Pre-season is a time for trying new tactics and getting players fit. Results don’t really matter. Everyone knows that.
However, when you get trounced by your cross-city rival 5-0, alarm bells start ringing.
This was the Bulls’ first match in pre-season compared to their rivals and they also had players missing, however Ante Milicic’s normally tight defence was lost at sea against their slick opponents.
Macarthur are one of the favourites to win the A-League this season. They have spent well in excess of the cap and used up all the designated spots for star players.
There is no shame in losing to Sydney FC in a behind-closed-doors friendly, but what about losing it 5-0?
The match was already over after 20 minutes with Sydney completely dominant and Brazilian goal machine Bobo scoring the opening two goals.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
While more chances were produced in the first half, the teams entered halftime with Sydney comfortably up 2-0.
The goal procession didn’t stop in the second half as an Elvis Kamsoba strike was sandwiched in between two Adam Le Fondre goals.
I am not exaggerating when I say Sydney were lucky not to have broken double figures. They had several chances that they should’ve put away.
Anthony Caceres, Rhyan Grant, Michael Zullo, Milos Ninkovic and Trent Buhagiar led a lengthy list of experienced players missing from the Sky Blues.
Debutants Max Burgess and Elvis Kamsoba – who also had two assists with his one goal – were very impressive.
It was good to see Calem Nieuwenhof get a hit-out after a lengthy period injured last season – as well as the introduction of two bright youngsters in defender Aaron Gurd and forward Luka Smyth.
Gurd will be looking to gain experience and knowledge from one of the country’s best defensive units, while Smyth is a previous prolific junior forward who scored 36 goals in one season.
Sydney has drawn a lot of criticism for several years of being a chequebook club and not wanting to play youth.
This season they will enter again with one of the oldest squads in the league with ten players over 30 and pressure starting to firmly mount on coach Steve Corica.
They have already been written off for the title, which is scary considering their winning mentality and league know how. Experience has always been a factor for success in the A-League.
What to make of Macarthur, though, after this debacle?
The result itself needs to be taken into context – it was only their first official hit-out of pre-season and players were also missing.
On the other side of the coin, though, the Bulls were second best in every department on the day and the scoreline completely flattered them.
Ante Milicic has spent a lot of money this off-season on attacking players: Tom Juric, Craig Noone, Daniel De Silva, Ulises Dávila and Al Hassan Toure.
(Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
They were one of the lowest scoring teams in the A-League last season, but the way his normally reliable defence was carved up will give Ante Milicic heart palpitations.
Macarthur still have the tallest and physically strongest defence in the league.
Adam Federici stands at six foot one and was the league’s best goalkeeper last season.
The reliable fullbacks Jake McGing and James Meredith are both over six foot one.
Then there is Aleksandar Susnjar, Tomislav Uskok and Aleksandar Jovanovic, who are all six-foot-three man-mountain centre backs.
Milicic’s slow, pragmatic build-up play last season might not work with the several attackers he has brought in for this season.
If he alters to an easier-on-the-eye style of play, the midfield and cumbersome centre backs will be in trouble against fast-paced counter-attacking teams.
Whether he is as cool on the inside as he is on the outside is another question. The Macarthur board will be expecting a title push, considering they have outspent every other team in the off-season.
Like I said earlier, it was just a friendly. However there’s nothing friendly in getting hammered 5-0 by the team you want to emulate in the long term.
josh
Guest
They're not rivals Andy, SFC wanted Macarthur in (hoping it'd hurt WSW).
Paul
Guest
So Milligan resigns, rumours of multiple unvaccinated players. And Federici retires due to injury.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
And therein lies the crux of the issue. The anti-vaccine stance raises the risks of inability to travel internationally or interstate, raises the risk of inability to play through illness and raises the same risk to the rest of the playing group. All of these risks result in increase insurance costs off-field and weaker performances on-field. There also is the reduced ability to transfer players, especially internationally. Hence the vaccine choice is up to the players, however their market valuation will be dramatically lower if they choose to remain unvaccinated.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
there's just over 20 a league players across the league who are refusing to be immunized wanderers and the bulls have a combine total of 15 of those players lol
Grem
Roar Rookie
They can't get into Victoria or Queensland, which means there's no point in having them. I read that there were only a few players left across all clubs that were not vaccinated so I'm hoping you're not on the money here, but you often are. It seems simple to me - no jab no play. Get some keen youngsters in. As you wrote - interesting times.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
one of the most consistent performers in the side last season, he needs to add more of a goal threat; but thats not really his type of game lol there is not that much depth in that midfielder area for the bulls though, so he should warrant a closer look in
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
tricky one, especially if this progressed to legal proceedings. i dont think any players contracts have been re-drawn to include a mandatory jab
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
exactly, its friendly - but getting smacked 5 zip by your rivals is not good the bulls have bigger issues atm lol
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i just saw that. theres a good 8 players that are refusing, the article cant name names for obvious reasons. but i dont have that same issue hahaha, i've already revealed most of them
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
personal choice at the end of the day like you said. in terms of whats written in a contract, i know for a fact that one of the off seasons signingsnever had it written in his contract in terms of immunisation very interesting times at the bulls currently
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you can understand their reasons for not including it in the article, the players i mentioned have not come out and said it and the club has not released this information externally either. there are another 3-4 more players in the group besides the ones i mentioned that wont immunise either
Nick Symonds
Guest
Their other forwards
At work
Roar Rookie
There was an article in the Daily Telegraph with an interview with the Bulls, and one section covered their lack of stance on vaccinations, saying it’s up to the players. Hahahahaha good luck crossing any state borders…
Nick Symonds
Guest
"they removed the best bit when i mentioned macarthurs anti vaxers that are refusing to get jabbed – juric, susnjar, jovanovic, golec, uskok" - That's a pretty important detail they left out. Juric scored 9 times from 18 matches last season, making him one of the top strikers in the competition. It'll be a major blow to Macarthur's chances if they lose him. On the other hand it gives Toure less competition, if he's fit. They're other forwards on their website are Moudi Najjar, Craig Noone, Tommy Oar, Lachan Rose and Michael Ruhs. They also lost Denis Genreau, Matt Derbyshire and Markel Susaeta. Plus a few others. - https://www.macarthurfc.com.au/teams#!/a-league
At work
Roar Rookie
I didn't even know the game was on until I saw the result on Twitter. Whatever the result was I wouldn't have cared too much, but anytime you're knocking a 5-0 scoreline you don't want to be the losing team even if it's a pre-season friendly.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
That could solve all their problems in one hit, the squad is unbalanced, Juric he could be a plus or minus, more likely to be a minus, too many center backs, get rid of that lot and move meredith a faster defender to the back. I would like to see Mwoomba who was their best player last year anyway given a go.
AGO74
Guest
Well, I hope their contracts have been drafted so as to dock pay for when they can't play due to no jab. No problem with personal choice - but there are consequences. Similarly, if Macarthur haven't drafted contracts on that basis, then that is poor on their part.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
no play, no pay, surely
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
do you think Edward Caspers will get a run this season for Macarthur? He was promising in the NPL last season?
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
they're going to be playing a lot of 17/18 year olds in defence if those players keep up their stance. all that money spent in the off season could be for nothing