WPM R5 v Sydney FC | Sun 19th Dec | 8:45pm | SS7

No Hooper.

I feel like if we don’t beat them now we will never beat this mob 

Feeling a 10-0 win, Sotirio triple hat trick coming off his FFA cup form and Rufer to bang one in top bins from halfway with his eyes closed.

Is this almost a must win? 

I know it's early, but Sydney have been crap. And if there's ever a time to beat these guys, it's now - give them a real kicking while they're down.

Almost tempted to say we go with the same starting XI from the Avondale clash, but I'll have a think about it and see how we can rejig.

Friar Tuck

Feeling a 10-0 win, Sotirio triple hat trick coming off his FFA cup form and Rufer to bang one in top bins from halfway with his eyes closed.

Are you Royz? Why are you so pessimistic?

YoungHeart

Is this almost a must win? 

I know it's early, but Sydney have been crap. And if there's ever a time to beat these guys, it's now - give them a real kicking while they're down.

Almost tempted to say we go with the same starting XI from the Avondale clash, but I'll have a think about it and see how we can rejig.

I’d say so, we need to stop the rot .

Personally I think this’ll be a draw. Which is annoying given how sharke they’ve been.

Assuming everyone is fit I'd go with the same team from Tuesday - except maybe Elliott in for Fenton. Was pretty impressed with how we played in the first half so hopefully we can bring some of that energy on Sunday against Kosta & Co.

Really can't afford to lose this game so I'd take a draw tbh. 

Yeahcoulddo

Assuming everyone is fit I'd go with the same team from Tuesday - except maybe Elliott in for Fenton. Was pretty impressed with how we played in the first half so hopefully we can bring some of that energy on Sunday against Kosta & Co.

Really can't afford to lose this game so I'd take a draw tbh. 

Kosta out for about 6 weeks.

Sail
Fenton Payne Laws McGarry
Pennington Lewis
Piscopo Ball
Sotirio Waine

I'd like to see this lineup. Fullbacks are pretty interchangeable tho.

Referee: Ben Abraham
Assistants: Matthew McOrist & Brad Wright
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones 

SYD: P4 W1 D1 L2 
WEL: P3 W1 D1 L1

Griffiths owes us plenty as the var official!

harrymc55

Friar Tuck

Feeling a 10-0 win, Sotirio triple hat trick coming off his FFA cup form and Rufer to bang one in top bins from halfway with his eyes closed.

Are you Royz? Why are you so pessimistic?

Why’s Rufer got his eyes closed? It’s clear he was trying to hit a 5 metre square ball and accidentally hit top bins. 

I feel we will play them into form on this occassion. I am not Royz!

it is what we do, although Im hoping Tuesdays showing will give the lads just enough to come out fighting.

We gonna do Uffie proud. Sotirio to run riot.

RR

Referee: Ben Abraham
Assistants: Matthew McOrist & Brad Wright
Fourth Official: Kurt Ams
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones 

SYD: P4 W1 D1 L2 
WEL: P3 W1 D1 L1

 Griffiths-Jones being the man in the VAR booth both times we have received apologies for incorrect calls (The Rufer Red last year, and the shambles against WSW a couple of weeks ago) 

Both times it was Lucas on the whistle and Jones in the VAR booth.

Ranix

Both times it was Lucas on the whistle and Jones in the VAR booth.

Lucas is a consistently underperforming ref in my opinion. Ironically it was him the pro ref's association went on strike for in protest at him being dropped from the A League panel. 

One of those on strike was Alireza Farghani, for me the best of the refs, who has unfortunately seemingly disappeared from this year's a League.

my hot take for this week, and going forward really, is to build the team around Old. I think he offers more as a playmaker than Reno and that will allow Reno more space to do his 'cut in from wide then shoot high' thing. Joke aside, I think the move would help Reno. 

kwlap

my hot take for this week, and going forward really, is to build the team around Old. I think he offers more as a playmaker than Reno and that will allow Reno more space to do his 'cut in from wide then shoot high' thing. Joke aside, I think the move would help Reno. 

