What have we learnt from the opening weeks of the A-League. Source: News Limited
THIS time last year, Western Sydney Wanderers hadn't even won a game, Ian Crook was coaching Sydney FC and Rado Vidosic's Brisbane Roar had thumped Melbourne Victory 5-0.
With Frank Farina and Gary van Egmond already under the pump and Kevin Muscat about to replace Ange Postecoglou at Victory, A-League fans should know as well as anyone that it's far too early to make a definitive judgement on where teams are heading this season.
All times EDT.
- A-LEAGUE
- Friday: Western Sydney Wanderers v Adelaide, 7.30pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Saturday: Perth v Sydney FC, 5.30pm; Newcastle v Central Coast, 7.30pm; Fox Sports 1 HD
- Sunday: Brisbane v Melbourne Heart, 5pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Monday: Melbourne Victory v Wellington, 7.30pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
Kick Off, 6.30pm (EDT) Friday: Patrick Zwaanswijk joins Tara and Harps to preview the round.
Shootout, 7.05pm (EDT) Sunday: William Gallas gives his first television interview since signing with Perth Glory; Bruce Djite and Michael Bridges join Adam and Boz in the studio, and there will be a cross to the Mirror's Darren Lewis in England.
Saturday morning
- Barcelona v Espanyol, 6.55am, Fox Sports 2 HD
Saturday night/Sunday morning
- Chelsea v Newcastle, 11.35pm, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Fulham v Manchester United, 1.50am, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Viewers' Choice: West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace; West Ham v Aston Villa, Stoke City v Southampton, Manchester City v Norwich
- Hull v Sunderland, 1.50am, Fox Sports News
- Arsenal v Liverpool, 4.25am, Fox Sports 1HD
- Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid, 5.55am, Fox Sports 3 HD
Sunday night/Monday morning
- Tottenham v Everton, 12.25am, Fox Sports 1 HD
- Cardiff v Swansea, 2.50am, Fox Sports 1 HD
But, what are the early impressions being made and trends being set so far this season?
Fox Sports football expert Mark Rudan and the team at Fox Sports Stats help us take a look as we head into round four.
ADELAIDE UNITED
First impression: Josep Gombau's side have endeared themselves for their new exciting, possession based style of football that had tongues wagging after round one against Perth. Injuries, suspensions and some poor finishing have kept them to a point against Victory and Central Coast, but the portents are there for a positive season. Interestingly, despite glowing praise for their style, they're yielding the least shots per game (8.3) in the league, including none on target against the Mariners despite 66 per cent possession. Thank goodness for Jeronimo Neumann, who has featured in four of their five goals. No wonder Gombau is preaching performance over results – they're also the only side not to keep a clean sheet this term. It's going to be an exciting ride at Coopers Stadium
Rude's verdict: Adelaide are trying a new playing style and philosophy which is pretty on the eye and more work needs to be done in the attacking third - but I feel that all signs are positive there.
BRISBANE ROAR
First impression: Attack, attack, attack. Mike Mulvey's side are a treat to watch and boast a league high goals (six), shots (44) and shots on target (23), as well as a league low 11 fouls conceded. Their first-XI, as noted leading into the season, is blessed with top class A-League talent, who look especially dynamic with Matt McKay back in centre-midfield. But there are still questions marks, particularly around depth. They succumbed 1-0 to Victory without Besart Berisha.
Rudes's verdict: They're probably the most exciting team to watch so far. Injuries have hampered them early on and it will be a test to see how they come through when their big players aren't playing. They've got the smallest squad in the league, with 20 players, so it's already a test for them early on.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
First impression: What else do we expect from the Mariners – there or there about from day one of the season, solid, dynamic at times, and now, with another x-factor in their toolkit with Marcos Flores's start to the season. There's been positive bursts from Matt Simon, and Mitchell Duke, now a starter, and their Argentine playmaker has been at the heart of three of their four goals this term – great news for Daniel McBreen, the Golden Boot winner who returns this weekend. No Patrick Zwaanswijk, no worries so far – Graham Arnold's structure has picked up where they left off and they became the first team to not even concede a shot on target in their match against Adelaide, despite only 33 per cent possession. Yet to lose.
Rudes's verdict: A team that's improved on this time last year. All signs are quite positive and solid again, considering they have had to bring in new personnel. I expect more of the same, I can't see them dropping off anytime soon, that's for sure. They'll go to strength to strength. Flores is the biggest signing and he's fitted in comfortably.
MELBOURNE HEART
First impression: They'll be no pushovers this season, but John Aloisi will be craving a win, which would be especially gratifying if they could do smash their away hoodoo and net it on the road against Brisbane. They have pace, but do they have the guile? Each of their matches this season have been deadlocked at the break at 0-0, but going on with it is the trouble. Playing with pace on the break is their way, but, they'll be banking on greater fluency to improve on their meagre eight shots on target this season.
