WPM R15 vs Sydney | Sat 19th February | 7:05pm | SS7

Can Uffie finally get a win vs Sydney?

Two NRL trial games on Leichhardt Oval on Friday, so the surface may not be ideal.

No way is he putting out the same team again as much i'd like him to

wilbaker

No way is he putting out the same team again as much i'd like him to

I reckon he will want to, unless Hooper is ready to start. I think Uffie's hell bent on trying to continue this unbeaten roll, with this core 11-12 man group as starters. The bench players/young kids as yet don't offer the same level.

Weather conditions could play a part. But 4 of their last 5 games will have been played near their training base in Sth Western Sydney. The 5th a short trip to The Gong (1-0 win over VUC). They know their game plan down pat now, (Wootton/Sandoval have been there a few months now), so will be light training days between games. They have had a long stretch without having to check in & out of hotel rooms.

Talay knows that it could be a real struggle 2nd half of March with likely 4-5 starters away with AWs. He's chasing as many wins as possible before then. And there is an 8 day break after SFC, before WSW next (27th Feb).

coochiee

wilbaker

No way is he putting out the same team again as much i'd like him to

I reckon he will want to, unless Hooper is ready to start. I think Uffie's hell bent on trying to continue this unbeaten roll, with this core 11-12 man group as starters. The bench players/young kids as yet don't offer the same level.

Weather conditions could play a part. But 4 of their last 5 games will have been played near their training base in Sth Western Sydney. The 5th a short trip to The Gong (1-0 win over VUC). The know their game plan down pat now, (Wootton/Sandoval have been there a few months now), so will be light training days between games. They have had a long stretch without having to check in & out of hotel rooms.

Talay knows that it could be a real struggle 2nd half of March with likely 4-5 starters away with AWs. He's chasing as many wins as possible before then. And there is an 8 day break after SFC, before WSW next (27th Feb).

5 games in 13 days would be impressive to have pretty much the same starting 11 and do well. The English boys i'm sure would be used to a heavier schedule but I'd hate to risk getting injuries. 

wilbaker

coochiee

wilbaker

No way is he putting out the same team again as much i'd like him to

I reckon he will want to, unless Hooper is ready to start. I think Uffie's hell bent on trying to continue this unbeaten roll, with this core 11-12 man group as starters. The bench players/young kids as yet don't offer the same level.

Weather conditions could play a part. But 4 of their last 5 games will have been played near their training base in Sth Western Sydney. The 5th a short trip to The Gong (1-0 win over VUC). The know their game plan down pat now, (Wootton/Sandoval have been there a few months now), so will be light training days between games. They have had a long stretch without having to check in & out of hotel rooms.

Talay knows that it could be a real struggle 2nd half of March with likely 4-5 starters away with AWs. He's chasing as many wins as possible before then. And there is an 8 day break after SFC, before WSW next (27th Feb).

5 games in 13 days would be impressive to have pretty much the same starting 11 and do well. The English boys i'm sure would be used to a heavier schedule but I'd hate to risk getting injuries. 

Yes, injuries are a real likelihood from playing so many games in such a short period. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300521545/kosta-barbarouses-to-face-wellington-phoenix-after-coming-back-from-broken-ankle

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/127802600/wellington-phoenix-captain-alex-rufer-to-bring-up-aleague-men-ton

“My job is to get the best out of people and how I do that is always in different ways because every individual is a little bit different,” Talay said.

“But he’s stepped up his game, he’s working very hard and I think he’s got a great partnership with Clay [Clayton Lewis] at the moment.

“They win a lot of balls when we don’t have it and they’re a very integral part of the build up when we do have it.

“I think they’ll be very close for the All Whites with the way they are playing.”

Going to be a really interesting game this one. 
I'm not expecting a high paced high intensity game from us after our workload over last 14 days. Wouldn't surprise to see a slow tempo chess match similar to the Roar game.
Really hope we can avoid any fatigue injuries, and would be happy to see some of the younger boys get a bit more game time. I'd be happy enough with a draw and a chance to re-group and have a decent break before our next game.

Fire up 🔥 !

Thinking we'll go with another unchanged lineup today. Possibly only have Hoops coming in for Sotirio but that would come down to how the former has recovered from his injury niggle. Would also be harsh on Sotirio who has really upped his game over this run we've been on, chipping in with goals and assists and just general good hold up play as well as getting in behind the defensive line with his pace.

Sydney have been a pretty average so far this season - definitely not the dominant force they've been over the past few years. In saying that we've got a woeful record against them recently too. Happy to get through this one with a draw. But after watching the Blackcaps mush South Africa into the ground I'd like to think the Nix could whip the Bling to round off a great sporting weekend so far. 

