Alou Kuol’s rise from Victoria’s second division to the A-League as a matchwinner is the sort of story only football can tell, but the task ahead is to capitalise on an incredible start to the season.
Has this been the best opening to an A-League campaign ever? It’s hard to remember a time when we’ve seen so many gripping contests match after match.
Kuol’s introduction off the bench changed the game in Central Coast’s favour on Sunday, with the Sudanese-born striker heading the Mariners to a barnstorming 3-2 win over Western United.
The 19-year-old took both of his goals with aplomb before delivering a more subdued post-match interview on Fox Sports than we’re used to seeing after the full-time whistle.
Why? Perhaps because the Mariners are growing accustomed to the feeling of winning.
The result was another step on coach Alen Stajcic’s road to redemption, and while you get the impression he’s not the type to want to settle scores, it’s hard not to cheer on every victory as some sort of personal vindication for the former Matildas coach.
And on the back of Matt Simon scoring in his 200th game for the club last Wednesday – and again yesterday – it’s easy to portray the Gosford side as the feel-good story of the season.
Except they’re not exactly the only ones.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Brisbane Roar’s systematic destruction of Melbourne Victory in Saturday’s 5-2 win in Redcliffe was noteworthy for a couple of reasons.
For one thing, it will force a national media that focuses slavishly on clubs from Sydney and Melbourne to acknowledge the fact the Roar are the hottest team in the league right now.
And that includes Fox Sports, whose commentary is starting to draw criticism from the Roar’s online support base for downplaying the achievements of Warren Moon’s men.
Make no mistake, the 5-2 scoreline flattered a truly dreadful Victory side on Saturday, and had Dylan Wenzel-Halls or Scott McDonald converted a few more chances in the second half, the Roar could easily have racked up eight goals or more.
And for all the talk about the move to Redcliffe alienating fans, what it has actually resulted in is a vastly improved match-day atmosphere to the one generated at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roar deserve more credit than they’ve been getting, but Moon’s not the type of coach to go out and demand it. Nor is Richard Garcia.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
And a top three that currently reads Central Coast, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory – all led by coaches who prefer to let their football do the talking – is no doubt the worst nightmare of the bean counters who remain obsessed with clubs being based in major metro markets.
But as refreshing as it’s been to just sit back and enjoy the football – and how often in the A-League have we been able to say that? – we shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
With the A-League’s COVID-affected broadcast deal ending in July, it’s incumbent upon the 12 clubs in a competition now free of Football Australia’s oversight to secure another broadcast deal for next season and beyond.
And given the allure of a ready-made cheque from Fox Sports, it’s easy to see why the clubs themselves might be tempted to roll over and take the easiest financial route available.
But is that the right move for the game?
There are enough folks on good salaries to figure that out, but in the meantime let’s hope some of them are using this incredible start to the campaign to strike while the iron is hot.
Because the matches so far this season have been so enjoyable that they deserve a wider audience.
The A-League hasn’t always done the best job of selling itself to football fans, but there can be no better advertisement than the quality of games we’ve seen to date.
The cards are on the table. It’s time to cash in.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The coaches that have done well have been cut off from bringing in more of the number one performance problem in the A-league, lazy old foreign players, once they have a bit of success instead of saying lets look for more youth they seem to be using it as an excuse bring them in again and give them priority.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Monday night's game, SFC v WP, didn't crack the top 20, which cut out at 26k.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Pun well said mate
Micko
Roar Rookie
The WAFL is the West Australian Football League, not women's soccer, or whatever you assume it is. The FFA doesn't owe NZ soccer anything. They were blackmailed to put a men's pro franchise based in NZ, but don't really owe them anything. Start men's & women's pro leagues in NZ if you're that concerned about things.
