The Central Coast Mariners’ brave effort against Sydney FC on Saturday night made two salient points.
After the worst possible scenario played out and the Sky Blues jumped the visitors early with a goal to Kosta Barbarouses after five minutes, many were reaching for the floodgates. What followed proved anything but the case as the Mariners swung the momentum late in the first half and pressed for parity in the second.
In the end, an equaliser became possible and at times probable. The result was educative on two fronts.
Firstly, Alen Stajcic’s coaching nous is proving to be well and truly up to the high standards of the A-League.
Tony Popovic, Steve Corica and Erick Mombaerts are setting the managerial bar when it comes to execution and implementation yet Stajcic, who arrived on the Central Coast late last season to take over a derailed squad, is earning much respect.
A win or two buoyed spirits early in 2019, yet the club’s third wooden spoon in just four seasons was impossible to avoid. Despite that sad reality, the club extended Stajcic’s stay briskly and with two wins and a draw from eight matches in 2019-20, it is abundantly clear that the Mariners are in a significantly better place than they have been for some time.
The second clear fact to emanate from the Mariners’ performance is the overall benefit it brings to the A-League. After ten rounds, just five points separate fifth to 11th on the ladder and for the first time in recent history, the competition may run its full course without a less than competitive bottom feeder.
The Wellington Phoenix are also a key component in that broad competitiveness. Despite enjoying a finals run under Mark Rudan last season, the loss of key attacking weapons, a new manager and wholesale changes across the squad had many fearful of just what the men in yellow would produce.
After a rocky start, they have produced much quality and stand unbeaten over the last five rounds. That places the Phoenix sixth and their form suggests they have a real possibility of eclipsing the 11 wins achieved under Rudan last season.
Perhaps the most impressive and surprising team when it comes to the pleasing competitiveness across the competition right now is the form of Rudan’s new chargers Western United. Five early victories, derby wins and a committed and stoic defence have seen the men based in Geelong climb to third on the A-League ladder.
(Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images)
During the pre-season, it was a little tough to predict just how effective United would be as a squad. There was undoubted quality in the shape of Josh Risdon, Filip Kurto and Panagiotis Kone, yet also concerns about the form of potential ‘dad’s army’ members Andrew Durante, Alessandro Diamanti and Besart Berisha.
Any doubts have been eliminated early in the season. Berisha has been stunning, Kone classy and the 37-year-old Durante has shown that there was indeed at least one more campaign in his experienced and tested legs.
In essence, any concerns around the competitiveness of the Mariners and the Phoenix have been forgotten and the natural interest around how a new entity will perform in its inaugural season has been met with a resounding statement by Mark Rudan and Western United.
Of more concern is the situation in Brisbane, where an unproven manager is desperately attempting to draw up a road map to consistent and first-half performances. Robbie Fowler has looked somewhat reactive throughout the opening two months of the season and the Roar’s only accolade appears to be their ability to mount passionate and stirring waves of attack late in matches in an attempt to draw level.
Establishing a lead early and setting tempo is desirable, something that Melbourne City, Sydney FC and Western United have done expertly this season. However, Fowler’s roundabout admission that he may well and truly have dropped the ball when it comes to salary cap management potentially explains why Brisbane have struggled to achieve such control and tempo.
The recruitment of a host of solid players without the skill and flair required to penetrate consistently at A-League level appears to be a reality Fowler now faces and something he addressed publicly last week. The way forward will be nothing but grinding hard work, similar to the path faced by Newcastle Jets after a concerning performance at home against Melbourne City on Sunday afternoon.
Whether City were just on fire, or the Jets failed to fully commit to the cause in Nikolai Topor-Stanley’s 300th game is a little up for debate, however, Ernie Merrick did allude to a lack of energy in his troops.
Already positioned at something of a disadvantage with a squad lacking class when compared to many others, the Jets now face a week in front of the mirror and the challenge of a trip to the west to face Perth Glory this Saturday.
There will be wins ahead for both Brisbane and Newcastle, yet consistency in performance looks likely to hamper their chances of a top-six finish. Central Coast and Wellington will face the same challenge, despite their improved play.
That all equates to a pleasing outcome for the league, with no isolated whipping boy sitting in the cellar and every club still with eyes on a finals position in 2019-20.
OzNix
Roar Rookie
Maybe a bit harsh on Rudan. I recently heard a job applicant say, clear is kind, unclear is unkind. If Rudan had no interest in hanging around he should have been clear about the reasons why. He certainly shouldn’t have been approaching perspective players (i.e Kurto, Durante and Burgess) either verbally or contractually. He seemed to change his excuses for leaving depending on the weather. He’s great at the spin but underneath I don’t know if that will be enough for him at Western Bitumen. He’ll get found out at some point I think.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Muscat to Wanderers.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
maybe, but of all the foreign coaches in the A League, he's the only one who's played here. And I might add, he continued to follow the A League after he left (he often tweeted live during A League games).
