Robbie Slater looks at every finals team’s chances of winning the A-League this season
It is the hottest A-League finals in years. But who can actually win the title this year? Robbie Slater runs a close eye over all the contenders and identifies their biggest strengths and weaknesses.
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If someone told you a couple of months before COVID-19 hit that this is how the A-League season was going to play out, you would’ve been dragged away by the men in white coats.
No one can ever remember a season like this.
While competitions around the world were stopped in their tracks by the worldwide pandemic, the A-League had to jump even more hurdles to get back on the park … because of the unknown.
This was a time of terrible uncertainty as to whether the league would ever kick off again, or if there would be another competition.
It was an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved in the game – none more so than the players themselves, who were looking down the barrel of maybe being out of a job altogether.
Luckily we got through it and how bloody good is it that we did? Because you have to say the football has been fantastic.
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The games have had an incredible tempo to them and it’s been really good to watch. And the finals should be no different.
I think we’ve almost got the best six teams in the competition fighting it out now, although Adelaide could perhaps have been a team that would’ve caused some headaches if they’d snuck in.
They were a different team after the break, but unfortunately their disastrous time under Gertjan Verbeek, who thankfully departed, was a little bit late in its happening.
But here’s a breakdown on the six teams left, their key player and why they can – and can’t – win the title this year.
SYDNEY FC
Why they CAN win: It’s exactly the reason why they finished many, many points ahead in the Premiers’ Plate race. They have quality. But for them to win they need that quality to fire in a way it hasn’t in the past month. They can flick the switch, but I’m not saying it’s not going to be hard. They have the bonus of being only one game away from the grand final – and two games from being champions.
Why they CAN’T win: Their form, to be generous, has been average. They beat Wellington in their first game after the break, but haven’t tasted victory since. So there’s very little momentum in their title tilt right now. They need much more from their star players: Ninkovic, Baumjohann, le Fondre and Barbarouses.
Key player: Milos Ninkovic
MELBOURNE CITY
Why they CAN win: Given the quality they’ve got, including the Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren up top, they have every chance of winning this year. They’ve only had three games to play coming back from the back and with two wins and a draw, they’re in terrific form.
Why they CAN’T win: There have been times in the past – and the FFA Cup final springs to mind, from this season – that when the pressure is really on, and when Melbourne City are favourites they don’t produce in those big moments. This is a real test for them.
Key player: Jamie Maclaren
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Why they CAN win: Like Sydney, they need their big players to fire. Ulises Davila holds all the cards for the Phoenix, because it will be the key players who decide the big games. He hasn’t fired as much as he did earlier in the season, but with him in the team they’re always a chance.
Why they CAN’T win: After looking excellent prior to the break, Wellington have gone off the boil at the wrong time. You can’t discount them, but I wouldn’t think they’re as good a chance as I might’ve when we were coming back.
Key player: Ulises Davila
BRISBANE ROAR
Why they CAN win: No one will fancy themselves to play Brisbane, because they’re solid everywhere. They’re tough to break down and obviously they’ve got some quality going forward. Scott McDonald is the big player for them.
Why they CAN’T win: Have they got that top gear? Brisbane always seem to be ‘good’ without being ‘very, very good’. Their floor is high, but sometimes in finals you need to go up a level and that’s the big question mark for Brisbane. They’ve been so consistent, but we need to see if they can give you what’s needed to win a championship.
Key player: Scott McDonald
WESTERN UNITED
Why they CAN win: If Alessandro Diamanti fires they can beat anyone on any given day. For me he’s the player of the year. If he’s in form, that’s exactly why they can win – especially when you have someone alongside him in Besart Berisha, who is a winner and has done it all before. That counts a lot in finals.
Why they CAN’T win: They’ve had so many games since the break on such a tough schedule. At some point that is going to take its toll, and in order to win it all they’ll have to win three more games to do it. That always makes it hard.
Key player: Alessandro Diamanti
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PERTH GLORY
Why they CAN win: Perth scraped into the six, but if there’s a reason they can win it it is Tony Popovic. He’s coached many grand finals, won many big games, won an Asian Champions League. He knows how to organise the team tactically … but they’re going to have to be at their very best, and probably have a bit of luck as well if they are to go all the way.
Why they CAN’T win: It’s not just their form, but without Diego Castro they’re just lacking that touch of class to get them over the top in big games. He’s a massive loss. You can see that Bruno Fornaroli has suffered because of that.
Key player: Bruno Fornaroli
Originally published as Robbie Slater looks at every finals team’s chances of winning the A-League this season