Observations from the opening A-League week

Melbourne Heart’s Michel Beauchamp tackles Daniel McBreen from the Central Coast Mariners. AAP Image/ Joe Castro

One down, 26 to go. The first week of the sixth A-League regular season is done, with a bevy of draws suggesting it will be as close as ever, confirming what many had predicted.

While a couple of high scoring thrillers boosted the early goals per game average, the overall standard of the first five games was probably best summed up by the performance of the only team to lose; encouraging, with plenty of room for improvement.

The Melbourne Heart may be sitting bottom of the league, but they needn’t despair. As I delve into some of the technical aspects of the opening weekend, the general feeling is that every team, especially in the front third, remains a work in progress.

Given the increase in the season to 30 rounds, bringing it closer in length with more established leagues, it was a promising beginning.

Melbourne Heart 0 – Central Coast Mariners 1

When the teams were announced with no Patricio Perez for the Mariners (he had succumbed to an injury) and the news that Graham Arnold was playing three strikers, the hope was we would get and free-flowing spectacle to kick-off the season, especially on such a perfect surface (bravo AAMI Park ground-staff, keep it up!).

But the reality soon dawned when Andy Harper suggested Matt Simon would be thrust into Perez’s number 10 role, essentially to destroy the playing-making ability of Heart holder Josip Skoko.

Away from home, keen for a good start, the Mariners had reverted to a combative, conservative template.

Would John van’t Schip counter the move, possibly by switching debutant Nick Kalmar to the holding role, and thrusting Skoko higher up the pitch, in one of the two advanced midfield roles in his 4-3-3, keeping him away from Simon?

Sadly for the Heart, and perhaps the match as a spectacle, that tactical switch didn’t come till half time, by which time Skoko had been battered. There were a couple of promising moments with Skoko on the ball higher up the pitch, but the chemistry with the likes of Gerald Sibon and Alex Terra wasn’t quite there, while Rutger Worm had an A-League debut to forget.

All-up, it was a fairly tense and nervous first up effort from the Heart, who will improve with game-time and once van’t Schip finds the right midfield combination.

By comparison, the Mariners knew their jobs, as simply as they were, and executed them accordingly. It was another opening night smash and grab raid in Melbourne, but the hope is that Arnold can soon start controlling games by not having to rely so heavily on the physical attributes we all know the Mariners do well.

To go anywhere this season, they will need to offer more on the ball, and we might see that at home.

Adelaide United 0 – Newcastle Jets 0

The Jets were comfortably the better side here, controlling much of the proceedings through the width of Adam D’Apuzzo down the left and the control provided by Kasey Wehrman and Ben Kantarovski.

But with Adelaide defending deep and really struggling to break from the counter-attacking strategy they employed under Aurelio Vidmar (it will take time for them to warm to Rini Coolen’s apparent want to control possession), there was little penetration in behind for the Jets.

Most of their opportunities came from outside the box, and the front-third cohesion and shooting from the likes of Marko Jesic and Michael Bridges was off.

While there were very few chances in a cagey affair, and the Jets appeared happy enough with a point, there’s no doubt they were the more pro-active side, a performance which should give them some confidence on the road. More work is required at the sharp end though.

Adelaide will at least be satisfied they picked up a point from such a rusty performance, and on this evidence of Sergio van Dijk’s isolation here, Coolen can’t get Marcos Flores and Fabien Barbiero back in the 11 soon enough.

Perth Glory 3 – North Queensland Fury 3

In front of a huge gallery, many there to see Robbie Fowler (how long will the novelty last if he produces a few more anonymous efforts?), the Glory got off to a flier, but once the Fury settled down, they were great value and thoroughly deserved their point.

In trying to find a solution with his thin squad, Franz Straka has gone for mobility, and the performances of both David Williams and Chris Payne offer plenty to get excited about.

While Scott Neville was mysteriously awarded the man of the match, the undoubted star of this game was his direct opponent Isaka Cernak, who toyed with Neville for much of the contest with his pace and good technique.

Throw in Adam Casey and it’s a pacey front four, with Cernak, Payne and Williams also adding plenty of skill. If Ugandan Eugene SSeppuya fires, he could prove as big a cult hero as stopper Eric Akoto is likely to be. Akoto was excellent here.

For the Glory, there was little to get excited about other than the crowd and the hint that Adriano Pellegrino might be back to the form that had him knocking on the Socceroos door the season before last.

Sydney FC 3 – Melbourne Victory 3

While the defending at times left much to be desired, this was another captivating Big Blue, full to high quality in the front third from the likes of Mate Dugandzic, Nick Carle and second half substitute Billy Celeski.

It was great to see one of the stars of season two (Carle) and another from season four (Celeski) back, and having such an influence.

Carle showed he has lost none of his ability to keep the ball under intense pressure and pick a pass, and looks an even stronger and fitter player than the one that left.

While there was some suspect defending from the likes of Kevin Muscat, Stephan Keller and Evan Berger, there was also some wonderful keep-ball work from both sides, and on this evidence both are good enough to be right in the mix again.

The Victory might be missing some front men, but in Dugandzic they found a great solution here.

Gold Coast United 0 – Brisbane Roar 0

As in Adelaide, it was the away side that bossed proceedings here, the Roar turning on a dynamic display built on pressing high, winning the ball quickly and breaking with pace.

Ange Postecoglou has had a long pre-season, giving his men time to adapt to his way, and the evidence is they are fully engaged and in-synch.

Erik Paartalu made a super debut in the holding role, passing short and long, while Thomas Broich also caught the eye, combining beautifully with Henrique and Costa Barbarouses. Meanwhile, Ivan Franjic continues to grow at right back, while Michael Theoklitos looks set for a big season, a wonderful get for Postecoglou.

If there was a criticism of the Roar it was the lack of finishing, partly down to some good work from Glenn Moss and a lack of composure. The success or otherwise of Jean Carlo Solorzano could be season defining, and Postecoglou says he will easy him in.

The Gold Coast, meanwhile, looked short of a gallop, being careless on the ball in the opening period and struggling to keep it in the front third until late in the match. The sooner Shane Smeltz’s future is sorted, the better.

Tony’s team of Week 1 (4-4-2)

————————–Michael Theoklitos———————–
———————————————————————–
Ivan Franjic——-Ben Kantarovksi—Eric Akoto——-Pedj Bojic
————————————————————————–
——————————-Erik Paartalu—————————
Adriano Pellegrino———–Nick Carle————-Isaka Cernak
—————————————————————————
—————–Mate Dugandzic——-David Williams—————