They mightn’t always be the purest of football sides, but it’s fitting that Sunday’s grand final pits the competition’s two strongest, most complete units.
Not quite offering the flow of the Roarcelona of the past two seasons, Western Sydney Wanderers and the Central Coast Mariners are the teams with the fewest weaknesses, stingy in defence and they both inevitably find quality solutions in the front third.
They might not be Barcelona, but they are to the A-League what a team like Bayern Munich have been this season; strong, well conditioned, organised, strategic, with plenty of difference players at the pointy end.
They certainly have been the most consistent, a blend of physical and flowing football, imposing themselves on their opponents until they wrestle control, a base from which they start playing their football.
While one might mount a case that the Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar have been the two most pure sides at various times this season, there’s no doubt the Wanderers and the Mariners have been the best.
If you delve into the figures, you are likely to find that the Victory and Roar, at times, have perhaps possessed the ball more than the Wanderers and Mariners.
The Victory, especially in the first half of the season, were a sight to behold, with Gui Finkler pulling the strings and promoting Marco Rojas and Archie Thompson in behind opposing defences that were too often left high and dry, marking a number nine that didn’t exist.
But the Victory were found out once Finkler got injured and Tony Popovic orchestrated a physical game-plan to knock them off their rhythm, one that was later replicated by Mike Valkanis, as I described at the time.
More recently, it was the Roar (and in the last month or so of the regular season, Perth Glory) that have been the team most pleasing on the eye, circulating the ball from left to right through Luke Brattan and Steve Lustica, and then pouncing quickly through a rejuvenated Thomas Broich and Besart Berisha, and more advanced Ivan Franjic.
A fresher Roar may have been a bigger test for the Wanderers on Friday night.
Mike Mulvey deserves much credit for the turn-around, and I, for one, look forward to seeing how he comes out of a full pre-season.
While both the Roar and, to a lesser extent, the Victory, can claim they were in transition, the Wanderers and Mariners were more complete.
Here are just a few of the reasons why.
The best defensive structures yet in A-League
Apart from Sydney FC in their championship winning season under Vitezslav Lavicka, who transitioned well into defence, there hasn’t been two better organised A-League defensive units than Popovic’s and Graham Arnold’s.
Indeed, we probably have to go back to the days of Zoran Matic at Adelaide City to find anything comparable in Australia.
There are subtle differences in how and where the Wanderers and Mariners do their defending, but at the core both are extremely well organised, in touch and everyone on the pitch takes pride in their defensive responsibility.
This is a credit to both managers. This sort of organisation and commitment to defending doesn’t come easy.
Both play a compact 4-2-3-1, with a defensive line high. Mat Ryan, for the Mariners, is the best sweeper-keeper I’ve seen.
The Wanderers defensive structure often starts up high, with a pressing game at least as good as that of the Roar under Postecoglou.
Like Besart Berisha last season, Dino Kresinger sets the tone, sprinting left and right, up and down, to put pressure on the defender trying to play out.
He might not score too many goals, but his workrate has endeared him to the Wanderland faithful, who can often be heard chanting his name.
Kresinger and his teammates embody the working class ethos that the Wanderers fans value.
Youssouf Hersi, to his right, is like the Energizer bunny, non stop, to a fault at times, as we saw on Friday night.
Mark Bridge and Shinji Ono mightn’t be the most natural pressers, but they never shirk their responsibility.
Through the centre there is no space, and that’s largely down the tireless workrate of ironman Mateo Poljak and his sidekick. Often that’s been Iacopo La Rocca. Together they were almost impenetrable throughout the 10 game winning streak.
The fullbacks, too, squeeze high, always trying to stop the wide attackers from turning and facing goal.
If teams have managed to get through or around the Wanderers, waiting have been the twin towers in Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Michael Beauchamp, all calm and convincing. And them there’s Ante Covic, in career best form.
