When it rains it pours. That is not a phrase tossed around often in the sun bleached state of Western Australia, however, Perth Glory have been criticised and ruined since Football Federation Australia (FFA) found the club guilty of breaching the A-League salary cap by a reported sum in the region of $400,000 this season.
As we all know what followed was the removal of Perth from the finals series and subsequent fines and sanctions from the A-League’s hierarchy, a complete disaster for Kenny Lowe and his squad who were poised to have a real crack at maiden silverware off the back of their impressive form, which elevated them to the helm of the competition throughout the opening stages of the campaign.
Despite the hardship many of the Perth supporters are going through, there were plenty of diamonds in the rough and those positives are worth highlighting, because as quickly as this year ends season eleven will begin.
The Defence
The consistency within Perth’s defensive ranks this year is unprecedented for the club, led by captain Michael Thwaite and veteran Dino Djulbic, alongside Scott Jamieson and Joshua Risdon, the Glory set new standards in the department and it proved to be the catalyst for their excellence on the pitch.
Just the fact Lowe was able to select the same back four every week is rare in any football team, even more important considering each player’s form individually and their classy cohesiveness as a collective. Thwaite provided the heroics with last ditch tackles and bone-crunching blocks, while former Socceroo Djulbic was the brute in any duel, whether it be in flight or grounded.
Then there were the tantalising deliveries from Jamieson, an overlapping run or a set piece situation where he was lethal, a stark contrast to the fullback that was sidelined for the majority of last season through injury. Although the surprise was the weakest link in the backline’s infancy Risdon, who has developed into a special player and a goal scorer having sent a couple screamers whistling past desperate goalkeepers, the last victim being Ante Covic of the Western Sydney Wanderers some weeks ago.
The fifth piece – Danny Vukovic
No defence is complete without a shot-stopper and Vukovic is in arguably the best form of his career, pulling off mind-bending saves week in and week out, one can only imagine the heights he reaches on a daily basis at training.
As it stands, Liam Reddy of the Central Coast Mariners leads the way in the A-League with a total of 106 saves, closely followed by Perth’s custodian on 92. For mine, Vukovic is undoubtedly the most inform goalkeeper in the league, having maintained a save to shot ratio of 73% and 17 clearances, three of which led to chances on goal.
His distribution statistics should not be overlooked either. Vukovic has held a 56% pass accuracy which converts to 399/713 (completed/attempted), now that might not seem like much of an impressive stat but 72% of that were long balls forward, which is not an easy feat for a ball playing midfielder.
A Serbian cannon anchored by a Griffiths
The combination of attacking midfielder Nebosja Marinkovic at the point of Perth’s midfield diamond with the base Rostyn Griffiths is what makes the Glory tick, perhaps better than most other sides in the A-League certainly for the first part of the year where the duo were untouchable.
The Serbian attacker was an interesting character, invisible until needed. Game after game Marinkovic would not be involved other than completing the odd routine pass here or there, then all of a sudden he would flex his muscles and he becomes the difference. Whether it was a pinpoint free kick, a precise penetrating pass or just an absolute thunderbolt into the roof of the net, you could never discount Perth’s talisman from playing his card.
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Big, brash and brilliant are three words to describe Griffiths’ play style and the form that had him regarded as the A-League’s most dominate defensive midfielder and the lynchpin holding the Glory’s explosiveness together.
Currently, Griffiths holds an average of 88% for his passing accuracy coupled with 66 interceptions and 76 successful tackles, plus we cannot forget his dangerous aerial presence that has led to three goals off of his head. There are rumours Perth’s main-man wants away from the troublesome club, if that turns out to be true it would be an irreplaceable departure, one that the Glory staff need to prevent at all costs.
Luck of the Irish
Finally, the signing of Andy Keogh in the off-season which worked out to be one of the most successful acquisitions in Perth’s history, yet is allegedly one of the centre-pieces in the Glory’s current jiggered jigsaw.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward raced to the lead of the A-League’s goal scoring charts having netted four goals in his first two games, to the 11 goals he currently has to his name. If we put the goals aside, there is his incredible aerial prowess which earns Perth possession in opposition territory and that is furthered with his ability to feed to runners, allowing the Glory to skip a cautious build-up.
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This has resulted in the Irishman creating 30 chances on goal, five of which eventuated in celebrations. Equally Keogh can ignore support and go solo, and that has also been positive with a total of 56 shots and 30 on target, although most of his damage is done inside the penalty box like a true poacher. The assortment of his finishes is spread out amongst his limbs which highlights his adept reaction to various situations; Keogh has scored three headed goals, three left footed and six off his right.
What is the road to Glory like? Well it begins with an open country side full of potential before tightening into a series of windy corners that requires a perfect balance of control and creativity, the track then straightens into a gaping archway of darkness, a tunnel that stretches for some miles. What is at the end? Usually light, maybe more turmoil either or, Perth Glory have all the characteristics to repeat the successes of this season and abolish the pain on the other side, in the meantime they need to overtake the Wanderers.
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As a Perth Glory supporter this was pretty much spot on. Thanks