And just like that, that’s a wrap on the regular season. Six teams are out of contention for silverware, while the other six will fight it out for the toilet seat over the next few weeks.
Here are your A-League Round 26 talking points.
Mariners expose Reds’ defensive woes, seal top-two finish
Knowing that it would take an unlikely Wanderers win in Melbourne for Western Sydney to have a say on second place, it was basically a shootout for that all-important top-two finish at Coopers Stadium between Central Coast and Adelaide.
It wasn’t much of a contest in the end, with Nick Montgomery’s side blowing the Reds away on their home patch to earn a rest next week. Defence has been the issue all season long for Adelaide, who conceded 46 goals for the campaign, and Friday night certainly was no exception.
Now having to play in week 1 of the finals, Carl Veart doesn’t have too much time on the training park to fix his leaky backline before Wellington come to the City of Churches. The Nix have stumbled into the playoffs and it should be an easy path into the two-legged semi-finals for Adelaide, as I can’t see Ufuk Talay’s men putting up much resistance.
But it seems that to get past their next opponent United will need to score three or four goals just to remain in the contest.
Rudan deserves plenty of credit for Wanderers’ best season in years
At AAMI Park Wanderers’ loss to the premiers basically set the first Sydney Derby clash in the finals in stone. There are plenty of storylines for this one, and all eyes will be on what’s hopefully a sold-out CommBank Stadium on Saturday evening.
But let’s give credit where it’s due: Marko Rudan has taken one of the league’s biggest clubs from a laughing stock to a championship contender in 16 months’ time. It wasn’t a simple task, and involved instilling a culture of discipline and pride in the jersey – something that managers like Carl Robinson and Josep Gombau failed tremendously at.
As cringe as some of the “favela” comments regarding Marcelo were, and some of the more bizarre pressers he gave, Rudan’s proved his words weren’t just talk but in fact the foundation for the success of a club that had been on the outside of the top six looking in for way too long.
Of course, Brandon Borrello’s sensational return to form definitely hasn’t hurt, and the acquisitions of Sydney rejects Milos Ninkovic and Calem Nieuewenof have proven to be very valuable.
A lot can happen between now and Grand Final day, and make no mistake – he’ll be assessed on that, too.
Marko Rudan has turned the Wanderers into a force in 2022/23.
Time will tell how long Marko lasts in the top job at Wanderland, as he’s overstayed his welcome at both other A-League managerial roles he’s held in relatively short periods, but for now I’ve got nothing but praise for the former centre-half.
Soul-searching and introspection to come for bottom-six teams
As the curtain draws on six sides’ campaigns, those in charge have a long off-season ahead of them. Do you sack the coach? Release a string of players in the hope you’ll be able to adequately replace them?
In Perth’s case, you’ve got a young manager who’s overachieved with a pretty poor squad. Do you back him? Is it simply a matter of improving the playing squad, and then returning to the promised land? Front office administration is a tough job at the best of times, let alone when you’re reeling from a season that’s left you out in the cold.
If you’re Western United, and your response to a miserable finals-less campaign 12 months removed from a championship is to re-sign John Aloisi, how much rope does the Socceroos penalty shootout hero get?
Melbourne Victory, the biggest club in the land, have plenty very serious questions of their own to answer. Does Tony Popovic survive, and how about the squad? I’m not sure that’s a roster that can be overhauled in one winter, although if there’s one man in the A-League who could get it done, it’s Poppa.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Each bottom-six club will have some variation of these decisions to make as they seek a return to contention in 2023-24. If your team is one of these, what are you expecting from the off-season?
Cowardly Townsend must go – now
I wrote last week about how the heat needs to be turned up on Jets boss Arthur Papas. I mentioned how I’m not advocating for him to lose his job necessarily, simply that he needs to be accountable for his side’s results. He’s got a mortgage and bills to pay just like everyone else. I’m not one to call for anyone’s head unless it’s truly justified.
In Danny Townsend’s case, his cowardly self-exile from the public sphere is the last straw.
The monumentally awful call to award the next three A-League Men and A-League Women Grand Finals to Sydney has aged like milk. It was so disastrous that the face of the APL has been cowering under his desk for months.
Enough is enough, Danny. Your callous pursuit of the almighty dollar has sunk this league to the extent that it’ll be years before diehards regain faith in the administration. Have some dignity and fall on your sword before it gets really ugly.
chris1
Roar Rookie
The only people paying attention to the Ray Hadley's and the right wing papers are angry old men who don't like the sokkah anyway.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Wet weather impacts transitional play? You are really scraping the barrel there for excuses. If anything, the slick surface would aid quick transitions. Yes both defensive shapes might find the surface difficult to turn on but that works for both teams.
