CITY INSIDER: City v Macarthur - Saturday 7 February

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CITY WANT ALL 3 POINTS

Melbourne City are back at AAMI Park this evening for the second fixture in a row, ready to take on Macarthur.

While perhaps unfair to call it a ‘form slump’, City comes into this clash desperate for the full three points after playing out three consecutive draws.

There’s been a pretty common theme throughout those contests –particularly against Western Sydney and Adelaide. Plenty of chances have been created but for whatever reason, they just haven’t been hitting the back of the net.

The Wanderers clash saw City record 31 shots to 2 while last week against Adelaide (28-12) wasn’t too dissimilar.

Speaking post-game after the draw to Adelaide, Rado Vidosic said he’d be ‘more concerned’ if his team weren’t creating any scoring chances rather than creating plenty and not finishing.

There’s no doubt Vidosic, as well as the City family as a whole, will be hoping to see a few more of those great chances end up in the back of the net tonight.

City’s 2021/22 Player of the Year, Florin Berenguer, is nearing full fitness after making his return to action earlier this month following a long lay-off due to a hamstring injury.

He’s now made four consecutive cameos off the bench, seeing over half an hour of action – his most game time yet – last time out against Adelaide.

City looked a more cohesive unit going forward following the Frenchman’s introduction, with Berenguer creating plenty of chances for the front three ahead of him as City chased an equaliser.

At most other teams around the league it would simply be a case of bringing a player of Berenguer’s quality straight back into the XI as soon as he’s at 100% fitness, but the depth at City will cause a good kind of a headache for Vidosic.

City’s usual midfield three of Aiden O’Neill, Valon Berisha and Richard van der Venne have all been impressive so far this season and any of the trio would find themselves unlucky to be benched.

Whether it comes tonight, next week or sometime into the future, it’ll be a tough decision for Vidosic as to what his best midfield mix will be.

A-LEAGUE MEN PREVIEW

DANGER PLAYER

LAST RESULT 3 3

0 1

We’re set to once again welcome back a former fan favourite in Craig Noone tonight.‘Nooney’ made 55 appearances in his time in City blue, netting 15 goals and the most memorable of those of course being the winner against Central Coast in 2020 that secured our first ever piece of Men’s silverware.Now in his second season at Macarthur, Noone has continued to show his quality as one of the best wingers in the competition.While he is yet to get his own name on the scoresheet in 2022/23, our former number 11 has been as creative as ever, laying off 35 key passes for four assists.

CRAIG NOONE

Richard van der Venne

Raphael Borges Rodrigues

CRUCIAL CHALLENGE AWAITS

Today’s action begins at Allianz Stadium, with our City Women taking on Sydney FC in a huge clash with plenty on the line.

As we hit the second half of the season, things are getting tight at the top of the table with both teams well and truly alive in the race to the Premiership.

City’s in-form backline (and of course ‘keepers Melissa Barbieri and Sally James) have allowed just three goals in its last seven games, keeping clean sheets in five of those fixtures.

Captain Emma Checker’s inclusion has been big, while 18-year-old Naomi Chinnama and New Zealand international Katie Bowen have impressed since Round 1.

They’ll today face their toughest test of the season, a Sydney FC side that is currently leading the league in goals per game and fresh off putting six goals past fellow top four side, Melbourne Victory.

City’s defence will have to once again be at the top of its game to null the attacking threats the Sky Blues pose.

It’s always tough for any coach to change a winning line-up, which is just the challenge that Dario Vidosic is faced with this week.

While the scoreline only read 1-0 when the full-time whistle blew last Sunday, it was a strong performance from City who never really gave Adelaide a sniff.

Teenage sensation Daniela Galic found herself on the bench for that clash, while Karly Roestbakken was missing from the squad completely, rested due to soreness.

Both are expected to be right back in the selection mix for today, meaning there could be some unlucky omissions.

Returning to the XI last time out, Leticia McKenna and Bryleeh Henry both performed admirably and would certainly feel hard done by to lose their spot.

It’s the kind of headache that any coach doesn’t mind having and with such a crucial game ahead, there will be plenty of eyes on the XI when its released early Saturday afternoon.

