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Six talking points from A-League Round 7

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Roar Guru
9th December, 2018
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Perth and Melbourne are creating a bit of a break on the rest of the competition as we take a look at some of the major points from Round 7 of the A-League season.

The Bermuda rectangle that is the penalty box
The non-handball by Scott Galloway was a curious event on Saturday night.

While a major talking point in and of itself, it was also another instance of the referee making a decision (or, in this case, a non‑decision) and slow-motion replays subsequently bringing that decision into question.

For what it’s worth – and who knows the value these days – the VAR thoroughly checked the on-field decision, and they were happy to move on.

What was clear is that Galloway’s hand definitely hit the ball.

Even the A-League official website live scores updates wrote the following:

“27’ A clear handball in the box is missed by the referee and the VAR has also given it the all clear. They have made a mistake with that one.”

That’s the official online website saying the referee got it wrong.

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Now, fortunately for those reading, I am not going to question the merits of whether the referee got the decision right. Join the comments section below if that is what you would like to discuss.

But what is most definitely worth mentioning is the comment by Brenton Speed during the match, when he pointed out, correctly, that if Galloway’s incident had happened anywhere else on the field, the referee would have had no hesitation in calling a handball.

Speed is spot on.

However, it got me thinking, it isn’t just the differentiation in the handball interpretation that occurs inside the area, it’s every decision.

Dives, fouls, handballs, if they happen anywhere in the field, the referee has no hesitation in calling it as he sees it, sure the occasional player might argue, but we move on.

It’s like all normal interpretation of rules go out the window when the referee sees the same foul in a penalty area, and has to decide if a particular infringement is worth a free shot on goal.

And I have no issue on more scrutiny being placed on the decisions that need to be made in the penalty area, because the punishment is likely scoreboard, and outcome, altering.

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But all this points to the fact that if Galloway had handled that ball on the other side of the line, I can guarantee you, the referee blows for a free kick for Melbourne.

Perhaps then that is the way the game needs to be adjudicated.

You often hear it in rugby league, when a controversial decision is handed down, the go-to question is: would that decision be the same if it was deciding a grand final?

Well in football, would that outfield decision be the same if a penalty was going to be awarded?

Based on Galloway’s incident, probably not.

Scott Galloway

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The stars are shining
As season 2018-19 has heated up, an attacking midfielder has quietly been working his way through the rounds, finding his way into the league, and starting to leave his mark.

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Alexander Baumjohann on Friday night was starting to show the type of quality that Wanderers coaching staff would have signed him up for.

At times, it looked like the German playmaker was playing a game that everyone else on the field was struggling to comprehend, so advanced was his play.

Following a career in the Bundesliga over 12 seasons, across a few clubs that would earn a player the title ‘journeyman,’ Baumjohann found himself in the Brazilian league for two years before coming to the A-League for this season.

The German is still finding his feet, but under the new coaching of Marcus Babbel, the whole Wanderers squad is still finding their way, so it is understandable that the Baumjohann is taking his time to learn his coach’s ways, his teammates’ ways, perhaps even the Sydney lifestyle ways.

On Friday night, the passes and midfield control were there for all to see, to put in a near flawless performance.

With the Sydney Derby back on next week, the German’s performance could not have come any sooner.

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Phoenix rises
Thank you Wellington.

Whatever else happens for the rest of the season, Wellington have put in their nomination for upset of the season.

I am reliably informed that going into this match, Sydney were $1.30 favourites to over-run the New Zealand opposition. In a two-horse footballing race, that’s as close to a near certainty as you can get.

Yet out came the under fire Wellington outfit, scoring three first half goals to essentially seal the win before half-time.

The occasion was a standout stellar performance for Roy Krishna, helping himself to a brace, and he could easily have had a hat-trick, while Steve Taylor grabbed the third, to at least create a positive highlight to rival his missed opportunity earlier this season.

For coach Mark Rudan, who over the last few weeks must have been thinking to himself that the Fox Sports commentary lounge was where he’d rather be as opposed to the coach’s bench, the result against his old club side would have been doubly satisfying.

