For anyone wondering what the Reds Revolution is, it dates back two seasons ago when Guillermo Amor took charge of Adelaide.
Adelaide only managed to get three points out of a total 24, and they were rooted to the bottom of the table in December.
Soon after, Adelaide were in the top six and eventually won the double (Premiers Plate and the grand final). This was in the season where Sydney weren’t so dominant, as they were on an 11-match winless run.
A season ago, it all changed. Adelaide just avoided the wooden spoon while Sydney won the double. With their match against Adelaide on the horizon, now I’m comparing the Sky Blues with Adelaide who their coach Guillermo Amor turned into one of the finest teams in the history of the A-League. Read on to see who’s better!
Goalkeeper: Eugene Galekovic versus Andrew Redmayne
One of the reasons why Adelaide conceded so many goals so early on in the season was because Galekovic was injured.
With him in goal, Adelaide only managed to concede fourteen goals from Galekovic’s 22 appearances. He is also was a marquee player for Adelaide, alongside Marcelo Carrusca.
Redmayne has played every minute for Sydney FC this season and conceded 22 goals. He also has had more competition for the goalkeeper spot, as Alex Cisak has played overseas in England as well as being called up to the Socceroos.
Eugene Galekovic would most likely be the pick for me, as he has made a lot of impact in goal that season. He had also played for the Socceroos, and was praised by lots of former Adelaide coaches.
Right Back: Luke Wilkshire versus Michael Marrone
Luke Wilkshire this season has been phenomenal, he’s picked out teammates in his crosses, helped to assist teammates and also does his defensive duties.
Michael Marrone played more defensively and took a major part in Adelaide’s defence. His injury in the He’s still one of the best right backs in the A-League, although he lost his starting position for a while this season.
If I had to choose one, it would most likely be Luke Wilkshire, because he offers more in attack than Marrone did. He can also play in a variety of positions, such as left back, central midfield and/or winger.
(Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
Centrebacks
Dylan McGowan versus Jordy Buijs
It’s really hard to compare these two players as Dylan McGowan was one of the best in the air, defensively and offensively from time to time. He also played every minute for Adelaide in the Reds Revolution, but also the following season.
Jordy Buijs is a very different player, he is very composed on the ball, made the most passes in the league with nearly 90 per cent accuracy. He can also set up a teammate, assisting three times and even occasionally takes set pieces. However, he also clears danger when he needs too, sometimes anyway.
Jordan Elsey versus Alex Wilkinson
Jordan Elsey unfortunately copped quite a few yellow cards in his second season for Adelaide United, but I put him in instead of Iacopo La Rocca because he’s played more games than him, and La Rocca was in the defence in Adelaide’s horror run at the beginning of the season.
Impressive.
Alex Wilkinson has shown himself to be a quality defender, also playing every minute of this season but in his off games, Sydney don’t play well. Wilkinson has made over 150 clearances, (50 more than Jordy Buijs) and made around 20 blocks (also higher than Buijs).
My favourite pairing would most likely be Dylan McGowan and Alex Wilkinson. I eventually decided to take out Jordy Buijs because he didn’t make the ACL squad for Sydney FC.
Left Back
Craig Goodwin versus Michael Zullo
This is probably the hardest to compare, Zullo has shown about what an effective player he can be going forward, sending in inviting crosses and also assisting teammates.
He is joint second in assists this season, but he can be caught out of position, as he goes forward often.
Craig Goodwin is a similar type of player, but is better for completely different reasons. He is also versatile and can play anywhere along the left, left back, left wing, left midfield, left forward and also adds goals to his name on the scoresheet.
His crosses are inviting as well, and also was Adelaide’s player of the season. He also takes free kicks and corners for Adelaide.
If I had to choose, I’d probably choose Michael Zullo because although he goes out of position, it rarely costs goals for the opposition.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Central midfielders:
Stefan Mauk versus Brandon O’Neill
Brandon O’Neill is more defensively minded than Stefan Mauk was. He no longer takes set pieces, but can put in pinpoint passes. Occasionally, this can be a dangerous shooting weapon, especially against the Wanderers.
Stefan Mauk was actually traded with Osama Malik in the Winter Transfer Market, before departing to Holland. He scored goals in critical situations, and was a fantastic replacement for James Jeggo, who went to Austria. He was good on the ball, made right decisions and also took a huge part in Adelaide’s first goal in the grand final.
Isaias versus Josh Brillante
Josh Brillante has done his defensive duties this season, intercepting the ball over 40 times, one of the highest in the league. Also has made over 1200 successful passes in the A-League.
