When beautiful isn't working - try hard nosed

Well. I think I'm not alone when I say that I breathed a sigh of relief when at full time the Jets had managed to hold on to an initial 2-0 lead to win 2-1. It has been a long time coming, and whilst the performance left a lot to be desired, the result was certainly what the players, the club and most importantly the fans needed! Plus it is always nice to get a derby victory!

I'm going to say that it was the worst performance by the team I've watched this year (remembering that I was OS for the Brisbane home defeat). A brilliant opening 20 minutes died off into a 7 or 8 man back line that any Italian side would've been proud of. Our attacking flair died but the defense to it's credit did not once leave BK exposed. The two 'saves' he was forced to make late on were 30 or 40 yard speculators which the defense could do little about. Whilst he did deal with them well, there were still some moments where he hesitated to come of his line (or stay on his line) which does nothing to erase my seed of doubt that he his fit to play at this level.

Up front I think Branko would be mad to change the Bridges/Haliti combination unless some how we managed to sign Drogba on a guest stint. They worked brilliantly together on Friday night and were justly rewarded with a goal each! Despite an abundance of strikers now fit I would definitely be leaving them on the bench for what has to be our solid first choice combo.

Kudos as well to Ange Costanzo (or gorgeous George as we like to know him). He has struggled for game time, even struggled for a spot on the bench but has not complained and played the team line all year. He was rewarded for his patience on Friday night and I would like to think that he will retain his spot regardless of Lljubo's fitness. I think it also highlights the fact that Branko has 3 class centre backs in, George, Lljubo and T-S, and he should not thrust someone like Kanta into the back line 'a la' the week before. These guys have a wealth of knowledge and experience, read the game like it's a short children's book and barring an injury to two of them at any one time 2 out of the 3 should be on the field. If Lljubo does make a return from injury I think there is merit in pushing him into the holding midfield role and keeping the back line as is. We need to tighten up enough to maintain a clean sheet however, from my memory the last one was against the Gold Coast and that isn't good enough to win games or challenge for a finals spot!

Unfortunately for the faithful, wins to Nth Qld and a Wellington thrashing of Gold Coast (comedy gold for those who watched) does not alter the Jets position on the table. They need to back it up this weekend against the Roar who, if their game against Sydney is any indication, will be hard to break down and dangerous on the counter. Also be ware the team with a new coach! Shut down Van Djik, Mitch Nicols and Tommy Oar and you'll isolate Reinaldo (assuming his injury was only a knock). Easier said than done!

The players confidence should be back up, I know mine is as a supporter and I'm looking forward to back to back wins for the first time this season. I would like to see more than 20 minutes of beautiful football that we are capable of being played. But if it means another 3 points in Brisbane, I probably won't even mention it next week!

Yours in Football,

B!

A quickie for the week - blog that is

Just a quick one this time around. Firstly finally Jets management have delivered some signings. I'm going to hold on to my judgement to after i see them play but i think there is enough quality there for some real potential. Congrats also to Mitch Johnson, he's a friend and he deserves his chance, good luck and i hope your 6 months turns into many more.

I believe there will be enough quality to mount an ACL challenge or at least avoid embarrassment, De Groot is my pick for the stand out.

Despite the Jets season being over, the season is far from it! I managed to catch replays of the coast game and the second half of the Melbourne game. Qld and Melbourne were both deserved winners. As per my blog a few weeks back, Coast just aren't good enough, but i would also advise Frank Farina to check out when they clawed back a similar deficit against us last year! I'm going to agree with David Lowe in the Newy Herald today and say that a Melbourne Qld final is on the cards. I don't think Coast are good enough, did i mention that? I don't think Adelaide have the attacking prowess to get back the 2 goals from Melbourne, and i think they will struggle in attack against a free attacking qld side the week after. but good luck to all parties, except the mariners, i just can't bring myself to say it.

Bring on the GF, bring on the ACL!
Yours in Football,
B!

Fallen Champions and shit house pitches

Ok, so i'm not going to harp on the Jets much this week. But i will raise a few points. We were unlucky not to go into the break 2, 3 or 4 up except for some fine goal keeping by Glenn Moss, i think the Victory have bought well there. Elrich and Griffiths were exceptional, hard working, dropping deep to defend and creating chances up front. Like so much of our season we switched off when it counted in the second half. Instead of responding to a lucky goal from Bertos with renewed intent and vigour, we switched off, conceeded again, and then gave away a silly penalty by an inexperienced young Jet. Better luck next year Jets, your just not good enough at the moment, and until GVE asks me to come up for a training session, i just can't put my finger on what has gone so horribly wrong. Just an aside what the hell are Pheonix going to do without Smeltz, its a rhetorical question... or is it...

So elsewhere. The friday night game Melbourne, Roar, and what a game! Apart from a joke of a pitch it was a most enjoyable game. Fluent attacking football from both sides. End to end pace from the two midfield units, as a neutral it was definately the game of the round without a doubt! Good goals and i think Melbourne deserved to win in the end! Tiatto and Farina are both idiots for behaviour on the field and post much comments respectively!

Sydney Adelaide. What a disappointment. I was hoping to see a refreshed Adelaide outfit tear apart another fallen champion in Sydney FC. It wasn't too be, played on another poor pitch, too hard, too quick etc. Adelaide did what they have done well all season and ACL campaign which is sit back, absorb pressure and score when needed. Sydney weren't neccesarily bad, for once. They just don't have the attacking threat that they need to capitialise on their possession game, you know the one that Kossie keeps raving about as the best in the league ha ha! Good work Adelaide, your experience is so far beyond anyone else in the league!

In breaking news tonight apparently Elrich may be going to Turkey as well. Dear Con, don't sell, this is an example where no amount of money at the moment will compensate for his loss. Sit him down, tell him another year in the a league won't hurt his young career. For God's sake sign some players for the ACL. I can handle the embarresment of our current a league form, but will not accept as a fan an internationally recognised embarrasment!

Yours in football, despite the current heart break.
B!