I don’t see there being many surprises, which is why this derby will be decided between the ears as much as the goalmouths, writes Mark Bosnich.
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Milos Ninkovic celebrates scoring for Sydney FC. |
The case the Wanderers
I’ve written two columns previewing the tactics for the derbies this season, and just like the coaches, it’s hard not to feel you know the personnel inside out by this stage of the season. I don’t see there being many surprises, which is why this derby will be decided between the ears as much as the goalmouths.
In Western Sydney’s case, it will be a reversion to type after Tony Popovic made a big mistake last week in dropping Brendon Santalab and deploying Mitch Nichols as a false 9. It was all the more odd as the week before they had produced arguably their best performance of the season in defeating Wellington.
I’ve written two columns previewing the tactics for the derbies this season, and just like the coaches, it’s hard not to feel you know the personnel inside out by this stage of the season. I don’t see there being many surprises, which is why this derby will be decided between the ears as much as the goalmouths.
In Western Sydney’s case, it will be a reversion to type after Tony Popovic made a big mistake last week in dropping Brendon Santalab and deploying Mitch Nichols as a false 9. It was all the more odd as the week before they had produced arguably their best performance of the season in defeating Wellington.
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Western Sydney Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab.Source:AAP |
The silver lining to their captain, Dimas, being suspended is that Santalab can return to the starting XI, flanked by Jumpei Kusukami and Nico Martinez. Nichols will drop back to No 10, and Terry Antonis into the base of midfield. It’s a proven structure, and this is no time for experimentation with the Champions League almost upon us.
I’d also like to defend goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, blamed in some quarters for Roy O’Donovan’s lovely second goal for the Mariners last weekend. Ultimately it was a marvellous finish, one of the most difficult for a striker in full flight to pull off. Vedran was starting to advance and O’Donovan found the tiniest window of vulnerability for any goalkeeper in that situation.
The case for Sydney FC
At times it feels like we’re discussing an automated machine rather than a football team, so consistent have they been. The funny thing is that their style is utterly transparent — two marauding fullbacks, two “6”s at the base of midfield, and Milos Ninkovic as the No 10 given the freedom to go wherever he feels appropriate.
It’s transparent, you know it, but like a steamroller it’s damn hard to do anything about it when you’re in its path. Ninkovic is the finest player of this season without question, with a brilliant work ethic and a joy to watch. In fact he must be equally a joy to play with, such is his ability to see a pass like nobody else.
Effectively Sydney have four wide players when the fullbacks collude with whichever of their front men drops wide. Adelaide came closest to stymieing this a few weeks back at Allianz, by forcing the fullbacks to go the other way and defend. Once Rhyan Grant and Michael Zullo double up on their opponents with their attacking colleagues, it becomes very hard to stop them.
Really, no one has looked like stopping them in the sense of actually defeating them, though Melbourne City came close. But it only takes one slip or one moment of genius — and this is a derby after all.
Originally published as Mark Bosnich previews the Sydney derby
I’d also like to defend goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, blamed in some quarters for Roy O’Donovan’s lovely second goal for the Mariners last weekend. Ultimately it was a marvellous finish, one of the most difficult for a striker in full flight to pull off. Vedran was starting to advance and O’Donovan found the tiniest window of vulnerability for any goalkeeper in that situation.
The case for Sydney FC
At times it feels like we’re discussing an automated machine rather than a football team, so consistent have they been. The funny thing is that their style is utterly transparent — two marauding fullbacks, two “6”s at the base of midfield, and Milos Ninkovic as the No 10 given the freedom to go wherever he feels appropriate.
It’s transparent, you know it, but like a steamroller it’s damn hard to do anything about it when you’re in its path. Ninkovic is the finest player of this season without question, with a brilliant work ethic and a joy to watch. In fact he must be equally a joy to play with, such is his ability to see a pass like nobody else.
Effectively Sydney have four wide players when the fullbacks collude with whichever of their front men drops wide. Adelaide came closest to stymieing this a few weeks back at Allianz, by forcing the fullbacks to go the other way and defend. Once Rhyan Grant and Michael Zullo double up on their opponents with their attacking colleagues, it becomes very hard to stop them.
Really, no one has looked like stopping them in the sense of actually defeating them, though Melbourne City came close. But it only takes one slip or one moment of genius — and this is a derby after all.
Originally published as Mark Bosnich previews the Sydney derby
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