Slater: A-League decider stuck in Tottenham-Newcastle Utd shadow due to poor APL scheduling call

As good as it was to welcome Tottenham and Newcastle United to Australia for a friendly, former Socceroo ROBBIE SLATER believes the APL’s dreadful scheduling decision has put the A-Leagues decider into the EPL’s shadow.

Central Coast Mariners will be out to sew up a treble when they face Victory in the grand final but the Tottenham-Newcastle Utd friendly has overshadowed the occasion according to former Socceroo Robbie Slater. Picture: Getty Images

Former Socceroo Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde tackle the biggest issues in Australian footbal every week.

As good as it was to welcome Tottenham and Newcastle United to Australia for a friendly, Slater believes the APL’s dreadful scheduling decision has put the A-Leagues decider into the EPL’s shadow.

Grand final overlooked

RS: I can’t help but feel that the A-League grand final has been sadly overlooked this year because of the APL’s poor decision to play it in the same week as its All-Stars games and the Tottenham-Newcastle match at the MCG.

MM: I agree that the A-League decider should not have been played at the end of “Global Football Week”.

The grand final is the biggest match on our domestic football calendar and should have been given its own space that such an occasion deserves.

Tottenham’s Tyrese Hall tries to beat the Newcastle Utd defence. Picture: Getty Images

RS: Definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see Premier League teams come to Australia, and it’s great that Ange Postecoglou also got the chance to be lauded by Aussie fans.

However, why couldn’t the Spurs-Newcastle game and the two matches involving the A-League All-Stars be played the week after the grand final?

Better still, bring the Premier League teams out in their pre-season.

Alexander Isak scored Newcastle United’s goal during regulation time. Picture: Getty Images

You’re bound to see much better games that way.

Forcing Spurs and Newcastle to play on Wednesday night, just three days after their finals games of the season, and just a day after arriving in Australia following a long-haul flight was ridiculous, and the standard of the contest suffered as a result.

MM: You’re right about pre-season being the better option.

I covered an Aston Villa-Leeds game at Suncorp Stadium a few years ago only a few weeks before their season started, and there was some genuine intensity and passion in the contest.

Still, a good crowd turned out at the MCG.

James Maddison scores for Tottenham Hotspur. Picture: Getty Images

RS: There was no way that there were 78,000 people there.

I’m not sure where they got that figure from. It looked more like a crowd of 60,000.

I also don’t understand why they needed to have a penalty shoot-out at the end of the game.

Why couldn’t it just have been left as a 1-1 draw?

Please be happy Garang

MM: I guess the only good thing about the shootout was that Garang Kuol took a great spot kick.

I just wish he would have smiled more during his time on the field.

Garang Kuol converts his penalty for Newcastle United. Picture: Getty Images

Wednesday’s friendly at the MCG is the first time Garang Kuol has played for Newcastle United. Picture: Getty Images

RS: He just didn’t look happy at all, and that’s a worry. He was playing for Newcastle against Tottenham in front of 60-000-odd fans in Melbourne. How can that not excite him? It was his first game for Newcastle. He should have been running hard and trying to make a good impression.

MM: Well, the Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said after the game that Kuol was likely to go out on loan again next season and that it was essential that he started playing regularly.

RS: There’s no doubt about that. He’s still only 19 but he doesn’t want to waste another year.

MM: Let’s hope he’s in Gosford on Saturday night to see his old club Central Coast take on the Victory in the big one.

I’m sure he would love to see the Mariners complete the treble.

Tough call

RS: So would a lot of people after the remarkable season they’ve had.

For such a small club, they have led the way with distinction.

However, it would also be great if the Victory were able to win the title for the fifth time after what they have gone through in recent years.

MM: It’s a tough one to call.

The Victory are high on confidence after their memorable effort in Wellington last Saturday, but was that their “grand final”?

Brian Kaltak and the Central Coast Mariners are one win away from completing back to back premierships and a rare treble. Picture: Getty Images

RS: It was a fantastic effort to beat the Phoenix over there.

It was an overall performance that was better than what the Mariners showed in their second leg against Sydney FC.

As we said after the match, the Mariners looked tired against the Sky Blues, but I’m sure they will lift in the grand final.

They are on the verge of creating history.

MM: So what’s your prediction?

RS: I think the Mariners will win 3-2 and claim the treble.

At home, they’ll be too much for the Victory.

MM: That will mean more grand final heartache for Victory coach Tony Popovic.

Tony Popovic will be desperate to taste success in his sixth grand final. Picture: Getty Images

He’s already lost five as a coach. He won’t want to lose another one.

It will be interesting to see what he does next season because I don’t think the Victory are going to budge in what they’re offering him.

If Popovic wants to stay, it’s going to have to be on the Victory’s terms.

RS: I’m sure whatever happens in the grand final, Popovic won’t be out of a job for too long if he and the Victory part ways.

He’s too good a coach.

Faghani unfortunate

MM: For what it’s worth, I think Alireza Faghani was extremely unlucky not to have been appointed grand final referee.

Referee Alireza Faghani, pictured showing Mariners coach Mark Jackson a yellow card during the semi final last week, will not officiate the decider. Picture: Getty Images

I’m confident Alex King will do a good job, but I think Faghani is the best referee in the A-League and should have been the man in the middle for the decider.

RS: I’ve got no problems with King’s appointment.

MM: As we’ve said many times, it hasn’t been the best of seasons for referees.

Everyone just wants a game free of controversial calls from the referee and the VAR.

Originally published as Slater: A-League decider stuck in Tottenham-Newcastle Utd shadow due to poor APL scheduling call