There’s a touch of the Stawell Gift about the A-League heading into this weekend’s sixth round.
Last year’s grand finalists Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers look very much like back-markers who’ve been set the task of giving the field some start to make the race more interesting.
Of course, the fact that the Wanderers and Roar are running last and second last isn’t the work of some handicapper’s handy work. There’s no doubt though that they have been handicapped.
At Brisbane, the loss of Besart Berisha to Melbourne Victory has had lots to do with it, but being without Ivan Franjic can take its toll too – just ask the Socceroos. After setting up that Tim Cahill goal against Chile in the first game at the World Cup, Franjic missed the rest of the tournament with injury and I think it’s fair to say he was missed.
Off-season player departures have been compounded by the messiness of the Liam Millerearly season exit and an injury that’s kept top goalkeeper Michael Theo off the park.
I’m not writing the Roar off and I really want to slap someone when I read lines like “no A-League team has claimed back to back titles after losing their first three matches …”
Seriously? We’re talking about a competition with a 10-year history. Give me a break.
What happens next at the Roar though is loaded with dramatic potential. We’ve already read here on The Roar that superstar, Thomas Broich, might have a slightly different role this weekend against Newcastle.
The German is the classiest player this league has been blessed with long term and I refuse to accept his influence has evaporated.
Shane Steffanuto made an ass of himself last weekend berating stand-in keeper Jamie Young on field after the loss to Melbourne City.
The next morning in an interview on ABC Grandstand Digital breakfast, the Brisbane defender admitted he’d done the wrong thing embarrassing the rookie gloveman. After hearing him speak I looked at the incident in a different light.
Passion is important. So is honesty. And I don’t know about your experience in your workplace, but I’ve always found a quick, painful confrontation is easier to recover from than a a drawn out brooding sulk. They’ll move on.
In any case, there are many possible plot twists ahead at Brisbane. If they lose this weekend to Newcastle, a team that has traditionally had the wood on them, does something have to give?
Is it Mike Mulvey (I hope not)? Is it Berisha replacement Mensur Kurtishi, who only played 10 minutes last weekend?
Or does a dignified patience prevail? I don’t know.
But I do know that, for the good of the league, a Newcastle win wouldn’t be a bad thing either. The Jets have also been carrying a significant handicap with their Nathan Tinkler ownership dramas – so there are mitigating circumstances surrounding their lowly ladder position. They sit just above the Roar and Wanderers.
I know this is no consolation to loyal Brisbane fans but uncertainty is delicious for the casual observer and, all I’ll say in closing the Brisbane comments, is that a coach from a rival football code once told me “success is harder to deal with than failure”.
His explanation was that a winning season boosts egos and maintaining control becomes a more testing task for the coach. Hang in there, Mike Mulvey.
Reasons for the Western Sydney Wanderers’ slow start to the season don’t need a whole lot of explaining – they’ve been kind of busy.
In between giant-killing efforts knocking over the filthy rich, super powers of Asian club football, they’ve been rebuilding the club: new ownership, new marquee players, new assistant coach. No big deal. No sweat.
Sure, they lost in Wellington 1-0 last weekend on a whole two-day preparation after winning the Asian Champions League in Riyadh. Against the Phoenix, they fielded a bunch of players making their first or second A-League appearances.
Excuses, excuses, you say? Yeah maybe. Their efforts in the first two rounds weren’t great but, as a season ticket holder in their debut season I can still remember wondering after a few games if they’d ever find a way to just score a goal. History shows they went on to win the Premiers Plate and play in the grand final.
There’s plenty to like about the new talent at the club. Former Socceroo striker, Nikita Rukavysta and Nigerian Seyi Adeleke, who both debuted last weekend bring pace and other attributes to the line-up.
There’s plenty of buzz about former Dutch international Romeo Castelen. Don’t be surprised if the winger, one of the most low key signings of the off season, turns out to be the real coup. And I can’t wait to see how the relationship between the Brazilian midfielder Vitor Saba and the Red and Black Bloc develops.
If the hipster with the cool skills and fiery temperament doesn’t have cult hero stamped all over him, I’m a poor judge. He strikes me as the kind of player who could really be lifted by the loud and crazy supporters group.
The Wanderers might be winless, but you can be sure there are no confidence issues there. They’ve played two fewer games than the competition leaders and still haven’t had an A-League game at home yet this season.
Ignore the attention-seekers saying the finals hopes of Brisbane and Western Sydney are already on the ropes.
They’re both five points out of sixth place now with another 66 points on offer to Brisbane and 72 to the Wanderers. This is a 27-round competition followed by a finals series. The backmarkers are still at the tail of the field, but, unlike the Stawell Gift, the A-League title race is not a sprint.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
No last season was a success
Mitcher
Guest
Yet this level of bitterness doesn't get thrown at rubbish clubs. Your anger nourishes us. Rage on.
