A-League Tackle: Marko Rudan could leave Wanderers, Bruno Fornaroli eyes Socceroos call
The lack of consistency regarding handballs continues to frustrate fans, players and coaches in the A-League. Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde analyse the weekend of action here.
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The Tackle with Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde.
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Rudan leaving?
Western Sydney could be searching for a new coach before the end of the A-League season.
Marko Rudan, whose Wanderers side remains unbeaten after six rounds of the 2023-24 campaign, has attracted interest from some Japanese clubs.
He might soon have a big decision to make, and you wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to test himself as a coach in Asia’s top league.
Rudan would be following in the footsteps of Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat by coaching in Japan, and it could lead to other overseas gigs if it goes well.
In the meantime, Rudan is concentrating on a Wanderers’ task that suffered another injury setback, with captain and inspirational skipper Marcelo likely to be facing an extended period on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.
Already without star attacker Brandon Borrello for three months because of a broken foot, the Wanderers now must cope with the loss of another key player.
Credit must go to Rudan for guiding his side to a 2-2 draw against Brisbane Roar last Friday.
Down 2-0 and having lost Marcelo in the first half, the Wanderers’ effort to score twice after half-time showed the true grit that Rudan has installed in his squad.
Credit must go to both sides for the quality of football produced on a wet night and on a poor Suncorp Stadium playing surface.
Brilliant Bruno
With Borrello now out of contention for next month’s Asian Cup, don’t rule out the possibility of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold calling on the services of evergreen Melbourne Victory marksman Bruno Fornaroli.
The 36-year-old striker has wound back the clock in the Victory’s current campaign with some superb strikes, including a contender for goal of the season in his side’s 2-2 draw with the Mariners on Sunday.
A naturalised Australian, the Uruguayan attacker made his Socceroos debut last year when his form wasn’t as good as it is now.
Goals win games, and having a player of Fornaroli’s class and knowledge at the Asian Cup could definitely be an ace up Arnold’s sleeve.
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Matildas madness
Why is Tony Gustavsson feeling the need to experiment with the Matildas and their tactics in the current, and short, period between this year’s Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Surely by now he knows the style that suits the players he has, and knows all but a couple of the squad members he will pick for next year’s Olympics, should the Matildas qualify.
Fielding an experimental 11, and adopting new tactics that didn’t suit the squad, in Saturday’s game against Canada was madness, and the 5-0 loss was embarrassing for the Matildas’ brand following the squad’s strong World Cup showing.
And telling the players that started it would be their last chance to impress before February’s two-legged Olympic Games qualifiers was also ridiculous.
What chance did a team entirely made up of back-up players have of doing well against the reigning Olympic Games gold medalists?
The players that started were on a hiding to nothing.
Gustavsson – who’s seemingly becoming less and less likely to be in charge of the Matildas at the Olympics, having been linked to the Sweden national men’s team coaching job – has indicated he’s going to make at least 10 changes to Australia’s starting 11 for the second game of the series.
However, rather than have such a stark contrast between his starting teams for the two matches, why not have a blend of regulars and fringe players in both of his starting sides?
Nothing good came out of Saturday’s humiliating loss, and that’s Gustavsson’s fault.
Bye bye Ballarat
Western United has finally said goodbye to Ballarat, but the damage has been well and truly done.
Forced to play three matches in a row at Mars Stadium, an Aussie rules ground in the middle of nowhere and completely devoid of atmosphere, United – perhaps not surprisingly – lost all three to extend the club’s losing run to five successive games.
In front of a poor crowd on Saturday, United was beaten 1-0 by the Wellington Phoenix.
For all of United’s dominance in possession, the club’s lack of someone who can finish chances was again well and truly exposed.
Having absorbed plenty of pressure, the Phoenix hit United on the break to score the only goal of the game in what was a classic away-from-home performance.
The win moved the undefeated and plucky Phoenix to the top of the table.
In contrast, United is stuck at the other end of the ladder.
Coach John Aloisi needs to find some solutions, and quickly.
Bringing a new striker to the club in next month’s transfer window is a must, but by then it could be too late to save the season.
Agony over for Kisnorbo
It’s never good when a coach gets sacked, but it’s amazing that former A-League championship-winning mentor Patrick Kisnorbo lasted as long as he did at French club Troyes.
In his 40 games in charge of the French outfit in all competitions, former Melbourne City coach Kisnorbo guided Troyes to just three wins.
Relegated from France’s Ligue 1 under Kisnorbo, Troyes were in Ligue 2’s drop zone when the former Socceroos defender was axed.
And guess what? Troyes responded immediately to Kisnorbo’s sacking, beating Bordeaux 1-0 on Sunday morning.
Hopefully Kisnorbo can bounce back from this disaster.
It’ll be fascinating to see where he ends up next. No doubt he would have learnt plenty as a coach and a person during his time with Troyes, and in the long run, Kisnorbo will probably be better off for the experience.
Handball howlers
The lack of consistency when judging on handball offences in the A-League continues to be a source of frustration for players, coaches and fans.
In Friday night’s 2-2 draw between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney, both sides had legitimate claims for penalties turned down despite handball violations seemingly obvious both times.
However, come Sunday in Gosford, a similarly clear cut handball from Melbourne Victory’s Fabian Monge rightly led to referee Alex King pointing to the penalty spot, which allowed the Mariners to grab a deserved share of the points.
Is it too much to ask for consistent handball decisions being made?
Player of the round - Bruno Fornaroli (Melbourne Victory)
Rookie winger’s pleasant selection ‘shock’
A potential Socceroos debutant’s coffee plans quickly changed after he was notified he had been chosen in the national squad.
Striker targeting maiden Socceroos goal
Adelaide Oval looms as the perfect place for a proud South Australian to score his first goal for the Socceroos on Thursday night.