It’s official. After a ponderous start to the season, during which the disappointment of a grand final loss to Sydney FC appeared to have Perth Glory beginning their new campaign in a state of nervousness and disappointment, they are now well and truly back.
It hasn’t happened overnight. With just six points accumulated from their first seven matches, Tony Popovic’s men failed to live up to broad expectations early on in season 2019-20.
But since then it’s been nothing but a stellar run of improved play that has lifted the men in purple from a lowly 11th on the ladder at the completion of Round 8 into outright third after their 4-2 win over the Phoenix last Friday night.
Now just a point behind Melbourne City, the men from the west are eyeing off runaway leader Sydney FC, plotting a strong finish to the season and a finals series in which revenge will undoubtedly be on their minds.
The charge towards the top of the ladder has included six straight wins and draws against both City and Victory. The team stands unbeaten in nine after adding a seventh trio of points against Wellington.
(Paul Kane/Getty Images)
As Popovic will be at pains to point out, the team is far from the finished article and potentially an intimidating beast come finals. The disjointedness of their early season play was missing on Friday night despite the absences of both Diego Castro and Chris Ikonomidis.
The ageing Castro is a short to medium-term absence, yet the loss of Ikonomidis is significant. The attacking void his long-term knee injury creates is an undoubted headache for Popovic, yet it could be slightly less so if Joel Chianese can continue to impressive and blossom into the player many have believed he would for some time.
Nick D’Agostino seems re-energised and reborn after an inspirational time away with the Olyroos in Thailand. Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic appear to have finally unlocked the secret to the Sydney-born 21-year-old. The net is bulging frequently now for D’Agostino both domestically and in national colours.
It is fair to now add his name to an increasing array of talented young attacking weapons that Arnold will attempt to fine tune in the medium term. The end game is to have D’Agostino, Ikonomidis, Awer Mabil, Riley McGree, George Blackwood, Reno Piscopo and others all ready, willing and able to lead the full national team into the next phase of Socceroo history.
Just as the Glory are resurgent, so too is their striker, Bruno Fornaroli. While initially and predictably struggling with combinations in his new colours, the Uruguayan is now scoring freely. His 90th minute effort to seal the distance derby reminded all and sundry of the scoring prowess he possesses.
With the mistrust and obviously bitter feud with former City manager Warren Joyce now behind him, Friday’s strike was the 55th of his A-League career. No matter which team you support, seeing the 32-year-old playing, scoring and smiling is a great thing for our competition.
With Perth buoyant, Fornaroli appears likely to climb briskly up the golden boot standings. Although his seven goals may place him a little too far adrift of Adam le Fondre and Jamie Maclaren to actually claim the individual honour, expect the Fornaroli highlight reel to continue over the next ten weeks as Perth enter Sydney’s rear-view mirror.
Sadly for Melbourne Victory fans, after some neat and promising Asian Champions League play against Bali United and Kashima Antlers and a potential re-energising of their domestic form, the Melbourne derby ended disappointingly for them on Friday night.
City were the better side, created far more of quality and secured a 2-1 win at AAMI Park. Victory sit ninth, have lost four of their last five A-League fixtures and have managed just a lone point since 5 January.
Now, just like the Glory, they enter a difficult period during which juggling a domestic and Asian load will stretch resources, wills and personnel. What Victory lack entering this period is a buffer. Perth and Sydney FC have it and are able to afford a loss or two.
The harsh reality for caretaker manager Carlos Perez Salvachua is that his team has won just four from 17 thus far and, by my best guess, will need to win at least five of their last nine to have a chance of qualifying for the finals.
Frankly it is hard to see that happening. A finals series without the A-League’s perennial contender seems likely.
Not so for Perth. The Sandgropers will be there, with Bruno Fornaroli leading the line. They are undoubtedly back.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
stadium Australia.
