The Tackle: Victory’s woes in front of goal, changes loom for Graham Arnold and Socceroos

It’s been a big week in Australian football, with the Socceroos being knocked out of the Asian Cup and several big signings to overseas leagues. ROBBIE SLATER and MARCO MONTEVERDE unpack their likes and dislikes.

DOHA, QATAR - JANUARY 29: Australian goalkeeper Joe Gauci makes a save during an Australia Socceroos recovery session ahead of the the AFC Asian Cup at Qatar University Field 11 on January 29, 2024 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

LIKES

TERRIFIC TORRES

It’s hardly a surprise that Central Coast Mariners excitement machine Angel Torres has been linked with a move to Asia.

The Colombian attacking weapon has been in scintillating, and timely, form for a Mariners side that recently lost Brazilian ace Marco Tulio to Japan.

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Mariners fans will be hoping the club can keep Torres at least until the end of the season.

He was again superb in the Mariners’ 4-0 thrashing of a woeful Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium.

Angel Torres of the Mariners kicks his 2nd goal during the A-League Men round 15 match. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images.

And he wasn’t the only one to shine in a Central Coast side that is undoubtedly the form team of the A-League.

After a shaky start to their title defence, the Mariners have gone undefeated in their past 11 A-League matches.

Midfielder Josh Nisbet has been instrumental in his side’s unbeaten run. If he hasn’t been the best player in the competition this season, he’s surely in the top two or three.

The Mariners’ great run of form means there is going to be a top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday night in Wellington, with the first-placed Phoenix hosting the second-placed Central Coast.

The Phoenix were below-par in their 1-1 draw with the battling Brisbane Roar on Friday night, but they always lift at home.

However, in the Mariners’ current form, it’s hard to see them not returning to Australia with at least one point.

Kusini Yengi is set to be part of a new-look Australian front third after the Asian Cup. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

CHANGES LOOM

Beating Lebanon in next month’s two World Cup qualifiers should not be a problem for the Socceroos, so perhaps it’s a chance for Graham Arnold to slightly experiment with his line-up as he plans for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

While it’s sometimes a risk not to pick your best team, particularly in a World Cup qualifier, the Socceroos are already in a strong position in their group and can afford to try some things.

What our Asian Cup campaign taught us is that we still need a centre-forward that’s going to score regularly.

Mitch Duke has been a great servant to the Socceroos, but at 33, maybe the time is right to give someone else an extended chance in the “No.9” role.

If Arnold has similar thoughts about planning for the future, it’s also hard to see 36-year-old marksman Bruno Fornaroli making the next squad, even if he picks up where he left off when he returns to A-League duty with Melbourne Victory.

Kusini Yengi, 25, looms then as man to lead the Socceroos’ attack against Lebanon.

The Portsmouth striker was perhaps under-used at the Asian Cup, particularly after his encouraging performance as a starter in the Socceroos’ 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan.

Attacking weapon Sammy Silvera is another player who arguably could have been used more in Qatar, so hopefully we’ll see more of the Middlesbrough man against Qatar.

The Socceroos’ lack of creativity was also evident at the Asian Cup, so it’s great news that playmaker Ajdin Hrustic’s nightmare spell at Italian club Hellas Verona ­ - where he wasn’t playing – is over after being signed by Dutch outfit Heracles.

Such was Hrustic’s lack of football, it was virtually impossible for Arnold to select him for Asian Cup duty.

However, if Hrustic starts playing regularly again at club level between now and the two games against Lebanon, he needs to come back into the national squad.

We’ve seen in the past how good he can be in a Socceroos jersey, and at 27, Hrustic still has so much to offer to the national team for at least another five or six years.

DISLIKES

BRUNO BACK FOR VICTORY

One A-League club that’s probably secretly not too unhappy about the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign ending prematurely is Melbourne Victory.

While the Victory remain the only team not to lose in the A-League this season, they have desperately missed their star striker Fornaroli in attack.

In the five club matches Fornaroli missed, the Victory only one the first of them before proceeding to draw the following four.

Bruno Fornaroli of Australia will be back for Melbourne Victory after the end of Australia’s Asian Cup campaign. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Their failure to put teams away has been telling, and the return of Fornaroli will surely add some much needed venom and lethalness to their attack.

Having drawn nine of their 15 A-League matches this season, the Victory must start winning more games, particularly with the ridiculous rule brought in by the APL which places the number of wins as the deciding factor over goal difference when determining ladder positions in the event of teams finishing level on points.

The departure of Joe Gauci to the Premier League will weaken Adelaide United’s defence. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

RED FACES

What’s going on at Adelaide United?

It seemed early in the season that Craig Goodwin’s departure wasn’t going to hurt them, but something’s not right there.

Not for the first time this season, the Reds have been thrashed at home. That would never happen in the past.

And now with Socceroos back-up goalkeeper Joe Gauci having left the club, Adelaide’s suspect defence will be under more pressure.

The return of Stefan Mauk in the midfield should help the Reds, but they will need more than that if they are to even make the top six, let alone challenge for the title.

Team of the round: (4-2-2-2) Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners); Dane Ingham (Newcastle Jets), Roderick Miranda (Melbourne Victory), Brian Kaltak (Central Coast Mariners), Jacob Farrell (Central Coast Mariners); Josh Nisbet (Central Coast Mariners), Mustafa Amini (Perth Glory); Jay O’Shea (Brisbane Roar), Bozhidar Kraev (Wellington Phoenix); Angel Torres (Central Coast Mariners), Adam Taggart (Perth Glory). Coach: Alen Stajcic (Perth Glory)

Player of the round: Angel Torres (Central Coast Mariners).

Originally published as The Tackle: Victory’s woes in front of goal, changes loom for Graham Arnold and Socceroos