Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

[Monoethnic Social Club]

This is the squad I would send to Honiara to take on Vanuatu United and Solomon Kings:

Charlston
Illia Shalamanov-Trenkov
Inglese
Jankovic
Painter-Andrews
Menelaou
Leech
Pope
Lackay
Mesorouni
Singh
Bonada
Dovison
Cocks

I would retain the following players in Melbourne to take on Gully and Thunder:

Lopez
Under 23s goalkeeper
Eliopoulos
Lampard
O'Sullivan
Gorr-Burchmore
Skapoulas
Pasquali
Giannakopoulos
Swibel
Uchida
Mikkola
Papadimitriou


To Honiara you send 4 Staring XI players (including decent subs like Leech, Menelaou, Inglese), and 8 Starting XI players in Melbourne with a blend of youth players on the bench. It is hardly perfect, and you could surmise different combinations and scenarios, but we arfe going to very stretched over the next 2 weeks.

One of theings I dont get is why , in some OFC mactehs, we are asked to have 2 x keepers on the bench and in others only 1??? is that a requirement or just a random "luxury" becuase we are "home"? I saw a few other teams do the same... Southern United the other week from memory being one of them.

 

[KostaV92]

This is the squad I would send to Honiara to take on Vanuatu United and Solomon Kings:

Charlston
Illia Shalamanov-Trenkov
Inglese
Jankovic
Painter-Andrews
Menelaou
Leech
Pope
Lackay
Mesorouni
Singh
Bonada
Dovison
Cocks

I would retain the following players in Melbourne to take on Gully and Thunder:

Lopez
Under 23s goalkeeper
Eliopoulos
Lampard
O'Sullivan
Gorr-Burchmore
Skapoulas
Pasquali
Giannakopoulos
Swibel
Uchida
Mikkola
Papadimitriou


To Honiara you send 4 Staring XI players (including decent subs like Leech, Menelaou, Inglese), and 8 Starting XI players in Melbourne with a blend of youth players on the bench. It is hardly perfect, and you could surmise different combinations and scenarios, but we arfe going to very stretched over the next 2 weeks.

Not bad lineups

 

[SMFC1959]

 

[southmelb]

Im sending Lurch in goals, Burchmore, Lackay, Coveny, Inglese, Leech, Pope, Menelaou, Singh, Dovison, Mesourouni overseas. Im not sure if the likes of O'Sullivan and Skapoulas are part of the ofc squad if they are they are on the plane as well. Out of my tier 1 guys i'd maybe take Cocks over as well.

The above guys could probably grind out a win against Vanuatu but likely lose to SK.

Im really reluctant to have any of our best 11 going to Honiara. Gully and Thunder away are super tough.

As far as ofc if we can split the games in the next hub (a win and a loss) and also take care of the catch up game we can pretty much lose all the games in the 5th hub and still be top 3. We are essentially 4 games above 4th now with our GD.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Im sending Lurch in goals, Burchmore, Lackay, Coveny, Inglese, Leech, Pope, Menelaou, Singh, Dovison, Mesourouni overseas. Im not sure if the likes of O'Sullivan and Skapoulas are part of the ofc squad if they are they are on the plane as well. Out of my tier 1 guys i'd maybe take Cocks over as well.

The above guys could probably grind out a win against Vanuatu but likely lose to SK.

Im really reluctant to have any of our best 11 going to Honiara. Gully and Thunder away are super tough.

As far as ofc if we can split the games in the next hub (a win and a loss) and also take care of the catch up game we can pretty much lose all the games in the 5th hub and still be top 3. We are essentially 4 games above 4th now with our GD.

I thought Burchmore did well against Altona.

 

[southmelb]

I thought Burchmore did well against Altona.

Very very good game, thats why i think he can do a job for us over there. We had a super weak team the last time we beat Vanuatu so i think this gets it done. Mind you im not sure how many players we will be forced to take over. Its only 2 games and Sinisa has shown a bit of Chris Taylor about him in certain games reluctant to make subs. I think a thin squad can handle the 2 matches.

Next big question is the coaches. Who stays and who goes, with the guys im sending over i'd take Sam Pouta over there and keep Sinisa here with main guys.

I dont mind the split squad idea but it could backfire in both comps. The fact is we arent desperate for results in ofc as the table currently sits. Im pretty sure Honiara will also have the most stifling conditions of all the hubs and i'd like to see our main guys shielded from that.

 

[SMFC1959]

I thought Burchmore did well against Altona.

Agree - thought Gorr-Burchmore had a decent game against Altona.

 

[SMFC1959]

Im sending Lurch in goals, Burchmore, Lackay, Coveny, Inglese, Leech, Pope, Menelaou, Singh, Dovison, Mesourouni overseas. Im not sure if the likes of O'Sullivan and Skapoulas are part of the ofc squad if they are they are on the plane as well. Out of my tier 1 guys i'd maybe take Cocks over as well.

The above guys could probably grind out a win against Vanuatu but likely lose to SK.

Im really reluctant to have any of our best 11 going to Honiara. Gully and Thunder away are super tough.

As far as ofc if we can split the games in the next hub (a win and a loss) and also take care of the catch up game we can pretty much lose all the games in the 5th hub and still be top 3. We are essentially 4 games above 4th now with our GD.

Just checked our squad list on the OFC Pro League list and Skapoulas is listed, so he could travel to Honiara hub if required. However, O'Sullivan is not listed so he'll need to play in the NPL matches.

