The FFA Cup 2021 Round of 16 will begin this weekend with an all-South Australian tie as the A-League’s Adelaide United take on SA NPL’s Adelaide Olympic.
This is the first time in the Cup’s history that two South Australian teams will face off against each other. The Cup’s most successful team, Adelaide United, are heavily favoured to beat their cross-city rivals.
United laboured to a 3-1 victory away last round against plucky WA NPL side Floreat Athena.
Athena had more than enough opportunities to cause the biggest cup upset in 2021, but after a long WA NPL campaign the freshness of United’s substitutes proved to be the game changer in extra time.
All eyes will be once again on a new look, error-prone Adelaide backline.
Athena had a lot of joy targeting United’s centre-backs and attacking down the right side of their defence for the majority of the match. Regardless of the pitch and swirling winds, United’s understrength defence struggled against semi-professional players.
The biggest problem coach Carl Veart will have is trying to get the cohesion and correct players in the back five. Losing two consistent A-League regulars in Jordan Elsey and Ryan Strain and replacing them with signings that aren’t of the same calibre will cost the side dearly in certain matches this season.
United will still be missing star players Stefan Mauk, Craig Goodwin, Joe Gauci and Michael Jakobsen, who are recuperating from major off-season surgeries and injuries.
(Photo by James Elsby/Getty Images)
All four new recruits in George Blackwood, Jacob Tratt, Nick Ansell and Isiais have had another couple of weeks of training after being blocked from initially entering the state in September and all played in last night’s 3-0 victory over the Vipers in a trial match.
The trio of talented 17-year-olds who debuted last round, Bernado, Ethan Alagich and Ari Mollas, also played in that trial match, as did 16-year-old prodigy Johnny Yull and all look to be well on their way in cementing their places in the first team squad for this season.
Adelaide Olympic qualified for the last 16 for the second time in their history, knocking off an emotionally drained WA NPL side ECU Joondalup who were still reeling from their star striker being on life support in hospital.
They finished a disappointing seventh in the SA NPL, but don’t let their league form fool you. There are some talented individuals, as witnessed last round.
Fausto Erba is a name that is very well known in South Australian footballing circles. The Italian import finished as the second top scorer in the SA NPL and is capable of magic like this goal of season contender last round
He will be supported by another import in the well-travelled Greek, Ioannis Simosis.
Michael Cittadini and Jason Konstandopoulos are able to score goals and create chances, as seen by their handiwork in the SA NPL and FFA Cup rounds.
The match will be at the VALO Sports Centre. Although it’s the home ground of Adelaide Olympic, players from Adelaide United won’t be at a disadvantage as the United youth team in the SA NPL also shares this ground.
It is an artificial pitch, which is still quite uncommon in Australia and could potentially cause a problem for players who are not used to this type of surface.
Even though this will be only United’s third game of pre-season, they should comfortably take care of their opponents, whose season finished weeks ago.
The two Adelaide sides will meet on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm local time (3:30pm AEST). The match can be viewed on 10Play.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I think Veart knows what he is up against :thumbup: , A lot of people here are picking United for the upset but Olympic being firm favourites i think they will do the job. Also this game has brawl written all over it expecting a lot of yellows plus a few reds via untied.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you'll get good odds on that scoreline lol olympics president and coach have been very confident in causing an upset at their press conferences this week, carl veart on the other has has been a little more subdued
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
all i've heard is they're still negotiating - will not effect the FFA cup match this weekend
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
hes the perfect squad player, id rather not see him on the wing though - through the middle all day for mine lol
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Olympic should win this easy, United have to many players out or haven't trained enough together as a unit. Olympic will prob just toy with United most of the match before putting them away. 4-1 Olympic
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA What inside info do you have on the refs... from the Mariners Forum... Professional Football Referees’ Association Inc. United for the good of the game. Media Release: PFRA A-Leagues Referees make themselves unavailable for FFA Cup Matches and A-Leagues trial matches 12 October 2021 On Monday, 11 October 2021, the Professional Football Referees Association (PFRA) Executive Committee advised Football Australia that PFRA members would no longer be available to officiate FFA Cup Matches and A-Leagues trial matches. The PFRA does not take this decision lightly and comes on the back of more than three months of discussions and efforts to resolve several topics. These topics include: 1. TheA-LeaguesLeadershipandCoachingdepartmentdidnothavetheircontracts renewed as the League separated from Football Australia in July 2021. For the past three months, the A-Leagues referees have had no direction, coaching / instruction, and no fitness coaching. We are now just weeks out from the start of the season, and the referees find themselves in a position without any form of coaching and/or preparation. 2. TheA-Leaguespanelswereannounced,andmemberswereunfairlyremoved from their position without any due process or warning. There was no performance management or even an indication that any members may have been in danger of losing their position. Yet, the FA Referees Committee saw fit to remove these members of their own accord without following any apparent process. 3. Finally,theA-Leaguesrefereesarewithoutacontractforthecomingseason. This has been an ongoing issue for referees and despite constant efforts to have this resolved – there are no current contracts in place for the coming season. PFRA President, Paul Cetrangolo, said “The PFRA A-Leagues referees sacrifice an enormous amount for football in the country and it seems staggering that we find ourselves in a position without basic items such as leadership, coaching staff, fair processes for changes to panels, and a standard contract.” Paul also commented that “The PFRA remains committed to solving these issues but will not officiate further matches while these items remain outstanding.” The PFRA was incorporated in 2013 as the exclusive professional association to represent match officials operating on the A-League. Ends. PFRA Media Contact: Paul Cetrangolo, President PFRA profootballreferees@gmail.com www.pfra.com.au
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Blackwood didn't look too bad out wide. Not a whippet but he understood the position.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
