An A-League fan’s Christmas wish list is long and familiar. We want Santa to bring promotion and relegation (eventually). We want authentic teams representing a broad geographical spread. We want youth development that benefits our clubs and in turn the Socceroos. And we want the governing body to be in such rude financial health that all of this can flourish without a salary cap.
In the meantime in spite of (or perhaps because of) the competition’s limitations, the 2015 festive season is an unpredictable and engaging gift. Thanks in no small part to the generosity of Melbourne Victory.
Premiers, champions and FFA Cup winners, the biggest club in the competition seemed an immovable force as a glittering 2015 flowed towards a promising new year. On top of the ladder a third of the way through the season everything seemed on track. A couple of poor results on the road were initially ignored in deference to the imperious home form and faith in Kevin Muscat sensibly nursing his team in preparation for an assault on the Asian Champions League. Four defeats later and the title favourites are just one round away from slipping outside the finals. Only Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners have tasted defeat more often this campaign.
The latest reverse arrived courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Melbourne City. It is too early to determine if this result carries more significance to the victors or the vanquished but if there is a changing of the Victorian guard in 2016 this will surely be remembered as the turning point.
It was a result that would have been unimaginable a month ago when City were put to the sword at home by the Wanderers, condemning John van’t Schip to a third defeat in six matches. But such is this season of caprice City not only took the spoils, but were favourites to do so.
The power of form transcended the apparent class differential on the teamsheets. With a fully fit squad it is unlikely Jack Clisby would line up at centre-half for City or Paulo Retre in midfield, while Stefan Mauk would only be an outside bet for a spot on the right of a front three. Retre and Mauk both found the back of the net while Clisby contributed to Victory failing to score two goals in a match in Melbourne for the first time in ten league and cup fixtures.
Victory’s decline has been as rapid as it has unexpected. Only Carl Valeri and Nick Ansell are missing from Muscat’s preferred XI but it is the incumbents, not the absentees that are the problem.
Fahid Ben Khalfallah has looked a shadow of the player he was last season and his diminishing return has blunted the forward foursome that took 2015 by storm. Noticeably, defences are adapting to Ben Khalfallah’s preference to cut in from the left and onto his right foot. This instinct is delaying Victory in attacking transition, making Besart Berisha’s task a thankless one and increasing the responsibility for Kosta Barbarouses to inject pace and directness into forays forward. Just two goals from open play in six rounds tells a sorry tale.
Valeri’s leadership is missing in the short-term but longer-term Mark Milligan’s drive may prove harder to replace. Oliver Bozanic and Rashid Mahazi have not played poorly as a pair but neither have they run games or been able to alter their course through force of will as was Milligan’s wont. Behind them Danny Vukovic was supposed to be an upgrade on Nathan Coe but so far he has failed to enhance his considerable reputation.
The solution is unlikely to be in wholesale changes. To accommodate such a powerful first XI only a few additional senior squad members have been accounted for in the salary cap. Archie Thompson will add energy and unpredictability once he regains full fitness but otherwise Muscat’s hands are tied. It will be down to his tactical nous and man-management skills to ensure this is only a temporary dip in form.
City have a happy knack of catching opponents at low ebbs. The batterings of Adelaide and Perth look more impressive by the week while the Jets and Victory are clearly different propositions now to a month ago. The next passage of the season will be revealing. Ahead is another trip to Brisbane and a chance to lay to rest the ghost of anti-football. Then both Sydney sides visit AAMI Park before a trip to the revitalised Glory. We will find out then what Melbourne City are really made of but the signs are promising.
Elsewhere, there was an inauspicious start to round 11 at Hunter Stadium with neither Newcastle Jets nor Adelaide United able to break the deadlock. The stuttering home side were grateful for Mark Birighitti’s continued excellence between the sticks while the more fluent visitors’ lack of a focal point in attack again proved costly.
Another week another heartbreaker from the spot for Sydney FC. Leading 1-0 in the Cake Tin courtesy of a Filip Holosko solo stunner the Sky Blues conceded a late penalty for the second week in a row, tucked away by Wellington Phoenix’s Roy Krishna. Graham Arnold’s misery was compounded by Andrew Hoole seeing his earlier spot kick saved by Glen Moss.
Perth Glory made it seven points in a week in an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to the ladder leading Western Sydney Wanderers. Two set-pieces earned a point for the Glory and both increased new arrival Liam Reddy’s value to the Wanderers. Andrew Redmayne needlessly conceded an early penalty and then failed to do enough to repel a well-struck Mitchell Oxborrow free-kick from distance. Typically it fell to the in-form Mitch Nichols to curl home a late equaliser. The point curtails Western Sydney’s winning run at seven.
The round ended with Central Coast Mariners at risk of being cast adrift at the foot of the ladder. Another defeat, this time 1-0 at home to Brisbane Roar heaps even more pressure on the embattled Tony Walmsley.