The Mariners, meanwhile, tend to start their defending deeper, allowing their opponents to enter their half before they start their tactical press, smothering their opponents, leaving little room between their midfield and defensive lines.
Ono discovered this when the Wanderers went to Bluetongue in March. It was the same for Marcos Flores, Archie Thompson and Billy Celeski on Sunday.
Both have the strength to go with the football
Both these sides are very similar in their physical make-up, featuring giant central defenders, robust holding central midfielders in Poljak and John Hutchinson and a big unit through the middle in Kresinger and Daniel McBreen.
Even from fullback they both have much power through the likes of Pedj Bojic, Josh Rose and Jerome Polenz.
Perhaps the one area where the Mariners have a slight edge is in the pace stake, through Mitchell Duke and Bernie Ibini.
But the Wanderers hide this lack of real pace through their immense pressing effort and tactical organisation.
Like the Mariners, they are conditioned to last. Both Adam Waterson and Andrew Clark deserve a lot of credit here.
Their work to get the best out of the likes of McBreen and Bridge are examples of how critical their roles are in the broader technical blueprint.
The physical strength allows both teams to play on the edge, always combative, but invariably disciplined. It’s a fine line, but both have got it right more times than not.
Strong man-management and tactical flexibility
While neither side has veered away too often from their 4-2-3-1 foundation, it has been the skilful shuffling of the players within this formation which has been a feature.
Whether it’s Michael McGlinchey playing anywhere across the third line, or Iacopo La Rocca featuring anywhere across the backline or holding midfield, it has invariably made much sense, and worked.
When Tom Rogic left for Celtic, Arnold had to find a solution at 10, and has used both McGlinchey and Daniel McBreen with much success, depending on the need for subtlety or power.
Meanwhile, Popovic has adroitly shuffled a fairly thin squad, get the best out if every contributor. His man-management over the Christmas period was the work of a seasoned manager.
When Pedj Bojic was out injured, Trent Sainsbury moved to right back and Zac Anderson slotted in centrally.
Meanwhile, Labinot Haliti has been used effectively across the front line, or off the bench.
The use of Oliver Bozanic, Shannon Cole and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi are other examples of effective resource management.
Most importantly, those that have come in have understood what was required of them, and made a contribution.
Effectiveness from the front third game-breakers
For the Wanderers, their creativity and goal scoring threat has inevitably come from their third line, featuring Hersi, Ono and Bridge.
With Kresinger and others like Haliti providing a foil, its been left to this trio to dominate the assists and goals.
The Wanderers method is about getting it to this trio as quickly as possible, giving them the time and space to combine or shoot.
The Wanderers have been very efficient, and Popovic will do well to ensure Hersi isn’t missed on Sunday.
The Mariners rely a little more on the integration of their fullbacks into the attack, particularly Pedj Bojic on the right.
What the Mariners do so effectively is move the ball very quick.
Combine the quick movement of ball with the movement of bodies in the front third and it’s an incisive mix.
Up front they have the power and goal-threat of McBreen, Ibini and Duke and the great feet of McGlinchey, always scheming for an opening.
Flowing they are just about untouchable, as the Wanderers themselves learnt the last time these teams met. That evening, despite losing, the Mariners proved they have the weapons to stretch the Wanderers like no other team has.
But the Wanderers hung on, and hung on, until they got their winner, and that’s what makes Sunday’s grand final so appetising.
These are two very well drilled units, teams in every sense, and there is likely to be little separating them throughout.
j binnie
Guest
Stevo - If you don't mind me saying so your view of last Fridays's game is just a little too biased to be taken seriously.Vince Rugari's stats showed Roar had 58% of ball possession during the 90 minutes so either his stats or your statement is way off beam. Now, if in your description "Roar's intricate passing" you had added "was executed in such a slow,poor directional manner that allowed" WSW to regroup etc etc etc.your observations would be taken much more seriously by people who watch the game objectively. I should add that I do agree with your description of WSW they are "very fit & defensively cohesive" as well as dIsciplined, & well programmed to execute fast breaks. All in all a very good team ,prepared well, to do what they are very good at doing. jb
Stevo
Guest
And so it came to pass last Friday when a very fit and defensively cohesive WSW gave Roar no time of the ball for the full 90 min. Roar's intricate passing came to nought as WSW regrouped so quickly that avenues to goal were plugged and Roar lacked the skill and wit to break this down. So Popo is now challenging other clubs to raise their skill to a new level. The HAL keeps improving. I'll be waiting to see what JA does in the off season.
