Tonight’s city derby was a scrappy and aggressive end-to-end affair. Both sides eschewed any semblance of build-up play in favour of exchanging attacks down the flanks. Debutants Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell were obviously the focus pre-game, but after the 90 minutes, it was Kewell who had acquitted himself better.
Sydney’s System:
Lavicka deployed Sydney in a 4-2-3-1, ostensibly to accommodate their two marquee players, Carle and Emerton.
PM were able to correctly predict the back-four, which was a functional and effective unit. Bosschart and Beauchamp are very much rugged no-nonsense central defenders and neither was particularly exposed.
Lavicka’s choice for the double pivot in midfield was to partner McFlynn and Coyne, another two who fit the rugged/no-nonsense prototype.
Essentially, Lavicka deployed 4 reliable and physical defensive-minded players to congest the centre of the pitch, which allowed his two full-backs, Jamieson and Cole to scamper up and down the flanks in support of Emerton and Antonis with relative ease.
Bridge was preferred over Cazarine to lead the line, while Antonis was handed the right wing.
Victory’s System:
Durakovic also set the Victory out in a 4-2-3-1 system that preserved the strike partnership of Thompson and Allsopp while accommodating Kewell as the playmaker.
Fabio was the more attack-inclined of the navy blue fullbacks. Leijer and Vargas resumed their defensive partnership. Celeski was paired with Brebner in the double pivot.
Rojas was stationed out wide on the right; he acquitted himself very well. Thompson was used in a narrow inside forward position on the left.
Victory’s attacking trident was much more fluid than Sydney’s; Kewell more or less drifted where he pleased, looking to link with Thompson and Rojas out wide. Thompson drifted central, exchanging positions with Kewell.
Formations cancel eachother out:
When two similar formations come up against each other, games have a tendency to revolve around individual battles.
In this particular game, with both sides using combative central defenders and defensive midfielders to congest the centre, the most important battles transpired out wide, between the wide players/drifting playmakers and the fullbacks.
The balance of play was quite even.
Melbourne eventually settled into the contest better, and after half-time, it could be said that the Navy Blues had created the better scoring chances. Sheer class was the epithet bestowed on Harry Kewell by Craig Foster; when you’re right, you’re right.
Kewell was the difference; he was intelligent in his movement, and always seemed to be able to create an extra yard of space.
The lion’s share of scoring chances fell to his boot or head and it was last-ditch defensive work by the Sky Blues that denied him a debut goal.
Red Card:
The red card shifted the balance of the game in Victory’s favour.
Lavicka ordered his players to sit deep and defend. That it was Bridge, a forward, who was dismissed, meant that Sydney’s defensive shape was not compromised; the Sky Blues were still able to field two banks of four, with playmaker Nick Carle the furthest player forward.
A side going down to ten men also has implications for the opposition.
The strategy that would beat 11 men, may not work against 10 men who are intent on staying compact and sitting deep. The theory is simple for the team with a numerical advantage; stretch the effective playing area, pass the ball faster, switch play from flank to flank in order to prompt movement from the opposition.
Unfortunately, the Victory weren’t able to press their advantage. Their build-up play was ponderous and error-prone; perhaps due to a lack of match fitness or perhaps due to the fact that the previous 80-odd minutes were so devoid of short passing.
Substitutions:
Durakovic exchanged Celeski for Broxham and Thompson for Cernak, both before Sydney’s red card, and both can be considered like-for-like swaps, except Cernak is more suitable out-wide than Thompson due to his pace.
His final change was swapping Allsopp for Solorzano, after Bridge’s dismissal, again a like-for-like swap.
Thompson’s substitution seemed to be prompted by the striker sustaining an injury.
There doesn’t seem to any similar justification for Broxham coming on. In truth, Durakovic’s options were limited, because of A-League regulations mandating that teams are only allowed to choose to from a 3-player bench.
The best way for Melbourne to try to snatch a win would have been to exchange one of the defensive midfielders; either Celeski or Brebner, for an extra wide-player, given that Sydney generally stood-off after going a man down.
Lavicka’s substitutions all occurred in the last 5 mins of regulation time, and were ostensibly to replace tired legs with fresher players, and to wind down the clock.
Conclusions:
The City Derby was a scrappy affair. Undoubtedly, it had wider significance on the future of the A-League due to the debuts of Socceroos legends Kewell and Emerton. Victory and Sydney fans alike have to hope for improvement; the style of play offered up by both sides left little to be desired.
