Thursday, April 24, 2008

 

Burning Down the House

Messrs. Hill and Slater were not slow to bestow all manner of praise on Nathan Burns for his "assist hat-trick" last night, which included a spectacular darting run to the by-line followed by a crisp cut-back for Travis Dodd. Not the first time that we've seen such a move from Burns, in fact.

Burns' brilliant ten-minute burst helped to disguise the fact that, for most of the game, Adelaide were very ordinary indeed. Aurelio Vidmar's inexplicable deployment of Travis Dodd as a central striker, when he is so obviously more effective on the wing, didn't help; but there were several other sub-par performances in the first half, notably from Jonas Salley and a palpably rusty Kristian Sarkies.

Had Truong Giang Tran's fierce shot early in the second half actually found the back of the net rather than the inside of the post, it might have been a very different story.

Aurelio Vidmar claims to be fairly sanguine about losing Burns to Europe, but the spark he provides for Adelaide in games like last night's will be very sorely missed. But it is time for Burns to try his hand overseas, in my view, partly to get away from a manager who seems determined to misuse him.

Once again, Burns found himself on the left wing against Binh Duong, and once again, as has happened every single time he's been stuck out there, his effectiveness was greatly diminished. He belongs in the centre, as Ross Aloisi correctly pointed out after the game.

It might be argued that last night's scintillating run to set up Travis Dodd, as well as that classy assist for Richie Alagich in the clip linked above, originated from a position on the left. But it was an inside-left position, and in each case Burns was well within the area when the layoff occurred.

It looked likely to be a frustrating night for Burns in the first half. He found himself with his back to goal too often, and he failed to form a particularly good link-up with the overlapping Cassio. In truth, when things are running against him he has a tendency to try too hard, and this was often the case last night.

After his superb cameo, he became a little over-confident, and tried a few tricks when simple passes would have been more effective. The whole game provided an interesting illustration of both his weaknesses and his very considerable strengths.

Pace Messrs. Kruse, Zullo, Holland and the rest, Nathan Burns is the most exciting talent to have emerged since the A-League's inception. But he would, I feel, benefit from a move to Europe, where his deficiencies will not be quite as easily glossed over...or drowned in a torrent of adulation, as they were last night.

Comments:
"After his superb cameo, he became a little over-confident, and tried a few tricks when simple passes would have been more effective. The whole game provided an interesting illustration of both his weaknesses and his very considerable strengths."


He is still very young, i honestly think that him trying to be more tricky and skillful is a good thing and not a bad thing... its one thing we do too often in this country, we lay down the blame on players who try to be too tricky.. it shouldnt happen

But i do agree with some of your other comments, Kruse is a good player but he lacks composure in front of goals at times.
And ZUllo while he has speed, that cant be the only quality he can have....

I agree at times we overrate this youngsters, honestly Nathan Burns being our best player is like an average to good player in other countries......

Meanwhile changing the subject a bit, was watching the Melbourne game that game seriously exposed some of the flaws in the type of game the A-league teams play at times..
 
...I agree at times we overrate this youngsters, honestly Nathan Burns being our best player is like an average to good player in other countries...

You're probably right, but the advantage we have over the other Asian countries is that our players tend to adapt more easily to Europe...which acts as a good finishing school, if you'll pardon the pun.

...Meanwhile changing the subject a bit, was watching the Melbourne game that game seriously exposed some of the flaws in the type of game the A-league teams play at times...

They came up against a superior side, what can you say. The first Gamba goal was very nice.
 
Mike:

Burns to Norway is the rumour, surely he can do better than that.
More creative than Carney Zadkovich and Carle and look where they went.
Scores more goals to.

I reckon one more year here, really dominate, build the confidence then Holland a la Emerton

But not Norway..who is advising him?

And Melbourne.in fairness their best two forwards Archie and Carlos missed the whole tournament.

Take the best two attackers out of a team restricted by a salary cap and you get...well you saw what you get.

Don't be too hard on em, Archie and Carlos would have changed that game, even just slightly, don't you think.

Gamba in both games were defensive nightmares waiting for an Archie or Carlos to give them a scare
 
ahh honestly i know in some respects the salary cap does hold a fair argument but you guys have to remmeber , players like Bare were honestly on a very small salary when he first went to Japan..
 
On Blayney boy Nathan Burns, I would think he needs more work in Australia before going O/S.

He still cannot consistently beat a player. Being right footed and on the left and with a bot of pace he has the options of going on the outside and back inside.

His skill levels need working on.

When they are up to speed he should aim for a decent league.

He would learn very little in Norway
 
I agree. One extra season in the A-league will tip him over the line in regards to "chucking an Emerton" post Sydney Olympic (the club not Sydney 2000).

I am a little disturbed about him possible going to Norway but he keeps calling it a stepping stone to Europe....but so is the A-League. Meh.
 
I did read that where Burns can go is restricted by the fact that he has no recent European or British heritage of any kind. He def can't get a working visa for England. Hard to tell with Holland or Germany as most Aussie players I can think of who've gone there have been dual citizens.
 
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