Round Ball Australia 
Melbourne Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo. Photo: Marcus Robertson/Round Ball Australia
Every week, Round Ball Australia will keep you up to date on every club’s biggest storylines in the A-League Men’s competition, in the form of: sliding doors.
Western United
IF this is Western United’s project moving forward…
THEN they do have an exiting and prosperous future.
Albeit against a Perth Glory outfit who we know are experiencing their fair share of turmoil, John Aloisi’s side picked up a deserved first three points of the season after impressing in their opening few rounds, and have been arguably unlucky not to pick up more points.
17-year-old Dylan Leonard was the top story by becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer — perfectly encapsulating Western United’s exciting youth project.
Many tipped them to languish near the bottom of the table due to inexperience and being the youngest squad in the competition. That said, if they continue to demonstrate impressive maturity and growth for the rest of the season, then this is a project worth keeping your eye on.
Perth Glory
IF Perth thought they had a poor season last campaign…
THEN their record-breaking defensive woes suggest things aren’t going to improve any time soon.
That’s right, Perth’s current goals conceded per game sits at 3.2 – the worst ever defensive record after the first 5 games of a season.
There was a lot of hype around what David Zdrilic could bring to a struggling Glory, and it seems we’re yet to see any improvement.
A 3-1 loss to Western United at Unite Round, falling despite the rare achievement of opening the scoring, was the icing on the cake.
The high press is completely falling apart at the seams for Perth, there’s a lack of effort and understanding, and their defence is under constant pressure.
And yet somehow they’re not bottom.
Newcastle Jets
IF youth and ownership uncertainty was the reason for a shaky campaign for the Jets last season…
THEN ownership certainty doesn’t look to have made a significant change.
The Jets appear to be in a worse spot somehow than the same time last year. A prime opportunity presented against their F3 rivals Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle let it slip.
Despite strong opportunities in the first 60 minutes and opening the scoring after 63 minutes via Thomas Aquilina’s first A-Leagues goal from a Ben Gibson impact assist, the Jets quickly let things slip conceding twice in quick succession.
The Jets overall look like they lack some punch up front and whilst Gibson made an impact, he looks short of being a leader of the attack. Lachie Rose may well fill this role upon his return, however this is still an indeterminate return date at this stage.
Coach Rob Stanton added to the restrictions and uncertainty that still besets the club with comments post game admitting that “we don’t have the money to spend on players.”
He also admitted he doesn’t see certainty in the security of his role, saying “How long I get I don’t know”.
The Jets need to find their silver bullet soon.
Central Coast Mariners
IF last season’s start of four straight losses saw the Mariners claim the treble at the end of the season…
THEN they should be full of confidence this year, doubling their points tally from Round Five last year.
Both Round Five fixtures involved morale-boosting wins over their F3 derby rivals, with the Mariners hoping that this most recent win against the Jets will have the same impact as the one in 23/24 had.
Mark Jackson has seemingly found a formula that works for the side, bringing Bailey Brandtman in to play in a dual-10 role with Mikael Doka.
Whilst the Mariners might’ve been the more fortunate side on the night, there were promising signs of improvement and chance creation seemed to come a lot easier to them after the tweaks.
Adelaide United
IF one of Adelaide’s biggest issues last season was a lack of identity on the pitch…
THEN the fact the Reds are undefeated with a new system should raise the side’s hopes.
Carl Veart did roll out a slightly different structure in the first half against Brisbane than we have seen all season, and the team struggled to break into the match.
But reverting to the asymmetrical wing back formation at half time brought United right back into the game, with more fantastic attacking play from Dylan Pierias the catalyst for the 3-2 comeback.
Adelaide seem to have really found an attacking style that suits the make up of their squad, and they’re now sitting comfortably undefeated in the top 4.
It’s now up to the players and coaching staff to continue on this path, embrace the new tactical identity, and find sustained success across the season – something they couldn’t manage last campaign.
Brisbane Roar
IF three losses, even against some of the competition’s best hurts…
THEN allowing Adelaide back into the game twice to leave the Roar still pointless, hurts even more.
Brisbane had control of the game for large parts of the first half against Adelaide, but failed to assert that supremacy on the scoreboard.
After a half time tactical change from Adelaide, the Roar failed to convincingly adjust and allowed the Reds to wrestle back control.
The A-League is naturally forgiving over the length of the season, but Ruben Zadkovich only has so many opportunities to launch their season until the deficit becomes too much.
