WELL, that was a simply a footballing lesson, wasn’t it?
The most difficult thing about facing up to writing this today, is that after expressing a view that certain critics (including myself) may have to start eating their words, I am now left with no other option than to yet again revise this bold prediction.
To be blunt I have taken a reality check, and I concede that something is drastically wrong.
I don't think there is much room to debate the relative performances last night. At its most basic, it was about two key things, speed and technique. There was a palpable gulf, the likes of which suggested the score could have been far worse than 5-0.
It was not only the pace of the Kawasaki attack when they shifted up tempo, it was the quickness of their players feet, and the way in which they opened up the Mariners back four with simple give and go passes. They didn't just do this once either, it was repeated time and time again.
The Japanese first touch was superb. It was a flowing and expansive passing game that was often first time, and mostly found a team mate in full flight.
Even longer balls played into the channels were effective for Kawasaki, as their classy Brazilians were always first to the ball. Although not physically imposing, these guys were a joy to watch, their close control, their finishing, their passing, and general movement off the ball was a joy to behold. Even Renatinho, who came on well into the second half was very good.
I am not suggesting that the Mariners didn't put in any effort, but unfortunately they simply looked clueless.
There was a point in the second half that really exemplified this. Wilkinson had the ball just inside his half, with no opponent applying any real pressure, he stood on the ball once, looked up, waited, moved it to his other foot and stood on it again, still waiting for an option, pushed it out as though he was about to pass, changed his mind and dragged it back, and then started remonstrating to one or several team mates, then in the end passed it back to Vukovic, and remonstrated again. With nine players in front of him he either had no options, or was simply not confident enough that he could complete a pass to a team mate.
It is difficult to put this performance into real perspective, and draw any conclusions about relative Jets vs Mariners prospects in the competition, other than to say that the Jets are in a far stronger position now, both in terms of results, and psychology. However, having seen a lot of games over the last three years at Bluetongue, I will go out on a limb and say that the Kawasaki performance was the best, and most attractive attacking display I have ever seen at the ground.
I would suggest that the speed of both ball and player movement across the park would have beaten any A-League team (yes even Melbourne).
Pim Verbeek's much criticised view that the A-League is still not up to scratch in terms of being a top level competition looks hard to argue with on the evidence of the quality displayed by the top J-League sides, as displayed at Bluetongue last night, and at Adelaide last December.
What Mariners' management may need to concede is that without a competitive win in the current calendar year (a fact that I concede I have not checked, but think is correct) they need to rethink things, and do so quickly if they are going to salvage the opportunity presented in this competition.
Oh... and did I say previously that Lawrie would make sure they did not concede cheap goals from corners again? How wrong I have been.
