Preview: AU v Shandong Luneng 09/02/16

[Old Gregg]

Thought I'd start a match preview thread now that we know the opposition.

I hope this game gets a fair bit of media attention, there's the possibility that it might fly under the radar a bit. There should be decent away support I would imagine: Chinese communities in Australia are very good at supporting their countrymen! Not sure what effect the match being on at the same time as Lunar New Year celebrations is likely to have on support but hell, I'm excited.

Here are the highlights of Shandong's 6-0 win over Mohun Bagan ... they look much better than the CSL sides we've faced in the past, we are gonna need to be at the absolute top of our game I think.


http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adel ... anseoaflis

[Stuckey]

I'm so mega super excited about AU being back in Asia! Its nearly here!

[Old Gregg]

Last goal - straight out of the Shaolin Soccer playbook. They actually look scary good, sharing around the goals and able to score from all sorts of situations.

[mcjules]

Mohun's defenders closing speed is far inferior to our own though.

[Stuckey]

Thought I'd start a match preview thread now that we know the opposition.

I hope this game gets a fair bit of media attention, there's the possibility that it might fly under the radar a bit. There should be decent away support I would imagine: Chinese communities in Australia are very good at supporting their countrymen! Not sure what effect the match being on at the same time as Lunar New Year celebrations is likely to have on support but hell, I'm excited.

Here are the highlights of Shandong's 6-0 win over Mohun Bagan ... they look much better than the CSL sides we've faced in the past, we are gonna need to be at the absolute top of our game I think.


http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adel ... anseoaflis

That last goal was class. I think if AU give them a sniff they have the class to take their chances. But most of those goals were due to pretty lousy defending. Montillo reminds me of Carrusca popping up with classy touches. Hopefully that means AU will know how to deal with him.

[mcjules]

I reckon we should come out and really turn on the pressure early.They're still in preseason and they probably haven't had much time to work on breaking presses effectively. They also probably won't expect it. Worked really well against the bunnies in the QF first leg (until boogs ruined it ).

[Old Gregg]

ShandongLuneng FC
‏@LoveLNTS
Shandong Luneng will charter flights to Australia in February 6th .✈✈✈✈

[Geogeo]

the defenders were'nt even challenging for headers in the 6 yard box. Hopefully this match gives them a false sense of security and they get a shock when they come up against us.

[Stuckey]

I reckon we should come out and really turn on the pressure early.They're still in preseason and they probably haven't had much time to work on breaking presses effectively. They also probably won't expect it. Worked really well against the bunnies in the QF first leg (until boogs ruined it ).

Yeah I agree. It doesn't appear that they faced that much quality in their preseason. As far as I can tell they've played a CSL div 2 side, a Hong Kong side and now a Indian club.
In the first and latest game it wasn't till late on in the game that they put the side away properly.

[RedRis]

I watched the full game. Things I noticed was the strength and composure of their forward (19) in the box and also their number 9 looks a danger drifting between the lines. Very clinical with their finishing too. Also the quality of their crossing is much better than what we see in the a-league. Against Mohan Bagan both the full backs pushed up really high and seemed like the players to give them the width, not sure if they'll play this way against us, but we could expose them in that area.

[mcjules]

Hope the chinese players celebrate chinese new year here a little too hard

[bpowell454]

Looks like the game last night was pretty slow tempo, Shandong had time to stop a cross, take 2 touches and then shoot inside the box, Bahung looked like statues for every goal.

Watching the highlights reminded me of playing fifa with your little brother.

[Stuckey]

[ganas]

the defenders were'nt even challenging for headers in the 6 yard box. Hopefully this match gives them a false sense of security and they get a shock when they come up against us.

Agree - I think Mohun Bagan made them appear much better than what they are. There was minimal pressure in the box and nobody tracked any of their runs...

[shinAUFC]

Imagine if we played a few npl level clubs to kick off preseason then flew to china and played in freezing temperatures.

That basically what shandong have to deal with, im not even sure if their manager or imports are new which could create more confusion as the team learns their roles.

Group stages have always been slanted in our favour.