Tony Popovic’s Wanderers will be looking to snap a five-game winless streak in the Sydney Derby at a raucous Pirtek Stadium filled to capacity this Saturday night.
Outside90 combines the red and black hoops with the sky blue of Sydney FC to find our best Sydney Derby XI – with a retrospect side being named soon after the final whistle. Did we miss anyone?
Vedran Janjetovic – Goalkeeper – Sydney FC
The Sydney stopper edges out his cross-town rival Andrew Redmayne by just the one clean sheet. He has been susceptible to errors in derbies past though, and with two of the league’s best defences on show in this clash, one mistake could prove the difference.
Seb Ryall – Right-back – Sydney FC
With both defences similarly impressive, the Sydney skipper’s attacking ability gets him in ahead of Scott Neville, whose crossing has been too inconsistent. Ryall’s versatility to cover across the back four also helps his case.
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Two of the league’s most senior heads pair up in the middle here in what would prove a delightful combination for any manager. They are both the commanders of their respective defensive units which have proven to be, along with current ladder leaders Brisbane Roar, the toughest in the competition to break down.
Scott Jamieson – Left-back – Western Sydney Wanderers
One of the A-League’s journeymen slots in on the left side. Jamieson looks revitalised at Parramatta under Tony Popovic as his crossing (four assists) and the attacking side of his game have proved invaluable to the Wanderers’ surge up the table in the first half of the season.
Andreu and Dimas – Defensive-midfielders – Western Sydney Wanderers
The compatibility and understanding this pairing developed in the early season has been vital to the re-emergence of the Wanderers. Popovic deserves plenty of credit for this too, having signed both players in the off-season and installing them both to become an integral part of his outfit.
Romeo Castelen – Right-midfield – Western Sydney Wanderers
The Wanderers Flying Dutchman’s inclusion is based largely on the need for width in the attacking third with his attacking-midfield companions preferring to drift inside. When on his game he nearly always gets the better of any of his direct opponent with a burst of acceleration.
Mitch Nichols – Attacking-midfield – Western Sydney Wanderers
Western Sydney’s leading scorer cannot be ignored for the attacking-midfield role. Much like Jamieson, he is another who looks revitalised by Popovic and is well on his way to a 10-goals plus this season (currently seven) and has also created their most scoring opportunities (26 chances created).
Filip Holosko – Left-midfield – Sydney FC
Sydney’s marquee man gets in ahead of his team mate who made the difference in the first derby earlier this season, Milos Ninkovic. Big games such as the Sydney Derby require big players and Holosko, who has frustrated Sydney’s Cove for much of this season, gets an opportunity in this XI in his favoured role – as a winger with a license to drift inside and out.
Mark Bridge – Striker – Western Sydney Wanderers
Another who could be classified as a journeyman of the league gets the nod in this team ahead of Alex Brosque. They have each scored five goals this season but the Western Sydney man is the preferred option to take the half-chance or be in right place at the right time. This derby will not have too many goals in it and an opportunist like Bridge can prove the difference.
Bench – Andrew Redmayne, Matt Jurman, Milos Dimitrevic, Milos Ninkovic, Alex Brosque
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