Round 4: Lady Reds vs Melbourne Victory

[Red-4-Life]

What a treat for all football fans at Hindmarsh this Friday night!

Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory will fight it out for much needed points, in front of a crowd full of passionate Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League supporters.

The girls will feature as a curtain raiser to the Adelaide United v Gold Coast United Mens game. This will test the Melbourne Victory Women's team, as it will require them to hold their nerve in front of supporters that will no doubt resemble something like a sea of RED!

The Victory girls would be experiencing somewhat mixed feelings on their start to this seasons Westfield W-League. Last weekend the Ladies from Melbourne drew 1-1 with Canberra United, striker Maika Ruyter-Hooley stepping up to score the crucial equaliser in the 90th minute.

Whilst Victory currently sit second last on the ladder, there are many reasons for them to remain optimistic about their chances of reaching the top four.

Firstly, last week’s results were obtained without the presence and experience of Captain and goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri. Fifteen-year-old replacement keeper Brianna Davey had extremely big shoes to fill, stepping in for Barbieri (Bubs), who was absent due to a minor ankle injury.

The youngster from Port Melbourne was outstanding throughout the game, responsible for keeping her team in the match on several occasions, producing spectacular saves time and time again.

The fact that the Victory remained patient and focused throughout the match, scoring the equaliser in the last run of play, is testament to this team’s resilience and positive attitude. These attributes will hopefully help them in their quest in claiming a spot in the final four!

The mission this week will be an unpleasant one, as they not only face the Lady Reds, but also their extended United family up in the stands, which could potentially reach the 17,000 mark!

This extra motivational boost couldn't have come at a more appropriate time for this young United team, given the fact that they were outclassed again last week losing to Sydney 4-1.

The Lady Reds are doing it tougher than most teams in the League, it could be argued that they might be at a slight disadvantage with such a young team and are only afforded the luxury of one Westfield Matilda.

Yet this exceptionally enthusiastic Lady Reds outfit turn up each week with nothing less than their absolute best, taking somewhat of a holistic approach, banding together as a whole, proudly representing the Reds jersey.

Ashleigh Gunning rewarded her team’s efforts against Sydney last Saturday, scoring their very first goal of the season, coming through a well placed penalty kick.

Will a packed house at Hindmarsh Friday night help the Lady Reds over the line, or will the Victory be too much to handle and break the hearts of what could possibly be 17,000 screaming Reds fans?

http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx ... y&id=36951

17k for the W-League game...doubt it! But who knows, maybe on a friday arvo there couple be a couple thousand there to watch the girls. I have a feeling this 20 game winless streak will be ended tomorrow, Lady Reds 2-0!

[Easy Tiger]

Hope to see many people out there supporting women's football!
Good luck girls!

[John Cena]

cmon girls show them how to beat victory.............

[gee_kay]

Hopefully the girls get up

[Red-4-Life]

Reds Women set sights on first Victory

Pride and a first up win are on the line for Adelaide United Women’s Team when they tackle Melbourne Victory Women on Friday at Hindmarsh Stadium in Week 4 of the Westfield W-League.

Three losses has the Lady Reds holding up the foot of the table, but three points over the Victory in a match that will be played as a curtain raiser to the Reds’ Hyundai A-League encounter, would have them back in the mix.

With the Victory having recorded a draw and a loss from their two games so far, Reds Women’s Coach Mike Barnett would see this clash as a great chance for the Lady Reds to notch up their first win of the season.

“Despite going down Sydney last week, the mood in the squad is positive, and we’re all looking forward to playing at home again and putting in a good performance, especially as it is a curtain raiser to the A-league game,” Barnett said.

“We’re going to have a good crack at Melbourne and hopefully we can come away with a win.”

Both teams will be without their number one shot stoppers, with United keeper Sian McLaren to miss the rest of the season after rupturing her ACL late in the loss to Sydney FC, while Victory and Matilda’s number one Melissa Barbieri has an ankle injury.

Tenacious Reds midfielder Katrina Gorry knows the Victory better than most after she was part of Melbourne’s squad last season, and she would like nothing better than to help United inflict a loss on her former side.

“Melbourne are a relatively new squad from last year, and are quick on counter attack,” Gorry said of the Victory.

“They play long diagonal balls quite often, so we just need to drop off as quick as we can when we see their heads go down as they prepare to send the ball long.”

The Lady Reds currently have three players from Melbourne’s 2009 squad, with Vedrana Popovic and Selin Kuralay joining Gorry in making the trip across the border.

“We expect a physically tough game from Melbourne as they always put up a tough fight, even though they’re not necessarily a team full of Matildas,” Gorry said.

“We just need to stay compact and shut down the middle, play out from the back instead of always looking to play long balls, and just go out there with an attacking frame of mind and throw everything at them”.

Gates at Hindmarsh Stadium open at 4.30pm with kick-off at 4.45pm. Tickets for the match are available through Ticketek.