Player Rankings: Players ranked from 10-1, with GK inserted
Sydney:
10) Coyne – fairly anonymous
9) Antonis – started brightly before fading
8) Beauchamp – solid
7) Bosschart – too much reliance on long balls to relieve pressure
6) Bridge – silly red card; prior to that adequate
5) Jamieson – exploited space well, exposed by Rojas, McFlynn – imposed himself in midfield
4) Emerton – effective but not as dominant as expected
3) Carle – attacking conduit, influenced the game despite being closely marked
2) Reddy – denied Kewell a number of times
1) Cole – exploited space well
Victory:
10) Vargas – fairly anonymous
9) Foschini – did not exploit space created
8) Celeski – fairly anonymous
7) Leijer – able in defence
6) Allsopp – poor first touch
5) Covic – nice penalty save, Fabio – decent defending against Emerton
4) Brebner – imposed himself physically, decent distribution
3) Rojas – tricky in close quarters, should have laid the ball off more
2) Thompson – hard runner, creative movement, dangerous positions, Solorzano – rapid movement, dangerous running
1) Kewell – showcased his class, always had space, dangerous positions, shots
mds1970
Roar Guru
I missed the start of the game, but I thought the two keepers were easily the best players out there. Some truly spectacular saves - both sides had their chances, but were denied by the keepers. I wouldn't necessarily call the game scrappy. At times there may have been errors made, but that comes down to pressure - and it was a very high-pressure contest. Sydney FC would have been disappointed not to convert the penalty, and had the better of play through the first half; but in the second half they had to hang on for dear life, especially after Bridge's brain explosion. And finally, a crowd of just over 40,000. The FFA would have to be absolutely delighted with that.
TomC
Guest
I don't think Brebner was all that conservative. Or even Celeski. Celeski was just rubbish. Definitely agree with your last point. Why then did you rank those two above Foschini. Foschini had a great game. Never been a big fan, but he delivered in spades last night.
DK
Guest
I agree... Sydney were a mess and are still a mess and probably will remain to be a mess... i really cant understand why Lavicka still has a job. I have not seen Sydney FC play one good game since he has been coach (that includes even the yr they won the double, i didnt think they played particularly entertaining football. And while it is only the first week of the season and people like to say we are still "rusty" cause it is early on, the alarm bells are ringing in my head... not so much about the execution of passes but rather the intention of play, no matter how rusty or sharp you are, if all you are going to do is look for is direct, long balls all day then in my mind the team is poor and really the problem is a lack of understanding of how to play the game.
Titus
Guest
I thought it was a high class game, and pretty enjoyable but from a Sydney point of view there was a lot of dissapointing passes and poor final balls. I'm not sure I understand your ratings but if you have Antonis as one of your worst then I can't agree. He was a little green but had moments of sheer class, have a look at the replay and look at his first time ball to give Bridge an open shot on goal, brilliant. I thought it was pretty even and could have gone either way. These teams will improve and should play some very good football. Would like to see Kisel come back and Bruno up front.
Midfielder
Guest
From what I saw on a large screen at the local club... it was a high class game...
Mittefeld
Guest
First game of the season so teams a way off getting into their stride and linking up the way they will in the coming weeks so expect steady improvement especially from Victory given their playing list.Sydney were a complete mess last season and with the same coach I expect the same this season.Having said that, the Durakovic appointment has to be one of the strangest moves the Victory board could have made. Ange Postecoglou has set the benchmark not only for the football fans want to see played but the football that wins titles. Durakovic has the talent in the side but I doubt he has the talent himself to bring the footballing best out of Victory. One defensive midfielder in front of a back four is enough yet Durakovic played two against a side with a clearly depleted offense.Start the season the way you intend to finish it I was always told so yes would have liked to see some of the young guys start and Vargas left on the bench or at home or on the transfer list.Squad player at best,like Celeski.The attacking spine really is Rojas,Kewell and Thomson with Rojas coming from deep not wide and being fed by Brebner.Victory have the list but does the coach have the nous? Doubt it and expect him gone before seasons end. With Victory prepared to invest so much in Kewell a pedigreed coach should have been a formality.
Al
Guest
I agree, Covic in the first half kept Melbourne in it. All in all, a great game (despite the score) and great analysis in this article.