Well done to Wellington.

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They are perpetually a club under pressure to perform, with their identity and mere existence continually being brought into question.

But for the league itself, it is the type of upset that is needed to garner widespread interest, rather than yet another season being a procession for the likes of Sydney and Melbourne.

Now, the bigger challenge for Wellington is to maintain the rage, and with back-to-back wins under their belt, there’s reason to believe they can stay angry.

Roy Krishna

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Marvel Stadium dishes up the marvelous
A 2-nil scoreline favouring a home side without context suggests a relatively routine victory over an outplayed opponent.

Wrong.

On reflection, the Melbourne vs Adelaide game was billed as the match of the week going into Round 7, and ended up being exactly that.

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Melbourne lost their central defender early, Adelaide almost broke the woodwork with an early chance, Kurz won the opening half coaching battle, Melbourne broke swiftly on the counter, Adelaide held their formation well, Adelaide created but missed further chances, Melbourne’s stars rose to the occasion, the supposedly routine 2-nil scoreline could very well have been more like a six or seven goal marathon favouring either team.

And all of the above doesn’t even mention the stand out performances from both keepers.

Now, I will admit, while watching the game, there were times when the play felt laboured, particularly on the part of Melbourne.

Perhaps that was in part because this fixture normally brings out intensity and fire.

There was the sign of the fire when Kosta Barbarouses laid down a shoving challenge with Vince Lia after a mid-air collision, so in the end the game even had the classic aggravation this fixture normally delivers.

So on the whole, the Saturday night showpiece ultimately delivered everything that you would hope for from a game of football.

And while Melbourne entrenched their position in the top two and a slight break on the rest of the pack that includes Adelaide, the Reds also laid down their title credentials.

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Round two for these sides in Adelaide promises to be one not to miss.

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Perth Glory are still looking to re-connect with their fans
Things are looking good out west. Very good.

I pointed out in previous talking points that after Round 7 last season, the top two were locked in for the rest of the season.

With Perth sitting atop the table, undefeated after seven rounds, you could argue that they can start planning on hosting a grand final qualifier.

Of course, Perth won’t be so silly as to be looking that far ahead – but playing this brand of football, under a coach who would be burning to finally win the final showpiece match, Perth should be excited about their team this season.

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Which is all the more reason why it’s a shame that on a Saturday night, welcoming a well performing Melbourne City, the Glory could only garner a boutique crowd of 8,400.

The 1-nil win thanks to Chris Ikonomidis’ winner in the first half deserved a bigger audience at the game (and likely on television screens).

By all accounts, the conditions were perfect for football as well.

A strong Perth Glory is vital to the league, and as matters stand, the club have got things working on the field.

Here’s hoping they can re-connect with their fans off the field again, and much like the preseason match against Chelsea with a packed Optus Stadium, it would be great to see a packed out nib Stadium for a regular season showpiece game.

It’s the least that Perth deserve.

Perth Glory fans

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

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Landmark goal for an NPL graduate
One criticism levelled at the Jets this season has been their inability to convert in front of goal.

While last season was marked by a free-flowing, scoring Jets team, instead this season, they have suffered from a stuttering attack.

The loss of Roy O’Donovan and Joe Champness, added to the departures of Andrew Nabbout and Riley McGree, has started to take its toll on a Newcastle outfit heavily reliant on Ronald Vargas, Dimitri Petratos, and an underwhelming Jair.

It was with something of a surprise that the Jets opened the scoring as they did against Brisbane.

Running into a strong headwind, the Jets managed their fair share of chances, but again looked to be following the pattern of failing to launch.

However, on the stroke of half time, the Jets cracked the Roar defence, and it was NPL signing Kaine Sheppard on the scoresheet.

It would have been a moment of vindication, both for the NPL system, but also the Jets staff in recruiting him.

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As for Sheppard, it’s been a long journey from the outer reaches of London to Newcastle, but to open up the scoring on your starting debut with the go-ahead goal?

It might have all felt worth it.

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