A great read on some of Adelaide's tendencies in possession vs Auckland. Slightly stolen my thunder over on the subreddit (I'm joking... maybe), but great to see people really putting in the work to create quality analysis and content.

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Roar midfield doing a good job of playing passive vs Alagich. Clearly noted he likes to bait the press and turn into the space, so they're stepping off slightly and double teaming where they can. Keeping Adelaide absolutely pinned into their own half. Good stuff. #ADLvBRI

It was the 100th appearance on the pod for @jacobstevens0.bsky.social this week... He pulled out something special for the occasion 😂

2 more goals conceded by the Reds from shoddy marking. At this point the problem isn't just the players - someone needs to hold the defender coaching to account. The systems and structures are just not even close to good enough. #AKLvADL

A terrible (non)recruitment policy coming to bite Adelaide in the ass again. Unbelievable that the glaring depth issues that have been there all season have simply been ignored. Expect more results like this one. Auckland's title to lose now. #WUNvADL

I'm sorry, but you cannot tell me that Bart Vriends - Eredivisie legend and Sparta captain for 200 games - should be performing at the level he has been recently. There's a clear fundamental inability to coach defenders at this club and it's been the case for too long. #WUNvADL

Veart > Pep Pep plays CBs as DMs. Veart plays an 8 as a LB in a back three. I know real innovation when I see it. #WUNvADL

Away bay sold out for Victory vs Adelaide on March 29. Feels like it's been a while since Adelaide fans have sold out their allocation. Could be a massive game.

This game so far: #ADLvMCY

Folami has killed every attacking drive when he's received the ball. Either a bad first touch and a turnover or just no end product. With two talented LW in the squad it simply beggars belief that Veart keeps giving him the starting spot. #ADLvMCY

Uncharacteristically for Adelaide, they're bypassing the City press quite well when they keep the ball on the floor and look to move it with urgency. It's when they stop and try to slow the tempo that the hesitation sets in and Vriends in particular has been poor there. #ADLvMCY

A good time for the Sky Blues to find their first win in 4, right before the final Sydney Derby of the season. That and the rest of your Round 17 review wherever you get your podcasts! Spotify: spoti.fi/3Ce2Ltu Youtube: bit.ly/4faBxCC 📸: Marcus Robertson / Round Ball Australia

Playing Yull in place of Folami has been a huge miss by Veart. Absolutely nothing coming from the left because Talladira can't overlap without leaving space behind and Yull is just doing his usual and playing centrally leaving nobody out wide. Really poor adjustment. #SYDvADL

I honestly don’t know how Michael Oliver can referee another Arsenal game again after that today. What trust there was (which was very little) has just totally gone now. The more you watch it, the worse it gets. How can he possibly justify making that decision? It’s always him…..

Was this the game of the season??? Midweek A-League action and the off-field latest on Perry Park and transfer window with @lachieavil.bsky.social & @jacobstevens0.bsky.social. Spotify: spoti.fi/3Ce2Ltu Youtube: bit.ly/4faBxCC 📸: Adelaide United - X

Another set piece goal conceded. Veart and the coaches need to wake up and realise the marking scheme and "get first contact" approach simply don't work. Especially when nobody even challenges for the ball. Gives me flashbacks to Verbeek's woeful zonal rubbish back in the day. #WELvADL

Veart was vocal early this season that the club has not gotten recruitment right the last few seasons, and Folami is the absolute epitome of that. Not only is he getting starts over 2 players who actually contribute, but he's on a 4 year deal without proving he's worth it. Shocking. #WELvADL

Countless number of crosses just whacked in to nobody. Poor finishing on the chances the side do create, heavy touches in the final third. Macarthur meanwhile get one chance and bury it. I said one loss could bury this team... seems about right. #MACvADL

Simon Hill: "Arsenal fans will be saying 'but we had a penalty given against us for that'." Is... is this mainstream anti-Arsenal agenda recognition? #MACvADL

Imo the most interesting point to come from the Talay presser: Asked him about the press and how/why it was better in the second half. His response? "I thought it was better in the first half." Not how many of us viewed it, but an interesting perspective nonetheless. #ADLvSYD

Adelaide again with an absolutely blistering start. Good to see them take the chance, too. Notably came in transition - something Veart said he didn't want to do. Funny that. #ADLvSYD

Adelaide United, despite pre-season predictions, sit undefeated in second spot. So how have they managed such a turn around in form? @jacobstevens0.bsky.social takes a look at Carl Veart's side and their start to the season. roundballaustralia.com.au/undefeated-u...

Tunnicliffe on? #CCMvADL

Yep, you're reading that properly: I was host for this week's Dubcast. The sky is falling. All jokes aside, was a fun episode. Let's just all hope Poletti is back in full form sooner rather than later...

Today on the pod: We discuss the interesting comparison between Perth and Brisbane at the foot of the table, Nikos Vergos v Bruno Fornaroli, Victory's financial reports and more from Round 6. Go give it a listen! spoti.fi/3Ce2Ltu

Marking scheme is a mess, there's holes in transition, and too much asked of the two actual defenders to do all the work in deeper areas. Conceding 2 goals a game is entirely unsustainable at this level.

Biggest takeaway from that game? This Adelaide coaching staff has no idea how to organise a defence. 4 years at the helm for Veart and the defence gets worse each time. Not good enough for a club with aspirations of being a table topper. #ADLvPER

Yull not been up to standard today. Thought he had a good outing against Brisbane but has really struggled on the ball tonight. #ADLvPER

On the Madanha thing. Looks like he's playing as a 10 but also keeping width. Means that Adelaide's best threat, Pierias, is getting less time and space on the ball. Another baffling strucural change by Veart.

Can definitely feel a Perth win is a distinct possibility at this point. Adelaide's defence is woeful, and with Clough off and Madanha out of position the side is struggling to create in the final third. #ADLvPER

Perth dismantling the Adelaide marking system again. Taggart able to make that run because he's found between the zones for Kikianis and Vriends in the box. Marking schemes still a big issue for this Reds defence. Same as the last 2 or 3 seasons. #ADLvPER

Vriends with a headed goal. I hate to say "I told you so", but... #ADLvPER

Beautiful football from United. Pierias dragging his runner leaves the space to put the ball in, good hold up play and a great finish from Clough. Need more of that if the Reds want to rescue a good result here. #ADLvPER

Still can't wrap my head around the decision to drop Pierias into the defensive role and switch Folami to the right. Leaves the left side empty without a proper outlet, and congests the right side where Pierias was having so much success in isolated spaces. #ADLvPER

Can notch that Perth goal down entirely to Adelaide's awful defence. Double pivot doing nothing but holding space, Folami does well to track the run but leaves Vriends in the dark, and Taggart unmarked in the box is always a bad idea. #ADLvPER

Perth with both shots on target so far in the game. Major indictment on the quality of the Adelaide finishing given the number of chances created. Been opportunities to test the keeper but not taken them well enough. #ADLvPER

Good to see Veart has reverted to the shape that has brought Adelaide their success so far. Using Pierias in that width holding role, and he's already finding space and delivering well into the box. Clear the 4-3-3 with a lone 6 doesn't work with this squad. #ADLvPER

Top. Bins. Showing @maxrushden.bsky.social how it's done.

Chiefy starting an answer with "this could be a long one" is an absolute classic. Then following it up with a detailed answer about tactical systems, adjusting to opponents and making changes for different reasons. Class presser.