On Saturday night, the 14th of January, the Western Sydney Wanderers will take on their cross-city rivals, Sydney FC, at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park.
A massive attendance is expected for the game, with the rivalry between both clubs’ supporters being quite fierce. But, as the fans see it, only one team can come out on top.
So let’s have a look at how both clubs shape up for the 14th Sydney Derby of the A-League, and the second of three for this season. As it stands currently, the Western Sydney Wanderers have had four losses, eight draws, and two wins from the fourteen games they have played this season.
On the opposing side, we have Sydney FC, who are unbeaten this season, with three draws and eleven wins from their fourteen games this season. Wanderers are currently sitting at seventh spot on the ladder, with fourteen points and a goal difference of -7, whereas Sydney FC are sitting atop the ladder with a total of 36 points and a goal difference of +27.
So by statistics, it’s looking good for Sydney FC at the current point in time. However, with another 13 games to play, the tables could turn, and as they say, anything can happen.
So how can the Wanderers turn their season around? How can they come back from that 4-0 loss to Sydney FC in the 13th Sydney Derby, and win this one? Well, let’s have a look at the team and see what can be done in order to secure a win and three points against their rivals this weekend.
As it stands, the Western Sydney Wanderers are playing decently this season, but it hasn’t been enough to win them a lot of matches. The main issue visible to all their supporters so far this season, is the lack of a decent striker who can finish any attacks made by the Wanderers. Since the departure of previous striker Mark Bridge to Thailand club Chiangrai United FC at the end of last season, the Wanderers have been left with veteran striker Brendan Santalab, newly promoted product of the Wanderers youth team, Lachlan Scott, and re-signed striker given a second chance, Kerem Bulut.
Unfortunately for the Wanderers, Bulut did not redeem himself this season, and, as a result, was released from the club in late December of 2016. So the Wanderers need to sign a striker, and the search continues.
But let’s take a look at what they can do to win this weekend and what the ideal starting line-up would look like. As a pretence to what I’m about to say, Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has been playing a more defensive formation and so defensive strategic game this season. So we’ll go from there. And if you’re reading this Popa, take notice, because this might just win you a match against your rivals and gain you some traction with the supporters.
We’ll start with the forward line. With Santalab out currently serving the last match of his three match ban, the ideal striker for the Derby would have to be Lachlan Scott, with fast paced wingers Jumpei Kusukami and Nico Martinez on the wings. In midfield, captain Dimas and vice-captain Mitch Nichols should be starting, along with central attacking midfielder, Kearyn Baccus.
The reason Baccus should be starting instead of marquee central defensive midfielder Bruno Pinatares is due to the fact that the Wanderers need to start the match playing in an attacking formation rather than the defensive. Our defensive line should consist of Jack Clisby in the position of left-back, Jonathon Aspropotamitis and Robbie Cornthwaite playing as centre-backs, and Keanu Baccus playing as right-back.
My reasons for this are simple; Baccus and Clisby are both fast paced defenders and can potentially assist a goal, Aspro has been playing decently this season, and Cornthwaite plays quite spectacularly when on the field, which was evident from his game against Melbourne City last week.
And finally, the goalkeeper. With Andrew Redmayne joining Sydney FC (even though he won’t get playing time as Danny Vukovic is going to be their first choice keeper unless he is injured or suspended), the Wanderers have been left with returned goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson, and newly signed ex-Sydney FC goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic.
Jerrad Tyson has been playing with the Wanderers since the start of this season, and had also played with the club previously from 2012-2014. He has proven that he is a number one first choice goalkeeper in his time at the club this season, with plenty of great saves, specifically inclusive of aerial saves.
Then there’s Vedra Janjetovic, the ex-Sydney FC goalkeeper who joined the club in late December of 2016 and made his debut against Melbourne City at last week’s match. He has proven that he is also a terrific keeper, but so far we have seen that he is not able to stretch out to reach those aerial shots.
Sure he may be able to give the Wanderers a well informed opinion on how Sydney FC might play strategically and tactically this week, but tactics change. So, as evident from the facts, Jerrad Tyson should start in goals at the Derby.
And with that, we have our starting eleven for the Western Sydney Wanderers at this week’s Sydney Derby. Strategically thinking, this team will be able to attack well, and after the Wanderers score to gain at least a two goal lead in this match, only then should substitutions be made, specifically Bruno Pinatares being substituted on for Kearyn Baccus.
The team should then go into a defensive formation, and hold their two goal lead so that they can take out the match.
So let’s hope that Tony Popovic takes heed from this advice, and plays a strong strategic game this weekend. So good luck to the Wanderers, and let’s hope for a win and three points at the Sydney Derby this weekend.
