Returned from the game tonight against Stirling Lions, who currently top the WA Premier League (but didn't field their best side tonight).

Glory ran out 4-0 winners, with the goals as follows:
1-0 After their earlier linkup at a set piece resulted in a header going wide, Steven McGarry once again teed up Ljubo Milicevic who this time knocked one home over the keeper's head
2-0 Ryan Edwards with a lovely one-two to and back from Jamie Maclaren, puts the ball in the back of the net with a well placed shot
3-0 Maclaren runs onto a through ball and grubbers a kick past the keeper on a tight angle
4-0 De Silva pressures a defender who gives the ball to him, is then passed by the youngster who slides the ball into space for Adrian Zahra to run onto and blast into the top of the net.

Ljubes was probably the best player on the night for me, in terms of his impact. Apart from his goal he was composed at the back, very combative in midfield, and humourous for just ignoring the ref (hopefully something he won't repeat at A-League level!). The guy just doesn't seem to give a shit about his opponent - at one point he waltzed up the middle of the park, nobody able to challenge him, and casually dribbled into the penalty box before finding a free man. What's he doing in the penalty box? Who cares, he's Ljubo.

Nagai looked good early but gradually faded out, Zahra scored a good goal but I'm not yet convinced he's a first team player. Ryan Edwards actually looked quite good tonight, sharp on the ball and willing to press opponents. Good to see Maclaren build some confidence with a goal at the end, as he was a bit off target for a good portion of the night.

Anyone that looks like forcing themselves into the front 4?

lol Ljubo was even doing that, albeit on a relatively lesser scale, at ACL level with the Jets! He'd have the ball in build up from the back, and, 'frustrated' he sought to 'force the issue' or more 'bring the initiative' via marauding runs forward. Like throwing his hands up in the air, due to the lack of runs, interplay opportunities or what not, he just strove into the attacking half, to break up the lines and offload it - essentially bypassing midfield to be a central midfielder himself. Ljubo isn't alone in this approach, Lucas Neill has done similarly with the NT and Connor Chapman did too, with the Young Socceroos. It's a good tactical approach to load the offensive half with the extra man, break up the defensive line, forcing more of their defenders to branch off and track you down and thus help free up others in the attacking half - especially helpful if you both have the technique and distribution skills to pull it off.

But you could also see that Ljubo has experienced a higher level of professional football, so the wavelength, tactical understanding and even speed of thought, decision making etc... is all more highly tuned, even with his period out of the game. Clearly he has a bit of bravado too, but don't get me wrong, that can be a good thing in elite sport. Ljubo might've seen many, many more NT appearances, even be a NT player now, had he not had his own 'tricky period' like a number of other 'would be NT stars' had, especially in the middle-late Farina period. You fall off-side (For whatever little reason) with long term coaches like he and you all but out for good as the likes of he, Bosnar, Kisnorbo and a number of others learned.

Hmm You guys are right, infact I agree. I get worried too, when they do 'rate Glory' as indeed you are right they did circa Dave Mitchell era and the squad/s he formed etc... It's the good ole, 'Kiss of Death'/Poisoned Chalice indeed. They bask in their own ignorance. :p

BTW My A-League consumption is 'more limited' to a few of the more national media outlets, including FFT here I think. So what a I read/watch tend to be the usual, mainstream, football coverage, which is naturally mostly Eastern States-based anyway (Including the official FFA & A-League sites), except for, as you guys have just touched on, odd contributions from Aussie Football-related journos in 'The West Australian' like Shayne Hope and Jonathan Cook. So, yeah, I guess, like most consumers, I get what I'm asking for/deserve - or bask in my own ignorance too. :p

Edited by gloryperth: 5/9/2013 07:59:36 AM

Thanks for the report, Dave

resigned with Europcar again for 2 years. Good news for sure.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/perthglory/news-display/PERTH-GLORY-GEARS-UP-WITH-EUROPCAR/74266

Financially important, certainly.

This is brilliant.

But yes it was a bit silly when he ignored the ref repeatedly on purpose, as long as he doesn't do it in A-league games otherwise it would be a booking.

Was very happy with the performance last night, despite Stirling not fielding there strongest team. Mind you in the first half it looked like their strongest team minus Andy Todd and Andy Brown.

Thought the passing, movement and link up play from Glory was finally up to scratch and better than I have seen previously in this pre season. Good to see us assert our dominance, sometimes be patient in the build up and control possession.

There's little I like more than a sweeper-libero system with a back 3 that includes someone like Ljubo pumping forward confusing the opposition midfield pressing system and breaking open a game...

Will be interesting to see how we go if Ljubo is pulling stunts like that in a back four though... will Burns drop in and cover him? Will the fullbacks hold back when Ljubo goes forward? Or will we risk basically getting caught 3 forwards vs Thwaite+1 full back on the counter-attack if we lose the ball?


It's great to think we have a CB who *can* play that role... as long as he's playing it *within* the team structure!

Watching the state game when Ljubo charged up the pitch one of the backs did hang back, so it must either be a team thing or our backs do have a brain and know when to hang back.

