Adelaide United v Western United Match Day Jamboree!!!©

[Old Gregg]

I'll echo everyone else's thoughts - great passing play, we suddenly look so composed in possession - looks like Veart has had them doing 8 hrs of rondos a day all off-season.
Good win where we could have had a few more goals (Luka's point-blank miss, Mauk shooting rather than squaring up, top save from Pierias' header, etc) but also suffered from a couple of defensive brain farts (miscommunication for the WU goal, Kitto being VERY lucky to not give away penalty).

All up great signs for the season ahead, and suddenly I'm really happy with our depth in almost every position (other than CF).

I love Ibusuki and we miss his massive quality but you can really see how having a nimble and quick forward pressing changes the way we play, for the better. Having Jovanovic, Mauk, Clough (and Yull when he came on) buzzing around and making space while we have quick, strong wingers and overlapping WBs to release to out wide gives us so much more dynamism. Good times and I can only hope we keep playing like this rather than reverting to 'pragmatic' (i.e. reactive) football

[Bptiger25]

Thanks otto62 ,for that info

[Old Gregg]

Also, we're 5th with a game in hand, and our next two matches are against Brisbane and Perth

[MartinAUFC]

I love Ibusuki and we miss his massive quality but you can really see how having a nimble and quick forward pressing changes the way we play, for the better. Having Jovanovic, Mauk, Clough (and Yull when he came on) buzzing around and making space while we have quick, strong wingers and overlapping WBs to release to out wide gives us so much more dynamism.

Agreed. I loved Hiro as much as the next Reds fan. Top bloke and scored some great goals for us, but he just doesn't have the mobility to press the way the team is obviously set up for.

I would say that this is the thought process the club went through last year when they had made the decision not to re-sign him halfway through the season. Then he went on that scoring spree and they changed their minds and tried to get him to stay on the cheap to keep as a Plan B.

But he didn’t deserve that, and it was probably best for all parties that he’s moved on.

[otto62]

It was nice seeing Hiro’s kids on the pitch with him after the game. After he went to the Western United fans he also deliberately went past the Reds fans in the south stand.
Top, top person.

[MartinAUFC]

It was good to see a proper CB pairing at last, but I do miss Isaias on the pitch. I know we are better off in the long run with the younger blokes in Midfield, but I won’t concede they are any better than Isa, they’re just younger. Isa coming on late to lock down the game was a good call though.

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I think Isa will be 4th choice CB once Elsey is fit. The interesting one for me will be if Barnett can keep his place with Isa on the bench.

I think Alagich is a lock as he does show at least some presence in the final third as per the long range strike that led to the Luka goal against WSW.

Barnett gives the team absolutely nothing going forward. You could argue that’s not his job, but the through ball Isa provided on Saturday night shortly after coming on shows the extra dimension he brings.

Just a question of whether he still has the engine to start.