Midfielder
Guest
If my arm is twisted...
WSW77
Guest
Going for some beer's Midfilder? ;)
AZ_RBB
Guest
read all the posts. i thought there was a level of respect between the two sets of fans but i guess i'm wrong. seem to forget that some CCM's best are from west sydney. i see Mat Ryan around my suburb all the time. this idea that if you participate in it you're becoming a WSW fan is ridiculous. if all 40 000 of us do it in the 80th minute it'll be a sign of unity and a shared passion for football (albeit ironically turning our back to the game) i guess the Yellow Army can refuse to do it. a couple of thousands dissenters against 35 000 participants won't make much of a difference.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy you should get yourself on Twitter & get the troops organised. Twitter suggests buses have also been chartered by CCM fans to get to the game.
Midfielder
Guest
If you are a Mariner fan and what to catch the train... What is the preferred train for Mariners fans ? We should all try and get on the one train and have a huge presence when we get to Central. http://ccmfans.net/community/index.php?threads/mariners-express-trains-to-sydney-for-sunday.5148/ Gosford: 9:49 10:49 11:51 12:49 Woy Woy: 9:57 10:57 11:59 12:57 Hornsby: 10:33 11:33 12:35 1:33 Epping: 10:42 11:42 12:44 1:42 Eastwood: 10:45 11:45 12:47 1:45 Strathfield: 10:57 11:57 12:59 1:57 Central: 11:10 12:10 1:12 2:10
Midfielder
Guest
FUSS ....LB... Tower and everyone else... plus Tony of course.... Massive news the RBB has approached the Yellow Army to hold a joint cerebration of the grand final... the Axis of Evil how will it get reported... Mariners forum.... http://ccmfans.net/community/index.php?threads/stadium-wide-poznan.5147/ Read all the posts ...
Midfielder
Guest
Breaking news .... Trent Sainsbury .... Mariners have three received offers for trials... with Southampton showing a huge interest.. Southampton .... expressed interest... received offers to trial for Sainsbury from FC Basel in Switzerland and Roda JC in Holland - plus a similar invitation from Championship side Bolton in England. : http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/overseas-clubs-eye-central-coast-mariners-defender-trent-sainsbury-following-superb-campaign/story-e6frf4gl-1226621383356#ixzz2Qbq8Sjjz
Hez
Roar Rookie
Will be interesting to see the largely black and red crowd react to this scenario. Go Mariners.
Lancey5times
Guest
I said to a mate after full time in the game against Victory, "next goal wins" ;)
j binnie
Guest
Towser - I know exactly where you are coming from, I was brought up in a coal mining town in Scotland & like you played most of my football in a lower competition, or in 20 -a- side games (professionals included) on a Sunday afternoon in a local farmer's field. However after watching ths Hungarians in 1954, Fiorentina in '59. & Real Madrid in '60 I began to realise there was a world of football I had never known existed & 50 years of study began.It has been an intriguing half century for much has changed in the game,fullbacks no longer "hoof" the ball up the park consistenty,wingers like Mathews have almost disappeared (Tom Finney was one of the better players I have seen), why Ramsey dropped the best goal snatcher in England we'll never know but he DID justify his decision, & so the questions go on & on, just like yours today. Where will it all end? Who knows,the Russians have been quiet for a while, so they are due to surface with another tactical innovation soon. Your mate jb
Wicked Ninja
Guest
Let's hope so. In any case, I don't think there will be more than one goal scored in this game.
