Jump to content
Melbourne Football

Friday 18th March vs Brisbane Roar 7.40 pm AAMI Park

kingofhearts

By kingofhearts,
in Melbourne City

 Share

Recommended Posts

Murfy1

Murfy1

Posted
Posted

City set sights on top of A-League table

 

Adrian Warren

March 13, 2016

 

Melbourne City are emerging as frontline A-League title contenders entering a mini-finals end to the regular season, while bling clubs Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have lost their shine.

With four rounds to go, only three points separate the top four, but Central Coast Mariners are already certain of finishing last after a 4-0 drubbing at Perth.

City followed up last week's 3-0 home win over Sydney FC by ending Adelaide's 14-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 away victory over the South Australian club.

Nick Fitzgerald's spectacular winner and first goal for City cemented their top-four spot and knocked Adelaide off the top of the ladder.

Brisbane jumped above Adelaide with a 5-0 home thrashing of defending champions Victory in the weekend's other marquee match-up.

Jamie Maclaren bagged a hat-trick for Brisbane after being overlooked for Socceroos selection earlier in the week.

The results set up another fascinating round next week with the top four teams clashing in two mouth-watering clashes.

City host Roar on Friday night and Western Sydney Wanderers entertain Adelaide the following night.

"At the moment it's like a mini finals series for everyone because everyone is trying to qualify for the finals and jostle for positions up the ladder so every game is a big game now," City central defender Alex Wilkinson told AAP on Sunday.

"This one on Friday is obviously going to be a good one for us.

"Our home form lately has been pretty good and if we can manage to beat them, we'll go pretty close to being on top."

 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/31085782/city-set-sights-on-top-of-a-league-table/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 240
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

silva10
silva10

Don't' worry about the crowd numbers Tony. Just enjoy yourself your there enjoying watching a team you have supported from the start play great entertaining football. I am a little envious of you fans

thisphantomfortress
thisphantomfortress

Worth the horrific sunburn I got painting this 

rass
rass

+ Malik

Posted Images

  • Popular Post
Nate

Nate

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

I couldn't give a shit about the Aloisi sideshow, this game is absolutely massive and 100% of the energy from our supporters needs to be directed positively towards our players rather than being wasted negatively on a shitty ex-coach whose exploits are now well and truly in the past. 

Looking forward to an entertaining game and an electric atmosphere in a must-win match, go City.

  • Like 13
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SF33

SF33

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, Dylan said:

ahh crap. Another 'win this game and we will be top for the first time ever'

Can't remember playing one at home though. It's important that, as supporters, we do our bit.

And of course, it's better to be playing these games than to not be playing them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
hakz7

hakz7

Posted
Posted

Brisbane have conceded 15 goals in their last 4 away games (losing 3 of those) including 4 goals at AAMI Park against Victory.

Their defensive record is only marginally better than ours but certainly not in recent weeks, particularly away from home. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to put them on the back foot early on.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dylan

Dylan

Posted
Posted
Quote

Wilkinson has been drafted into Ange Postecoglou's squad in place of Matthew Spiranovic, who has been ruled out due to a calf strain. The pair were Australia's first-choice starting centre backs during the World Cup in Brazil.

The call-up means Wilkinson will miss City's home game against Wellington on Easter Monday, although he is available for this Friday's glamour clash with league leaders Brisbane Roar.

For those who didnt know already. Thats from a Michael Lynch article.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Victards

Victards

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, hakz7 said:

Brisbane have conceded 15 goals in their last 4 away games (losing 3 of those) including 4 goals at AAMI Park against Victory.

Their defensive record is only marginally better than ours but certainly not in recent weeks, particularly away from home. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to put them on the back foot early on.

Stop Corona and McLaren and we will pump them. Quietly confident about this one...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
silva10

silva10

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Dylan said:

For those who didnt know already. Thats from a Michael Lynch article.

I would like to see the FFA keep some free weekends in the A League for international games.

The season is short as it is, and supporters should be able to see the club's best players the whole season.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tony999

Tony999

Posted
Posted
On March 14, 2016 at 8:05 PM, neio said:

This is the exact game we got Alex Wilkinson for.

Real quality striker, your job to stop him Wilko.

 

Key to the game is getting through McKay and corona in midfield, they have shown they can leak goals of their defence gets exposed 

Am l the only one who thinks McKay is the most overrated player in the a-league?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nate

Nate

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, Tony999 said:

Am l the only one who thinks McKay is the most overrated player in the a-league?

Yep, he's a good player at this level. 

Never really thought he was worthy of national team status as a starter but obviously he's good enough to do a job, he's versatile (left back, wing or midfield), he runs and chases all day, he can link up and pass well and he has exceptional leadership qualities. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shahanga

Shahanga

Posted
Posted (edited)
16 hours ago, n i k o said:

Pitch looks terrible according the the victree game on at the moment. I'd say this would suit Brisbane more than us. 

