CITY INSIDER: Round 4 v Wellington

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CAPTAIN’S MESSAGE

While it may have technically been an away game for us, the noise from the City Terrace and all of the support from the City fans inside the stadium played a big role in getting the boys over the line.

On a personal level I was disappointed to miss the clash, but it was made easier having full trust in the boys out there on the pitch. Derbies are always big games and the boys stood up to the challenge and took home a deserved three points. Andy may’ve been the one to take the armband, but the reality is for us, there’s 11 leaders out there on the pitch.

As I write this now, I’m feeling good and doing everything I can to be back out there for Wellington. I also must touch on Thursday night’s A-Leagues All Access episode. It was a little different to have cameras following us around throughout the week but it’s something I believe can have a great impact on growing our game.

For any of you who are you yet to see it, I’d strongly encourage you to take a look. It provides a great insight into what goes on behind the scenes here in our inner sanctum which is rare in sport around the world, especially so soon after the game. Getting the three points last week just topped off the episode too! We’ve enjoyed a good start to the season but after just three games, it’s no time to be getting ahead of ourselves. Our focus is fully on the Phoenix and getting another three points.

The World Cup break provides a new challenge for everyone not just our league, but in most around the world. It’ll give us a nice opportunity to reset and refocus after six games, but you better believe we’ll be going full steam ahead until then.

See you in the stands, C’mon City!

Scott Jamieson Melbourne City FC captain

THERE’S NO OTHER WAY TO START THIS THAN BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN LAST WEEK’S DERBY.

THREE FROM THREE WITH NIX UP NEXT

Last time out was a memorable Melbourne Derby, with the damage being done early for the second time in as many weeks.

A Jamie Maclaren spot kick and own goal courtesty of a wellworked short corner from Marco Tilio and Valon Berisha had City 2-0 ahead prior to the 20-minute mark, before Victory were down to 10 men not long after.

The focus now shifts to a Wellington who would likely feel a little unlucky to be sitting eighth on the table currently. A pair of draws to Adelaide and Central Coast kicked off the

Phoenix’s first full season back in New Zealand, while last time out they went down 3-1 away to Newcastle.

While makeshift at times, our back four - along with goalkeeper Tom Glover - has begun the season in fine form allowing just one goal from the first three fixtures.

Kisnorbo is set to face a big call in the make-up of that defence, with the likes of Nuno Reis and Scott Jamieson in the mix to return tonight.

Some strong performances across the defence will make it tough for any of them to be

dropped, but the quality of the potential inclusion will definitely be giving Kisnorbo and his staff something to think about.

City hasn’t lost to Wellington in the league since February 2020, although the Phoenix will arrive in Melbourne full of confidence have ended City’s Australia Cup run twice in consecutive years.

While it may still only be early days in the new season, hot on the heels of very own Jamie Maclaren in the Golden Boot race is Wellington forward Ben Waine.

The 21-year-old has begun the season in similar style to the way he ended the last, causing plenty of problems for opposition defences with his pace, attacking movements and classy finishing.

City’s defence has been as solid as a rock this season allowing just one goal, but they’ll have to be wary of Waine and a Phoenix attack who has fired off the third most shots of any team in the league.

DANGER PLAYER

BEN WAINE

THREE GAMES REMAIN BEFORE THE THE WORLD CUP AND WE’LL BE LOOKING TO CONTINUE ITS HOT-START TO THE NEW CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PHOENIX THIS EVENING.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Switch play on how you

TOUGH CALLS FOR PK, WHO MAKES THE XI?

REINFORCEMENTS ARE ON THEIR WAY, BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION HEADING INTO TONIGHT’S FIXTURE IS WHETHER HEAD COACH PATRICK KISNORBO ELECTS TO STICK WITH THE SAME STARTING XI.

The team remained unchanged from Round 1 to 2, but a suspension to Taras Gomulka followed by a last-minute Scott Jamieson withdrawal saw a couple of changes for the Derby.

The pair have both been included in City’s squad for tonight’s clash against Wellington, along with central defender Nuno Reis who is yet to appear in 2022/23 after an unfortunate hamstring setback on the eve of the season.

Jamieson and Reis both come into tonight’s clash off strong weeks on the track and ultimately, the call on whether they’re involved tonight will come down to the medical and coaching staff.

You’d image that Gomulka will return to the matchday squad after having served his suspension in last week’s Derby, but whether Kisnorbo elects to bring him straight back into the starting XI opens

a whole other can of worms. A biproduct of the aforementioned changes last week saw Mathew Leckie move into midfield with Marco Tilio coming into the XI out wide, but Gomulka’s potential inclusion certainly gives Kisnorbo something to think. City had previously played with a more defensiveminded midfield, Gomulka pairing Aiden O’Neill with Valon Berisha playing more advanced in the first couple of fixtures this season.

Thomas Lam has been the mainstay so far in the heart of defence and was partnered with Curtis Good last week. An impressive performance from the duo saw City keep a second consecutive clean sheet, forcing yet another tough decision.

The teams first two fixtures saw Jamieson do a commendable job stepping into an unfamiliar central defensive role, but with City’s centre-back stocks

now healthier, you’d expect him to move back to the more familiar left-back position. That being said, he’ll face some tough competition from 19-year-old Jordan Bos who’s coming off an impressive outing in the Debrby.

This all leaves Kisnorbo with plenty of big decisions to make tonight – but it’s of course a great problem for any manager to have!

“You’ve got to realise in some of these games, big moments are happening, and I believe that when a big moment does fall to me, I’ll be on my toes and ready for it.”

Maclaren now sits on 20 goals for Club and country in all competitions this season and there’s no doubt both he and City fans will be hoping to see that tally rise come Saturday night’s decider.

EYES ON NIX BUT QATAR IN MIND

While Graham Arnold is still a week and a bit away from naming his final 26-man squad, you’d be a brave person to bet the name ‘Mathew Leckie’ isn’t on that list.

The City attacker has been a mainstay of the Socceroos setup and played every minute at both of the nation’s last two World Cup campaigns, his experience on footballs biggest stage will be invaluable.

While he’s the first to admit it took him a little time to adjust to the move back to Melbourne and fully hit his straps last season, Leckie has gone from strength to strength over the last 12 months at City.

He finished last season with nine goals and four assists, good for second and equal fourth respectively across a team that

won a second consecutive Premiers Plate and made a third Grand Final in a row.

Although Leckie said he’s only ‘worrying about taking on Wellington’ tonight, the prospect of playing at another World Cup remains in the back of the mind.

“I’m feeling good,” he said, “the most important thing for me after the qualification was to get as fit as I possibly could and have a good start to the season.

“Obviously it’s the World Cup’s not too far around the corner, but we still have three games here. I’m just trying to do all the right things to stay fit and also do well here at Melbourne City, and so far so good for the club.”

Leckie’s also been adding another string to his bow in recent times, deployed as an attacking midfielder in last week’s 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

“I’ve played there a bit in the pre-season, he said.

“It’s different in terms of the runs I make and obviously being more involved in the middle of the park in the defensive sense as well. I’ve been enjoying it and its good to be in a situation where I’m in more involved in the midfield battle.”

FOOTBALL ACROSS THE WORLD WILL BE HEADING INTO UNCHARTERED WATERS, WITH LEAGUES ACROSS THE GLOBE SET TO PAUSE FOR THE WORLD CUP.

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