As always, plenty happening including a feisty evening in Gosford, a dramatic Big Blue and the national team coach having plenty to say about our humble domestic competition.
Here are your A-League Round 14 talking points.
Mariners keep rolling
Firstly, Mark Jackson deserves a lot of credit for the work he’s doing with Central Coast. Four straight losses is pretty much as bad as a championship defence can get off to but that seems like a distant memory now. The goals are flowing and the back line has looked impressive, led by Dan Hall and Brian Kaltak’s formidable partnership in the heart of defence.
Youngster Miguel Di Pizio notched his first A-League goal to break the deadlock on Saturday evening, combining well with Jacob Farrell then beating Macklin Freke with an emphatic first-time finish. It’s the Gosford side’s MO in a nutshell – leverage young talent before selling those players on for, hopefully, significant transfer fees.
Some very talented players departed Industree Group Stadium after Central Coast’s second championship last season, but the new crop of youth could be just as promising. And with the way Jackson has got his team trending, adding some silverware to the cabinet in 2023-24 is looking a lot more plausible.
Miguel Di Pizio scores his first A-League goal (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
It wasn’t all bad news for the Roar and the still green Ben Cahn but goals continue to elude them. In the five games Cahn’s overseen, they have only scored more than one goal on a single occasion: the 3-2 win over Newcastle.
Wood send-off blunts Big Blue
If goals make big occasions like the Big Blue, then red cards certainly can break them. I’m not saying that there should be seperate rulebooks for a Macarthur versus Brisbane Roar clash and the Big Blue – although subconsciously all referees would be influenced by the magnitude of the game – merely that these are the matches you really do want to get your decisions correct.
Sydney FC striker Pat Wood’s red card did ruin the latest edition of this long-standing rivalry. I can’t understand how two players looking at the ball, short of one decapitating the other, results in Wood being handed his marching orders after VAR intervention.
At home you have to think it’s two dropped points for Tony Popovic’s men, who have fallen behind Wellington at the top of the table. Zinedine Machach again showed his quality, scoring his fifth goal of the season to go with three assists. Identifying and bringing over the Frenchman is the kind of scouting that can transform a good side into a championship team.
It should also be acknowledged that Victory are still undefeated after 14 rounds, an impressive feat.
The Sky Blues find themselves a smidge outside the top six, two points behind Melbourne City. Ufuk Talay is yet to really find his footing in the head coach role – or his best starting 11 – and it’s always difficult to negotiate the situation when a new manager comes in midseason. Sydney need to beat Western United next week to keep pace with the better sides in the competition.
Arnold doubles down on A-League
Despite the Socceroos failing to defeat an unspectacular Uzbekistan outfit, it was what Graham Arnold had to say after the draw that was most frustrating. Bizarrely praising the number of Uzbeks playing in their domestic league, Arnie also took a shot at the A-League, claiming we don’t have enough of our own national teams stars playing domestically and that he’s “done” with the league.
His one salient point is that players are not conditioned enough with the current length of the season, that I can agree with.
I’ve never made a secret of my view on Arnold. His achievements at the Qatar World Cup understandably landed him a four-year contract extension as Socceroos boss, but I can’t see him seeing out that deal unless he can improve the turgid football the side are playing. But more to the point, publicly lashing the league he has so often praised – sometimes deservedly and sometimes undeservedly – is a pretty awful look.
How much worse a job would Jacob Farrell done than Aziz Behich on the left side of defence? Granted, Jamie Maclaren has never impressed at international level but he had a case to be frustrated for being left out of the Asian Cup squad. Arnold will likely have to keep picking domestic-based players, or at least consider them.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Quick hits
-North Hobart Oval is a quaint little ground, but it is shameful that the APL are continually allowing Western United to take games to the Apple Isle. This, on the back of reports United’s training base will be delayed. I can’t comprehend how they’re going to build their fan-base in Victoria if they are not playing matches in Victoria.
-Oskar Zawada netted the match-winner in his return from injury as the Nix toppled Newcastle. I don’t think the Jets are quite as bad as their ladder position says – and they’re actually not too far outside the finals but it was always going to be an uphill battle for first-time head coach Robert Stanton.
-A nice moment after City’s 1-0 win over Adelaide – Jamie Young consoling Nestory Irankunda after denying the soon-to-be Bayern Munich winger on a one-on-one.
