Our shape

[brett]

Well, three games, three wins. What do people think of our shape?

I guess Lawrie's ideal team (ie all available) is

Danny

Ossie - Wilko - Boogs - Heff

- - - - - - - Jedi - - - - - - - -
- Gumps - Hutch - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - Kwas
- - - - - Mrdja - Sasho

Kwas, our resident Brazilian, has ironically been given the Fred role that worked so well for Melbourne. He drifts in behind the strikers, to the other side of the field, basically anywhere he pleases. We need the motors of Heff to cover him on the left, and with an underdone Browny in his place, we got carved down that side against Qld.

Gumps plays quite narrow as well and he looked pretty lost on the right on Thursday to be honest, Qld continually went around us.

Of the three teams we've played, they haven't got attacking fullbacks, and therefore haven't exposed us that much. Against Melbourne or Adelaide it could be more of a worry.

Hutch has been great in CM though, he has rarely given the ball away. That is kind of Gumps' job and I wonder if it's best to have them both out there? Three wins suggests yes I suppose!

The boys up front I wouldn't say have quite gelled yet because they don't pass the ball to each other much. They seem to be more like let's take turns in scoring the winners. Both playing well individually but they aren't a typical attacking duo yet. Interesting to see how that will pan out.

Jedi rocks.

[serious14]

Loving the whole wingbacks scenario - it's working a treat. Osman is a gun.

Jedi is a rock, and the only thing I can see displacing him this season is suspension, which lets face it, is going to happen..... if only due to the questionable standard of refereeing (80% of those free kicks he gave away on Thursday were farcical, the remaining 20% were dives by QLD players).

Gumps is as great as ever, and is showing some distinctly un-German (pre-2006 World Cup) flair this time round.

Hutch - I was no big fan of including him after his "efforts" last season, but I think it's fair to say he's proved most of us wrong. No need to displace him at all, his distribution and defence are par excellence.

Kwasnik - you're all aware of my views about him, but he's really stepped up this season so far, and quite frankly I never want to see him in a striking role ever again. Where he is right now (in the classical No. 10 role) is where he should stay. Of course I want to see Tommy play more, but it's hard to change a winning team, yeah??

Sasho and Nik - they'll start working together more eventually, but you can't go about damaging a striker's ego..... let them have their little contest to see who can score more, it can only mean more goals for us!!! ;D (seriously though, give them a few more weeks at most and they'll be making runs off each other like nobody's business)

[marinermick]

Not much to add to your comments other than to say that Osman has also been awesome on the right snuffling the raids down his flank.

I am not convinced about the shape either but we have three from three and Lawrie is paid the big bucks so knows more than we know - especially the behind the scenes stuff.

One thing that has struck me is our lack of fitness. We have have been under the pump in the last thirty minutes of every game so far while looking very impressive in the first thirty.

I guess, after the review of our injury toll, the decision was made to ease training a bit. Better to have players available and slightly unfit than to have them unavailable through injury.

[drummingman]

the last 30mins will be interesting against melbourne...hopefully imo we would be 2 up by that stage

[brett]

I made the comment in the sports bar that it's often because of the way we attack with numbers and runs that makes us so tired later.

Against Qld we didn't do that so much because we couldn't keep the ball and probably lasted a bit better throughout the game.

[marinermick]

nothing beats match fitness so we should be stronger and stronger every match

i shudder to think that we have obvious improvement in us

[Ursus]

As everyone has said you cannot argue with results. I am impressed with Kwassy's play on the left although I still think his future may be in the position occupied by Gumps.

It is wonderful having 2 strikers and if either of them are out, for any reason, I would play anyone but Kwassy there. he is far too important exploiting the edges. Although Serious (could not recognize talent if it bit him) and I have different opinions on Kwassy we will agree on never to be up front.

Gumps does not appear comfortable playing wide and creeps infield a lot. But what the heck....... if it works.

Hutch is filling the attacking mid position with better ball holding ability than Gumps but so far without that individual flare. He distrbutes well and being surrounded by the players that he is, distribution is more important than making things happen with individual brilliance. However as he becomes more comfortable and confident who knows.

It is great having depth. Six out on Thursday and we get the away points from the team that I believe will be Nazz.

[serious14]

ursus said:

Although Serious (could not recognize talent if it bit him)

AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You might be a one eyed grumpy Kwassy fan, but that made me laugh!!! ;D

Of course I recognise talent - why do you think I lead the bow to Tommy anytime he scores/comes on the pitch?? Because he's _talented_.

