A lot seems to have been made of Dimitar Berbatov's 5 goals against Blackburn Rovers and the fact that these were his first since the hat trick vs Liverpool earlier in the season.
I've had friends and colleagues tell me how good he is in one instance and yet a few days ago were saying how rubbish he was, doesn't fit the United system, is too lazy ... all sorts of things.
There are, as I see it, several reasons for his lack of goals in that period.
Berbatov likes to lead the line and he feeds on decent service and while Nani is having a very good season his crossing ability is variable, he does seem to cut in from either flank quite a lot.
Thee are a couple of things that coincide with Berbatov's lack of goals.
1. Ryan Giggs injured and out of the side
2. Antonio Valencia horribly injured and out for possibly the season
3. Rooney's absence - injury or not decide as you like.
The way that Fergie played Berbatov while these three were out meant that he wasn't getting the service he needs, to make up for the missing striker in Rooney he had to drop off and let the more inexperienced Hernandez lead the line with his pace and he had to become the creator rather than the finisher.
So he was basically being asked to play a game that didn't come naturally to him but he played that role because the boss asked him too. Fair play to him - here's hoping he keeps the ratio up, wins the Golden Boot and silences the critics.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Phoenix v Mariners
Two losses on the trott now at the stadium previously known as a "fortress" and the onus will be on us to go to an improving Newcastle Jets (more on them shortly) side and get at least a point.
Ricki Herbert is obviously happy with the formation he's been playing this season (well for the majority of it) with three workers in midfield in front of the back four and Leo and Paul Ifill interchanging flanks either side of Chris Greenacre. So where is it going wrong?
A couple of things I believe are attributing to it.
First - fullbacks. As much as Tony Lochead wasn't performing to the same levels we saw in the Phoenix's first season he's still the only out and out fullback in the squad and with the formation we play screening the centre of our defensive third the obvious place for teams to attack is our flanks.
Manny Muscat is a solid player who is far more effective at right back than left and after last season must be regarded more as a midfield enforcer than a fullback.
Troy Hearfield is a converted attacking player who posseses good pace but still doesn't read the game as well as fullbacks need to at this level.
Jade North/Ben Sigmund - both far more comfortable in the middle of a back four than exposed wide.
Ricki has dabbled with a back three only once this season and the one half we played that way didn't really work but neither was it given a decent chance - perhaps something we'll see more of next season with a pre-season playing the system under our belts.
Secondly - adaptability and flexibility.
The game against the Mariners was on our home patch and yet Ricki seemed reluctant to change his system when it appeared we were going to struggle to get something from the game. As mentioned above three screening midfielders when you're chasing a game at home seems over cautious, add to that a small in stature (harding working for sure no argument there) front man in Chris Greenacre toiling against a large, physical defense and we're relying on either a moment of magic (and Ifill isn't producing those as regularly as he did in his first season) or a Mariners mistake to give us a chance.
The question for me is why, when we're a goal down at home with 20 to go aren't we sacrificing one of our midfield three for a big physical target man like MacAllister? Leo and Iffill then have a target to hit and the Marniers need to committ more men back plus Greenacre is still there the harrass defenders and feed off knock downs from his bigger strike partner.
Instead we swap like for like all over the park with a less solid defensive option in Troy for Jade North (the same side both late goals came through), Daniel for Brown - a more creative player true but when big Dylan Mac comes on and Greenacre goes off the next most obvious player to make late runs and feed off knockdowns is Brown and he's no longer there.
So while changes are being made the system stays the same and opposition coaches are finding us out - Ricki needs a Plan B because Plan A isn't working as well as it did last season.
Ifill is being targetted and his play isn't the elusive mystery opposition defenders found it last season, we're short of genuine fullbacks and as our next opposition, Newcastle, have found to their benefit sometimes changing the way you do things works as testified by their peformance vs Adelaide with the side changing style to suit new signing Francis Jeffers.
Ricki Herbert is obviously happy with the formation he's been playing this season (well for the majority of it) with three workers in midfield in front of the back four and Leo and Paul Ifill interchanging flanks either side of Chris Greenacre. So where is it going wrong?
A couple of things I believe are attributing to it.
First - fullbacks. As much as Tony Lochead wasn't performing to the same levels we saw in the Phoenix's first season he's still the only out and out fullback in the squad and with the formation we play screening the centre of our defensive third the obvious place for teams to attack is our flanks.
