A five-point plan to salvage Adelaide United’s A-League title hopes after recent setbacks

Poor form, a coach on the way out, an ASADA suspension: These are testing times for Adelaide United, but all is not lost. Here’s our five-point plan for salvaging the Reds’ A-League title hopes.

Exciting Adelaide United youngster Pacifique Niyongabire may push for game-time in the run-in to the A-League finals. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Loxton

A coach heading for the exit door, a player serving a provisional doping ban, an unsafe training ground and a winless five-match stretch.

These are testing times for Adelaide United.

An A-League season that promised much is in danger of sinking without a trace as the Reds scramble to steady the ship on and off the pitch.

But all is not lost.

Despite the horror run of form, which had garnered just two points since last month’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Brisbane, Adelaide had retained the top-six berth it had held all campaign.

And even without finding the net in more than five hours of action, it remained within touching distance of a fourth-place finish and a coveted home final.

Yet with five minor round outings remaining and Newcastle Jets leading a chasing pack closing in, now was the time for United to stand tall.

News of inspirational boss Marco Kurz’s contract not being renewed or of import forward Ken Ilso allegedly testing positive to cocaine need not sound the death knell for the Reds.

Ditto the enforced shift from their Playford training base due to a playing surface deemed unfit for purpose.

Adelaide still had everything to play for in a season which had already delivered the club’s second FFA Cup.

Here we present our five-point plan for salvaging its title hopes.

1. GIVE YOUTH A CHANCE

The Reds have failed to score in the past 316 minutes and have just 27 goals to their credit this campaign – the equal worst return in the competition with bottom side Central Coast.

One remedy might be found in a pair of rising stars who have been turning heads with the club’s youth team in the National Premier Leagues SA.

African-born attacker Pacifique Niyongabire had scored five goals in his past four games for the young Reds, including a stunning brace against Para Hills last weekend.

The former refugee made his A-League debut against Sydney FC last summer, but was yet to feature in the national competition this campaign.

Playmaker Carlo Armiento was also worth more action than the 24 minutes he had managed off the bench this A-League season.

The SA-born technician provided a brilliant cross for Nikola Mileusnic’s stoppage-time winner against Brisbane last month and had notched two strikes in the NPL.

Veteran Vince Lia has demonstrated his quality and industry for Adelaide United this A-League season. Picture: AAP Image/Tony McDonough

2. DON’T MIX VETERANS

On paper it seemed like the ideal combination of steel and flair as two experienced midfielders linked up in Adelaide’s engine room.

But in reality, pairing Vince Lia with off-season German recruit Mirko Boland had failed to click in the manner the Reds had hoped.

In the three matches the duo had started together, United had collected just a single point – the opening-round draw with Sydney.

More worryingly, United had scored just once in that trio of outings, due in part to a lack of attacking thrust from the centre of the park.

The individual quality of Lia, 34, and Boland, 31, along with their industry and leadership, are valuable commodities for the team.

But are the veterans too similar to shine alongside each other in front of captain and holder Isaias?

Rotating their involvement, or deploying Lia as a centre back when required, in the run-in might be the most effective approach in maximising their impact.

Off-contract Adelaide United winger Nikola Mileusnic is attracting interest from rival A-League clubs after an impressive season. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images

3. RE-SIGN TOP TALENTS

Adelaide will approach the home straight of the season with seven players still uncontracted for next season.

While not alone in that regard – rival clubs combined for more than 100 individuals in the same boat at last count – it is far from an ideal scenario for squad harmony and continuity.

The Reds had already lost one exciting local prospect in striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who had agreed to join new side Western United when his deal expired in June.

Kurz’s impending departure might mean plans beyond this campaign were somewhat on ice.

But the immediate value of securing the future of key personnel should not be underestimated.

Winger Mileusnic had enjoyed a stellar season, despite a recent injury setback, and had a raft of club’s sniffing around him as timed ticked down on his deal.

Scott Galloway had made the left back spot his own since joining the Reds in the off-season and was another standout the club would be well served in locking in long-term.

Left back Scott Galloway has scored Adelaide United’s only goal from outside the box in open play this A-League campaign. Picture: Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

4. VARIETY ADDS SPICE

At its best United is a devastating counterattacking machine, capable of using its raw pace and skill in wide positions to wreak havoc with deadly deliveries into the box.

In the past month, this game plan had broken down due to a combination of injuries to creators Mileusnic and Ben Halloran, and a lack of cool heads in converting chances.

The Reds had been accused of lacking a plan B and persisting with endless centres into the penalty area, despite often not threatening from them.

This belief was backed up by their poor scoring record, their league-highest 501 crosses and the fact they had scored from outside the box just once this campaign, through Galloway.

Only Newcastle, which had managed one more strike in total than United, had an equally low return from beyond 18 yards.

Nine-goal Craig Goodwin and skipper Isaias had already demonstrated their prowess from free kicks this campaign.

It might be time for the star duo, as well as their teammates, to mix things up and unleash from distance in open play.

A packed Hindmarsh Stadium was at its buoyant best for this season’s FFA Cup final. Picture: Sarah Reed

5. REBUILD A FORTRESS

Adelaide needs to rediscover the home form which built the foundation for past title charges and made Hindmarsh Stadium a venue opponents feared.

The Reds had secured just four wins and scored 15 times in their 12 fixtures as hosts this campaign.

Given they had recorded the same number of victories from 10 road trips, the costly failure to amass points on home soil was apparent.

This was in stark contrast to United’s championship season of 2015/16, when it triumphed in nine out of 15 outings in SA, including finals.

A late-campaign surge at home might prove crucial – Adelaide faces fourth-placed Wellington Phoenix and third-ranked Melbourne Victory at Hindmarsh in the next three weeks.

It would also encourage Reds fans to return to the ground and create the passionate atmosphere they are renowned for, as demonstrated by the FFA Cup decider full house.

Average crowds had dipped to 8748 this season, the lowest in the club’s 14 A-League seasons.