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The original hypothesis behind this piece was the contention that the most frustrated manager after two rounds of A-League action was Marco Kurz.
The Adelaide mentor has watched his side take single points from two home encounters, with both matches providing plenty of opportunities to take all three, amidst frustration and controversy.
Round 1 saw the Reds comfortably manage Sydney FC’s attack before Adam le Fondre marked his A-League debut with a late equaliser and Friday night was another evening of frustration, despite Adelaide’s determined attempt to right the ship and deal with the travelling Jets.
Unfortunately for the home side, a Craig Goodwin equaliser was as good as it got, after Ronald Vargas had opened the scoring for Newcastle. For the second week running the Reds fans were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Combining the frustrations of the Sydney game, where Steve Corica’s team found it near impossible to create anything even remotely resembling a chance for the first 80 minutes, with the missed chances on Friday night and Kurz has every right to be annoyed.
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
With his reputation for hard work, steely resolve and pushing players to the brink physically, he might be a pain the neck on the track this week.
As the weekend’s matches unfolded, it became clear that Kurz was far from the only manager as grumpy as hell after his team’s clunky start to the season.
Around 60 metres from the centre wicket of the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday night, those emotions came to a head for Wanderers boss Markus Babbel.
In charge of a club that many expect to struggle and a team he himself labelled as the worst in the league in the lead up to Saturday’s game, Babbel must have felt physically sick when Sydney FC took the lead in the 4th minute.
Things got no better when Alex Brosque doubled the lead after 53 and by the time VAR intervened in what first appeared a legal goal from Roly Bonevacia’s right foot, Babbel was well and truly fed up.
He spat the dummy gloriously, received a red card for his efforts and kicked some stuff to announce himself to the Australian public.
This is a tough initiation for the German, yet one that a man of his pedigree can overcome. I’m just glad I am not a door in his house, such would have been his frustration and embarrassment after returning home from the derby late Saturday night.
Earlier that afternoon, a third contender appeared for the rather unwanted title of the most frustrated and annoyed manager in the league. Not that anyone would know it of course.
It is nigh impossible to decipher Ernie Merrick’s emotions on or off the pitch. He would make one hell of a poker player. However, the man whose expression wouldn’t change after a colossal lottery win or the tragic loss of a lifelong pet, must be dirty with the A-League world right now.
Ernie Merrick of the Jets. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Without the luxury of his suspended marksman Roy O’Donovan up front, the Jets have done nothing more than look dangerous in patches this season.
Friday’s draw with Adelaide was another awkward performance, particularly in attack, where a certain disconnect was clearly apparent and the opening round loss to Wellington was also underwhelming.
There have been glimpses of the damage Dimi Petratos and Ronald Vargas could wreak together and when Brazilian Jair eventually finds his feet in new surroundings, the possibilities are invigorating for the Jets.
But for now, Merrick and his men have just a point from two matches and the pressure now mounts ahead of Saturday’s grand final rematch with Melbourne Victory. Coincidentally, if any side gives Merrick confidence that something of a slow start is nothing to fear, it is Kevin Muscat’s team.
The Victory claimed the championship last season after starting slowly and struggling mid-season, before eventually winding up in the straight and running down all comers in the semi-finals.
Despite that incentive, Merrick will emphasise the importance of a reaction this weekend and with Victory also winless, the task becomes even more difficult. Muscat too might be a difficult proposition to live with right now after the Tony Popovic-inspired Perth did the business late Sunday.
Cross-town rival Warren Joyce will not be a happy camper either after watching his star studded team struggle to break down the Mariners in Gosford. If not for an 84th minute strike from Dario Vidosic, Melbourne City seemed destined for a humbling loss.
Kurz, Babbel and Merrick will talk openly about the long season ahead and one would be foolish to sound the death knell on their seasons so early in the piece. However, with an incredible parity appearing across the entire league, carelessly dropped points are crucial and making up ground later in the season will be a definite challenge.
Mark Rudan will be a little miffed after the Phoenix drew with Brisbane on Sunday yet more than pleased with the overall start to the season. Mike Mulvey will have a similar mix of emotions after two wonderful defensive efforts despite that late Vidosic equaliser that snatched all three from the Mariner’s hands on Saturday afternoon.
Central Coast Mariners coach Mike Mulvey speaks (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
John Aloisi is undoubtedly annoyed and probably wondering how many ladders his strikers walked under in the pre-season, although better days are surely ahead for the undefeated Roar.
Perhaps only Steve Corica and Tony Popovic are sipping on their midweek coffees without too much angst. Thus far, little has gone wrong for both, with their squads responding to their message well in the opening fortnight of the competition.
As fickle and unpredictable as the league appears, next week might see a few other managers ready to explode with frustration. It is an attribute the A-League should embrace and market right now.
There seems no clear favourite or a runaway leader. Just a stack of managers in a really foul mood.