Wandering across the Nullabor

The Wanderers have been my surprise packet of the early rounds so far, for such a new team they have shown great discipline and determination under Tony Popovic.  I cannot remember a match where they have seemed out of their depth in the first six weeks, but the trip to Perth in another story.  Perth are three from three at home this season, and have already established the trip across the Nullarbor is the toughest in the league.

Shane Smeltz had another game under his belt midweek for the All Whites against China, and Wanderers fans will hope in form defender Michael Beauchamp is back in the line up this week.  Tough to see Perth losing at home, but the league is so close at the moment, any result is possible.

Sunday Afternoon           17:00 AEST          NIB Stadium

Form Line

Perth (4^th)           LOSS      WIN       LOSS      WIN       DRAW

Western Sydney (7^th)  LOSS         LOSS      WIN       WIN       LOSS

Head to Head

Never Played

 

David Meacock looks at heavy favourites Perth Glory as they take on the new boys (@Meacod)

Oh no!

Here they come, galloping across the nullarbor – the unicorns are here, fresh from AUSTRALIA’S FOOTBALL HEARTLAND. Possibly the most anticipated A-League franchise since North Queensland Fury FC, Western Sydney are the team for those people who previously hated the A-League.

More importantly, they are the team who represent AUSTRALIA’S FOOTBALL HEARTLAND. I’m not entirely sure what that is, but it must be important because Frank Lowy and the media have repeated it to me ad nauseum since the idea for this side was first floated. In any case, Tony Popovic’ side haven’t been entirely hopeless this year – and they’ve got a fairly strong midfield that shouldn’t be underestimated.

 

That said, you can’t just win games with a good midfield – and whilst they have a very tight defence, scoring goals has proved to be an issue. Glory have double the goals that Western Sydney have scored this year; indeed, Perth striker Billy Mehmet’s personal tally of three is only one behind Wanderers’ total goals.

 

Even though the jury remains out on a wing combination of Travis Dodd and Dean Heffernan – and definitely on coach Ian Ferguson’s judgement when it comes to subbing them at the right point of a game – you would back the WA side to grab all three points against a side that struggles to score.

 

So that’s my tip – probably low scoring, but ultimately a home win, sending Western Sydney back to AUSTRALIA’S FOOTBALL HEARTLAND with little to show for their first trip to the other side of the continent.

 

Prediction: Glory 2 – 0 Wanderers

 

Wanderers man Eric Berry looks at the chances of Western Sydney (@efcso)

This week the Wanderers make the long haul to take on Perth Glory at home in the final match of the weekend’s fixtures.

Backing up from an unlucky loss to Newcastle Jets at Wanderland last weekend, the Wanderers are looking to regain some momentum and strengthen our position in the middle of the table. We missed Beauchamp last week and it will be good to see him back in the core of our defence again against Glory, especially if Shane Smeltz returns to the field.

On Saturday night we were treated to some of the exciting interplay at the pointy end, with Joey Gibbs’ goal being an exquisite finish to some fantastic one-touch passing and outstanding positioning. But for some great defending by Newcastle’s custodian and a lack of surgical finishing, the score could have been far different.

Mateo Poljak is out injured this week, so there will need to be a slight rearrangement in the back five. Both Jerome Polenz and Adam D’Apuzzo can step into the Defensive Midfield position, so either Shannon Cole or Tarek Elrich could start at Fullback. Poljak has been a real workhorse for Wanderers this season, doing a lot of hard work in front of defence, so this could hurt us or, at the very least, change the way we go about business enough to upset our rhythm.

I feel that Cole will likely get the starting spot, with Elrich on the bench.

Up front, Popa faces a challenge between Gibbs and the returning Kresinger. There is no doubt that Gibbs has relished his first-team opportunity and, with his maiden goal last week, presents a good case to stay in the starting XI. Ability to finish will be paramount, something we’ve not been fantastic with thus far.

They’re really the only challenges he has, as the rest of the team, especially Hersi, Mooy and Ono, pick themselves.

Our main mission this week will be to contain the Glory midfield. They’re hard working and hard tackling, with the ability to supply quality balls through to the front of the park. You don’t get up to the top rungs on the ladder without decent finishing and Mehmet (or Smeltz) will also need to be watched closely. Our defence has been solid and frugal to date and this will have to continue for us to get a result away from home.

This will probably not be a flowing goal-fest, I feel that there might only be a couple of goals in the game, perhaps with Perth to come out on top by a goal.

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