At work
Roar Rookie
While you’re right, the SMH even had an editorial write up about Soccers connection with violence as if other local leagues haven’t had fan violence before :angry:
At work
Roar Rookie
Exactly, where's the PR manager at the APL getting these (and any) stories out to the media outlets. APL are too busy putting it all on KeepUp which the maintstream (and most football fans) don't read.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
AA - good summary. The weakness I saw - not just when goals were scored was that Adelaide were full out attacking but did not appear to have adequate resources to manage the transition and subsequent counter attack. I’m not talking number of players, just the type. There are a few different ways of defending a counter attack and they didn’t really seem to be equipped to carry out anything. Attacking wise, perhaps it was just one of those days!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i said in the prediction thread, the rain is a great leveller in this match, because adelaide's style of football (transitional) does not work in the rain - while the mariners (directness) would suit it better. better side won on the day, no complaints with the loss. - it wasnt a 4-1 game though, if you know what i mean? - for the stats lovers xG backs that up, with adelaide still having a higher xg football is a game of small margins, it always has been and always will be. eg blackwood was probably less than half a yard offside (if that goes in, momentum swings) compare that to the mariners 4th goal - deflection off barr, then gauci gets a full hand to it and cant keep it out - like i said small margins. first goal coming from an attacking corner was extremely poor (but it you only leave one player back, it can happen) great finish, though i wonder if gauci couldve stayed on his line rather than rushing out if things could've been different - there were adelaide players in the vicinty that arrived late and maybe tulio wouldnt have tried the chip? nkolos goal falls in the fine margins category, on that angle that was about the only place he couldve put the ball. - half a yard on the other side, it doesnt go in tulios second in the top bin, again was the only spot he could place it - if you give a player that much time and space he will hit the target. chris beath wasnt particularly great as ref (is he ever really?) personally i dont think he gave irakunda enough protection (he got nibbled at 3 or 4 times before he lost his head and emotions got the better of him - thats a kid though, reactions like that are normal) but then again a different ref could've sent him off for the follow through. you also have to factor in that adelaide was missing its first choice striker, first choice attacking midfielder and 1 of its 2 first choice central midfielders - for arguments sake no other a league side in the top 6 (let alone the bottom 6, had that issue on the weekend) and it would be interesting to see how they would've coped in the roles were reversed in thier place was 2x 17 year olds (1 of the top 10 strikers in his age group, the other the best midfielder nationally in his age group) and a 22 year old that is still not being played in his nautral position. all 3 were ineffective (you expect that with a couple of teenagers, regardless of how good there potential is - kids form will always go up and down.) people assume the achillies heel for adelaide is defending, its not - its taking chances when they present themselves adelaide had more than enough really good chances, (even the barr corner i would expect 9/10 would be on target) - its been the story all year with finishing anyway, long story short - mariners were well deserving of the win
Redondo
Roar Rookie
It's an 'editorial' opinion piece from a once respected newspaper. Now plumbing the depths regularly. At war with China and 'soccer'. Sheesh...I give up.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Yeah, "Adelaide personalities" is remarkable. That is why my preference ranking is: Green 1st, Kurz 2nd and Ross last.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
My point being, without condoning in any way violence in any sport, the media in this country is unashamedly connected to particular sports and and antagonistic towards others.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
And more...https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/player-banned-for-life-after-attacking-referee
Redondo
Roar Rookie
And more... https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/15/junior-rugby-league-player-allegedly-attacks-referee-in-nsw-central-coast
Saffi
Roar Rookie
I’m really looking forward to watching the finals. Love seeing CCM, Melbourne City and Adelaide play. Can’t see how Melb. City can lose the GF with four Socceroos but I’m hoping CCM cause an upset. In regards the others….. I think WSW has improved but I really don’t like Rudan. As for the others…. I’m a Victory member and went last night to watch a lethargic and uncoordinated Victory lose to an average Roar outfit. What to do? Well, we’ve finished as one of the bottom two sides 3times in the last four years! Can we just digest that again… Victory ( the team with the highest paid membership in the A League, by far) has finished in the bottom two for the 3rd time in four years! If people worry about crowd numbers, interest in the A league and viewer numbers on pay TV ,then we need a successful, competitive and combative Victory. So, what to do. Sack the ten least effective players ( including Brillianti, Marchan, Timotheou, Chapman, Ikonamidis, Nani, Kamau, ) . Then recruit magnificent players who can control the midfield and score goals. Im not kidding, Please please , let us members get back to watching exciting, coordinated and high scoring Victory. If that means letting Popovic go (I supported his appointment) then so be it, but let’s face it, he needs to get this ultra right if he’s to continue.
jbinnie
Roar Rookie
coolncold -As I am not privy to Roar's hierarchy decisions I cannot even guess as to who the coach is going to be. What I am suspicious about is the connection that now appears to exist between Roar and Adelaide personalities, a connection that appears to only scratch at Roar's troubles with 2 coaches of very limited experience having been suggested to the board, while an apparent lack of quality recruitment appears to be on the backburner. It always amazes me that administrations choose to accept this state of affairs when their league positions over previous years are screaming out as to where the real problem lies, quality player recruitment. I could go on but it is now getting more and more apparent as to why that other Roar scribe, WAZ, recently retired his pen from writing about Brisbane and the A-League in general Cheers jb.
338
Roar Rookie
I think the point we are making is they don't consider anything else about the game at domestic level newsworthy. As soon as something like this assault happens it's like "yep quick get that up as quick as you can". Front page stuff.
David Shilovsky
Expert
That is newsworthy, to be fair, and if there was such salacious footage of it happening at a rugby league or AFL game it would be publicised too.
David Shilovsky
Expert
No, I don't think you're too sensitive but I've accepted that the Nine papers have given up on football outside of the national teams.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
And yet the Age makes no mention of the endemic violence in rugby league... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nrl/article-11945767/NRL-Rugby-league-referee-kicked-THROAT-angry-player.html
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well this article has me fuming. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/don-t-let-violence-detract-from-australia-s-soccer-glory-20230430-p5d4ei.html Just as I was banging on about the lack of reporting on this last round of the ALM, The Age publishes a report on violence in football. From the article “ The threat of violence is harder to deal with. But unless soccer authorities urgently address the issue and stamp it out, their game will have little future among younger generations.“ So they are happy to highlight criminal behaviour and then say the game may have little future among younger generations BUT have provided little to no reporting on what was an excellent last round of football in the ALM. Am I too sensitive?
Garry
Roar Rookie
Wellington home game first could be tricky
Garry
Roar Rookie
First game away second game home I think