Both rugby codes shredding the thing now. Worst time of the year for quality football.

 

15 hours ago, Tony999 said:

Am l the only one who thinks McKay is the most overrated player in the a-league?

Probably. (The only one, yeah)

Edited by Shahanga
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Murfy1

Murfy1

Posted
Posted

Connor Chapman and Jacob Melling both eyeing ACL with Melbourne City

 

Clement Tito

March 16, 2016

 

Melbourne City can potentially claim a position in the A-League top two after this round, should they dispose of Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

Only three points separate first and fourth, Roar and Western Sydney share 41 points in the top two with City sitting fourth on 38.

City defender Connor Chapman picked up a knee injury in mid-December and was on the bench in their 1-0 win against Adelaide United away last week, however, he did not play.

The 21-year-old is a good chance to take field on Friday and conceded he thought he would be out for longer.

“I feel good, I think 12 weeks is a long time to be out and the plan was to come back for my first game this week and we’re probably two weeks ahead looking at that,” Chapman said.

“We’ve got a good bill of health, we only have one person out injured which is something we’ve never had before.

“Credit to everyone at the club and going into finals I think we need competition for all the spots.”

“I do training sessions to replicate 90 minute games, that’s all I can do and at the end of the day it comes down to playing games, it’s the only way you can get match fitness.”

With the standings being so close Chapman believes they are still within a shout to win the league and play in next year’s ACL.

“If we have any serious thoughts of making the top two or even coming first, we need to beat the top team. If we do that we can catch up on points and it will come down to the last three games,” he said.

“We’re aiming to finish in the top two this year and we’re so close to it.

“If we work hard on Friday we’ll be closer, in the A-League every team beats each other and anything can happen in the last few weeks.”

City midfielder Jacob Melling was aware of Roar’s form and was also thinking of a Champion’s League berth.

“The way Brisbane played against Victory, their structure looked good, John Aloisi is getting them to play how he wants them to, more so near the end of the season and we’ve worked on how we can break them down,” Melling said.

“I’d love to play champions league football here next season, It’s right in front of us now and it’s up to the boys to make sure we can get into a top two position.”

 

http://outside90.com/connor-chapman-and-jacob-melling-both-eyeing-acl-spot322/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HeartOfCity

HeartOfCity

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, kingofhearts said:

I hope Fitzgerald will keep his starting spot over caceras if caceras comes back this week. I know fitzy didn't have the greatest game last week (outside of the goal) but them team seems to work so much better when hes starting forward over caceras

 

I like Caceras but he doesnt look confident to me, i think he needs to take more risks in his passing. Obviuosly shits himself when he looses the ball which is why he got 2 reds, and might be stressing not to let the team down (which is totally fair enough). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NuggetsMcGreggor

NuggetsMcGreggor

Posted
Posted

Melbourne City FC squad: 1.Thomas SORENSEN (gk) 2.Alex WILKINSON, 4.Connor CHAPMAN, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 8.Aaron MOOY, 9.Harry NOVILLO, 11.Michael ZULLO, 16.Jason TRIFIRO, 18.Paulo RETRE, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 23.Bruno FORNAROLI, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 25.Jacob MELLING, 26.Marc MARINO, 27.Nick FITZGERALD, 29.Anthony CACERES, 33.Osama MALIK

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 4.Connor CHAPMAN (promoted), 26.Marc MARINO (promoted), 29.Anthony CACERES (returns from injury - quad)

Outs: 17.Wade DEKKER (ankle – season)

Unavailable: 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee – season)

 

Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.CORONA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.HENRIQUE, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 16.Devante CLUT, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 18.Javier HERVAS, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 24.Tommy OAR, 28.Brandon BORRELLO 

**two to be omitted**

Ins: 16.Devante CLUT (promoted), 24.Tommy OAR (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 6.Jerome POLENZ (quadriceps – 1-2 weeks)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bt50

bt50

Posted
Posted

                         Sorensen

Franjic       Wilkinson    Kisnorbo    Garrucio

                              Malik

                   Fitzgerald    Mooy

Novillo              Fornaroli        Zullo

 

SUBS Bouzanis Caceras Retre Melling Chapman

or

          Sorensen

Franjic       Wilkinson    Kisnorbo    Garrucio

                              Malik

                   Fitzgerald    Caceras

                              Mooy

               Novillo              Fornaroli       

 

SUBS Bouzanis Melling Retre Zullo Chapman

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Murfy1

Murfy1

Posted
Posted

Confident talk from the players to the press:

 

City riding home form in Friday night blockbuster

 

16 Mar 2016

 

At the fourth time of asking, Melbourne City hope to seize top spot on the A-League against Brisbane Roar on Friday night.

