I imagine our lineup, assuming there aren't players out with injury, will look something:

GK: Hall/Suman

Defence: Keanu Baccus, Cornthwaite, Hamill,  Llorente,

Midfield: Herd, Tokich, Majok

Attack: Krousorati, Santalab, Cejudo

Depending on how Bridge pulled up, he might get some time along with Scott, maybe Melling & Jumpei half an hour, the rest of the team sit on the bench. I'm not sure if the NYL squad is up and running yet, maybe they'll take some NPL kids to help make up numbers.

All we have to do is dream

Whatever plans you have on Friday night cancel them.

Well, that is unless you are going to be at the soccer.

There is no AFL in Melbourne on Friday night, there is no local football either, so there is no reason why you should not head off to watch the world game at McEwen Reserve.

In what will be a first for the Goulburn Valley, two A-League clubs will go head-to-head when Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers grace the newly developed ‘‘Theatre of Dreams’’.

With no disrespect to the Goulburn Valley Suns or our region’s four teams competing in the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League, it will be the best standard of soccer you will probably see in Shepparton (depending on how good the Asian Football Confederation Under-19 Championship qualifiers are in November).

With the A-League season starting in just more than two weeks, it is expected both clubs will travel with relatively strong squads in preparation for round one, well City anyway.

The Wanderers could also field a competitive side, despite playing in the FFA Cup tonight.

Last month, Warren Joyce, Melbourne City’s new head coach, did not rule out the possibility of playing Socceroos Tim Cahill, Luke Brattan and the returning Stefan Mauk, so you would be stupid not to go if you like soccer.

On Monday, City also announced the signing of marquee player and Polish international Marcin Budzinksi.

It may be the first time any fan in Australia will have the opportunity to watch the midfielder live and in the flesh.

If you do not have an interest in soccer, but you love your sport, you are never going to get a better opportunity to watch two of the country’s premier soccer clubs face off in your own backyard.

Wanderers have an impressive track record of their own, having been crowned the best club in Asia after winning the Asian Champions League.

Tony Popovic’s squad also includes Robbie Cornthwaite, Dutchman Roly Bonevacia and Spanish La Liga attackers Oriol Riera and Alvaro Cejudo.

To see some high-quality soccer for just $15 is an absolute bargain.

If that does not tickle your fancy, well here is another reason to go.

The clash will also coincide with the launch of the redeveloped Shepparton Sports Precinct and a new 500-plus-seat grandstand on the western side.

As the sun sets on Friday night, fans, spectators and interested onlookers will be in awe of the ‘‘Theatre of Dreams’’, even if they have had a sneak peak beforehand.

It looms to be a monumental community hub for football and other sports at the reserve.

The pavilion is huge — it is 21m wide, 75m long and expected to seat more than 500 people outside.

The pavilion will cater for four players’ change rooms underneath, an umpires’ change facility and a first aid room.

In addition, the pavilion’s social room allows for a further 200 to 240 people to be seated inside.

The elevated viewing area starts at 1.5m above ground level, before the height begins to vary in the undercover seating area.

All jokes aside, the Greater Shepparton City Council has done a remarkable job at redeveloping McEwen Reserve and the sporting facilities that surround it.

Now it has gone to the effort of bringing high-quality sporting teams and players here, so get off your backside, stop complaining about the lack of things to do in Shepparton and get to McEwen Reserve on Friday night — you will not regret it.

LOWDOWN

When: Friday, September 22.

Who: Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers.

Where: McEwen Reserve, Shepparton Sports Precinct.

Kick-off: 7.30pm

Tickets: $12.50 (adult), $7.50 (concession, students and children 5 to 17), via the Riverlinks Box Office, Shepparton, or on match-day.

2017-18 Melbourne City members will receive free entry to the match.

53 minutes ago, mack said:

I imagine our lineup, assuming there aren't players out with injury, will look something:

GK: Hall/Suman

Defence: Keanu Baccus, Cornthwaite, Hamill,  Llorente,

Midfield: Herd, Tokich, Majok

Attack: Krousorati, Santalab, Cejudo

Depending on how Bridge pulled up, he might get some time along with Scott, maybe Melling & Jumpei half an hour, the rest of the team sit on the bench. I'm not sure if the NYL squad is up and running yet, maybe they'll take some NPL kids to help make up numbers.

