The A-League’s Christmas weekend was capped-off with a spectacular 3-1 win from the Brisbane Roar over Melbourne City.
Outside90’s Jackson Fanning takes a look at how the result reflects on the teams and the current state of the competition itself.
A hierarchy is beginning to establish itself
What was once a competition split into two blocs has finally revealed a steady line of teams by the unofficial halfway point of the season. The good news is that regardless of today’s result, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City would both find themselves near the front of the queue, and deservedly so. The bad news is, that while both sides may have exceeded expectations to this point, they will be kicking themselves that they are not even further forward and pushing the Western Sydney Wanderers for the top spot – especially City, who missed a golden opportunity tonight to put themselves within a game of the league’s leaders.
Entering the Lion’s Den
A-League teams beware – Suncorp Stadium is once again a fortress. The Roar is undefeated at home now this season and will head into the New Year looking to add to their streak against the Perth Glory. Manager John Aloisi has always maintained that the key to success in any league is done on your home patch and the mentality seems to be feeding through his side, they tend to feel comfortable and confident on a surface that away teams often struggle with. If they can find a way to express themselves consistently with the same freedom away from home, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
https://youtu.be/VGzvP9PrE6M
Mark your City games on the new calendar
If points were handed out for entertaining games, Melbourne City might have had the Minor Premiership wrapped up by now. Another cracking game of football, and regardless of the result tonight they are continually showing that they can attack and push forward with the same vigour they have shown against some of the league’s cellar-dwellers this season. The partnership between Harry Novillo and Bruno Fornarolli continues to develop, Aaron Mooy has been the best player in the league to this point and Robert Koren has yet to start this season – enough said. If only their back four was as reliable…
Speaking of
This will be the defining factor of City’s season, and unfortunately they were not able to replicate their derby heroics of last week. It has become a regular talking point for John van’t Schip, but constant reminders at the back make it impossible not to discuss. Until today those mistakes have been papered over for in winning sides, but are made glaringly obvious in a losing effort. A couple heart in mouth moments at the back only compounded on the goals they conceded, both of which were also avoidable and the frustrating thing is that they are not too far away. They could be described as mistakes, and that is all they are, lapses in concentration that can and must be eradicated by the end of the season, if not sooner. Then again, if they keep having matches like these, lets not change a thing.
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