The Melbourne City Thread

[MrPremiership]

Great win last night. Good to see Tilio with the finishes.

Still think the finals are a 50/50 prospect for us. Top 4 can score goals, and looks like we'll end up playing Adelaide in the semi. They're not at their best, but have given us grief defensively each occasion.

It's pretty much a lottery now.

 

[AJ_2000]

No Aiden O'Neill tonight. Out with general soreness which is a worry after you have a week off.

Leckie is back in the starting lineup and Nabbot on the bench.

 

[sverik25]

Still annoyed we don't get any advantage in this tie despite finishing 1st and them 5th.

 

[AJ_2000]

Still annoyed we don't get any advantage in this tie despite finishing 1st and them 5th.

Pretty much it's the 2nd leg... Not really any advantage now.

Mind you, we've been pretty average for the first 13 minutes, so a 2nd leg might serve us well

 

[AJ_2000]

Smash and grab! 1-0 after Sydney looked more likely.

 

[pantskyle]

Just really need to go 3 up into the next and cruise it.

Need to lift though as it's an arm wrestle so far.

 

[AJ_2000]

We dominated from 13-43 minutes. Unlucky not to have gone up by 2 goals, but also lucky not to have conceded.

Glover and Leckie the difference makers right now

 

[pantskyle]

Haven't bothered to come out this half.

 

[AJ_2000]

Nuno Reis was utter trash tonight. Horrid challenge on the pen, played so many midfielders in to trouble.

Glover was excellent tonight.

 

[AJ_2000]

It was a typical first leg. If they could have blown the whistle at 80 minutes both teams would have been happy with the 1-1.

Rode our luck with 2 VAR offside goals chalked off. Needs to get Jmac in the game more at AAMI and hopefully O'Neill is fit - we'll be much better in the middle if he is there.

 

[sverik25]

Not a convincing performance at all and lucky to get away with the draw to be honest.

But, it's now effectively the same as a one-legged tie at our home ground, so we'll take it.

 

[ColinMochrie]

A draw is a good result really.

Just need to win at home now.

 

[AJ_2000]

Undefeated at home games at AAMI this season, 1 loss against victory, last loss to an interstate team at AAMI park was Adelaide in February 2022.

So it's a fortress.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

We'll be in an unusual position I think where we'll have most of the neutral support behind us for the second leg here. Even though Melbourne City isn't typically a darling for neutral support, I think the last thing people want is for Sydney to parlay a barely above 50% W/L mark into a home grand final.

Honestly I didn't realise the semi-finals was going to be a two-leg set-up... bigger load of crap than the Sydney grand final in my opinion. At least we got the Premier's Plate, but there's barely any benefit of finishing second now.

 

[Vdubs]

We'll be in an unusual position I think where we'll have most of the neutral support behind us for the second leg here. Even though Melbourne City isn't typically a darling for neutral support, I think the last thing people want is for Sydney to parlay a barely above 50% W/L mark into a home grand final.

Honestly I didn't realise the semi-finals was going to be a two-leg set-up... bigger load of crap than the Sydney grand final in my opinion. At least we got the Premier's Plate, but there's barely any benefit of finishing second now.

Or first?

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Or first?

You win the Premier's Plate. You get nothing for finishing second and now don't even have a home ground advantage for the semi final.

 

[Vdubs]

You win the Premier's Plate. You get nothing for finishing second and now don't even have a home ground advantage for the semi final.

We finished top, second gets a turnaround home final week 2 just like we do.

The international players, including Aussies, have little respect for the very notion of a finals system anyway, word has it.
Play 27 odd games, finish top, that is enough.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

We finished top, second gets a turnaround home final week 2 just like we do.

The international players have very little respect for the very notion of a finals system anyway, word has it.
Play 27 odd games, finish top, that is enough.

I think you're missing my point.

With the new system, the top two teams are getting screwed in the grand final and semi finals, unless they're a Sydney club. First place has a nice piece of silverware in the cabinet though, so that's some consolation.

I'm not surprised the international players feel that way. We've won a major trophy, our main rivals haven't, so it's a successful season. In reality though the Premiers Plate and Champions Trophy have been given equal billing throughout the history of the A-League, if not the toilet seat is rated a bit higher, since the Australian crowds are accustomed to the grand final being the pinnacle of the season. For our players, local or foreign, it's a major trophy, a chance to do the double, those opportunities don't come around every year.

I'd be expecting every player in the squad to be putting 100% into making the grand final and winning it. And from a supporter's side keeping Sydney from playing in an undeserved home grand final is a little bit of extra motivation, especially with Corica carrying on like a twit pretty much all season. If we can't win it, I just don't want Sydney to.

 

[Vdubs]

I think you're missing my point.

With the new system, the top two teams are getting screwed in the grand final and semi finals, unless they're a Sydney club. First place has a nice piece of silverware in the cabinet though, so that's some consolation.

I'm not surprised the international players feel that way. We've won a major trophy, our main rivals haven't, so it's a successful season. In reality though the Premiers Plate and Champions Trophy have been given equal billing throughout the history of the A-League, if not the toilet seat is rated a bit higher, since the Australian crowds are accustomed to the grand final being the pinnacle of the season. For our players, local or foreign, it's a major trophy, a chance to do the double, those opportunities don't come around every year.

I'd be expecting every player in the squad to be putting 100% into making the grand final and winning it. And from a supporter's side keeping Sydney from playing in an undeserved home grand final is a little bit of extra motivation, especially with Corica carrying on like a twit pretty much all season. If we can't win it, I just don't want Sydney to.

Got you.
One bonus is that if we make the GF, it won’t be against Sydney FC

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Got you.
One bonus is that if we make the GF, it won’t be against Sydney FC

And I think the Mariners and Adelaide probably want us rather than Sydney there and everyone else probably just doesn't want to see Sydney win it.

 

[ColinMochrie]

I see it as this:
Premiers Plate - Premier League
Finals - FA Cup
Australia Cup - Carabao Cup

The aim is to win the premier league, feels good to win but not crucial to win FA Cup/Finals, noone really cares about Carabao Cup/Australia Cup unless you are in the final.

 

[AJ_2000]

Confirmation of the receipts breaking transfer to Belgium for Bos. I wish him well, yes development over the past 2 years has been outstanding.

Also with Talbot being able to force Jamo and Galloway to the bench is a super impressive effort.

Australian record transfer sees Jordan Bos move to Belgian Pro League

Melbourne City Football Club can confirm the departure of talented young left back, Jordan Bos, who will join Belgian Pro League side KVC Westerlo, subject to completing a medical assessment.

melbournecityfc.com.au

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I see it as this:
Premiers Plate - Premier League
Finals - FA Cup
Australia Cup - Carabao Cup

The aim is to win the premier league, feels good to win but not crucial to win FA Cup/Finals, noone really cares about Carabao Cup/Australia Cup unless you are in the final.

I'd have had the two major trophies pretty much equal prior to this season. Now the league is uncompromised, it carries more weight in my opinion. Wouldn't complain about another double and five of the past six majors though.

 

[MrPremiership]

Would really love City to go deep in the ACL

 

[AJ_2000]

Back to the AAMI Park fortress tonight (10 wins 3 draws).

Wish I was there tonight to watch, but stuck at home with covid.....

Let's hope for a big game from Mclaren, if Jmac is busy it usually results in good things.