Saturday, 21 November 2015
nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-Off: 7:30 PM (AEDT)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
#PERvSYD
SFCU Prematch Thread – https://beta.sfcu.com.au/smf202/index.php?topic=22126.0
Written by Michael Safro – @safrossydney
The Sky Blues have undergone punishing training sessions to help them bounce back from their first A-League loss of the season last weekend and will board a Friday flight across the Nullarbor to face Perth Glory on Saturday afternoon local time.
Glory’s football belies their position on the table and the team from the West should have got something from their visit to now table-topping Brisbane Roar, if not for an Ante Covic howler. Unlike last season, the locals do not possess an individual matchwinner but have a tight backline and enough pace and trickery out wide to trouble the visiting fullbacks.
Andrew Hoole and Chris Naumoff return from Olyroo duty, with Hoole expected to feature once again. Alex Gerbach, meanwhile, should keep his place after an outstanding return last weekend but Seb Ryall, the man he replaced in the first 11, gains a reprieve as Sydney FC have given Jacques Faty a leave of absence to return to Paris.
Despite club denials, did the loss of his friend in the Parisian terror attacks play a part in the decision?
Does the defender need a mental break?
Is the spectre of the soon to be out of contract Alex Wilkinson looming large for the Sky Blues?
Or did Faty’s below-par display last weekend prompt Arnie to send the Frenchman home for some much-needed R & R?
In the absence of information, we have speculation.
Mark Viduka took time out after signing for Glasgow Celtic in the late ‘90s and went on become Scottish Player of the Year in the 1999-2000 season. Could the break be just what the Frenchman needs?
Meanwhile, the Ryall-Jurman pairing goes back to the 2012 Olyroos – among the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable campaign – and the two have, at times, formed a centreback partnership for Sydney FC since. Zac Anderson will come in to provide cover but Ryall should get the nod over the Queenslander in the starting lineup.
Brandon O’Neill, among the competition’s form midfielders, is likely to make a return against the club that last season, inexplicably, showed him the door. If that happens, which of Mikael Tavares, Milos Dimitrijevic or Milos Ninkovic is the most likely candidate for the pine? My money is on the Frenchman.
In Hoole, Ninkovic, Filip Holosko, Shane Smeltz, Alex Brosque and Matt Simon Sydney have enough firepower to create plenty of chances against Perth Glory.
Unlike last weekend, however, the Sky Blues will need to take them.
Squads:
Perth Glory squad: 1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Alex GRANT, 3.Marc WARREN, 5.Antony GOLEC, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA (c), 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Hagi GLIGOR, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 23.Michael THWAITE, 24.Jamal REINERS, 25.Jacob COLLARD, 29.Aryn WILLIAMS
***two to be omitted***
Ins: 14.Chris HAROLD (return from injury), 18.Mitch OXBORROW (return from injury), 19.Josh RISDON (return from international duty)
Outs: 20.Guyon FERNANDEZ (foot – 1 week)
Unavailable: 6.Dino DJULBIC (ankle – 6 weeks), 7.Gyorgy SANDOR (ankle – 1 week) 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
Sydney FC Squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 4.Zac ANDERSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 18.Matt SIMON, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI, 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES.
***two to be omitted***
Ins: 4.Zac ANDERSON (promoted), 7.Andrew HOOLE (return from international duty), 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (return from international duty)
Outs: 19.Jacques FATY (personal reasons)
Unavailable: 22.Ali ABBAS (Knee – indefinite)
SFCU Forum Thread – https://beta.sfcu.com.au/smf202/index.php?topic=22126.0