A-LEAGUE WOMEN PREVIEW

DANGER PLAYER

Sydney FC striker Princess Ibini has continued to go from strength to strength this season, playing a big role in the team’s strong form as of late. She last season scored five goals and passed off another four assists, and has already equalled that goal tally after just nine games, while being just one assist shy of matching her 2021/22 mark.Ibini comes into this afternoon’s clash in some red hot form, fresh off banging in a hattrick against fellow top-four opposition, Melbourne Victory.

PRINCESS IBINI

THE RACE TO THE PLATE

An extended A-League Women season means that with 11 City games now played, we’re only just hitting the second half of the season rather than the final weeks.

It’s a welcome change across the league, and now the attention begins to turn to see who is going to be crowned this season’s Premiers.

After going so close last season, City will be desperate to add more silverware to its trophy cabinet and is currently right in the mix to do so.

It was a strong start to the season for City, getting some crucial early points on the board and netting 12 goals in its first three games to get off to a flying start.

A big factor in this was the brilliant form shown from Emina Ekic and Maria Jose Rojas. Ekic unfortunately has now returned to the US following a fractured fibula, while Rojas’ injury replacement contract came to an end – although she will be returning to City following international duties.

While the goals may’ve dried up a little in recent weeks, City’s defence has been a huge factor in continuing to chalk up the points in order to mount a Premiership challenge.

Both 18-year-old Naomi Chinnama and New Zealand international Katie Bowen have been in some great form since Round 1, while captain Emma Checker has been a welcome inclusion in recent weeks.

City currently sits second on the table – two points behind Western and four ahead of Sydney FC – although it has played more fixtures

than both teams.

An away win on Saturday would provide a handy buffer over the Sky Blues, and could see City into top spot should Western United draw or lose.

It won’t be easy, especially given Sydney is yet to drop a point at home this season and is coming into the fixture fresh off having put six goals past Victory but expect Dario Vidosic’s squad to leave everything out there this afternoon.

GOALKEEPERS SALLY JAMES AND MELISSA BARBIERI HAVE BOTH BEEN PIVOTAL BETWEEN THE STICKS WHICH HAS LED TO CITY KEEPING A LEAGUE-BEST SIX CLEAN SHEETS.

JUNIOR ACADEMY GETS SET TO KICK OFF SEASON 2023!

The City football isn’t stopping anytime soon as our Junior Academy squads prepare to kick off their season this weekend!

Last Sunday saw their season launch at AAMI Park, with our whole Junior Academy brought together to celebrate the beginning of the season.

Players, parents and staff were all in attendance to hear from guest speakers before taking in the action from our Senior Men’s draw with Adelaide United.

The junior squads have been training since November in what has been a big pre-season with 11 friendlies played over that period.

Melbourne City Academy Manager, Simon Zappia, said he was excited

with where the squads are at heading into the new season.

“We have some very exciting talent across all age groups and the players are extremely driven to get better each and every day,” Zappia said.

“Our coaching group, who the majority are now full time, has been stable over the past couple of years which allows our processes across the phases to be as clear as ever in terms of how we want our teams to play and how we look to develop the individuals within that.”

This season’s squads sees more of a presence of the Melbourne City Football School than ever before, with over 75% of the U14 squad – and over 50% of players across the whole Junior Academy – having come through the program.

These numbers are made even more significant given the fact that CFS has only been running since mid-2019.

Another feature of City’s Junior Academy squads continues to be a large number – over 70% of players – playing an age group above their eligibility.

“We will continue to deliberately challenge players and reinforce the message that at this age, it is not necessarily about winning or losing,” Zappia said, “Our end goal always remains the same and that is to develop as many professional footballers as possible who are City identifiable.”

“I think the recent success of our Academy graduates who are playing in World Cups, top European leagues and of course helping contribute to titles for our first team in the A-League Men’s allow our Academy families to really understand what we are trying to achieve.”

WE ALWAYS HAVE THE LONG-TERM GOAL IN MIND, RATHER THAN ANY SHORT-TERM RESULTS.