Western Sydney are last-start losers and Sydney FC last-start winners, but the Wanderers are in better shape to win the latest edition of the Sydney derby, at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday.
For a start, you can use the strength of schedule argument to rule out those most recent results as factors in trying to determine which of the two teams is best placed to succeed in the most bitter A-League rivalry of them all.
The Wanderers lost 3-2 away to Melbourne City in a game that lived right up to its potential. It was a pulsating clash in which a 2-0 lead to City still never allowed the home side to feel safe.
The boys from western Sydney fought back to 2-2 before the inevitable dose of refereeing drama that seems so commonplace in the competition these days negatively affected the visitors, costing them a goal.
City came back to win the game 3-2, leaving the Wanderers to feel stiffed – a belief that could help them heading into the game against Sydney. Unless for some reason you like being ripped off, human nature is such that when you believe you’ve been hard-done by it can have the effect of making you more determined the next time you play – regardless of whom it’s against.
But back to the factors that are clearly on the table, and while Sydney beat the Newcastle Jets last weekend, the 2-0 scoreline rates as close to the minimum expectation.
Sydney are among the competition’s genuine contenders, while Newcastle, after a splendid start to the season, have been sliding down the table for some time and had gone five games without scoring a goal before this match.
Again, they struggled to put anything away, but it wasn’t until the 80th minute that Sydney could afford to feel comfortable about the result by scoring their second goal.
And it took a player in Ali Abbas, who was making a comeback from more than a year out because of a horrible injury, to show his teammates how calmly and cleanly it can be done with an expert finish. Sydney should have won by more.
Bigger picture, Sydney are still missing Marc Janko, who left the club at the end of last season and took a bagful of goals with him.
They are also missing another departed forward in Bernie Ibini, who, as a genuine winger, gave them the width and ability to attack from the outside, which no-one else is giving them quite so well this season.
Smaller picture, Alex Brosque – who impressively lifted to take on more of the goalscoring responsibility with Janko gone and Filip Holosko struggling to find the back of the net – has recently struggled with a hamstring injury. He will be out again for the game against the Wanderers.
Holosko, to his credit, has been on the improve when it comes to goalscoring, but the problem is he’s not getting a lot of support in that department from those around him.
Young George Blackwood has been preferred as a starter up front and is still looking for his first A-League goal, while coach Graham Arnold has recently only used veterans Shane Smeltz and Matt Simon from the bench.
It has been left to Milos Ninkovic and, most recently, Abbas to fill in the gaps.
I realise that in the previous round Sydney got a good result on the road against City, drawing 2-2. I also appreciate Sydney’s natural ability to lift for a derby. But above that, Tony Popovic’s men are in better form overall and – most importantly – are functioning better in the front third.
There haven’t been many goals from Federico Piovaccari up front for the Wanderers, but Popovic has been able to persevere with him because both Mark Bridge and Mitch Nichols look capable of scoring every game.
And Romeo Castelen is forever dangerous with the ball at his feet and backing himself to beat a defender on his way in from the outside.
Sydney derbies often have to be won more than once and sometimes even more than twice. There has been amazing ebb and flow in them over the years.
The Wanderers look the more dynamic side and, as such, are the more likely winners.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Oh? Where did you read that we're playing 6 games at ANZ?
Punter
Guest
Not all ethnics move to the West of Sydney. Many Brazilians in Manly!!!!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Perhaps a headbutt or three :D
Paul
Guest
Not with WSW coming off a loss last week against Manchester (oh is that Melbourne) City. With Scott Neville back instead of makeshift RB Pepper we will see a more balanced defence. Alberto will keep Holosko quiet even on the counter. WSW will be close to 60% possession based on ESFC game against Newcastle last week. The only questions left are many hairs will Arnie lose on Saturday night and how penalties will Faty give away 1, 2, 3....
Paul
Guest
Calling the invented competition game between 2 cricket teams a derby is sacrilege. The only derby that counts is the one at Pirtek on Saturday. The BBL is an acronym for the big, balderdash league all hype and no substance!
vince23
Guest
ironic? if it wasnt for most of Western Sydney, the latte sippers wouldnt know a decent latte from Nescafe ;)
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
The October derby for next season will be at ANZ, while Parramatta Stadium is being upgraded. This will surely be a domestic football attendance record. There will be at least 6 Wanderers home games at ANZ next season. If SFC and Wanderers make the Golden Toilet Seat Grand Final this season, we could even have a full house of over 82,000 in May.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Agree, SFC are in better form right now and should win. Disagree that Holosko is not getting support. His partnership with Ninkovic has produced four of our last 5 goals. With Abbas back now, there is another distraction for the Wanderers defence and creates more room for Holosko and Ninkovic. Micky Tavares also had a sensational game last week with a 90% passing accuracy stat. Will be great to see, if we can get any tickets.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
I think the media doesn't care cm because, unlike some other players I could mention, he can't seem to find the back of the net-net. In fact as per wiki, he's only ever scored 4 goals in his entire professional career. 0/26 for CGU and 4/26 for WSW... To put it in perspective, Topor Stanley has scored more goals lol
marron
Roar Guru
Wanderers announce a big mansion. That will actually be theirs. And fit for purpose. http://foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/wanderers-unveil-plans-for-30m-home-as-part-of-ambitious-blueprint-for-world-class-club/story-e6frf4gl-1227707636460
Midfielder
Guest
Well said Post ...
Sydneysider
Guest
I just hope it's a good game with some goals and a fantastic atmosphere (pretty much guaranteed when it comes to the Sydney derby anyway). at the same time the other Sydney "derby" will be on at the SCG..... the BBL version.
Sydneysider
Guest
Josh is right. Arnie said last week that Brosque will be missing for at least 4 weeks with his hamstring injury.
Post_hoc
Guest
Or cost $9 for a coffee served by some skinny runt who think he looks like a lumberjack because he has a bushy beard.
Punter
Guest
Thanks Kaks, we took their coach & one semi decent player Ibini & country bumpkin has these great illusions.
Kaks
Roar Guru
"watching a decent Football team we developed not stole." Calling CCM a decent football team is a bit generous dont you think mid? :)
Midfielder
Guest
Punter O how cruel we have an inner soul [each shoe actually] nay deep down in the places that count we feel, we understand, we accept, we acknowledge, and we do care but there is so little we can do to help the plight of those poor wrenehes' that are forced to live in the hell hole that is Sydney while we drift along with clean air, clean beaches, ... So yes our inner soul should think more of those poor souls in Sydney alas we have what some see as more important matters, surfing, watching a decent Football team we developed not stole.
Punter
Guest
Except you guys aren't drinking lattes, you guys are drinking long blacks in between having a beer. You guys haven't found your inner sensitive side as yet.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
ctrl-c the text: "Western Sydney are last-start losers and Sydney FC last-start winners" then ctrl-P to paste. Then Replace "last-start" with nothing so it now reads: "Western Sydney are losers and Sydney FC winners" Now, that's better. SFC to win by 3 at the quaint little Cumberland cow-paddock!
Fadida
Guest
Exactly.