HAL 13/14 Rd 1 - Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets - 11/10/13 k/off 730pm AEDST

[Maito Mitch]

Hopefully Gary will have us playing the good old 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 whichever way you look at it

The back four is set in stone and will be:
Neville - chapo - aliens - gallaway

Zads obviously in the middle with either the beard or caravella. I'm not sure which I'd rather, which is good to have to depth there

Surely taggart will play up front at the point with Goodwin on the left.

The last two are up for grabs I think. Ideally brown will be the #10 but he's probably a bit of a risk atm so from that point of view I think bridges will start and burns will be on the right

Ideally I think Virgili needs to come off the bench but with Brown being an unknown currently, another option is Burns playing behind Taggart and Virgili on the right

[newi24-2-08]

Whats the go with Jacob Pepper? A lot of potential but has gone missing over pre-season... Does he still have a place in this squad?

[MFKS]

Whats the go with Jacob Pepper? A lot of potential but has gone missing over pre-season... Does he still have a place in this squad?

He has been playing in Pre season games?? Probably down the pecking order behind Zads Brillante Zenon Kanta

[uni_fc]

Birighitti

Neville Jaliens Chapman Gallaway

Zad Caravella

Burns Bridges Goodwin

Taggart

Bench:
Kennedy
Kanta
Regs
Virgilli
Brown

Heskey to come in when fit

[Grimario]

Birighitti

Neville Jaliens Chapman Gallaway

Zad Caravella

Burns Bridges Goodwin

Taggart

Bench:
Kennedy
Kanta
Regs
Virgilli
Brown

Heskey to come in when fit

Still no idea why people put Burns on the right wing. He has said all along that his prefered position is in the hole behind the striker and that's a position we were awful with last year. Virgili will surely start while Heskey is out injured, Burns in at #10 and Taggart at the point. When Heskey comes back, I reckon it all depends on how good Virgili has been... he will either keep his starting spot or Taggart will get moved to the right of the front three.

[russjaybee]

Grimmarz pretty much on the moolah imo.

[Grimario]

[scarfy96]

I agree with those that are starting Burns on the right and Vigilli on the bench, Bridges at no 10. Pre-season reports are that Bridges is playing well there and providing great through balls and Burns has skill to go past people with pure skill and has great finishing.

Vigilli is improving but his greatest asset is his pace. His pace is best used against a tired defence, if you think of all his goals/assists last year almost all of them were when he came on with 20-30 minutes to go and run at a tired defence.

So I would be looking at starting Bridges at 10, Burns on the right and Vigilli on the bench. At about 60-70 minute mark I would be bringing Bridges off, move Burns to no 10 and put Vigilli on the right to tear apart a tired defence and either create his own chances or lay it on a platter for Taggs or Burns coming into the box late. Depending on Burns fitness first game it could be a straight swap with Vigilli if Burns's strain isn't 100%.

[true waterboy]

Vigilli is improving but his greatest asset is his pace. His pace is best used against a tired defence, if you think of all his goals/assists last year almost all of them were when he came on with 20-30 minutes to go and run at a tired defence.

he is a goal scoring machine. just which of his goals last year was your favourite ?

[pv4]

if you think of all his goals/assists last year almost all of them were when he came on with 20-30 minutes to go and run at a tired defence.

Virgili has 2 season career assists to his name & no goals.

One assist was against CCM for Heskey, which Virgili was not a sub. I can't remember the other assist, was it off the bench though?

[scarfy96]

OK but he had 16 attempts on goal, and IMO when he looks most dangerous is when he is running at a tired defence, it allows him to use his speed, rather than burning his speed against a fresh defence. Hopefully with his continued development and ability to finish some in pre-season this year then those attempts will translate to a few goals this year but looking at our options I would put him behind Burns, Taggart, Goodwin, and Heskey which means starting on the bench. The question is who is most effective at number 10, is it Bridges, Burns or will Brown come into that role. Either way it is Vigilli off the bench as an impact in the last 20-30 minutes for me.

