Besart Berisha has still got it, Brisbane Roar can still surprise us and VAR is still dominating all the discussions after a wild opening weekend of A-League action.
The Mariners should have pushed the boat out to try and sign Berisha.
The Gosford side could certainly do with his predatory instincts, and while it’s doubtful the one-time Kosovo striker would have moved to a club outside Melbourne, it’s clear Western United will benefit from rolling the dice.
Because Berisha was never going to have forgotten how to score just because he spent an unsuccessful year at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and the A-League’s record goal scorer did what he does best in Western United’s 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix.
And the A-League newcomers proved – unsurprisingly, if you ask me – that they will be no easy beats this season.
A starting side containing Filip Kurto, Andrew Durante and Ersan Gulum was never going to be a pushover, but it was a couple of Western United’s other big names who really caught the eye.
We can pencil Alessandro Diamanti in as a genuine contender for the Johnny Warren Medal.
The Western United skipper looks a class above the usual standard of A-League import, and both the Italian and fellow midfielder Panagiotis Kone will boss plenty of rivals around this season.
Then there’s Berisha. He’s always been a master of dropping off the shoulder of the last defender and he was in the right place at the right time to knock home Josh Risdon’s volleyed cutback.
It was no less than the newcomers deserved and Mark Rudan’s frenzied celebrations at full-time showed just what it meant against his former club.
So we can breathe easier over Western United, who will hopefully run out in front of a decent crowd at GMBHA Stadium next Saturday for their Round 2 clash against Perth Glory.
But what about Brisbane Roar? For 90 minutes at HBF Park yesterday they looked like the Roar of old, even with nine of the starting eleven making their A-League debuts.
And with four minutes of stoppage time having already elapsed, Robbie Fowler looked set to end his own A-League coaching debut with nothing to show for it.
But when Jay O’Shea chipped over a floating cross to substitute Aaron Amadi-Holloway, the trajectory of the Roar’s season may just have changed with it.
Because Amadi-Holloway – who looked a real menace in a brief cameo off the bench – steered the ball back across goal for Roy O’Donovan to head home.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
And then the round ended the same way it began – with the intervention of VAR.
All across social media for the entire weekend, A-League fans made it abundantly clear how much they dislike the VAR.
And it’s not hard to see why given the fact the only game that didn’t contain a crucial VAR decision was Western United’s win in Wellington.
But here’s the thing: if it wasn’t for the VAR, the Roar would have left Perth empty-handed after the linesman flagged for an offside call that was overturned.
What would the headlines have been then?
And why was FIFA so keen to introduce VAR in the first place? In part because fans were increasingly taking to social to media to complain about refereeing errors.
A big part of the reason we now have VAR is because we couldn’t cop it when a referee made a mistake that was beamed into our living rooms on live TV.
And many of the fans who spent all weekend bagging the VAR are the same ones who used to spend all weekend bagging on-field referees.
For better or worse – and in my opinion, VAR has made the game worse – there’s no turning back now.
We reap what we sow.
Western United and Brisbane Roar probably feel the same way after what was an entertaining opening round of football.
Kareem Mohamed
Guest
Well the Mariners decision wasn't good. The replays showed it shouldn't have been a oenalty.
Tyke
Roar Rookie
Live replays at the grounds will come in time. In the meantime you have to take a more positive view, because it’s not going anywhere. When I’m watching NRL and there is a video ref decision that goes your way, you end up celebrating the try twice (or denial), sometimes with as much excitement as the first time, and you can hear that at the grounds.
BennoFootball
Bad Luck .... he WAS Definitely OFF-Side. He would have known that because he was looking right down the Line. Unfortunately he would have got away with it in the lower leagues .... but Not in The A-League Football using the latest Technology of Hawk-Eye VAR!!! I think he was edging to show his athleticism and Doing a VERY IMPRESSIVE array of back flips. I’m sure he’ll get his chance, but as a BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB supporter .... NOT until Round 4.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I just watched Waz, thanks, I'm a Derby fan thanks to Brian Clough.
TK
Guest
Yes the best chance with ball at feet was a ball played through to Mauk but Reddy was err ready... and smothered the shot. But much more steel and being at the ball in midfield and defence. That tackle from Aldred on ikonomdies was a classic...attacker meet brick wall.
marron
Guest
Yeah the presure off the ARs is actually one of my biggest gripes. I don't understand the logic there, at all. If it's for fixing mistakes, they've still got to do the job.
marron
Guest
They probably would have felt robbed, and they probably would have been robbed.... and that is fine by me, and yes, I've said the same when that's happened to us, and funnily enough, I had to say it several times last season.... with VAR presiding. I could deal with it if it was quick and actually only for the obvious stuff. And when I say obvious, I don't mean, that you can pick it up after a minute or two of multiple angles played in ultra slow motion. I mean, when there is ZERO room for argument, straight up. A toe past the defender? Give me a break - that's not a "correct" decision; it's only possibly correct, given time and frame rates and angles, and a human still looking at it under pressure. Same with most of it - fouls, even handballs a lot of the time.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
The frame rate argument suggests even offside is still coloured
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Ha ha! Just got it! I'm not a pie eater, prefer protein to carbs. There is going to be log jam of teams from 1-8 I think
Fadida
Roar Rookie
"Going hungry"?
Fadida
Roar Rookie
"If a player and I had a disagreement we'd talk about it until he agreed I was right"
Waz
Roar Rookie
There’s a great film on Cloughie on YouTube, lasts about an hour and well worth a watch.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Oh Cloughie, What the A-League would give for a Brian 'I wouldn't say I'm the best manager around, but I'd be in the top 1' Clough.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thanks Fad. I've got a feeling you won't be going hungry this season, but it's still far too early to say for sure.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Roar had a couple of headers that went over, but didn't create a lot. They did build pressure though, looking fitter than Glory, and deserved their goal First half PG got in behind both flanks a few times, and Ikonomidis should have scored early. Roar were much tighter second half, and PG had trouble playing through Roar' s midfield, who were noticeably more athletic and competitive than previous versions
Punter
Roar Rookie
That was an impressive celebration, bring it on.
Punter
Roar Rookie
This is where they are going wrong, if it's goal line or offside, it's black & white. If it's not 'clear & obvious' & now depends on opinions, then if not clear after 2-3 quick replays stay with ref's call. We only want the clear & obvious ones picked up.
TPC
Roar Rookie
All the VAR calls were correct as they bloody well should be! Still soooo slow and disrupts the game far too much to have me totally onside with it for now
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Griffo, I agree with you about paying to watch sport but we have to accept that our politicians have bigger priorities. The Fed's are finally understanding we are in a world of hurt when it comes to water and our farmers and at least we are not like Scandinavia and Germany where you have to pay for a tv licence.
TPC
Roar Rookie
Poppa is very happy with the increased bench also, now he can fit both sons in there! Haha Glory fans could be forgiven for being a little nepotism-phobic thanks to the McMahon and Edwards families but my K-POP (ovich) looks a bright prospect, really liked his little cameo yesterday.