They may have moved up to fourth after ten games played, but we’re still no closer to knowing whether Adelaide United are a decent football side or not.
How would you feel if you were a Newcastle Jets fan this morning?
The Novocastrians dominated the early proceedings of their 2-1 defeat to Adelaide United yesterday, but had nothing to show for it by the time Nikola Mileusnic opened the scoring with just about the luckiest goal you’ll ever see.
Glen Moss hasn’t had much luck in goal for the Jets this season, and he cut a forlorn figure as he tried desperately to scramble back and tip Ben Halloran’s unerring lob wide of the post.
Instead, it was Mileusnic who was on hand to tap home the rebound off the post – nicking in front of Daniel Georgievski to do so – as the visitors went into the half-time break with a totally undeserved lead.
And the Jets looked like they’d finish with at least a point when Roy O’Donovan timed his run to perfection to nod home substitute Kaine Sheppard’s deep cross.
They would have been good value for a point, too, had former Adelaide defender Nigel Boogaard not dived in and tripped Reds substitute Ryan Kitto in the box.
It was as clear-cut a penalty as you’ll ever see, and Craig Goodwin – who might otherwise have thought he’d be in the United Arab Emirates taking on Oman – buried his well-taken spot-kick.
So what, at the end of it, did we learn? Not a lot if you’re an Adelaide United fan.
Marco Kurz is a decent coach, but he’s had his Reds side scratching around like headless chickens for much of the campaign.
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Adelaide boast plenty of bright sparks – Milesunic and Goodwin and Kitto among them – but they’re yet to put a complete performance together under Kurz so far.
Yet if the finals kicked off tomorrow, they would easily qualify given the current top six format.
Will more than half the teams in the competition still reach the playoffs once the A-League expands? Hopefully not.
But if the Jets can keep Roy O’Donovan on the park, they’re likely to feature at the business end of the season once again.
That might be more than can be said for Brisbane Roar, who have plenty of ground to catch up thanks to their 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC on Saturday night.
The Roar gave a good account of themselves in their first game under interim coach Darren Davies, but the Welshman has fair grounds for complaint over the use of the VAR in Kogarah.
If video technology has proved anything, it’s that making decisions based on video replays is just as difficult as making them in real-time.
Moreover – and not for the first time – on-field referee Alex King made a spot-on call, only for his decision to be undermined by unnecessary use of the VAR.
To top it all off, Roar striker Adam Taggart had to wait a number of minutes before King’s decision was finally upheld, allowing Andrew ‘Spaghetti Arms’ Redmayne to get down and save Taggart’s nervy spot-kick.
The Roar would surely be well within their rights to contact A-League boss Greg O’Rourke during the week and seek some clarification of how long VAR decisions are supposed to take.
Surely the point of video technology is not to effectively psych out a penalty taker?
At any rate, Sydney FC did just enough to secure all three points in front of a healthy crowd at Jubliee Stadium, even if the Sky Blues had to work hard.
And with the Socceroos thumping Oman in a friendly overnight, we now face the prospect of the A-League being shorn of several of its best players.
That’s a small price to pay for being part of the global game.
And it’s nice to have an ex-Bundesliga star in Marco Kurz among us – even if it’s difficult to tell whether he’s got a decent team or not.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
As an AUFC fan, I'm quite optimistic. Goodwin hasn't been entirely at his best recently, but Mileusnic looks good. Blackwood coming back is helpful as well and could compete with underrated Ben Halloran for the centre-forward position. Regan and Jakobsen could be a formidable centre-back pair, and Galloway has impressed me. And of course, Isaias is possibly the best dm in the comp IMO.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Koutrombus isn't remotely fast
Nick Symonds
Guest
Regardless of whether Adelaide United are a good football team or not, their logo sure isn't. - Something like this would be much better: http://i.imgur.com/KjRub5e.png
Kangas
Roar Rookie
The jets whole A league history is how the heck did we lose that game But the seasons they had Joel Griffiths, Nick Carle or Andrew Nabbout , they won most of their games. It’s the quality up front . Hence Le fondre has won Sydney at least 3 games this season just through his finishing.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Koutrombis and Champness provide the speed injection down the flanks. Once they get full fitness , let’s hope so .
