Division One leaders Metro may have a fourth Scottish import in their line-up for Saturday’s clash with third-placed Beachside at Sandown Park at 6.30pm.
The Scotsman is due to arrive in Hobart on Saturday morning, but he may not be cleared and signed in time to join his three countrymen, whose acquisition at the beginning of the season has played a huge part in Metro’s success this year.
Aaron Marney and Mathew Gasparin are also available for Metro this weekend, but Danny Cowen is interstate and player-coach Darrin Chaffey will play in the reserves.
Goalkeeper Michael McKenna has recovered from a dislocated thumb and may play.
Beachside will add Andrew Reason to its squad, and everyone else is fit.
“Being four points behind Metro before this game makes it a crucial game for us to win,” said Beachside coach, Nathan Robinson.
“With an improved performance last week, we are confident of a good showing this Saturday night.
“Bernhard Klasen is in good form in front of goal for us, but it will require a strong defensive performance if we are going to keep Metro at bay for the 90 minutes.
“They have scored freely and have had contributions from, not only their strikers, but midfielders, which is what make them a such dangerous opposition.”
Second-placed Taroona are away to fifth-placed Northern Suburbs DOSA at the Showgrounds at 2.30pm on Saturday.
Only goal-difference keeps Taroona behind Metro and in second place and if Metro falter, Taroona could take over the leadership by winning.
Steve Swift is unavailable for DOSA, but John Visentin returns after being unavailable last weekend.
“Taroona won the first encounter this season at Taroona 7-0 and we were flat in last week’s 4-0 loss to Beachside, which showed only playing one game in the last month has been disruptive,” said DOSA defender, Richard Korn.
“We will have to work hard to try and regain some momentum, but these things take time.”
Taroona will miss Cian Carey, who is unavailable, and he will be replaced at centre-back by either Will Darling or Ben Schaap.
“DOSA seem to have improved quite a bit since we played them in the first game of the season and I expect they will be much tougher opposition this time around,” said Taroona coach, Ben Horgan.
“We’re really starting to get some competition for places in the senior squad, with midfielders Lucas Wyatt and Ruaidhri Carey in good form in the reserves over the last couple of weeks and veteran striker Daniel Palmer scoring a hat-trick last weekend.
“One or more of those players may be included in the senior squad to give us some options off the bench.”
Fourth-placed Nelson Eastern Suburbs meet second-last Christian United at North Warrane on Saturday at 2.30pm.
Christian United striker Matthew Sly is suspended, but Leno Taglieri has recovered from a rib injury and should start.
Scott Nicholson is back from Brisbane and will be in goal, while John Manasseh has completed a massive 6-week suspension - incurred, ironically, against Nelson in the first round.
“Due to byes, unexplained gaps in the fixtures and cup weekends, Manasseh has spent over two months watching from the sidelines,” said Christian United’s Jesse Arnold.
“Still, John has been at every training session bar one and he is looking fitter and better than ever.”
Ben De Hoog is unavailable, Dave Nettlefold has a calf injury, and Dave Noble may have to make his way back to the seniors via the reserves.
8 comments:
maybe we should be calling mets by a different name....
rangers/celtic/tartans....
sure does seem like they are keen on obtaining promotion this year. but will they be able to keep them all for 2010???
Div 1 does look very lopsided. sure would be hard to stay motivated if in the bottom 4.
beachside season over if they lose.
big game i agree for Beachside. who are we playing again? Northern suburbs or northern hemisphere?
Hmm, full points to Metro for innovation, and I'm sure it benefits the club to have the imports around... but there might not be any room for home-grown talent in the team soon. Are there not enough kids coming through the ranks?
Hmmmm kids trough the ranks? Nothing but home grown talent on show to beat tassie TIS for the first time this year in local comp in the U/19 cup. Think B 4 u speak and maybe the imports lifts the talent of the. What premier club can say this? I aslo believe more than 1 will be staying on and are involved through the club from junior boys and girls.
Silly conversation.
Metro have new players.
They are good in the current league, but so were ex South Hobart, Newtown, Kingbrough, Cannons and others in past years.
Beachside have turned over last years team, in the quest for promotion, where is the critism for them???? Surely changing 8 or 9 players(beachside) compared to 4 (Metro) warrants more scrutiny???
Good luck to both but personally I love a club that wants to succeed compared to a club that changes personel every year in an attempt for success.
Hopefully other clubs in the current Div 1 dont fold bit I think the way things are going, with no comp for the better teams it is bound to happen.
To add,
Beachside,
you are playing Metro, Northern subs. In years past Ihave played against guys in teams that you suggest maybe shouldnt be there, but think about the whole picture.
I cant tell you all the "imports" i have come up against in the past but it has never been a gripe. These guys add to a better standard of play down here.
Metro are going to bust their balls to get back to premier league status. Its a pity Beachside aretrying to recycle players to get there.
A. If you get promoted, you will have to change again.
B. When you dont get promoted what do you do?????
But what have the imports actually brought to Metro?
More goals certainely.
Ricky also takes a true lead role on the park too, which will help the local boys.
But they have still only won the same number of games as Taroona.
It looks like it will be a tight contest between them.
southern, I can only go on what my beloved eagles saw in the summer cup. Results so far suggest that results againnst Metro and Taroona will decide the league. Much like us last year and Hobart United.
We didnt win the league last year because we couldnt beat Hobart United in 3 attempts. End of story.
Post a Comment