Finals Derby

[Imperial Pints]

Having some banter with a mate about derbies....Got me thinking....have we ever lost a derby match where L.Thomas has played on the park as the scum's keeper?

We will definitely look to test him out with early shots & crosses, however, if we go overboard and the flog catches a few cleanly it'll boost his confidence.

Gotta remember Etihad is a lightning quick surface, not sure if Thomas has played there this season?

[Haydos]

Probably the easiest process I've ever had at getting a ticket tbh.managed to get the tix, enter the barcode and credit card numbers whilst teaching year 10 kids in the classroom

[Jimmy]

We're just 90 minutes away from a final. Come on boys!

[Nate]

Best thing about this derby is that we have absolutely nothing to lose, all of the pressure is on Victory. 
 

However, the fact that we're in the grand final if we win this is proof that the current finals system is fucked given the season we've had ahaha

[Imperial Pints]

Probably the easiest process I've ever had at getting a ticket tbh.managed to get the tix, enter the barcode and credit card numbers whilst teaching year 10 kids in the classroom

[MHTIDALIVE]

The police presence will be scary on friday

 Nah, most of the police will be present and actively watching for hooligans attending the collingwood v geelong game at mcg

[Murfy1]

Good point about Lawrence Thomas. Thomas has been victory's keeper twice in Melbourne Derbies, and Melbourne Heart/City have won both times.

 

 

The first win was a 2-1 win at Etihad, which is the only time the team has won at Etihad:

 

 

The second game, of course, was last season's majestic 4-0 win:

 

 

 

So Melbourne City has a 100% winning rate when Thomas is in goals for the Visitors.

[Pigs 2]

In the bay next to active, as good as I could get

[Tony999]

Unsuccessful in exchanging my tickets in the City end. So I will sit right next to the Victory active area. F* great! And the dude tells me there is nothing left in the City end apart from Active?! WTF??

Anyone willing to help out a couple City supporters sneak into the City bays?

Mate I had the same issue and they changed mine to aisle 27. Try calling again perhaps a different operator will be more helpful.

This puppet said it has to be put in writing and assessed by the promoters LOL! I said "the game will start before I get a response. Forget it I will just sneak into the City bays".

That's ridiculous! He said they can't change your seats unless the event is cancelled....In the end they charged me $9.50 for changing my 4 tickets. Try calling again!

Stuff it. Keeping my tickets and will just sneak into a City bay. CBF with Ticketmaster anymore.

[melbournelad55]

sooooooooooooooooo what do we reckon about team changes?? 

Jaliens for Retre?

[melbournelad55]

yeh and super stoked that that little midget boy lawrence thomas is in goal... long balls in to kennedy and the midget wont be able to come out and collect coz kennedy will monster him

[Murfy1]

.@gomvfc members have purchased over 14,000 tickets, @MelbourneCity members over 6,000 tickets! Friday’s #MelbDerby is going to be HUGE!

 

https://twitter.com/ALeague/status/595145960784670720

[Nate]

sooooooooooooooooo what do we reckon about team changes?? 

Jaliens for Retre?

nope, unchanged

[MHTIDALIVE]

In what can only be described as an epic and pulsating derby/semi-final, which has ebbed and flowed, had many twists and turns the clock has hit the 90th minute. The 4th official lifts up his board to reveal there will be an additional 5 minutes of added time. JVS quickly springs to his feet and calls over Mate Duganzdic. Looking perplexed Mate immediately strips down to his playing gear. Waiting at the halfway line JVS has quick word in Mate's ear. What could he have possibly said? A collective groan of despair is heard from the City fans, while a chorus of boos can be heard by the Victory fans. The substitution is made for Josh Kennedy. Now the mockery of laughter rings around the stadium. JVS is surely not serious. With only 2 minutes to go Mate quickly comes on and sprints to the forward line while Josh trudges off. Velaphi now kicks the ball forward, it lands at the feet of Mooy who weaves past a few Victory players and has a shot on target which is saved well by Thomas. Victory now try and scramble the ball out of defence, but only manage to give back to a City player who pokes it forward and in what can only be described as pinball the ball is flying about in the Victory defensive 6 yard box and it lands at the feet of Mate who was in an offside position because it last came off a City player but was not spotted by the linesman nor the referee he duly slots it away to give Melbourne City the lead. He celebrates by running to the Victory cheer squad and gives them the salute. With seconds remaining the Victory fans are incessed and they descend onto the pitch. It is mayhem and all the officials and players make a quick escape down the players race out of harms way. The Victory fans are of control, they just about destroy anything they can lay their hands on. The game is duly awarded to Melbourne City and the FFA come out with a statement the following morning announcing the win to Melbourne City and the immediate expulsion of Melbourne Victory out of the A-League, therefore finally once and for all leaving ONLY 1 TEAM IN MELBOURNE.

