Duva’s XI: Victory in trouble, Jamie McLaren flying and banned Olyroos step out for first time
Fresh off being slapped with lengthy suspensions for their roles in a Tinder sex scandal on an international tour, four Olyroos players had their first chance to step out in the A-League. How did they go?
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FromJose Mourinho’s Premier League return to Ange Postecoglou closing on a title in Japan, it’s been a huge week of talking points in Australian football and abroad.
In the A-League, Melbourne Victory’s first campaign under Marco Kurz is bordering on crisis point, while Victory’s great rival Melbourne City has a striker in ridiculous form — Jamie Maclaren.
David Davutovic has all the talking points covered in his latest Duva's XI column.
1. FEED THE MAC AND HE WILL SCORE
Jamie Maclaren’s scoring exploits are off the charts. With nine goals in four A-League games he is launching a twin assault on the Australian domestic scoring records.
With 19 goals in 11 games for club and country, it’s not hard to see why the self-proclaimed confidence player turns most touches into gold. As a results City has its best chance yet at a maiden A-League title.
Two predatory finishes sandwiched a stellar assist for Josh Brillante – who channelled his inner Ron Burgundy with and an impressive moustache and sideburns – taking his A-League tally to nine goals in four games, extraordinary as he missed two games with a hamstring tear.
Brazilian Bobo has the A-League record with 27 goals in the 2017-18 season with Sydney FC, while Damian Mori holds the National Soccer League record with 31 goals for Adelaide City in the 1995-96 season.
2. STUTTERING VICTORY
Melbourne Victory is nearing crisis point after its underwhelming season continued, flopping away to arch enemy Adelaide United.
Arriving with its strongest squad of the season, Victory had every reason to be confident. Even a horror first half was offset by another first-class equaliser from captain Ola Toivonen.
But Adelaide’s knockout blows secured a 3-1 win and leaves Victory languishing in 10th, with one win and four losses in seven games before Friday’s crunch home game against last season’s grand finalists Perth Glory.
Victory’s silver linings were the returns of ex Schalke and Fulham defender Tim Hoogland, who came on late, Andrew Nabbout, who played 90 minutes and another cameo from Robbie Kruse, who delivered a sublime cross for Toivonen’s goal.
3. OLYROOS REACTION
Riley McGree and Lachie Wales made Round 7 statements, venting their frustrations on the pitch after a seven-month saga culminated in their Tokyo 2020 dreams being dashed after the Cambodia scandal.
Midfielder McGree displayed impeccable timing to open the scoring for Adelaide United before triggering the afterburners to lose Hoogland for the sealer in the 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory.
Melbourne City’s Wales produced one of the best super sub roles of the season and was heavily involved in the lead-up for Brillante’s goal, before a superb run and killer cutback set up Jamie Maclaren’s stoppage time winner at Western Sydney.
One suspects the final chapter has not been written for the Olyroos quartet.
4. ANGE STEP CLOSER TO TITLE GLORY
Yokohama F Marinos are plotting a near identical trajectory to Ange Postecoglou’s former clubs South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, as he moved a step closer to becoming the first Australian coach to win a title in Asia’s No. 1 league.
Before becoming Socceroos coach in 2013, Postecoglou’s transformational style generally saw his teams start sluggishly before hitting their straps in ensuing years – with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar both winning titles in his second season at the clubs.
Having sat in third only weeks ago, Marinos beat Matsumoto Yamuga 1-0 away to climb atop the J1 League ladder ahead of FC Tokyo, who drew.
Marinos travel to Kawasaki Frontale, before a potentially mega final-round decider against FC Tokyo.
5. WESTERN UNITED STADIUM UPDATE
2022 has been earmarked as the new completion date for A-League expansion club Western United’s proposed boutique stadium in Tarneit.
Wyndham City Council’s director of deals, investment and major projects Kate Roffey said that the planning elements were close to completion, with the commercial and legal agreements to follow before securing final planning approval permission from the state government’s planning authority.
“We want to start getting our build started first quarter to first half of next year – it’s a paddock at the moment, so we need to get roads in there, to get concrete trucks in,” Roffey said.
“I would hope that 2021-22 somewhere in that season you’d be looking at having to have the stadium finished to a degree, where you can play in it. In a nutshell, worst case would be end of 2022.”
MORE FOOTBALL NEWS:
Olyroos Cambodian sex scandal managed via proper process, says FFA chairman Chris Nikou
Western United wing back Connor Pain reveals weight loss secrets ahead of Central Coast return
Unsavoury Olyroos drama shows how football still has much work to do
Jose Mourinho is back in the English Premier League after he was named new Tottenham manager
6. VIDUKA, KEWELL WORLD CLASS
The quality of the Socceroos’ golden generation is far from embellished, according to former Leeds United, Tottenham and England keeper Paul Robinson who suggested Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were good enough to start for England.
Robinson named the Aussies in his greatest XI in Optus’ 1-to-11 series.
“I grew up with Harry and I don’t think he went on to have the career he could have had, injuries blighted his career at Liverpool. At Leeds, he was probably the best left winger around at the time. Harry had free reign. He was ruthless, a born winner,” Robinson said about Kewell.
On Viduka, he said: “One of the most talented, laid back men I’ve ever met in my life – he was that laid back he could fall over.”
7. COPA AMERICA DRAW
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Brazil’s Neymar, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez or Colombia’s James Rodriguez?
The Socceroos find out their Copa America opponents at the official draw on December 3 in Cartagena, Colombia, with Graham Arnold and the players relishing the challenge in this unique chance at partaking in the prestigious continental tournament next June after an easy first passage of Asian World Cup qualifying.
The final will be hosted at Atletico Junior’s 60,000-capacity Metropolitano Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia.
8. VICTORY WOMEN TAKE ON ASIA
Melbourne Victory’s W-League team will take on the continent’s best in the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Women’s Club Championship in South Korea.
Notwithstanding the arduous and dangerous scheduling of three games in five days, it is a great chance for the Natasha Dowie, Jenna McCormick and Casey Dumont-led side to make a mark.
Victory plays South Korean hosts Hyundai Steel Red on Tuesday before facing Jiangsu Suning (China) and Nippon TV Beleza (Japan).
9. AUSSIES ABROAD
Socceroo Mat Ryan’s stellar for club and country continued, with a superb penalty save from Jamie Vardy. However recent England call-up James Maddison was on hand to blast home the rebound in Leicester City’s 2-0 win.
Aaron Mooy, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town, also played another full game.
Winger Brandon Borrello’s impressive rise continues, starting for Freiburg’s 1-1 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.
10. MOURINHO’S IDEAL SPURS START
Dele Alli desperation to keep the ball alive ahead of Tottenham’s second goal and Son Heung-min’s celebration were strong indicators that the players have taken to new boss Jose Mourinho, amid rumours of potential angst.
Mourinho apologised to Tottenham fans who made the short trip to West Ham’s Olympic Stadium for his 3-2 debut win after replacing Mauricio Pocchettino, declaring “it’s about the players, not me”.
11. MARADONA MAYHEM
In true Diego Maradona fashion, the Argentina great reinstated himself as coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata two days after quitting.
After stints with Argentina national team and Mexico, Maradona joined Gimnasia in September.
“I am very happy to be able to announce that I will remain coach of Gimnasia. We finally achieved political unity in the club,” Maradona wrote on social media.
The flawed genius’ rarefied existence was superbly portrayed in the movie ‘Diego Maradona’, which focused on his extraordinary tenure at Italian underdogs Napoli on and off the field.