I am so stoked Chico is starting, didn't think the we had the balls to start him based on the Chief and player interviews saying he's only fit enough for a cameo. Ideally he plays 70-80 mins and Rojas comes on for him so we always have a 10 on the pitch.
Sadly seems like 5 at the back with Piper and Conchie in the middle who should play more defensive (at least they are physical players). Having Chico though means we have somebody who can set up Barb and Ishige for counter attacks if we can get the ball to him so it's hopefully not going to be fully negative football.
Probably will park the bus and counter attack until at least half-time and then ideally put on Rufer (probably Nagasawa too) and go 4-3-3 to try and get a result late. Would prefer to start the game swinging to catch them off guard, but playing counter attack first half to likely tire/frustrate them and then snatch a win later in the game with subs is probably the smarter way of getting a result compared to trying to go toe-to-toe with them at this stage.
My brain is saying 1-1/2-2 draw if we don't get thrashed, but because Chico is starting and because I watch football for the magic not the logic I predicted a 2-0 victory with Barb counter attack goal just before half-time and Rojas/Chico goal at around 70-85 mins after Auckland overcommit going forward and/or their defence get exposed. It will be a good game with everybody up for it, but a defensive slog where Auckland can't take their chances early and loose their heads after the counter attack goal before they can get into their stride and we hold on to spoil the party for them.
Sadly seems like 5 at the back with Piper and Conchie in the middle who should play more defensive (at least they are physical players). Having Chico though means we have somebody who can set up Barb and Ishige for counter attacks if we can get the ball to him so it's hopefully not going to be fully negative football.
Probably will park the bus and counter attack until at least half-time and then ideally put on Rufer (probably Nagasawa too) and go 4-3-3 to try and get a result late. Would prefer to start the game swinging to catch them off guard, but playing counter attack first half to likely tire/frustrate them and then snatch a win later in the game with subs is probably the smarter way of getting a result compared to trying to go toe-to-toe with them at this stage.
My brain is saying 1-1/2-2 draw if we don't get thrashed, but because Chico is starting and because I watch football for the magic not the logic I predicted a 2-0 victory with Barb counter attack goal just before half-time and Rojas/Chico goal at around 70-85 mins after Auckland overcommit going forward and/or their defence get exposed. It will be a good game with everybody up for it, but a defensive slog where Auckland can't take their chances early and loose their heads after the counter attack goal before they can get into their stride and we hold on to spoil the party for them.