What kind of support will the Wanderers get?
The partisanship of football supporters will be on display when the Western Sydney Wanderers take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Asian Champions League final against Saudi team Al-Hilal on Sunday morning (AEST). With only 14 or so Wanderers fans able to make the trip to Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium (what with the cost, visa issues and, more than likely, an unwillingness to negotiate the entrenched backwardness of Saudi law), we’re unlikely to hear a peep out of them inside the 67,000-seat arena. Yet even if their number was greater you can bet they wouldn’t be willing to air the Red and Black Bloc’s “Let’s Go Fucking Mental” chant whether the Wanderers scored or not. One wouldn’t want to wind up in a Saudi prison for the quality of those lyrics. Yet such is the passion and factionalism of football supporters the Wanderers could receive considerably more vocal support during the game if fans of Al-Hilal’s rivals get behind them as they are promising. It’s the old the enemy of my enemy is my friend thing. Curiously and conversely, however, my impression is that the Wanderers are, broadly speaking, carrying the support of the Australian football community into the match – not their ill wishes. I could be wrong here (I admit I’m yet to conduct an exhaustive straw poll) but it seems the possible kudos a Wanderers win would bring to Australian football as a whole is overriding domestic rivalries.
A test of Victory’s depth and resolve
Kevin Muscat’s admirable desire to win the inaugural FFA Cup backfired on Wednesday night when his first-string Melbourne Victory side not only lost to Perth but suffered some significant casualties. Joining injured duo Jason Geria and Nick Ansell on the sidelines for Monday night’s match against a clicking Wellington Phoenix side are fellow defenders Daniel Georgievski and Adrian Leijer, both of whom were sent off against the Glory. And star forwards Besart Berisha and Archie Thompson departed Perth under injury clouds – Berisha after subbing off before half-time with a groin strain, Thompson after pulling up ill in the pre-game warm-up. Victory’s FFA cup misadventure has certainly robbed them of some of the momentum they gained after last week’s stirring derby win (and Victory’s necessary defensive reshuffle plays into the hands of the Phoenix’s in-form strike partnership of Michael McGlinchey and Nathan Burns) but a side with championship aspirations has to find new ways to win. Perhaps Monday night’s game will say as much about Victory as last Saturday’s.
Villa bids farewell
Before the season began John van ’t Schip said it was “outrageous” that many bookies had made his team favourites for the title. Just as Rachel Hunter knew that getting hair so healthy it shines wasn’t going to happen overnight, Van ’t Schip realised that revolutions take time. Having David Villa, Robbie Koren and Damien Duff join his Melbourne City squad was nice and all, but just the first step in building a title-winning team, not the last. City’s first three matches as an A-League outfit – two draws and a loss, four goals for, seven against – has borne that out. While these figures don’t reflect the quality of the opposition and some of City’s own play, they do reflect a lack of killer instinct in front of goal (Villa aside) and a tendency for generosity among their defence. It hasn’t helped City that Koren has yet to play a minute but that’s football, you’ve got to make do. And now City face an in-form Adelaide United who are unbeaten in three and have shown an ability to apply heat – something City were unable to deal with in the second half of last weekend’s derby. City, who will welcome David Williams back from injury, will need an improvement across the park to win their first game of the season.
As an aside, Friday night’s match may be the last time Villa plays in the A-League. Originally here for 10 games Villa will play his fourth against Adelaide before flying to New York to see his family, drop in on his parent club (New York City FC) and find out where Central Park’s ducks go in winter. Perhaps Melbourne may have stood a better chance on keeping him had Fitzroy’s Latin club, the Bullring, not turned into a Coles some time ago but we can’t do anything about that now. Hopefully, for the fans’ sake, he’ll go out with a bang against Adelaide, but either way, if his A-league career remains at just four games, you question whether there’s been much benefit to it beyond selling City shirts and memberships.
Can Sydney do it again?
Last season even the most optimistic Sydney fan would have happily booked their wedding on grand final day. This year, many more will be keeping that date free, just in case. That’s how much the Sky Blues have improved. The gulf between Sydney 2014-15 and Sydney 2013-14 was shown last week against Brisbane. Befitting the quality of their two goals – the first by Marquee Marc (Janko), the second by Milos Dimitrijevic – Sydney’s performance was one of the most complete by the club in years. A plan was laid and it was carried out to the letter, with room for a flourish or two. But there is plenty of time for hiccups yet – or even a false dawn – and a visit by local(ish) rivals the Central Coast Mariners is not to be taken lightly. The Mariners have played just two matches for a win and a loss and their form is, accordingly, hard to gauge particularly after a week off. With Matt Simon and Isaka Cernak promoted to the matchday squad the Mariners will at least be at full-strength, and facing off against their old coach (and their old player, Berni Ibini, who stirred the pot this week when he said he went to Sydney because they had greater ambitions), could bring out the best in them.
Newcastle up against it
Any cautious optimism Newcastle fans may have had following their first two matches – a narrow, season-opening, loss to the Mariners and a draw against Melbourne City away – would have been truly tested last week when Wellington, spearheaded by their ex-forward Nathan Burns, tore them to shreds. The Jets just didn’t seem up for it; they seemed tactically confused, they lacked any composure in the final third and when pressed in midfield they stood on their chairs as if there were mice underfoot. Now – on the back of a five-game winless streak (when away) – they’re off to Perth to face a buoyant Glory side that, like Wellington, will hit the Jets on the counter and test their willingness to track back. If the Jets have any hope, Marcos Flores – who’s being carried as he struggles to get match fit after a long layoff – will have to start showing some form, striker Edson Montano will need much better service (if he plays, that is– Phil Stubbins may opt for Jeronimo and Joel Griffiths as a front two) while Newcastle’s wing backs Scott Neville and David Carney need to remember the ‘back’ part of their job title.
A-League fixtures
Friday Melbourne City v Adelaide United, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7.40pm
Saturday Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets, nib Stadium, Perth, 7.30pm. (Go here for a live blog of the match from 7pm on Saturday with Mike Hytner).
Sunday Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners, Sydney Football Stadium, 5pm
Monday Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix, AAMI Park, 7.30pm
