This was a game in which Andy Harper showed all his flair, vision, pace and determination. His first touch was excellent, his distribution outstanding and his attempts on goal world class. What an acquisition!
Hi Andy - I know you're reading this :-)). Wouldn't it be nice if it were true! In fact it was the same old sad story for this season. We dominated this game yet got nothing from it. And the reason we got nothing from it can be down to three players:
1. That joker in goal, Clint Bolton. To be chipped once is embarrassing - to be chipped twice in the same game is downright disgraceful. Coming five minutes either side of half-time was a psychological blow the team never recovered from. Not only was he DIRECTLY responsible for our loss, but his distribution (throws and kicks) constantly put us back under pressure. Frank, was it wise to get rid of Ross? In a country that produces so many top class keepers, why is our keeper our weakest link? Others on the list and at the ground may defend Clint but I for one will be happy to see him released at the end of the season. Eddie Thomson and Les Scheinflug were dead right to drop him from the national (olympic?) squad. We all squealed about the injustice of it - anti Queensland bias etc. but in the long run they could see the weaknesses in Bolton's game that would have been instantly exposed by overseas players. Hopefully the search for a new keeper has begun.
2. Frank Farina - had several chances to get us back into the game and even win it. There was one golden opportunity to chip 'reject' Kalac - unfortunately an extra touch was needed. I am certainly no expert but to me Frank (I guess you're reading this) you look rusty and unfit. Do you participate in training and are you really making the effort to stay in peak condition? You are just a pale shadow of yourself and it's sad to see such a wonderful star of Australian football sink to this level of mediocrity? You should still be running rings around the opposition but to us peasants in the stand you look slow and at times totally uninterested. Such a waste.
3. Andy Harper - were you playing last night? Rumour has it you beat one man but I must have blinked and missed it.
I suppose the turning point of the game (Bolton aside) was the loss of Nick Meredith who, until getting injured, had been playing well. Our defence (not including Bolton) looked steady and it seemed we would cope adequately without Gwynne, Zoricich and Brown. Bell, Williams and especially Laybutt all put in solid performances. Troy Cranney was making an effort and Gary Blackford played exceptionally well until he ran out of steam midway in the 2nd half. To be honest I thought we looked the better team. Wayne Knipe came on as one of the subs and to be honest his performance worried me. I have always liked him but last night he was awful. He is definitely suffering through not playing regularly and maybe he should now be given an extended run in the team from the start. He is a talented player and it would be a shame to see his obvious enthusiasm and skill go to waste.
Anyway a 3 - 0 loss has put paid to our top 6 aspirations. Time to start rebuilding and to find a new keeper.