I struggle to remember enjoying A-League football as much as I have over the opening three rounds.
There is still so much I would love to see change.
From a national second division and promotion and relegation, to the need for a more clearly defined – and cheaper – pathway for our best young players, there is much work to be done.
But you certainly could not complain about the quality of play.
Few teams represent this juxtaposition of off-field anarchy and on-field quality as much as Western United.
When announced as the winning bid, officials claimed they would be in their new stadium by 2021-22.
With no shovels in the dirt yet, that seems less achievable by the day – particularuly when we’re no closer to discovering specifics surrounding infrastructure required for such a stadium. Who is footing the bill?
Yet Mark Rudan has held up his end of the bargain by putting together an incredibly competitive team that’s easy on the eye.
The club failed to win the first of their Melbourne derbies – this time a ‘home’ encounter against Melbourne City in Geelong – but they certainly provided an entertaining spectacle.
When it comes to derbies, Melbourne’s newest cross-town rivalry could not hold a candle to the occasion in Sydney – not helped by a ludicrous 6pm Sunday kick-off – but it was arguably the better game.
City’s triumph with ten men and the outstanding marksmanship of the red-hot Jamie Maclaren was the perfect response to their disappointing midweek display in the FFA Cup final.
Jamie Maclaren of Melbourne City. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)
Erick Mombaerts and Co. certainly made a fool out of me and my lofty final predictions, but their performance in Geelong was more what I had in mind for the showpiece in Adelaide.
Much has been written about the raging success of the Sydney derby, which undoubtedly found new life in the brilliant surrounds of Bankwest Stadium, and no doubt a thriving Harbour City rivalry only adds to the league’s excitement.
As it stands, the wet blankets have been Wellington Phoenix and, most disappointingly, Melbourne Victory.
Phoenix look a far poorer outfit from last season, understandably so given the loss of Rudan and so many of their on-field talents.
Hopefully, Victory’s first win inspires them to bigger and better things, but they lack direction. It’s early days for Marco Kurz, but fans will be looking for vast improvements in style and application.
Brisbane Roar’s Round 1 heroics keep them off this list by the barest of margins.
Perth Glory look solid. It would be easy to judge them harshly when compared to last season’s performances but they remain a strong team and, even if they don’t seem to be as good as last year, they still have plenty of upside with the likes of Bruno Fornaroli, Diego Castro and Chris Ikonomidis yet to find their best form.
Adelaide United and, in particular, young gun Al Hassan Toure have been a pleasure to watch, even if most results have not gone their way.
Under Alen Stajcic, the Central Coast Mariners seem far more competitive – their derby against Newcastle Jets was another enjoyable game.
As for the Jets, they’re not a team I’d break an appointment to watch, but their first-half performance – and the stunning goal scored by Adbiel Arroyo – might be enough to pique my interest next week.
Attendances have been encouraging in the league’s ‘key demographic’ areas, but one hopes with the quality of football on display this continues to improve.
Even if many will rightly feel this sport has a long way to go, it’s refreshing to be able to say nice things about the A-League for a change.
jbinnie
Guest
Nick- A surprising observation on the much discussed, but oft misrepresented ,NSL. You mention the" benefits" of having 16 teams as a great step forward but seemingly ignore the years when that league was expanded to 26 teams, another great leap forward, that lasted for 3 seasons before being "dumped" as a futile exercise, sending many clubs broke, or back to their local leagues. The" fewer foreigners" also requires examination. When the club I was involved with played in a national cup final there were 7 "foreigners" took the field, 3 more than the 4 they are allowed today. cheers jb
jbinnie
Guest
Waz - As you say last years "deficit" in attendances were aided and abetted by WSW's wandering from field to field and Roar badly affected, not by wanderings, but, like WSW, no so clever entertainment for their fans. Also Wellington's "revival" helped to offset the "deficit somewhat. As you say, if WSW and Roar were to improve their "fan appeal" somewhat last year's poor figures could in fact be reversed into something more promising. Cheers jb..