outstanding player much like his dad was back in the day and his brothers currently are. - Super talented football family. i'm not aware of any interstate interest in jason yet but United are monitoring him again He was one of the players i thought would make it in the a league, but his time with the youth team was short lived. Hes still only 17 and playing in a league with players much older then him, has really helped his development has all the tools to be an league player. i think kristins time might have passed unfortunately though and Nathan is a couple months ahead of his recovery from the ACL tear
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
Hi Andy - great article as always. What're your thoughts on Jason Konstandopoulos? Do you think he can return to A-League level? Every time I've watched him he's been a stand out.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
he's a natural centre forward with how he can easily turn his man, he's lost a yard of pace due to his injuries - his days of being a winger are well and truly behind him IMO i can speak a bit more about it, now that he has left the club (i couldnt before while he was still present) blackwood was signed more as an insurance policy when it became apparent Al was wanting greener pastures (this has been going on since before pre season when he was notified he wont get much game time this year) blackwood also can play attacking midfield
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Not sure he's a natural out-wide. He plays a narrow game, using his strength and skills to force his way into the box. I can see his desire to move on from Adelaide. Yengi and Mo sit in front of him, though I am not sure why Adelaide signed Blackwood when they had Al Hassan. Still, the Bulls appears an odd choice. Perhaps it was the only offer on the table.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
AdelaideAndy October 13th 2021 @ 1:02pm my phone has been recieving messages all morning lol I was asked not to mention Al on here in any of my recent postings. But if you have been reading between the lines of what i’ve been posting in the past several weeks (inparticular about Mo in pre season training lining up as a centre forward) you would’ve realised the writing was on the wall. i played a big role in his developement and when a local homegrown player you’ve put nearly over a decade of your life into leaves, its always sad. But i can also seperate the heart from the head, he will be 22 soon and no longer a kid – for his career to progress he will need more game time & adelaide can’t offer that this season (Adelaide has so many talented african australian forwards coming up in all our age levels it not funny) Bayern Munich were heavily watching him a couple seasons ago, but they decided to go with singh instead no issues in terms of his training and always has been popular with supporters and the club staff what alot of people dont know is arnie had selected him when he was carrying an injury and then he suffered that awful broken bone in his foot for the u23’s that required surgery and this has contributed to his body breaking down regularily since. the clubs stance quickly changed from trying to sell him at season end, when it because more apparent that his body was not holding up to the physical rigors of being a professional footballer in australia absolutely zero animosity from the toure family and club in relation to this, both agreed this was the best option Its frustrating to lose another play to a rival club, without a transfer fee though i’m not sure the way macarthur play will suit him, but he also has another injury prone ex adelaide forward in front of him (juric)
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
***post of mine from yesterday***** AdelaideAndy October 13th 2021 @ 1:02pm my phone has been recieving messages all morning lol I was asked not to mention Al on here in any of my recent postings. But if you have been reading between the lines of what i’ve been posting in the past several weeks (inparticular about Mo in pre season training lining up as a centre forward) you would’ve realised the writing was on the wall. i played a big role in his development and when a local homegrown player you’ve put nearly over a decade of your life into leaves, its always sad. But i can also separate the heart from the head, he will be 22 soon and no longer a kid – for his career to progress he will need more game time & adelaide can’t offer that this season (Adelaide has so many talented african australian forwards coming up in all our age levels it not funny) Bayern Munich were heavily watching him a couple seasons ago, but they decided to go with singh instead no issues in terms of his training and always has been popular with supporters and the club staff what alot of people dont know is arnie had selected him when he was carrying an injury and then he suffered that awful broken bone in his foot for the u23’s that required surgery and this has contributed to his body breaking down regularly since. the clubs stance quickly changed from trying to sell him at season end, when it because more apparent that his body was not holding up to the physical rigors of being a professional footballer in australia absolutely zero animosity from the toure family and club in relation to this, both agreed this was the best option Its frustrating to lose another play to a rival club, without a transfer fee though i’m not sure the way macarthur play will suit him, but he also has another injury prone ex adelaide forward in front of him (juric)
Franko
Guest
One guy that won't be there is Al Hassan Toure - what on earth is going on there? Feels he is a better winger than striker and wants game time, yet moves to the Bulls to sit behind; Oar, DaSilva, Najjar, Rose, Noone, Davila and Juric. I thought his Dad was his manager? A most bizarre choice of clubs.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
valo sports centre is a small ground, but it sold out earlier in the week (this will set a new ground attendance record) - if that's any indication of how its been perceived locally. should be a very boisterous crowd with a large number of the greek community in attendance
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
it looks likely that our paths will cross, the winner of the cup will come from our side of the bracket. i feel a bit bad about how little coverage i gave Olympic in this, they are a genuinely good side and have produced lots of good players for adelaide united over the years (kamau, cornthwaite, tonyik, nathan konstandopoulos.) current squad has former adelaide youth team players in michael cittadini jason & Kristin Konstandopoulos (both related to nathan) as well well drilled team with one of the best coaches in the SA NPL they also have a player ive always been a big fan of Fausto Erba - one of the imports who should be playing at a league level. equisite touch and finds the back of the net regularily, united have never really shown an interest in him which is a shame - im surprised no interstate club went in for him either. he'd do a hell of a lot better than many import strikers that have graced the a league in the past several seasons. i think this game actually will be tighter then i expected, united still look really underdone IMO compared to a lot of the other a league clubs pre seasons - im going 2-1
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
People are sounding enthusiastic about the match, so hopefully there is a good atmosphere at the ground. Is it receiving much local coverage?
Gashead
Roar Rookie
Who is officiating the match, I thought the A-League refs were on strike. Are some NPL refs going to cross the picket line?
Waz
Roar Rookie
An easy win coming up. Adelaide v Brisbane final before Christmas while NSWs completes R32 in January :stoked: