When Adelaide United began the season, it was full of excitement and there was hope for a soccer-mad town that over the last few years have experienced a lot of pain. Six games into the season, however, the wheels are looking quite shaky.
There is no doubt that Adelaide coach Rini Coolen is trying to play an attacking brand of football.
When Adelaide was on song last year, only the Brisbane Roar played a better brand of football. What let Adelaide down last year, was a combination of injuries and a nasty run home.
But last week’s 2-1 win over Gold Coast United did not mask the fact that the Reds are struggling.
After breaking the bank and signing up an exciting team, Adelaide looks a shell of their former selves. They seem unable to string two passes together and lack that flair from last year.
Even more concerning is that only one of their goals has come from Adelaide making the play rather than an opposition defensive mistake (that goal being the second last Friday night).
But the biggest change from last year is the deterioration of the defence structures.
Amateurish at best and cataclysmic at worst, Adelaide struggle to keep a clean sheet through the grace of god (God being Eugene Galekovic).
Their defensive problems come from two areas; the first being Cassio and young Watson at full back.
Both fullbacks are attack-minded and love to support the Reds attackers by getting in behind the defence and whipping crosses in.
But too many times, both full backs get caught up the field, exposing Jon McKain especially. Teams have learnt to sit back and counter-attack the Reds because they are exposed in defence.
The second area of concern is the defending around the 18-yard box. Adelaide looks all at sea when defending any balls around their goal.
One particular incident that made me groan was just before Gold Coast’s solitary goal. The four times the Gold Coast penetrated the 18-yard box with Adelaide failing to properly clear the ball on all four.
It looked like an under-8s soccer match with Adelaide looking unorganised.
Legs were flapping like a duck’s wings in and around the penalty box.
A wise man once said invincibility comes from defence and opportunity lies in attack. There is a greater threat in having a weak defence than having an attacking team which creates a lot of chances.
Opportunities will continue to come for Adelaide and they will take them. But if Adelaide can’t clean up its defensive act, they will continue to be vulnerable and concede costly goals.
Rini Coolen should not abandon his game-plan entirely. The attacking brand of football they play will win matches and draw fans to the game.
But the defence needs to be tighter if the Reds are going to compete.
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