Round one of the 2012 VPL season has finally kicked off. I graced Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Friday night, to see Bentleigh Greens pretty much destroy Green Gully. I was also in attendance at the new $60 million worth of Lakeside Stadium down at Albert Park, to see South Melbourne take on a nothing State 1 team in Whittlesea Zebras, and teach them a thing or two. More about that later.
Hume City vs Dandy Funder @ Epping Stadium @ 8.30pm on Friday
Looks like Hume has chosen Epping Stadium as their home ground this season due to the redevelopments taking place down at Broady. They couldn’t have chosen a colder place. Hume is coming off a 0-2 win at Somers St, while Dandy is coming off a 4-0 clobbering of Dean Hennessy’s Southern Stars. Dandy had pretty much a walkover on the weekend, but I can’t see Hume beating them. Hume City 2 – Dandy Thunder 2.
Oakleigh Cannons vs South Melbourne @ Jack Edwards @ 8.30pm on Friday
So. South to play Oakleigh AGAIN away first up, AGAIN within the first three rounds. FFS. Don’t tell me the computer draws it like that! They beat an underdeveloped Bergers 0-2. Nothing spesh. South beat a State 1 side 4-0. Same, nothing spesh.
Will I look at this match as a measure of where South is at? Hmm, possibly. Talk to me on Friday night. South looked good on Sunday in patches. End of the day, we did the job and have Oakleigh on Friday. A 4-0 at I reckon 75% effort, is a great result. At 100% we should look special. We have a good track record down at Oakleigh so I’m expecting nothing but a win. No injuries, no suspensions, all's looking good. Oakleigh Cannons 0 – South Melbourne 3.
Richmond vs Bentleigh Greens @ KB Reserve @ 8.30pm on Friday
Richmond was beaten 2-1 away by Northcote last week, while I witnessed Bentleigh have a really good second half against Gully. Four well worked goals was enough for Bentleigh on the weekend, and I can honestly say, it should’ve been more. They outplayed Gully completely in the second half. This week will be a different ball game. Both teams seasonal strugglers. Richmond 1 – Bentleigh Greens 1.
Green Gully vs Heidelberg United @ Green Gully Reserve @ 3pm on Saturday
Dobbo, Dobbo, Dobbo. Why, Why, Why? Osagie on the bench? Are you nucking futs? Johnny A and his band of brutes played cat and mouse with you for the whole second half. Vlahos on the other hand, had difficulty containing a rampant Diaco. Two goals from the ex-South striker. I have a feeling Osagie will be starting this week, and he’ll be the pain in the ass for Vlahos. Green Gully 2 – Heidelberg 0. Osagie double.
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| Melbourne Victory youth system under Jim Magilton? |
Seriously Dean, where do you find these players? Still waiting for the day you develop a local boy. The Elephant & Wheelbarrow and PJ O’Briens can only sustain their backpacker waiters for so long. Take a page out of Northcote's book Dean. Local talent. Cheaper talent. Play for the shirt talent. Not being baby sat for Magilton talent. Anyhoo. I’m pencilling this in as a loss for Stars. Northcote will be too strong. Unless of course Loza totally fucks this up. Southern Stars 0 – Northcote City 3.
Moreland Zebras vs Melbourne Knights @ Epping Stadium @ 3pm on Sunday
The only game on Sunday. Moreland look totally out of their depth in the VPL. Didn’t keep tabs on them during pre-season, but from what I saw against South, they will struggle. Recchia being played as last man and also expected to be the team's playmaker is a FIFA 12 tactic. Radojicic was unlucky to be subbed on then subbed off. Looks like his knee injury is starting to haunt him again. Overall, an unbalanced side, who were tactically poor. Haven’t seen the Knights yet, but personally can’t wait. Moreland Zebras 0 – Melbourne Knights 3.
The amount of games KoD gets right is unnerving, the VPL is definitely not a betting man's league
ReplyDeletemissed out with the Stars comments though
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