Sunday, January 28, 2007
Adelaide v. Melbourne: A Preview
It’s fitting, in many ways, to have the major semi-final contested between the two teams who gave us the finest match of the season. We can surely expect some more excellent football over the course of this tie.
Adelaide would have to be heavy favourites for the first leg. Following a late win over the champions and a comfortable cruise into second place against the Mariners, John Kosmina’s men will be full of confidence. On the other hand, Melbourne have lost the final two games of the regular season, the second in quite ignominious fashion, and the team shape has been altered considerably.
A couple of fellow tragics have commented to me that they were surprised to see Ernie Merrick making so many changes in the run-up to the finals, given that the season was a short one, and tiredness would not be a significant factor. It’s worth remembering, though, that Melbourne completed a very long pre-season schedule, which included an invitational tournament in Queensland, and several warm-up matches.
With Daniel Piorkowski out for the season, Melbourne’s chief problem is the left side of defence. Travis Dodd is in good form, and is surely likely to cause the premiers some concern on the right wing. Alessandro’s defensive capacities are doubtful, and Adrian Caceres is far more effective in the final third; the choice should probably fall on the trusty jack-of-all-trades Steve Pantelidis.
On the other side of defence, Simon Storey will surely reclaim the right-back spot from Vince Lia, whose deficiencies were brutally exploited by the Newcastle attack.
Otherwise, it should be a familiar Melbourne line-up.
Adelaide face something of a dilemma in attack, with Carl Veart returning. Diego Walsh has been lively and influential, and Kosmina will surely be tempted to start him in the attacking midfield role, perhaps pairing Veart, rather than Fernando Rech, with Nathan Burns in attack. Burns’ partnership with his flatmate Bruce Djite up front looked highly promising last week, however; is it possible that Kosmina will pull an even bigger surprise, and start Djite?
It should be a beauty. I’m tipping 2-0 to the home side this afternoon.
Adelaide would have to be heavy favourites for the first leg. Following a late win over the champions and a comfortable cruise into second place against the Mariners, John Kosmina’s men will be full of confidence. On the other hand, Melbourne have lost the final two games of the regular season, the second in quite ignominious fashion, and the team shape has been altered considerably.
A couple of fellow tragics have commented to me that they were surprised to see Ernie Merrick making so many changes in the run-up to the finals, given that the season was a short one, and tiredness would not be a significant factor. It’s worth remembering, though, that Melbourne completed a very long pre-season schedule, which included an invitational tournament in Queensland, and several warm-up matches.
With Daniel Piorkowski out for the season, Melbourne’s chief problem is the left side of defence. Travis Dodd is in good form, and is surely likely to cause the premiers some concern on the right wing. Alessandro’s defensive capacities are doubtful, and Adrian Caceres is far more effective in the final third; the choice should probably fall on the trusty jack-of-all-trades Steve Pantelidis.
On the other side of defence, Simon Storey will surely reclaim the right-back spot from Vince Lia, whose deficiencies were brutally exploited by the Newcastle attack.
Otherwise, it should be a familiar Melbourne line-up.
Adelaide face something of a dilemma in attack, with Carl Veart returning. Diego Walsh has been lively and influential, and Kosmina will surely be tempted to start him in the attacking midfield role, perhaps pairing Veart, rather than Fernando Rech, with Nathan Burns in attack. Burns’ partnership with his flatmate Bruce Djite up front looked highly promising last week, however; is it possible that Kosmina will pull an even bigger surprise, and start Djite?
It should be a beauty. I’m tipping 2-0 to the home side this afternoon.
Comments:
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makes no difference . the GF winner will be either the jets or sydney .
# posted by 
: January 29, 2007 at 1:03 AM
: January 29, 2007 at 1:03 AM
A score draw enough to see us through to host and win the GF..
Seriously though yesterdays game highlighted the fact that the A-League doesn't have a single quality finisher in front of goals. Next season the team that can acquire one will win it..
Seriously though yesterdays game highlighted the fact that the A-League doesn't have a single quality finisher in front of goals. Next season the team that can acquire one will win it..
# posted by : January 29, 2007 at 1:20 PM
: January 29, 2007 at 1:20 PM
Whoever that player is, provided its not Mori or someone of similar vintage, would be on a plane to a bigger contract afterwards though.
# posted by : January 29, 2007 at 11:23 PM
: January 29, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Sorry just to clarify, I reckon we've got a few decent finishers who can put a reasonable amount of chances away. A true gun finisher wouldn't stay here for too long.
# posted by : January 29, 2007 at 11:27 PM
: January 29, 2007 at 11:27 PM
well in a few years we'll see, hopefully a youth league can help foster this type of player. But yeah inevitably a player would get snapped up(happens everywhere), with the HAL though they'll probably stay a bit longer home before making the move o/s
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# posted by : January 30, 2007 at 2:31 PM
: January 30, 2007 at 2:31 PM << Home
