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Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

Maybe Australia can field a second national side in Oceania... As Australian footballs biggest and most historical rep in the region, we'd be happy to help! Perhaps a new banner though to suit! 😜

#doingourbitforaustralia
I think the first one is the flag of the Autonomous region of Lakeside... hahahahahaha
 
Just an awful match to watch. A starting XI that I hope to never see start again.

No goals from open play. Terrible defending on both goals. Mikkola just watch the Vanuatu player score their second goal. Coveny turning over the ball under a basic forward press.

Those conditions would have been terrible to play in, but in all seriousness, some of the errors were unacceptable.
The level of fitness (or was it adaptation to climate) between us was chalk and cheese... Lets wait till the Melbourne hub before we all shit the bed..... We're the only team still undefeated btw.
 
Singh should never play for South again. No disrespect to the kid, but he’s clearly not up to it at this level.

Coveny should spend some more time in the U20s to help with his development. He may be needed in a few more OFC Pro League matches to provide rest to Jankovic and Eliopoulos.

I’m comfortable with Charlston being the second keeper and sharing the OFC Pro League duties. Lopez can focus on the NPL Victoria competition until the OFC Pro League finals series.

Uchida needs to be rested in order for him not to burn out. Otherwise he can only play one half in certain OFC Pro League matches.
Can we bring on Messi-Rooney ONLY for free kicks in the last 5-10 mins of each game....
 
Apparently the team is flying back to Melbourne on Tuesday. I find that a bit odd given we are kicking off our NPL Victoria season on Saturday against Avondale.
 
Apparently the team is flying back to Melbourne on Tuesday. I find that a bit odd given we are kicking off our NPL Victoria season on Saturday against Avondale.
Its only 6 hours or so. I would assume one light session and regular training on Friday morning?

Most of the squad is pretty match fit by now... as a preseason, playing in brutal heat, coming back to 22 with mild breeze on Saturday will feel like a huge relief..
 
I thought we couldnt sign anyone anyway bc squad was long ago registered...if we could and didnt even just for NPL then thats the stupidest decision in history!
you are correct we can't sign anyone as our 23 man senior squad is already registered for ofc under fifa. I believe we would only have been able to add ressie players to our u23/ u20's
 

Thats alot of football in 10 days for players with day jobs........ lest not forget Hume at home on the 19th, Altona away on 28th and Bentleigh on the 7th of March... thats insane... The lads are gonna need so support, get to as many games as you can boys and girls ... I know I know fuck the Grand Prix for the worse timing of all but if we can survey this period then we can survive anything....
 
you are correct we can't sign anyone as our 23 man senior squad is already registered for ofc under fifa. I believe we would only have been able to add ressie players to our u23/ u20's
I must have misunderstood though as I thought the RULES of registration are different between two competitions.. For example Singh is unable to play NPL because we have used our VISA spots on Yuki and Bonada and only OFC allows for an extra Oceania player?
 
For the next 2-3 weeks, we have the following scheduling headaches:

Thursday 19th February - NPL Victoria - SMFC vs Hume City
Saturday 21st February - OFC Pro League - SMFC vs Auckland

Friday 27th February - OFC Pro League - SMFC vs South Island United
Saturday 28th February - NPL Victoria - Altona Magic vs SMFC

We'll need to split our first starting XI between the Hume and Auckland matches. We will need to substitute players off by the 55th minute mark against Hume City in order for some of them to at least start on the bench against Auckland. That means we will require a 2 to 3 goal lead against Hume before Sinisa can start resting players. In terms of Altona/South Island matches, given Altona is much weaker this year, we can play more of our Starting XI against South Island.

If we can somehow get away with 3 wins 1 draw for the above mentioned matches, then that would be a great outcome.

Let's not forget we have Solomon Kings on Wednesday 4th March, and Bentleigh Greens on Saturday 7th March. Given the 3 day break, it may work through making all 5 substitutions in both matches and reducing game time for our best players to no more than 50-60 minutes in each match.
 
Thats alot of football in 10 days for players with day jobs....
Full 23 man squad rotation will be required. The main benefit is that the matches are in Melbourne, so we can avoid another round of long international travel.

It is the following hub in Honiara that we may need to keep some of our better players focused on NPL Victoria, given we will face Vanuatu United and Solomon Kings.
 
For the next 2-3 weeks, we have the following scheduling headaches:

Thursday 19th February - NPL Victoria - SMFC vs Hume City
Saturday 21st February - OFC Pro League - SMFC vs Auckland

Friday 27th February - OFC Pro League - SMFC vs South Island United
Saturday 28th February - NPL Victoria - Altona Magic vs SMFC

We'll need to split our first starting XI between the Hume and Auckland matches. We will need to substitute players off by the 55th minute mark against Hume City in order for some of them to at least start on the bench against Auckland. That means we will require a 2 to 3 goal lead against Hume before Sinisa can start resting players. In terms of Altona/South Island matches, given Altona is much weaker this year, we can play more of our Starting XI against South Island.

If we can somehow get away with 3 wins 1 draw for the above mentioned matches, then that would be a great outcome.

Let's not forget we have Solomon Kings on Wednesday 4th March, and Bentleigh Greens on Saturday 7th March. Given the 3 day break, it may work through making all 5 substitutions in both matches and reducing game time for our best players to no more than 50-60 minutes in each match.
Its gonna take a managerial masterclass thats for sure... and pray to the football gods for no injuries...
 
Its gonna take a managerial masterclass thats for sure... and pray to the football gods for no injuries...

That's my fear. We have 7 matches between 19th February to 7th March. That's 7 matches in 16 days! Plus you have another 2 NPL Victoria matches before and after that stretch of playing action. I think we will need to send a much weaker squad to the fourth OFC Pro League hub in Honiara to avoid injuries and focus on NPL Victoria fixtures. In the fourth OFC Pro League hub in Honiara, we play Vanuatu United and Solomon Kings. We can beat a Vanuatu with a weakened side, and then try and get a draw against Solomon Kings.

The washed out match against Solomon Kings from the first hub in Auckland really hurts us being played in early March. Its an extra match to deal with during the NPL Victoria season.
 
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