Micko
Roar Rookie
This is common sense Midfielder. Other people want to keep tallies on skin colour and racial heritage of players, and claims there's some racial agenda...despite ironically lacking the self awareness to realise they're the only one with a racial agenda.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The only pattern is your bigotry and divisive racial ideology. Sydney FC can choose, or not to choose to recruit who they want. The only person who has an issue with somebody's skin colour and racial heritage is you. Pull your head in! :angry:
Graeme Phillips
Guest
Yet again tonight Sydney's Channel 7 news reported really well on football. It was a detailed and positive segment. Their reporter is our Mel Maclaclan who was in Tara's role on Fox so she knows football. I have sent emails to Channel 7 to let them know that reporting on our A League is appreciated. I encourage others to do the same. Perhaps if we start knocking on their door they might respond with more coverage.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I understand your sentiments, however, to call what the girls are doing for the sport as 'baggage' is a genuine slap in the face for their sport. Over the course of history, if we all took your approach at 'slamming' the whole sport because of one poor decision by the governing body, wow, none of us would support the code. But if that is how you feel, then you are missing out on some decent games.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I lost all respect for the W-League when the FFA turned there backs on the Wellington bid putting BS in front of what's good for the game.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
i gave actual facts about 2 demographics that are mis represented in the a league (that are both finally getting some long over due traction) i also used 2 other stats in relation to which team has had the most over 30 year olds and youth players under the age of 19 make thier actual first team. All of these answers are the same side. So based on these results, the conclusion is pretty much right infront of your eyes. It's just unfortunate thier fans think they are the bees knees (like most 'elitist' clubs do) and our interpreting the data incorrectly before you jump in with the different coaches prefer different players and tactics etc. Theyve had several coaches and the questions i posed still remain the same. That underlines a problem within that club, that gets brushed aside because they regulary win trophies and have plenty of money You could probably find stats on which team wears the most white boots or which team will only play defenders over 6 feet tall lol. The point im trying to make is there is a pattern.........
Will
Guest
This what happens you let it be about the football, not some pointless gimmick or sugarhits all about what we love about the game, the players, the coaches and the fans(although we love to see it how it was before again). Unlike the recycling of players, we are seeing an emergence of young players, an emergence of young coaches that want to play attacking football too. The benefits of the curriculum have started to come through with some of the young players, even the African diaspora are exciting for what they bring in, and who knows who else are out there its all about opportunities which has been lacking in the last 15 years. My only concern is the broadcasting and the lack of media coverage, but this is not new in the game. If the APL can't sell the aleague right now for what it is, then I dont know what could sell it, this is what everyone has been waiting for and we are getting it right now!
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
You might not want there to be a new deal, and if that is what you believe, then no argument that can be put forward will change your mind. You, like the rest of us, will have to wait for the announcement. As for your comment about the W League being baggage, well that just about sums up your attitude to football in one statement.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Yes we can and yes we should. They have made this rod for them to carry. Same as Victory, if they are made out to be the biggest, therefore the best, then the spot light they are under is going to highlight all of their flaws, of which there are many.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Nick I understand what you are saying, not sure if you are aware of the population mix in the Eastwood / Epping area... but it has a large and diversified Asian population .... China, Japan, Korean, and many other nations.... My experience within this population via both my professional practise [Accountant] and my work in my local club, and involvement in schools has provided me with lots of learned experienced... That Asian parents generally tend to push their children in education more than in sport is in no way a judgement call ... it just is .... and there is nothing wrong with that .... I did the same thing ... in fact in our area most people push their children more in education than in sport... I don't normally get into these debates as I feel they often tend to be closed as people take and hold opinions and get emotional about their opinion. Be that as it may;- simply stating an observed behaviour over decades including daily and often multi daily experiences were no criticism or judgements are made IMO anyway does not or is not racial its simply stating the obvious.. Another observation of mine is Pacific Island Boys tend to prefer the rugby codes and so to do their parents... its not a big deal to say that IMO ....
Micko
Roar Rookie
Have there actually been confirmation on WU's stadium?
Micko
Roar Rookie
I'm one of them Roberto. :thumbup:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Well said Mike. It's been exciting to watch. :thumbup: Having 12 teams now means that finally the League has reached a tipping point where the coaches now feel the desire to give younger players a crack, rather than the recycling of mediocre journeymen that the 8-10 team era of the A League was notorious for.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Let's hope so. If a Freo/southern suburbs team comes in, then I'm on board. Couldn't be bothered travelling to Perth Oval and the 60+ minutes it'll take to arrive there to watch Glory. Soccer's advantage over other football codes is the atmosphere created. Smaller stadiums are way better for that.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why aren't they integrating?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Weren't you the one complaining about white players at Sydney FC? What's with your bizarre fetish for black African players anyway?