Asunto: Australia Cup

I'm happy with my draw.
Probably for the reason that I have no reasons to be happy with it so I might as well be happy with it for the sake of it.

disclaimer: I'm sober

Can't say that I'm thrilled :|

I think you will beat Harbourtown quite happily resting some 1sts and the week after the cup game you have a brand new team, so I dare say you will probably be able to field something closer to your A-side than I will.

Maybe I'll just train stamina :P

Me too. Being sober sucks.

In the words of Father Ted....

.....DRINK!!!

Not the way I wanted to win, off a defensive fumble followed by being fouled in the box for a penalty in the 2nd half of extra time but at this moment in time I'm very relieved to have got away with that. As soon as I noticed the reserve players at the start I knew I had to put Tribe away early before Puca and Krog (I actually half expected Sterjovski) to come on knowing that I had a defender short in the line and numerous other problems with form/injuries.

The fact I was unable to convert at all during my dominance in the 1st half and for the first part of the 2nd half had me hugely concerned as I was expecting Krog to murder O'Donoghue down the wing (which he did).

The injury to O'Toole followed by another knock to the already SI Erdogan made things much tougher for me and it was really just about survival.

At the same time Tribe weren't in the best position either, numerous midfielders out injured/suspended and others out of form.

The game was really a game of butchered opportunities with neither side wanting to win and I think the 27 shot count for 1 goal return off a penalty highlights that.

What I will say is that I've had an extremely lucky break tonight. I know I've complained about them happening against me in the past but it doesn't really feel any better on the other side other than relief that I got away with a game I should have put to bed by half time.

I should get Aktimuroglu back next week which will help my cause significantly.
(editado)

Bad luck Minkee. Looked like your guys underperformed tonight.

The early goals gave us a good buffer in a very even game. I think we just edged out an advantage from some key players having very good games. Kohler, Bolton and Beke were fantastic! And the strikers were very efficient, turning the good service into goals.

Despite being a man down, we were fortunate in the run of play. The conditional order covered the card well and the defence still performed as a unit. If Da Minkees were on their game, it could've easily been 3-2 the other way.

Happy to progress. Especially doing it with 10-men.

Well its not the way I wanted to lose it either :P

Our cup run ends to the Comets for the 4th time in our history. Both GK's were absolute walls. I really should have had Stewart as the sweeper in front of my defense, but we had enough chances that my strikers should have found the back of the net anyway.

Across the whole game I though the Comets did better, so I can't really complain about the ultimate outcome. It does suck to lose on that sort of soft penalty though.

I haven't watched it but I trust your words. I didnt get round to do a tactic for the 334 or the 776 so I'm not disapointed as your team is above mine in normal conditions.
The score looks severe considering who's on the pitch but that's how it goes sometimes...
Fan mood stayed madly in love so I won't complain too much!

I hope you go all the way, I've made an habit to lose to the winner each year the last two years...

Good luck Dave. I know we'll be facing your strongest team tomorrow. With or without Erdogan (I suspect it will be "with" for at least some of the game), it's going to be hard to hold you out.

Same to you. Sorry to see Cernikovas injured from NT duty, that's never enjoyable :(. Erdogan will be playing, mainly for the training but also since O'Toole is injured, Necevski injured it limits what I'm able to put out. Hope for a good game, though at this rate given daily updates haven't commenced (+4 hrs past when they should have occurred) I'm not expecting games to start on time.
(editado)

Erdogan SI, Bowen out of form and Necevski unavailable proved to be too much as I wasn't able to break down TMP's 5 man defense. The few occasions I did there was always a last minute lunge to knock the ball away. That chance I had from the throw shortly after TMP's goal where I had the keeper beaten just needed to tap the ball but no sooner had I reached the ball a defender knocked it out for a corner.

Congrats to vivski for the win, scored from the only real opportunity you had and it was enough. Always a close game and this was no exception. Good luck in the final.

Did I see that right? My gun striker given a red card on the first play of the game? Kick-off, pass, dribble, red card. Haha, hilarious!

I've never seen so many fumbles or turnovers. And Bowen played like Betty White out there.

Bad luck cometer. You could've snatched it on several occasions.

It was a close game, but not one of our classics. We usually manage to find each other in the Cup, so I'm sure we'll meet again next season. Hopefully we'll both have on-form strikers and wingers for a proper head-to-head.

WOW, Frogs and Achmid, what a game! I'll definitely watch that one tomorrow.

Yeah I did quietly have a laugh thinking how ridiculous it was to issue a red in the first play. I initially thought it was Cucciardi with the red which could have been match changing. Fortunately, I don't think the red card made too much difference, had it been any of your defenders forcing Bolton back or Cucciardi it would have been much more significant.

I agree it wasn't one of the best we've had but as usual they're close games. We've certainly had our fair share of meetings at the cup level in recent history. I think it's 3 in the last 4 cups we've met now and if I'm not mistaken the winner of that match goes on to win the cup.

Good luck to both teams in the final and I'll try to put our NT in a position such that we get 2 sides into the CC again (well unless the cup winner is also the A League winner)

Wow.. Thought I had it in the 112th minute.. but it wasnt to be.

Stuffed up my conditional orders (AGAIN) By switching a DM with a CB and the WB with the same CB, so ended up having Adkins playing as a DM who has no passing in him. To top things off Morton playing in the defensive line, out of form then gets himself sent off. Without any conditional orders left we let through 3 goals through that gaping hole.

Disappointing not to have won, but thats football for you!

I walked out of the room while the game was loading and missed the first 2 mins. So it took me a while to realise Butea was even missing... then... "WTF, why am I playing with 10-men? I could've sworn I selected him to play!" Took about 10mins to realise what had happened. :P

I was actually relieved, 'cos I thought he may've been lost during the issues with the server, causing the delays.