Our possession rate playing the “Roar Way” is normally a lot higher. This year is an aberration. At least that’s what it feels like. WU played quite neatly. This was our main test so far and our performance was what I was fearing so was not surprised. No reason to panic though. It was a good lesson we had to have.

paulc, vsing MV BR 51 to 49.
the previous 3 games very close but in favour of opponent, the highest is 11% more to MC 1st game FYI :)

Another point not mentioned for those interested, as we know BR started with an unchanged line up, WU had 7 changes and their 1st AL comp game across a border.
Thats pretty good coaching and the call bringing those subs on.

Have to agree.  He got away with a lot last night.  If he continues this way, he should be seeing a bit of red in the season ahead.

I think Roars possession rate has been low every game, we’re just more effective with the ball these days. 

Agreed pretty much on that foul, though I wondered why O'Shea left his right arm out dragging over Genreau's upper body eventually over his face, I agree about the play acting as well BUT thats todays professional fouls that are getting OTT, wish the refs would act more on these over actors for its becoming a shit show.
I'd say the ref looked at it as a disruptive action whilst WU being in attack motion.

Hollman is a fine up and comer and skills showed them up big time, yes the in experience showed not going down for a pen BUT isn't great seeing the exuberance of youth instictively looking to play on and look what it delivered, rippa build up and finish.
That play from their mid half cutting through 3-4 players was great pity his pass wasn't as good in the end but thats what he's got to learn yet.

I really expected a BR home win as I mentioned earlier BUT WU's shape in defense was smothering also helped by BR lack of decent shots away from class Federici, he's a class keeper even by how he punts the ball with that side body angle, love that style.
He will keep them competitve as long as they don't get many defense injuries to main players.
Derbyshire's read for his clutch goal was very well taken first time.

Stats are puzzling to a degree, watching it it looked BR had a bucket load of possesion yet I see BR 43% to WU's 57%.
BR 415 pass's to WU's 574.

What I am disappointed with is the two incidents highlighted, the elbow by Mulligan and the coathanger ploy by Genreau is that the referee didn't have any game sense/nous as to what happened in front of him. I guess that also is confirmed by the inconsistency throughout the game, blowing some things up that shouldn't, and letting others go that were obvious fouls.

Like Paul Reiffel in cricket, I would like to see a pathway for some professional players turn their hand to refereeing in some capacity when their careers are over so that their "inside" knowledge can be bought to the table.

Like Tilio who also is a technical player, that play more through their skill than their speed or power.

Both have that Arzani-esque quality to beat past players too.

Sydney FC's academy is starting to deliver with some of the quality youngsters coming through.

Hollman was a standout with his dribbling - carved us up big time. We used to be vulnerable to that in our heyday so it sends chills up my spine when I see anyone strolling through our midfield as skillfully as he did.

Yeah Jake Hollman looks like a good player. Great skills to stand up Hingert & deliver that ball into Genreau to score. Another passage of play when he was surrounded by 4 or so Brisbane players & somehow got out the other side. Slatter was talking him up big time. SFC are doing a great job with their Academy - Teague, Peupion, Nieuwenhof, Tillio, Wood, Hollman etc etc

So you are confirming that he dived to balance the ledger. Thank you for that.

Personally I would have been happy to see any legitimate fouls pulled up. I thought there were a lot of dodgy calls and non-calls throughout the game which I mentioned in an earlier post. Both sides got away with some nasty ankle shots, attempted hacks and barges and the ref did not protect players very well at all.

Good to see we agree.

What you didn't want to see is the 3 or 4 previous fouls

Best part of the match was the heckler in the crowd telling Tommy Oar “Central Coast are on top Tommy, you should have stayed there”.

Great composure by Jake Hollman for the assist too, could have gone down with some contact but stayed calm and delivered a nice ball for Genreau to finish.
The kid can really play when he was at Sydney FC along with Tilio who has also left for an opportunity at Melb City.

Quite a flat game but chances were still created by both teams, crucial the bulls won that as they had Adelaide on Friday, Brisbane wasn’t too bad in the second half but it wasn’t there day.

Understand what you are saying - but he is coming from behind. He can see the arm and he initiates the contact which says to me that he deliberately ran into the arm (sure, that is just my opinion). No way that hurt him like he pretended either. Definitely no card for O'Shea, but more than incidental contact and a real effort to get an opposition player carded by Genreau.

Edit: I have seen it in two previous games (wellington and a later game I can't recall) then again tonight where he initiates contact or just plain fouls someone then pretends he is seriously hurt - more than just trying to get out of a card himself. Three times in so few matches says it is an action he performs all too 'cleverly' and that is why I compared him a few days back in another thread to that ball boy who got Marrone sent off. Played for and got.