Football United
Guest
anything other than covic at no 1 for victory is a joke.
PassandMove
Roar Pro
@ TomC Thanks for the comment again, was that you on the GCU post? I guess the point I was trying to make was that with Celeski, Brebner, Vargas and Leijer all playing relatively conservatively, it was emcumbant on Foschini to exploit the space that was left ahead of him. I certainly believe he was less influential than Fabio, Cole and Jamieson, the other 3 fullbacks. Playing better than Celeski or Allsopp last night, isn't asking for much.
PassandMove
Roar Pro
no worrries fussball I just think scrappy if a fitting description for a game that was "intense" with "players who had little time on the ball".
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ DK Wow - we must have watched 2 different games. But, that's what I love about football - after the 90' there will be a multitude of opinions about how those 90 minutes unfolded ... even years later, the discussion can continue! I watched a bit of Brisbane Roar when I came home and my thoughts were: Brisbane still plays very pretty football out from the back and through the midfield but, last night, without Solarzano & Barbarousas you keep wondering who will do the scoring? Danning looks like he's going to trouble the ball kids behind the goals more than the opposition GK and, if Brisbane is going to rely on Mitch Nicholls to score their goals ... well they'll have to be content with one goal every 3-4 matches! :-) Nah .. I'm looking forward to having Brisbane come to Docklands on 5 November - without H we smashed 3 past them at home in both games last year when Brisbane allegedly played better football than Barcelona! So, with H & Rojas, we could go to double figures.
TomC
Guest
Foschini 9th for the Victory? Seriously? Can't believe anyone watching that game thought he had less impact than Celeski or Allsopp. I honestly thought he was one of our best. He isn't really a marauding full-back and that wasn't his role. But he defended well and was more than adequate in giving Rojas good supply. Given Rojas doesn't provide any defensive cover it would have been mad for Foschini to push up further into the space on the right. Although that does touch on a real problem for the Victory: four players in the starting team who really don't contribute defensively (Thompson, Kewell, Rojas and Allsopp). Wasn't thrilled with Durakovic's team selection. Celeski, Allsopp and Vargas were all (to me) surprise starters, preferred ahead of younger faces (Broxham, Solorzano, Franjic) and all were poor. One of the big criticisms of Merrick last season was his preference for experienced campaigners, even when they were out of form. Fabio was good apart from that silly penalty. Brebner was excellent. Thompson, Kewell, Rojas all looked dangerous, although Rojas' ambition got the better of him a few times. Covic did a masterful job for someone who joined the team just days ago. Not sure if I'd call it 'scrappy' as such, although certainly the least fluid of the three games played last night. Both teams definitely need to learn to work together a bit better.
DK
Guest
I thought the season opener was appualing... Sydney FC couldn't put two passes together and Bret Emerton was really bad and this is from a Sydney FC fan. Kewell was ok but really nothing special... people seem to get excited if he makes a 10 metre pass like he is messi or something. Did u watch Brisbane Roar... im sure central coast worked hard and shut the ball down just as hard if not harder than melbourne and sydney but Brisbane actually understand how to play... they give options around the ball at all times and are patient... where as Sydney make a pass and then everyone makes a run away from the ball and they pump long, it really is a joke and they should feel embarrassed of themselves. Barcelona very rarely get outplayed by anyone or shut down into submission... Man Utd and Real Madrid tried and failed. We need to stop making excuses up for teams such as Sydney FC and telling it like it is... the culture at Sydney FC is all wrong, players dont even intend to play short and build up through sharp short triangles, they just look to pump the ball long and hope for the best, i think it is time for a new coach.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
passandmove Sorry mate, was at the game and disagree that it was "a scrappy affair". It was intense, players had very little time on the ball and if a player's 1st touch was poor or their technique was substandard possession was lost and the counter-attack commenced. This is exactly the type of intensity of contest we see - and admire - when we watch an EPL derby match or any football match between evenly contested teams. Was it beautiful like Barcelona v Osasuana ? No, but Barca won that game 8-0 b/c the opponent let them play beautifully. But, when a team closes Barca down, the game becomes intense and the contest is riveting - one mistake can decide the game and that's how I felt last night.
Purple Shag
Roar Guru
'aquitted himself better'? As that rank ginger Pauline would say, 'please explain'?