Friday, 6 June 2008 10:05 PM
After a solid away win against Coburg last weekend, South Melbourne will be looking to make it two wins in a row against Western Suburbs on Sunday.
The mood around the camp following last weeks triumph is quite positive, with some key additions to the squad adding to the excitement around Bob Jane Stadium.
One of these key additions to the squad is goalkeeper Tommi Tomich, who has been signed from Western Australia. The former Perth Glory and Melbourne Knights keeper is expected to slot straight into the starting line-up for Sunday’s clash, with an arm injury to captain Dean Anastasiaidis forcing the veteran to sit out yet another week.
Tomich will be waiting behind a quite steady back four, with Sam Poutakidis and Adam Van Dommele expected to be once again given the left and right full back positions.
These two experienced players will be joined by the central defensive duo of Steven O’dor and Shane Nunes.
In the middle area, South’s new signings Scott MacNicol and Stuart Kelly are likely to be given starting roles, with both players having exceptional first games with the club last weekend. Joining the two in that middle region will either be Brazilian maestro Fernando De Moraes, Antonio La Verde or Goran Zoric. Also pushing for inclusion will be vice-captain Rama Tavsancioglu, who will be trying to prove his fitness after a few weeks on the sidelines with a leg injury.
Up front, South have four capable options that are all in decent form. This includes Ricky Diaco, Gianni De Nittis, Hamlet Armenian and Nathan Caldwell all pushing for that starting eleven birth, with the latter scoring an outstanding double last week against Coburg.
South Melbourne will be faced with a Western Suburbs outfit that will be intent to avenge the 5-0 defeat to South Melbourne in Round 3.
One of these players will be former South Melbourne defender Arthur Tsonis, who has had a good first season with Suburbs. Tsonis will be joined in defence by two other experienced and seasoned campaigners, including 2007 VPL Gold Medal winner Terry Antoniadis and another ex South player in Nick Tolios. Tolios signed with the club this week, after making the move from Kingston City.
Apart from having an experienced and very capable defence, Western Suburbs will also boast an attack that will cause headaches for the South Melbourne defence.
This attack is lead by the young striker Dimitri Hatzimouratis, who has impressed many people with his pace and creativity in the attacking third. Hatzimouratis will be joined by very dangerous veteran Vas Kalogeracos and Serkan Ozkuz.
If South can stop these three attacking options, the club will go a long way towards winning the match.
South fans are encouraged to make the trip to Ralph Reserve on Sunday to support the side as the club pushes towards a top six position. Kick off is at 3pm.
South Melbourne FC vs Western Suburbs
When: Sunday, June 8th
Where: Ralph Reserve
Kick-off: 3pm (Under 21s at 1pm)
Projected Starting line-ups
South Melbourne
Tommi Tomich (GK), Sam Poutakidis, Rama Tavsancioglu, Adam Van Dommele, Steven O’Dor, Shane Nunes, Goran Zoric, Fernando De Moraes, Gianni De Nittis, Scott MacNicol, Nathan Caldwell
Western Suburbs
Stejpan Gal, Nick Tolios, Eddie Cetkin, Arthur Tsonis, Terry Antoniadis, Lorenz Kindter, Johnny Cvetanovski, Vas Kalogeracos, Igor Khrapko, Serkan Ozkuz, Dimitri Hatzimouratis
Head to head
Played : 3
South Melbourne : 2
Western Suburbs : 1
Draw : 0
Last Meeting
When: Sunday, 2 March 2008
Where: Bob Jane Stadium
Score: South Melbourne 5 defeated Western Suburbs 0
Form in 2008 (last 3 games)
South Melbourne: Win, Loss, Win
Western Suburbs: Loss, Draw, Loss