Edited May 4, 2015 by MHTIDALIVE

[Kinnibari]

20,000 tickets gone already is a pretty good effort.

[tomby]

In what can only be described as an epic and pulsating derby/semi-final, which has ebbed and flowed, had many twists and turns the clock has hit the 90th minute. The 4th official lifts up his board to reveal there will be an additional 5 minutes of added time. JVS quickly springs to his feet and calls over Mate Duganzdic. Looking perplexed Mate immediately strips down to his playing gear. Waiting at the halfway line JVS has quick word in Mate's ear. What could he have possibly said? A collective groan of despair is heard from the City fans, while a chorus of boos can be heard by the Victory fans. The substitution is made for Josh Kennedy. Now the mockery of laughter rings around the stadium. JVS is surely not serious. With only 2 minutes to go Mate quickly comes on and sprints to the forward line while Josh trudges off. Velaphi now kicks the ball forward, it lands at the feet of Mooy who weaves past a few Victory players and has a shot on target which is saved well by Thomas. Victory now try and scramble the ball out of defence, but only manage to give back to a City player who pokes it forward and in what can only be described as pinball the ball is flying about in the Victory defensive 6 yard box and it lands at the feet of Mate who was in an offside position because it last came off a City player but was not spotted by the linesman nor the referee he duly slots it away to give Melbourne City the lead. He celebrates by running to the Victory cheer squad and gives them the salute. With seconds remaining the Victory fans are incessed and they descend onto the pitch. It is mayhem and all the officials and players make a quick escape down the players race out of harms way. The Victory fans are of control, they just about destroy anything they can lay their hands on. The game is duly awarded to Melbourne City and the FFA come out with a statement the following morning announcing the win to Melbourne City and the immediate expulsion of Melbourne Victory out of the A-League, therefore finally once and for all leaving ONLY 1 TEAM IN MELBOURNE.

What did I just read?

[MHTIDALIVE]

 

In what can only be described as an epic and pulsating derby/semi-final, which has ebbed and flowed, had many twists and turns the clock has hit the 90th minute. The 4th official lifts up his board to reveal there will be an additional 5 minutes of added time. JVS quickly springs to his feet and calls over Mate Duganzdic. Looking perplexed Mate immediately strips down to his playing gear. Waiting at the halfway line JVS has quick word in Mate's ear. What could he have possibly said? A collective groan of despair is heard from the City fans, while a chorus of boos can be heard by the Victory fans. The substitution is made for Josh Kennedy. Now the mockery of laughter rings around the stadium. JVS is surely not serious. With only 2 minutes to go Mate quickly comes on and sprints to the forward line while Josh trudges off. Velaphi now kicks the ball forward, it lands at the feet of Mooy who weaves past a few Victory players and has a shot on target which is saved well by Thomas. Victory now try and scramble the ball out of defence, but only manage to give back to a City player who pokes it forward and in what can only be described as pinball the ball is flying about in the Victory defensive 6 yard box and it lands at the feet of Mate who was in an offside position because it last came off a City player but was not spotted by the linesman nor the referee he duly slots it away to give Melbourne City the lead. He celebrates by running to the Victory cheer squad and gives them the salute. With seconds remaining the Victory fans are incessed and they descend onto the pitch. It is mayhem and all the officials and players make a quick escape down the players race out of harms way. The Victory fans are of control, they just about destroy anything they can lay their hands on. The game is duly awarded to Melbourne City and the FFA come out with a statement the following morning announcing the win to Melbourne City and the immediate expulsion of Melbourne Victory out of the A-League, therefore finally once and for all leaving ONLY 1 TEAM IN MELBOURNE.

What did I just read?

 

Fiction. Genre : Fantasy

[Tommykins]

Any word on the pub yet?