Irankunda wears his heart on his sleeve – sometimes to his detriment, to be fair, but this is the kind of emotion fans love seeing. The antithesis of laughing and joking with the opposition post-match that drives me mad.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory this is more like a prison gang rivalry” That’s gold :laughing: :laughing:
ShirleyKnot
Roar Rookie
Ha! - "...Sydney FC being all that is positive and good about active support..." I nearly choked on my tea :laughing:
Garry
Roar Rookie
Theyre too scared to upset the refs union :angry: :crying:
David Shilovsky
Expert
Unsurprisingly Football Australia have upheld Wood's red card.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Der Rattenfänger von Hameln, as the Germans initially called it. Or, the Pied Piper of Hamelin. :stoked:
Waz
Roar Rookie
CCM v WSW … why? Is it because the scabs keep stealing all their kids?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Adelaide City - start of the match by Adelaide was strange, Mclaren another ordinary game dont know why he is being mentioned. Irakunda was selfish as well as blowing chances. Antonis was the City player who was switched on not just the goal. A Sydney Melbourne , Sydney would have won this easy without the ref, as Melbourne fade in the second half. Melbourne would have also lost against Wellington without the send off in that game. First easy opposition letting their striker get easy goals early in the season, and now the refs are giving the rolls royce treatment which City previously got. The ball across goal for the Victory goal could have been blocked off as well as others, Girdwood reich just stops short instead of blocking off the near post. Vellipulay why Popovic made him the striker he didnt get to any of the balls across goal . Wanderers return to form of Milanovic . Western United really blew three goals, Ruhs didnt center the ball to a free Botic, Botic blew two final passes in the area which would have been a tap in and free shot in the center of the area. Kane Vidmar copped a horror challenge by Aidan Simmons where he was running in at speed and then launched himself. Its not the first bad challenge . The red card meant they could dominate the last 20 but came up short. Jets Phoenix I missed a fair bit of the match. Things dont add up at Newcastle , I dont particularly understand why Buhagiar is on the bench. ONeill and Grozos , its like double Brattans. Phoenix got that early penalty and sat back. Then Newcastle score but then they concede again just a few minutes later. Roar CCM, The diamond midfield with Caletti on the left first time I have seen this. The system I thought made Markovski work overtime,. and he was tired out after 30 minutes. CCM are vulnerable under the press apart from Nisbet though it wasn't the press but a deflection that put Miluesnic clear on goal but he shoot too close to the keeper . Di Pizio I dont think he is a starting 10 he got the goal, his fitness isnt that great, and he struggled to keep the ball. I think Mariners are better off with Nisbet his non stop movement, and I dont understand why they cant play Wilson alongside Ballard. Majok I dont understand why he was taken off but the strangest thing though was Hingert and Miluesnic misplacing passes just after half time so he didnt get to touch the ball before he came off. Waddingham blew a great chance in the second half just outside the post. Where is Lofthouse though, he isnt listed as injured. The new Brazilian I wasn't impressed by but he looks fitter than Tulio when he first came on. The mysteries of Macarthur and Perth though I didnt watch the whole match, Macarthur Davilla seems to be the only one trying hard on some days. Two strange penalties. Two players I would definetly want to see more from Perth are Ostler and ZImarino who is back supposedly from a mystery injury. Ivanovic had a bit of shocker, Perth can press better without Taggart particularly at the end of games.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Chris, I’d love to see a referee tell the VAR operators where to go and to shove their “clear and obvious error” thinking where the sun doesn’t shine and make some real-time decisions. I want to watch live sport played in real time. I can get all my other thrills and spills by playing EAFC24 :laughing:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
You just have illustrated why State of Origin is only taken seriously by Queenslanders and lacks true rivalry. Queenslanders State of Origin is their pinnacle and be all. New South Wales players are notorious for going on the drink before it, the 5k bar tab of Laurie Daley, the bonding nights were everyone is given a few thousand in cash before the event. New South Wales lacks a state identity, people identify with their region in NSW. In New South Wales everyone measures themselves against Sydney, even in Sydney, Western Sydney see their main rival as Sydney. Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory or Wanderers are the two biggest rivalries in the country with the active support. Sydney FC being the all that is positive and good about active support, and Victory and Wanders being the dark side. Wanderers vs Melbourne Victory this is more like a prison gang rivalry.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Buddy "sheeplike" for the refs is an apt description. Seems like any time they get called over to view the monitor the decision has already been made. Why would a ref go against 3 officials who have viewed an incident 100 times and slowed it down to a point that even a brush of legs looks like an attempted career ending tackle. This past weekends decision were just plain awful.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
ok, 3,850 at Nth Hobart, looks like western united should move to tassie to get a bigger crowd as they sure have little interest in Victoria so far.
Brendan
Roar Pro
Mark Jackson’s showing some wonderful ability, & he’s really got the lads on his side. And to think, initially there was backlash from Central Coast fans, some wanting Ben Cahn as coach instead. A few months ago, the Mariner’s online forum was a very toxic place. Thankfully the trolls are behaving now.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Is there anyone other than VAR operator and the sheeplike referee that believes the Wood send off was justified? I was enjoying a really good contest and although the balance of the game was still interesting, it wan’t the type of contest we wanted to see. Maybe they should have a “fanzone” with the VAR operator and consult a fan from each side asking if it was a clear and obvious error…might get more sane and practical decisions.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I thought the Mariners would crash this year, but they are playing some good counter attacking football and still have some star quality. The new Brazilian looks promising and Torres is really looking good . Mark Jackson seems to be the new Monty. I also believe Ben Cahn is a very good coach - he is just lacking some players to show how good he is. I hope the Roar can get a few more wins this season to reward Cahn and their fans. The send off on Friday was ridiculous and did spoil a great game. Surely we don’t need to hear the Sydney is favoured by the refs and VAR anymore. They cop some bad decisions and good - like all teams do. It’s such a shame when red cards are shown early, unless it is a reckless or nasty challenge as the whole flow of the game is completely changed. Having said that, I was impressed with Sydney’s ability to draw the game. It was a very positive sign that they are building nicely under Talay. Thanks David - another interesting football article.
Brendan
Roar Pro
I’ve opened Pandora’s box. FC verses WSW is pretty up there too.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
yes, if they get a bigger crown in tasmania, that would be funny.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Brisbane Roar's weakness is well known. So, CCM just parked the bus even played a home match. Two counter-attacks won. Very sure that all A-league coaches know the weaknesses of Brisbane Roar.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
You can tell by the very small number of posts on the poor referees because fans are numb. How can O’shear’s and Wood’s red card be valid? It looks like there is no accident in soccer any more. Whenever a boot on shin or ankle, it is a red-card punishment.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Waz
Roar Rookie
No, not even close. For that statement to be true fans of Jets, Mariners, CCM, and all the clubs in NSWs would have to be willing SFC to win. That’s never happened.