A cautious and pragmatic selection and
far less emphasis on pretty pretty sideways passing and risk in defence. Good if the tactics were Parkylike in those conditions with that wind it was a good call. I had queried the choice of Brockbank on Tuesday in the left role but the reasoning was more obvious today as both he and Kioso were natural outlets fro the wider ball and both pretty much bottled up their flanks whilst on the field.
It occurred to me worryingly that we were rather the better side, this against the top team. I'm not a great Delfouneso fan and he can't head for toffee. He probably should have won the game at the death were he able to shoot too, but running from midfield on several occasions he did really well and was the principal architect of most of our forward movement. Doyle had less pressure on him and I rather fancied him for a goal as the play went on until he went off presumably injured or ill.
Sarcevic deserves a paragraph to himself. He was the class act on the field, calm and measured and always in the right place whether in defence or attack. he was involved in several delightful moves, set up a good chance with a back flick and fired narrowly wide in the first half. had he not hit it so well Brockbank would have converted on the far post. As it was he came very close. I noted a twitter comment after Tuesday to the effect that we would grow to like him. Today settled that for me. Whilst I can see why he has never progressed to a top team at this level he was imperious and that little bit fitter than in his early appearances he was in control today. It came amost as a surpise when he scuffed wide
So we arrived at half time untroubled. The defence had looked sound and their lauded top scorer didn't get a kick. Throughout the game Santos and Delaney dominated
It was strange really that Gnouaha had been omitted and he rapidly proved so much better than Doyle in general play. I thought his touches and hold up play were excellent and as time went on he even won a few headers. No end product will probably leave him behind Doyle but on this showing he rather needs a place.
On a day of pragmatism, positives and progress it's maybe churlish to highlight negatives and one was so obvious and expected that it doesn't deserve description, wind or no wind- I said all I had to say on Tuesday. Evatt and Phoenix take the recruitment blame not the onfield culprit and after Tuesday there was no argument for retention just as there is no argument for lack of cover on the bench. It's just a stupid and unnecessary risk and Evatt should be ordered not to repeat it, If unbeknown to me one of the unused subs had keeping skills then he should,have come on to spare further embarrassment.
I'm also fast losing patience with Crawford, lightweight and unfit he made little of anything today. Goodness knows why he didn't score the first time easy chance and back-heeled to Sarcevic who I admired for the cool pass to Brockbank. Shame that was offside because much good, save for Crawford had preceded. I think Darcy should replace Crawford and make him compete for his place. There's no doubt that he can hit a good pass and a free kick but his percentage success is woeful. Fortunately he did play a part in the equaliser- taht was about it today. Not good enough.
And the sooner we can replace Baptiste the better. His control today was poor. he made clumsy challenges to conceded dangerous free kicks and too often fed the ball by his keeper looked like a rabbit in headlights. I just don't see his credentials to play. I suppose he was quite rugged and not bested too much and maybe that was the order of the day.
I imagine Comley was rested but it could be Evatt had decided against the lauded passing and possession ga
me and if so as I offered at the outset today at this level a bit of Parkyesque solidity and safety first was not a bad thing.We were the better team today and deserved to win
Crellin 0 Baptiste 4 Santos 7 Delaney 7 Kioso 7 Brockbank 7 Crawford 3 Sarcevic 8 Delfouneso 7 Doyle 5 Gnahoua 7 Tutte 6
