Time For The Wanderers To Shine
The Western Sydney Wanderers’ woeful run of domestic form can’t possibly continue for another week, can it? Surely the sold-out derby in Parramatta is the moment Tony Popovic’s charges finally shake off the shackles and start clawing their way back toward the rest of the pack. They will be buoyed by their 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday evening and, though they only return to the country 30 hours before their clash with Sydney FC, momentum should be on their side. Added to that, all but one of the Wanderers’ competition points have come at home this season. But if they are to make real strides up the table, it will have to come from a lift from their recent signings. Yojiro Takahagi in particular needs to step up if the Wanderers have any chance. When you compare the impact he – or Vitor Saba, for that matter - has had to that of Shinji Ono, a fair amount of doubt remains. Having had a golden run since the club was founded, there was always going to be a time when the Wanderers didn’t have everything go their way. Now is that time. How long it lasts will probably define the culture of the club for many years to come.
Kick-Start For The Original A-League Derby
After off-field dramas have enveloped the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners in recent weeks, you could be forgiven for thinking this instalment should have been dubbed the Derby of Apathy. In Newcastle and the Central Coast of late, there has been an undercurrent in the stands that unbridled enthusiasm would somehow demonstrate approval of each club’s respective off-field controversy. Certainly support for the players on the pitch has been there, but you get the sense that if the Jets had blown opponents away, for example, it would have justified the Nathan Tinkler and Phil Stubbins-related commotion. After losing a fan favourite like Joel Griffiths, that would have been hard for a supporter to swallow.
All that will change this weekend. If there’s one thing that takes the mind off your own problems, it’s focusing on someone else’s. Just ask John Hutchinson. The retiring Mariners skipper – who will top the A-League charts for most appearances on Saturday - fired a predictable parting shot at Newcastle this week, and that’s sure to get blood boiling in the Hunter. In truth, this intensity is exactly what a Jets-Mariners clash needs right now, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Newcastle have not beaten the Central Coast in their past seven meetings, which should really be motivation enough. The F3 Derby may never be the size of the Sydney or Melbourne Derbies – for obvious population reasons – but there’s no reason it can’t be the most intense.
Less Star Gazing, More Net Bulging Needed For City
Do Melbourne City really need any more star power to help re-ignite their season? A disappointing crowd of 6,486 turned up to watch the 0-0 stalemate against top-of-the-table Perth Glory last weekend, and it could be more of the same this Friday night against Adelaide United. It has been suggested that the club needs to delve into its unfathomably deep pockets to re-create the hype that existed when David Villa came to town. Mark Bresciano has been bandied about as a potential high-profile recruit, and no doubt a signing of his calibre would make a difference. But, surely, football fans in the Victorian capital could be satisfied by watching Robert Koren and Josh Kennedy et al every week? The answer is they can, if the team starts winning regularly. This is a club starting out three trophies behind Melbourne Victory, and in order to capture the hearts and minds of Melbournians, they need to build storylines and heroes of their own. A win against Adelaide to start this round would get them closer to a finals berth, which would at least be a step in the right direction.
Bound For Glory?
What would a preview article be without a bold prediction which later turns out to be wildly inaccurate? So, here goes: Perth Glory will lose top spot this weekend. Kenny Lowe’s men have – quite incredibly - maintained the lead since Round 5 back in November, but a 0-0 draw away to City last Sunday did not instil confidence that they can hold on. The Glory are, in fact, winless in their past five games, and they will face a Brisbane Roar outfit positively stinging after their last-minute defeat to Beijing Guoan in the Asian Champions League midweek. Melbourne Victory and Adelaide lurk just two points behind the Glory and it would not surprise to see both of these teams take all three points at the weekend. So, the heat will be on Perth – who do have the advantage of playing at home – as it seems certain the race for the A-League premiership will be tighter than the Glory’s bookkeeping from here on.
A Moment To Savour For Archie
What a way for Archie Thompson to rack up 200 A-League appearances for Melbourne Victory. The striker, sometimes referred to as the best signing in the competition’s history, will take on his former boss, and current Wellington Phoenix coach, Ernie Merrick on Sunday. Merrick brought Thompson home from Lierse in Belgium at the inception of the A-League, and while the pair have gone their separate ways, they’ve both made a massive impact on the league. Though often derided for his dour demeanour, Merrick is actually quite the joker, and an affable character to boot. He won’t do anything outrageous such as smile but you can be sure he’ll be thrilled to bits for Archie.
We may or may not see the hero of the 31-0 triumph over fierce rivals American Samoa celebrate his milestone by dry humping another corner flag this weekend, but it will be fitting for him and the man who lured him back to Australia to share those 90 minutes together.
