The False 9: Round 5 - Sydney locked in Big Blue drought

It has been a long, long time between drinks for Sydney FC in the "Big Blue". The last time they won one, Alessandro Del Piero was still playing for the Sky Blues.

Source: Getty Images

That was Australia Day, 2014, when ADP scored a double in a crushing, 5-0 win at Etihad Stadium. The six games since have resulted in two Melbourne Victory wins and four draws.

That is obviously not a record Sydney fans would be thrilled about and no doubt Victory fans will be keen to rub it in leading up to the latest edition of one of the A-League's greatest rivalries at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Particularly since the most recent clash between the competition's glamour clubs saw Victory win 3-0 in the grand final.

Last season's three regular-season clashes were all drawn, 0-0 and 3-3 in Sydney and 3-3 in Melbourne. Victory beat Sydney 2-1 in an elimination final in April, 2014, and the last regular-season clash before that was drawn 1-1 in Melbourne.

Almost 22 months without a win against a rival your fans love to hate. Let the build-up begin.

What a save!

The Save the Nix campaign has gone into overdrive this week as the club pursues a big crowd for its Friday night home game against Adelaide United.

It is now up there with other great "Save" campaigns, including Save The Whales, Save the Planet, Save the Tasmanian Devil and, of course, Save Ferris.

Memories of Eddy

No surprise that Central Coast Mariners and veteran defender Eddy Bosnar have finally made it to Splitsville.

The final act was the sight of Bosnar, recalled to the squad for the home game against Wellington Phoenix, sitting on the bench for the entire 90 minutes as the only field player not used. He looked decidedly less than impressed.

Bosnar made a name as a striker of straight and hard free kicks that gave goalkeepers nightmares. Probably his best-remembered effort for the Mariners should not have gone even close to going in, but that did not factor in Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti having a shocker.

Man of the hour (and a half)

Bruno Fornaroli is Melbourne City's Marc Janko. They are different types of players, but the key things they have in common are professionalism, adaptability, enthusiasm and a fierce desire to succeed.

Janko immediately gained the respect of his teammates when he was at Sydney FC last season and Fornaroli has clearly done the same at City. He is very popular with his teammates, you can see it in their reactions when he scores a goal.

Fornaroli may well emulate Janko and finish the season as the competition's leading goal-scorer. He is alone at the top of the list with five after scoring a double in City's 4-2 win over Adelaide. Janko racked up 16 last season.

City coach John van't Schip described Fornaroli's contribution this way: "Bruno is important for us, he's fighting, he's holding up, he's chasing, pressing and, of course, it's also important, he's scoring goals.

"But, again, he's a great guy, the boys love him, and he's working for a good result every training, every game and the energy that he brings, I think that's very important and that passes on to other players.

"I'm happy for him that he scored two goals and, of course, for a striker that's important, but we know that even if he doesn't score goals he can link up, he's bringing other players also into positions to score and that's just as important."

Tweet, tweet #1

Ex-Sydney FC marquee man Marc Janko becomes the human equivalent of a frozen chicken for the sake of FC Basel and the Austrian national team.

Tweet, tweet #2

Socceroo defender Jason Davidson keeps sweet with the missus before jetting off to the other side of the world to prepare for a World Cup qualifier.

The cereal is ready for the next morning as well!

Tweet, tweet (INSTAGRAM #3

The sight every navy blue-blooded Melbourne Victory fan wants to see, Archie Thompson getting closer to a comeback following a pre-season knee injury.

The numbers game

Five games in and Western Sydney Wanderers marquee striker Federico Piovaccari's statistics don't look real good.

14 - Fouls conceded

11 - Offsides

3 - Shots off target

2 - Shots on target

0 - Goals

Can't wait for . . .

How can False 9 go past the Big Blue?

And to make it even more interesting than usual, I have a suggestion for Damian De Bohun and his team of merry men who run the competition.

There is a female fourth official who has been working A-League games. Why not delegate this match to her and put the ultimate pressure on rival coaches Graham Arnold and Kevin Muscat to keep themselves in check on the sideline.

It would be fun just watching them squirm when they would really like to explode to the fourth official over a refereeing decision.