A-League report card: Tom Smithies gives his ratings on the season’s hits and misses
AS the A-League enters the second half of the campaign, football editor TOM SMITHIES gives his report card on the season’s hits and misses so far.
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AS the A-League enters the second half of the campaign TOM SMITHIES gives his report card on the status of each side.
Sydney FC
38 points
Verdict so far: Who says backing up is so hard to do? The Sky Blues have effortlessly rolled on from last season, and if anything look more convincing than at this stage last year. Adrian Mierzejewski is a substantial upgrade on Filip Holosko, while Bobo looks like a man in love with playing football. Already the Premiers Plate looks like it will be retained with ease.
Hit: Adrian Mierzejewski
Miss: Losing a league game early on
Prediction: They will top the league, and have the resources to make a decent fist of the ACL too.
TAB ODDS: $1.95
Smithies’ rating: 8/10
Newcastle
30 points
Verdict so far: What a breath of fresh air the Jets have been, with Ernie Merrick even cracking the odd joke, so jovial has been the mood. With licence to attack Newcastle have scored plenty of goals and made light of several serious injuries to senior players. Questions are consistently asked about how long their run can last, but with Argentine Patricio Rodriguez on his way, neutrals will hope it doesn’t end anytime soon.
Hit: Dimi Petratos
Miss: The injury to Ronald Vargas
Prediction: The Jets are destined for finals football after so many years missing out; with a modicum of luck they should get to host one.
TAB ODDS: $5.50
Smithies’ rating: 9/10
Melbourne City
25 points
Verdict so far: A disjointed, ill-disciplined campaign has delivered far less than promised, for all Warren Joyce’s side sits in fourth spot. The softly-spoken Englishman has won power struggles with Tim Cahill and his erstwhile assistant Michael Valkanis, yet there is little sense the City squad believes in his methods. Mostly they look well organised, but the creativity of Aaron Mooy still hasn’t been replaced 18 months after he left, and a club of City’s stature should be aiming far higher.
Hit: Ross McCormack
Miss: Tim Cahill’s exit
Prediction: City should grind out enough results to make the finals, but won’t pull in the crowds.
TAB ODDS: $7.50
Smithies’ rating: 6/10
Adelaide United
21 points
Verdict so far: After the calamities of last season, the United faithful have taken to new coach Marco Kurz, and his air of calm professionalism has bred a new-found confidence. Tucked into the top six, United look well set for finals football — though they need to ramp up the goalscoring, after notching just five in the last five games. The rumoured arrival of Spanish striker Borja Viguera could help on that front.
Hit: Daniel Adlung
Miss: Karim Matmour
Prediction: Need to score more goals if they are to break into the top four consistently, but should be in the finals.
TAB ODDS: $17.00
Smithies’ rating: 6/10
Melbourne Victory
20 points
Verdict so far: The campaign has been a giant roller coaster, with an alarming plummet followed by an equally steepling ascent up the table. The question is how many more twists and turns there are to go in the second half of the season, especially with the Asian Champions League to come. Coach Kevin Muscat appears to be recruiting well in January, with Terry Antonis a particularly effervescent acquisition — if he is fit.
Hit: Rhys Williams
Miss: squad discipline
Prediction: having found some momentum Victory should easily secure a place in the top four — at least.
TAB ODDS: $9.00
Smithies’ rating: 6/10
Western Sydney Wanderers
18 points
Verdict so far: When Tony Popovic walked out on the club a week before the start of the season, even the fans’ worst nightmares probably didn’t extend to where the Wanderers have got to. Having spent weeks on a worldwide search for a new coach they settled on Josep Gombau, and the results at the start of his tenure haven’t been pretty. Gombau’s declared aim is simply the top six, a goal that doesn’t sit well with the club’s winning mentality.
Hit: Oriol Riera
Miss: Jumpei Kusukami
Prediction: Western Sydney might make the finals, but not much more.
TAB ODDS: $11.00
Smithies’ rating: 5/10
Perth Glory
16 points
Verdict so far: “Given their roster, to be outside the top four has to be a disappointment for a side with title ambitions.” If that sounds familiar it’s what we wrote at this time last year, and the sentiment is precisely the same 12 months on. Diego Castro looks increasingly frustrated by the decision-making of those around him, and to have conceded the equal highest number of goals is a damning statistic — especially the manner in which six of those came against Sydney FC.
Hit: Jacob Italiano
Miss: the defence
Prediction: Glory are in a fight to make the finals.
TAB ODDS: $21.00
Smithies’ rating: 4/10
Central Coast Mariners
14 points
Verdict so far: The optimism of pre-season lasted only minutes of Round 1, and for all Central Coast have threatened at times, their sheer inconsistency has been galling for coach Paul Okon. There have been high points, notably the defeat of Sydney FC, and Okon’s passion has gone down well with the supporters. Tom Hiariej and Wout Brama have impressed too, but the lack of quality at Okon’s disposal has been too apparent too often.
Hit: Tom Hiariej
Miss: Asdrubal
Prediction: Sadly look destined to miss out on the finals again, despite Okon’s best efforts.
TAB ODDS: $51
Smithies’ rating: 4/10
Brisbane Roar
13 points
Verdict so far: It’s been a largely ugly campaign for John Aloisi’s side, recording just three wins in the first half of the season. Though Aloisi can point to injuries, assembling a squad where so many players are past 30 carries inherent risks. The visa issues that delayed Eric Bautheac’s arrival didn’t help, but at least Massimo Maccarone has proved the doubters wrong with seven goals so far.
Hit: Massimo Maccarone
Miss: Number of soft-tissue injuries
Prediction: Will struggle to make the finals, a massive blow for such a successful club.
TAB ODDS: $51.00
Smithies’ rating: 3/10
Wellington Phoenix
10 points
Verdict so far: Little short of catastrophic, and given plenty of succour to those who question the club’s right to be in the comp. Coach Darije Kalezic promised to rebuild the club, but so far only seems to have dug a very deep hole. Nathan Burns is a good sign, but Kalezic has to shore up Phoenix at the other end.
Hit: Andrija Kaluć
Miss: Departure of Vidosic father and son.
Prediction: Phoenix will struggle to rise off the bottom.
TAB ODDS: $126.00
Smithies’ rating: 1/10
Originally published as A-League report card: Tom Smithies gives his ratings on the season’s hits and misses
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