The most depressing part is that duke is our top scorer at the moment.
The most depressing part is that duke is our top scorer at the moment.
Well this is depressing.
The first half was pretty shite. Every ball just thumped into the box as if Cahill was still playing. Given the shift after half time (Hrustic coming deeper for the ball and maintaining possession when the opportunity for a quality cross isn’t there - at least to my laypersons eyes) was this the plan that was changed or just the players falling into shite habits?
This squad is really shaky. I mean Duke was starting and we had Rukavytsya coming off the bench who’s never even been an effective scorer domestically. Irvine & Jeggo as a double pivot just lacks in too many aspects.
One positive was that Degenek was pretty decent. Harper spent the entire game talking up how amazing they front 4 for China were while the created next to nothing.
Also - time wasting in a must win game that you’re drawing… pathetic from China.
If Arnie is going to persist with the crossing tactic then we need to move to a front 2 and have Boyle/MacLaren playing off Duke/Taggart.
The current setup is leaving the striker outnumbered and doesn’t get Hrustic on the ball enough in the attacking third. The 2 identical goal chances that Irvine spurned against the Saudi’s and China is where the second striker would be or where Hrustic should be. It’s a clear sign that the system isn’t working when it is a DM that is having to get into that position.
We need to move to a 4-3-1-2
Ryan
Grant/Karacic, Degenek, Sainsbury, Behich
Irvine, Jeggo, Devlin
Hrustic
Boyle/Maclaren, Taggart/Duke
Devlin isnt just coming into the starting 11. Stop.
He’s one of the only midfielders regularly playing 90 minutes each week. He’s also regularly one of the top players on the pitch.
If he’s not close to being a walk up start then I call into question the selection policy.
SPFL is a decent league, Hearts are top and he is getting rave reviews. Not sure why Jeggo would be ahead of him (anti Melbourne bias but still valid).
Look, I didn’t last night’s game but did we have the same issues as the Saudia Arabia where we looked lost up front? Don’t think Deviln is going to fix that.
For a large chunk of the game yes. First half we just crossed everything - probably only 2 or 3 of the crosses were quality opportunities. After half time we had a period where we were holding possession better in the attacking third and looking for different balls into the box but just didn’t seem to have the quality to really make clear cut chances out of it. That kind of broke down after the penalty and subs.
What a shit week for international football.
Just be thankful we’re not San Marino.
Got thumped 10-0 by England, at home the other day.
With a midfield 2 Hrustic is having to help out defensively as well as come deep to collect the ball. When he plays it out wide for the wingers he is too far from goal to be an attacking threat. This is why it’s Irvine getting into the box and not him (Jeggo appears to be an out and out 6 and doesn’t get forward). Because Irvine has pushed on Hrustic has to cover him and ends up further away from goal.
By having 3 midfelders Hrustic won’t have to defend and Irvine won’t have to push forward. It will have us setup better against the counter attack when our FB’s push forward and also keeps our attacking players at the right end of the pitch.
Dougall plays week in in a better league in a team doing very well, but he didn’t play 17 mins off the bench for SFC so he doesn’t count
Fair call. I thought he was still at Barnsley but it looks like he’s doing quite well at Blackpool.
It still doesn’t change the fact that Devlin should be a lot higher up the pecking order than he currently is. At least Dougall is consistently in the squad and getting minutes, albeit limited.
Playoff through South America.
We’re in trouble.
FFS
Twenty-four year anniversary for a game that didn’t exist.
Thanks for this. I was a lot happier not thinking about that.
Damage control