Home, but away
No team has a divine right to success, but there is no doubt that when Melbourne Victory are competitive and on a roll, their large and vociferous fan base adds a fresh dimension to the A-League.
Down in the doldrums all of last season, crowds dropped off alarmingly at times. Arguably the A-League’s biggest club, Victory plummeted to the bottom of the table, suffering the sort of horrendous losses (a 6-0 and 7-0 defeat to Melbourne City particularly noteworthy) that were hitherto unimaginable, and gallows humour can only get you so far.
Fast-forward six months and AAMI Park with a resurgent Victory is a different place, with loud and raucous fans bringing a febrile atmosphere to the game.
Melbourne Victory fans in full voice to celebrate a derby goal.Credit: Getty Images
They were in full voice on Saturday night as they turned what was an AAMI Park away game against City into a home match, willing their team on when they were searching for the late leveller that eventually came through Nick D’Agostino.
Victory coach Tony Popovic acknowledged as much after the 2-2 draw with Melbourne City, declaring his delight in the way that his team played and the atmosphere they were able to generate.
“That was a real derby, we wanted to bring that back,” Popovic said. “ ... the fans felt Victory were back today.”
Attendances, for a mixture of reasons, have been disappointing for many clubs this season, but Victory’s large and rumbustious fan base showed in the Christmas derby how much the A-League has missed them during these last two strange seasons of shutdowns, hubs and cancellations.
Who knows what the future holds as the Omicron variant spreads and further safety measures are introduced, but for now, they’re back – and the A-League should rejoice in their presence.
Put the whistle away, ref!
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t: referee Kurt Ams was always going to cop it after he blew immediately after Western United’s lanky Swiss defender Leo Lacroix scythed down Adelaide winger Craig Goodwin – just before the Reds man found teammate Ben Halloran with a sweeping pass.
As Goodwin crumpled to the turf and Ams’ whistle reverberated around the empty spaces of AAMI Park, Halloran sweetly struck a shot past Jamie Young to give the Reds what they thought was an equaliser. Sadly for them, Ams recalled play, arguing he had already penalised Lacroix before Halloran’s shot. Bad news for the winless Reds, a stroke of fortune for Western.
Not so quiet on the Western front
Western United have stealthily advanced to the upper echelons of the A-League table with barely anyone noticing their progress – which is hardly surprising given how unspectacular their performances have been.
John Aloisi’s team has won its last four games 1-0 and in all of them has had less than 50 per cent possession (43 per cent against Adelaide, 44 per cent v Brisbane, 34 per cent against Melbourne City and 46 per cent against Perth Glory).
Top of the table: Western United celebrate with fans.Credit: Getty Images
Only in their sole loss (a 1-0 home defeat against Melbourne Victory to open the season) have they had more possession than their opponents – 54 per cent to Victory’s 46 per cent.
Nobody has yet started chanting “boring, boring Western”. But they might if they recall the way opposition fans used to remember George Graham’s English champions Arsenal some 30 years ago.
Back then the Gunners – masters of the 1-0 win – were, to most non-Arsenal fans, a bit of a byword for boredom. Their fans took it as a compliment, and often sang, to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys Go West, “1-0, to the Ar-se-nal”.
Clearly it’s not about having the ball for Western – it’s about using it ruthlessly when you do.
Robbo on the rack
Western Sydney boss Carl Robinson would probably head any market for the sack race following his side’s latest loss, a 2-0 defeat to Central Coast in Gosford on Saturday afternoon.
Welshman Robinson has been given huge support by the Wanderers hierarchy and brought in what looked like a strong set of recruits (including former Premier League man Jack Rodwell) to try to turn around the club’s fortunes.
But so far, the season is turning into another frustrating campaign. Wanderers have only won one of their five A-League games and fan disquiet is mounting. To add insult to injury, they were also dumped from the FFA Cup by NSW state league team Apia Leichardt. With a trip to face champions Melbourne City next up, things won’t get easier for the under-pressure coach.
Wanderers coach Carl Robinson is under pressure.Credit: Getty Images
Victory’s perfect run continues
Things could hardly be going better for defending champions Melbourne Victory, who are off to a perfect start in the new A-League Women’s campaign.
The American connection of Lynn Williams and Catherine Zimmerman – aided and abetted by Australian forward Harriet Withers – helped them to a 3-2 win over a competitive but inefficient Brisbane on Saturday.
The win means they now have nine points from three games and a 100 per cent record, with a goal difference of plus six. The only bleak spot has been the loss for the season of captain Kayla Morrison with an ACL injury.
City, narrowly beaten by Victory last time out, got back in the winning groove with a 3-1 win over Adelaide and are now third. They will be seeking derby revenge when they face Victory again on Boxing Day.
Victory’s women are off to a perfect start.Credit: Getty Images
Goal of the week
Melbourne City’s Rhianna Pollicina smashed a long-range drive that dipped and swerved into the top corner and left the diving goalkeeper clutching at air. It was a sensational opener against Adelaide on Saturday.
Save of the week
Hats off to Central Coast shotstopper Mark Birighitti, who stood tall and stayed big to deny Wanderer Dimi Petratos’ shot from close range after the midfielder’s dribble had brought him into the Mariners’ penalty area.
Quote of the week
Daniel Sturridge, Perth Glory’s star recruit, was already frustrated after spending one stint in quarantine in Perth earlier this year, and expressed his fury about Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to impose hardline COVID-19 policy in the Sunshine State just as Glory were due to play there.
“Obviously we are all fuming and devastated about that and we want to be able to continue playing football and don’t want to lose fitness ... To make matters worse, we will be in quarantine for Christmas, so it’s going to be a madness.”
Glory are in quarantine in Brisbane and will not play again until January.
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