[Shahanga]

The police presence will be scary on friday

That explains the 20k pre-sales. All police & security

[Tony999]

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

[Murfy1]

Jaliens a star of Melbourne City's 'improbables'

 

By Iain Strachan

 

04/05/2015

 

 

A far cry from Arsenal's 2003-04 'Invincibles', John van 't Schip's collection of misfits, rejects and spare parts could yet surprise us all

 

At a packed Etihad Stadium on Friday night, two teams will line up for kick-off knowing the A-League Grand Final is close enough to touch.

 

The respective circumstances surrounding their march to near-glory could not be more different.

 

Melbourne Victory always intended to be there. They planned, prepared, recruited and trained to do so. Was it ever in doubt? 

 

It will be their third successive semi-final and they go into the game with the Premiers' Plate safely locked in the trophy cabinet, back where it belongs, or so they'd claim.

 

It's been a very different road for Melbourne City. Of this weekend's possible starting XI, very few would have expected to find themselves contesting an A-League semi-final in a white and sky blue shirt.

 

When pre-season began, Tando Velaphi was the understudy to first-choice goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne. On Friday he will start. 

 

Jack Clisby, in doubt for this game with an ankle injury, was getting ready for a doomed assault on the title with Perth Glory before jumping ship mid-term. 

 

Connor Chapman was fighting glandular fever and months away from a return to action but is now first-choice at centre-back, while Robi Koren spent the first half of his first season in Australia getting to know the club physio. 

 

In October City had David Villa and Damien Duff to call upon. The former has long since departed, the latter will be cheering from the sidelines, on crutches.

 

Eight months ago Josh Kennedy was struggling was his own injury woes and preparing to say goodbye to Nagoya Grampus. Dreams of glory were very far away indeed.

 

His fellow forward Harry Novillo began the season on the other side of the world in France's Ligue 2 and, after walking out on Clermont, looked set to end it in limbo before John van 't Schip came calling.

 

Paulo Retre, a fringe player who started and finished the elimination final against Wellington Phoenix, and Jonatan Germano, written off due to his injury woes but a revelation in midfield and defence in recent weeks, are two more members of City's 'improbables'. 

 

But surely the most unlikely transformation in fortunes has been experienced by Kew Jaliens. In August the former Netherlands international was named Newcastle Jets captain for the 2014-15 season. In November, playing at right-back, he was torn apart in a shambolic display at home to a rampant Brisbane Roar, a performance so bad it appeared almost fatal. By January he was out of the door at Hunter Stadium, part of a group of rebels culled by head coach Phil Stubbins following a player revolt.

 

That could well have been the end of his A-League career, instead he was handed a lifeline by Van 't Schip and has rewarded his countryman handsomely, producing some of his best performances in Australia to date during City's run to the last four.

 

Of all the unlikely heroes carrying the hopes of City supporters this weekend, the 36-year-old, a man who has pulled on that famous orange shirt and faced the might of Argentina in the cauldron of a FIFA World Cup, is perhaps best-placed to explain the vagaries of the beautiful game.

 

"In Holland you say, 'soccer can change in one day.' From bad to worse or the other way around. For me, from being in Newcastle and in an awkward situation to being in Melbourne and now being part of this, that's just awesome.

 

"This is the reason why I came to Australia. When I first joined the Jets the focus was to make it to the playoffs. We didn't make it in these two years, so for me, being here in Melbourne, making it to the playoffs and playing a semi-final – that's the reason why you play."

 

The veteran defender also delivered a message that will surely strike a worrying chord with Victory supporters, who have grown accustomed to watching their team struggle to assert their dominance in derby matches.

 

"For them, ending on top, that brings expectations and pressure," he said.

 

"We will go in as the underdog and be free to play."

 

That freedom could yet equip City to produce the biggest upset in A-League history. The stage is set. 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2015/05/04/11393082/jaliens-a-star-of-melbourne-citys-improbables

Edited May 4, 2015 by Murfy1

[Murfy1]

Patrick Kisnorbo rallies City troops to steal a Victory march

 

May 4, 2015

 

Michael Lynch

 

 

Melbourne City skipper Patrick Kisnorbo put in an enormous shift in Wellington on Sunday, putting his body on the line and making numerous blocks and last-ditch tackles, ultimately guiding his side to a surprise 2-0 win and a place in the A-League semi-finals.

 

The hard-as-nails Kisnorbo rarely gets the plaudits for skills, but no one can ever doubt his commitment to the cause nor his willingness to take one for the team.

