Each club's state of affairs before the A-League restart: Western United

The A-League was entertaining up until its postponement.

It’s due to start again on July 16.

This is how the Western United season was assessed as it stands prior to the restart.

What’s the story?
Western United would be reasonably content with their season so far. They currently sit in the top six due to having a better goal difference than Adelaide United. That’s more than acceptable considering that it’s Western United’s first season in the A-League.

The football that Western United has played has been attacking and entertaining; it’s the way in which football should be played. They have scored two goals or more on nine occasions, in the twenty games that they have played, which equates to scoring two goals or more in just under half of the twenty games that they have played in the A-League 2019-20 season as it stands.

To be frank their form has been a mixed bag; they have scored eleven goals in their past two games, but failed to score in three consecutive games previous to that.

They have failed to score in eight of twenty games that they have played in, which is a disappointing stat. From a defensive perspective they would be relatively content with keeping four clean sheets, which equates to an average of one clean sheet every five games.

That’s acceptable, because they endeavour to play attacking football.

A big loss for Western United have been injuries suffered to two defenders that may be in their starting line up on a regular basis if fit and available, in Brendan Hamill and Aaron Calver. They are both quality centre backs.

Western United would be boosted by their captain signing Alessandro Diamanti signing a two-year contract.

The five most talented players
5- Filip Kurto is a quality goalkeeper. Kurto gives the rest of the Western United team confidence. As it stands, he has made the third equal most saves in the 2019-20 A-League season making 67 saves.

4- Besart Berisha is still extremely talented as he is clinical in the final third. Berisha has scored 15 goals, which is an impressive stat.

(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

3- Josh Risdon has benefited immensely from a change in role implemented by Western United Coach Mark Rudan. Risdon has played at right back for most of his career, but he has been a revelation playing on the right wing. He has provided seven assists, which substantiates the decision to change his role.

2- Max Burgess has so much potential; if Burgess can contribute more in the final third then he will be a Socceroo and perhaps play overseas. He showed this potential when he scored a hat trick in Western United’s second last game as it stands.

1- Alessandro Diamanti is a pivotal part of the Western United team, because he is extremely talented. Some of his passing is unbelievable and he has also made a contribution in the final third scoring five goals and providing seven assists.

Honourable mention: Jonathan Aspropotamitis deserves to be given more game time and should be in the starting line up given that he is a talented defender.

Adaptable players
Josh Risdon has the ability to play right back or right wing. Max Burgess can play in the midfield or as a striker. Connor Pain can play left wing or as a striker. Ivan Vujica can play as a left back or on the wing.

Who needs to lift?
Connor Pain hasn’t played at his optimum level. Pain may have scored two goals and provided four assists, but he needs to have more of an impact on the game than he has had in the 2019-20 season as it stands. He has to prove that he warrants a place in the starting line up when there’s someone of the talent of Ivan Vujica who performed admirably in the 2018-19 A-League season.

Max Burgess needs to be more clinical in the final third as he has shown that he is capable of being a goal scorer. Burgess just needs some confidence so he can show what an exciting prospect he is.

What has to alter?
Ivan Vujica needs to be given an opportunity to play, at least on the bench as he is a quality player. Jonathan Aspropotamitis should be in the starting line up when fit and available as he is a prodigious talent.