COYN! 🟡⚫🦅 FIRE UP! 🔥🔥

We’ll smash these, they’re sh!te

nufc_nz

We’ll smash these, they’re sh!te

That's the attitude I want to see around the place!

YoungHeart

Thinking we'll go with another unchanged lineup today. Possibly only have Hoops coming in for Sotirio but that would come down to how the former has recovered from his injury niggle. Would also be harsh on Sotirio who has really upped his game over this run we've been on, chipping in with goals and assists and just general good hold up play as well as getting in behind the defensive line with his pace.

Sydney have been a pretty average so far this season - definitely not the dominant force they've been over the past few years. In saying that we've got a woeful record against them recently too. Happy to get through this one with a draw. But after watching the Blackcaps mush South Africa into the ground I'd like to think the Nix could whip the Bling to round off a great sporting weekend so far. 

COYN! 🟡⚫🦅 FIRE UP! 🔥🔥

I'd rather see Hooper come in for Ball tbh. Sotirio's pace is a really good asset to have. Tho would be harsh on Ball too.

Unchanged lineup. Lets go boys!

If it ain't broke don't fix it.
COYN! 🟡⚫

SFC are a protective species, we will be 3 man down thanks to the VAR and Ref and crowd being on SFC side. If we win this then we can def go on and win the league.

wilbaker

YoungHeart

Thinking we'll go with another unchanged lineup today. Possibly only have Hoops coming in for Sotirio but that would come down to how the former has recovered from his injury niggle. Would also be harsh on Sotirio who has really upped his game over this run we've been on, chipping in with goals and assists and just general good hold up play as well as getting in behind the defensive line with his pace.

Sydney have been a pretty average so far this season - definitely not the dominant force they've been over the past few years. In saying that we've got a woeful record against them recently too. Happy to get through this one with a draw. But after watching the Blackcaps mush South Africa into the ground I'd like to think the Nix could whip the Bling to round off a great sporting weekend so far. 

COYN! 🟡⚫🦅 FIRE UP! 🔥🔥

I'd rather see Hooper come in for Ball tbh. Sotirio's pace is a really good asset to have. Tho would be harsh on Ball too.

Early in the game Ball would keep up with Sotirio running forward (not at Sotirio's top speed mind you) so Hooper may not match up very well with Sotirio early on.  But I have seen Hooper run freely before and he can get do that later in the game when the play slows somewhat.

If anyone had a good stream I'm looking. Cheers.

Little bit off to start with. Sydney pressing quite well and getting involved in the tackle. Still early on and we'll get ourselves in the game soon. Sydney a wee bit quicker out of the blocks then us to start though.

Is anyone on SkyGo seeing it? SS7 is saying Schedule Unavailable at this time. WTF

Fink

Is anyone on SkyGo seeing it? SS7 is saying Schedule Unavailable at this time. WTF

I'm watching on the app as my child has commandeered the television, but have had no issues so far...

Sydney are doing a lot of close pressing and clearly are no Brisbane Roar.

Sotirio just wide - good break by Sandoval and Sotirio

That's a good quick counter by us. Shot across the bow of the Bling early on.

Would like to have seen Sotirio drive into the box a bit more before having a crack. Good signs on the break though.

YoungHeart

Fink

Is anyone on SkyGo seeing it? SS7 is saying Schedule Unavailable at this time. WTF

I'm watching on the app as my child has commandeered the television, but have had no issues so far...

SS7 has it on.

After fifteen minutes I can see two teams playing very similar football just Sydney being more physical and aggressive in swarming our ball players.

Thanks for that. Tried my son's phone and got it working. Still broken on my newer phone despite reset. 

We're looking quite good on the break when their attacking play breaks down. Quick and dangerous through the middle and then spreading to Ball on the left and Sotirio on the right. Encouraging signs.

Great save.

Sail comes up big 1v1 with Amini. That was a huge chance for them.

Form keeper of the league for mine. 100%

Great save by Sail off Amini at a close range

Man, so many half chances for us.

Positive play from Rufer and David Ball, shot over the bar in the end.

Sydney stepped up a gear, Burgess hits the post with Sail beaten

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Kamsoba, he's just a smaller Appiah-Kubi.

We would be better off slowing the pace down a bit, as we'll run out of puff early.

Referee quite good so far -  despite being fairly new / young

Mainland FC

We would be better off slowing the pace down a bit, as we'll run out of puff early.

Yes, we have looked dangerous several times but we also look quite leg heavy. Their pressing is making it more difficult to pass it around the backline.

Sydney lucky with a deflection for a corner

Sutton having a blinder tonight, saved us on the line there.