P.S. I predict another 6 or 7 goal epic thriller for Sunday - and another red card for Muscat. Jedi being the quiet assassin of the equation of course.

[curious]

Our shape

Less fatty foods & more exercise.
(was the first thing that came to mind when i saw the thread heading.....I know, close the door behind me )

[brett]

Six out on Thursday? Only 3 from our preferred line up.

Interesting to see your comments Ursus. I totally agree that if one of the front men was out, leave Kwas where he is. I reckon the more mobile Tommy or Matt S would work great with one of our front men.

Kwas is indeed loving life out of the spotlight, like most of us thought he would. Hence why he is leading my charge up the foxsports fantasy team ladder as my captain

Spot on about Hutch. There are other players who can make the runs, play the killer balls and generally make things happen, so his job steering the ship is a perfect balancer. Once again the only reason to change things would be if other players were out and we needed more of a creator than a settler in there (Tommy or Grego)

It's great talking about possibilities should we have players out. This can only mean things are running smoothly as it stands. Life is peachy

[Ursus]

serious14 said:

ursus said:

Although Serious (could not recognize talent if it bit him)

AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! You might be a one eyed grumpy Kwassy fan, but that made me laugh!!! ;D

Of course I recognise talent - why do you think I lead the bow to Tommy anytime he scores/comes on the pitch?? Because he's _talented_.

P.S. I predict another 6 or 7 goal epic thriller for Sunday - and another red card for Muscat. Jedi being the quiet assassin of the equation of course.

Sorry Serious, I forgot the after the words "bit him". ;D

I want to see those quick "one twos" from Tommy as well as he carves up a defence. Without game time they will not develop. However the only way he will get that chance at the moment is through injury.
I do hope he still has much to offer and is not getting old like some of us.

[omni]

He'll recognise talent as long as its name isn't Adam Kwasnik

Good to see Kwasnik proving people wrong, even if a number of people won't admit he's doing it (credit to Serious for changing a bit) but there has been a notable silence from the we hate Kwassy club.

[wombat]

Hard to change a winning side but my midfield would be:

Hutcho Jedi Gumpey Tommy.

Gumpey needs to play in the middle especially against the more physical sides. The current midfield's lack of possesion would have cost us the game against a better finishing side than QLD.

Kwasnik has been pretty good this year and doesn't really deserve to be dropped but for me Pondeljak is a better player and would create even more opportunities for our two strikers.

I also agree that we don't look that fit and maybe subs show be one a bit earlier.

[Jesus]

kwassie is ripping it up. Just as the "we love Kwassie" club predicted

[DJ]

Tommy was lucky to even make the bench in QLD.............Both he and Gumps are playing for contracts next season and IMO based on early form they will either have to take a decent pay cut or not wear the yellow and blue in V4!

Tommy is a talented player but he must not be doing something right on the training field as he's not really getting a look in.

[marinermick]

how anyone could think of dropping kwas is beyond me

[Ursus]

It is watching the game from Bay 16 that does it.

Since moving I have found that there is a net at the other end of the field too.

Suggestion to ease a lot of problems:
Move Bay 16 to the halfway line.

Advantages:
Numbered tickets, reserved seats.
No overcrowding.
No emos.
Both ends of the field visible.
Able to offer advice to the opposition bench.
Less distance to walk for a beer.
Less distance to walk for a pee.
Have to purchase season membership to get in.
Able to offer advice to the ref's assistants.

Disadvantages:
Costs slightly more.
Cannot give Reddy and Bolton heaps for a full 90 minutes (but much closer 4 times a game).
Breaking tradition.

I started writing this as a joke but as I go on I think it deserves consideration. It does address a lot of issues seen as problems on other threads.

Think about it.

[marinermick]

Add to advanatges:
- having a roof over your head

And ultimately quashed by Mariners management because:
- fear from the club that language coming from that bay would impact more negatively on other paying guests

[brett]

Disadvantage - passive emos replaced by irritated families and 'die-hards' who pay 'good money' for their half way seats and don't want to be bothered by atmosphere - it makes it too hard to hear the voice talking about the Central Coast MARINERS (..ariners...ariners...) over the PA

[marinermick]

ursus said:

Since moving I have found that there is a net at the other end of the field too.

said to jeff and someone else last night that i believe more goals are scored at the palm tree end

would be an interesting statistic