If a moment of quality is all it takes to win games of football, then Western United will fancy their chances of being crowned champions with Alessandro Diamanti pulling the strings.
Who would have thought that a guy who played 17 times for Italy might be a quality player? If only we’d seen him grace the league several seasons ago.
But Melbourne Victory’s loss is well and truly Western United’s gain, after the irrepressible Italian fired the A-League newcomers into the semi-finals with another outrageous goal at Bankwest Stadium overnight.
Jamie Young won’t want to watch too many replays of the winner, but sometimes there’s little goalkeepers can do when a magician like Diamanti lines up a free-kick from distance.
And the Italian was always going to shoot – even if his match-winner in Parramatta was the first time he’d actually scored from a free-kick all season.
One of the most entertaining elements of Diamanti’s game is that he’s always looking to play unusual passes and surprise opposition goalkeepers with shots from long range.
It doesn’t always come off, but in a league where plenty of teams are guilty of playing robotic, risk-averse styles of football, Diamanti’s willingness to try something different is a breath of fresh air.
But you know what’s not? Western United’s season-long commitment to the darker arts of the game.
If there’s time to be wasted, injuries to be exaggerated and referees to be complained to, you can be certain there’ll be a green-and-black jersey around.
It can be a tough slog watching the newcomers at times, especially when they’re protecting a lead into the dying stages of a game.
But is it the sort of thing that turns viewers off the A-League, or simply an aspect of football you see in every single other league around the world?
More to the point, are Western United this season’s Cinderella story or simply the ugly step-sibling to more established rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City?
It’s been interesting to read some of the complaints aimed at United this season, many of which revolve around their desire to build a stadium in Tarneit, often made by fans of clubs playing in borrowed stadiums of their own.
Would they be a more likeable club if they’d simply picked a home ground and stuck with it? And who will the neutrals be backing when they face off against City on Wednesday night?
One thing is certain: you can’t really argue with Mark Rudan’s results as a coach.
He’s won the National Premier Leagues with Sydney United, led Wellington Phoenix to the elimination final last season and gone one better by taking Western United to the final four this time around.
Coach Mark Rudan of Western United (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
It’s a record fans of clubs like Victory – who are expected to unveil John Aloisi as their latest coach today – and Western Sydney Wanderers must be looking upon with envy.
And the notion that local coaches might have a better lay of the land is surely one worth exploring given everything that’s transpired in this strangest of A-League campaigns.
City coach Erick Mombaerts will fly the flag for the foreign legion on Wednesday night, but in a season in which the likes of Marco Kurz and Markus Babbel were sacked and Gertjan Verbeek and Robbie Fowler both departed in contentious circumstances, it feels like most A-League clubs will have no choice but to look towards homegrown talent from here on in.
Which leaves someone like Brisbane Roar coach Warren Moon in an interesting bind given that he inherited his squad from Fowler.
Brisbane deserve credit for reaching the finals, but as Fox Sports pundit Mark Bosnich said in the pre-game show last night, they always looked like they might struggle to bust the game open.
If only they had someone like Diamanti. With four sides remaining, he’ll surely be eyeing off a spot on the big stage come next Sunday night.
Justin
Roar Rookie
I like to think the chances are pretty low, but never zero! :laughing:
jbinnie
Guest
Stu - Correction. My Socceroo coaching count was way out. The national team have had 11 coaches in the last 14 years. Makes you wonder does it not.? cheers jb.
jbinnie
Guest
Stu - have you ever stopped for a moment and wondered just what coaches are being paid for ?. Take our own A-League. over the last 15 years we have had 14 clubs involved,some long term ,at least 3 others "short term", Auckland,Gold Coast, North Qld. During that comparatively short lifespan those 14 identities have employed a staggering 97 coaches,most of whom arrived with "startling" backgrounds,but who invariably left very quietly. The numerical "spread" ranges from the Jets,at 13 coaches in those years to newcomer WU who so far have only had 1 in 1 season.. Would anyone in their right mind accept a job in such a dangerous environment?, but come they do, so again the "blame" appears to fall back on the expertise of the "suits" who do the actual hiring and firing of such unfortunate employees. With salaries obviously outstripping those paid to most players the long suffering fans are entitled to ask,are we getting value for our money?. It would appear doubtful. jb ps The national side,the Socceroos ,appear to have the same problem with at least 5 or 6 coaches taking charge in the same time frame jb
jbinnie
Guest
Set Peace- Before the pandemic "cut off" WU had played 11 home games attracting a total of 62,185 for an average of 5,653 per match. It has to be remembered that two of those games was in fact 'derbies" against Victory and City, when it could be argued that many of the fans attending those 2 games were in fact supporters of the opposition. If those 2 attendances are subtracted from the overall total it reduces that overall figure to 45,915 for the 9 matches played against 'outside' teams. This reduces the WU average "home" gate to 5,002, which is a long way short of the 10,000 average crowd that A-League clubs were advised they needed to attain ,just to remain afloat Cheers jb.
