Match preview: Sydney FC vs Brisbane Roar

This round’s main focus will be on Brisbane Roar. Without coach John Aloisi, who stood down this week, and ninth on the table with just six points from nine games, the Roar will be desperate for their first win in more than a month.

They sit just four points ahead of last-place Central Coast Mariners thanks to one additional win and draw. But they’ve also had a marquee player this season, Eric Bautheac, whereas Central Coast’s low budget hasn’t allowed for one of their own, so they really should be at least be in the top six at this point.

On the other hand, Sydney FC is doing quite well, sitting third on the table and having beaten Perth Glory 2-1 last round, so their confidence will be high. They’re also in a completely different situation in terms of marquee players – in their last game Milos Ninkovic and Siem de Jong performed very well, whereas in Wellington Eric Bautheac wasn’t even available after picking up a red card against Melbourne Victory.

Sydney FC predicted line-up
After having a very good game against Perth Glory I can’t really see Steve Corica wanting to make any changes, but unfortunately for him, he’ll have to, with Rhyan Grant having been picked for the Asian Champions League squad, which means that he won’t be back for a month. The person most likely to replace him is Paulo Retre, who will be ecstatic to be able to show his worth again.

Corcia has said that he wants Daniel De Silva to play more, so is that a hint that he could be starting? If Corica was to fit him into the team, it’s most likely that he’ll bring Alex Brosque to the bench, bring Siem de Jong into the position of second striker and have De Silva play right.

To be honest, I don’t want to see that, because if he makes it like that, Siem de Jong will come back and play too far back, and because Ninkovic and De Silva are creative players and coming inside to get the ball, that would make an attacking midfield three that would be very narrow, which would isolate the striker.

Also, because of the midfield three being so narrow, it would force the full backs to come up and play as wingers, which would then give Brisbane an easy counter-attack opportunity. All that considered, I think that at least for now De Silva should be a super-sub.

(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)

Brisbane Roar predicted line-up
Brisbane Roar really needs two things for this game: they need to calm down Eric Bautheac and just let him show how he can play, and they need to get Adam Taggart on form. He has scored six goals in eight games, but I feel like he’s still not on form. Half the goals he has scored this season have been penalties, and he has to improve his work rate off the ball.

I have no idea who will coach the side this weekend now that Aloisi has stood down. Is he going to completely shake up the team or is he going to stick with the same tactics that haven’t been working this season and hope that the players will improve? The only thing that I’m pretty much certain of is that Eric Bautheac will be back, as they’ll never need him ore than in this game.

I don’t know whether they’ll play Henrique Andrade Silva or continue with playing Tobias Mikkelsen. It would most likely be Mikkelsen, with him being a very good player, but if I were the new coach, I would play Henrique, as he has been doing quite well lately and always looks exciting whenever he touches the ball.

Predicted match result
This is the perfect time for Sydney to start their win streak at Jubilee. Although Brisbane Roar will be really wanting this win, it’s Sydney’s to lose. If Ninkovic can keep up his majestic play (even at 34 years old) and Adam Le Fondre can keep up his goalscoring form, then surely Sydney FC will take home the win.