Sydney FC are running away with the league, Perth Glory have bumpy beginnings to continue their ascent from last season, while Melbourne City are looking a reinvigorated side under Erick Mombaerts.
Under Ufuk Talay though, Wellington Phoenix are quietly going about their business, currently fourth on the ladder.
Perhaps it is because they are across the ditch and somewhat understandably don’t receive much media attention in Australia, but the fact they have only lost once in their past 11 matches means they are one of the best sides in the league.
Talay’s success has come through his thrifty yet successful recruitment. Every addition that looked questionable in pre-season has flourished under the former assistant coach of Sydney.
Phoenix are fourth when it comes to expected goals difference with 1.85. However, recent months have seen the team grow from strength to strength.
Of course, a lot of that growth is down to Wellington’s pride and joy, Ulises Davila.
The Mexican star has tormented every opposition defence he has come against with his quick feet and deadly eye – he already has ten goals and three assists this season.
Davila is arguably the best player in the A-League right now.
He averages an expected goals rate of 0.56 per 90 minutes, while still managing to maintain expected assists of 0.19. That means he is either getting on the end of or creating chances worth almost a goal a game.
Even though he’s a huge attacking threat, Davila still participates in build-up play, with high numbers when it comes to progressing the ball up the field, as well as averaging 34.35 accurate passes every game.
More still, he is an active defender high up the pitch.
Ulises Davila has been a revelation for Wellington. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Having Davila is a huge boost, but Talay boasts a plethora of talents.
Former Celtic striker Gary Hooper has taken some time to get going, but he looks an excellent player in his limited minutes.
Then there is the hardworking David Ball, the reinvigorated Jaushua Sotirio, and exciting youngsters such as Callum McCowatt and Reno Piscopo.
Liberato Cacace, the teenager who feels like a seasoned veteran at left back, might also be following his compatriot Sarpreet Singh before too long, with reports linking him to a move to Germany.
Talay may have discovered a gem in former Sydney midfielder Cameron Devlin, who won the player of the month award in December.
Devlin is a genuine box-to-box player with enough energy for two. The heatmap in Phoenix’s most recent match against Newcastle Jets shows just how much ground he covers.
A lot of his touches might come in the early phases of possession, when he helps build out from the back, but he can help in the final third too, with some nice passes to create a couple of good chances.
Talay’s trust in some raw players before they joined his side is a greater symbol of the way this team operates.
Last season, the keys were given to Mark Rudan, and following his departure, they continued to trust promising, local coaches who knew the league instead of a fancy, foreign name.
If there is one negative, it is that Phoenix have not been up to standard defensively, with good fortune and spectacular keeping from Stefan Marinovic keeping them out of trouble. Especially when trying to hold a lead, Phoenix sometimes drop a bit too deep and have looked shaky, as was seen last Friday against Newcastle.
Their expected goals Against suggest that they have conceded chances worth 22.84, while in reality they’ve conceded 18 goals. That’s a sizeable difference, and it might mean they face some troubles in holding clean sheets if they continue on the same trend.
Still, there is plenty to be excited for with this current crop.
Talay has picked up where Rudan left off in improving the side, even if it might have come from a different style of play.
A couple of years ago it looked possible, even probable, that Wellington’s poor results would see them dumped out of the league. They are now one of the top contenders for the championship.
Punter
Roar Rookie
LH, you talked about legacy!!! Yes I agree Ange played more youngsters then Arnie, no doubt, if that was what your original comment was about, yes I agree with you. My apologises. It was the legacy talk that got me into my reply, most of the great ex Roar players running around now are from Farina era more then Ange. Legacy is also what Arnie left behind, 2 imo the best coaches in the A-League Corica & Talay. The Academy also that he left behind was very strong, a young bloke called Ryan Teague (now he could end up a Patafa or a De Silva, I don't know), but huge wraps on him, just signed for a Portuguese top flight side, lots of top juniors too in their Youth league. That's a pretty good legacy, especially as 2 seasons after he left, SFC still going strong. However, yes Ange played more young guns then Arnie, that are going Ok in the A-League now. Don't forget Ange had some excellent foreigners too.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
No, it's not a different story. Youth has been the theme and mentioned in each of my comments in this string of comments, from the opening. Roar had a young squad in those days and they're still around, some only now hitting their peak. What Arnie did at CCM is irrelevant to Sydney's legacy. Arnie was pragmatic at Sydney and brought in excellent foreigners. He rarely played juniors, I 'm going on memory but you disagreed and I'm happy to accept your word that Sydney has brought through a heap of juniors.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
