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Sunday 23 August 2009

A-League; The Glory now United?

Round Three saw the top six in the A-League now decided.

Yes I know we've got a few weeks to go but it looks sorted to me.

Well is Branko really going to sort that talented mob out, will Frankie survive the season, and Perth despite their win are too slow in the forward line to threaten aren't they, unless they can nick an improved Wellington's place, which leaves the Fury..they are still with us right?

Gold Coast, Adelaide United, Sydney FC, Central Coast, Wellington and Melbourne will fight it out for the top six positions at season end. Who would disagree?

This weekend we saw the Glory winning at home, Gold Coast telling us what we already thought, the supposedly new improved Sydney unable to beat the Mariners, Wellington raising their game late-on again, most un-Kiwi like isn't it, Victory back to the future; oh and Frank Farina with a team in a heap.

Perth Glory lacked attacking pace early but showed enough at home to suggest over the ninety they'll get better. Mile Sterjovski came to life. Why does it take these star players so long?

Brank Culina is capable it seems of turning a football flowing Newcastle into a bottom four rabble. Still not much signs of life, despite the talent on the park.

Sydney fans were over-impressed by their first victories even if one was against Adelaide, but a team which has Terry McFlynn and nice touches sometimes Karol Kisel in the centre are never going to completely dominate anyone are they?

Jason Culina v Terry McFlynn? Nice one!

Melbourne played the same. Boot it long to Archie and he'll score sometimes. He did.

Fury flustered but can only improve at home, maybe, and Gold Coast are flying.

Great to watch in a good game on Friday night. United's non-scoring forward Joel Porter, and team-mates Jason Culina, Adam Traore all caught the eye, not to mention their bench. Do we have a Salary Cap in this league?

Scott Jamieson was badly shown up again when attacked and that's a worry..for his career progressing as a full-back. I think he's better when the other teams have no right-sided attacker. Note to A-League clubs.

And of course I must mention Adelaide. A limp threat with one forward. But wait. Insoeb Shin did more in an attacking sense in fifteen minutes than most A-League players have done in 5 years, and Lloyd Owusu won a header.

That was the first header Adelaide has won in the attacking third since Bruce Djite left.

Paul Agostino, and Cristiano have won nothing in the air and if they did ( I don't think they did) who would have benefited; not Adelaide, they have no other forwards.

Owusu chased a ball down which must have left United fans wondering what he was doing. Agostino didn't do that either did he?

So Adelaide can add something more to their attack. They should improve.

For now The Roar are in a mess, Gold Coast are the team to beat, and Leo Bertos outshone Tommy Oar, Henrique, the kicking Robbie Kruse (how was he not sent-off) and all the rest of the creative Brisbane talent pool. And not many in the crowd either was there?

Next week Jets take on the Gold Coast...hmmn why am I always watching the Gold Coast.

1 comment:

astrojax said...

are gold coast going to be what they keep telling us they are - invincible from day one? but i can see neither smoke nor mirrors, so perhaps the hype was right...

anyway, from the little i've managed to catch the season looks to be a cracker, with the new kids a real player and sydney looking perhaps likely, for mine - but i really hope phoenix have a good year; ut'd be good for things generally, and when are we getting a team of our own?? ; )