Busy month of fixtures will help determine A-League placings and Adelaide United’s finals push

What a month of football January promises to be. Plenty of games in the Hyundai A-League and plenty of Asian Cup action beginning on Sunday night when the Socceroos plays Jordan.

What a month of football January promises to be. Plenty of games in the Hyundai A-League and plenty of Asian Cup action beginning on Sunday night when the Socceroos plays Jordan.

On the local scene it’s make or break time. How teams survive this month will be a good indicator of how they’ll finish the season … eight games in five weeks and for some the season could be over come February!

Socceroos players during a training session ahead of the UAE 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Al-Ain. Picture: AFP

For the hapless Mariners it’s almost, if not over now. Friday’s defeat to Sydney FC was indicative their reality in the football world. At last week’s home game against Perth the goalpost snapped forcing a 45 minute delay while training goals were brought in … if it wasn’t so serious it would have been laughable, even forgivable but their season to date says no to both.

If you subscribe to the adage that you “create your own reality” then the Mariners need to have a good look at how they go about their business, not just on the field but off … in this case more so. Enough said on that situation although I did hear a whisper that they might be making a big signing. Coach, Mike Mulvey confirmed this in his post-match interview when asked about bringing in new players during this current transfer window, his simple answer was “watch this space”. Let’s see.

Aaron Calver of Sydney celebrates after scoring a goal during the Round 11 A-League match between the Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney. Picture: AAP

The venue for last Friday’s game was Jubilee Stadium, Kogorah Oval in the old days before a new stand and a bit of terracing magically transformed it. I hadn’t been there for years.

It’s the home of the St. George Dragons NRL team, a team with a long and successful history. I have to say I really enjoyed watching a game at what might now be described as a suburban football ground.

It was quaint for want of a better description. Holding about 20,000, the terracing and grassy hills, almost remnants of a bygone era, gave it a special ambience. The perfect place for a game of football on a summer’s night.

It had a really nice feel but what struck me about it was that that the sense of history about the place was almost palpable. And it struck me that is what makes the many stadiums around the world so special. Not the architecture and concrete form but the history that belongs to the space.

Adelaide United’s Craig Goodwin and Paul Izzo at training on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

That is why Coopers is such a good football ground — Hindmarsh Stadium to those of my era. The place has history. It has been there for a long time and has its own DNA. Jubilee may belong to another code but history is history. It proved to me that the game doesn’t need big stadiums unless it’s a big fixture that demands it.

Since I mentioned Coopers it’s time to touch on the Reds. It is a big month for them. Actually, a big week, beginning with Saturday’s game against Wellington, Victory this Wednesday and Sydney at Jubilee next Sunday.

This week will determine whether they are in contention or fighting it out for 5th or 6th. This month will also determine the club’s intention … will they go into the market for a striker or do they believe they can win with what they have? Or will they at least try to find one?

It’s tough bringing in someone new at this time of the year, especially if they are from overseas and not au fait with life in Australia.

Let me ask another question: is it even worth it? One last little one for the road — what is Melbourne City doing with Bruno Fornoroli?

And would they let him go to another A-league club that they are fighting for ladder position with?