City have just drawn 1-1 away in Gosford, where we won 3-0 - Do we dare to believe we can possibly escape the graveyard that is AAMI Park with a point or 3?
Or is it once again just wishful thinking?
Or is it once again just wishful thinking?
WPM R12 vs Melbourne City | Fri 3rd Jan | 7:00pm | Sky Sport 3
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City have just drawn 1-1 away in Gosford, where we won 3-0 - Do we dare to believe we can possibly escape the graveyard that is AAMI Park with a point or 3?
Or is it once again just wishful thinking?
Or is it once again just wishful thinking?
Dare!
Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet
Italiano did bit of soul searching over the ‘break’ He knows that everyone was very disappointed with last performance, including himself and he agrees with the YF forum: The most disappointing win in recent history.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
And New Year resolutions always come true.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Rufer out with illness (guess he will have a late fitness test in case tho)
eeeek, that's gonna put some pressure on the mid-field.
Al-Taay to start?
Al-Taay to start?
Queenslander 3x a year.
The streak has to break sometime, lets hope its this Friday.
Italiano did bit of soul searching over the ‘break’ He knows that everyone was very disappointed with last performance, including himself and he agrees with the YF forum: The most disappointing win in recent history.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
I believed every word of this until you mentioned David Ball, then I knew the whole thing was satire. You almost got me.
City have basically an entire XI out with injury atm.. including Nabbout, Tilio, Kuen (their best player), Jonathan Cohen got injured last night and James Jaggo.. their team is full of academy players and had a 17 year old make his debut yesterday.. MUST play positively here and aim for all 3, they’re more vulnerable then ever, that said our guys lack confidence right now also, might be a cagey affair
Must be a nasty illness to be ruled out so soon? iirc commentary said he was battling illness before either the Newcastle or Wanderers game.
Italiano did bit of soul searching over the ‘break’ He knows that everyone was very disappointed with last performance, including himself and he agrees with the YF forum: The most disappointing win in recent history.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
Italiano analyzed every touch and pass and concluded only the leadership of a wise and battle hardened footballer like David Ball can lift up the mental state of the team. We’ll see a changed confident team to rare 3:2 win in Melbourne.
I believed every word of this until you mentioned David Ball, then I knew the whole thing was satire. You almost got me.
It’s not a satire! I know Ball can not rescue the team alone, he’s more of over the top placeholder for the senior players. I pretty sure they all talk about solutions to turn things around. And not saying ‚win is win‘ Hope they find some on Friday.
Presumably the Nix were flying today and Rufer was too sick to fly, probably COVID positive or something like that. Lucky we have al-Taay to step in but Retre & Nagasawa need to step up too.
All I want is to see a starting lineup without Piper, Walker & LBS. None are good enough to start in the A-League just yet. Would also really like to see OVH & Ball in the matchday squad but seems foolish to expect that. When was the last time Chiefy was asked about OVH's absence?
All I want is to see a starting lineup without Piper, Walker & LBS. None are good enough to start in the A-League just yet. Would also really like to see OVH & Ball in the matchday squad but seems foolish to expect that. When was the last time Chiefy was asked about OVH's absence?
City have basically an entire XI out with injury atm.. including Nabbout, Tilio, Kuen (their best player), Jonathan Cohen got injured last night and James Jaggo.. their team is full of academy players and had a 17 year old make his debut yesterday.. MUST play positively here and aim for all 3, they’re more vulnerable then ever, that said our guys lack confidence right now also, might be a cagey affair
"Must play positively here..."
Cant disagree, but I havent seen much positivity lately, when we needed it.
God I detest negative football
Other results have been going good for us, IF we win our next games we're guarented to be sitting lowest 5th and that'd be joint on points with Sydney and 2 points below Adelaide and Victory.
Anyone hoping for us to play "positively" in Melbourne after seeing our performance at home to the Jets and knowing our history there is an eternal optimist.
The most frustrating thing about this season is that Chiefy explicitly said that the reason why the team was so defensive/counter attacking last season (especially away from home) was because of the players at his disposal, but that this season he now had the players to exert more control and retain more possession. But we have all seen a far more negative/defensive setup so far. We have played a back 5 more often this season than the entirety of last season and we are barely a third of the way through. This is one of the few times that Chiefy's tendency to overshare has come back to bite him.
The only game where we were fun to watch this season was the game Rojas started. The chances of him reaching full fitness this season are negligible, and there is little evidence that Chiefy is able to construct a positive-playing setup without him with this squad. I'd advise everyone to get used to "negative" football and learn to appreciate any good results we get despite the way we get them.
The most frustrating thing about this season is that Chiefy explicitly said that the reason why the team was so defensive/counter attacking last season (especially away from home) was because of the players at his disposal, but that this season he now had the players to exert more control and retain more possession. But we have all seen a far more negative/defensive setup so far. We have played a back 5 more often this season than the entirety of last season and we are barely a third of the way through. This is one of the few times that Chiefy's tendency to overshare has come back to bite him.
The only game where we were fun to watch this season was the game Rojas started. The chances of him reaching full fitness this season are negligible, and there is little evidence that Chiefy is able to construct a positive-playing setup without him with this squad. I'd advise everyone to get used to "negative" football and learn to appreciate any good results we get despite the way we get them.
