Asunto: Australia Cup

Drew Minkee for next round in the cup. The downside is that's going to be a tough one to win. The upside however, is that in recent history the side that has knocked Minkee out has gone on to win the cup.

The last 3 winners in fact!
Back to training mode I think... I dont think we will repeat the league game's result where the GK kept you at bay.
(editado)

Well here it is....QF time -

Melbourne Magpies - Team Moose Power
Steel Fury - Tribe
Da Minkees - The Comets
Tong FC - Achmids Soul

Will we get to SF week with either Uber or Tong keeping it from being an all AL affair?!

Uber will be up against it unless naph decides to focus on training. Most certainly you can't allow Tribe's midfielders the space they've been given so far this season though and your defense needs to be very compact, otherwise you end up chasing dust and picking up balls out of the back of the net.

Tong FC have the more realistic chance of making the semi finals. Would still expect Achmids to win though after playing their 2nds today.

As for the other 2, I'd expect TMP to be too strong and if Minkee decides to use the cup for training, then I'd expect to progress but otherwise I wouldn't be too surprised if Minkee progressed as I have an outstanding history of being eliminated in the 5th round and even when I haven't, I've rarely looked comfortable and have to scrap out wins.

I can't help but feel it would have been a different result with Elrich in Goals. 2/3 Tribe's goals were SOFT. I felt we had the better chances, but maybe I'm biased :)

Congrats Naph. Good luck in the rest of the cup.

Haven't watched the game, but with me 1-0 up, Tong lost a player to a red card (and me to an injury).
By the time Tong lost their second player to a red card, the game was pretty much over, with me leading 4-0...it just sealed any chance they had of making a late comeback, with the end result being an 8-0 thrashing.

Unfortunately, I'm not down two mids for this weekends match, with a 22d injury and a red card, so it's lucky I train mids, and have some backups (unlike last weekend)

Well, to be brutally honest today's 2-4 result should have been more like 2-10...totally played off the park by vivski, so congrats there.....even read/guessed the opposition tactic, which makes it more frustrating that the re-jigged tactic just didn't stand up.

Coach Douglas went with a defensive replacement for Bart (on a red) rather than an offensive option....he may be lamenting that choice. The coach was left to ponder why Lewis & Davis thought it a good idea to leave the back four & try to become wingers/mf's at times....he was heard to be moaning that he was sure they weren't instructed to run off amongst the daisies.

Not to mention Joe's attempt to become a winger for TMP....bolting down his own wing the wrong way only to back pass as well.....the bench had to double take to check we weren't still playing the first half....LOL!!

Douglas commented "all in all.....players/squad not up to it technically & passing let the team down at times too. Some players at magical+ pace seemed to be struggling to get out of their own footmarks....maybe the wet conditions(?)....they looked the same on the weekend too with similar weather." Maybe that's what happens when opposition teams have faster players?!!

Good luck vivski in the semi & hope you go on to lift the trophy.

:-(

I got really lucky with my conditional orders. I upgraded my defense on 60 minutes. The tying goal from the Fury causing the conditional order to trigger. If you'd held off scoring that goal for a minute, I think you probably would have finished me off.

You had the right players in the right positions. Bacak was again a source of frustration for my team, thwarting many good chances.

Unfortunately the placement in midfield meant that while you were in good position to tackle my MIDs, it put your MIDs in range for my high tackling MIDs to strip possession and feed the forwards, in you half. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not.

Some of the decision making from your players was a bit suspect at times. Had they been on their game, things could've gone differently. We were just a bit sharper and the stronger team.

I'm happy to progress against a good team. Although I'd be happier if Bolton hadn't picked up yet another injury. Oh well, only 14 days.

Roll on the semis. :)

Unfortunately, I'm not down two mids for this weekends match, with a 22d injury and a red card, so it's lucky I train mids, and have some backups (unlike last weekend)

Well it's hardly surprising, you play me this week :P. Surprised that's all you've got unavailable ;).

I'm also down a midfielder through suspension but I have a string of midfielders capable of replacing him. Have a few niggling injuries I hope have cleared up by the weekend though.

Well a 5-0 win against Minkees was probably a little harsh on Minkee as they probably should have scored at least once, possibly twice. Erdogan had an excellent game and definitely helped secure the win with some good crosses. Was pleasing to be able to give training to Graham as well as most of my other midfielders don't really require too much more training in defense.

Came away from the match with just the one suspension and no major long term injuries, so considering it's a 5th round match, it's pleasing to come through relatively unscathed. Whoever I draw out of Tribe and Team Moose Power, it's going to be one tough match.

yeah I dont think its going to matter which one I draw. lately Ive got a better record against tribe, but overall probably tmp

Best of luck, Achmid! Injuries and cards haven't been my friend this season.

I don't recall setting up for that game and by the look of it sunday's line-up and tactic was used.
I haven't watch the game but I wouldnt be surprised if it was a repeat of sunday's with the CBs going awol.
It seems tricky to score goals the last two games, it seems a bit odd considering who's up front...

Cometer, congrats on winning the Cup this season :)

Semi Finals Draw:
Achmids Soul - Team Moose Power
The Comets - Tribe

I think this is probably the first ever time, where coming this close to winning, I didn't care who I got drawn up against.
Tribe and TMP are both such good teams, it just doesn't matter

You'll probably find, both naph and vivski thought the same as to who they'd prefer out of us two. I guess when you end up with arguably the 4 strongest teams in the country in the semi finals, it doesn't matter who you draw.

I guess if I had a preference I'd have slightly preferred vivski as I find them easier to contain (though very difficult to score against), whereas naph has such strength in offense that you really need to work hard to prevent them scoring goals.

Still it's nice not to draw TMP for yet another SF. We've had a few over recent seasons.

@Minkee

I thought the primary reason for why Drum isn't finding as much ball in shooting positions is largely down to a few tactical placements. When on the wing and in a position to cross, quite often Drum isn't set far enough forward, so Ielati either passes back infield to Drum who then gets tackled, or else Ielati waits and gets tackled himself. Similarly in general play, Drum is often too shallow which makes it easy for defenses to tackle him front on, rather than have to chase him from behind.

Thanks for just destroying my cup aspirations saying that I've won the cup :P. There are still 2 quality teams I have to get through first and Tribe isn't going to be easy.