It's unlikely that any of the starting 11 from last night with feature.

Riera, Risdon & Thwaite were at the spy movie premier tonight, so they didn't travel down with squad today. 

There may be a few NPL2 1st grade players still training with AL squad, but normally they would be in the middle of a 3 - 4 week break before returning for NYL pre-season training.

Not many u20 NPL players left to call up as Tokich along with Grozos, Najjar, Russell, Cordier, Pufflet & a couple of others are OS with the Young Socceroos u19 squad

Perhaps we'll rustle up some Victorian NPL players to fill out our bench.

1 hour ago, mack said:

I imagine our lineup, assuming there aren't players out with injury, will look something:

GK: Hall/Suman

Defence: Keanu Baccus, Cornthwaite, Hamill,  Llorente,

Midfield: Herd, Tokich, Majok

Attack: Krousorati, Santalab, Cejudo

Depending on how Bridge pulled up, he might get some time along with Scott, maybe Melling & Jumpei half an hour, the rest of the team sit on the bench. I'm not sure if the NYL squad is up and running yet, maybe they'll take some NPL kids to help make up numbers.

Tokich is supposed to be on his way to Qatar for a Young Socceroos camp. I think it will be Lustica as AM with one of the NPL boys as DM. Majok to start and Krousorati to come off the bench.

6 minutes ago, mack said:

Perhaps we'll rustle up some Victorian NPL players to fill out our bench.

Take a few guys from Blacktown City more like

https://www.greengully.com/walker-and-krousoratis-sign-on

Is there a stream for this game somewhere on the interwebs or is anyone going to it who could give us a few updates?

14 minutes ago, bombagol said:

Is there a stream for this game somewhere on the interwebs or is anyone going to it who could give us a few updates?

I would have went. Didnt realise it was tonight. Thought it was next week. ****!! 

No club twitter. 

Following on Vi$ion City Twitter.

City with 5 at the back.

3 CB Malik, La Rocca and Sckenkeveld.

Budzinski and Brattan ad midfield.

Kamau and Mauk on the wings and Arzani as striker. 

Nothing on our formation.

1 hour ago, bombagol said:

Is there a stream for this game somewhere on the interwebs or is anyone going to it who could give us a few updates?

Here's the link for Melbourne City twitter.

https://twitter.com/MelbourneCity?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Jamo has done his back and subbed.

Krousouratis appears to be starting and had a near miss

Hall starting GK and already made a save on a corner.

Farrrken shameful from our franchise. 

WSW profess to be a big professional club, but can't even provide the most basic of services to our 15k members

Penalty conceded and scored by Arzani

3 minutes ago, Taurus said:

***** shameful from our franchise. 

WSW profess to be a big professional club, but can't even provide the most basic of services to our 15k members

Taurus you are like I am" a ******* CONSUMER"  and never forget it.

Hamill in the starting lineup

19 minutes ago, papersun said:

Here's the link for Melbourne City twitter.

https://twitter.com/MelbourneCity?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

thanks!

Malik gets a yellow card at 43'

Half time down 0-1.

Man I'm glad Standalab is playing.

Brought the kids along...

3 minutes ago, Carns said:

Man I'm glad Standalab is playing.

That probably means Jordan Hall is playing from the NPL

8 minutes ago, Carns said:

Man I'm glad Standalab is playing.

Also it's good they put the K in front of Baccus so we knew which one they meant.

2 minutes ago, Davo said:

Also it's good they put the K in front of Baccus so we knew which one they meant.

Just now, Carns said:

 

Tbf.

Our club got the yellow card count wrong when Keanu picked up a yellow card ladt season.

7 minutes ago, Paul01 said:

Tbf.

Our club got the yellow card count wrong when Keanu picked up a yellow card ladt season.

Yes, something they wanted to very much forget.

Stream

39 minutes ago, Carns said:

Brought the kids along...

 

Good to see Popa on the subs bench to lead by example if the time comes

0-1 FT.

Doesn't seem like a particularity good performance.