At the beginning of the season, Brisbane Roar’s John Aloisi and Melbourne Victory’s Kevin Muscat were being earmarked as potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou.
However a third into the season and both teams are struggling, with only a couple wins to their names, and at risk of missing the finals.
With the two prepared to go head-to-head this week, let’s take a look at who’s doing the better job.
Players used
Brisbane’s casualty ward currently has eight tenants, including the likes of Michael Theo and Thomas Kristensen. This is no fault of Aloisi’s but it has led him to use 24 players already this season, which is the most in the A-League.
Only Matt McKay and Massimo Maccarone have started in every match. Jack Hingert has played in all ten, but has only started in eight. During the match, Aloisi has used 30 substitutions.
Muscat has had a couple of injuries including Mitchell Austin’s ACL tear, but he has also missed the likes of Kosta Barbarouses, James Troisi, and Mark Milligan through international duty.
However he has been lucky enough to only use 19 players, which is second fewest this season. Lawrence Thomas, Jason Geria, Rhys Williams, Carl Valeri, and Leroy George have started in every match this season, while Jai Ingham has also appeared in every match, but has only started four. Muscat has only used 25 of a possible 30 substitutions.
Formations
The Roar have struggled with form and injuries, but the scorer of Australia’s most famous goal has only changed his formation once this season, sticking with the 4-2-3-1 for nine matches. The only match he tried something different was the Round 6 clash with the Victory, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Muscat, on the other hand, has tried three formations, starting the season with a 4-5-1, using the 4-3-3 in the corresponding match. The 4-2-3-1 has been his favourable, used six times.
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Bookings
Discipline doesn’t always depend on the players in the squad, it also depends on the coach and the style of play implemented. Fifteen of Brisbane’s 25 players have been booked this season, receiving a combined 27 yellow cards and one red.
However, 13 of Melbourne’s 19 players have been booked. Twenty-four of those have been yellow while Milligan and Austin have been shown red cards.
Results
Whether it’s getting the Socceroos job or the sack, the main criteria will be the results of the two managers.
Brisbane are in sixth position after ten games, with two wins, four draws, and four losses. They have scored 12 goals and conceded 14.
Melbourne are seventh, with two wins, four draws, and four losses. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 16.
Coincidentally, both of these sides’ wins came in Round 7 and 9.
So the two are pretty evenly matched, however Muscat has had the easier time since he hasn’t had to worry about a plethora of injuries.
But the real winner could be decided this week, when their teams close out Round 11.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - Then we progressed to the injury figures, and now the latest, the state of the training pitches. Wonder when we'll get to the obvious flaw that has been around for a while now, "we are not scoring enough goals". jb
TK
Guest
Might be time for fans to take their kit to the ground and report to the sheds.
Waz
Guest
Out for 3-4 weeks
Waz
Guest
It was less of an “opinion” jb and more on observable performances and his measurable individual match statistics. The 2015/16 season was his peak at Brisbane, the arrival of a disappointing Holman the following season curtailed his appearances but he was under-rated by many while he was here
parkhacker
Roar Rookie
Well as I have told my competitive son there must be a winning team and a losing 1.This is pure logic if every team won than you would not have a table like 1 to 10.Both John and Kevin are very competent coaches with much experience either 1 could coach Socceroos ably.Kevin takes his teams losses harder than John, Kevin will always say what he wants to.On the other hand John is more pleasant in interviews and diplomatic to the Media.Both these coaches will still be there at the end of the current season they are admired by team members and fans.
j,binnie
Guest
Waz - passing an opinion as to what is a 'great game" is in the eye of the beholder and in my opinion Dimi was never used in the role that Ernie Merrick is now using him, and again, IMO, he is a better all round player for it. For another example where would you rate Matt Mackay as an "attacking" midfielder He ,in a 16 year career, has played 410 matches at club and international level and in that time he has managed 29 goals, (just under 2 goals per season).. Would you say that he,as an international class player ,has a "finishing" problem. The figures say yes, but there are those around who see Matty as almost irreplaceable in this Roar team. That's football Cheers jb.
pacman
Guest
I suspect the only reason Theo was selected in preference to Young at the start of the season is that he, Theo, "had the dressing room". After all, Young was in top form last season, whilst Theo appeared somewhat flat-footed when he was beaten on at least three occasions early this season. Took a "hand injury" for him to be replaced.
TK
Guest
Is Bautheac out injured as well or has he recovered?
Waz
Guest
But at Roar he did shine jb, he had some great games. He had some outstanding games in fact.
Waz
Guest
Muscat doing a good job? Have you seen the table? Several of the “names” are there on reputation - a bit like Holman. They’re not performing.
Waz
Guest
This is where JAs losing the fans: After the FFA Cup it was “we’ll be ready for R1” and when we weren’t ready for R1 it was “we’ll get better as the season progresses” and when we didn’t it’s become “I’m building for the future”. I can’t keep up ?
Waz
Guest
You mean Matt “the spittoon” Simon. Elbows has a new nickname ?
Fadida
Guest
I think he prefers his players"ready", often holding onto his trusted soldiers too long
Waz
Guest
Broich still hasn’t recovered from his second ankle operation. The rest of your post is found but Broich, it was just time.
steve
Guest
Thomas Broich should still be playing. Was clearly still the Roar's best player last season. JA just isn't a good coach. Havent seen anything that would make me think otherwise.
Lionheart
Guest
Milligan's a gem, best Ausy in the A League imo.
Lionheart
Guest
yes Waz, pre-season seems to have been wasted, While there were a number of injuries and thus some players were under-prepared, others just weren't up to scratch. Dane Ingham is the prime example, sent home from NZ national team camp for lack of fitness.
Lionheart
Guest
he hasn't shown any fancy for youth at SFC. Why is that?
Kangajets
Guest
So waz you are then saying Muscat is going a good job with a poor team Or has his recruiting been bad And I’m sure players like Berishsa Troisi Williams Milligan etc would be welcomed at most clubs , they are talents that other clubs can dream of .
punter
Guest
Haha, agree.