Josh
Guest
Yep the reason is they have a player who comes from Western Sydney in goals.
Arto
Guest
Sorry jj.agius2819, but your article seems to be too biased towards WSW - and that's apart from the title! Additionally, you don't state HOW WSW will beat SFC, just who should start the game - what are the tactics of WSW and what weaknesses do they expose in SFC? Given the starting XI you argue for, WHAT are those players going to do that means WSW score more goals than SFC? The problem WSW have, IMO, is their team just isn't that good - the recruitment before this season has been pretty terrible, I reckon, as the following rundown attempts to point out... Tyson hasn't shown himself to be better than average and Janjetovic is still a bit of an unknown given he went on strike for 7 weeks mid-season. So the goalkeeping spot is already under some doubt before one considers the immediate defensive line in front. With a back 4 to choose from: Clisby (a bit of a hatchet man with pace), Cornthwaite (error-prone this season and arguably past his best) / Borda (too slow and sense of awareness hasn't been there), Aspro (good, but young CB so it's asking something special of him to be the rock in the defence), and Hammil (a CB who Popa is defiant in turning into a RB) / Baccus (just been promoted from NYL squad), that's not exactly instilling confidence in the neutral that they will contain the league's most effective attack. Defensive quality isn't really strengthened in midfield despite it actually being stacked with plenty of options. As most of these are only attacking and given Dimas hasn't shown he's good enough to boss midfield alone, playing the 4-3-3 you espouse is a very high-risk strategy (and IMO one of the reasons why WSW only has 2 wins so far!). Any constellation of a 3-man midfield is just too light-weight for most teams over 90 mins so Popa would be better off playing with a flat-4 or a 2-banded 5-man midfield similar to SFC - that way enabling him to pick 3 from Antonis (most likely on the bench given lack of game-time), Baccus, Kusukami, Lustica (also most likely on the bench given Popa doesn't have too much confidence in him), Martinez, and Nicholas in the AM positions. Nicholas in particular is good at drifting in between lines of players and popping up at the right time to receive the ball. And so to the area of the field you rightly point out as the weakest link - attack. It's not an easy problem to solve now that Santalab is out and Bulut has been released however, trying to play Martinez on the wing just handicaps WSW's creativity and he's clearly the most creative player at Popa's disposal so it's not what I would suggest to Popa. Kusukami has flattered to deceive given he hasn't got a good enough end-product given the stuff he does to get into those positions. Which leaves Scott as the preferred choice as although Sotirio might some day develop from a promising junior into a quality A-League, that day hasn't arrived yet and he's just too similar to the other AM's Popa can choose from. And this is just a critique of the players WSW have to choose from, without having even touched upon how they need to play to expose SFC's weaknesses... Don't mean to sound too critical as you've clearly got enough passion to come on here and write about your team, but plenty of readers want more analysis when clicking on articles like yours on here... PS. I'm a SFC fan so my own bias probably shows too... :-)
Arto
Guest
Source? None of the Norwegian media is covering it and seeing he's one of the more prominent national team players that would be a big shock...
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow, did you read this poppa? All sorted, just score twice, make a sub and its done and dusted. Simple. Might just be a little more complicated than this. The 'where's wally' search for a striker is hiding more substantial issues for the Wanderers. Should be a great clash, yet logic and reason says it won't quite play out as you have indicated. Try not to use the word we so royally, it gets a little annoying. Just state The opinion more definitively. Enjoyed your passion.
pete4
Guest
Absolutely crucial WSW score first on Saturday night otherwise SFC could easily win by a few
marron
Guest
Shannon cole up front.... our only chance! In other news, Borda gets 3 weeks for his elbow. Wanderers fans angry - "surely, it should have been six" is the cry!
Bruce
Guest
Sydney FC's new player is rumoured to be Vegard Forren
pauly
Guest
No striker, no hope of Wanderers "wevenge". Sydney should win this and win this well, even without the lion's share of possession. Sydney Derby kills it off the field, Melbourne Derby kills it on the field.
At work
Roar Rookie
SydFC defensive middle is at our weakest all season, unless we can get in this mysterious central defender. Seb probably won't be back and Brilliante is suspended. Although WSW are the perfect team to play as they're not exactly dangerous up front at the moment (or generally). I'm tipping a close game but one SydFC will will 2-1
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
SFC are invincible.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Holy heck, take off your rose colored glasses. There's a reason why SFC have only conceded 7 goals and it doesn't figure much in you 'analysis' (cough, cough). I betting person would have WSW losing 2:0. That's a safe bet. I look forward to the game. Enjoy :)