Important to defeat Vanuatu and not lose to the Solomon Kings. We must win our catch up match against Tahiti United.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Just checked our squad list on the OFC Pro League list and Skapoulas is listed, so he could travel to Honiara hub if required. However, O'Sullivan is not listed so he'll need to play in the NPL matches.

Important to defeat Vanuatu and not lose to the Solomon Kings. We must win our catch up match against Tahiti United.

"not lose" c'mon after that performance, even with home ground advantage, it should be easy pickings for our second squad... Even Messourouni almost scored from open play.

 

[SMFC1959]

Next big question is the coaches. Who stays and who goes, with the guys im sending over i'd take Sam Pouta over there and keep Sinisa here with main guys.

That is a very good question. Both Siki and Pouta compliment each other and assist in having a great coaching set up. You would need Poutakidis in Honiara, and Sinisa being in constant contact regarding OFC match preparations.

 

[southmelb]

I dont mind if we lose to SK. At the end of the day we just need to finish top 3. We cant host ofc finals so just getting in is all that matters.

The coaching staff probably dont know even know how they will play this. Some of it may even be dictated by tomorrow nights result.

On top of the names i mentioned maybe Painter Andrews goes as well.

The spine of our team needs to stay here, Tommy G, Yuki, Pasquali, Eliops/janko, javi in goals.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I dont mind if we lose to SK. At the end of the day we just need to finish top 3. We cant host ofc finals so just getting in is all that matters.

The coaching staff probably dont know even know how they will play this. Some of it may even be dictated by tomorrow nights result.

On top of the names i mentioned maybe Painter Andrews goes as well.

The spine of our team needs to stay here, Tommy G, Yuki, Pasquali, Eliops/janko, javi in goals.

Im not saying I mind if we lose against SK just that, based on the performance Wednesday and the fact that their best player will be (I assume for at least 2-3 matches for straight red, unsporting conduct) sidelined, that we would have it easier than we thought

No idea how they are going to coach this, I think you are spot on it will depend on where we sit after tomorrow night... .

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

That is a very good question. Both Siki and Pouta compliment each other and assist in having a great coaching set up. You would need Poutakidis in Honiara, and Sinisa being in constant contact regarding OFC match preparations.

Pouta looks like he is frothing to pull the boots on and play every time I see him but poor SInisa is cooked, the flights back and forth must be trying as buggery... Absolute legend of a servant for the club... Total respect, he turned around the most difficult basket case in Victorian football to be a force to be reckoned with on two continents... Any hesitation I (and I reckon most of us) had a year ago is gone... Siki for PM...

 

[southmelb]

The conditions in honiara will be brutal and i think home ground will play a role. They did get in behind us a few times in the 1st half and you would think they will compete very well against a weaker South team. Whether we mind or not its ultimately not going to be an absolute must win game for us. That trip is going to be incredibly energy draining so recovery post trip will be a factor as well. Protect our best players i think.

 

[KostaV92]

I dont mind if we lose to SK. At the end of the day we just need to finish top 3. We cant host ofc finals so just getting in is all that matters.

The coaching staff probably dont know even know how they will play this. Some of it may even be dictated by tomorrow nights result.

On top of the names i mentioned maybe Painter Andrews goes as well.

The spine of our team needs to stay here, Tommy G, Yuki, Pasquali, Eliops/janko, javi in goals.

Sinisa did mention in the interview after the SK game once they know top 4 is guaranteed the focus will be on the npl till finals in May I can’t see us not finishing top two so we should keep our best side for the npl in April rest players for the cup against state league opponents and we should be fine hopefully

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

The conditions in honiara will be brutal and i think home ground will play a role. They did get in behind us a few times in the 1st half and you would think they will compete very well against a weaker South team. Whether we mind or not its ultimately not going to be an absolute must win game for us. That trip is going to be incredibly energy draining so recovery post trip will be a factor as well. Protect our best players i think.

They did but their final ball or attempt at one was woeful... Im not trying to be mean spirited but that was a u15 side on Wednesday, we barely got out of 2nd gear...

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Sinisa did mention in the interview after the SK game once they know top 4 is guaranteed the focus will be on the npl till finals in May I can’t see us not finishing top two so we should keep our best side for the npl in April rest players for the cup against state league opponents and we should be fine hopefully

Smart and Id be happy with that...

So far, 1/2 through this thing and we are unscathed, I pray it stays that way.

 

[SMFC1959]

Sinisa did mention in the interview after the SK game once they know top 4 is guaranteed the focus will be on the npl till finals in May I can’t see us not finishing top two so we should keep our best side for the npl in April rest players for the cup against state league opponents and we should be fine hopefully

I reckon we will end up finishing 3rd on the OFC Pro League ladder at the end of the home and away season. Once we play the Leaders Group matches, we'll likely finish second. Then we would face the third placed team which would be either Solomon Kings or South Island United.

 

[SMFC1959]

The conditions in honiara will be brutal and i think home ground will play a role. They did get in behind us a few times in the 1st half and you would think they will compete very well against a weaker South team. Whether we mind or not its ultimately not going to be an absolute must win game for us. That trip is going to be incredibly energy draining so recovery post trip will be a factor as well. Protect our best players i think.

The weather will be in the high 20s, but the problem as you correctly point out will be the high humidity levels. That is definitely energy sapping. We need at least 2-3 substitutes to come on just to give players a breather.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

The weather will be in the high 20s, but the problem as you correctly point out will be the high humidity levels. That is definitely energy sapping. We need at least 2-3 substitutes to come on just to give players a breather.

Theyll have drink breaks I guess...