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
didn't Arnie say his philosophy was to recruit players who he thought wouldn't be selected for representational duty.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Muscat back to Victory? er, that seems a bit odd to me, but ok, if you say so.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Compare the Nix team this year, the playing style with the Nix team last year & their playing style. Which team plays better? Which was the better team on paper? 3-4 of the WU players, left the Nix, plus Krishna (JW player of the year & top goal scorer) & Singh, just made his debut for Bayern Munich & David Williams having the season of his lifetime & yet Nix only finished 6th.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
very strong
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Brilliante was terrible last season though he tidied up a bit in the finals. Sydney did not have a stable line up last season. Brosque was still Sydney's key player because he would come from behind and steal the ball off the midfielders to setup the attacks. Also was on one of the lowest salaries for starting players, Brosque would be captain of the team whether you like it or not. De Jong when he played he contributed in the attack,and goals. Calver transformed into a great defender at the end of the season. De Silva even he did a more useful job then pass the ball to opposition Brilliante. I will say that Brilliante played his best game for three years on the weekend but was terrible the week before. I dont know about Corica but Calver would be the first defender out of the whole competition currently for me. In the A-league at the moment is the most of the high paid players are too old and carried by young players on a pittance. Sydney were very smart to pay big money for Barbarouses though which is the main reason they are going so well. I dont see an easier league to succeed on a budget than in than the A-league , it is just the coaches are stupid .
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Why?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Does that mean that WU signed Mr J Rudan for 30 pieces of silver?
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Of those only Brosque played regularly, less so de Jong. Calver was there by default. Sydney have kept a strong spine over several seasons - in that sense the squad is very stable. Arnold should get a lot of credit for turning Sydney around after the dreadful Farina experience.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Nix look very promising. One of the best sides to watch. Ball movement is slick. McCowatt really excites me
Fadida
Roar Rookie
They weren't all in the same team though Franko.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
the only loss from that list you mentioned is brillante and to a lesser extent brosque. gooch, de jong, silva were loans that didnt go to plan and everyone else barely played several games. How many of those names mentioned would start in the current sydney team? brilliante? brosque off the bench? most were squad players. i would love to see sydney operate on a budget that central coast, newcastle or we have
Jimmy
Roar Guru
So you are saying their crowds are quite strong relative to the A-League. But I was more referring to general sentiment, are the talked about on local radio and newspapers are the streets buzzing With talk of the Mariners hopes each weekend?
Fadida
Roar Rookie
"limited ability"? Since when did this become a fact? Not many people like Rudan, me included. He comes across as very smug, arrogant and rude. The "fact" is though he did improve Nix, they finished higher than the previous season. He has already defeated Kurtz twice and they sit third. Third! Yes they have"parked the bus" the last 2 weeks but Muscat did this after 30 minutes in the final v the Jets, complete with time wasting. Where was the outcry, or the "limited ability" accusation? Alternately Stajcic has got a free ride (praise even). The last place CCM are still last this season. I'm not saying anyone need be sacked but coaches aren't being judged on the same criteria here.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I think people are just obsessed and jealous of Sydney. Most expensive squad in recent A-league times was clearly MV from last season. Corica has not had the budget of Arnold, and is reluctant to retire older players. I think he is clearly a better coach than Arnold but keeping Ninkovic too long could be his downfall. The 2018 team that Arnold had Bobo, Ninkovic two years younger, Mierzjewski one of the best ever in the A-league, Bujs playing out from the back is a lot better than what Corica has gotten. Which raises the question how does anyone have the idea its almost the same squad ever year . Last year you had Brosque, De Jong, Reza, Brilliante, Linden,Tratt, De silva,Calver,, Devlin,Lokingloy who are now gone but lets just think its the same squad.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
That proved what a joke that was. Only Krishna would have made my top 20 players out of that lot. Isaias the day when he had some dirty plan that he would hack Bonevacia early maybe he though that would put him off, it was the only game of the season where Bonevacia actually put in 100% and boy did he get on top of Isaias that day. When Bonevacia totally makes you his bunny your past it.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
wellington have been a real surprise, i was at the game when we had the wind taken out of our sails when we were flying towards top spot. Really like Talay as coach, hes proven hes very adaptable to situations and systems and hes an absolute gentleman when it comes to press conferences (rudan and babble take note)
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
i saw that article, and it was good to get some insight into how they do it. Generally each year the majority of clubs will lose 5-6 players for various reasons. In a salary cap league that is expected, however Sydney doesn’t seem to lose that many players and continues to recruit and keep there squad together. One minute they’re crying poor saying they cant afford to keep ninkovic and then it gets announced this morning hes re signed (but thats probably down to his manager trying to get the best deal for his client and playing macarthur and sydney off against each other). I would love to see the wages of there squad. I dont think Sydney are that better managed than any other club, year upon year they are the only club that retains nearly there full squad. It doesnt sound right to me lol