The much anticipated season seven of the A-League is finally underway and like many of you, I’m elated that we’re back, and in style. In a weekly piece on The Roar I’ll bring up some of the talking points from the weekend and if I’ve missed any, feel free to get involved in the debate.
This week, the big boys were back in town, the Champions haven’t changed one little bit and a soft spot is developed for the underdog.
Here are my musings from the round that was.
1) We Are Football: After what seems like the longest off-season of all time the game returned with a bang, serving up some great games, great goals and a quality of football that wouldn’t look out of place anywhere across Asia.
On what was a busy weekend of sport overall, the A-League more than stood on its own two feet, receiving well-deserved feedback from most media outlets for what was really one giant entertainment package on day one.
A five goal thriller, followed by a clash of the titans, and rounded off nicely with a superlative performance from the reigning Champions in the Grand Final rematch. Believe the hype – the game is stronger than ever!
2) Power to the people and strength in numbers: The question was asked after last season’s highly successful Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium, and it’ll be asked again after Round One of the 2011/12 A-League season.
The crowds will come to the games but how do we maintain them? That responsibility will fall on FFA and franchise shoulders, yet nearly 80,000 fans through the gates is a terrific return over five games for the code (and a record for opening round attendance in the A-League).
Admittedly, half of that was at Etihad Stadium for the bumper clash dubbed Kewell vs Emerton, but if three course meals like Saturday’s are dished up on a regular basis it won’t be the last time we see those faces.
3) Who needs McKay, Solorzano and Barbarouses? “As you were for the Roar, slick, super.”
That was a tweet from fellow Roar and A-League blogger Tony Tannous (The Round Ball Analyst) over the weekend. Hard to disagree with him, as Ange Postecoglu and his team showed no signs that the Championship curse will haunt them like their rivals of years gone by.
Oh, and in case you’ve forgotten, that 1-0 win over the Central Coast Mariners was the 29th game for the Brisbane Roar without defeat. Once again they’re an ominous side, who play with style and substance, and could raise that standard even higher come seasons end.
4) Write off the Jets at your peril: A turbulent week off the field was quickly banished on it by a spirited Newcastle Jets side, which were without a manager and a marquee player when they defeated the Melbourne Heart in Saturday’s early kick-off.
The deflected winner in stoppage time might have been lucky but it was no more than they deserved in a sensational team effort.
Several A-League ‘pundits’ (including myself) wrote them off but those assessments might need tweaking slightly if the Jets continue to show that same grit and determination.
A special mention, too, for Ryan Griffiths who put smiles on the faces of some fantasy A-League managers inside 45 of the new season.
5) Glorious day in Perth: Billy Mehmet, Andrezinho and Bas Van Den Brink were outstanding as a bright Perth Glory started the new campaign with a bit of mojo at NIB Stadium.
Mehmet’s stooping header from the direct Tommy Amphlett’s cross proved to be the defining factor and it was no more than the journeyman deserved after a tireless performance.
Most valuable of all though for the Glory will be that much welcome clean sheet, which were few and far between in 2010/11.
Games against the Heart and Phoenix now mark a real opportunity for Ian Ferguson’s chargers to put some early points on the board.
But let’s not get carried away just yet, the boys from the west were top of the tree after five rounds last season and look where they finished.
Goal of the Weekend: Round one’s best strike came on the Gold Coast as youngster James Brown skipped through several challenges en route to curling a terrific strike over the head of Mark Paston from distance.
That goal came three minutes from time and rescued a deserved point for United over a gallant Phoenix outfit.
What were your highlights in the opening fixtures?
Tommy Doleman on Twitter (@tommydoleman)
Sportfreak
Guest
What are thoughts on the gols coast? Is clive restricting crowds to below 5000 again? Strange tactic for a billionaire.
Purple Shag
Roar Guru
Great start for the A-league and even matching the EPL for hype and interest. Interisting take on all that, Tinkler's knives and the fate of the Culina family on http://therestijustsquandered.com/2011/10/10/the-c-word/
JasonA
Roar Rookie
Great summary, Tommy. I totally agree about the Jets. I think it will be good for the A-League for Perth to be a force again. I know it is early days but they dominated Adelaide United, a team many tip to be champion/premier. The atmosphere at the Melb v Sydney game was awesome, both ends exchanging chants. I brought a friend from Switzerland to the game and he said it felt like most stadiums in Europe, cept for the roof.
JasonA
Roar Rookie
The term your after is fair weather fans. People in Melbourne and Adelaide will turn up every week, regardless. Adelaide United came bottom the season before last and still averaged 10k plus. For a city of just 1 million that is admirable, Brisbane is twice the size and yet only average 12,748 over the last 6 seasons. But no one is more guilty of this than Sydneysiders, 4.5 million people and an all-time average crowd of just 13,228 since 2005.
Mark Ashton
Guest
Top summary of the weekend Tommy, I would have given the Victory Sydney game a little bit more coverage in the wrap, but otherwise great effort.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
I am sick of all this crowd talk. Get over it people. Australian are event goers, and only show up en masse for events. Not for regular matches where in this country they don't really mean anything. Just be happy with who turns up. Don't stress yourselves over who doesn't turn up. Come the Final Series Cup Final the masses will show up again.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I had a look at some of last years attendance figures and they at least beat last years GF replay. 12k saw Sydney play the Victory at the SFS in round 1 last season, though that season did start during NRL/AFL season and we know how well that worked...........
striker
Guest
Matt have to agree on all your points especially the crowd in brisbane at least 17-20 k i thought was achievable on last years eurphoria but then again 13.5k aint bad when you look at there average the last few seasons, if the continue to win that will increase, but it will be intersting to see what Sydney get this week as anything under 15K would be dissapointing.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Crowds should hopefully pick up again for the Glory. The Shed die-hards were there in force, though!
Matt F
Roar Guru
Great summary. I was very happy to get a point against the Victory, especially after the Red Card and with Kisel still to come in and Emerton to get better there's lots of improvement to come I hope. We're still missing a clinical striker though and it will be interesting to see how we fit Kisel into our midfield. The obvious solution would prbably be to drop Cole/Jamieson to the bench and play Kisel on the left but playing Emerton at RB and Kisel at right wing could create one hell of a right side. I was disapointed with the Roars crowd. Given the 50k+ they had for the GF (and the game that they witnessed) plus it being a GF replay I would have thought they would have been aiming for at least 20k. Only getting 1k more then the Jets isn't the best sign but at least it is an improvement on where they were at the start of last season. Hopefully it will go up when the season progresses. The quality of the roar deserves big crowds. The crowd for SFC vs Brisbane next week will be interesting to see. The notorious problem market needs a lift so hopefully the fact that it's Emertons first home match and it's against the champions will bring out a good crowd. 15k+ should be the minimum target. Thankfully the game clashes with the other RWC semi rather then the Wallabies match.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Nice summation, Tommy. Great opening round for the HAL but I'm disappointed with MVFC dropping 2 points at home and embarrassed by the fact I only got 1 winning tip from the opening round - but, I'm certain I won't be alone? One thing that also stood out for me was the nice form of some of our u23 NT members, who were heavily criticised for their inept performance against UAE recently. Dugandzic, Brown and Nicholls all got on the scoresheet and Jurman, Hoffman & Williams all played important roles on the w/e. Bring on Round 2.