Any old-school Socceroos fan knows that the longer the pain, the greater the pleasure when fulfilment arrives. Decades of anguish simply added further to the ecstasy of “Uruguay”, and the ensuing 2006 World Cup experience.
And while 2005 remains a watershed year in Australian football, will 2015 and “crowd-gate” become a defining moment for the A-League? It is easy to imagine that those charting the evolution of the A-League in the years to come will reference this point as an evolutionary step, much like the schism in the game from early this century; Old Soccer - New Football as some term it.
The much-publicised disquiet among elements of the A-League supporter base – mostly among the so-called “active supporters” – has been damaging for the game. If the original intent behind publication of the offending article was to cause maximum disruption, then the aim has been spectacularly achieved. While there is antipathy to be found between some sets of A-League fans, an attack from outside the game is guaranteed to unite the tribes.
A low point like that experienced over the past fortnight doesn’t readily spring to mind over the ten-year journey of the A-League. But as fate would have it, the two clubs with reportedly the biggest representation on the banned list of supporters met as Western Sydney Wanderers hosted Melbourne Victory.
Fans from both sides were there in force. To their enduring credit, FFA chairman Steven Lowy and chief executive David Gallop also turned up when some predecessors have failed to do so in far less trying circumstances.
They, like everyone in attendance, witnessed an impressive spectacle on and off the pitch. It was a rare atmosphere even by Parramatta standards. The final tickets were supposedly snapped up on the day, although oddly a couple of bays remained partly unfilled, especially at the home end. The boycott by many home fans the previous week meant they missed their team going to the top of the league for the first time in two years.
On the field, the entertainment level was high. Both teams played with a high-tempo, attacking and counter-attacking at every opportunity. The Victory had the better of the first half and could easily have opened the scoring, but many a team has visited the Wanderers and been left to rue first-half near-misses.
The Wanderers, perhaps like the league itself, appear on the cusp of a fresh level of confidence. Mitch Nichols, who is perhaps in career best form, is as handy as any player when his team are in attacking transition. And his creative ability appears to be a neat fit with the cleverness of Romeo Castelen and the sharp football brain that is Mark Bridge. The Wanderers’ forward might not have the finishing power of a classic No9 but his game sense is undeniable.
Nevertheless, how the Wanderers must wish they still had Aaron Mooy in the ranks. And although a question mark remains about the nature of Mooy’s departure a few years back, equally there is a school of thought that Mooy could not fully flourish amid the relatively regimented methods of Tony Popovic.
Saturday’s 2-0 win gives the Wanderers breathing space over the team still widely considered competition favourites. But the stats tell a story for the invigorated Wanderers and the suddenly under-pressure Victory. It was a seventh win in a row for the Wanderers and a fourth at home, leaving the club already well clear of last season’s entire points tally. Meanwhile, it has been nearly two years since the Victory lost back-to-back matches.
If every match was like this, the A-League would be in rude health.
Elsewhere, crowds were generally up on the previous week, following a weekend where several club’s recorded figures among their lowest ever. Next weekend’s Melbourne derby should add more impetus. Despite the gnashing of teeth in some quarters, the crowd average of 12,200 is only 300 shy of the end of season tally from last year.
Adelaide United appear to have finally turned the corner after a second successive win. The apparent malaise at the club was on the verge of becoming fatal for Guillermo Amor, but momentum can be everything in football. And an injury-time winner just adds even more to the home team’s spirits. The difference between an 11th-hour victor and one secured in the opening minutes is immense.
Sydney FC are currently a shadow of last year’s side although it was around this time that they found their mojo, and collected an almost unprecedented amount of points for a second half of a season. Sydney FC’s Alex Gersbach was shown a deserved red card, although Adelaide’s over the top point-proving charge to the offender was an unpleasant spectacle. Jacques Faty’s injury-time tackle was clumsy at best, but a penalty it had to be. Quite why Graham Arnold rolled out his latest pantomime villain routine by not taking questions at the post-match press conference remains unclear.
Has there ever been a warmer favourite for the Player of the Season award than Aaron Mooy. He once again looked a class above his opponents in helping Melbourne City to a 4-0 win at Newcastle Jets. Mooy is now the league’s second highest scorer with six goals. He also has seven assists, plus a hand in numerous other goals. His return for the Socceroos in the past few months is similarly prolific.
Reports linking Mooy to a money-making west Asian transfer are alarming. Ange Postecoglou’s disapproval of such moves is well known. Mooy will surely move on at the end of the season, and a well-chosen destination could be the difference between a glittering career and one partly unfulfilled. It is no coincidence that City are enjoying their best-ever period, and they are the first club to score four goals or more in three successive games. Next weekend’s Melbourne derby is a mouth-watering prospect, one that, on paper at least, is shaping as the best yet. For the second successive week, the gods of the A-League fixture list have come to the party just when needed most.
Brisbane Roar continued their role as the competition’s surprise team with a late 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix that was perhaps not as close the scoreline suggested. Cairns Cazaly’s Stadium (oddly named after Victorian born-and-bred Aussie rules legend Roy Cazaly) became the A-League’s 37th stadium as the Phoenix continued their role as guinea-pig for opposition home team’s venue experimentation. How much can be read into the performance of either team, after 90 minutes in the heat of a North Queensland summer’s afternoon, is a moot point.
Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe said he hoped the 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners was the start of something positive. Perhaps it will be, but it is certainly a long road back for both clubs propping up the table. The 5,590 attendance was the lowest in nearly three years for the Glory. Some hope is offered by the signing or returning striker Andy Keogh although the Glory cannot currently field the Irishman with all five foreign spots on their roster filled. Expect the club to find a way around that at some point.
