A-League Men’s Tackle: Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde’s likes and dislikes from round seven

The APL is facing two giant problems and with expansion looming, what is their next move? Check out the likes and dislikes from this weekend’s A-League Men’s action.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 08: Jarrod Carluccio of the Glory looks on during the A-League Men round seven match between Perth Glory and Melbourne City at HBF Park, on December 08, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

It’s been another enthralling weekend of action, but what are the storylines that stood out this weekend, and who is facing the pressure?

Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde present their likes and dislikes from round seven of the A-League Men’s season.

DISLIKES

TOUGH TIMES

How much longer can the APL afford to prop up Perth Glory and the Newcastle Jets?

The Tackle has learnt that the APL has already spent more than $11 million in keeping the Glory and the Jets afloat.

The Jets have been funded by a consortium of owners from other A-League clubs since January 2021 when then owner Martin Lee was stripped of his licence.

In October, reports emerged that the Jets would be sold by Christmas. However, with December 25 only a couple of weeks away, things seen pretty quiet

On the field, the Jets are at least punching above their weight by becoming the first team this season to beat Wellington, with the accomplishment made better by the fact the win was in New Zealand, where the Phoenix are extremely difficult to defeat.

However, in the Glory’s case, the club is making next to no progress on and off the field.

Just when it seemed the APL had found owners for Perth, receivers last month ruled that the sale to a Primeland Group-led consortium would not go ahead due to “certain preconditions” not being met.

And while that may spare the APL some embarrassment in the long run, the A-League isn’t in a state where it can endlessly fund clubs that have put themselves in perilous positions.

The APL has poured a lot of resources into the A-League, but the competition needs to be making more strides.

Expansion plans need to be cautious.

It’s great that the incoming Auckland club seemingly won’t have any financial problems considering its owner is billionaire American tycoon Bill Foley.

However, it’s a concern that there has been little news about the new Canberra team that is also supposed to be joining the competition next season if you believe what APL officials said in March.

At least, the Auckland team has plenty of time to get ready for the 2024-25 campaign.

The last thing the A-League needs is for the Canberra announcement to be made too late and without enough time to properly get ready for its debut season.

The Glory are in tatters. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Jets got a big win in New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

REDMAYNE’S PAIN

Andrew Redmayne’s red card and subsequent suspension has come at the wrong time for the veteran Sydney FC goalkeeper.

Redmayne would be the first to admit he hasn’t had the best of seasons, and he needed to be playing as much as possible this month to convince national coach Graham Arnold that he should be in the Socceroos’ squad for the upcoming Asian Cup.

However, following his weekend moment of madness against Macarthur FC when we was rightly sent off for a handball offence after needlessly charging out of his penalty area, the “Grey Wiggle” and hero of the penalty shootout that sealed the Socceroos’ World Cup berth last year will cop at least a one-game A-League suspension.

That’s something he can’t afford if he wants to impress Arnold ahead of Asian Cup squad selection.

While captain Mat Ryan is clear the first choice in terms of Australia’s goalkeepers, the other two custodian spots in the squad are up for grabs.

Redmayne, Adelaide United’s Joe Gauci, Middlesbrough’s Tom Glover, and Charlton’s Ashley Maynard-Brewer have all been part of Australian squads this year, so a tough decision awaits Arnold and the Socceroos’ goalkeeper coach John Crawley.

Are Andrew Redmayne’s national team days numbered? (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

BROTHERS SET FOR BATTLE

An awkward situation awaits Roar coach Ross Aloisi when Brisbane takes on the struggling Western United on Friday night.

United are of course coached by Aloisi’s younger brother, Socceroos great John Aloisi, whose side has lost six matches in a row.

There’s no hiding from the fact that John is under increasing pressure.

Two coaches ­– Rado Vidosic and Steve Corica - have already been sacked this season, with Vidosic punted by Melbourne City after only two losses, and Corica shown the door by Sydney FC only a month after guiding the Sky Blues to Australia Cup glory.

Can John survive a seventh straight successive loss if the Roar - who have been impressive under Ross - win at AAMI Park on Friday?

John was rightly angry after United’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners.

To concede three goals from set pieces is unforgivable, and that lack of desire shown by United’s players made an already disastrous performance even worse.

Plenty of soul-searching needs to take place this week in the United camp if there’s to be a turnaround in form and enthusiasm.

The Aloisi brothers will do battle this week. Pic Mark Cranitch.

LIKES

JAY HAVING HIS SAY

Jay O’Shea is finally receiving the credit he deserves.

There is no doubt that Brisbane Roar’s veteran Irish midfielder is one of the best players in the A-League.

However, because O’Shea doesn’t play for one of the competition’s bigger clubs, he hasn’t always got the recognition that his consistently outstanding performances deserve.

This season he’s even better in a Roar team playing outstanding football under Ross Aloisi.

O’Shea, like the rest of his Brisbane teammates, love playing under Aloisi, who continues to excel despite being forced to operate with a shoestring budget.

“The style of play Ross has us playing … everybody’s brilliant,” O’Shea told Network 10 after his man-of-the-match performance in the Roar’s 2-0 win over Adelaide United on Sunday.

“I’m really enjoying my football and this style of play has given me the freedom to get up and chip in with a few more goals and assists.

“This is the best I’ve been since I’ve got here.”

Jay O'Shea is having a superb season. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

BRILLIANT BRUNO

The prolific Bruno Fornaroli has surely done enough to be picked in the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup starting in Qatar next month.

“El Tuna” has now scored 11 goals for Melbourne Victory in seven A-League matches this season, including four on Sunday against Western Sydney Wanderers.

At 36, the fantastic Fornaroli is arguably in the best form of his career.

A naturalised Australian who has already made two Socceroos appearances, Fornaroli is making it extremely tough for national coach Graham Arnold not to include the evergreen striker in his Asian Cup plans.

There is an attacking vacancy in the squad following the injury suffered by Brandon Borrello, and Fornaroli looms as a more-than-capable replacement.

Bruno Fornaroli is making a case for the Socceroos. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

TEAM OF THE ROUND: (4-2-2-2)

Ryan Scott (Jets);

Jack Hingert (Roar), Brian Kaltak (Mariners), Dan Hall (Mariners), Aziz Behich (Melb City); Josh Nisbet (Mariners), Jay O’Shea (Roar);

Jake Holman (Macarthur), Tolgay Arslan (Melb City);

Bruno Fornaroli (Victory), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Jets). Coach: Ross Aloisi (Roar)

Player of the round: Bruno Fornaroli (Victory)

Originally published as A-League Men’s Tackle: Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde’s likes and dislikes from round seven