City slickers show they have the winning style
MELBOURNE City’s fluid style of play has experts confounded.
Some of their players aren’t even able to articulate exactly how the team’s enterprising formation works.
Coach John van ’t Schip admits there is an element of “freedom” given to his players on the pitch.
But he insists there is always method to the madness.
Having won their first two games for the first time in club history, City have stormed to title favouritism on the back of the 4-1 derby demolition of Melbourne Victory last week.
Tonight they play Perth Glory at AAMI Park in their first home game of the campaign.
City is persisting with the back three they trialled at times last year, with holding midfielder Neil Kilkenny dropping in to a back four when the need arises.
Up front City’s forwards are proving too much to handle.
On paper last week there was Bruno Fornaroli as striker, Nicolas Colazo and Bruce Kamau on the wings, Tim Cahill as the No.10 and Luke Brattan and Fernando Brandan deeper in midfield.
But Fornaroli would drop deep at times, with Cahill more prominent up front, while Brattan and Brandan both pushed forward on occasion, evidenced by the fact both players scored from open play during the rout. The wingers have also switched seamlessly throughout pre-season games and the early rounds. “The way that we play gives a lot of freedom,” van ’t Schip said.
“But it’s also a discipline, of how they position themselves on the park or when we lose the ball, how we have to be organised. If everything goes the way that you would like to then it could be very enjoyable to watch.”
Van ’t Schip has been searching for more consistency from his side for the past couple of years, but said yesterday it was too early to say whether the team had found the magic formula.
“We have to back up the results and good play,” he said.
Marquee forward Colazo is in doubt for tonight’s game after copping a knock to the head last week.