APIA Leichardt vs Western Sydney Wanderers 22/09/2015 7:45PM

WS Wanderers FC â€@wswanderersfc  1m

1 minute agoSydney, New South Wales

There's still time to organise your limited edition #WSW KISS shirt! Details: http://bit.ly/1UD6Dap 

 

 

 

...... ummmm...... no thanks

Ummmm... no thanks

Horrible band!

WS Wanderers FC â€@wswanderersfc  46s

SECOND HALF! Romeo Castelen, Jaushua Sotirio & Andrew Redmayne come off for Josh Macdonald, Alusine Fofanah & Dean Bouzanis #WSW

WS Wanderers FC â€@wswanderersfc  50s

SUBS ON: Baccus, Santalab, Danaskos (T), Gollan (T), Roberts (T), Alessi, Youlley #WSW

SUBS OFF: Dimas, Piovaccari, Jamieson, Topor-Stanley, Neville, Alberto, Pepper #WSW

SUB | Tariq Maia comes on, replacing fellow trialist Alex Gollan #WSW

WS Wanderers FC â€@wswanderersfc  37s

Goal. APIA. Nathan Milgate receives the ball in the box and puts it in the net #WSW

2-1 Full Time.

We're gonna win the league.

We' re gonna win it all.

Now onto Perth and FFA cup semis

We're gunna have big problems this season leaking goals.

No we wont

Very good team when they settle. Final four in the league.

We conceded a goal after we subbed off alberto, dimas, neville, pepper, topor, and jamo. Played with kids and trialist.

I dont think that's an accurate indication of our defence. We'll do just fine

yeah that goal that was scored against use was when we had team C and trialists on

I think Apia weren't too bad and they gave us a good hit out.

Really impressed with Shabow, the number 8. Very comfortable on the ball and creative. Excellent engine too. And the quality of those corners???

#signshabownow

Redmayne > Bouzanis

Poor decision with that back pass penalty.

Not a bad hit out at all. APIA came out and played some decent football in the first 20 or so mins, but that goal from Pia was a real highlight...lovely cross from Castelan and boom...Fed-Head-Xpress.

Still not 100% sold on the Dimas and Alberto, and feel a bit sorry for Bouzanis for a very scrappy melee goal. NTS is short of a run and you could see every now and again instead of playing out from the back he just wanted to hoof it in his old style. 

Maybe we do have some questions at the back still to be answered, but these are still early days. Right now we've had two mostly serious hit outs in the FFA Cup and in both we've done the job. And in the trials I've seen the oppo has really wanted to do something as part of lifting against us. 

Good to catch up with WDYSF, Tranq, Mick, Taurus, Guy & Megan...

Where were the rbb/la banda tonight?

In our short history, this would have to be the first ever Sydney game in our history (pre-season included) where we had no la banda/rbb.

Perhaps all the hype is gone.

Felt wierd.

Still not 100% sold on the Dimas and Alberto

Where were the rbb/la banda tonight?

 

In our short history, this would have to be the first ever Sydney game in our history (pre-season included) where we had no la banda/rbb.

 

Perhaps all the hype is gone.

 

Felt wierd.

 

Still not 100% sold on the Dimas and Alberto

Can I ask why?

 

Seemed a little slow at time and when challenged or beaten took a few physical options. Must admit I didn't see much of Alberto but Dimas was often in front of us. Has to be said he did help create the circumstances for the pen.

No Cole, Hamill, Nichols. Interesting.

Nichols & Hamill rested. 

Cole still getting back to full fitness 

Really impressed with Shabow, the number 8. Very comfortable on the ball and creative. Excellent engine too. And the quality of those corners???

 

#signshabownow

Shabow will be a member of our NYL squad. 

 

No Cole, Hamill, Nichols. Interesting.

 

Nichols & Hamill rested. 

Cole still getting back to full fitness 

Really impressed with Shabow, the number 8. Very comfortable on the ball and creative. Excellent engine too. And the quality of those corners???

 

#signshabownow

 

Shabow will be a member of our NYL squad. 

 

Worked out who it was in the hoodie with Nichols & Hammill? Too tall to be Cole maybe...Maybe DV?

Golgol was there too I thought

Where were the rbb/la banda tonight?

 

In our short history, this would have to be the first ever Sydney game in our history (pre-season included) where we had no la banda/rbb.

 

Perhaps all the hype is gone.

 

Felt wierd.

Cops. Terrible FFA decisions. Entitled fans.

**** it, why bother?

What was the attendance?

ok so my thoughts on the match. 

I left at the 70 minute mark where the side changed so much by this point but it interesting to see how our first team is progressing. 

First 15 mins was miserable, APIA were passing and controling the ball much much better then us, then we warmed into the match and dominated without being creating too many chances. APIA for what seemed like a pretty young team were very physical however and made life very tough. The ref didnt really control this so they got away with hacking at the heels all game which didn't help. 

DEFENSE -

Neville- was shocking. here and there he did his job but otherwise e was showed p big time by APIA and his touch was poor. He really needs to up his game.

