The Tackle’s A-League power rankings: Victory’s horror fall
Melbourne Victory has dropped significantly in the The Tackle’s A-League power rankings with Adelaide United now on top while there other clubs on the rise. ROBBIE SLATER and Marco Monteverde break it down.
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Melbourne Victory’s run of six matches without a win has resulted in them taking a significant slide in The Tackle’s latest A-League Power Rankings, while the likes of Adelaide United, Auckland FC and Western United are among the clubs on the rise as the regular season hits its halfway point.
1. Adelaide United (Up from 2nd)
Adelaide has finally delivered at home in a big game by beating Melbourne Victory 3-2 in Saturday night’s thrilling “Original Rivalry” clash. One of the question marks that has been hanging over the Reds this season has been indifferent form at Coopers Stadium, particularly in games where they have put themselves in positions to win, only to fail to complete the task. However, they seemed to have turned that corner ahead of Wednesday’s top-of-the-table battle against Auckland FC.
2. Auckland FC (Up from 3rd)
The Black Knights have been tested in recent weeks but showed their true character with a 3-0 home weekend win over an in-form Melbourne City despite the absence of inspirational captain Hiroki Sakai. A week earlier, Auckland had suffered a shock 1-0 loss to the struggling Glory in Perth, and questions were being asked if the grind of the competition was finally getting to the newcomers following their memorable start. A tough visit to Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night to meet table-topping Adelaide United awaits the Auckland boys but they will be up for the battle.
3. Western United (Up from 4th)
The rise of Western United this season has been arguably the best story of the A-League season so far. John Aloisi’s team has won six of its past seven matches – with scalps including Auckland FC, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory – to storm up the ladder and become a title contender. Aloisi has found almost the perfect blend of youth and experience, with outstanding midfielder Angus Thurgate, who turns 25 next month, the ideal bridge between the squad’s younger and older players.
4. Melbourne City (Up from 5th)
While City lost 3-0 to Auckland FC on Saturday, the work the Aurelio Vidmar-coached team did before that in going seven games unbeaten in a run that included three successive wins was remarkable considering the players who are out injured. While Mat Leckie finally returned on the weekend, players including Marco Tilio, Andreas Kuen, Yonatan Cohen, Andrew Nabbout (season) and Max Caputo. City’s young brigade has stood tall, which will hold the club in good stead at the business end of the season when more players will be available for selection.
5. Macarthur FC (Up from 7th)
The Bulls have been quietly going about their business, winning three of their past four matches, and having lost just once in their past eight games. A win over Wellington on Monday night would lift them to third place on the ladder. Well coached by Mile Sterjovski, and possessing talent such as experienced midfielder Luke Brattan and French striker Valere Germain, the Bulls seem very comfortable among the top six.
6. Melbourne Victory (Down from 1st)
It’s hard not to feel for interim Victory coach Arthur Diles, who is without a win in six matches since taking over from Patrick Kisnorbo, whose sudden departure for Japan rocked the Melbourne club. The Victory haven’t been playing that badly under Diles, but a record of three draws and three losses since Kisnorbo’s exit isn’t good enough. There is more than enough talent in the Victory squad to contend for the title, but the jury remains out on whether former assistant coach Diles is the right man for the top job.
7. Sydney FC (Up from 8th)
Despite Sydney moving up a rankings spot on the back of a recent six-match unbeaten run, Saturday’s shock home loss to the A-League’s worst team, Brisbane Roar, raises serious questions about the Sky Blues’ title credentials. Maybe they were a bit flat after their midweek game in Wellington, but that’s no excuse for their poor performance against Brisbane. The Sydneysiders remain fragile defensively and must use this transfer window to sign an experienced centre-back. It could be the difference in their bid for the championship.
8. Western Sydney Wanderers (Down from 6th)
Just when we thought the Wanderers might have turned a corner, they again disappoint with an ordinary performance in their 3-1 home loss to Central Coast on Friday night. It’s any wonder they looked lethargic after making the silly decision to take the red-eye flight home from Perth just three nights earlier after beating the Glory. They would have been better off getting a good night’s sleep in Perth and flying back to Sydney the next day. The Wanderers, who are a better team when Juan Mata starts, remain too inconsistent to be considered a title threat.
9. Central Coast Mariners (Remain at 9th)
The Mariners, who are close to signing young gun Abdelelah Faisal from Perth Glory, could do with a couple of new players in the current transfer window as they desperately try to build some depth in their squad. While a third successive title seems out of the question, the Mark Jackson-coached team would have taken plenty from their 3-1 away win over the Wanderers on Friday night. Brazilian Mikael Doka remains a standout, while the defensive partnership between the fit-again Trent Sainsbury and Brian Kaltak will improve over time.
10. Newcastle Jets (Remain at 10th)
Apart from a recent win over cellar dwellers Brisbane, a team they should beat, the Jets haven’t done anything of note in the past few weeks. The emergence of young striker Ben Gibson has been a positive, but it’s easy to see why Newcastle coach Rob Stanton often seems frustrated with his team’s performances, particularly when it comes to defensive errors the Jets are constantly making.
11. Wellington Phoenix (Remain at 11th)
The aura that surrounded the Phoenix last season no longer exists. Teams no longer fear going to Wellington, as a host of results have suggested this season. While they remain dogged at times, the Phoenix don’t intimidate teams as they once did. Their style of football under Giancarlo Italiano has never been entertaining, but when they were winning games, you could accept that because it got them results. Now that they are losing matches regularly, the Phoenix’s way of playing football is rightly being questioned.
12. Perth Glory (Remain at 12th)
The struggling Glory have been talking about how things are going to change when they bring a host of fresh players to the club during the January-February transfer window. Well that window is now open, so we are waiting with baited breath to see if new signings such as attacking weapon Lachie Wales, Japanese defenders Yuto Misao and Takuya Okamoto, and striker Pat Wood (loan from Sydney) will make a difference. Beating Auckland 1-0 last Saturday night was a good result, but then the Glory fell back into their bad habits a few nights later to lose 2-1 to the Wanderers.
13. Brisbane Roar (Remain at 13th)
The Roar have finally won a game, and well done to the club’s hardworking players for getting some reward for their efforts. However, there are still massive problems, on and off the field, in Brisbane. A coaching change must be made, and the two guys running the club, as well as the owners, must lift their performance. If not, the Roar – once the pride of the A-League – will become even more irrelevant than they already are.
Team of the week (includes midweek performances): (4-2-3-1) Alby Kelly-Heald (Wellington Phoenix); Dylan Pierias (Adelaide United), Brian Kaltak (Central Coast Mariners), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC); Louis Verstraete (Auckland FC), Jay O’Shea (Brisbane Roar); Mikael Doka (Central Coast Mariners), Stefan Mauk (Adelaide United), Ben Halloran (Brisbane Roar); Noah Botic (Western United). Coach: Steve Corica (Auckland FC)
Player of the week: Noah Botic (Western United)
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