Nix v Sydney

he'll come off the bench if he does play..

I'd be surprised.

I think Herbert was quoted suggesting our next home game might be his first match

Maybe the same starting side with Lia getting another run off the bench

Might be hard to drop Ferrante the way they dominated midfield for much of the Roar game

+ hopefully Diego shows a bit more form after a game under the belt

Paston

LOLligan... please stop, it hurts.

+1

I do think that the competition for midfield places is hotting up. The defence and attack seem settled, but with Brown back and Lia and Daniel showing some nice touches with limited time there is a lot of competition for that midfield 3. I could easily see Brown in for Ferrante or Brown in for Diego and Ferrante pushed forward (away game against Sydney could see this happen) or Lia in for Ferrante or Daniel in for Diego.

The most obvious team I've seen and the one I picked earlier to play as well.
I would like to see Lia in for Muscat, but don't think it will happen
This team is odds on to start

That 442 at the end v Roar worked a treat tho, so Hearfield/Daniel might get an early run
'cept for Ricki's special sub timing

agree with you Whitby, just not sure it'll happen
but Sydney haven't looked that crash hot this year so you never know
mjp22009-08-25 16:07:38

No to Brown.

we have simply got to play 442 this week, if you dont believe me then just watch the first half compared to the second half of the game vs roar. when ifill was playin as an extra winger it meant the midfield was clogged the whole time and there was always only one guy to aim at!

tend to agree - despite the starting line-up i picked

if you start 442, who do you start with for the two CMs? Diego+McKain?

4 - 4 - 2 is the best, I reckon Ricki wont change much about the side..

I agree, going with a 442 - where do you put Diego? Keep the 3 central midfielders for now as it is working

Ifill definitely works best up front with Greenacre, we don't want him dropping back or out wide unless he really has to.

I agree that Diego needs room to move, and that doesn't work if we're squeezing everyone into the midfield.

4-3-3 from the Perth game for me also.

Diego must be central and forward, and then realistically we are talking about starting 4231 or 4132, if anything, given at least one of the CMs is going to play deep.  What I reckon Ricki is doing with Diego and Ifill is letting them make the call on the pitch how far forward and central they play, particularly Ifill.  He drops deep into 4231/442 when he needs to and pushes up and central (with a CM or wide back coming forward on his side, or just when Leo goes on a blinder from the other side) when he can.  And Diego swings wider to create space if there is a CM pushing up centrally and Ifill pushing into striker.

And that's what led to the YF comments about Ifill "having to play too deep".  I think that's also why we saw the wide backs playing further forward last week - as that lets Ifill push further into the middle.

Makes for a pretty fluid attacking force. 

Man_utd_fan2009-08-25 18:37:39

i pray for this line up

Few quick thoughts

No room for Brown even on bench, at best he is cover if McKain gets crocked.

Diego cannot play wide midfield.

4-3-3 against Sydney would be brave or foolhardy as their wide right player Danning would have a field day.

4-4-2 for me with Ferrante/Diego/Lia to choose from for centre midfield spot and Hearfield/Daniel battling for the outside midfield slot.

deigo played great on the wing against perth

Whitby boy2009-08-25 19:08:07

I don't think Ricky will change too much. After the Perth win he seemed intent on keeping the same 11 players. Following on from his comments that he thought we should have won the last game - he may take the same philosophy. Personally, I don't mind giving Lia a start. If he doesn't this weekend, don't worry guys, I'm sure he will soon enough!

where's costa? at least have him on the bench!

haven't seen much in the sydney CCM replay, so far, to worry me

Awful game... that and Furries vs Tards has been called the worst A-League double header in history.

yeh, bit of a laugh these two are at 2nd and 3rd above us

sydney only there with narrow wins over Fury and Adelaide, neither playing great at the moment

you'd have to be interested in a Phoenix away win this weekend ...

I'm actually picking the nix to win.
But it does depend on what Sydney turns up to party. Danning could be a nightmare to our defence as he is quick and agile.

Think Lia could be the best choice in the midfield for Ferrante but I've got a feeling that if Brown is back, he will play. Even though I would rather see Lia in.
Also, maybe Lia off the bench for Muscat?

Adelaide to beat Fury 2 - 1
Perth to go down to Victory 1 - 2
Roar to subcombe to CCM 0 - 1
Jets to capitulate to Smeltz 1 - 2
Sydney to repeat last years run and loose to Nix 1 - 2 with goals from Ifill and Lia / Daniel

Brosque is another player that we need to treat the right way. 

He's going to:

A, Fall to the ground everytime he is within 3 feet of a Phoenix player
B, Foul the Phoenix midfield to delay breaks.

We need to make sure that if he's going to ground he ends up lumped for his trouble.  If we're going to get a foul against us let's at least earn it, and by the same token as he fouls us make sure he ends up with some damage from the collision.

A-League refs let him get away with it so let's make sure he regrets it.

Oh, and the style of play ?  No different to under Kosmina, that game at the weekend was awful.  That 2nd half we played on Sunday was infinitely better than anything Sydney have played so far this season.

The big question is, can we repeat it.
Hard News2009-08-25 23:13:37

But props to him for not wearing an alice band, eh.

Diego and Ifill getting fitter, combos developing, our two CDs starting to recognise each other, Ricki seeing how to get the best out of what he has

damn right we can repeat it

P.S hopefully Danning isn't as good as you say he is - or we're screwed Can't say he stood out that much for me v CCM, but I was so bored with that game I was only half watching
mjp22009-08-25 23:24:00

I've forgotten what it feels like to score first.  WHen was the last time the Nix did that in a league fixture?

Against Roar right at the end of last season when we lost 3-2? I'm sure we scored first that day.

yeah that sounds familiar.
Brosque does like his fouls. Would like Sigmund to give him a hard time over the weekend.