Fight fire with fire, never let former players leave
Amid a sea of plastic shite, garish tinsel and unrelenting exhortations to consume, for many Christmas has lost it true meaning. And so in a game meant to commemorate 10 years of the A-League, the Jets elected to commemorate 2020 odd years since the immaculate conception with an event as mind-bogglingly unlikely: a Newcastle win.
With only 72 hours to recover since their FFA Cup win, the sceptic would say this wasn’t Adelaide at their best. And as rumours emerge from Adelaide of a wild three-day bacchanalian festival presided over by Don Gombau himself, waterboarding unsuspecting squad players with white wine sangria, jamon and an indecipherable stream of spit-laden incantations; only a hard man would try and rob Phil Stubbins and his doughty yeomen of this well-earned victory.
Through divine inspiration (or just rummaging desperately through his grab-bag of tricks) the Newcastle boss latched upon the crazy-bold notion of three-at-the-back for a side that had conceded 21 goals in ten games; it worked and a busy five-man midfield hassled and harried the Adelaide engine room.
If the neutral learnt anything from this game though, it’s that if a player at the peak of their powers asks to leave your club, slip a little something in their mash before they go. The only factor saving Newcastle’s blushes at letting Craig Goodwin leave (only to score upon his return) was the foolishness Adelaide must have felt letting Jeronimo go (only to score upon his return). Coaches, remember – don’t let the good ones leave.
It’s not a derby until someone gets elbowed in the face
In bars along Swan Street the same pointless post-game argument occurring over and over again, ad infinitum, ad absurdum. Yes, there’s nothing like a good elbow to the chops to set the tongues wagging.
Mark Milligan gets suspended for three weeks for an errant elbow, unseen, and yet Jacob Melling plays on after an errant elbow, unmissable. Sure, it was only Leigh Broxham, but it was the perfect tinder to light another cracking Melbourne derby.
Another classic Yule-not-believe-this-script: Melbourne Victory slump to their first loss against a side they pumped five past just seven weeks ago. Credit to the man they call ‘Flappy Velaphi’ – after 17 goals conceded in 6 games, van Schip decided he’d seen enough and gave the long-suffering understudy keeper his chance to shine. Two clean sheets in two games – long may Velaphi continue, City (nee Heart) fans will be hoping.
Still, clean sheets are one thing – it still takes a goalscorer to decide it, and there’s nothing like an at the death clincher to set a coach’s teeth a-grinding. Kevin Muscat left musing on the inevitable: Paartalu – couldn’t escape if I wanted to.
Highs and Lowes – Perth end a ‘hebdomas horribilis’ in style
After the FFA Cup loss, Kenny Lowe said he needed a ‘carton of something’ to wash down the bitter taste of missing midweek silverware. It was only one part of a disappointing week, their women’s team lost the W-League final, and the FFA announced an investigation into alleged salary cap breaches.
Yet back in front of their adoring public the Glory set phasers to ‘razzle-dazzle’. Keogh’s sublime flick provided the opener, before Danny De Silva produced 24 carat gold to volley home – the Mariners’ keeper Reddy and waiting, but to no avail.
Real headaches now for Phil Moss and the Mariners – they find themselves winless in ten, and with even Newcastle now discovering that winning feeling, there have been unconfirmed sightings of the Grim Reaper on a rail bus heading south.
For Perth, what a way to bounce back. With many seemingly just waiting for the ‘pretenders to the crown’ to falter, and leave real teams like Victory, Adelaide and Sydney FC to slug it out, this emphatic win gives King Kenny the chance to bury the spectre of the FFA Cup. And, real or perceived, there’s nothing like a siege mentality to galvanise a playing group.
Capitulate, capitulate – the Wellington daleks are in town
If you look at the numbers there are only two sides that Sydney FC have a better winning percentage against than Wellington Phoenix – neighbourhood whipping boys the Jets and the now-defunct New Zealand Knights. And yet when it comes to the ‘Nix, the Sky Blues only have two settings – spank or succumb. It’s either 7-1 and everyone’s helping themselves to a hat-trick, or you’ve gone to the beer queue 1-0 up and before you’ve got back those bloody Kiwis have jagged two goals. After last week’s excellent performance in a pulsating Big Blue, Sydney fans would have been rubbing their eyes during a largely dull first half. But if A-League coaches were animal characters from beloved children’s books, there’s no doubt that Ernie Merrick would be drawn as a wily fox – and once again he’s helped himself liberally to Sydney’s henhouse. Just one win in seven, as the Sky Blues got Burns-ed.
Canberra United’s ‘wise men’ follow a star
One of the key battlegrounds for the W-League grand final was in midfield, and with import Kendall Fletcher’s guest contract expiring last week, Canberra United needed someone to step in and play a vital role. Enter Grace Maher, at 15 years, 247 days the W-League’s youngest ever finalist – the kid plucked from the ACT Academy of Sport on the eve of season seven. On a field boasting at least ten Matildas, it was Dubbo-born Maher who gave as good as she got, while single-handedly reducing the average age of Canberra’s midfield three from 32 to 26. And with national team coach Alen Stajcic looking on from the stands and set to announce his preliminary squad for the Women’s World Cup today, while Maher’s name is unlikely to be among it, on the basis of this showing, don’t be surprised if it features at some stage in years to come.