Adelaide United Women v Melbourne Victory Women
Friday, 26 November 2010
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-Off: 4.45pm (ACDT)
Referee: Stacey Sasopolous

Curtain raiser match for the Hyundai A-League match between Adelaide United and Gold Coast United

Adelaide United squad: 2.Ashleigh GUNNING, 4.Ruth BLACKBURN, 5.Stacey DAY, 7.Racheal QUIGLEY, 8.Katrina GORRY, 9.Ruth WALLACE, 10.Victoria BALOMENOS, 11.Vedrana POPOVIC, 12.Selin KURALAY, 13.Loren MAHONEY, 14.Donna COCKAYNE, 16.Christina PAPAGEORGIOU (c), 17.Angela FIMMANO, 18.Georgia MACRI, 19.Nenita BURGESS, 20.Kristi HARVEY (gk), 30.Hayley TRUSKEWYCZ (gk)
*two to be omitted*
In: Selin KURULAY (returns from injury), Georgia MACRI (promoted), Hayley TRUSKEWYCZ (gk) (signed as replacement player)
Out: Sian McLAREN (gk) (knee – season)
Unavailable: Nil

Melbourne Victory squad: 20.Brianna DAVEY (GK), 2.Rita MANKOWSKA, 3.Marlies OOSTDAM (c), 5.Louisa BISBY, 6.Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, 7.Snez VELJANOVSKA, 8. Ella MASTRANTONIO, 10.Jodie TAYLOR, 11.Kendall FLETCHER, 12.Amy JACKSON, 13.Ashley BROWN, 17.Caitlin FRIEND, 18.Ursula HUGHSON, 19.Enza BARILLA, 30.Nicole PAUL (GK)
*two to be omitted*

In: Louisa BISBY (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Melissa BARBIERI (ankle – 2 weeks), 9. Stephanie CATLEY (injured)

http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/defaul ... y&id=36984

A shame that McLaren is out for the season, she was playing well. Barbieri out for Melbourne is a boost for us too, i think their starting keeper is fairly young from watching last week.

[courtz]

0-4 loss.

[Red-4-Life]

Same players standing out...Popovic, Gorry, Cockayne. Same tactics used by the coach who knows nothing!!!!!!

Gorry was unlucky her shot hit the post at 2-0, then melb countered and sealed the game. Still lacking that edge in the front 3rd, Donna needs someone running in when crossing

[What the?]

[quote="Red-4-Life"]Same players standing out...Popovic, Gorry, Cockayne. Same tactics used by the coach who knows nothing!!!!!!

Gorry was unlucky her shot hit the post at 2-0, then melb countered and sealed the game. Still lacking that edge in the front 3rd, Donna needs someone running in when crossing[/quote]


Agree coach knows nothing.

Disagree that Cockayne was stand out, only thing that stood out in her game, was the amount of times she took on players and lost the ball, never saw too many crosses from her, and she struggles to score because she cannot finish.
Oppostion teams know exactly what she will do when she gets the ball, and you hear the coach every time tell her to take them on.

Hard to score also when players like Balamenos and Gunning shoot from 30 - 40 metres out from goal, rather than looking for a player closer and in better position.

We obviously dont know how to pass the ball around to find a player in a better position.(or its not in Barnetts game plan)

Gorry played well again and Popovic was good in first half then ran out of legs, like a few of them did.

United only looked like scoring and alot more dangerous once Quigs and Ange came on, but its a bit late too make changes once your 3-0 down.
Would like to know why Quigs and Ange started on bench and a midfielder started as a striker???

Not even the players know why they are on the bench, or why they get dragged, as the coach does not talk to them.

We will struggle to score as long as Barnett plays players out of position or from the bench when they should be on the park.

[Red-4-Life]

Same players standing out...Popovic, Gorry, Cockayne. Same tactics used by the coach who knows nothing!!!!!!

Gorry was unlucky her shot hit the post at 2-0, then melb countered and sealed the game. Still lacking that edge in the front 3rd, Donna needs someone running in when crossing

Agree coach knows nothing.

Disagree that Cockayne was stand out, only thing that stood out in her game, was the amount of times she took on players and lost the ball, never saw too many crosses from her, and she struggles to score because she cannot finish.
Oppostion teams know exactly what she will do when she gets the ball, and you hear the coach every time tell her to take them on.

Hard to score also when players like Balamenos and Gunning shoot from 30 - 40 metres out from goal, rather than looking for a player closer and in better position.

We obviously dont know how to pass the ball around to find a player in a better position.(or its not in Barnetts game plan)

Gorry played well again and Popovic was good in first half then ran out of legs, like a few of them did.

United only looked like scoring and alot more dangerous once Quigs and Ange came on, but its a bit late too make changes once your 3-0 down.
Would like to know why Quigs and Ange started on bench and a midfielder started as a striker???

Not even the players know why they are on the bench, or why they get dragged, as the coach does not talk to them.

We will struggle to score as long as Barnett plays players out of position or from the bench when they should be on the park.

yeah many good points made there. We dont know what they do at training so we dont know Mike just doesnt know what strategy to use, of if the players dont use it on the day. But, its been a problem for 3 seasons know with 3 different squads just about, so you get the feeling Barnett just does not know how to beat the opposition. Canberra and Brisbane next 2 games, I can see 6 losses from 6 games unfortunately. But, I know and believe the team is capable of causing an upset or two, so bring it on! Their aim from here (forget finals), just play good football and try to knock off a couple big teams, and win a game at home!!!