R7 vs Sydney | Sat 8th Dec | 7:35pm | SS1

Easy win

for VAR?

Play like we did against Perth and we should probably win (if the var doesn't screw us again)

I just hope we can replicate it

You've clearly forgotten that there's a big Smurf-blue button in the SAR booth

Same line up, or do you bring Doyle in?

Jubilee Stadium, neutral venue. Just play better than them and we're sorted.

Doyle on the bench for Lowry. Same line up deserves another go.

Is Kurto fit?

Isn't there some sort of concussion protocol now? The German defender for Victory failed his a few weeks ago and was forced to stand down for their game against WSW. No word so far so, touch wood, maybe Kurto is in the clear.

He's not Kurto

read somewhere that Rudan said there was no concussion assessment or determination made. Something to that effect. Made me think at that time that he’d be back next week.

Would bring in Nichols for Burgess. Rufer and Mandi were knackered with about 30 minutes to go and we need someone who can play in central midfield on the bench.

Alternatively, keep Burgess and sub Doyle on for Rufer/Mandi. Kopa pushes up into central midfield and Doyle plays left centre back.

100% agreed. We clearly need someone to come on at around 70 min for Mandi

I've yet to see any evidence of this...

Nichols isn't great, but who else do you put there when Mandi is buggered?

Nicholls has shown good energy coming on for the final 15 - 20 previously.

So would Mandi.  They probably both have enough energy together to make one fit midfielder between them.

Have you seen Mandi? He is a human roadcone.

Mandi is getting better every week imo.

I reckon he's a Spanish Lia. They play very similar games. Not a bad thing, just need someone better next to him to compensate for his lack of pace/ability to track back.

Referee: Jonathan Barreiro

Assistant Referee 1: Owen Goldrick

Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal

Fourth Official: Ben Abraham

VAR: Jarred Gillet


Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Aaron CALVER, 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jop van der LINDEN, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Daniel DE SILVA, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 20.Alex CISAK (gk), 21.Charles LOKOLI-NGOY, 22.Siem DE JONG, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.Cam DEVLIN, 31. Luke IVANOVIC.

**two to be omitted**


Wellington Phoenix Squad: 4.Mandi SOSA, 6.Dylan FOX, 8.Mitch NICHOLS, 9.Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex RUFER, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR, 30.Zac JONES (gk) 40.Ante Covic (gk)

**two to be omitted**

Nix under Barreiro: P4 W1 D0 L3

Sydney under Barreiro: P3 W3 D0 L0

Best wishes to Kurto for safe recovery..

For Sydney, there's been a late change in their line up, Gillet & Barreiro are added to their squad.

Any thoughts on Covic? Riding the pine or stepping up?

Surely riding the pine, he's 43 and has been playing Masters football.

classic slap in the face for Sail if he plays (to add to the already slapped faces of academy keepers)

We're going to get Smurfed!

Sail to have clean sheet and same performance as last week.

Seems that Rudan won't let his team get stale or complacent. Also that anyone in the squad can get a look in. Everyone, bar Elliot, has had game time.

Think he's closer to knowing his best 11 though. We signed up to watch Krishna, Burns and Singh run riot and this is starting to look more possible.

I got the feeling the game before last that Burns was starting to play himself into form. He was looking the same then he muffed that shot and I thought it was all back to zero but his performance from then on was pretty good.

I hope he will be chucked on as a super-sub for the last 10 minutes as a target man / CF and score the winning header

De Jong back for Sydney; not great for us.

Fred, Andre and now this

FIRE IT UP FOR FARKS SAKE !!!!!

No fire lighting around Sydney now guys, you know the rules about starting bush fires

Fire up!

(Sorry Oi Oi)