitzy seems every week to make a bad mistake..

 

[VicMariner]

That was the 150th game for Josh Rose. Pity we didn't get a win.

Looking better though, took it to them all night and had a few chances. We really need a striker to to make the most of those chances.

 

[Wombat]

Decent effort.

Lacking any sort of a cutting edge but overall ok.

Defence was poor as usual but put in a lot of effort for a change.

 

[MrCelery]

Thought Reddy was very wobbly tonight.

Fitz continues to disappoint with his choices. Can't fault his commitment, but...

Fabio was well contained and frustrated.

Cernak again a good shift. Monty too.

Caceras also rather quiet compared to last game.

Hutcho going ballistic at the end was entertaining!

Thought Victory were well trained in diving. Khalfallar is a good player but likes to go down at the slightest touch.

Very unlucky not to nab a point.

 

[Roy Law]

Bold and Brave Mariners Denied​

I was very proud of the Mariners today. This was the most complete performance by the team this year. A bold and brave plan to take the game to Melbourne Victory almost paid off. They certainly did not deserve to lose.
It did not start well: Kalfallah was skipping past young Hayden Morton as if he was a training cone; the defenders, including the man himself, seemed intent on testing Reddy’s close footwork skills, and Anderson was displaying all the strength and security of a fibro shack in the path of a storm.
And then the Mariners changed the script. Instead of being passive spectators, they, led by the fiery Montgomery and Hutchinson, took over the show and dictated the play. They swarmed and swamped and pressured Victory and kept them penned back in their half. Fab Ferreira fabulously played in Josh Rose but Cernak and Fitzgerald were sitting to deep to take advantage of the cross; oh for someone to attack the ball! A beautiful pass from Caceres almost had Ferreira in but Coe advanced quickly enough to deny the chance. Ferreira might have been a bit braver here.
They were not to be denied. The Mariners’ goal was well executed and well deserved. Excellent play down the left found Hutchinson whose measured cross was emphatically met by Fitzgerald at the far post. The header was strong and true but Coe’s reaction save denied the goal; Cernak followed up to head home his first goal for the Mariners.
Monty and Hutch pushed the team on, winning the ball, aggressively stopping Victory in their tracks, so the equaliser was completely against the run of the play. Pressing high risks leaving space behind and when the ball fell invitingly for Finkler on the edge of the area his goal was a thing of pure class. He had it all to do: there was only one place to put the ball – off the inside of the far post – and it had to curve past the outstretched fingers of Reddy. He didn’t fail; his placement was perfection. A moment of genius had brought the Mariners back to heel.
Victory came out in the second half all pomp and arrogance, moving the ball easily with Finkler at the heart but again the Mariners were having none of it. Monty and Hutch urged them forward. They pushed and pressed and forced turnovers. Cernak’s unorthodox play caused problems, Fitzgerald was all action and determination and Ferreira’s skill seemed to hold the key to a second goal; which made Finkler’s winner even harder to take. A similar chance, the ball laid back to him, a bigger target to hit and he didn’t miss.
The Mariners pushed forward again, every Victory player forced to defend deep, but despite some might have beens and half chances the Mariners could not find a way back.
If this is an indication of the type of football Tony Walmsley wants the new Mariners’ coach to introduce next season I am all for it. If genuine quality can be added to the key positions of central defence, striker, and replacing Hutchinson in midfield, then the Mariners can easily be back challenging for the top honours.
Morton recovered from a shaky start to subdue Kalfallah, and pushed forward well. Rose put in a strong shift. Cernak was a constant handful for the defenders and Fitzgerald didn’t stop trying all day but it was the two veterans in midfield, Monty and Hutch, who inspired the performance; my MoM is shaded by Hutchinson who isn’t heading to retirement quietly.

 

[ballantyne]

We'd never have played like that under Moss.
We're still short of a competitive squad but things are looking up.

 

[style_cafe]

100% commitment by the boys.
Cernak got fouled so many times.
Ref reluctant to book Victory players.
Archie Thompson offside for their second.

 

[justafan]

Great game by the mariners. Love the new attitude. The pressing in the front third by Cernak, Fitzy and Caceres was superb. Hutch and Monty were heroic in the way they kept fighting and pushing forward.The frustration in the Victory's players faces and reactions ( finkler v Cass ) was noticeable. Imo we were better than MV but once again some poor defensive work prevented us from getting more out of this game. Overall very happy with our positive performances in the last games v some of the top 6 teams in the ladder.

 

[Big Al]

Why is finkler free at top of the box twice. Plenty of bodies in the vicinity. Think the mids should have picked him up earlier each goal.

Bit of a sook to old finky boy. Couldn't handle some meaty challenges. His little kick out at hutch at the end was retaliation for when hutch cleaned him up but won the ball doing so and shouldn't have been called a foul. Little kick outs like that are so annoying because you know if you react you get punished and all you want to do is lay a boot in. It's like when someone flicks your ear. Doesn't hurt but sends a little rage through you where you want to react for that quick instant.

 

[Big Al]

Loving the pressure just lacking quality.

Would love Fitzy and Cernak to be our subs more so than starters. Both more effective in short bursts. Plus our bench is very weak. We have no game changers on the bench. Hence coach left the team on for most of game. Not sure when but changes were late but no one on the bench said I can come get you a draw or win.

 

[Wombat]

Hutch was fully switched on and his work rate was noticeably higher than normal.
Normally he plays conservatively and doesn't push himself trying to conserve energy.
Last night was different and the Mariners were better for it.
Well done Hutcho......more of the same next week please.

 

[Roy Law]

Why is finkler free at top of the box twice. Plenty of bodies in the vicinity. Think the mids should have picked him up earlier each goal.
Because our mids worked their socks off to press high, and as Walmsley said, that risks being exposed. They can't be everywhere.

Bit of a sook to old finky boy. Couldn't handle some meaty challenges. His little kick out at hutch at the end was retaliation -should have been picked up by the lino but Finkler is a protected species; Hutch was very restrained .

 

[midfielder]

Comment by Storrie largely missed by us was when he said you can't get regulated in this league there is no reason not to attack and play entertaining Football... he then went to say entertaining Football will help with crowds...

 

[MrCelery]

Comment by Storrie largely missed by us was when he said you can't get regulated in this league there is no reason not to attack and play entertaining Football... he then went to say entertaining Football will help with crowds...

Plenty of opportunities to get regulated in the A-League. Relegated - no.