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A-League Mens 24/25 - Semi Final

RIMB said:
The game was often hectic and didn't relax into a normal flow for quite long periods of time with a better (more competitive/combative) first half for the neutral to enjoy the swings of the game.

Both teams played some good football and set up their chances but City were just playing at a higher level overall where Western surged and slumped.

Tilio's running on the ball is fantastic to see, the quality of Cohen's strike was top class and I think it is a bonus too see Leckie get out there and put one away.

Without a clinical finish for their decent chances earlier on Western were in trouble, and you would have to give City good odds for winning the aggregate however well Western play next week. A week in football can change the world but where Western could simply come back and win the next match I can't see them putting three more than City away. Score one and create some nerves. Score two and what a tense game that would set up. Score three and it is time for MCG to wake up - he is having a nightmare and it isn't real.

I thought it odd that the stadium lights did their pulsing dance when City scored though - for a Western home game it didn't support the 'home' team at all to have the goal celebrated that way.

Glad you had a good night MCG. Your team played well in a big game.

I am wondering, irrespective of this game, if Vidmar has hit his straps as coach now, and how much of the good play is the City group influence with their organisation, structure and financial support. The quality is still on the pitch despite the injury list but I don't think it is just down to the team buying all quality in the squad in the first place - the parts all still have to work properly together.
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As I eat my humble pie (I had MC bottom 4 at the beginning of the season) I think that Vidmar (& the coaching team) are hitting their straps. Too often MC were able to switch play to players that had acres of space. Their passing accuracy was also higher.
They were better organised than WU who also couldn't press effectively. When Walatee came on, City were pressured more. Garrucio should not take any foul kicks - just butchered them all. The first goal by Ferreyra there were 5 unmarked MC players to receive the corner kick.
As for the CFG influence - well its there because of the facilities and overarching philosophy. But you should not forget that a lot of the players came through the youth system. Of the three foreigners playing last night, Ferreyra and Kuen came on a free transfer (as did Souprayen). So the internal scouting of youth and the training of the youth players are purely internal to MC.
Which brings me to another point MC made me realise - physical infrastructure although necessary does not compete with human infrastructure which requires serious talent acquisition.
 
Melb city took their chances well, Western United didn’t play too badly but basically it’s half time going into next week which they need to score first to stay in it if Melb city score it’s good as over.

I guess that’s one of the good things of not having away goals otherwise if you’re 3-0 down at home you need to score 4 unanswered goals to win.
 
Barca4life said:
Melb city took their chances well, Western United didn’t play too badly but basically it’s half time going into next week which they need to score first to stay in it if Melb city score it’s good as over.

I guess that’s one of the good things of not having away goals otherwise if you’re 3-0 down at home you need to score 4 unanswered goals to win.
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On away goals, you could still score 3 and win. You didn’t necessarily need 4.
 
CentreHalf said:
How long does this league need to be held up by Victory??

Luckily Auckland have come in hot this season.

I could not be more disappointed at this finals series so far. Even the WSW crowd was low last week.
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What planet do you live on lmao. It’s not 2015 anymore
 
melbcityguy said:
Good quality game this
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It is a real excitement game of top quality football.

Fast, intense, physical and skilful play all over the park.

I do get tired of the constant whinging by everyone involved. It is a physical contest by both teams but both are claiming to be victims every time. I will call that the flow on Corica effect.

Looking forward to the second half but wondering if both teams can keep up this pace.
 
Quicky said:
This ref is cooked
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It felt like he just got tired of the constant contact by both sides and the constant appealing and just said I'm not calling anything unless someone gets hurt.

Just one of many examples, but a very obvious one - near the end a player was grabbed and swung round by the defender - no way he could have done that himself - not even a play on signal. Plenty of fouls let go both ways but to me that does not improve the spectacle - just tells players they can get away with most stuff so they do.

Victory just not sharp enough in front of goal and Auckland just too tough to break down in the end.

Shame about Hamill. No coincidence that losing him was followed by a weaker Victory defence.
 
Credit to Auckland they might not play the most attractive football in the world but they are very effective in what they do, which close down quickly, play physical to stifle attacks and take advantage of things like counter attacks and set pieces.

Every time we have a champion team they leave a trend for next season for teams to follow, last season it was the youthful mariners this season so will we see teams revert to being more physical off the ball and taking advantage of set pieces?
 
Just a quick side note, the pitch wasn’t the best so maybe it suited a physical game.
 
RIMB said:
It felt like he just got tired of the constant contact by both sides and the constant appealing and just said I'm not calling anything unless someone gets hurt.

Just one of many examples, but a very obvious one - near the end a player was grabbed and swung round by the defender - no way he could have done that himself - not even a play on signal. Plenty of fouls let go both ways but to me that does not improve the spectacle - just tells players they can get away with most stuff so they do.

Victory just not sharp enough in front of goal and Auckland just too tough to break down in the end.

Shame about Hamill. No coincidence that losing him was followed by a weaker Victory defence.
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The ref was like that from the first whistle. It's frustrating because it benefitted Aucklands playing style more. But at least he was consistent.

Auckland was too good in the end. Defensively gave us no space and they countered quicker. Although I reckon we were very unlucky not to have a penalty.
 
The refs are very gun shy compared to the leagues abroad i watch. Lots of contact in the a league should be a foul but isnt called, lots of pens not called, lots of fouls that should be yellows and yellows that should be red. The goal today was probably a foul in a lot of leagues i watch because the other defender was bumped off. Pretty much a non event in our league, but when players play outside the a league and have their goals disallowed because of fouls like that, it isnt good prep

There were zillions of fouls not called. Its hard to change tho. Every time the a league reffing tries to get harsher to be more in line with global standards, commentators howl in protest. Daniel mcbreen in particular seems to support letting fouls go
 
I Dont understand how AAMI Park can get chopped up so badly, feels like its the first time its rained in Melbourne in 6 months lol.

Was a decent game, Victory far too much overplaying on the edge of the box, in the end i dont think they had a shot on target. Auckland probably should have wrapped up the tie at the end.
 
I was quite surprised at the state of AAMI park given that yesterday WU played MC on the same pitch yet that was quite decent. I know that there has been a lot of rain today but in the past there has also been quite a lot of rain without the pitch deteriorating so much.
As for the refereeing letting a lot of things go, I am assuming that this is to cater for local audiences. Given that the rugbys and AFL are quite physical, the refs have to allow a fair bit more than in other leagues. Having said that, I would need to rewatch the game to see whether players were not exaggerating.
One thing that did surprise for both teams were the number of times the receiver was not fully facing forward when play switched over to attack.
Finally, throughout the season, MVC have had difficult scoring in the second half. The team fades out. And tonight I think that the reason for this is that so many attacking players are rather old, Arzani aside, hence the fade. And unfortunately Arzani's engine last about 60 minutes.
And Moreno's miss, is my miss of the year.
 
It was a good contest, but it felt like the ref was never in real control of the match. He wanted to "let it flow" but had no real idea of what was going on.
A League refereeing seems to be changing- 10 years ago there would have been a free kick every couple of minutes and lots of yellows.
Arzani did not have the key to unlocking this game for Victory (unlike last week) Still only a 60 minutes player.
 
WhatAmIWatching said:
Given that the rugbys and AFL are quite physical, the refs have to allow a fair bit more than in other leagues.
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This is what it is, in the other codes they call it "putting the whistle away" with all the bravado around the players deciding who wins finals matches.

If this was a regular season game it would have been officiated differently.
 
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