Most of the possession was still focused on the flanks, with the penetration coming from combinations between fullbacks and the wide midfielders. The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Perth increase their pressing intensity, which made it difficult for Wellington to settle into the second half. Most of the possession was still focused on the flanks, with the penetration coming from combinations between fullbacks and the wide midfielders. If they could move the ball over quickly – at least quicker than Perth’s defence could shift over – it would open up an opportunity on the far side for Cacace or Elliott to take on Franjic or Ingham one on one. Persoonlijke informatie: Volledige naam: Anthony Popović Bijnaam
Kristian Popovic and Jake Brimmer both made the cut in central midfield with Neil Kilkenny playing as the defensive midfielder.Juande shifted into the central centreback slot, with Tomi Mrcela and Tarek Elrich either side of him. The option was there, with Cameron Devlin and Matti Steinmann not always being closed down by the forwards Chianese and Fornaroli. It also looked like they wanted to pin the wingbacks back in order to free up space for Davila and Piscopo to pop up in between the lines, but the Perth midfield prevented this too. The wingback can sit deep, covering the run into the channel, or step up if the wide midfielder joins on the flank.With Perth matching them well on the flank, it was a bit of a surprise to see how slow Wellington were at shifting the ball to the other side. Former Socceroo Ivan Franjic has parted ways with Perth Glory amid reports that coach Tony Popovic has also left the club, While the majority of the Glory squad returned to … This didn’t turn out to be too much of an option, with the wingbacks not venturing forwards and with the Perth line sitting fairly deep. The Perth midfielders would run in to exploit this space.After the hour mark, Perth began to drop off again and Wellington continued with their same attacking style focused on the wide areas and crossing. The trio in midfield also made it difficult when Wellington were attempting to attack centrally, as they’d track the midfielders, Davila and Piscopo, if they came inside and crowded them and the strikers out with the help of the three centrebacks just behind them.
The wingbacks didn’t push forwards in defence and kept the structure by sitting on the outside of the centrebacks or watching the wide midfielders when they pushed up high. Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has reportedly sealed his exit from the club, less than 24 hours after a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat in the A-League semi-finals.
This was perfect for Perth. When Diego Castro and Fornaroli dropped in between the lines to receive, Chianese would look to run in behind.The same kind of movement resulted in Perth’s goal, with Fornaroli being the player to draw the defender out.First Fornaroli receives the ball in between the lines, and as the ball is played back to Kilkenny, Taylor comes to ensure he can’t receive the return pass.Then Chianese makes a diagonal run into the space vacated behind Taylor to receive the through pass from Kilkenny and finishes well. The wingbacks were Ivan Franjic and Dane Ingham, with Liam Reddy playing in his 17th finals game.Perth instead surprised by not pressing high at all. This opened up a channel in between the fullback and centreback that the shuttling midfielders would try to exploit.With the fullback moving out to the flank, a channel opens up in Wellington’s defence. Bruno Fornaroli was partnered by Joel Chianese, who returned to the front after having played at wingback. As previously mentioned, Perth had struggled with being overloaded out wide, especially against four-at-the-back systems, and their inclusion looked like an attempt to stifle the options out wide – they’d track the wide midfielders when they came inside – but also provide assistance, with Wellington’s continually onrushing fullbacks Cacace and Elliot. Popovic also surprised here by naming Juande in defence, with Neil Kilkenny playing in the central defensive midfielder slot. Tony Popovic is yet to reveal if he's leaving Perth for a crack in Europe with Greek club Xanthi. The trio in midfield also made it difficult when Wellington were attempting to attack centrally, as they’d track the midfielders, Davila and Piscopo, if they came inside and crowded them and the strikers out with the help of the three centrebacks just behind them. The game opened up a bit here, with Perth attacking more and Wellington able to attack on the counter.On the rare occasion they managed to get forwards, Perth’s midfielders were once again key to how they wanted to play. He went with an attacking selection: David Ball and Jaushua Sotirio leading the line, with Rene Piscopo and Ulises Davila on the flanks.
Perth Glory manager Tony Popovic has reportedly left the club.
Wellington managed to create a few more scoring chances, but ultimately the flank and crossing play wasn’t able to result in a goal, with Perth packing the box and making it difficult for Wellington until the final whistle. The wingback can sit deep, covering the run into the channel, or step up if the wide midfielder joins on the flank.With Perth matching them well on the flank, it was a bit of a surprise to see how slow Wellington were at shifting the ball to the other side. The nature of Wellington’s back four means that as the Perth wingback pushed up the fullback had to go wide in order to track them while the two strikers would pin the centrebacks in the middle.
Thankfully Steinmann helped out in this regard. He has played for … It shows that Perth have an element of versatility to their play and can press high or defend deep at an instant.This game also acts as a perfect dress rehearsal for the game against Sydney, who notably play a very similar style of play to Wellington. The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Perth increase their pressing intensity, which made it difficult for Wellington to settle into the second half. Tony Popovic set Perth Glory up in their (now) standard 5-3-2 formation but had a few selection surprises. As previously mentioned, Perth had struggled with being overloaded out wide, especially against four-at-the-back systems, and their inclusion looked like an attempt to stifle the options out wide – they’d track the wide midfielders when they came inside – but also provide assistance, with Wellington’s continually onrushing fullbacks Cacace and Elliot.