sydney have already 2 hands on the trophy.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Well LH, that is a different story, yes Ange did give youngsters a better go then Arnie did at SFC, but Arnie did that with huge success at CCM. Some of the Socceroos Arnie brought on at CCM, is huge. However, SFC, this is a very different club to a CCM. However, you were talking legacy of Ange era to Arnie era & both Redondo & I showed you the players & the coaches that came out of the system of Arnie's era in SFC, pretty strong legacy I think, when Corica moves on Talay will take over. He's been gone 2nd season now & SFC still flying high, while BR dropped away badly the season after Ange left, they did recover the following season. Some of those Ex Roar players van Dijk, Redmayne, Kosta, Reddy, Berisha, Jurman, North, Petratos were as much recruited & developed by other clubs not Brisbane, as those players you mentioned in Sydney.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
It will only happen if they finish in the top two, or ahead of Perth Glory. If they have to travel to HBF Park/Optus Stadium to face the Glory in the finals, it’ll be season over for the Phoenix. The Distance Derby is the hardest fixture for the away team in the entirety of top-flight soccer. They haven’t won there since 2015 and have conceded on average three goals a game in their last five trips to Perth, and have conceded 3 and 5 goals in their two trips to Perth under Mark Rudan, who started the resurgence. Can’t see them winning in Perth any time. That said, they do look the best chance of knocking off Sydney FC in the finals.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Ange era? To be honest, Aloisi probably left the greater legacy for Roar by overseeing the establishment of the academy, which is actually pretty impressive, so far anyway. Even before Ange, Roar worked closely with a couple of high schools and the QAS which did produce players such as Bratten and Borrello. Ange gave youngsters a decent go, I still believe far more than Arnie ever did with Sydney's youth. Both did pretty well with selected retreads. Some former Roar Oar, Vidosic, Nichols, Kosta, Kruse, DeVeere, van Dijk, Redmayne, Franjic, Reddy, Berisha, Jurman, North, Yeboah, Petratos, Borrello, Acton, L Jackson, maybe a couple of others, which I think is pretty good legacy for a small club. But of course, good on SFC, big club and no doubt expected to produce a lot more players. I just wasn't aware of them, like you apparently aren't aware of Roar's. But I think we all need to exercise caution when we use descriptors like club x's product. Brosque started his A League career at Roar, and Zulo. Reddy and Redmayne both played at Roar but they're no more Roar products than Brillante & Redmayne are Sydneys.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
no worries only other teams to win the final in there 1st appearance is Sydney in the inaugural season, Victory in 07 and Jets in 08 with Jets the only team to win in there debut grand final away from home, teams that have failed in there debut GF are Mariners in 06, Adelaide in 07, Glory in 12 and Wanderers in 13
Shabab Hossain
Expert
Thanks mate!
blood
Guest
Brisbane did in 2011, drew 2-2 with the Mariners to win 4-2 on Pens in there 1st Grand Final appearance
Punter
Roar Rookie
Please help me with those players from the Ange era, the Roar Legacy LH? Bratten, Franjic & Donachie?
Shabab Hossain
Expert
One of the great stories of the A-League, but unfortunately don't get much attention on our side of the ditch
Shabab Hossain
Expert
Although Davila is the standout star, the rest of the team aren't slouches. Piscopo was the best player for the Olyroos at the recent AFC U23 tournament, mainly because of his creativity, while Devlin, Hooper and Ball carry responsibilities too. Not a one man show by any means. Not that I think teams will be stopping Davila, he's too good!
Shabab Hossain
Expert
It would be absolutely amazing if they go from almost being kicked out to then winning the whole thing.
Shabab Hossain
Expert
I don't think any team has won the championship in their first grand final except for the first few seasons of the A-League where obviously that was the case. Even still, it doesn't really make sense to me that this current Phoenix crop would carry any burdens of not making a GF before. I see your point about Perth perhaps having an extra motivation to win the finals this time around, and I could definitely see it happening.
Micko
Roar Rookie
For the A League in general, it would be good to have the WP make a GF, not to mention their long suffering fans! :silly: :football:
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
I am not sure if there is one team that have won a championship in their first maiden appearance. If I am wrong, please tell me who that team is? Perth are the most likely as they were so close. I rate Glory to do it, because of that failure; and the hunger they must have now to overturn that disappointment of getting so close yet so far away from being champions.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
completely disagree Shabab, with the exception of wellington we’ve been the only team that’s run the smurfs close in both matches (if any of those shots that cannoned off the post/upright in both games went in, we wouldn’t have lost) i’ll gladly tak sydney in the first week of the finals away from home. I saw enough in both those matches to believe we can beat them. the nix are due for a form slump, but credit where credit is due. They tore us to shreds at home, haven’t heard an Adelaide crowd that silent in a long long time. Teams are working out how to deal with davilla, once they figure that out; i don’t believe wellington have got anywhere near the creativity to break teams down. Being so tight at the back is definitely helping them
Redondo
Roar Rookie
There is a midpoint between awful and great
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
ok, SFC are now renowned for their development of junior players. I hadn't realized. I guess I'll sleep better tonight, until they wallop us again on the weekend. Arnie will be quite happy to realise he was developing all those players.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Phoenix are playing high quality, entertaining football and their crowd numbers are motoring in the opposite direction to most other A-League teams. They are a good thing currently.