Jordan
Guest
It does seem that way at the minute but a long way to go between now and rd27. I'm not a fan of 6 six teams qualifying, I think it should be top 4 playing a two-legged semi. But for Brisbane's part, their grand final will very much be rd27. Or more accurately, every game up till that point. They have an Anzac Day clash at home in the last round, with the possibility of a big crowd in. It will be a shame or them, and for the league in general, it that much is spoiled by being a dead rubber. Their goal has to be to be alive come that match. Anything past that (including beating Adelaide on the day) is a bonus as they are not good enough to win it.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
The Jets are very weak in central midfield and lack pace in the front 3rd. How many times can Petratos beat a man but fail to leave him behind? Agree on Sheppard, he's looked quality from the second he came in. Jets only chance is to find a way to partner him with O'Donovan
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Antonis has a huge works rate but his performances haven't been as good as they are made out to be. He lacks a bit of polish, essentially he is a slightly inferior version of Jackson Irvine
Fadida
Roar Rookie
I'm not convinced by Corica. They seem to be scraping results because of the quality of a few individuals, not because of anything he's doing. He doesn't come across as a particularly bright coach or individual.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I scratched my head at theend of 90 minutes, and then scratched it again. I was looking for a lightbulb moment to explain how on earth The Jets contrived to lose that game. The moment didn’t really arrive. There was a dim glow as most of our power was directed to the compressor driving the air conditioning that was trying to make life bearable in the north west of Sydney! In the end I suppose it came down to a few old chestnuts. If you don’t take your chances and don’t score goals you don’t win games and when you have central defenders the likes of NTS and NB you are always going to be susceptible to a sucker punch which will either come from a badly placed header or suicidal pass from NTS or a scything tackle from NB that will result in a free kick or penalty. Admittedly they have both been a whole lot better in recent times but that one moment of madness. As enjoyable as Petratos is to watch, I feel he tries to do too much and then underwhelms us. Free kick was excellent and then he rushes over to take a couple of the most inept corners Just at a time when the Jets were really pressing the visitors and you genuinely felt they would find a goal from somewhere. It was an enjoyable game in many respects but Adelaide were the “bit player” and yet took home the spoils of war!
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Impressed with the referees coming out of the NPLQLD. Alex King just got on with it, stopped any nonsense but allowed the game to flow as much as he could. Same with Jarred Gillet last night. Five of the thirteen A League refs this year, and three of the four Australians at the Asia Cup, have come from the NPL Qld. The numbers are similar in the W League and NYL, and all have a fair number of assistants refs too, from the Qld NPL. I hope the other States have noticed and go take a look at the Qld pipeline.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I’d have taken Antonis over both of them.
Punter
Roar Rookie
SFC did & they are & they are not playing that well. Still in-transition from Arnold to Corica, even to extent to wonder if Corica is good enough.
Nemesis
Guest
I'm confident Craig Goodwin would be more useful in the national team than Jamie MacLaren. Yet again, Maclaren showed nothing last night when given a chance.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Goodwin again showed why he’s been over-rated. Thank goodness he didn’t travel with the Socceroos
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Kayne Sheppard showed again yesterday he is a very decent player I think will struggle for a few more games, but with Champness and Koutrombis to come back and O’Donovan getting fitter , a late season rally to the top 4 is coming Well done Wellington for 5 weeks of good football
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Adelaide look like a middling team, play like a middling team, and are likely to end up in the middle of the table, which is good enough to make the top 6. They were very lucky to get the three points, but what a valuable 3 points! Away to a team which is battling for the same position on the table, and a better team on paper, AU has now opened up a 4 point gap on the Jets. In an otherwise excellent article, I'm surprised Mike didn't mention Izzo in goals for Adelaide, surely he is the one AU fans should be thanking the most for the 3 points? Mileusnic showed some class, Goodwin always poses a danger, but any A-League club which has Lia in its midfield is not being overly ambitious (no offence to Vinnie, but he is very much state league standard). Isaias was disappointing.
Bob
Guest
the four sides at the bottom all have problems and won’t be making it to the finals Mariners don’t have the players. Brisbane didn’t have a good coach. Wanderers don’t have unity. Jets don’t have depth. Adelaide will fight there way into the finals but without a striker will fail.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Le fondre is the buy of the season . If the jets had someone similar they would be easily top 2
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Surely the point of video technology is not to effectively psych out a penalty taker?” .... no it’s not but that was just bad captaincy from Mackay. The VAR caused the delay but it could equally have been an injury enforced delay. Mackay allowed Taggart, already lacking in confidence and under-performing to stand by the spot, holding the ball, and just waiting. The kid psyched himself out of the pen before it was taken. Mackay should have brought him out of the box, taken the ball off him, and told him a joke or something to take his mind off things. Yes the VAR caused the delay but experienced players should have stopped it being a problem. And Corica, unsporting throughout, highlighted the reason why we have VAR - he was convinced the Roar goal came off Mackay’s hand despite tv pictures proving it didn’t but he whinged like a pig in pain over it .. has he retracted those comments yet? No, thought not ...