Redondo
Roar Rookie
True, but benefit of the doubt and all that
chris
Guest
Geez - I totally forgot about him! What a classic haha
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Vitor, the hipster Barista with his own fashion label
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Redondo, not convinced, I think he seems closer to the summary that Chris gave at this point. I am still waiting for him to identify where I lied, after all it is a strong accusation, so I want to see it.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Best ever away trip came out of that...semi final in Seoul when WSW had that madman running around in midfield Victor Saba. I even placed a bet on one occasion to say he would be sent off....and won. We made a cultural decision not to go to final away. I sort of wish we did but glad my wife didn’t.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Zoran seems genuine though, which doesn’t mean we have to accept his take on things, but I’m not sure I’d lump him in with the regular troglodytes.
chris
Guest
PH its pointless trying to reason with some people. What I've noticed with AFL fanboys (and only AFL fanboys) is the following: 1/ They are bored and insecure with their beloved game and venture on to the football tab to throw some mud. 2/ Football fans on football tab recognises the impostors and react accordingly 3/ AFL fanboy cries out that nobody wuvs me and sokkah fans are bullies etc etc 4/ Fanboys unite to point out how sensitive sokkah fans are, and how no one will ever come on the football tab to comment because of such behaviour. 5/ Rinse and repeat.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
wow, quoting Orwell, talk about putting lipstick on a pig, I'll let that one hang there. I am at a loss to see where I have lied? But it is a pretty strong accusation to level against me, I hope you can back it up. So please enlighten me, where have I lied in my statement above?
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Zoran Peterson! George would not be pleased with your misappropriation of his work. Every situation can be viewed from multiple angles - you've latched onto one narrow angle and have ignored the wider context.
Zoran
Guest
And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became truth. Whatever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
I especially love the bit when the Wanderers won the Premiers Plate with Shinji Ono, during that era, and then went on to win the Asian Champions League. Yep loved it,
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Clearly you don't come here often enough. Nemisis is often argued with by numerous football people on here, and yet never told to go away, why? Because despite what you think we actually enjoy disagreeing with each other on matters of football, by people that understand football. Even better when a person new to football, or who doesn't understands football admits it, asks a question to learn. What annoys the hell out of us, because it has happened for years is when people claim to love football but only ever knock it, who claim to watch the A league but clearly never do and only want to comment how bad it is, how bad the crowds are or how dumb the ratings are.. I'll give you this for nothing, if you don't feel welcome here, too bad, take the hint.
Zoran
Guest
You didn't pick up on my sarcasm when I said he needs to tow the party line Amazon. All good.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I reckon Redmayne is the luckiest player in the A League. He made you nervous at MC, at WSW he was awful at times and then came the swap and he was destined to be back up keeper at SFC but then Vukovic left and he got the job but playing behind a really solid defence and a strong side in general. His confidence soared and he became a winner and the rest “is history”. Great move for him, but incredible good fortune methinks.
Micko
Roar Rookie
anon this stupid push for pro/rel in Australia is based on an inferiority complex: "the others do it so we should too!". Soccer is far from the biggest sport in Australia, so doesn't have the mainstream appeal, plus the fact Australia is a smally populated continent with huge distances to travel and therefore huge costs in a very competitive sports market makes it unviable. A place like England has more than double Australia's population in an area virtually half the size of Victoria! They have a professional league comprising 92 fully professional teams over 4 divisions in their biggest sport....completely sustainable because of not only the sport's massive popularity, but also the close proximity of teams in the country with relatively minor travel costs.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, your comment reminded me of the nervousness we felt watching Redmayne ply his trade with us. He then went to Sydney and is now heroic between the sticks! Life throws up many strange things.
Mitcher
Guest
I’ll stake my life on the fact it will never be emptier than your life obviously is at this juncture.
Richo
Guest
Completely unrelated to anything discussed in the article but how in the hell does Dean Bouzanis manage to keep pulling in a pay cheque? He must make City supporters turn into complete nervous wrecks every time there’s a shot on target.