Adelaide United’s 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Brisbane Roar revealed a fundamental flaw in the club’s quest for silverware. Be it a lack of penetration, a stringent adherence to style or just simply a fear of shooting, the Reds are hopeless, but strangely enough continue to play admirable football.
There was something rather comical about the way Fox Sports cast Bruce Djite as Adelaide’s solemn saviour on Saturday night. Adelaide had experienced this situation before, and no matter how much faith was bestowed on the big man, nothing would change.
Djite will return, he’ll run hard, he’ll chase and he’ll capably hold up the ball, but he won’t give you goals.
Is it Djite’s fault Adelaide can’t score? Of course not. Djite is part of the furniture at United hence the club is well aware of his capabilities and has been for years. Which begs the question, why is Adelaide still grappling with the same problem which plagued them last season under Josep Gombau?
Eli Babalj was loaned in, and in the opening rounds of season 2015-16 was overwhelmingly isolated inside Adelaide’s system, and now he is injured. Djite remains, but we know goals are not forthcoming.
Despite this, the Reds are indeed a better side with Djite up front. He is not only a handful for opposition defenders, but ably functions much like the brick wall you pinged balls at in your backyard as a child. Unfortunately, as much as this process benefits the midfielders, it is performed with one’s back to goal.
Without a consistent goalscorer, Adelaide fans threw a weight of expectation on wingers Fabio Ferreira and Awer Mabil to deliver what their striker could not. Unfortunately, any success would only offer a temporary reprieve.
But unfulfilled Adelaide fans continue to rue their departure. And why not? Regardless of everything else, these players knew how to score.
This point is particularly poignant when assessing Adelaide’s current list of attacking options. Although Sergio Cirio is infinitely dangerous, he cannot be relied upon nor does he maintain a permanent position; the Spaniard will be shifted in the event of an injury or modified tactics.
Adelaide’s players also have a tendency to waste goalscoring opportunities by stroking the ball rather than striking it, as was the case against Brisbane.
Most sides have the benefit of a goalscoring midfielder or defender, but in Adelaide’s case, players are either incapable or unwilling. This makes the Reds a straightforward proposition for opposing teams. And as complex as Adelaide’s game is, without goals, they are an equation radically simplified.
Opposition teams are aware the Reds are comfortable in possession, but most are happy to allow this privilege as they know they are unlikely to score. The plan is to allow Adelaide to hold the ball and wait to exploit them on the counterattack, which has proved successful in Adelaide’s previous two fixtures.
As time dwindles, and Adelaide pushes higher in pursuit of a goal, they become increasingly susceptible to counterattacks, which on Saturday allowed Brisbane to claim two unlikely goals.
Adelaide United’s commendable football formula shows the pitfalls of possession-based football. Without goalscorers, the team’s fluent routine will become increasingly unthreatening and easily managed, and this breeds frustration. Particularly when rival A-League clubs spent the holidays acquiring mouth-watering attacking options.
Adelaide’s tentativeness to spend-up is understandable and expected; the club operates on a shoestring compared to other A-League organisations. But despite last season’s promise, the Reds have developed a fundamental problem, which may outlast Amor.
Although Adelaide face a short turnaround in the lead-up to Thursday’s home match against Melbourne City, a win is certainly due. Fortunately, the Reds put in their best performance of the season against Brisbane, and a return to their stylish best may be the perfect preparation for midweek goals.
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