I was fortunate enough to be overseas and not see Friday's debacle. From half way around the world I was deeply ashamed when I heard.
How can we not be fit after the longest pre-season in history? How can we not have structure? For me it seems that Rini is playing god with the team. He's almost completely cut the team we had and with it has gone the heart of the side. His new boys will bed in eventually but new players need to be blended with the old squad gradually. 'Team' culture means a lot in football. These guys don't know each other in the heat of battle.
You also sense that the players don't feel trusted. There's no joy in the play and no fluency that I've seen - except in the Victory match - and now we all know that beating them so narrowly wasn't the great thing it seemed at the time.
It's early days but Rini has to bend with the wind and build a team that plays AU football - not just Rini football. It's our club - not just his - and he needs to learn that. Now!
I'll be supporting AU even when we're still on three points after ten rounds (heaven forbid) but I won't be happy. The General mentioned elsewhere that it might help to play our players in position. I agree. And insert some speed. Slory is not fast anymore. And he's not much else. Cassio is a lighting rod. If he's out of sorts, unhappy and playing without passion then there's something wrong. There's something wrong.
I take heart from Arsenal and Spurs who both started badly and are on the way back up now. Am I clutching at straws? Yes - again.

Edited by jessesdad: 31/10/2011 10:54:37 AM

If you get a chance mate watch the game, though we were poor BRFC was simply outstanding - it wasn't us making them look good; they were good.

I take comfort in knowing that MVFC should get destroyed by them as their midfield and defense is even more static than ours; and that we should beat MH on Friday night.

Cheers General, but I think I'll save myself the pain. They are good. Very good. But 7-1 is unaceptable at this level.
I just fear that we're into Viddie mkII again - the "I won't change and it's all their fault we're losing" type of attitude.
As for MV, I couldn't care less what they do really. All I care about is to see us play well on Friday.

I have said this so many times already in a season that is only a month old it truly scares me

I see that same stubbornness coming from Coolen that made me join this site to vent in the first place a coupla years ago

I can't believe we have changed RB for every game after a 7 month pre season to work out a starting player there. I can't believe we have a natural RB who gets forward well playing CDM and a natural CDM on the bench.
I cant believe for a team that wants to play a 4-2-3-1 we only have 2 wingers on our books in a young fella who tries hard and an older fella who needs a serious attitude readjustment and a plane ticket(Unless you count Vidosic of course who is a winger id have thought now playing CAM).
One of those wingers plays from the bench while Caravella, a natural CM, plays on the wing and gives no penetration as a consequence.

So many questions without answers for a team that trained together for 7 months.

Bah!

Think Barbiero needs to come straight back in he is an Adelaide lad, still not sure why he refuses to play Usucar and maybe Slory off the bench for last half an hour. He seems to have an ok 20 mins then goes to shit.

I know it was 7-1 but we were up 1-0 playing really well and Mackain decides to make just a horrible tackle and give them a penalty to get them going, honestly what the fuck was he thinking. and Galekovic can you please put in some kind of effort once again he looked confused and lost, I know some people will not like that but just watch him.

A penalty and/or a red card to McKain has been coming since i saw the pre-season game vs Gold Coast

He makes some VERY rash decisions

Too often he gets caught pushing up field as well and having to make a desperate lunge because he is out of position

I posted this on another thread but whatever, i feel it deserves repeating re our must win "winnable" games next month

Adelaide's only saving grace now is we play 4 of our next 5 at home all against opponents who we should beat.

If we do not get 4 wins from these 5 games I fear for our season. I also fear for the crwod reaction if we lose to Heart on Friday and put in another insipid performance. the grumblings have started.

let's hope it doesn't come to the supporters turning their back again like under Viddie

Think 'media lockouts' boys... remember them under Viddie? And now under Coolen. Very concerned.

How can they make this guy captain?they cant even drop him now.

David I think they are lucky the game is on Friday if it were on Sat or Sun there wouldnt be more than 10 000 there. People can say support the boys and all that bollocks but people dont want to pay to watch that garbage.

I'm not saying I don'y like Mckain, coz i kinda do, but i never saw him play like he has for us for Australia. I don't know if he feels the responsibility or what. Just needs to calm down as i think he is a great CB.

I'll be there Friday and at every home game this year just as i was when we came bottom. man that was a painful year.

Here's to November!!!

Personally I think that being the team captain (with a lower case 'c') should not exclude you from being dropped on form. Frankly this strange idea that has permeated sport that just because you have the armband you are gauranteed selection needs to be put back in the compost pile it was dredged from.

I agree, but I guess most of them at the moment deserve to be dropped

Why did they get rid of Stubbins, who put the team together before last year?

*last season

I am not sure on that, he is probably too good to be an assistant coach and he knows it would be my feeling...

a coach has to be stubborn, without it the internal forces in a club would tear them apart. They live and die by the results they get and if they are letting other people run roughshod over them they won't last long.

Theres also got to come a time where you realise something is not right and make changes or you wont last long

There's being a man of conviction and having self belief, then there is pig headed stubbornness and resistance to change.

i'm not saying we have reached that level yet but it is where it COULD be headed.

BUT we have played all the hardest teams now and I never expected 4 from 4 to start the season(though id hoped for 2)

after 9 games it would be nice to at least

W5-D1-L3 - 16 points

i at least feel we could build from there

Would love to see Barbie get some game time again. Technically solid, wears his heart on his sleeve and plays for the shirt!

Who do you think the draw will be against? I would prefer us to be 6-0-3 after 9 rounds actually ;)

And has been known to actually have a shot at the goal!
Friday is crucial. Heart will be desperate for a win and pretty confident of getting one. We need to crush them - early.

Agreed
If we don't come out like someone has just shoved ginger up our bums then i will be hugely disappointed

we need to push, and to push hard.

2-0 after 23 minutes. Yep. done

Anyone here also going to the youth league game at Burton Park on Saturday? Had know idea how far out of the way it is unless you live north.

Its ages away if you come from the South or east like me, I drive past it after work at least I think I do, is it a new looking complex?

It is what I go past after work, I live just south of the city and it takes me an hour to get out here I doubt anyones gonna be bothered driving over an hour, does it cost to get in?

Took me an hour just coming from Unley. Still Im heading there hopefully with a few others. I just want to see as much football as possible.

yeah basically where im coming from, its not so bad, pretty easy to get to straight down south road. I might head there and we may be seeing some underperforming first team players

I'm not on here as often as I'd like to be anymore - but just a couple of points to think about:

1) We have played the 3 pre-season favourites (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane) and the surprise packet of the season (Perth). We have arguably played the best 4 sides in the comp so far, so now the draw softens up a bit it will be a good chance to consolidate and really see where we're at. I will reserve judgment for 4 weeks, although obviously things aren't looking good.

2) Re Barbiero. YES YES YES. Criminally underrated player. The midfield needs some energy, and Barbiero brings exactly that. As well as no shortage of passing ability, tackling, and shooting. I think our two biggest problems are a lack of energy in the middle of the park and a lack of natural goalscorers aside from SvD and possibly Vidosic. Bringing in Barbiero could solve both those problems.

I know that Barbiero has had ankle problems but think he is fit again, not sure if he is playing NYL but he should come into the starting 11, he is one of the only Adelaide lads in the first team?? Very true he is underated from anyone outside of Adelaide but we here all know what he can bring. not afraid to shoot, not afraid to tackle and uses the ball well. Coolen must like him as he is still here

Barbs and Boogaard played NYL (Barbs definately, think that Boogs did) along with da Silva.

Surely Boogard needs to come in as well? and I think I saw that Da silva scored so give him a go off the bench.