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Opinion

A-League Round 5: Who’s hot and who’s cold

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Roar Guru
11th November, 2019
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Here’s a look at what stood out in Round 5 of the 2019-20 A-League seasons for the right and wrong reasons.

Hot

Melbourne City
The Citizens continued their unbeaten start to the season with their 3-1 victory over Central Coast. Erick Mombaerts has got the best out of his side. Finishing the round top of the table and scoring three goals in a game for the second week in a row without star striker Jamie Maclaren has them as the in-form team of the competition as they look to rid their ‘banter club’ perception.

Diego Castro
Castro will turn 38 next July but doesn’t look like he is slowing down anytime soon. He put in an impressive performance in the midfield, receiving plenty of the ball and tallying 78 passes for the game, completing 81 per cent of passes, proving he was efficient when he got it. His goal was one of two shots he had inside the box for the game, displaying his ability to get forward into good positions.

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Ulises Davila
Has been strong for his side this season despite their poor form. His opening goal from the penalty spot gave his side a much-needed confidence booster. Davila went at 86 per cent passing efficiency from his 28 passes, a far better rate than his teammates. His six ball recoveries and work in defence was a key factor in his team taking points from the game.

Cold

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Alex Grant
He wanted to fly the flag for his side against Newcastle, but it came at a cost. His push and shove with Jason Hoffman incited a scuffle, with players from both sides getting involved, and resulted in Grant contacting with a referee, resulting in his first yellow card. In the dying minutes of the game, when Perth needed its players to stay calm, Grant collected Angus Thurgate in a challenge that resulted in his second yellow card, putting his side down a man, jeopardising his team.

Marko Kurz
Trusted as the man to take charge of Melbourne Victory, his time as manager has been more miss than hit. He has struggled in the early stages of the season to get the best out of his players, with his side’s performances inconsistent. Fans are frustrated with the style of play and poor form and the side sitting seventh on the table. Not only are they outside the top six, but they’re also the worst-performing Melbourne-based side. The unfavourable result against Wellington will mount unwanted pressure on his managerial future.

Roy O’Donovan
He went missing during a game his side needed him to perform. Making only seven passes for the game and managing just a shot inside the box, it was a quiet day. He lost 14 duels during the game and was dispossessed on four occasions. With his Brisbane side struggling to find the back of the net, he didn’t help his team and will look to bounce back next week.

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