Domitian
Guest
It's just the vibe.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
The whole football section on this site has become a WSW love-fest. Get off your knees the side isnt that great, they play piss poor football. The only person who seems to say anything on the contrary is fuss, and when he does people bite his head off as being biased even when he brings out honest truths. Nobody wants to face facts when it comes to the Wanderers, they all want to live on the glory of winning a champions league and blow smoke up the WSW players asses about how they should be picked for Asian Cup and they all have an "ACL Hangover" or "the new players haven't gelled with the rest of the squad." Your having a laugh. Give it a wash. Jog on.
Midfielder
Guest
Deb you have magic powers the Roar 4-0...
asanchez
Roar Guru
Good article Deb. I'm also convinced that the Wanderers will come home with a wet sail. Their depth is fantastic this season. Brisbane however on the other hand, are done and dusted as far as I'm concerned. Not the worst team in the comp, but without a goal scorer that gets you 10-15 goals per season, they'll be touch and go to make the top 6 for me. IMO the top 6 teams in this comp are Victory, Adelaide, Sydney FC, Perth, the Wanderers and Wellington. The Newcastle Jets and Central Coast will finish bottom 2, and both their coaches will get the chop by seasons end. City will come home strong, probably too late, as they have no depth, 1 injury to one of their better players and they're struggling. And Brisbane will finish just out of the 6.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Sorry Debbie, I just assumed you moved to Queensland after the George Peponis's disallowed Wonder Try .... :D
Debbie Spillane
Expert
Eek, meant Netherlands. Happy now? And why I would speak Brissie Roar supporters code when I'm a WSW fan I don't know.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Sorry Cammie, I don't read every comment on the article---just start from where I post (still under moderation)... It's up to the Author to correct any mistakes when notified. I scrolled back to see what you were referring to and yes---I see a big boo-boo.
Dave2136
Guest
Woot woot!
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Sorry Debbie and Cammie, I don't understand what you are on about, must be some Brissie Roar supporter's special code, spoken amongst yourselves---please explain the Spain wonder goal Timmy scored sitting in the stand... ;) I reckon Domitian's wonder comment is right on the mark.
Ginger71
Guest
WSW is still a very good team, its just that everyone else has worked out how they play, because it is the same every week, and have worked out how to beat them. BR just seem lost, but they are still a good team and wouldn't discount them yet. As for WSW having to play ACL and A League, boo-hoo, every team that's been in it has had to juggle even if they didn't get to the finals and win. There is 22 rounds to go, anything could happen and probably will.
Aethelbert
Guest
I think the ACL is no excuse at all, WSW are markedly not as good as they were last season and their away form is largely as expected, 0 points in the league, a great lead against Sydney crumbling have all contributed to some confidence issues their huge ACL win hasn't shaken off. This season will be a struggle as new players acclimatise, Saba has a massive amount of potential and become a force in a few seasons, very much a "Fixer-Upper" Coaches are also getting wise to Popovic's tactics, Muscat's dismantling, Arnold's toppling and Merrick's denial point to one thing, they're not as sound in the tactics department, Popovic needs to work on his game day troubleshooting. WSW's main X-Factor, the fans, haven't had a chance to take part is season and I don't they will win many away games. This is a period of transition, all the fans need to do is hold on, because in a few seasons they're guaranteed to be back at the top.
TomCahill
Guest
What terrible bias in this, I don't even know where to start. You're trying to suggest WSW's preparation for the ACL had nothing to do with their poor start, pretty belligerent. If you asked the same question to any European team playing in the UCL, they would laugh at the prospect that preparing for a continental game has no effect on domestic games. So much vitriol Fuss, I thought you saved that for your disdain for the NRL, AFL and rugby.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Well it's difficult to say it's uninspired when I have been inspired by seeing Castalen do his stuff, I've enjoyed Saba's work on the pitch, enjoyed Ruka, liked Fofanah - and I've pointed out where I think the improvement needs to be made.
Bondy
Guest
I agree lads google chrome is generally dodgy here.
Realfootball
Guest
"The German is the classiest player this league has been blessed with long term and I refuse to accept his influence has evaporated." Player's get older, Debbie. Broich will be 34 this season. Physical decline is exponential after 30. However, I think it has more to do with the fact that without Berisha's threat, Broich is being doubled up on by two defenders when he touches the ball. Melbourne City used this tactic very effectively. The club is afflicted by a raft of squad issues, including a core of key players in or close to middle 30s and inexcusably poor recruiting. It's not as simple as "it'll come right". The problems are structural and deep rooted. The squad needs a major rebuild at the end of this season, and the process should have started at the end of last season.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
You are right, Fuss. It was also a slippery, zippy surface which didn't allow either side to settle comfortably into their game.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I rather suspect a few teams are going to get thumped in Perth this year.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
WSW will come good. Popovic is too good a coach, and they have a strong club spirit. Brisbane may scrape a few results, but , e until Theo gets back, will struggle purely because of their playing style requires a decent GK.