Rado v Ange: Round 5 assessment

It was all Rado, what did Ange do?

Or so came the cry from some football followers and if grew a little louder once Brisbane had thumped Melbourne 5-0 in Round 2.

5 rounds in and it's time for further assessment.

Melbourne Victory are the most improved team in the league.

Their first half performance was simply stunning last night v the renowned tough to beat Wellington Phoenix. Last night Melbourne passed and passed again. It was fast and incisive, more so that Brisbane at their best? Possibly.

 And I loved it.

Archie and Marco Rojas have more pace than Brisbane ever had in the forward line and although Flinkler and Flores struggle for pace and endurance they can play a pass, a special pass, to ongoing willing runners can't they?

If anything Melbourne at their best are slightly more direct than Brisbane were at their best. Is this deliberate or just the nature of the group assets?

Brisbane are still maintaining possession but five games in they are looking far less potent and although still have a lot to offer no doubt they need to find extra pace and energy not to mention a few goals. There ball possession is still fine, but their ball movement too predictable and too slow to create real havoc. Early days?

Broich looks a little less consistent this year. Berisha also - is he following Rado's new plan by dropping deeper or is this just his frustration coming through.

The Roar without Ivan Franjic are half the team and it was no surprise with him back against Adelaide the possession and energy so reliant on wide players, returned. Not so the goals, not yet.

 Melbourne showed they have been training.

How many goals will Archie create for Rojas? At least three tap ins already. Interesting!

And with Flores and Finkler combining for one of the goals of the season, mind you the other two for Victory weren't bad were they, then you can see things are on the up.

Pace and movement in the final third is evident and thrilling. One touch.

Weakness? Clearly they couldn't sustain it beyond 48 minutes or the third goal!

Wellington came back hard which showed how well Victory had played early on. But Ange would be worried.

Flores and Finkler are no Mackay and Murdocha. Can you see Victory winning games in the last 3 minutes? Not yet, not with these players.

 But Victory have shown they can possibly perform on a par, maybe even better than Brisbane at their best.

Victory's defence, even the much-maligned Adrian Leijer, seemed more composed.

Although if the ball is down the other end all night you can pick yourself up for the odd chase and tackle I suppose.

Mark Milligan over Jon Bru is a huge improvement.

Great for the A-League to have another Ange team producing excitement. If he spends two years at each club in another 16 or so think of the quality of the league!!!

If it's not Ange that produces the quality free-flowing team, then who is it? Kevin Muscat?