Mariners and Jets both needed wins in matchday 4 and despite some notable performances they both flopped badly to Japanese sides.
Yes that's right the "technically better Japanese sides".
But maybe it's not the technical difference between the players that is so crucial to results against Japanese sides...maybe it's the difference between the Coaches.
First the Mariners.
They flopped badly. Yes that's right because it was basic professional errors that ensured they were narrowly defeated. At this level of football such errors are unforgiveable.
Did the Mariners not listen or watch Adelaide United. Aurelio Vidmar's mantra, "we're going to work on defence," was trotted out daily from January to the start of the Asian Champions League in March last year and they proceded to play at home with one forward..yes at home with one forward..even I saw it!
Of course the Mariners performance was almost a victory compared with their five nil thrashing to Kawasaki in the previous round. This time the 2-1 defeat was heralded as heroic stuff.
If anything this defeat was worse than the previous one.
Lawrie McKinna sent out a team and formation which should have been sent out for the home game, a la Aurelio Vidmar and Pim Verbeek. And consequently we had what we knew we could always have between Aussie and " technically superior Japanese club sides," a close match.
But wait despite employing the energetic Matt Simon upfront and praying for a truckload of continuous rain Kawasaki had to work for their ball, and their chances... but unfortunately not for their goals.
Why couldn't this have been the case at Blue Tongue in the previous game?
An unmarked header, a goalkeeper who spilled it's simple delivery and no defence helping out. Goal one to Kawasaki. Nothing technical about that one.
Having pulled themselves into the game through the amazing Simon, Matty missed easier chances to finish the game..but then set up the winner.
Two Mariners jumping for a header, no-one marking the man who received that Mariners header and of course no-one marking the subsequent delivery. 2-1 A shocking goal to concede. Nothing technical about that Japanese goal either.
And certainly nothing professional about the Mariners defending.
Truth is if you defend to a "normal" professional level this so-called wonderful "technically superior Japanese side" would not have scored.
So the Mariners blew it and finally, thankfully, they are realising the type of player they are recruiting is going to leave them way below the standards of the rest of the league...at least outside the 6...and of course you can forget Asia.
For the Mariners:
Matt Simon done good, Lawrie McKinna did good, Andrew Clark did good for an old fella and generally the team worked better to an effective system...and it nearly prevailed.
but what does Alex Tobin do? Does he take responsibility for the defending, the corners, and the general defensive display? Why are the Mariners so poor at defending? The physical side of their game is supposed to be their strength, and Nigel Booguard and Alex Wilkinson have played enough and are big enough to have sorted it. Alex..just sort it..it's basic and cost you any credibility in Asia..even in Australia.
Newcastle Jets:
Themselves up against a Japanese side, sorry that should be a "technically superior Japanese side," though this one clearly isn't so good or else the Jets wouldn't have drawn with them would they...so all the Japanese apologists in the Aussie media have already labelled Nagoya as, well almost Aussie...yet they are in the J-League so how does that work?
Gary Van Egmond. Different to Lawrie McKinna, and our great coaching hope for the future started with one upfront....at home. Where did he get that idea Lawrie?
No-one criticised Duchy. Indeed it was smart stuff and nearly worked, despite the "technically superior Japanese" running the Aussie's ragged in the second half.
Ljubo Milicevic was sorely missed, Ange Costanzo showed why Adelaide released him after he got skinned alive in the Asian Champions League final. The pace is gone if not the verbal replies.
But Sasho Petrovski did a Berbatov and took a shocking penalty.
The game should have ended 1-1. Somehow a Jets side, without Milicevic and for the most part Fabrio Vignaroli, and a team which included Danny De Groot..is De Groot Dutch for useless I'm wondering.... the Jets should have got, even if they didn't deserve, a draw.
The Jets disappointed in truth.
My favourite player...Kaz Patafta again showed why no-one will play him. He loses the ball, holds it in the wrong places, and sends too many passes to the others. Technical he maybe but, if so, he needs to return to the dazzling displays of the Under 17 world Cup and maybe the same position..but if he distributes the ball like this who would risk him in that position?
Jason Hoffman, Brodie Mooy all worked hard but are very young, inexperienced and/or unfit for this level of football yet.
Ben Kantarvoski is starting to shine but still makes many errors, check out the goal But he's young and playing well in a high level of competition, good to see another Aussie with real class on the field.
Gary Van Egmond was superb. He sent a team out to do a job, a tactical plan and he nearly stole it. He had hugely depleted resources, but he still put up a show and if Petrovski had scored he'd have pulled it off.
And you have to admire the way Van Egmond is getting more from less. Tarek Elrich finds the reserves and nous from somewhere to push on and create overlaps late on. Petrovski penalty aside looks like he wants to play. Van Egmonds influence surely.
In conclusion:
The Mariners were never 5 goals worse than Kashima...McKinna simply ensured they were by sending out the wrong team, with the wrong plan. The second leg proved that.
And I was delighted to see Lawrie and co could produce a plan to be competitive, pity they hadn't practiced defending this year.
Maybe it's not the technically difference between the players that is so crucial to results...maybe it's the difference between the Coaches.
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