 

And he knows that the whole team will have to take that mentality into the match against Melbourne Victory on Friday night if they are to have any chance against the Premiers Plate winners and keep their fairytale run going.

 

"We have got 90 minutes and we will see where that takes us. If we can build on tonight's performance and work hard and concentrate it's hopefully going to be a good performance on Friday night," he said.

 

"We did a lot of work on the training pitch prior to the game, we knew we had to put in a lot of work because we had two bad results.

 

"The win is great, but is nothing to start celebrating. It's a good performance, but there's another game ahead on Friday."

 

Nonetheless Kisnorbo is justifiably proud of City's achievement to come from fifth spot to be one game away from a grand final berth. He wasn't part of the then Melbourne Heart side that qualified for the finals only to be dumped out by Perth Glory in their only attempt.

 

"It's the club's first win in finals history, the  first time in the semi-finals. It's great for football, it will be a big game but we want to concentrate on ourselves and work hard on the training pitch this week.

 

"We weren't favourites against Wellington so we had nothing to lose. We will treat [the Victory match] like any other game. Victory have been very good this year, but it's finals football and anything can happen."

 

City lost two of its three derbies during the regular season, but Kisnorbo says those games don't matter now. He acknowledges that Victory has more supporters, and he called on City fans to rally.  

 

"It's an away game for us, but the more support for us the better. Victory have a bigger supporter base, but as long as we have the core of our fans it will be appreciated."

 

City coach John Van 't Schip had earlier paid tribute to Kisnorbo's huge contribution to the win over Wellington.

 

"He's been an example for the team all year," he said after the game. "We all know his qualities, he likes to battle, he doesn't miss one session in training, he is a real example and a good captain for the group."

 

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city/patrick-kisnorbo-rallies-city-troops-to-steal-a-victory-march-20150504-1mz8a6.html

Edited May 4, 2015 by Murfy1

[Murfy1]

A-League boss delighted with derby final

 

By Ben McKay

 

Mon May 4 2015

 

 

Wellington Phoenix are devastated but Football Federation Australia is delighted with Melbourne City's unlikely progression to the A-League semi-finals.

 

City's 2-0 win in New Zealand guarantees their best ever finish and a Melbourne derby for the semi-final, a result A-League chief Damien de Bohun believes is tremendous for soccer.

 

With a crowd of over 45,000 expected to attend Friday's semi-final at Etihad Stadium - likely 20,000 more than if it was a Victory-Phoenix fixture - there would understandably be some high fives happening at FFA offices.

 

Not simply for the financial windfall, but for the improvement in City's stature.

 

Until last January's sale to Manchester City, Melbourne Heart was a problem club for the league.

 

Reborn as Melbourne City, Friday night's match now brings a defining moment in one of the league's biggest rivalries.

 

"It's massive for the game," de Bohun said.

 

"It's great to see how much Melbourne City have come on this year and Melbourne Victory really are the strongest team in the competition in many ways."

 

"To have them playing off is huge and tickets are flying out the door on the back of that."

 

De Bohun also confirmed that AAMI Park would stage a Victorian-hosted grand final, ensuring that if the decider is in Melbourne that less than 30,000 fans could attend the game.

 

The league boss said he'd fought to secure the 53,000 seat-capacity Etihad Stadium for the grand final but the ground was ultimately unavailable because the AFL had already scheduled the Western Bulldogs-Fremantle clash there that day.

 

"We want to make sure as many people can come to see these games in the flesh because it's a fabulous spectacle and the atmosphere is tremendous," he said.

 

"Commercial is one issue but really it's about the fans.

 

"Unfortunately there's no other stadium in Melbourne available that weekend and having worked through all the issues, (AAMI Park is) where it will be."

 

As grand final hosting rights are given to the highest-placing team during the regular season, should Melbourne City qualify they will head to either Sydney or Adelaide.

 

Ticket allocation looms as an issue ahead of the match, Victory seemingly hard done by in only being able to access one ticket per each of the club's 20,000 members.

 

Melbourne City members, who number far fewer, can access four tickets each.

 

The allocation discrepancy has yet to be fully explained by the A-League.

 

`Active' Victory fans - those who come together as a supporter group but are not necessarily members - have also received a smaller than expected ticket allocation.

 

It has lead to suggestions of a protest of sorts at the match, with Victory fans grouping together on the top tier of Etihad Stadium rather than singing from one end of the ground as they would normally.

