Matildas The Matildas Thread

[swingdog]

I've got no confidence in defence when Polkinghorne and Kennedy are playing.

 

[drd23]

That was some pretty average defending for the Chinese goal

 

[drd23]

Great shot by van Egmond.

I've only been watching from about the 55th minute, but from what I've seen, we would be stealing the draw

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The great escape. Van Egmond did nothing for 91 minutes and then scored the equaliser.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I've got no confidence in defence when Polkinghorne and Kennedy are playing.

Polkinghorne had some shaky moments but she saved a goal with a vital tackle.

 

[swingdog]

Simon makes a big difference but I would have subbed Logarzo rather than KK. Polkinghorne did get better but generally we're too big and slow against teams with a fast break, as was shown in France.

 

[stax on the mull]

That game needed some late drama.

Again we concede a scoring opportunity (and a goal) when we don't show enough urgency to shut something down quickly. Just let the ball roll on, don't close down the space on the striker.

Two quality goals though.

 

[giggler99]

Was out so didn’t watch the game last night

what a hit!

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I blame Milicic's substitions for the goal. He subs off Kellond-Knight for Yallop and expects Yallop to play Kellond-Knight's role, which involves a heap of tracking back.

Watching the replay of the goal closely, China threw players forward because they knew that Yallop would be slack in her responsibility to track back, because she is not a natural defensive mid.

The Chinese goalscorer had acres of space and heaps of time because Kennedy and Polkinghorne and Carpenter were already occupied by defending their opponents. It was Yallop's responsibility to track back to close down the space around the top of the box and she didn't.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Only five months to go before Milicic takes his stodgy style of football to the A-League. Jill Ellis is still without a job...

The USWNT and Canada could tear the Matildas a new one in April.

 

[swingdog]

I blame Milicic's substitions for the goal. He subs off Kellond-Knight for Yallop and expects Yallop to play Kellond-Knight's role, which involves a heap of tracking back.

Watching the replay of the goal closely, China threw players forward because they knew that Yallop would be slack in her responsibility to track back, because she is not a natural defensive mid.

The Chinese goalscorer had acres of space and heaps of time because Kennedy and Polkinghorne and Carpenter were already occupied by defending their opponents. It was Yallop's responsibility to track back to close down the space around the top of the box and she didn't.

There's a few in that first team that are playing a bit much on previous reputations and would be looking over their shoulders at McKenzie Arnold, Jenna McCormick, Karli Roestbakken and even Aivi Luik).

 

[stax on the mull]

I blame Milicic's substitions for the goal. He subs off Kellond-Knight for Yallop and expects Yallop to play Kellond-Knight's role, which involves a heap of tracking back.

Watching the replay of the goal closely, China threw players forward because they knew that Yallop would be slack in her responsibility to track back, because she is not a natural defensive mid.

The Chinese goalscorer had acres of space and heaps of time because Kennedy and Polkinghorne and Carpenter were already occupied by defending their opponents. It was Yallop's responsibility to track back to close down the space around the top of the box and she didn't.

There's two of them though that track back from the midfield, but it all starts with that high ball kicked out of their penalty box where Kennedy and Yallop are there with the eventual goalscorer - and Catley's not far off to the side of the play expecting our numbers to win out, but neither of our players get a deflection on it and the ball goes over the back and everyone is out of position - with the Chinese striker leading Polkinghorne in the race for the ball.

Yallop follows her player (the goalscorer) back to a point but when Polkinghorne is corralling the striker there's a 2nd Chinese player that arrives from the midfield and she's the one that receives and passes it off to Yallop's player.

Yallop goes across the path of the ball when its played across which is pretty poor. Its seems like she's almost trying to make an interception of the pass after the ball has already been played across and the player she's marking has skipped away to the middle.

We had numbers still with Kennedy and Catley but they just get back and take up static positions around the box hoping Polkinghorne will block her opponent. One good pass inside and the two Chinese players that come from the midfield have the time and space to share it and shoot.

I'm thinking the 2nd Chinese player is either Van Egmond's or Logarzo's responsibility to follow.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Unchanged squad for the two legged qualifier against Vietnam. Raso had her nose broken in two places by a robust challenge from a Chinese player.

 

[Del125763]

Does Vietnam have a chance of slowing down the game and conceding say 2 or 3 goals? or will it be an avalanche of goals from Matildas tonight?

 

[stax on the mull]

If there's some rain maybe it will slow things down, especially if we are playing that slow build up out of defence. Forecast says high chance of showers in the afternoon/evening.

I know we scored 6 against one of the minnow teams in the last leg, but didn't get on the scoresheet until extra time in the first half.

 

[Del125763]

Vietnam conceded 3 goals against South Korea. South Korea, China , Australia are probably the probably the benchmark qualifiers in this region.

 

[Stax on the mill]

If there's some rain maybe it will slow things down, especially if we are playing that slow build up out of defence. Forecast says high chance of showers in the afternoon/evening.

I know we scored 6 against one of the minnow teams in the last leg, but didn't get on the scoresheet until extra time in the first half.

I reckon it will be a tough, tight contest until half time. Matilda's class should prevail in the 2nd half. I'm going 2-0.

 

[Amazing Bombers]

 

[stax on the mull]

Nothing to be enthused about. Just a result.

Can give Foord and Kerr a break as they played in that Cup Final in England on the weekend and flew over. Both missed chances in the box. Kerr getting caught offside too many times and Foord trying to take on too many players.

Actually thought Polkinghorne played the best passes into the forward half. Carpenter and Catley worked hard out wide and created goal chances. Kennedy was pretty good. Logarzo combined well with Carpenter early. Kyah was dangerous at times, but also a bit sloppy.

Don't think the others did enough. 1st and 3rd goals were the highlights.

 

[Del125763]

Will Australia play possibly a 2nd or 3rd string team, for the away leg, given they have just about qualified for the Olympics?

 

[stax on the mull]

Will Australia play possibly a 2nd or 3rd string team, for the away leg, given they have just about qualified for the Olympics?

You have to stick with your named squad of 20 - so you can't get down to a 3rd string side.

Personally, I'd prefer Fowler or De Vanna to Gielnik as an off the bench striker, but neither of them are in the squad.

 

[Del125763]

To be honest not sure I'd be wanting to travel to Vietnam , let alone Asia in the next month or two.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I thought it was an ordinary performance helped by some incompetent Vietnamese defending. Can't wait for Milicic to go to the A League.

 

[giggler99]

 

[nobbyiscool]

Sadly I don't think they will be going to Tokyo. Not in July anyway.