09-22-2018, 12:22 PM
Muiron--
Two comments on the men's game.
(1) Our lack of size really came back to bite us. Pacific was bullying our midfield around the pitch, especially their best field player, the mid on the left. Most of our players were giving up probably 2 inches and 15 pounds to their match-ups, and were getting knocked off the ball a lot.
(2) The officiating, again. I am INCENSED that there wasn't a straight red card shown midway through the second half. A Pacific player came high across the legs of Jared Gilbey with a high foot, hitting him on the right thigh before raking his left shin with the bottom of his boot. If he had hit him square, as it looked like he intended, it would've been Tierna Davidson all over again - he would've broken his leg.
More generally, the men's game has GOT to be more closely called. The ref pulled one yellow about 12 minutes in, but the game got more and more physical (there were 5 fouls called on the Tigers within the opening 10 minutes of the second half), and a second yellow didn't come out until that Gilbey incident (71st minute), and then it was a double, on the player and Gilbey for retaliating. I would've retaliated, too, if someone had stamped down on my shin with the bottom of their boot with every intention of injuring me.
In any case, the weaknesses are what have been identified - lack of a true finisher, problems scoring goals, and lack of midfield presence. I mentioned earlier this season, I think the player they miss the most is Drew Skundrich. But graduating 8 primary contributors, this was always going to be a transitional season.
VG
Two comments on the men's game.
(1) Our lack of size really came back to bite us. Pacific was bullying our midfield around the pitch, especially their best field player, the mid on the left. Most of our players were giving up probably 2 inches and 15 pounds to their match-ups, and were getting knocked off the ball a lot.
(2) The officiating, again. I am INCENSED that there wasn't a straight red card shown midway through the second half. A Pacific player came high across the legs of Jared Gilbey with a high foot, hitting him on the right thigh before raking his left shin with the bottom of his boot. If he had hit him square, as it looked like he intended, it would've been Tierna Davidson all over again - he would've broken his leg.
More generally, the men's game has GOT to be more closely called. The ref pulled one yellow about 12 minutes in, but the game got more and more physical (there were 5 fouls called on the Tigers within the opening 10 minutes of the second half), and a second yellow didn't come out until that Gilbey incident (71st minute), and then it was a double, on the player and Gilbey for retaliating. I would've retaliated, too, if someone had stamped down on my shin with the bottom of their boot with every intention of injuring me.
In any case, the weaknesses are what have been identified - lack of a true finisher, problems scoring goals, and lack of midfield presence. I mentioned earlier this season, I think the player they miss the most is Drew Skundrich. But graduating 8 primary contributors, this was always going to be a transitional season.
VG