IJ
Roar Rookie
I would like to agree with you, but I can't forget how they stated as part of their bid that the stadium was "shovel ready". It clearly wasn't even close to that, so there was obfuscation from the outset.
stu
Guest
In answer to the 'attitude' question, the answer is....yes. Naturally it is driven by the coach. Not attractive, not fair play, so I guess we reach the judgement of a coach who cant guide a team to win with credit. Therefore I am hopeful they will not progress any further.
The Set Peace
Roar Rookie
Is it true Western United only got 4500 to a home game? If that’s the case why are they in the A-League?
chris
Guest
Come on LH I think you are exaggerating. I don't like Rudan nor his attitude. He comes across as arrogant and full of self importance. No do doubt some of this rubs off on his team. Berisha has been milking fouls for years. Most refs are aware of it and I think generally they get it right. That was a definite foul on him that resulted in the goal. To say that WUN will turn people away I think is a bit of a stretch.
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
It was annoying enough that a bunch of suits in Sydney based FFA stuffed up expansion in Victoria by introducing Heart . The fact they've done it again is infuriating.
Glen
Guest
It really was an odd choice to split the games that way. They spend too much time in Geelong to form a proper connection in Melbourne. But their plans to abandon Geelong means they aren't going to get long term support there either. If the stadium gets built then great at least that is something. Even if it is in the middle of nowhere. But it's not looking promising. They seem to be a bit like Southern Expansion but without money. And money was about the only positive Southern Expansion would bring. But I do like their colours, jersey and logo. Nailed those. Hopefully they can find their place. Their performances this season have been good and someone like Berisha was always going to perform so good acquisition.
Micko
Roar Rookie
They want to get away from the whole "Melbourne" thing: Melbourne Heart/City haven't set the world on fire because they have no geographical point of difference to Victory.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It is a very good question, Mike, as it gets to the heart of the concept of club identity. Despite all the accusations of plasticity and uniformity, most clubs have developed traits and flavours that transcend the immediate coaching set-up. Sydney have gone through a number of coaches yet continue to play with the confidence and panache of a big club. Wellington, despite all their disadvantages, continue to play an aggressive game regardless the opponent or their ladder position. Adelaide will dig deep into the local stocks and throw SA kids into the mix, resulting in the wild roll-a-coaster that makes being an AUFC support a serious risk for anyone with a heart condition, The Jets, CCM, all have shown consistent, unique traits over a substantial period of time and over numerous coaching regimes. The question for Western United is whether the gritty approach dispersed with flashes of brilliance is consistent with the area or a result of the coaching set-up is up for debate, though it is worth noting the traits exhibited by the club are not dissimilar to those displayed by teams in other sports from the same area. That, in my book at least, is a good thing.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I was a sweeper mate. Nothing like specialising in an obsolete position to know your best days are behind you!
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I think they had every intention of building a stadium in Tarneit. I’m not sure it will happen, now, but I don’t believe the club was started with the intention of hoodwinking anyone.
Grem
Roar Rookie
How's your goal scoring ability? Another striker would be handy.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thanks again JB, as always, with your wise words. Obviously, we haven't seen Warren Moon's influence as yet. He wasn't going to change much mid-season, and I'm only guessing about where he'll seek players. He does seem quite level headed and from the very little bit I saw of Lions FC under him, they seemed to move the ball forward quite quickly. I always live in hope JB, no point otherwise.
jbinnie
Guest
Lionheart- You may well be right and if you are that will squarely put Roar into the "also ran" basket. Roar through their procurement during the Fowler era have built the core of a good defence with luckily, Young, staying through his enforced bench occupation by that coaching team.. The back 3 are comparable with any similar trio in the league and that is proven with the goals for and against stats. However that is the cornerstone for a formation that varies between 3-5-1-1 and 3-5-2 and it is in this area Roar have to improve drastically if the are to get the goals they HAVE to get if they are to achieve the desired improvement. In the midfield and front third the build up play is far too slow,in fact it could be best described as pedestrian, with as many "passes" travelling backwards as are going forward. This weakness has been evident since the Aloisi days and if 3 / 6 coaches ( head and assistants) can't cure the problem then the long suffering fans are entitled to ask. why??? Is the answer in the lower leagues? Evidence say not really,the Socceroos are still heavily dependent on overseas based players,and a close study of the teams in the A-League still show a number of overseas imports "pulling the strings" in team performance.Why is this so after an expensive junior coaching curriculum has been in vogue for 11/12 years?. Answer that and you may get to the real root of the problem. jb
IJ
Roar Rookie
Agree that Bes certainly made the most of it by backing in.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Cheers JB, and thanks. Of course I agree, we have to score goals, and we haven't been doing that enough. But still I think Warren Moon will look inward and to the NPL. I might be wrong, that's just my impression having watched his press conferences these past few games. If funds are going to be as limited as what we're hearing, I don't think we'll be pursuing many high salaried players.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I would be embarrassing for the league.