With 10 games gone in each club’s respective A-League season, Outside90’s David Votoupal looks at how each side has fared in the opening exchanges.
Wellington Phoenix
Faced with an uncertain future yet winning universal support through football for their cause, this has not hindered Ernie Merrick’s side on the park. They are a side who have a fair dose of panache and a fair dose of toughness to go with it. Roly Bonevacia, Michael McGlinchey and Roy Krishna have all delivered the goods, and recent results have included a battling display at Western Sydney ending in a loss, a draw at Sydney FC and a win over Melbourne Victory. Wellington have put in some strong performances of late which bodes well and they are a tough prospect both at home and on the road. The club is a valuable part of the A-League and the FFA can ill-afford to cut them loose, come what may.
Newcastle Jets
It should come as no surprise that Newcastle Jets have enjoyed a revival this season. The club’s near-death experience and clearing of decks has produced a side playing without the burden of expectations under Scott Miller, and anyone who understands the logic of football if any will not be surprised at how well they’ve done so far. 12 points from their first nine games is over two-thirds of last season’s tally of 17. That they’ve gone off the boil of late was also to be expected as there are always questions of whether such a run can be sustained with their resources. Besides established players in David Carney and Ben Kantarovski, contributions made by Leonardo, Envir Alivodic and Milos Trifunovic, have given Jets fans hope for a better future. The club’s potential is considerable and arguably wasted in over a decade of A-League football despite one Grand Final win to their credit.
Adelaide United
For the first eight games of the season, Adelaide United looked like they were taking over the role Western Sydney Wanderers momentarily stepped into last season. Winless, seemingly directionless and with rumours flying around, playing nowhere near the potential that lies in a quality squad. A side with Pablo Sanchez, Isaias, Sergio Cirio and Marcelo Carrusca should have been among the favourites, but questions abounded on how the players have adjusted to the change of coach. The last two games have seen Adelaide United win, and in doing so, Guillermo Amor may have turned the corner with two consecutive wins. Whether this leads them to rejoin the contenders remains to be seen.
Perth Glory
Last season went well for Perth until they had to pay the price. This season they seem to be paying an even bigger price by falling to the bottom of the league, despite the fact they still have players like Marinkovic and Sidnei who can do some damage. Goals have been harder to come by and this may explain the moves to bring Andy Keogh back to the club. A good run of home games over the next month will decide their fate, and two consecutive wins over Central Coast and Melbourne Victory has gone some way to lift spirits as Perth seek to get back among the chasing pack
Central Coast Mariners
Without a win since the opening round, Central Coast have had a harrowing time of it this season where two three-game losing streaks have seen them rolled by Melbourne City twice, Sydney FC and Western Sydney. While Roy O’Donovan, Fabio Ferreira and Matt Sim have at least scored a few, the Mariners’ results and standing so far seem to confirm what must have been widely held predictions at the start of the season: that Tony Walmsley simply doesn’t have the material to work with and they’re already being cut adrift. For a club that has generally been there or thereabouts throughout its existence, it’s looking like dark days on the field.
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