The A-League Men’s finals series kicks off this weekend, after a long season marred with game postponements due to the pandemic and flooding.
Melbourne City claimed the Premiers Plate for the second year running, with all three Victorian teams taking up the top three spots. Adelaide United prevented a last-minute push from the Mariners to claim fourth, with the Central Coast and Wellington Phoenix making up the top six.
The biggest shock to this year’s finals series has been the omission of Sydney FC. The Sky Blues missed out on the top six for the first time in six seasons, ending up in eighth on the ladder and 9 points behind the Phoenix.
It’s undoubtedly a shame for Sydney fans, who watched their team lift the Championship three times over those five years of finals football and feature in all but one grand final. However, Sydney’s demise is ultimately the A-League men’s gain.
For the past five years, Sydney FC have dominated the competition. It was almost a given that they would find themselves in the finals series, and almost certainly in the grand final.
Their loss in last year’s decider to Melbourne City was welcome for neutral fans, sick of the Sky Blues domination and excited to see another team (although also dressed in sky blue colours) lift the Premiership trophy.
Their 2016/17 season was a masterclass of football, finishing the year 17 points clear of second placed Victory. The A League Men’s in the past five seasons has been, for a lack of better word, somewhat boring.
The top six were almost always worlds above the rest of the field, and the top two far above the rest of the finals teams.
But this year, the 2021/22 season, has been incredible to watch. The top six teams were only decided with one game to spare, and even then they shifted around within those spots. Melbourne City were only crowned minor premiers on their last match of the season, snatching the Plate off Melbourne Victory by just one point.
Western United were even in with an outside chance heading into the final round. It made every game at the end of the season a must watch, no matter who you support. We haven’t seen such close competition, throughout the entire ladder (barring poor Perth Glory) in years.
And looking at the Premiership contenders now, none could be realistically ruled out to be on the pitch on May 28. Melbourne City and cross-town rivals Victory, the top two, are obviously at the top of the list for the win.
Western United were in the hunt for the Premiers plate, but their end to the season was frustrating. However, their form throughout their campaign was consistent.
Adelaide United have had a slump in form towards the back end of the season, at the same time the Central Coast Mariners (their opponents on Sunday) have had a resurgence, picking up wins for their last five matches. Wellington have been a welcome surprise, with many predicting a top three finish for the Nix following a solid start to the season.
Sydney FC only just missed out on the finals, but the fact that the margin was so close just proves the point. The fall of Sydney FC, and the inevitable rise again, has only been good for the league. If they make it back into the finals fold next year, great.
But it’s highly unlikely we’ll see such incessant domination again for a long time.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I'll agree with Steve C for PM for 2 reasons: 1. He'd do no worse than Morrison, and 2. It would open up the Sydney FC coaching position for someone with a more attacking philosophy.
Justin Mahon
Roar Rookie
Nonsense.
chris
Guest
Grem we need the riot squads at A League matches to give the impression that potential terrorists are about to create havoc. At the "footy" it's just a couple of lads having a good ol fashioned barney.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
By Grant “out of form”, I meant not up to the standard he has set for the previous couple of seasons. I wondered whether the lack of penetrative longer balls from Brattan may have been a factor. Caceres is an enigma to me: close skills at times breathtaking, but I am not convinced about his final balls, nor his shooting, I hope you are right and I am wrong about his potential contribution. I thought Talbot was pretty good going forward, and may yet improve defensively. Nieuwenhoff has potential. I am not convinced yet about whether Van Der Saag is.clever enough to be a good player. Given that Wilko has started to look old and slow despite his clever positioning, that Warland remains fallible, and Redmayne needs to regain form, there are questions about the defence. Our major penetrative creativity this year has been flashes from Ninko. Genius though he is, age seems to be starting to affect him, and goodness knows who is going to score goals. Time for Corica to forge his own team and prove himself as a coach.
Waz
Roar Rookie
City, unlike most clubs, seem to have an ability to replace good players leaving though.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Dispute Grant was playing bad..merely didnt reach heights we now expect. And Kosta was out injured and he was coming back better with limited playing time as the season ended. Trent B. is a tough one..more dangerous in the air than Alf (in terms of competitiveness not scoring!) and Ive seen enough to think played alongside a recognised striker he could do well. Brattan may or may not have been missed..would rather Brilliante back. Our key men went awol ..Wilko, Ninko thru injuries, Alf, Redmayne and Grant to some extent. On the other hand Cacerers stood up and we could build a team around him. I suspect Talbot is more showy than effective & Van Der Saag deserved a better go. Niewenhoff sb great when back fit.
