R4 vs Melbourne City | Sun 3rd Nov | 6:00pm | SS7

McClaren out for them

Cacace out for us.

They are also without Delbridge following his red card.

Countdown to oblivion

Jmac out is huge. Delbridge sidelined is also really great. Honestly if that Hooper/Ball partnership gets going with Uli and Cal in behind I really think we can cause their defence some big problems. We did with Sydney and Perth at times and their defensive lines are far stronger than city's. Really need some points on the board now, this is the game to do it

gotta see hooper and ball start.

If I was a betting man (which I am, but not a good one) I'd say we'll be seeing Sautirio starting again with Hooper a longer stint off the bench (maybe from the 60 minute mark).

Highly doubt we'll see Hooper starting. Wasn't even meant to play against Perth, think he'll continue to be bought in slowly, 20 minutes this week, 30 next then maybe ready for a start after the bye.

would like to see McCowatt moved up top instead of Sotirio and Piscopo in McCowatts position

Mccowatt up top with Hooper and then Ball with Davila or Piscopo. Sotiro is a donkey.

Sotorio is limited with a poor passing range, but he has put in a good shift over the last two games. That been said I want him to be dropped.

Ha ha, it's funny because everyone expected U. Davila or D. Ball to be the scapegoat

.... early days yet.....

My preferred line up for this game. Don't mind Fenton instead of Payne but would like to see Payne given a shot.

You'd keep Scott but drop Fenton for a player who isn't a right back?

K...

Payne is a CB yeah? Scott kinda has to be there as he is the only natural LB we have. Fenton will be starting for sure.

Fenton can go on the left, he always cuts inside onto his left, this way he can cut inside to his right... and his crossing couldn't be any worse, could it??

Payne has played right-back this season and looked better than Fenton. 

We have no other left-footed defenders so kinda stuck with Scott for one more game.

I still think Payne's best spot is DM and at the rate Rufer is picking up cards he'll see some game time.

so Hooper signed as a 2020 prospect then ...shame he isn’t match fit when needed. 

The guy who's scored all our goals so far?

Just win already

I thought Davila stepped up a level and looked great when he moved into a more Attacking Midfield role. He seemed to be much more involved and showed some good football.

Is this our worse start ever? None from three.

It's not as yet. In Ernie's last season, we opened with 4 losses, scoring only 1 goal (and that goal came in round 4 in a 6-1 drubbing by Victory).

I'm not convinced our form so far indicates we're going to be a major threat this year, but as we've only lost by the odd goal in each game I'm not giving up hope

Let's face it - it is almost a new team so familiarity is lacking. Rufer looks like he's missing Mandi, Taylor looks like he's missing Dura, and our frontline is a bunch of strangers to each other altogether.  So losing by a goal a game so far is better than the efforts of Ernie's Eleven in his last season because Ernie's players at the time knew each other well.

Don't think anyone expected us to be a major threat anyway - I certainly didn't. Maybe if we got Hooper earlier.

Already won us a goal- that's fairly effective 

No one ever does... Every year.

Don't agree with this, Perth completely dominated the first half

I like this call.

Thought when Piscopo came on against Perth he bought good tempo. We started to play the ball quicker and looked more dangerous.

except Fenton has never played LB, he may cut inside all the time but he's a right sided player, either RB, or RWB or RM.

Preferred starters for this game...