Glory after Ruka. Interesting.

I love Ruka to bits, so I say this with great internal conflict:

I hope we don't succeed. Would be an absolutely awful move for him, even temporarily.

If it be true, i fail to understand where Glory are heading. :-k

If we loaned Ruka, we'd have the following players across the front 3:

Smeltz, McLaren, Harold, Sidnei, Zahra, Makeche, Šernas and Ruka (and arguably Redwards is more suited to this line as well)

of those, two would be season loans, which should always be starting players. Which would leave Smeltz, Sidnei, Harold, McLaren and Zahra competing for the one spot (Makeche looks unlikely to get any more time). Sidnei should be starting (obv subject to fitness.) A fit Smeltz should be starting. Harold, McLaren and Zahra are all currently pushing for game time and would end up with effectively none in this setup, which won't make them happy.

In midfield we'd have

Burns, McGarry, Redwards, Cedwards, Cernak, O'Neil and De Silva

Which, whilst only one less player, has only one player capable of being a decent link player. And that player is too young, frail and inexperienced to start. Additionally, and importantly, the overall quality just isn't there. There is no sense stacking your forward quota with quality when behind them is mediocrity, especially with the type of forwards we have. They all need good, creative service to maximise their input.

I think that horse has been flogged to death many times over on this forum.

And yet, Glory seem happy without it.

](*,)

:d

Where did the Ruka thing come from? Not from Burn's tweet about Vuka?

Idk where these crowds are coming from, but we're sending them home unhappy.

We have or are about to sign a Serbian number 10 btw.

Well that's one point I never really thought we'd end up getting.
God knows a midfield would be handy, and much of the game looked like there was one extra in Brisbane's team.
Broich ran rings around whoever we had there - when he wasn't theatrically falling over.
I've tried to tolerate Burns since his comeback, but sorry, he is a total liability to our team. He simply no longer has any pace at all, and constantly is leaving his player unattended 15, 20 metres in the clear because can't keep up. And that's before we get onto the fact that he can not make one positive attacking pass. Everything is done at a casual pace, just tapping backwards putting others under pressure. It is infuriating, it is why we constantly look outnumbered and outpossessed, and this club needs much more that a couple of borderline tackles from its captain each week.
And Berisha.
You would go a long way to see a more disgraceful front on cheap shot challenge than what he did in the first 30 seconds tonight. A real pity Refs let everyone get away with this sort of stuff in the first 15 minutes, usually unpenalised with a bit of a stern talking to only. It seemed to take a concerted effort from the players to convince the Ref that although someone is half dead, you are actually allowed to hand out an early yellow card. (His second card should have come with his own theatrical rolling around on the ground after a McGarry tackle, only to jump up and run off the field).
The second challenge after 30 minutes was another spineless cheap shot, and clearly the intent was to sort out Thwaites tonight.
The FFA will no doubt impose a much more hefty penalty than the standard 1 match ban, especially given the 2 match ban Burns was recently given (although 1 and 1/2 of his was probably for stupidity and therefore warranted).

You know how desperate you are for a good play-maker when Thwaite is doing 95% of the job

As much as the Roar fans are complaining about one-sided refereeing, Berisha was lucky to see the second minute of the match. That quite easily could (and probably should) have been a straight red.

We fell apart when Gallas came off though, Thwaite couldn't carry three inexperienced defenders alone against such a good side. A marked difference in the final minutes when an experienced and confident Risdon came on. Nothing against Davies, who was probably the best of the young defenders, but they needed that second calm head in there to settle the back four.

Sidnei was immense, and unfairly overlooked by many discussing the top players on the ground. Did a mountain of work covering the defence and was our only threat for much of the match.

I feel like a broken record, but my god Cernak was woeful. Tries his guts out and puts in a tremendous amount of work but is just not technically good enough for A-League football. A liability to the team, Lowe seems to feel no one else is fit and can do that role but it almost seems that starting a man down would be preferable.

Not sure why people booed Miller either.

Why not? lol They always do and fans have booed former players for far less, weaker and even unfairer, reasons! And heck - look at those who booed Tomic at the Australian Tennis! Now THAT I don't agree with!

Anyway, a recently former player, guy who was prominent in this league, with us, departed due to contractual differences - now STARRING with our rivals, when we well arguably could do with his services. Now devil in detail, I know - cost cutting, differences in demands etc... fair of him to leave, but STILL, it's not unreasonable! ;)

So why NOT boo!

