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.
Recently, much of the A-League news has focused on the relationship between the FFA, clubs and fans, and the future of Wellington Phoenix. Meanwhile on the field, the A-League has just completed its first third with clear patterns taking shape. What the season has proven so far is that pre-season predictions are not always relied upon and a previous season’s finishes by no means offer a reliable guide. Nowhere has this been in greater evidence than the starts for the Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar, although for both clubs it may be more a return to business as usual. The return of Newcastle Jets to competitiveness might seem like a pleasant surprise but it was in its own way just as expected. Adelaide United have been equally surprising with their poor start, although the corner may yet have been turned with consecutive wins.
Western Sydney Wanderers
To those in the know at ‘Wanderland’, it seemed all but inevitable. The new-look Western Sydney Wanderers have, after a slow start, recaptured the spirit of the first two seasons by sitting on top of the A-League after six consecutive wins. From the start it was evident that a change in style of play was taking place, and the key to this has been in the recruitment of Andreu, Dario Vidosic and Mitch Nichols in midfield. Nichols has been a revelation with five goals and a never-say-die attitude that has made him one of Wanderers’ outstanding performers. His most recent goal against his former club Brisbane Roar was one of the most spectacular seen in the A-League, and certainly one of the most spectacular scored by anyone in red and black. With one of the league’s largest and most passionate fanbases roaring them on, it’s looking very good indeed for Tony Popovic’s new-look team.
Brisbane Roar
Brisbane Roar’s financial issues compounded the situation of a team widely seen to be on the way down, and furthermore, appointing John Aloisi as coach whose record at Melbourne Heart did not inspire. To top it all off, star midfielder Luke Brattan left for greener pastures. Yet it has all somehow worked for Brisbane, who have rediscovered past glories spearheaded by a new-look attack of Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello, aided and abetted by excellent Spanish import Corona in midfield. It seems that Aloisi has learned more than a few things since leaving Melbourne Heart and established players have evidently been revivified. They’ve gone a little off the boil of late but like Western Sydney they’re certainly back in business.
Melbourne City
A look at the “goals for” and “goals against” columns tells the whole story for Melbourne City. They’ve scored the most goals and only Central Coast have conceded more, so it definitely hasn’t been boring. But that’s just it – Melbourne City have been the league’s most enigmatic team, boasting the League’s, and indeed now Australia’s, outstanding midfielder in Aaron Mooy, an attacking duo of Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornaroli who have delivered, and a side blending youth and experience. Inconsistency has been highlighted by a humbling 3-0 loss at home to the Wanderers and yet historic consecutive 5-1 wins over Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners. Hence they will have to prove their mettle in big games, but they’ve got the ammunition to do it. Whether John van ‘t Schip is the one who can take them there is another matter.
Melbourne Victory
Only Brisbane Roar have won back-to-back Grand Finals, a fact Melbourne Victory want to change and are well capable of doing so. They’ve already picked up a trophy in the form of the FFA Cup. An attack led by Besart Berisha surrounded by Costa Barbarouses, Guilherme Finkler and Fahid Ben Khalfallah is as dangerous as ever, and significantly the absence of Archie Thompson has not made the difference to the team’s attack it has made in the past. Likewise, changes in playing staff has meant relatively minimal disruption by A-League standards. The season so far has seen Victory lose games away to Newcastle and Wellington, but have won both the Melbourne Derby and the Big Blue, though recent losses to Western Sydney and Perth have taken the sting out.
Sydney FC
There has been a certain common thread to Graham Arnold’s teams whether at Central Coast and now Sydney FC. One of the season’s big questions was how they would rebound from their Grand Final capitulation and player turnover. Even with Holosko and Brosque, their overall goal tally has been paltry in comparison to most teams although their defence has been correspondingly parsimonious. They have not greatly impressed so far, and will be competing on more than one front this season and not only will the Asian Champions’ League be a factor. The return to form of a couple of teams will make the A-League tougher for them this season.
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