Round 5 rap

[Bloodstained Angel]

What went right :

Not alot really Good to see the team wriggle free for 6 goals in the last term. Playing 3 quarters of that close checking, torrid, rugby-style of footy without getting anywhere must have been really frustrating so it was a relief to us break free and at last take the game up to StK. After being badly beaten in the rucks most of the game, it was very heartening to see Mott once again trying his guts out to get a tap on the ball, and for Cresswell to be there when the ball hit the deck.

What went wrong

Just about everything - skill skill skill - it just wasn't there folks. Sure the Sainters were very tight and tackled like men possessed, but we couldn't gather a loose ball or give off an accurate handpass to save our lives. The incessant fumbling, double-takes, triple-trys, leave-the-pill-behinds, bounce off shoulders, slip overs, handball to your opponents - it was all there in a catalogue of errors that was truly diabolical by games end. Ithought this team were supposed to be working on their skills in the pre-season ? You wouldn't know it from that effort last Saturady.

Also - I thgought our tactics were all wrong on Saturady. Clonial with the roof closed presents very favurable conditions to beat a backline flood - just kick it long and direct at the goals. The ball will sail through from 45-55 m out no worries. Yet Sydney on several occasions had a clear run at an open goal from 50 metres - we went the pass to Hall / Stevens everytime. Surely, given the conditions, if a player finds himself 50m out and with a clear run at the goals, he would have a shot ? - Not us !

We did appear to be very 'goa shy' for alot of the evening.

Overall

I think I saw 15th v 16th play last Satuday. Such was tyhe appalling lack of skill and application out there. A team such as ours with finals pretensions should have brushed StK aside on Saturady. Didn't happen, they were fired up - we had as usual left our footy brains behind in the Coogee Bay surf.

There must be a total 100 percent improvement in skill, tactics and attitude if Sydney are to avoid a bottom 4 finish, ''coz on the basis of that performance, thats exactly where we are heading.

The way ahead

Even at our flooding, scragging and tackling worse - we are gonna get ripped to shreds by the Dees next week. They are too tall, too strong and have far too many quick and skillful midfielders for us to cope with.

Beyond next week, well, if we don't improve dramatically we will be spending the rest of the season sorting out who finishes 11-16 with the likes of Doggies, Saints, Blues and Dockers

cheers

 

[BMD]

The schizophrenic Swans strike again. We really got the no-skills, no-brain version on Saturday night in a game that was pure poison to watch.

A win would have been most undeserved. Although St Kilda didn't show much talent, they showed a hell of a lot more commitment and hardness at the ball.

Our recent record against the Dees is poor, and they're playing good footy, I fear the result this weekend.

 

[soph_swannie24]

Originally posted by BMD
Our recent record against the Dees is poor, and they're playing good footy, I fear the result this weekend.

I share the same fear, however I shall remain confident that the complete shame and disgrace that the team has faced will motivate them to turn around. As far as I can see, we couldn't have played any worse on Saturday and that means we can only play better!!! Hopefully much better. Much, much, much, much better perhaps.

Onwards to victory...

See you on Sunday Swannies supporters!

 

[TheMase]

I would like to repeat some of the stuff BSA said.

All I can say is that Sydney used the wrong tactics.
Thats it, plain and simple.

No.1 If there are 10 players down there all the time, you are not going to be able to get a sucessful lead through.
Instead Sydney should have been taking their shots from 50 out, that way if they got 15 out of 20, there is 15-5.

Next is that when the Saints sent all their forwards down back, Eade sent players to cover them, WRONG!

This meant there was no one back, and that Milne etc would run down, be the crummer and kick from 30-40 out.

What Sydney should have done (and this furthers on point one), they should have left THREE players in the defensive 50 by themselves, one at FB and two across half back.

This way any surge by St Kilda would be sent back, and then Sydney could go to the other end, and kick from 50 metres out, completely avoiding the congestion and avoiding a goal by the Saints.

This would have completely stuffed up the Saints game plan and would have made them change, it probably would have seen Sydney win by a big margin.

Simple Footy if you ask me