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39.Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 20. Arion SULEMANI (promoted), 30. Andreas KUEN (returns from injury), 39.Emin DURAKOVIC (promoted)
Outs: 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury), 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (promoted)
Outs: 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (omitted)
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured)
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39.Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 20. Arion SULEMANI (promoted), 30. Andreas KUEN (returns from injury), 39.Emin DURAKOVIC (promoted)
Outs: 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury), 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (promoted)
Outs: 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (omitted)
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured)
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39.Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 20. Arion SULEMANI (promoted), 30. Andreas KUEN (returns from injury), 39.Emin DURAKOVIC (promoted)
Outs: 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury), 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (promoted)
Outs: 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (omitted)
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured)
a.haak
City have basically an entire XI out with injury atm.. including Nabbout, Tilio, Kuen (their best player), Jonathan Cohen got injured last night and James Jaggo.. their team is full of academy players and had a 17 year old make his debut yesterday.. MUST play positively here and aim for all 3, they’re more vulnerable then ever, that said our guys lack confidence right now also, might be a cagey affair
a.haak
Melbourne City squad: 1. Jamie YOUNG (GK), 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 20. Arion SULEMANI, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Harry POLITIDIS, 39.Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 42. Ben DUNBAR, 46. Ben MAZZEO, 47. Kavian RAHMANI, 50. Mikey GHOSSAINI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 20. Arion SULEMANI (promoted), 30. Andreas KUEN (returns from injury), 39.Emin DURAKOVIC (promoted)
Outs: 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee)
Unavailable: 7. Mathew LECKIE (hamstring), 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 10. Yonatan COHEN (knee), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 17. Max CAPUTO (leg), 21. Alessandro LOPANE (knee), 23. Marco TILIO (hamstring), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury), 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM (promoted)
Outs: 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (omitted)
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured)
That 'out' list for Melbourne City... Jeez we'll never have a better chance to beat this lot over there. Haven't been watching a lot of the Aussie teams this year, but I'm guessing the last seven names in their squad are academy lads? Because honestly, I've never heard of them...
All I'm saying is we're a chance here. 🤞
Rufer out but his current form wasn't great anyway imo. A chance for Al-Taay to shine? City are missing some good players but have enough quality.
I'd like us to go there and play an aggressive attacking style, heap pressure on them early on, although I don't think we will. We'll pass backwards and defend with 11 players around our box, playing hopeful balls to Kosta... Hopefully not.
I'd like us to go there and play an aggressive attacking style, heap pressure on them early on, although I don't think we will. We'll pass backwards and defend with 11 players around our box, playing hopeful balls to Kosta... Hopefully not.
Rufer out but his current form wasn't great anyway imo. A chance for Al-Taay to shine? City are missing some good players but have enough quality.
I'd like us to go there and play an aggressive attacking style, heap pressure on them early on, although I don't think we will. We'll pass backwards and defend with 11 players around our box, playing hopeful balls to Kosta... Hopefully not.
I'd like us to go there and play an aggressive attacking style, heap pressure on them early on, although I don't think we will. We'll pass backwards and defend with 11 players around our box, playing hopeful balls to Kosta... Hopefully not.
But I expect it'll be something more like this
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I really dislike our version of 5 at the back, astonishingly it seems wo weaken our defence. Sutton and Payne end up playing as wingers which leaves us short at the back.
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Queenslander 3x a year.
I really dislike our version of 5 at the back, astonishingly it seems wo weaken our defence. Sutton and Payne end up playing as wingers which leaves us short at the back.
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Noooo! No Talay ball please
What's the deal with the lack of press conference videos this week?
Doesn't feel right going into the round without the full build-up experience.
Doesn't feel right going into the round without the full build-up experience.
City is full of kids for this game, but do not underestimate Ugarkovic, Behich, let alone Kuen.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
🔥🔥Come On You Nix🔥🔥
Lets get that elusive win at AAMI Park!
(Or even just a point, I'll take anything other than another loss at this point)
Lets get that elusive win at AAMI Park!
(Or even just a point, I'll take anything other than another loss at this point)
I really dislike our version of 5 at the back, astonishingly it seems wo weaken our defence. Sutton and Payne end up playing as wingers which leaves us short at the back.
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Start LBS in the midfield. Put Hughes or Sheridan on the bench and you can play a 4-2-2-2 like we did when Talay was in charge, or stick with the ol' tried and true
4-4-2
Noooo! No Talay ball please
The way we playing now isnt so far off Talay's style. Very much a maintain control of the ball and build up slowly, force the defence into coming to you and hit them from wide or with a through ball,
Queenslander 3x a year.
City is full of kids for this game, but do not underestimate Ugarkovic, Behich, let alone Kuen.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
I'd actually throw Conchie back in, which is a bit out of left field, but I don't think he did much wrong at the start of the season and looked a lot more comfortable than last.
I don't want to see any minutes for Piper this week. He's not good enough, not yet.
a.haak
City is full of kids for this game, but do not underestimate Ugarkovic, Behich, let alone Kuen.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
For me the key question is who is supposed to be calling the shots and directing the play for us in Rufer's absence. Theoretically either Retre or Al-Taay could take on that role if they have right attitude for it.
Interesting to see OVH back in the team, no David Ball.
I'd actually throw Conchie back in, which is a bit out of left field, but I don't think he did much wrong at the start of the season and looked a lot more comfortable than last.
I don't want to see any minutes for Piper this week. He's not good enough, not yet.
I was thinking this too! Without Rufer it’s a bit of a mystery though.
Well this is dreadful.
What is our plan exactly? Take goal kick, pass ball inside 6 yard box, kick ball away.
What is our plan exactly? Take goal kick, pass ball inside 6 yard box, kick ball away.
I'm not able to watch the game. I know the scoreline but how is it looking? Are we in it at least?
I'm not able to watch the game. I know the scoreline but how is it looking? Are we in it at least?