 

Despite the ticketing issues, de Bohun said he hoped for a sell-out crowd.

 

"The way the membership packages are structured, we want to make sure the most loyal Melbourne Victory members, and they've got the biggest membership base, can access the premium tickets first," he said.

 

"The good news is, the broader tickets go on sale to everyone (on Tuesday) and no one will miss out."

 

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8983776

[charlibub]

LETS DO THIS CITY.......90 minutes away from a Grand Final..,,who would have thought that 6 weeks ago....?

[melbournelad55]

do we reckon germano can stop barbarouses who always kills us.. I have faith in him

[Tony999]

LETS DO THIS CITY.......90 minutes away from a Grand Final..,,who would have thought that 6 weeks ago....?

I never doubted it hence why l repeated "We're ganna win the league" many months ago.

[NuggetsMcGreggor]

LETS DO THIS CITY.......90 minutes away from a Grand Final..,,who would have thought that 6 weeks ago....?

I never doubted it hence why l repeated "We're ganna win the league" many months ago. Surely winning a finals series is not the same as winning the league.

[Tony999]

LETS DO THIS CITY.......90 minutes away from a Grand Final..,,who would have thought that 6 weeks ago....?

I never doubted it hence why l repeated "We're ganna win the league" many months ago.Surely winning a finals series is not the same as winning the league.

How would you word it? We're ganna win the finals series?

[RFC56]

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

Bringing the seats in reduces capacity, as there's bays in the corners that can't be sold. Anyway, with AFL games on at the weekend, it could wreck the surface.

[Tony999]

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

Bringing the seats in reduces capacity, as there's bays in the corners that can't be sold. Anyway, with AFL games on at the weekend, it could wreck the surface.

Didn't look into it to be honest. Wouldn't it have been better if they didn't bring the seats in so a crowd of 55k could've been achieved?

[ChopperHeart]

We are $4.40 for the win, and $3.30 'to go through' (extra time, penalties incl)

Chuck $100 on City to go through, and the winnings pay for your GF flights next weekend....

[Tony999]

Got $100 on us for a 3-0 win. Next!

[Nate]

 

 

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

Bringing the seats in reduces capacity, as there's bays in the corners that can't be sold. Anyway, with AFL games on at the weekend, it could wreck the surface.

Didn't look into it to be honest. Wouldn't it have been better if they didn't bring the seats in so a crowd of 55k could've been achieved?

 

they aren't bringing them in, therefore 50k+ can be achieved

[haz]

Are they going to leave the AFL posts up so Willo can actually get some points if it goes to a penalty shoot out?

[Jovan]

Are they going to leave the AFL posts up so Willo can actually get some points if it goes to a penalty shoot out?

Out on the full for sure.

[RFC56]

Will be interesting to see how much media coverage we get this week. Especially going up against game at MCG.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Tony999]

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

Bringing the seats in reduces capacity, as there's bays in the corners that can't be sold. Anyway, with AFL games on at the weekend, it could wreck the surface. Didn't look into it to be honest. Wouldn't it have been better if they didn't bring the seats in so a crowd of 55k could've been achieved?

they aren't bringing them in, therefore 50k+ can be achieved

Then why did it say expected to be a sell out of 46k?

[troyboy]

I can't wait until Friday and I hope we win. I also hope that if it doesn't go our way that we don't desert our guys. Last time we played there, this is what it looked like at the 80 minute mark:

Sure, we were 3 goals down but so what. Support shouldn't be conditional. If you don't want to stay for the full 90, don't take the place of someone that does.

Edited May 4, 2015 by troyboy

[RFC56]

So the seats won't be brought in to maximise capacity?

Bringing the seats in reduces capacity, as there's bays in the corners that can't be sold. Anyway, with AFL games on at the weekend, it could wreck the surface.Didn't look into it to be honest. Wouldn't it have been better if they didn't bring the seats in so a crowd of 55k could've been achieved?

they aren't bringing them in, therefore 50k+ can be achieved Then why did it say expected to be a sell out of 46k?

No idea, its max capacity is around 55k, which Victards v Adelaide got a few years ago. Sometimes I think they deliberately play games with attendances to increase ticket demand. Sometimes they count Medallion Club members as an attendance even when they haven't shown up. Perhaps they've only stated ticket number available for sale?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[sharpy]

Section 42, even though I selected Adult City Membership, ticketmaster are fucktards, but ah well, in there with 3 mates!