John van 't Schip's side are unbeaten at AAMI Park since November, an eight-game streak that has them well in the premiership race.

And with three matches of their final four to come in Melbourne, Alex Wilkinson believes home form can fire them into the table's top ranks.

"If we can win them all it will put us right up there," he said.

Mathematically, three wins from their final four matches would ensure a first home final for the expansion side.

If that comes as one of the top two, a finals win would put them into a first grand final.

It's dreaming days for City's players and fans, and Wilkinson is delighted to be part of the action.

With Matthew Spiranovic's injury, the 31-year-old centre-back was welcomed back to the Socceroos fold after impressing in his first five matches back in the A-League for City.

That includes two clean sheets in their past two wins - over Sydney FC and Adelaide United.

Wilkinson said he came to the club knowing it was in need of a sturdy hand at the back.

"From what I heard ... Melbourne City were very strong at going forward and leaked a lot of soft goals at the back," he said.

"As a defender you pride yourself on clean sheets ... but it's not just the back four that's been working well, it's the whole team.

"Because of our attacking record if we can go into games and be strong defensively we're going to get chances to score because of the guys we've got up there."

Friday night's visit of Brisbane Roar is as big as it comes for City, welcoming the league leaders with a chance of replacing them.

For a fourth time this season, City have the chance to sit on top of the A-League ladder - a position they've never taken so late in a campaign.

Wilkinson says sitting on top is talked about by the team and they are determined not to let this chance slide.

"We had the chance in Wellington (last month) and didn't take it then," he said.

"There's a lot of determination with the squad (to do it)."

 

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/03/16/city-riding-home-form-friday-night-blockbuster

 

 

Zullo sets his sights high at Melbourne City

 

17 Mar 2016

By Greg Prichard

 

Michael Zullo displayed the think big attitude of a team under the umbrella of the City Football Group when he said now Melbourne City are within touching distance of top spot in the A-League that is all they should aim at.

Fourth-placed City are on 38 points and the fact they have the runaway best goal difference in the competition guarantees they will move to second if they beat leaders Brisbane Roar  (41) at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Second-placed Western Sydney Wanderers, also on 41 points, will play third-placed Adelaide United (39) at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday night. A draw or an Adelaide win in that game on top of a City win would leave City just one point off the lead.

City have won two in a row and kept clean sheets in both games. They had only one clean sheet in 21 games before that this season.

Zullo said the improvement in what had been an often leaky defence, combined with the attack staying strong, had left himself and the rest of the team feeling very good about their form leading into the finals.

He said the immediate aim now had to be to win the Premier's Plate and clinch a place in next year's AFC Champions League by finishing on top in the regular season.

"The main thing for us now is that we've got to keep winning our games," Zullo said. "There aren't many games to go now  and having made it to where we are the reality is that finishing in the top six isn't good enough for us anymore - we want to finish first.

"You want to finish in the top two because it gives you an advantage going into the finals, but if you're capable of finishing in the top two then you've got to aim for first and that's a realistic goal for us.

"We know that if we beat Brisbane this week and other results go our way we'll be one point from the top with three games to go and from that position we could really make a play to finish top of the table.

"That has to be the goal. Nothing else is acceptable from a goal-setting point of view."

Zullo is a student of A-League history. He knew that in the three years the current finals format had been used, the top two teams at the end of the regular season had both reached the grand final each time.

The finals series is a three-week sprint in which the top two teams get the first week off and then play at home for a place in the grand final.

"It's a massive advantage  and we're very much aware of that," he said. "So we've got four massive games coming up and we need to win all of them and if we do win all of them we're in with a great chance of being premiers.

"It's a massive carrot for the club and for us as players. There are a lot of boys here who are terrific players but haven't been lucky enough to win anything in their senior careers.  They've done a lot in their careers personally, but haven't actually won stuff with a team.

"It would be a massive achievement for all of us if we could do that and it's definitely what we're going for at the moment, with the Premier's Plate. Then, after the regular season finishes, your eyes turn to the grand final and how to get there."

City experimented with a 3-5-2 formation for a while this season, with Zullo as one of the wing-backs getting forward, but it became less desirable an option after Wanderers found ways to exploit it in their 4-3 win over City in round 17.

More recently, City have been going with what Zullo described as a "fluid" version of a 4-4-2 formation. He said the entire team had worked hard on being better in defence.

"We highlighted that as a problem area for the team," he said. "We've got the best attack by a country mile, but it's about shoring up the defence a bit and that's not just about the back four because all down the field we were allowing teams to have too much time on the ball.

"We started to improve four games back, when we beat Central Coast (4-1). We didn't give them much. And in the last two games we've made a lot of progress in that area.

"We've just got keep it going now, heading into the finals, and probably lift it up another gear once we get there. So that's the aim now."

 

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/03/17/zullo-sets-his-sights-high-melbourne-city

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...