Are nine A-League teams playing for second place?
Sydney FC’s effortless 5-0 rout of Western Sydney in Saturday certainly suggests the champions are in no mood to give up their status as the best team in Australia.
Graham Arnold’s team was ruthless going forward and showed a togetherness in defence that stands them in good stead to go back to back.
And even though the rest of the top four joined the Sky Blues on the winner’s list this weekend, the gap between Sydney and the rest looks a hearty buffer.
After tallying eight wins in 10, including the last four on the trot, Arnold said his team were in no mood to slow down.
“I’m not joking. I expected that,” he said of their five-goal win over their arch rivals.
“I could see it in their faces, I could see it in their eyes this week.
“We’ve got some quality players. If you give quality players some space I thought we could really make a statement tonight.”
Some statement.
The win ensures only two teams are within 10 points of Sydney; second-placed Newcastle, who are five points back, and Melbourne City, a further point behind.
Next to have a crack at Arnold’s champions is City, who won 1-0 on Sunday night.
Ross McCormack’s second-half goal against Central Coast was enough to end a difficult week for the club with three points that keeps City in third.
There was great interest in how City might perform at AAMI Park given Tim Cahill’s mid-week exit from the club.
The man voted Australia’s greatest ever Socceroo had just left a club that might not be big enough or old enough to withstand the trauma.
As it happened, Joyce said he saw a new benchmark for his time at the club.
“I thought the first half was as good as we’ve played,” he said.
“It was a testing game against a side in good form. We acquitted ourselves well and deserved the three points. Maybe could have made it easier for ourselves.”
Newcastle did it harder, leaving their run against Perth Glory to the dying minutes.
Youngster Joe Knowles put Perth Glory ahead after 20 minutes, where they stayed for over an hour.
With two minutes remaining, John Koutroumbis brought parity before an unfortunate own goal by Jeremy Walker put Ernie Merrick’s side back on the winner’s list.
Adelaide United could yet scramble their way into title connection if they continue the same fight as they showed against Melbourne Victory.
Goals from Baba Diawara and George Blackwood, either side of Mark Milligan’s nifty goal, gave the Reds three points at Etihad Stadium, a venue they hadn’t won at in 11 years.
In the round’s final match, Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix shared a goalless draw.
R King
Guest
It's true what you've said Josh, in that both CCM and the Jets were given some credit, but the overwhelming comments, at least what we heard in Adelaide, were that it was because SFC were below par rather than both the Mariners and the Jets made SFC play the way they did. I do agree with you that Adelaide need to start to put their chances away and stop getting players sent off for silly little stupid mistakes. I'm hopeful that those 4 sides plus City and Roar are in the mix come the finals.
Josh Barton
Roar Pro
I wouldn't necessarily agree that opposition teams don't get due credit - Central Coast were lauded for their dismantling of Sydney earlier in the season, and rightfully so. Similarly Jets showed some good fight in their 2-1 loss in the rain, though ultimately that scoreline may ultimately have been flattering for the Jets. It's just that Sydney have only lost 1 and drawn 1 all season so far - when you look at that record, and last seasons record, its hard to give too much credit away from them. They just keep winning. Jets look really good this season. Hopefully they can really take the fight to Sydney - they certainly have an attack capable of doing it, they just weren't able to show that in the earlier meeting against Sydney. Similarly, Adelaide have shown a great ability to create plenty of chances, they just need someone to get on the end of them and start burying them. City seem to becoming a bit of a trainwreck right now off the field, though early in the season I tipped them as champions, and I still think they are capable of that, if they can string together some consistency.
R King
Guest
At the moment Josh, they are the stand out group. Whether they are at the peak or can get better, only time will tell. What is insulting to the other teams in the league, when SFC don't play at their best, against Adelaide and the Jets, no credit is given to the opposition but rather they, SFC, had an off day. I hope that Adelaide can get their first team on the park together at the one time and that they 'gel' when they do, and that the Jets can maintain their early season form. The January window will be interesting, in that both Melbourne City and Adelaide have space available in their squads, how they fill them to combat the SFC momentum will determine who will up there come the end of the season.
Josh Barton
Roar Pro
The really scary thing is we haven't even seen the best of Sydney yet. Ninkovic and Adrian have only played just over 90min together this season - when both are fit they could tear the league apart.
R King
Guest
I agree, but while we play an end of season 'top 6' the successful club will be the one that wins the Grand-Final, no matter how silly it is. But right now, credit where credit is due, they are clearly the best team in the league.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
OK, I misread your comment. I was referring to the premiership (top of table at end of H&A season) and I thought you were too, as you referred to their position at the top of the table. And to be fair, that is the true measure of the best team over the season.
R King
Guest
So you are saying that they can lose the Grand-Final [the game I was referring to] and you would still be saying their season was successful. If we played 'First past the post' then you would be right and I wouldn't of made my statement. We are both assuming they are going to make the Grand-Final but 'what if' the game they lose is the one before the Grand-Final, then without doubt their season will be considered anything but successful.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
"But we all know they only have to lose one game this year for their whole campaign to be considered a failure". LOL! So, if they do lose a game and still walk away with the permiers plate, and maybe even the dunny seat, their season should be considered a failure? That's funny!
R King
Guest
Results speak louder than the normal East Coast media love fest we keep getting about SFC. I believe that at the moment they are proving to be the best placed team in the league, invincible some say, but no, every coach/manager will tell you, that with every win you are one game closer to losing. And lose they will. I have, for a fair while now, believed that the East Coast football media [Fox] have as much to do with the perception that SFC are better than any team/club before them, than their results suggests. Right now there is no dispute, they are the best team in the league, their position at the top of the table is the only indicator that counts. But we all know they only have to lose one game this year for their whole campaign to be considered a failure. On the other hand, the team that wins the Grand-Final, regardless of how they are performing now, will be regarded as the best team in the league for this current season. So to all of the East Coast media types, take a deep breath, calm down, and just report on each game as it comes along.