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

[EdDog]

Late to the Jamboree today so yet to read the sentiment above but that was a pretty average performance at times.

3-0 at half time on the back of a lot of luck. I think our xG was less than 0.5 but we'd scored 3 from 2 shots on target (3 total). If not for Leo Lacroix playing for us I think today's result could have gone down very differently.

We immediately let them back in it after the break and the lead never looked secure, even with a buffer restored by some brilliant individual effort from VDS (what a pickup he's turning out to be - got a bit of mongrel about him too).

Carl's subs today didn't really help us either. When WU were peppering us after the break, Carl has brought on Alagich for Blackwood to play up front when we really needed more of a presence in midfield. We are 3-1 away from home, we don't need more goals. We need to absorb pressure and give them nothing. Perfect occasion for Juande in a midfield 3.
Carl then has the chance to correct this midfield imbalance but brings on Juande for D'Arrigo (instead of a forward) so we continue to leave huge gaps in midfield for WU to attack.
Perhaps there were injury/yellow card concerns, or perhaps Carl wanted WU to open up more for us to exploit them on the counter, but it just didn't seem necessary to me with that scoreline.

3 points are the main objective away from home and we got them so I shouldn't be complaining but WU are a basket case this season and a showing like that isn't going to stand up to the top teams.

All that said, winning breeds confidence so we face Victory next week with decent form. A result against them heading into the WC break would be oh so sweet.

Goody surely has booked his ticket to Qatar now. Involved in everything.

[sevengoals]

Carl Veart post match.




Match Highlights,

[otto62]

After the first 5 minutes I thought we completely controlled the game through to half time.

Second half, even though we’d lost our domination I was never worried we’d lose. Our defence has been solid and I couldn’t see us conceding 3. If Western had got back to 2-3, I might have been different, but they didn’t.

Goodwin nailed on for Qatar and I think he’ll see game time. Resting Lopez for the second half was risky but paid off. Minutes for two youngsters was a luxury.

We’re up to 3rd. Beat Victory and it wil feel like sky’s the limit. Can’t wait for Friday night!!!

[MartinAUFC]

Carl's subs today didn't really help us either. When WU were peppering us after the break, Carl has brought on Alagich for Blackwood to play up front when we really needed more of a presence in midfield.

It looked to me like Alagich came on to replace George in the central attacking mid role. So more of a "like for like" change imo. I think bringing on Juande at that stage may have had us sitting too deep and inviting more pressure.

[MartinAUFC]

We immediately let them back in it after the break and the lead never looked secure, even with a buffer restored by some brilliant individual effort from VDS (what a pickup he's turning out to be - got a bit of mongrel about him too).

Agreed. Carl has to find a way to squeeze him to the starting 11