[Grimario]

OK but he had 16 attempts on goal, and IMO when he looks most dangerous is when he is running at a tired defence, it allows him to use his speed, rather than burning his speed against a fresh defence. Hopefully with his continued development and ability to finish some in pre-season this year then those attempts will translate to a few goals this year but looking at our options I would put him behind Burns, Taggart, Goodwin, and Heskey which means starting on the bench. The question is who is most effective at number 10, is it Bridges, Burns or will Brown come into that role. Either way it is Vigilli off the bench as an impact in the last 20-30 minutes for me.

Except in that front 4 you put him behind, Heskey is injured and Burns has already stated his desire to play the number 10. Given every player who played as our playmaker last season was awful, why would we persist with the two who were used there when a "fringe Socceroo" is in our team and wanting to play that role? Burns behind the striker, Taggart up front, Virgili on the right. The team just about picks itself.

[pv4]

Burns isn't the first-choice number 10. GVE was well-documented saying he brought him in to play on the left of a front three. I think you'll find Burns said he likes anywhere, but probably prefers #10 as he sees the ball more. It means nothing. In a first choice GVE-picked team, Burns is a LW.

BTW scarfy FWIW I agree with you that Chilli is more of an impact player. I think I really hammered GVE last season for starting him against Victory as he was never going to be anything close to useful against a fresh Traore.

If you look at the leftbacks other teams have this season it is:
- Steffanuto (Brisbane)
- Rose (CCM)
- Cassio (Adelaide)
- Heffernan/Dapuzz (WSW)
- Warren/Grant (Syd)
- Jamieson (Perth)
- Muscat (Wellington)
- Traore (Victory)
- Behich (Heart)

Now Victory & Heart aside (maybe Sydney if Grant is there), all the leftbacks are getting old and/or are useless. I would definately be wanting a livewire impact sub against those old/crappy legs.

[Grimario]

I'm not disagreeing that Virgili is a better sub than starter either... just that with Heskey out and how pre-season has gone, is Goodwin really going to be at fullback? And if he isn't, that kind of takes the LW spot and means Burns isn't there either.

[MFKS]

Would actually like to see Virgilli used late in games as a striker if we are winning.


Feel his speed could be of massive use if he can break some offside traps as teams push forward on us

[scarfy96]

Except in that front 4 you put him behind, Heskey is injured and Burns has already stated his desire to play the number 10. Given every player who played as our playmaker last season was awful, why would we persist with the two who were used there when a "fringe Socceroo" is in our team and wanting to play that role? Burns behind the striker, Taggart up front, Virgili on the right. The team just about picks itself.

Except that GVE has stated many times he brought Burns in for his ability to go past people - repeated again in todays rag - and at almost every opportunity he has played in wide right in pre-season (admittedly these have been limited due to contract and injury) which baring one statement by Burns that he fancied the number 10 role has been the consistent line from the Jets - Burns to play on the right. So front 3 I still think will be:

Goodwin Taggart Burns

With Bridges at no 10.

What happens to Taggs when Heskey is again fit will be interesting. I guess that will depend on how he plays, and how Goodwin plays and how Bridges goes at no 10.

I still think Vigilli will come on at 60-70 minutes either as a straight swap for Burns if there is any doubt over him or for Bridges and Burns will go central.

Reports both in the Herald and the Jets own media indicated that Bridges passing in the first half v Mariners was very creative and regularly put players through and that when he went off the supply dried up. So for my reading of things Burns will start in the position for which he was bought (on the right hand side), Goodwin will start left, and Bridges will be the supply line.

[Jeterpool]

Would actually like to see Virgilli used late in games as a striker if we are winning.


Feel his speed could be of massive use if he can break some offside traps as teams push forward on us

This could be an interesting call. I wonder how that would pan out?

[Grimario]

Except that GVE has stated many times

There's your problem, taking anything that muppet says as gospel.

[scarfy96]

I guess we will find out in a week and a half hey.

Virgilli up front isn't a bad option late in the game. Guess it is an option until Heskey is back 100%, after that can't see it happening much.

[Grimario]

Would actually like to see Virgilli used late in games as a striker if we are winning.


Feel his speed could be of massive use if he can break some offside traps as teams push forward on us

Late in game options if we are losing? Regan or Chapman