Edit 2: I have watched it for the fifteenth time with your perspective in mind Gyfox, and I will concede that he may not have tried to hit his face. I will not concede that he does not then act up to cause trouble for O'Shea. He did initiate the contact but may not have targeted the arm in the split second he had. Still diving (as in simulation/exaggeration) and still a cheat trying to get someone carded. Nuff from me on it unless anyone wants to discuss it further...

I don't see Genreau deliberately hitting his face against O'Shea's arm or diving.  He was trying to move to the front position and got caught with O'Shea's arm in the way.  I don't see it as a card.  Depending on where the ref was looking from it may have looked worse but it was one of those incidents that could have been let go without any action in my view.

Watched the replay of O'Shea's yellow and Genreau is a dirty diving prick.

He ducked under O'Shea's arm and hit his face against O'Shea's arm on purpose then fell to the ground 'in pain'. Same as the tackle on Rufer where he studded him then pretended to be hurt.

Outright cheat and worst sort of cheating at that. Causes other players to get cards when he is at fault which is the very description of simulation and exaggeration.

Back from the game - disappointed but not deflated. No 'back to earth' for me - just understanding we still have work to do as expected. Had expected a bit more quality to our finishing is the main disappointment, but we worked with Milicic's favoured pissing around in the backline without getting twisted and stupid. We were obviously playing a more defensive structure for the first half hour or so and did not try to pressure the slow build up and possession side of Macarthur's play until later when the game opened up more.

Macarthur would have beaten us on possession, but I think we had the better attacks (except we didn't score).

We did not take our chances though (so close with DWH's shot past Federici and just wide). Macarthur took their chances very well - shame about the hideous mistimed header by young Trewin - he'll learn something from that.

At the ground it seemed that the ref was giving a free kick to whoever hit the ground. Most seemed legitimate 50/50 fair challenges and a few looked like they should have gone our way - but not given if we stayed on our feet. Orange Tinted Glasses? I didn't think so at the ground but I am wearing my big boy's pants so you can let me know if you thought it fairly even on dodgy calls.

The yellow card to O'Shea was particularly bamboozling. Happy if anyone watching the televised version tells me it was deserved - just couldn't see any sort of foul at the ground.

Federici such quality although many of our shots just lacked any power. When he was needed he was there to stop the shots. Jamie Young had a couple of brilliant saves. Glad to have him back for that.

Wind was horrendous - swirling, inconsistent, really strong dropping away to nothing then full strength again in the space of minutes. Would not have been an easy game to play in despite the cooler conditions.

To whoever said Lachie Rose is dirty off the ball - I watched as often as I got the chance and he seemed to be playing pretty clean. Seemed well contained by our defenders yet did not explode with stupid behaviour.

Milligan is a thug. There, I have said it again. Launching at a player with elbow cocked and did not miss - no card from memory, but what bothers me is that he plays dirty every game and gets away with it.

Win to Macarthur - deserved as far as playing possession based football and capitalising on chances. We just have to work on being more clinical with our finishes (not like previous seasons mind you - just needing a tweak). We score first and we avoid the time wasting ambulance calls followed by instant recovery from an almost dead player. Milicic anti-football at its best.

Reasonable performance by the Roar - did enough to almost win :) Next time...!

Yeah but he sucks there, we saw that when he played there at CCM and we're seeing it now.

I rate him very highly, but DWH should've buried at least 2/3 goals tonight. We dominated for 75% of that game and probably deserved to win it, but you have to give it to Macarthur for sticking in there and scoring a pretty good goal

yep agreed with the snatch and grab win.
Totally against what i expected that was good defense by Bulls but i expected BR to crack them but didn't even get much of a decent shot in a crowded box area most of th egame.
Take your chances and Bulls took their 2.
Back to earth for BR supporters.

Golec played left back at the Wanderers during the ACL Championship Year. Milicic was the assistant coach.

Great awareness by Derbyshire.

Good snatch and grab win by the Bulls, just one of those nights for Brisbane.

lol classic !

Classy by Genreau.

nice goal !

Federichi best signing for the Bulls.

That is garbage defending by Golec.

Not sure why they stick Golec out of position at LB when they can play Walter Scott there instead.

That is the worst the Bulls have played so far this year.  I suppose it is what happens when you rest most of the best players in the squad.

I thought you were a big advocate for the Bulls :P

A bunch of Bullsh1tters