Feel our faux rage! :x :p

Ruka rumour DOES seem curious, squad demands wise, but then again, he would be another striking option too, as he was for us, back in the day? But as you said, he ALSO have Sernas coming in and we have plenty of options in the wide attacking area...

LESS - with mid-season changes may come mid-season departures too, and with injuries and what not. Ruka may be seen as a replacement for Nagai? :-k MacLaren has seen injury too and the lack of depth upfront MAY see Lowe seeking two more options there?

The line up tweaked, Ruka opposite flank to Sidnei, Zahra #10? Or Ruka upfront?

But anyway, I concur with Hotrod sentiments of confusion over this.

It could just be an errant rumour - As Ruka is still on-loan to FSV Frankfurt for the season, so it would ALSO require a termination of his present loan agreement?



Ahh they said this on Foxsports, aswell as Sernas, I saw that on Helloworld's clip, other thread, interesting! :-k

Perhaps the 'Good, creative service' we've long seeked? Hopefully!




Yeah, Sidnei was the most threatening with his dribbling and got in some half decent positions, just closed down with the final turn or face on goal. One moment he turned inside but lacked the right foot or confidence to shoot with his right, when he should have, instead waiting for the lay off and the chance fizzled to a degree. That was the time in the game when we were screaming for a shot on goal - Harold had some turns inside, edge of the area too.

But then we kept to width and crosses from Harold and co wide. Mixed results, though the crosses were more effective later, with Harold and co crossing more advanced close to the byline and Smeltz a little more threatening, aerially. We lacked aerial options generally - Zahra had a half chance for one, but he's just too short and not enough leap, to seize the chance. Glory had half chances generally, but the Brisbane defending was largely too good and Glory's final third distribution too mundane.

Cernak needs replacing, indeed.

Good to see Risdon back!



Perhaps, though Thwaite plays that way anyway. He did with Gold Coast - he's just that type of player, on the ball.



lol! Indeed! Or not so lol? :/

Edited by GloryPerth: 18/1/2014 05:24:12 AM

To be fair, Roar ARE class and so is Broich. They are the top team for several reasons and some of those you covered! A very fluent team, with good understanding, playing to roles with some highly talented players, including 'former Glory man' Miller. :twisted: :p One has to be almost jealous of the kind of midfield they possess, including young talent Brattan, who had another strong contribution, this evening, including a brilliant turn and well paced pass in switch of play to unlock an overlapping runner - done with the kind of brief two touches within a second motion that we could only wish of our centre midfielders! No wonder he's a dark horse for the Socceroos with that kind of form!

And let me put it another way - They got Broich and Miller and we got, McGarry and Burns. Says it all?!

Bolded Totally agreed. He's just not as effective as once thought and in his absences - that's why Edwards wasn't in a hurry to return him to the line up. Clearly we didn't miss as much as some think. But Burns and cohorts thought otherwise. Sooner he, McGarry and the other deadwood taking up wage space and a VISA spot in midfield are gone, the better!

BTW It was good to see Gallas get significant minutes and we looked steadier when he was on.

I think the draw was a fairly fair result - Roar played well even with the handicap of 10, they're quality. But you also expect that of 10 men sides and often they can be even harder to overcome when they're down that player. They showed their quality especially in defence, with their organisation and they made it harder for Glory in that final third, with few if any clear chances presented.

Flipside, Glory tried but couldn't find the clear chances, but same time, they largely kept Roar at bay, well, much like they have all teams, this season. Hence Glory's 'Goal Against' count being tied for second best in the league!

Glory are compact, organised, can defend - but it's just the effectiveness in the final third where they lack the genuine quality needed.

Any more news on Madaschi and Griffiths? And this mystery Serbian...

Also when is that Lithuanian coming?

Was thinking the same.

Hope this Serbian can sort out Glory's mess of a midfield.

Miloš Dimitrijević seems like a good signing for Sydney, and probably what we need (CM). A little jealous. Do we really need another 10?

We do when we don't have one and get dominated by a team one man down.

Yeah, heard that, no idea about the Ruka thing.

Can't sign this Lithuanian guy and the Serbian btw, that would mean 6 charlies at the club.

So much truth! Glad that for the majority, the Glory fans here are at least level-headed. Well most of them :D

It's a pity the club can't see these problems.

Clisby/Madaschi wont be able to hold up LB with Woodcock, Griffiths for all his talent isn't going to force Jacob out of Burns FC.

