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.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
All's good JB, I get your comment now.
jbinnie
Guest
LIONHEART - I think we are "splitting hairs" here in the use of words. My use of the word 'galling" did nor refer to the efforts of the people you mention, but referred to what could happen to that effort if the team did not start to win games. Everyone knows that for the last 3 seasons Roar have struggled to convert outfield superiority into goals scored, so that everyone assumes that Is the major problem. All my figures pointed out was that since the championship winning days, till today, the "goals against" has remained pretty static (around 40 per season) while the "goals scored" fell away dramatically last season despite efforts made by team managers to stem the tide of departing players, like McLaren, and previously, Berisha. Roar's recruitment appears to centre around trying to acquire a goal scorer while defensively they have soldiered on with the same players but have fallen well short of the 25 "goals against" that won them a championship not so many years ago. So you see ,it is the "lack of balance" I was talking about. To win a league you have to score more goals than you concede, and this is something Roar have not done well since way back. Cheers jb.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I don't think it's 'galling' JB, I think Roar management and the fans federation have done a particularly good job in building their fan base. Admirable would be a better word, but sadly actions like FFA's failure to book Suncorp in case, for finals, is going to be galling for fans if Roar do have a successful season. On the surface I would say Roar's issue is a lack of goals. Certainly that's been the case so far this season. Noteworthy that Roar defenders do not lack for game time at other clubs, Donachie, Brown, Rowes, Ingham, Acton to name a few.
jbinnie
Guest
Lionheart - It is not unusual for an "away" team to affect what you describe,"five across the back and hope for a breakaway". This could be more prevalent in the 2 games you mention with both coaches "new" to the job at their respective clubs, and probably looking upon an "away point" as a point gained, rather than 2 lost. Roar have had a problem these last few years,as my figures above show, they concede far too many goals when measured against the goals they score. This leads to opportunities lost and with 2 points from 2 home games and only one goal scored in 180 minutes it would appear that problem has not gone away,even though it is early days. As you say Taggart should have scored more against CCM ,but he didn't, and against 'Nix even that potential scoring factor did not improve. The one galling thing is that someone at Roar has done a very good job attracting fans with a 15,000 average over 2 games but with that effort the team has to start winning games if interest is to be maintained. Cheers jb.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
From what I saw of the Phoenix game, Rudan's sole purpose was to spoil Roar's game and catch them on the counter. This was from the get-go when he switched play directions with the toss, and lined up five defenders across goal. He made it nigh impossible for a still to settle Roar to score. As for Mariners, Taggert missed sitters and CCM did defend well.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
'I haven't yet watched Brisbane' You can do better than that Nemesis.
Chen Yang
Roar Pro
'High standard german referees'..youve got to be kidding
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Craig Foster Retweeted FFA Cup @FFACup· 34m Adelaide, get in quick. There's less than 1,000 tickets available for tonight's #FFACupFinal!
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nem Tis all gone to see the details join the western sydney forum ... go other topics and look for the AFL thread tis on page 8
Nemesis
Guest
"Roar should be top right now after a clinical win and draw but instead they got two draws." Seriously? You actually think this? I haven't yet watched Brisbane this season and, just looking at the fixture, can't see any reason to watch them until mid-December. You've scored 1 goal & conceded 1 goal. If that equates to "should be top" then everyone should be top.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nem Agree and if true heaps of questions to ask the southern media. As an aside re the collusion code folk.... I have attacked a vid of Timmy scoring his first goal in the Indian League so the next time someone says something about India then say look at these crowds... tis worth a look... https://twitter.com/m_kozlowski99/status/1056937487917084672
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I wanted to see the article but it denies permission! Oh well there are still some secrets out there.
Nemesis
Guest
Interesting stuff, Middy. I haven't heard anything about this before, but now that I'm able to filter in/out news I find interesting I rarely get information about topics like this. But, if true, this should make the general news very soon.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
There's always the bandwagon jumpers but the word's out that our boys are the real deal so hopefully crowds are up in Newy this year
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Theoretically there should be 30000 if all those glory hunters that turned up for the grand final show up . But happy if it’s above 14000
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
A dying league....I bet you there's a cracking crowd in Newy this weekend
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Between Zullo and Grant you have a couple of absolute grubs. Either play with skill and meet the standard or don't play at all.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Stuart Your article tells the story re:..managers and can you blame them? Those amateur hacks in the green shirts couldn't officiate cake and tea party. Dispense with VAR and contracted refs. Open it up and some brilliant young NPL refs will get their shot and put the pressure on this current bunch of clowns. Kosmina nailed it in foxsports. As for the teams well for starters it's a case of being the second round. Yes they play pre-season matches but nothing beats full blown competition and all teams will improve. What is really annoying and totally unrealistic is the absolute drivel pumped out by the media re Sydney. There is now way any pundit, football educated or not can say they are red hot for another title. You can honestly say that Perth, City, Jets, Victory, Sydney and Adelaide are all in the mix and possibly Brisbane. Wanderers, Mariners and Nix are going to upset a lot of teams. Wanderers will really fire next year when they are more comfortable with Babbel.
Nemesis
Guest
Sorry, Middy I don't have access to that forum. Need to register. Maybe you can provide a summary, or take a screen shot of the post & share it.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Well, Ilso is the no. 10. He hasn't impressed me at all so far, especially since he hasn't scored or assisted yet. Kurz has got very little with Blackwood, Boland and Stamatopoulos unavailable, and Mileusnic, Diawara and Kitto all unfit. Putting Halloran and Strain up the front in unfamiliar positions is simply not a solution. However, Niyongabire and Brook both deserve their chance to play again for the Reds, and Kurz shouldn't be afraid to put newer and younger players in the squad who have shown they can perform at youth level. So, why not roll the dice in the final?