Con
Guest
Melb victory selection of players this year is a disaster starting with the injury prone kruse ,out of form front line ,last nights acl game with elvis up front wow that boy can't score goals, he stumbles he falls and he has a weak strike ,the midfield is very average, it's really sad when the owners think they can go buy hasbeens from overseas and not developed their own players and if the locals are just not good enough they are plenty of kids to replace . the lack of talent this year has killed victory and now they need to go buy unknowns again next year ,very bad way to run a club
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Wow, pretty much what I was thinking when I saw his name in the article. Read my mind. :thumbup:
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Born in Sydney. So are my two boys, and another born in Vic, but we don't use that as their defining characteristic. Lots of people move to Qld so lots of us are born some other place. Borrello, born in Adelaide, we heard that one a lot too. But we don't define Steve Corica by where he was born, or Brillante or Zulo et al. What gives here Stuart Thomas?
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Agreed, they are a great team. If the Grand Final is played in Sydney, where do you suggest it be held? Stadium Australia or Bankwest?
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
a great comment,sydney will be even harder to beat on their own turf.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
not so fast mate,perth glory went to sleep last years final.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Melbourne Victory fields Brisbane Roar Football Club's youth team?
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Agree Chris. He's actually become a decent player. Scored a great header a couple of weeks ago
Waz
Roar Rookie
Victory need 20 points from an available 27 to get to finals. And that might not be enough. If they find that form they’ll probably win the championship But other than that, agree they will be a banana skin for many teams. Although if ACL goes well they’ll field the BRFC Youth team in the HAL.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
I cant be the only one worried about victory, I think they will have a major say to how teams finish In the 6. One of these games that front 4 of theirs will take the several chances Per game they create and Actually hammer a team
chris
Guest
Fad you have to admit that he has improved. At least he is getting a goal here and there. But NT player? No way.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
MV and SFC are similar in that respect Waz, say anything not praiseworthy about their players and the attack is full on. Maybe we're all the same, one orange eye and the other one closed so I don't notice. But great to see our Roar legacy players going 'round, three of our boys and two former in the team of the week, again. The club that just keeps on giving. (brace, now)
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I’m saying they are inconsistent. Really good for part of the game and very ordinary at other times - that pretty well sums up most teams excluding SFC though. Personally, I was hoping they’d do up a notch this season but hasn’t happened and my favourite player Chris Ikonomidis is injured again.
Franko
Guest
Arnie knows how good he is at training and has spoken publicly about it. So it's all between the ears. IMO, he needs to go to CCM and play in front of family and friends.
IJ
Roar Rookie
Very good chance of a direct reversal of last season, with Sydney running away with the Premiership, only to be done by Perth in the Grand Final knockout cup (I refuse to call it the Championship).
IJ
Roar Rookie
Yes, to say I was surprised when I read that is a major understatement.
IJ
Roar Rookie
This 100%.
IJ
Roar Rookie
I was surprised when they signed Rojas while so clearly needing a quality 10. I assume that this was going to be Kruse's role, but sadly Robbie is so often injured that surely any coach knows that his presence can't be relied upon. Kruse reminds me of Kewell in his mid to late 20s, a racehorse of a player who could barely get onto the park. I thought from the outset that he was a dubious signing for this reason.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Woah, an A-League article about the actual competition? Can't believe it. Anyway, I can see it being a Sydney FC v Perth Glory Grand Final again, even if the Glory finish 3rd. I don't even know how City are third, even we beat them 3-1 a week and a bit ago. These finals will be good, here's what I'm predicting: 1. Sydney FC (obviously) 2. Melbourne City (will keep their cool for the remainder of the season) 3. Perth Glory (they have to go on a bit of a rough patch soon, surely?) 4. Wellington Phoenix (great fightback last weekend, got screwed by the ref a bit) 5. Adelaide United (pity we probably won't earn a home final, inconsistency is our issue) 6. Western United (will scrape in ahead of the roar, this team has enough firepower) ----- 7. Brisbane Roar (good first year from Fowler, should make play-offs next season) 8. Western Sydney (poor year from them, hopefully whoever their new manager is, will see them rise to the top once again and get 'Wanderland' rocking. 9. Melbourne Victory (aren't playing atrocious, just can't find a result) 10. Central Coast (better season than last season that's for sure) 11. Newcastle Jets (injuries killed them, hopefully Carl Robinson can get them back on track next season) Sydney FC v any of the top 5, 6th will just be filling in places haha