Adelaide United fans can be proud of their men who gave everything they had during a thrilling 2018/19 season
The Reds 2018/19 squad said their goodbyes to a brave season in Adelaide on Wednesday. Soccer Writer Val Migliaccio hands down his end-of-season ratings.
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Jettisoned Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz’s typically German managerial style was put in question almost to the day the Reds new owners moved in last year but he believes he has left the club in a better place.
Kurz’s passion is part of the German football mantra issued to players and coaches — nothing beats hard work.
Kurz understood that Australian players presented him with a unique challenge when he moved in two-years ago.
“First I think I’m not a friend for each player, for some players they expected to play more or something else,’’ Kurz said.
“But important for me is communication to explain to players what they can do better, that my door was always open, then it’s up to the player to come and say to the boss “why.”
“It’s important that in a professional sport to have a lot of discipline, everyone knows the rules, I am the boss I make the decisions.
“Respect is also very important, you can have a good time, you can laugh together but on the pitch it’s always hard work, game day is hard work.
“I think the players felt from the first moment I am always open for a chat.
“But they have to work hard, then it’s always good to handle sometimes in the season difficult situations but it works.
“Not only to know about the players quality but also what is going on in their life.
“A good example was one of the players trained very poorly and I thought “oh my God why?”
“Then I found out that he has two young kids, they were sick and they cried the whole night and then I knew the reason, it was good to know and another player had another problem.
“Not all the private matters but the important things it’s good to know.”
2018/19 SEASON REPORT CARD
Coach: Marco Kurz (gone)
2017: Fifth place: 39 points — FFA Cup runner up
2018: Fourth place: 44 points — FFA Cup winner
Rating 9: Worked miracles against a lack of finances, a lack of player signings he wanted and keeping a squad upbeat after they became nomadic due to training ground issues at Playford.
GOALKEEPERS
No. 1: Daniel Margush
Games: 0
Rating: N/A
No. 30: Isaac Richards
Games: 0
Rating: N/A
No. 20: Paul Izzo
Games: 29
Rating 8: An excellent shot-stopper, a vocal gloveman and was a king in the shootout last weekend.
DEFENDERS
No. 2: Michael Marrone
Games: 25 — Goals: 1
Rating 8: A saviour towards the end of the season when Kurz turned him into a centre-back.
No. 3: Scott Galloway (Melbourne City)
Games: 29 — Goals: 1
Rating 8: Versatile right and left back, was the Reds most improved after winning a contract on the back of a trial pre-season.
No. 4: Ryan Strain
Age: 22
Games: 22
Rating 7: Made right-back his own until a hamstring injury cruelled his season.
No. 5: Taylor Regan (Selangor FC in January, 2019)
Games: 4
Rating 5: Frustrated because of a lack of game time, requested a move just before Jordan Elsey was injured.
No. 7: Ryan Kitto
Games: 25 — Goals: 2
Rating 7: Another player trusted with versatility, had a lot more presence at left-back than left-wing.
No. 22: Michael Jakobsen (visa)
Games: 25
Rating 8:
Rating 8: A superb leader that held the Reds together with his calmness and ability to structure the defence.
No. 23: Jordan Elsey
Games: 21
Rating 7: Injury interrupted his campaign before that Elsey kept experienced Regan out of the side.
MIDFIELDERS
No. 6: Vince Lia (off contract)
Games: 23 — Goals: 1
Rating 7: Every time Lia was on the pitch or called into action off the bench he did a great job.
No. 8: Isaias (captain)
Games: 29 — Goals: 4
Rating 9: Nearly perfect, just missed out on winning the Johnny Warren medal, the driving force on the park.
No. 16: Nathan Konstandopoulos
Games: 17
Rating 7: A grinder that did all that was asked for from Kurz.
No. 31: Mirko Boland (visa)
Games: 15
Rating 7: Missed a lot of the season due to injury, one of Kurz’s warriors that worked in true German fashion.
No. 27: Louis D’Arrigo
Games: 1
Rating N/A: Played just five minutes.
FORWARDS
No. 9: Papa Babacar Diawara (visa, gone)
Games: 4 — Goals: 2
Rating 6: Cruelly mocked by many for a long-term injury the Senegalese shaped the last three games of the season with his presence.
No. 10: Ken Ilso (visa, unknown)
Games: 19 — Goals: 3
Rating 4: Provisionally suspended for an alleged doping violation, the Dane struggled to make an impact.
No. 11: Craig Goodwin
Games: 29 — Goals: 10
Rating 8.5: Stunning early season form set United up for the season in the FFA Cup and A-League.
No. 14: George Blackwood
Games: 19 — Goals: 4
Rating 7: Scored a crucial goal against Victory at home, clever with the ball, more goals will come.
No. 17: Nikola Mileusnic
Games: 21 — Goals: 5
Rating 7: Used his speed with great effect and scored vital goals.
No. 18: Lachlan Brook
Games: 0
Rating N/A:
No. 19: Jordy Thomassen (visa)
Games: 9
Rating 4: Talked up to be a star striker by Reds PR but through no fault of his own Thomassen struggled.
No. 24: Pacifique Niyongabire
Age: 19
Games: 0
Rating N/A
No. 26: Ben Halloran
Games: 23 — Goals: 3
Rating 8: Chased by Victory in the off season, Halloran re-found his mojo at the Reds.
No. 28: Kristin Konstandopoulos
Age: 20
Games: 0
Rating N/A
No. 32: Carlo Armiento
Games: 5
Rating N/A: A quality winger with a great left boot, should get more game time after just 25 minutes this season.
No. 33: Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Western United)
Games: 8 — Goals: 3
Rating 7: A hard-working striker who makes great runs but learned a valuable lesson when he was needlessly sent off against Wellington late in the season.
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