Alberto- was not too inspiring, but did nothing wrong. Decent passing out, quite small but knows how to tackle. I think the physicality of the league will be his biggest obstacle. 

Topor- was really average, his passing is worse then alot of all age teams in my district! He needs more match practise.

Jamo- is a beast, like seriously. We are very lucky to have him, he knows how to keep the ball, when to pass, when to cut in, and which options to pick. Breath of fresh air.

MIDFIELD -

Pepper- was disappointing. I was expecting him to stand out abit more against APIA like opposition. He was very much a mixed bag with losing possession and or just laying the simple passes around. Defensively i expected him to dominate and use his strength but he was more often then not pushed off the ball easily.

Dimas- i would say overall was good. Still lost abit of possession with wayward passes, but hes smart and very mobile and tidy on the ball. Drops back and lays a platform to go forward with ease. Rushes into tackles abit much which will see him either get a few yellows or just leave a couple holes in midfield so he needs to get that sorted. Hes a slight fellow so i hope the physicality isnt too much for him. Won a penalty with a great one two.

Shabow- the trialist took a while to find his feet. But he impressed eventually, really nippy little guy but tended to over run the ball and was poor when we had the ball deep. 

ATTACK -

Sotirio- was our main outlet, ran hard and tirelessly all game but not necessarily always productive. Alot of pointless runs where he runs away from the whole team then has to come back. Needs to be smarter but thats me being harsh. Otherwise he was top 5 performer in the team.

Castellan- was great. Layed a perfect cross for a goal. Just need alot more early ball.

Federico-, ok so this was my first time seeing him play. Hes really quite a stocky, strong player. He got absolutely shadowed and hacked all game. His headed goal was all class, he makes some great runs which just need to be found. Hes definitely a 18 yard jack in the box, knows where the goal is and what to do. CONS, if we get frustrated with Juric's defensive effort then we may just cry with Federicos, quite lacklustre when not in attack besides one or 2 occasions. Also dont expect him to be an amazing hold up player, id say Juric had a much better general touch and hold up play, this is not Federicos game. He seems abit like Bulut with a dodgy touch here and there. But he will be a threat from corners and set pieces with that head! 

Not going to bother with subs really but McDonald is class, moves with ease for me he is ahead of Sotirio and Fofanah. But overall, we certainly lacked the quality Bridge, Nicholls, Andreu and GolGol brought in previous games. Add Vidosic and its a different team. The best 11 just really needs more games together as what is visible is that we squander alot of attacking moves because passes are played to slow or not at all. Castellan, and Federico had countless chances in space but never got the ball and they were simple passes. But no Doubt Dimas  and Andreu will bring a control to midfield we havnt seen since we had Mooy and Ono. 

Possible issues are still depth in some areas. Im a fan of Nevilles so i hope it was a poor game, he needs to improve ten fold. 

Midfield, If Dimas or Andreu are out the step down is quite big unless Pepper steps up big time. Baccus is ahead of him for me.

500-700 is my guesstimate Jowel

Where were the rbb/la banda tonight?

 

In our short history, this would have to be the first ever Sydney game in our history (pre-season included) where we had no la banda/rbb.

 

Perhaps all the hype is gone.

 

Felt wierd.

FFA Cup Melbourne Victory v Adelaide was on TV 

One thing that certainly needed attention, as Dee Dee brings up, was the physicality (aka hacking) from the APIA guys, and the ref's inability to curtail it. The No.2 from APIA was a mongrel bastard almost all game, and to be blunt our guys were gun shy of going in 100% because they didn't want the knocks & injuries. You could see Fed & Row-mayo both cop some nasty stuff & at times step back, whereas if it was a full-on competitive A-league or FFA Cup game they'd not take a backward step. As it was Fed took a nasty head clash as well as was rubbing his leg after a harsh challenge.

As for the numpties whining about the number of trialists. Why should Popa risk injuries or flat performances from key guys in a friendly when we have a VIP FFA Cup game next week, and plenty of pre-season niggles & injuries? If we don't look that flash against APIA & still win with our key players safe, then job done. Right now our two meaningful games in the FFA Cup have been clean sheet wins...so full steam ahead!

Would it be fair to say that Hamill is our best central defender based on pre season form? From what I have heard about reports of Hamill is that he has had a good pre season and Alberto and Topor both have been a little average. How would Hamill and Alberto suit as a combo? 

It seems from what I have read so far this pre season is that Hamill, Nichols, Castelen, Andreu and Jamieson have been our best players. Also Redmayne has been better than Bouzanis.

Would it be fair to say that Hamill is our best central defender based on pre season form? From what I have heard about reports of Hamill is that he has had a good pre season and Alberto and Topor both have been a little average. How would Hamill and Alberto suit as a combo? 

 

It seems from what I have read so far this pre season is that Hamill, Nichols, Castelen, Andreu and Jamieson have been our best players. Also Redmayne has been better than Bouzanis.

It's hard just say who our best CB is at the moment. Because Hamill is a number of weeks further ahead in his preseason than the other 2 senior CB's.