Sydney FC
IF there was any debate about who the biggest club in Sydney was…
THEN it was put to rest as Sydney FC took home the bragging rights in their fourth straight derby.
Another lively attacking display saw Sydney control the game once Joe Lolley netted the opener in the 33rd minute.
With their star wingers back in Lolley and Douglas Costa, there was a calmness that returned to the side. One that had seemed to go missing while their talismen were in the rehab room.
The previous four defeats in five have been forgotten about for now, because staking their claim over the city supersedes ACL2 results in many ways.
There is time to prepare for their final group stage match against Kaya FC before a trip to Gosford, but a misstep in the derby could have derailed the season.
Uffie has steadied the ship, and the horizon once again promises a bounty of silverware and treasure providing the Sky Blues maintain their course.
Western Sydney Wanderers
IF starting Juan Mata means Alen Stajcic must swallow his pride…
THEN so be it.
It’s fair to say that Alen Stajcic has been put under the microscope since Juan Mata’s agent and former A-League star, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, claimed his player was being disrespected by starting fixtures on the bench.
Again, Stajcic stuck to his guns and used Mata off the bench in the derby. But when the Spaniard entered the pitch in the 58th minute, the Wanderers looked completely rejuvenated and had a sense of attacking threat in the final third.
Floating around in the centre of the park and at times in front of the back four, it was clear that Mata took the opportunity in its stride and dictated the flow — also adding an assist to his name.
Whether it be a lack of fitness or not being suited to the current system, there is every argument to suggest that Stajcic should revolve his system around such an experienced and talented veteran to help the rest of the squad around him. Whether he does, is an entirely different discussion.
Melbourne Victory
IF Bruno Fornaroli can only see 10 minutes of game time in a side that struggled to score…
THEN is a move in January imminent?
Just like last season under Tony Popovic, Victory struggled to break down a resolute and well-structured Phoenix defence where efficiency was their real Achilles heel, unable to convert from 18 shots compared to their opposition’s six.
Grappling with the reality that it would be a tough day at the office to find the back of the net, a proven A-League scorer who registered 18 goals last season, was introduced at the 86th-minute mark.
New signing Jing Reec hasn’t offered a whole lot off the bench this season in terms of scoring productivity, yet Patrick Kisnorbo is reluctant to hand Fornaroli more of a chance since starting the Uruguayan in their opening match against the Central Coast Mariners.
After the win against Macarthur three weeks ago, Kisnorbo admitted that he decided to drop Fornaroli from the squad because he liked the idea of an extra defender on the bench in Josh Rawlins.
Perhaps something is lingering behind the scenes that we’re unaware of — and that could mean a mid-season move for Fornaroli.
Wellington Phoenix
IF the Phoenix truly needed four to six weeks to really get into their rhythm like Giancarlo Italiano said after Round One…
THEN the rest of the league should be scared of what’s to come.
The Phoenix again proved against the Victory that they are adept at limiting their opposition to a low amount of high quality chances, whilst exploiting whatever their weaknesses are in any given week.
At no point were they a ball possession dominant team last season, but that hasn’t really mattered. The Phoenix know their modus operandi down to a tea.
The formation, structure and tactics of how they go about their goals often change to best suit their opponents, but the theory often remains the same.
If this is really only the start, then Wellington have the highest of ceilings in 24/25.
Auckland FC
IF the Black Knights can sell out home games and sit top of the league with a perfect record and no goals conceded…
THEN they are in perpetuity, the perfect example of how to handle A-League Men expansion.
Auckland took to their first Australian trip like bread to butter. Apart from a fortunate miss from the Bulls skipper right in front of goal, the blue and black turned out another solid performance.
Alex Paulsen’s goal will be breached eventually, but a home game against Newcastle next week offers an opportunity to become the first team in Australian top flight history to go their first five games of the season without conceding.
Macarthur FC
IF winning the Australia Cup is the ideal way to start your season…
THEN just two wins from your first five is not the ideal way to kick off in the league.
It’s hardly doom and gloom for the Bulls. Losses to Auckland and Victory will be a familiar sight for many in the league this season.
But, with the experienced nature of the Bulls squad. Mile Sterjovski may have wanted to see a little more return to start the season, particularly given the 2-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets.
It all could’ve been very different if Bulls skipper nodded away his header to take the lead against Auckland, and put Macarthur in a familiar position of protecting a lead.