One pleasing thing that I did note last night was when Jamo or Risdon charged up the pitch, McGarry made a point of dropping back to take their spot and essentially shield that wing - intercepting counters on a few times, too.

Hopefully if we can adopt those same moves in the A-League it will give us some fluidity in attack.

Interesting that McGarry was taking on that role... was Burnsy playing?

Possible that the idea is that McGarry will play a 'shielding' role so that Burns can aggressively attack the ball-player rather than needing to sit deep and press. That will suit Jamo and Risdon (and Ljubo through the middle apparently) perfectly!

With a DM playing that role, I always thought Scotty Neville could've been an absolute gun wing-back... one player I still really hope can make a good career even if it is over East instead of here.

[youtube]3guN64Y9Io4[/youtube]

cool. also liked the chant for Ali Edwards! :d

Edited by GloryB: 5/9/2013 10:08:32 PM

There is no way Burns would be flexible enough to cover a fullback.

I agree with Dave and I hope this is his last year.

Thwaite for captain next year if he stays. Otherwise out of Vukovic/McGarry I guess.

Johor looked good, and liked the Security guy in the middle of it all.
One way to keep an eye the crowd.

With the Ljubo being 'libero' thing - other teams, notably Barca, also do this and actually a DM would drop back to fill the void left by the CB roaming forward. So in those terms, a deeper/screening DM like Burns could easily cover there?

edit:



ah yeap, confirmed.




Burns at CB = 'not recommended'. Sounds harsh, but Glory HAD to utilise him there at one point, due to a late season injury crisis and he was out of position/made a mistake which lead to one goal conceded and you could just tell that wasn't his natural/best possie. Glory suffered enough from 'having' to utilise players out of position, like the adaptable Heffernan and others and Glory shouldn't be doing that, less the squad is desperate (Glory had an imbalanced squad anyway, so poor recruiting). And as others have pointed out, his age and slowing pace, as too lack of height/aerial ability - Younger CBs coming through like a Clisby have more these natural attributes and they too, like you guys discussed with the central midfielders, deserve their chance, coming season/s.



In regards to 'experience lost' - It will be the current and future VISA signings who will take up the slack there, fill that void, and Glory will still be recruiting the odd experienced pro/reject from over East, as they've always done. Just, hopefully, these days the frequency of 'Eastern States Mercs' may decrease, especially if/when more locals are coming through the ranks to atleast be given an opportunity. Captaincy issues easily sorted - The more senior player group and/or most experienced club men - variables being personality style and leadership ability normally.

Edited by gloryperth: 6/9/2013 03:19:37 AM

Hey guys here is a petition to get Bunbury forum force in the NPL.

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/football-west-the-inclusion-of-the-south-west-phoenix-fc-within-2014-npl-competition

Signed

:)

Still got the someguy avatar:lol:

Signed the petition. Don't think FW will budge at all. They seem to love themselves too much to concede any ground on anything.

Evans signed as LTI replacement for Dodd.

Still leaves one spot of the squad of 23 left.

Ali maybe looking for a someone mid season?

No it doesn't, we have have 23 players including Dodd.

Happy enough for the Evans signing. Don't think he will start but good to have cover for DM I guess without going to the CBs. Means Pants/Thwaite focus on CB, and then we have Burns/McGarry/C.Edwards/Evans for the DM.

Wiki says 22. Who am I missing? Lists all player numbers but there's no No 10.

Edited by hotrod: 9/9/2013 10:39:58 PM

Edited by hotrod: 9/9/2013 10:42:42 PM

Anyone know when the membership packs are due out?

Hopefully before the first home game of the season this year...

Contracted:
1.   Shane Smeltz
2.   Ndumba Makeche
3.   Chris Harold
Travis Dodd (long term injured)
4.   Daniel De Silva
5.   Jacob Burns
6.   Michael Thwaite
7.   Jack Clisby
8.   Danny Vukovich
9.   Brandon O'Neil
10.   Scott Jamieson
Riley Woodcock (Youth)
Matthew Davies (Youth)
Re-signed:
11.   Steven McGarry*
12.   Josh Risdon
13.   Pantelidis
14.   Adrian Zahra
15.   Ryo Nagai*
New
16.   Isaka Cernak
17.   Cameron Edwards
18.   Jack Duncan
19.   Jamie McLaren
20.   Ryan Edwards
21.   Sidnei Sciola Moraes*
Harry O'Brien (Youth)
22.   Ljubo Milicevic
23.   Dean Evans (3 month contract)

edit: I should say, I am not 100% sure re: Jamieson and Zahra as to whether or not they were re-signed or already contracted.

Edited by GloryB: 10/9/2013 10:56:50 AM

Jamie Maclaren. He's there on the 13/14 season Player Squad. Edited him in now.

Oh, may as well put Dean Evans there too :P

I would hope so too, in response to our query that unfortunately crops up every year.
But still some time to go, and it'd already been jokingly suggested that our round one fixture change was done just to give Glory another 2 weeks to get their membership packs out.

What I was told by the membership mob was that they should be hitting doorsteps at the start of October.

I wonder if we caught a lucky break by starting with two away fixtures.

:-k