Friday, July 29, 2022

Which cards will Devonport reveal against Knights tomorrow?

Photo:  Glenorchy Knights coach, James Sherman, will find it hard to set out his stall because no-one knows which line-up Devonport will send out. [PlessPix]

What sort of team will Devonport Strikers send out against Glenorchy Knights tomorrow?

That is the big question as the second-placed and reigning champions Knights prepare to host current league leaders Devonport.

The Strikers have a huge week coming up.

On Wednesday night, they entertain A-League club Wellington Phoenix at 7.30pm at Valley Road in the Round-of-32 of the Australia Cup.

Will the Strikers field a weakened side against Knights and rest key players, or will they field their strongest line-up and use the game as a final realistic practice game to fine tune their tactics before their showdown with Phoenix?

I, for one, hope it is the latter.  Worrying that a player could get injured is futile.  He could slip on the pavement and get injured.

Players want to play, and a game against the second-placed team is as big as it gets in the league, so coaches should not deny their charges that chance because they fear someone may get injured.

Either way. Devonport should be too strong for a Knights outfit that is proving inconsistent and who trail the league-leaders by a massive 9 points with six games remaining.

I can’t see Devonport losing three games let alone four.

Photo:  Knights will hope that the talented Nicholas Naden can score against Devonport. [PlessPix]  

Third and fourth-placed Kingborough Lions United and South Hobart, respectively, both travel north tomorrow.

The Lions face bottom-side Riverside Olympic and should come home with the 3 points, but South Hobart will have to be at their best to beat fifth-ranked Launceston City.

South Hobart and Launceston City will meet again next weekend in a postponed match from earlier in the season.

Tomorrow’s remaining game is at Wentworth Park, where sixth-placed Clarence Zebras welcome seventh-ranked Olympia Warriors to do battle.

The Warriors are gradually improving, whereas Clarence Zebras appear dead in the water.

Games between these two sides bring out the best in both, however, so a thrilling game is in prospect.

Photo:  Knights' central defender, Tyler Harrison, shown here trapping the ball with his chest, often pushes forward in attack. [PlessPix]  

NPL Tasmania schedule:

Glenorchy Knights v Devonport Strikers (KGV Park, 2.30pm)

Clarence Zebras v Olympia Warriors (Wentworth Park, 4.30pm)

Riverside Olympic v Kingborough Lions United (Windsor Park, 2.30pm)

Launceston City v South Hobart (Buckby Motors Park, 4.30pm)

Photo:  Knights skipper and centre-back, Eli Luttmer (left), about to score against Riversie Olympic last week.  Luttmer has been on the scoresheet regularly and will pose a threat to Devonport. [PlessPix]  

Men’s Southern Championship NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 23 July 2022)

TEAM

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Devonport Strikers

15

13

1

1

52

10

40

Glenorchy Knights

15

10

1

4

35

14

31

Kingborough Lions

15

9

2

4

41

26

29

South Hobart

14

8

3

3

40

11

27

Launceston City

14

8

1

5

28

25

25

Clarence Zebras

15

3

2

10

23

37

11

Olympia Warriors

15

2

0

13

17

53

6

Riverside Olympic

15

0

2

13

7

68

2

Photo:  Knights supporters such as Milan Mesic, Ante Dzelalija and Johnny Cacic, shown here, will be hoping for a win for their team. [PlessPix]  

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know this isn't related to knights men's team but ,why do their women's,team have so much assistance from FT,this weekend they play on Saturday to suit them .
They are always looking for the easy way out .
Not a very skilled team but score a lot of assistance from supporters influencing refs.
Maybe FT wants them in WSL they need to improve a bloody lot.

Anonymous said...

Wowwwww this is possible the most out of touch Comment I have read in some time. A women's game getting support (not playing Sunday) and that's a bad thing. Please enlighten us how a team made up with 50% 15-17 year olds and sitting 2nd in championship are getting a free pass. I've seen them score but it's on their own ability. This is a team that has no super league players dropping down btw they're running solo

Anonymous said...

Most super league teams don't drop players down ,they are fringe players who sit on the bench.
Champs only teams have a advantage as they have a set team ,if a super league team wants they take a champs player,so their champs player have s different squad each week.
Most WSL teams have a few 15 year olds in their team,and the champs teams have half or more of their squads ,but as the knights study team sheets week in week out looking for an advantage you would know that.

Anonymous said...

Recall the south keeper being given a straight red for ' language' in the last minutes of a game the weekend before a round of 32 game and so was not eligible to play in that game that incidentally went to a penalty shootout . Is that still the case regarding different competitions?
ie: is it applicable today?
I mean, can you imagine.

Anonymous said...

So Devonport do it again, but seriously have a look at the replay of the free kick that leads to the goal, just non existent and a Knights player got booked, unbelievable. Really rub salt into it of course Devonport score, but I implore you have a look at the replay. The ref marks the position of the hall, sets the wall etc. Goalkeeper lines up the wall etc, now as the Ref walks back to the position of the free kick the Devonport player picks up the ball and moved it sideways, that occurred directly in front of the ref, what does he do, nothing, obviously gives the kick taker a better angle and he simply passes the ball into the net past the wall. So the question is how can the ball be moved after the ref has marked the spot from where it is supposed to be taken right in front of him and does nothing. You cant blame the Strikers for bending the rules taking advantage of official slackness, thats what they do, but geez its hard to watch week after week and they just keep getting away with it. I mean after the free kick was given Devonport captain was into the refs ear trying to convince him it was inside the box and a penalty, little surprised it wasn't given to be honest such is his influence over the refs, ah well rant over. Any one have any doubts about the truth of what I have written, watch the replay, clear for all to see.

Anonymous said...

Rules are there for a reason so WSL don't drop players down. You are obviously a bent up Clarence supporter, manage the squads a little better and you won't need to infringe on the rules.

Anonymous said...

If the ball was moved, and it was so obvious, what was the Knights
Keeper doing by not fixing his wall?? Sure the ref should pick that up, but Keeper should be better than that!!

Anonymous said...

This is just an incredible take on the game! Perhaps you’re the one that needs to watch the foul that led to the goal again. Live, I thought it was a clear foul, just inside the box. On replay, it was 100% a foul, slightly outside the box. Look at the lack of argument from the Knights lads - they knew it was a foul! This crap of consistently talking rubbish about Devonport is getting a bit tiresome. Show some respect for the most dominant club since the resumption of the state league! The old Australian way of trying to cut down the tall poppies is alive and well!

Anonymous said...

Second 10:20pm’s comment. If the ball was moved, adjust the wall. We are really grasping at straws here if this is the reason knights lost and not their boring style of football that is seeing them slip down the ladder

Anonymous said...

It's a consistent theme though with port and officials the proof is there they get away with what most don't. It was a foul no one can deny it and the player moved the ball twice no one can deny it and it was right infront of the ref no one can deny it. Shouldn't have been allowed

Anonymous said...

Clearly a sad person whos probably never played who just wants to stick the boot into CZ.