AUWFC v Newcastle

[Lucas Leiva]

OK, steering clear of the five car pile up in the other thread...

Thoughts on tonight? Perhaps a few changes in the wind with the starting line-up. I see the team identifying this as a strong opportunity to snatch 3 points and move forward. Will the pressure get to the team, I doubt it. They showed v Canberra at home that they are up to the task at Elite.

If the team does well and the starting XI is different, it will probably stick for the season barring injuries. I think the right combination is almost there.

[Mr Red]

2-2

[United We Stand]

Tonight, Huss fielded the most "experienced" lineup at his disposal. However, the Lady Reds "blew" the opportunity of getting their first win against a Newcastle side that was "there for the taking." No Samantha Kerr or Katrina Gorry superstar type players in the opposition side. No big-name overseas imports or numbers of Matildas. Yes, United were unlucky with that bewildering penalty that was awarded to Newcastle. That proved to be the equaliser. Despite that, United should have won that game with the squandering of two gilt-edged chances by two of our better players. Rachel Quigley is a class act and almost won the game for United. The hard-working Huerta had an open-goal opportunity but,incredibly, went for power and blazed her shot over the bar. Good performances by almost everyone tonight, but I still don't feel that Huss has the midfield mix right. To accommodate the inclusion of Chidiac, Colaprico had to play a deeper midfield role. She had to do a lot of chasing back and defending which deprived the team of her usual attacking drive. It must be said that Newcastle improved in the second half and were running hard past our central midfielders. The right mix would be to have a specialist defensive midfielder as well as Chidiac and Colaprico. It pains me to say this, but I would sacrifice our captain to achieve this mix. Again, she didn't make much of a contribution, despite setting up a goal and was substituted. They are off the bottom of the table, but a win tonight would have closed the gap on sides like Newcastle with the promise of climbing the table even further. For me, that was two points dropped rather than a point gained.As Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United have found out, it's tough at the bottom and there certainly isn't much luck floating around.

[themagnet]

Agree with UWS, two points dropped last night, unfortunately not all of United's own doing. Can't wait to see a replay of the 'penalty'.

United looked the stronger team for most of the match and created lots more opportunities than Newcastle. Quigley and Chidiac look to be linking up really well and are starting to understand each others movements. Jones provides some much needed pace up front (something this team has missed in past years). Rigon's first half was solid and she did provide the assist for the opening goal, but she was unsighted in the second, the only two times I remember her touching it she miss kicked it and turned over possession. The midfield did tire in the final stages, so it surprised me that AU only made the one change for the whole game. Ladas has played in that holding role a few of the games I've seen but wasn't even in the squad. They played a high pressing high energy game which will drain the players so it seems silly not having a player capable of filling one of those roles on the bench.

One other observations was the keepers distribution was terrible!! I lost count of the number of times she kicked the ball out on the full from a goal kick or from her hands. That's just wasteful.