Garry
Roar Rookie
not long enough really but all the covid disrruptions has made it seem interminable
Garry
Roar Rookie
Steve C was one of my favourite players..but we’ve been sliding for the last 2 years..new coach needed!
Waz
Roar Rookie
Too short to develop players all the same, even if your average Australian sports fan prefers short/sharp competitions.
Waz
Roar Rookie
jb Im Pretty sure the conversation on Roar has been the same at the end of these past two seasons - need someone to create and score goals. Compared to Aloisi’s final season, the last time Roar didn’t make finals, and fair to say Roar are in a better position today than they were then (they need strengthening now, not a clean out). Evidence would suggest they don’t have an overseas scouting network so how they are dealing going visa players (and who they will sign for next year) remains a worry.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Sydney fan here who agrees it is a good thing we did not make the finals. If we had it would have meant that there were at least 6 teams worse than us, and I would hate to think the A League had sunk that low! Next season will be the first big test for Corica. Can he build a new team? There are obviously players who have aged beyond their best [ALF and I think Wilko]. There are players out of form [Grant, Redmayne, Kosta]. There are players who may not have what it takes at this level [Buhagiar at least] Will Brattan come back as the same player? He was badly missed. Which youngsters have what it takes given the chance? Talbot does, and probably Yazbek, but do any of the others? And will they actually get a chance? I look forward to the new stadium, and hopefully a rejuvenated [adjective carefully chosen] team. And the finals should be great!
Ac
Guest
It wasn’t good but it certainly wasn’t to the stage described by news corp or 2GB. Some media likes negativity.
ac
Guest
This season for A league has been like “days of our lives’ just going on an on an on. Too long for the amount of teams.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
let's hope so JB, but yes, hope neither plays nor score goals
jbinnie
Guest
Lionheart- If we are to discuss the players at Roar and how they could be blended into a team, playing a modern tactic, like 3-5-2, then from what I've seen I would like to see this line up given an extended run. Holmes, (back 3) Neville, Aldred, and Chapman. (middle 5), Zaballa, Hore, O'Shea, Olsen, and Brindell- South. (Front 2) Ivanovic and Mileusnic. From past performances the key positions are in midfield where generally speaking chances are created and aid can be given when under pressure. The four mentioned outside O'Shea have shown aggression and high work rate as part of their make up and with an extended run would only improve in time. Both Hore and Olsen are dedicated ball winners and Zaballa and BS show a desire to get forward as often as possible without leaving their CB's short of help, while at the same time offering alternatives to playmaker O'Shea. Up front is another problem area. The two I mention are formerly left wingers and both need to be shown that their movement has to coincide with the service coming through from mid-field. I think this line up. given a run, could match any team playing in the present ALM. Cheers jb
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
There have been glimpses of that quick movement, and Moon has worked on it (he said), but not common. Could have had two more, Lescano’s sitter and that last shot by Ivanovic, if he’d used Dehmie on the left. We’re a different team with Ivanovic and Milusenic fit, missed them badly for much of the year. Hingert’s a long termer, he’s got a few cap discounts, Brown too maybe as a local and Roar junior but he went away for a little while. Still wages to pay though. Sounds a good mix for next season.
Steve Corica for PM
Guest
Sydney FC for me. That’s all I gotta say.
AGO74
Guest
Bimbi not bimbo lol
AGO74
Guest
The 16/17 GF was a Kevin Muscat butchery masterclass from his Melbourne victory team. Kick the s$&t out of them.
AGO74
Guest
Sydney missing out of the finals is a good thing not only for ALM but also for Sydney FC because our results were ordinary and performances were generally dire. Didn’t come close to deserving to be there. If we’d made the finals there would have been the temptation to paper over the cracks - just like Bimbo tried to do this year with no refreshing of roster and relying on guys who are admittedly club legends but can no longer deliver at that level. I know sacking a coach after one year when you’ve had so many years of success sounds like an over reaction but I worry what will happen next year. When even the numpty in the stands like myself could at start of year see what was going to happen (and did eventually happen by seasons end) but corica couldn’t I do wonder about his ability to adapt and reinvent. Combine this with the fact that Danny Townsend who as CEO helped oversee the success of last 5-6 years then for mine - especially if we retain corica - have strong concern on our ability to bounce back next year. Good luck to all the other teams in the finals (except the three Melbourne teams lol).