I agree Old has been better this season but we'd have to push Reno to the bench for him to start as I think Ball best position is behind the strikers

Outpost

Ranix

Both times it was Lucas on the whistle and Jones in the VAR booth.

Lucas is a consistently underperforming ref in my opinion. Ironically it was him the pro ref's association went on strike for in protest at him being dropped from the A League panel. 

One of those on strike was Alireza Farghani, for me the best of the refs, who has unfortunately seemingly disappeared from this year's a League.

Faghani is Brisbane based afaik, so the borders will be limiting his availability 

wilbaker

kwlap

my hot take for this week, and going forward really, is to build the team around Old. I think he offers more as a playmaker than Reno and that will allow Reno more space to do his 'cut in from wide then shoot high' thing. Joke aside, I think the move would help Reno. 

I agree Old has been better this season but we'd have to push Reno to the bench for him to start as I think Ball best position is behind the strikers

I'd still keep Reno in the starting 11. Either setup so Ball and Reno are the wingers with old central. Or have Waine up top, with Ball as second striker.  Reno on the left wing outside of Ball - so Ball can help Reno in defence. while Old drifting on the right/where he wants. 

Sotirio's goal scoring form is the best it's ever been ATM, hope he can score a cracker or two like he did mid week.

Not expecting much from this game, haven't beat SFC for years. I've got a feeling Waine will score from out of nowhere.

Interesting that on Archie Thompson's/Zappa's podcast interview of Talay this week, Uffie blamed himself alot for the poor performance against the Jets. 

Saying he erred by leaving alot of the first team players in NSW, when they travelled to Melbourne to play Western United in the FFA Cup. Made it a very disjointed training week, having only 1 session with many of the first team. A 'learning' for him and the club. That podcast a bloody good listen by the way.

I think Uffie's post Newcastle game comment that will be no repeat of that poor performance this season, a reflection that they screwed up the training that week.

Definitely expect an improved effort against SFC, though Hooper will be missed hugely.

wilbaker

Sail
Fenton Payne Laws McGarry
Pennington Lewis
Piscopo Ball
Sotirio Waine

I'd like to see this lineup. Fullbacks are pretty interchangeable tho.

I would like to see more of Sutton as an alternative to McGarry.

Mainland FC

wilbaker

Sail
Fenton Payne Laws McGarry
Pennington Lewis
Piscopo Ball
Sotirio Waine

I'd like to see this lineup. Fullbacks are pretty interchangeable tho.

I would like to see more of Sutton as an alternative to McGarry.

We have never lost when Sutton has started! P11 W5 D6 L0 (plus P1 W1 D0 L0 in FFA Cup games)

Mainland FC

wilbaker

Sail
Fenton Payne Laws McGarry
Pennington Lewis
Piscopo Ball
Sotirio Waine

I'd like to see this lineup. Fullbacks are pretty interchangeable tho.

I would like to see more of Sutton as an alternative to McGarry.

You might get your wish as McGarry is under and injury cloud so Sutton may well be starting tonight 

Finish work for the year in a couple of hours. Looking forward to kicking back with a few beers and a better showing from the boys than last time out in Newcastle.

COYN, fire up! 🔥🦅

Fire Up 🔥!

Sydney out of form and us off the back of an impressive performance in FFA cup. Surely a W for us!

Jets Bulls game is available in NZ on the Keep Up YouTube channel. Nix could/ should be available too

Will be interesting to see how the midfield goes this time . 

I like this team, and don't think we lose too much with Waine for Hooper.

Only change I'd prefer would be Pennington for Rufer or Lewis. Lewis hasn't improved on last year, which you'd hope at his age... and Rufer is just average, but hard to drop him when he's been named as the captain a month ago. I guess Pennington can come on for whoever of the two is having the worst game at 60 mins or so.

We are gonna play Sydney back into form. It's pretty hard to get excited for the nix when you realise we have the weakest squad in the league. 

Any leads on a stream?

Really not interested in the handball or block off even for an instant was he?

Gordinho

Any leads on a stream?

 YouTube. Keepup is the channel, you might need a VPN.