melbcityguy said:

Woooo

Click to expand...

Well done & well deserved.

I found the players to be the problem with attitude and nastiness - the ref did a pretty good job of stopping it becoming worse but nothing was ever going to stop passionately invested players in a grand final from venting and getting frustrated.

I was surprised that City seemed to be the nastier of the two teams with both physicality and the "in your face" offensive mouthing off.

Clearly to me it played into City's hands because every stoppage and disruption suited the team a goal ahead. Victory lacked the maturity to see that participating in every incident only hurt them.

I think both Arzani and Atkinson showed why they are possible hazards for the national team with their attitudes. Both mouthing off at officials, both taking turns at nasty niggling shit. Add that behaviour to the national team and you have a risk that is better avoided. Need intelligent play at that level.

I don't remember Tilio being that involved at any point in the game. That would hurt his national hopes to be quiet in such a big game.

All up City the better team, backing up their form throughout the season, deserved winners.

Victory made it a match all game but second best frequently in the one on ones.

Congrats to MCG and any other City fans on here.

Commiserations to Victory - just not sharp enough in the final third to break down City's resolve.

And special mention to Voldemort Leckie.

Matt Leckie is the Joe Marston medal winner.

RIMB said:

I was surprised that City seemed to be the nastier of the two teams with both physicality and the "in your face" offensive mouthing off.

Clearly to me it played into City's hands because every stoppage and disruption suited the team a goal ahead. Victory lacked the maturity to see that participating in every incident only hurt them.

Click to expand...

There are many ways to win a football match.

Muz said:

The ref blows the whistle not enough or too much. I'd rather a game like that than the whistle going off every 45 seconds.

Click to expand...

I couldn't care less the number of times a whistle is blown, I'd just rather watch a game of football than the crap that was dished up in the second half of that game.

Also want to say what a crucial keeper Patrick Beach was tonight.

To me Leckie drove city to play with a spirit I have not seen them play with before

lol@the stadium emptying out.

Have to love the toilet seats in the crowd.

Best league in the world.

patjennings said:

For someone that is a supposed "big game player" (as per the commentators) Arzani has won an Australia Cup, a Scottish cup where he played 5 minutes, a Scottish Premiership where he played 23 minutes and a Scottish Premiership where he never got on the field as well as one goal in a friendly for the national team..

Click to expand...

He never won the Scottish premiership, you need to play a certain amount of games to be awarded a medal.

From stadium record to down to 4k post-match. Brilliant. The bus ride home would be a fun one.

Muz said:

Have to love the toilet seats in the crowd.

Click to expand...

Do it yourself memorabilia.

Really can't complain about anything. Yeah it was a scrap, lots of desperation. City got one on target through Bos' legs and made it count, City blocked most the Victory's long shots. Fair enough result.

Well done Heart. Now, move to bloody Dandenong!

Muz said:

Mate watch the EPL, the Euros or the WC. The physicality is a step up again.

I love it. The game favours the stronger players that can ride a challenge and hold off players. Can't stand floppers like Arzani falling over after every touch.

Click to expand...

Refs control the game in Europe.
A League refs are incapable of doing so.
There should have been about 15 yellows and 3 or 4 reds in tonight's game.
Letting the game descend into a chaotic foulfest is not a good look for Oz football.

ashtongate said:

Letting the game descend into a chaotic foulfest is not a good look for Oz football.

Click to expand...

Bidda biffo maaaaaaate, people love it.

Anyway we're going to bed, got the UCL final in the morning.

Physicality seems to be the new flavour of the A-league thanks to Auckland's success.

Congrats to Melbourne City for winning the grand final, after the Bulls winning the Aus Cup and Auckland FC winning the league that completes the accolades for this season.

I think the physicality made the game a drab affair as it got too combative for a final, I don’t think the way the referee officiated the game helped but it’s what it is as long we got the right winner and not by dodging officiating then fair play.

Champions league final tomorrow…another final to coming up.

How much of City's good form attacking this year is due to Scott Jamieson?

Many years ago he came to Suncorp for an All-Stars game. In the first half, every aleague player just did what they did for their own team week in week out and it was a useless mess. As they game progressed I saw Jamieson talking tactics to our Roar player in the side and they worked out something between themselves.

In the second half, Jamieson played differently and actually worked with the Roar player to produce some very useful football, while those around them continued to play 'their way' with the same woeful cohesion.

At the time I thought that Jamieson had shown himself to be an intelligent, thinking footballer.

I see him on the coaching bench now for City in games and he is always scheming away, discussing playing options and tactics - so I wonder how much of his intelligent consideration is going into those smooth and effective attacks that City put through some very organised and effective defences?

Sure Vidmar and the team behind the team have roles to play, but I have an untested belief that Jamieson is a key factor in their whole attacking system being so incisive.