It is mighty tough to write a football article in Australia right now without mentioning the disastrous weekend of officiating that saw VAR become the central point of A-League discussion.
But I’ll try.
A point of interest from the weekend’s action that concerned the actual players and not those charged with overseeing their play, was the real concern around the plight of Melbourne Victory.
Watching the four-time champions of Australia battle away unsuccessfully against an at times unlucky Newcastle Jets on Sunday afternoon was tinged with an unfamiliar tone.
It was the first time I could recall hearing such an eerie, quiet and forlorn AAMI Park soundtrack, while watching Victory compete on home turf.
Sure the fans aren’t confidently back in full force just yet, however there was something quite bizarre and defeatist about both the players’ and fans’ attitudes from the opening minutes of the contest.
As a palpable atmosphere through a big screen television and with the volume cranked up, it was actually uncomfortable to watch.
Melbourne’s challenges during recent pandemic outbreaks and subsequent lockdowns have not helped Grant Brebner’s team, nor have injuries, yet I have never seen a Melbourne Victory team or fan-base enter a match truly expecting to lose.
That was the sense I got prior to kick-off and throughout the entire contest, bar a desperate and promising final twenty minutes where some spirit was shown and the kitchen sink thrown at a deep lying Newcastle defence.
There was something dysfunctional about the entire experience, as was starting Leigh Broxham off the bench. A fair argument could be made that any Victory renaissance will only occur with their veteran captain significantly involved.
If Brebner did indeed drop Broxham for form, I am astounded why a number of others avoided the axe.
It was a dopey move that back-fired, despite Broxham entering the game a little earlier than expected thanks to one of a number of Victory injuries on the night.
There was a brighter story at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Saturday night when Brisbane strutted into town to steal the points from what has been an unconvincing Sydney FC team to this point in the season.
The Roar had their chances, as did Sydney, yet it was a second half moment that reminded everyone watching just how brilliant Brisbane goalkeeper Jamie Young is and has been, between the posts.
With Sydney slowly turning the screws in a game upon which they must still be reflecting and wondering just how they didn’t win, Brazilian scoring machine Bobo entered the fray.
It was a great sight to witness the most prolific single season goal scorer in A-League history, despite the fact that we might have to wait to see his best form in around five to six weeks when he achieves full fitness.
The 36-year-old obviously has much to do on the training track, yet few fans will ever forget a player capable of scoring 27 goals in 28 matches, as he did during the 2017-18 A-League season.
It was clear that Young had certainly not forgotten him and after Bobo entered the match in the 60th minute, the Brisbane keeper produced the save of the week to deny the Sydney striker.
It was the most desperate, frantic and ungainly save, but one that defined the career of the England youth International.
Young has a habit of producing the simply astonishing and it was hard not to smile when, with the net at Bobo’s mercy as the Brazilian headed back across his dive, an extended left boot somehow deflected the ball away from its target and Brisbane avoided what appeared to be a certain deficit.
Frankly, it could win the A-League save of the season.
The standard of shot stopping in the league is very high, yet it is questionable whether any goal keeper has set such a standard for an extended period of time in the way Young has at Brisbane.
Now in his seventh season in orange and after over 300 professional appearances on two continents, Young looks sharp, even after a recent injury setback that delayed his start to the current season.
And thus are the ups and downs of football. Whilst Young celebrated with teammate s after a valuable point against the reigning champions, Victory fans licked their wounds and the tension in the AAMI Park sheds must have reeked of concern for the future of the manager.
Just how long can the board persist with such poor performances.
No doubt Victory will be back, sooner or later. However, Jamie Young doesn’t have to come back from anything, he has never left.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
Newcastle fans have certainly booed their own team in the past. Phil Stubbins tenure certainly created a great deal of angst. At the moment though we're just happy to still have a team on the park. As things progress expectation may well grow here in the Hunter. When a new owner is securely in place even more so.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
transfer fees will be in place by then
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
And then you end up in the Adelaide / Central Coast / Newcastle situation where players transfer to a richer A-League club without a transfer fee, and back to square one.
Punter
Roar Rookie
JB, cannot disagree with you there SFC sparked into life when these 3 came on in the last 30 minutes. The only reason I can see was that they had a game 3 days later, last night in Melbourne & he was trying to save some old legs.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Adelaide city would be coming up from div 2 so there'd still be a team
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Lionheart, Adelaide plays its youth teams in the NPL and given the quality of kids coming through the system its hard to argue that it doesn't work. The SANPL has been great for the kids, not least as they are unable to dominate so learn emotional grit along with technical graft. Importantly, having A-League youth teams in the NPL means emerging talent in other NPL teams is not missed. In short, I'd have to disagree with AnyAdelaide and if anything I'd prefer to see the NYL scrapped and money put into a second national division.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I tipped them pre-season and stupidly bet on Sydney last week. Roar have by far the deepest and most talented squad. Title certainties. Bank it now. Congrats. You know I am always spot on with my Roar tips. :laughing: :laughing:
Tigertown
Guest
Poppa has a new head of HAIR! Has anyone noticed? Sincerely, it’s jet-black & flowing with pride.
Tigertown
Guest
I don’t personally think MV are overly bad, but they do feel stale. Maybe they’ve found competing with Melbourne City & Western United to be too challenging. City have the resources, & United have a new stadium planned. What does MV have? Robbie Thomas Kruse. I’m sure relegation will add some spice to their cause.
pacman
Roar Rookie
Be careful of what you wish for Andy. What would it do for SA football if AU were relegated? Coopers Stadium would be a ghost stadium.
pacman
Roar Rookie
I have reported this comment as inappropriate, and potentially libellous. I encourage other posters who disagree with AA’s comments to do the same.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
let's not get ahead of ourselves here Stuart, but yes, I love to watch them.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Gielnik has been superb and all happening without mum to be Gorry. Pleasure to watch them.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
If we could try boiling instead of poaching it would still have to be KM! (Sorry, couldn’t resist)
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Gielnek is having a great season back home, and last game saw Crummer also back home again, come back after injury. They have a very impressive lineup, even with a couple of last years players in Europe.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Mark If you could and not suggesting this happens... but if MV could buy any coach of the other teams who in the position MV finds itself would you poach...
Midfielder
Roar Guru
well said jb
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Violence towards players and inappropriate relationships were not part of the innuendo. It will be stuck with him, thanks to people who fail to look beyond Lucy Zelic and others who appeared to have been well tuned for the cause. They fell, hook, line and sinker.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Woah! Steady on there. Alen's success this season was built on the clear improvement he brought to the team when he took over (as I wrote at the time it occurred). The culture and environmental issues where addressed by Heather Reid when she apologised for making false statements. As I wrote at the time, she strangely never explained why she made them. It is also very unfair to ask three inflammatory questions that have never been raised prior and then write, "not exactly the sort of person i’d want coaching my club". That is unfair and potentially defamatory. Such statements should be withdrawn. Not fair on Alen and way off the mark in terms of what actually occurred. Alen Stajcic has proven in a very short time period that he is an excellent football coach in either men's or women's competition.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
you are merely repeating something that has since been retracted and an apology made. The person behind the attacks has been removed from the board.