That’s second in the A-League behind Jordy Buijs. However, one small complaint is that he has given away a lot of fouls.
Isaias was even better in the 2015-16 A-League season than he was now, he dropped back to help the defence, win the ball and set up other teammates. Is really composed on the ball. He also scored lots of free kick goals for Adelaide but unfortunately now Benjamin Garuccio is on set piece duty.
Watch the free kick in the 2016 grand final, and understand why I chose Isaias over Brillante.
(Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Right Winger/Midfielder: Bruce Kamau versus Adrian Mierzejewski
I’ve never seen such a menace to full backs. Bruce Kamau was fantastic in his youth. He scored goals, he had pace and skills. He should really have been man of the match in the final, as he scored the opening goal after racing past Scott Jamieson and winning the foul which lead to the second goal.
Adrian however, is still a fantastic winger. He scores, creates opportunities, wins fouls, takes set pieces, assists and wins fouls. He does it all, and with no disrespect to Kamau, but Mierzejewski is at a different level entirely.
Attacking Midfielder: Marcelo Carrusca versus Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque hasn’t hit the heights last season recently, but he has still scored four goals and assisted twice.
Marcelo Carrusca for Adelaide was completely different compared to Alex Brosque; he created opportunities, managed to dribble around players with his feet, scored goals and notched plenty of assists. When he’s on fire, he’s perhaps the best foreign marquee a team can ask for.
I have to choose Carrusca, in his prime, he was incredible, even now he plays well under Josep Gombau.
Left Winger/Midfielder: Sergio Cirio versus Milos Ninkovic
Sergio Cirio wasn’t actually at his best in the 2015-16 A-League season, however, he did manage to score four goals. He also made some intelligent runs, but wasn’t really effective for Adelaide in offense.
Milos Ninkovic had been fantastic last season. This season he has been less effective, but that doesn’t mean he’s a pushover. Although he has only assisted three times compared to over ten times last season, he has managed to score some fantastic goals this season, including the goal of the month as he dribbled through the Newcastle defence.
He’s still shown he’s nifty with his feet with 70 successful dribbles, 32 key passes and winning over 60 fouls.
I’ll pick the former Johnny Warren medalist. He’s still a great player and better than Sergio Cirio. Haven’t seen Cirio run through one of the best A-League defences!
Center Forward: Bruce Djite versus Bobo
Bobo is currently a fantastic striker, and it is shown with his back-to-back hat-tricks and scores an average of a goal a game. However, quite a few have been from the penalty spot, as he is the penalty taker for Sydney FC.
Bruce Djite was actually on a goal scoring drought which lasted from Round 19 in the 2014-15 season and ended Round 16 the following season. Since then, he had scored 11 goals from 11 games, what a turnaround!
Bobo would be the obvious choice, back to back hat-tricks, and breaking the ‘Most goals in a Season record’. It’s a landslide victory for ‘Official Bob’.
Substitutes:
Pablo Sanchez versus Matt Simon
I’ll have to say Sanchez because he scored seven goals off the bench. Matt Simon went on a goalscoring drought for a while, but he put it behind him scoring the winner in stoppage time two rounds ago against his former club, the Mariners.
Iacopo La Rocca versus Aaron Calver
Iacopo La Rocca was really up and down, either rock solid at the back or easily exposed. He also was a bit of a thug, gave away lots of fouls in dangerous positions.
Aaron Calver is young and has only played ten minutes of the A-League this season. He has impressed Graham Arnold in the ACL however.
I would really have to choose Calver, because lots can go wrong if La Rocca plays a bad game.
George Mells versus Paulo Retre
Definitely Paulo Retre. He’s very good in Central Midfield, the wing or as a right back. His crosses are inviting too and has shown why he has occasionally managed to make the starting XI for Sydney.
George Mells, however, I was not very impressed with. Made some starts, and failed to offer really offer anything. Was released the following season.
Tarek Elrich versus David Carney
Tarek Elrich was actually only dropped because Bruce Kamau was such a menace to wingers and scored goals. Tarek Elrich was good at going forward, crossing and even assisting teammates. He’s had a really up and down career.
David Carney has played more first team football probably because some of the first team full backs/wingers have been injured. He’s managed to score four goals and win two penalties. He hasn’t really offered much in defence.
So Roarers, all it takes is a revolution, and you might have a team nearly as good as Sydney FC if not better, even if you are on a winless run in the first eight games of the A-League season.
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