Manny Muscat is a solid player who is far more effective at right back than left and after last season must be regarded more as a midfield enforcer than a fullback.
Troy Hearfield is a converted attacking player who posseses good pace but still doesn't read the game as well as fullbacks need to at this level.
Jade North/Ben Sigmund - both far more comfortable in the middle of a back four than exposed wide.
Ricki has dabbled with a back three only once this season and the one half we played that way didn't really work but neither was it given a decent chance - perhaps something we'll see more of next season with a pre-season playing the system under our belts.
Secondly - adaptability and flexibility.
The game against the Mariners was on our home patch and yet Ricki seemed reluctant to change his system when it appeared we were going to struggle to get something from the game. As mentioned above three screening midfielders when you're chasing a game at home seems over cautious, add to that a small in stature (harding working for sure no argument there) front man in Chris Greenacre toiling against a large, physical defense and we're relying on either a moment of magic (and Ifill isn't producing those as regularly as he did in his first season) or a Mariners mistake to give us a chance.
The question for me is why, when we're a goal down at home with 20 to go aren't we sacrificing one of our midfield three for a big physical target man like MacAllister? Leo and Iffill then have a target to hit and the Marniers need to committ more men back plus Greenacre is still there the harrass defenders and feed off knock downs from his bigger strike partner.
Instead we swap like for like all over the park with a less solid defensive option in Troy for Jade North (the same side both late goals came through), Daniel for Brown - a more creative player true but when big Dylan Mac comes on and Greenacre goes off the next most obvious player to make late runs and feed off knockdowns is Brown and he's no longer there.
So while changes are being made the system stays the same and opposition coaches are finding us out - Ricki needs a Plan B because Plan A isn't working as well as it did last season.
Ifill is being targetted and his play isn't the elusive mystery opposition defenders found it last season, we're short of genuine fullbacks and as our next opposition, Newcastle, have found to their benefit sometimes changing the way you do things works as testified by their peformance vs Adelaide with the side changing style to suit new signing Francis Jeffers.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
A-League Football
Hey all,
Welcome to my first blog.
I've just finished watching the Brisbane Roar take on the Melbourne Heart - finished 2-1 to Brisbane - and I've got to say it's the best game of A - League football I've seen this season. Great end to end football and so good to see the away side (Brisbane) not shutting up shop and settling for a draw.
Special praise must go to Ange Postacoglu who wore a lot of stick when he took over last season. Craig Moore, Danny Tiatto and Charlie Millar - all veteran pro's and former internationals were shown the door in an outstanding show of strength and confidence by Ange and his team who wouldn't be dictated too. In doing so Postacoglu seems to have been able to mould a team that is the physical manifestation of his footballing vision.
I remember Levant Osman, a former age group Australian rep and Football King, telling me back in around 99 that Ange was the manager the Kingz should have hired to replace the Rufers and raving about how well he gelled teams together and promoted positive football.
Looks like Lev's prophecy is coming to fruition with a different team and a few years down the track. Now before you think I'm some Queensland football sycophant - let me reassure you that I'm all about kiwi football but the game I watched this evening embodied what I'm sure we'd all love to see fom the A - League on a week to week basis.
Welcome to my first blog.
I've just finished watching the Brisbane Roar take on the Melbourne Heart - finished 2-1 to Brisbane - and I've got to say it's the best game of A - League football I've seen this season. Great end to end football and so good to see the away side (Brisbane) not shutting up shop and settling for a draw.
Special praise must go to Ange Postacoglu who wore a lot of stick when he took over last season. Craig Moore, Danny Tiatto and Charlie Millar - all veteran pro's and former internationals were shown the door in an outstanding show of strength and confidence by Ange and his team who wouldn't be dictated too. In doing so Postacoglu seems to have been able to mould a team that is the physical manifestation of his footballing vision.
I remember Levant Osman, a former age group Australian rep and Football King, telling me back in around 99 that Ange was the manager the Kingz should have hired to replace the Rufers and raving about how well he gelled teams together and promoted positive football.
Looks like Lev's prophecy is coming to fruition with a different team and a few years down the track. Now before you think I'm some Queensland football sycophant - let me reassure you that I'm all about kiwi football but the game I watched this evening embodied what I'm sure we'd all love to see fom the A - League on a week to week basis.
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