Towser
Guest
j binnie Thanks for the reply, but In other words we'll never know. Let me just say that the Sheffield Works League that I played in was definitely not full of forward thinkers,being comprised of steelworkers,labourers etc. However just because it took them 3 days to tie their shoelaces & their knuckles only left the ground to sup a pint of beer, doesn't mean they were "far behind " as football players. Whether they would have took kindly to "tacticians is another matter entirely & the main reason for the question about the 2-3-5 was I just wonder how much of the the influence of these "In front football tacticians" stifled the natural creativity of some footballers. Once again as its a hypothetical question we'll never know.
Lancey5times
Guest
It won't. 1-0 in regulation to my Mariners
langou
Roar Guru
I imagine the CCM are hoping like hell this doesn’t go to penalties
j binnie
Guest
Towser my "old" mate - A good question which in itself I would not dare to answer for in football one never knows what the tacticians are going to come up with. Can I say if you were still playing centrehalf in a 2-3-5 formation in the 60's you were obviously not playing at a very high standard or had not come under the control of a forward thinking coach. Let me explain & try to use numbers. Chapman did start the move with a change to 3-2-5, & this quicky became known as the WM formation or 3-2-2-3 in numbers, By early 50' Brazil was playing 4-2-4, but by '56, this had become 4-3-3 when in possession & 4-2-4 when in attack.This was made possible through using a player of undoubted stamina & skill, Zagallo ,who could play as a winger or a working midfielder. Meanwhle Hungary were totally dominating European football with their deep- lying centre , two fetch & carry wingers.& 2 of the world's best strikers. which one could describe as 3-3-4 when in attack or 4-4-2 when defending.This was a development of a pre-war system started in Austria just as the same could be said for the Ilalian catenaccio which could only be described numerically as any number up to 9-1. 1966 saw Ramsey sack wingers all together & 4-4-2 was established as the "in" system. All this history shows how "far behind" your team was in Sheffield but that is not surprising for up till Ramsey, acceptance of tactical innovation was frowned upon in the UK. So to try & answer your question the use of time & space in today's game, whether in attack or defensive mode, has become the overriding factor in the minds of managers or coaches when setting philsophies & I think the only guarantee your 2-3-5 formation would deliver would be more goals being scored, which,after all, is the main aim of the game.!!!!!! jb
Wicked Ninja
Guest
Great article. Just one slight problem. Trent Sainsbury, at 178cm tall, is hardly a giant. Which makes it all the more amazing that he wins so many headers.
j binnie
Guest
Dino -A strange reply.Where did I say or infer that it wasn; possible to have a "Barca" in Australia?. I take it what you mean is to play football in the Barca "style" as opposed to my meaning of playing as well as Barcelona play,with their exceptionally good players.That being the case then you have to admit the chances of "breakdown" or "turnover" in the localised version of the play is greatly increased. And so it came to pass,Ange programmed his players,within their capabilities to try the "keeping possession","playing out of the back", call it what you may game, & for a year took the opposition by total surprise, even when the inevitable mistakes in turmover occurred. However Ange wasn't the only man with his head in the books & by year 2 others had started to counter the tactic simply by increasing the pressing game (introduced in Europe years before) & by doing so increased the "turnover" count, thus making the "Barca method" not so successful.The die was set,the tacticians had worked their magic, & come year 3 the game plans were changing again wih more emphasis on making it harder for teams to score & with quick,accurate, movement of men & the ball,engineering fast productive "breaks"..Now we have CCM & WSW both using this philosophy with very obvious results. So allowing you are at next year already, how are you going to break down defensively based philosophies. Clue,--- it has been done before. Just to finish ,what you say about bringing in "better" players has no guarantee of making a better system is probably correct, but it has been proved it's not a bad place to start, ManU,Man City,Chelsea,Arsenal, & Liverpool are all good examples. jb
Aljay
Guest
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