This season was a write off weeks ago. I think I have one criteria for the coach: Take No Bullshit with a better Resume than Ali.

Currently got 3........

Sidnei
McGarry
Gallas

Smeltz is counted as Australian. IIRC, McGarry should be naturalised this year?????

Problem with the #10 is playing one like a #10 we expect to be played...

Between the likes of REdwards, McGarry, DDS we should have at least competent depth there but Keeny seems to think REd is a midfielder (he's not) and Cernak is being played for fuck knows why. You have to start giving more game time to DDS now we're at the end of the season, fuck this top 6 shit that went out the window with Ali.

Our midfield is crap, those two positions need fixing. Cam Edwards is one of the best passers at the club (look at his stats) but wont get a look in regularly so we need someone else.

Also VISA players: Gallas, Sidnei, McGarry, Nagai/Sernas

Hmm, ok maybe I was wrong, we have a spare slot. Swear we filled it with Gallas, lol

EDIT: ninja'd by hotrod! :lol:

Edited by andytoddselbow: 18/1/2014 06:58:07 PM

Sernas, Jovanović Doe, Ruka, Griffiths, Madaschi

If that's who we're trying to sign, one will miss out. :/

Hope it's Ruka.

Would be a backward step for him.

This. And I really hope Griffiths pushes out Burns but do not see that hapening. After seeing Wellington play today, even though I support PG id prefer to see Wellington and Adelaide in the finals if it meant we didn't get a place.

Definitely should sign Rostyn if he's up for a longer term contract. But Burns will probably veto it.

Just reading about Robbie Kruse tearing his ACL and now a massive doubt for the World Cup.
I suggest getting him over to those Crows medicos asap who seem to think they can fix a torn archilles in 3 months.

Edited by shanagar: 19/1/2014 03:06:47 PM

Sadly he never has any options to pass to, its infuriating watching him looking around for options and seeing no one make any kind of space, and after about 10 seconds of looking he just resorts to a long ball, we need some movement in the midfield

I get the sense some of you under-estimate Rostyn Griffiths and his capability and even standing, somewhat? That or you fear Jacob Burns FC that much?! :-k

Griffiths by all intents and purposes SHOULD push out Burns or at the very least, play alongside him (Bench, McGarry). Both he and Madaschi are no 'squaddies'!

It would be good news for many reasons if both joined their hometown team and an addition reason would be Griffiths arrival would make it that much easier to 'end' the Jacob Burns FC regime, by letting him go!

Madaschi would be a primary CB option and THAT'S why having he, Thwaite AND Gallas in the rotation would be crazy. But if one of the latter two are departing (End of season), then that's more logical? Or move Gallas and his class and leadership, up the field, to DM - We already saw his influence on the team, first half, this last game - You know it makes sense?

Risdon Madaschi Thwaite Woodcock
R. Griffiths Gallas
Harold/Zahra New #10 Sidnei
Smeltz/Harold

How is that? Jamieson comes back to LB next season and we rectify upfront's issues via a clean out and a quality VISA and local signing? :-k

And bolded - If that ISN'T a BEAST of a spine, I don't know what is! Serious business, few could overcome that DM/CB combo especially of ALREADY one of the strongest defences in the A-League! Just some minor, though key, adjustments and Glory is a serious threat on that counter/in that final third too!



He's not the only one to do that - Davies does it often. But Davies is young, inexperienced and not as confident/capable on the ball as Thwaite is. Thwaite can be handy when roaming forward and distributing, at times. He's better than the average CB, anyway.

It's not the best, but sometimes it's tactically handy when you have a CB who can 'make a pass' if you will and bypass midfield with the odd through ball to a holding striker (Or even on running winger, IF the opposition's defensive line is higher!). That helps break up the defensive lines and can allow surrounding midfielders time and space to play off. But this only works and should only be utilised, now and again - or else defences just drop deeper and FORCE those long balls. So you need the short link-up play too, to relieve our pressed defence - keep trying to switch play, as Glory DID try - just the issue was transition and passing was too slow at times. By time we DID switch, their defence was well ready for it.

Where as Roar had the likes of Brattan who could receive, turn and pass in no more than two touches, a brilliant brief movement to switch the play with a beautifully paced and well weighted, diagonal pass to Franjic at the end. A kind of Cryuff turn like movement. But the whole move took less than a second almost. That's what Roar and it's deeper midfielders, like he and Miller, can do - but with Glory... the difference is massive.

Edited by GloryPerth: 20/1/2014 04:47:06 AM