That was absolutely demoralising.
Zadkovich made several changes again to the line up and included players that I don't think are near best in spot (Berenguer, Bility, and Zabala in the fullback role). We played like a social football park mob again totally lacking in cohesion and apologies to social football park mobs but we were wayward with our passing on top of that.
Either we have so many injuries that these were the only fit players or Zadkovich has NFI.
Burke-Gilroy had about the worst game I can remember - hanging well back out wide behind the other defenders to make sure that one of the early goals was not even close to offside play when the ball went into the middle of the pitch behind the centrebacks. For one of their later goals he was heading up to halfway with an opponent behind him and free to run onto a well delivered pass in the acres of space behind him.
Zabala once again too slow off the mark to stop good play and getting caught both behind and the wrong side of his opponent running into the box unhindered.
Berenguer added bugger all that anyone else could add and I really struggled to even see him on the ground most of the time with so little impact.
We were lucky to go up a goal on the half hour with a very well taken shot at distance, and perhaps unlucky not to get another with a struck post.
That said, Macarthur played the first half showing none of the skill that their players are capable of. So many bumbling opportunities and misplaced passes by players you can normally depend on.
Their goal on half time was coming - with our players getting lazy in their defending - letting Macarthur players run free to create and score.
Second half and Macarthur got their act together. Playing the way they should have been all game. Our players got lazier and lazier and started playing dirty instead of playing better. Macarthur ripped us several new ones.
Fantastic vision and execution to set opportunities up and skilful finishing to convert the opportunities.
I think, on our form tonight, that playing in the finals might not be an option for us.
It was a huge step backwards in how we have been developing and the fact Zadkovich made so many changes instead of using players that had been working better together says once again he is struggling as a manager and hoping for a miracle combination.
Really disappointing to play so badly regardless of the score - we weren't in the game the first 30 minutes or anytime in the second half - so 15 minutes of possibly decent play in total.
Hore looked to be playing as an injured sub - you could see him wave away someone asking him to take a corner soon after he came on - pointing at his leg to remind them he could not kick with that leg. It was stupidity if we did play him injured when he injured it further and had to come off after a few minutes. It is not as though our season depended on winning that game but if it rules him out for the rest of the games it is such a poor choice.
Klein was still useful and Brazete continues to be lively and dangerous when he comes on. I prefer Ludwig to Bility in centreback so having Ludwig on the bench and using him as a substitute makes no sense. He could start and be substituted by Bility later if required.
We need something significant to make our defensive side resilient and consistently good - an experienced leader, a stable group...something...?
Credit to Macarthur in the second half.
Well short of 'continuing to improve' by us.
Zadkovich made several changes again to the line up and included players that I don't think are near best in spot (Berenguer, Bility, and Zabala in the fullback role). We played like a social football park mob again totally lacking in cohesion and apologies to social football park mobs but we were wayward with our passing on top of that.
Either we have so many injuries that these were the only fit players or Zadkovich has NFI.
Burke-Gilroy had about the worst game I can remember - hanging well back out wide behind the other defenders to make sure that one of the early goals was not even close to offside play when the ball went into the middle of the pitch behind the centrebacks. For one of their later goals he was heading up to halfway with an opponent behind him and free to run onto a well delivered pass in the acres of space behind him.
Zabala once again too slow off the mark to stop good play and getting caught both behind and the wrong side of his opponent running into the box unhindered.
Berenguer added bugger all that anyone else could add and I really struggled to even see him on the ground most of the time with so little impact.
We were lucky to go up a goal on the half hour with a very well taken shot at distance, and perhaps unlucky not to get another with a struck post.
That said, Macarthur played the first half showing none of the skill that their players are capable of. So many bumbling opportunities and misplaced passes by players you can normally depend on.
Their goal on half time was coming - with our players getting lazy in their defending - letting Macarthur players run free to create and score.
Second half and Macarthur got their act together. Playing the way they should have been all game. Our players got lazier and lazier and started playing dirty instead of playing better. Macarthur ripped us several new ones.
Fantastic vision and execution to set opportunities up and skilful finishing to convert the opportunities.
I think, on our form tonight, that playing in the finals might not be an option for us.
It was a huge step backwards in how we have been developing and the fact Zadkovich made so many changes instead of using players that had been working better together says once again he is struggling as a manager and hoping for a miracle combination.
Really disappointing to play so badly regardless of the score - we weren't in the game the first 30 minutes or anytime in the second half - so 15 minutes of possibly decent play in total.
Hore looked to be playing as an injured sub - you could see him wave away someone asking him to take a corner soon after he came on - pointing at his leg to remind them he could not kick with that leg. It was stupidity if we did play him injured when he injured it further and had to come off after a few minutes. It is not as though our season depended on winning that game but if it rules him out for the rest of the games it is such a poor choice.
Klein was still useful and Brazete continues to be lively and dangerous when he comes on. I prefer Ludwig to Bility in centreback so having Ludwig on the bench and using him as a substitute makes no sense. He could start and be substituted by Bility later if required.
We need something significant to make our defensive side resilient and consistently good - an experienced leader, a stable group...something...?
Credit to Macarthur in the second half.
Well short of 'continuing to improve' by us.