Rudes's verdict: Their set-up is different, playing more on the counter-attack, which John Aloisi has said it's here to say. I guess when you change your style it's going to take a little more time, but the new signings have been quite good, I think. Played two out of three games without their star player, Harry Kewell, and he'll certainly lift that team once he starts playing.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
First impression: This almost doesn't matter, because it's a whole new ballgame for the Victory from this weekend under Muscat. So far, they've had all the hallmarks of a Postecoglou side – respecting possession and short passing, and playing until the death. Indeed, they're the only side yet to concede a second-half goal. Muscat has said he wants to remain true to the foundations built over the last 18 months, but it's truly hard to predict what will happen from here. And finally, here's a stat that will annoy Archie Thompson: they've copped the most off-sides (17) so far.
Rudes's verdict: Another team that's pleasing on the eye and there are positive signs, but it will be interesting to see how Kevin Muscat takes the team forward. We'll be able to judge it after 10-15 rounds, once the dust settles.
NEWCASTLE JETS
First impression: Well, they haven't made one yet! The pressure valve is on Gary van Egmond, whose side haven't scored yet and have been involved in some of the less inspirational contests so far this term. But … with a group of talented youngsters at his disposal, there are some who are prepared to give the Jets the benefit of the doubt. They'll regain Emile Heskey's experience shortly – and since his arrival Down Under, the Jets have only scored three times in the seven games he's missed. They might be the fifth team in history not to score in their opening three weeks, but guess who were the last team to do that – the Wanderers, last year.
Rudes's verdict: They're clearly struggling in the attacking third, as we saw last year, but as a positive they're not conceding too many goals. The young kids are another year older and wiser but I'm yet to see a massive improvement from them.
PERTH GLORY
First impression: There are reasons to be positive out west – not just because of the arrival of William Gallas. A balanced squad with young gems and A-League regulars bounced back from an entertaining opening day loss to keep the Jets and Heart scoreless over the subsequent fortnight. Good early impressions from Jamie Maclaren and Ryan Edwards.
Rudes's verdict: They've been solid without being flashy or fantastic. I thought their best game was at home last week and if they can keep that sort of form up, and play that way, there's no reason they won't be there, there abouts at season's end. Home form crucial.
SYDNEY FC
First impression: The Jets papered over Sydney FC's cracks in round one, and it's all gone spiralling downhill from there. Losing Alessandro Del Piero is a knockout blow for the side, whose structure, balance and cohesiveness has been questionable. For their sake, let's hope it's too early to read into trends, but their on trade to concede 54 goals and eclipse last season's horror defensive show. Going forward, Brett Emerton, Corey Gameiro and ADP's absence have restricted Sydney to 18.3 balls into the box, the least in the league. Nicky Carle's withdrawn role has also been a frustrating experiment, although he got further forward against Wanderers. Another worrying trend is Sydney's discipline has not improved, and they've notched up the most fouls, 52, in the competition.
Rudes's verdict: To lose two games out of first three, to concede six goals, there are warning signs. Defence is an area that needs improving – but it's not just the back four, it's the whole structure. It seems there's nothing going forward without Del Piero in the team.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
First impression: Very positive. The Ernie Merrick era has started brightly; they pushed Brisbane until late and could have jagged a win at Pirtek Stadium against Western Sydney. Still, they've only taken a point from the opening month, which has included two home games. That's where they need to be more clinical. Despite the 0-0 fare with the Jets, Phoenix are usually entertaining to watch. They concede the most shots in the league (15 so far) but rank second and third in shots and shots on target. If they start converting (they've only scored twice), it could be a positive campaign, and you'd back them to with Paul Ifill, Carlos Hernandez and Jeremy Brockie in their XI.
Rudes's Verdict: I like Wellington. I thought they probably produced the upset of the season away at Western Sydney Wanderers and could've pinched a win. Ernie's doing good work, they look quite free flowing, solid in defensive structure, but they rely a lot on home form. They need maximum points at home.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
First impression: A tough, tactical opener, followed by an exciting but disappointing draw at home, was backed up with a display that showed the gulf in class between Sydney's two teams. The Wanderers are on track and bubbling towards where they want to go. New attacking recruits Tomi Juric and Brenton Santalab have added a new dimension when on the pitch, and their weekend win made them the fastest team to 20 wins in A-League history (32 games). The ominous warning for opponents is the side's ability to score first. Why? Because they refuse to concede in the first-half, a trend that started last season with just 10 first-half goals leaked in 29 games.
Rudes's verdict: Very similar to the Mariners; they've picked up where they left off. Another team that normally starts slowly but the signs are there. Quite solid, the structure's there, players are motivated and you can see them pushing for that top two spot.
01 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/early-a-league-impressions-mark-rudan-and-fox-sports-stats-run-the-rule-over-the-start-to-the-season/story-e6frfkp9-1226751231992?from=public_rss
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