Adelaide United are bottom of the A-League Men ladder following their 4-0 thrashing by Perth Glory in Matchweek 3, with two-time A-League winner Erik Paartalu labelling their performance both ‘pathetic’ and ‘shocking’.
Airton Andrioli’s side found themselves 3-0 down at half-time thanks to goals from Jaiden Kucharski, Tadi Kuzamba and Stefan Colacovski before substitute Matt Ellis put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute.
The Reds arrived in Western Australia off the back of a 2-0 midweek loss to Singaporean side Lion City Sailors at Coopers Stadium in the AFC Champions League Two.
With fixture congestion in mind Andrioli made six changes to his side for the game against the Glory.
However Adelaide were completely outplayed by Perth Glory in the first-half, with Paartalu scathing in his assessment of the Reds.
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“Adelaide were pathetic to be honest, they were shocking,” said Paartalu when speaking on the latest episode of A-Leagues: On the Whistle alongside Host James Dodd and A-Leagues legend Kosta Barbarouses.
“I was surprised that Airton Andrioli kept it so positive in his post match, saying that he saw a lot of positives out of the game.
“When you’re three-nil down and copying goals left, right, and centre, you haven’t performed as well. They [Perth Glory] put them under a lot of pressure, Adelaide. They just did not play well out of the back.
“They tried to play out out from the back, overplayed at times, and they looked tired.”
New Zealand international and four-time A-League Men’s championship winner Barbarouses agreed with Paartalu’s assesment of the out-of-sorts Reds, believing game management was an issue for Andrioli’s side at HBF Park.
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“I don’t know about you, but away from home after a big week – and it’s not the young boy’s [defender Feyzo Kasumovic] fault at centre back – but he’s being told to play out at all costs.
“Just send the ball high up the pitch, get up. I know it’s not pretty to watch at times, but when it’s been like that, tired bodies, a team that’s pressing you, a five or six man press. Just get the ball up, stay in the game.
“A little bit like Macarthur, no nonsense for the first 45, especially away from home in Perth. A long way to go. You just shoot yourself in the foot.”
According to Paartalu there’s another area of the side that should also have Reds boss Andrioli concerned.
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Young striker Brody Burkitt has started all three of the Reds ACL Two fixtures so far this season as well as both of Adelaide’s A-League Men matches and ever found the back of the net in their 2-1 defeat to Sydney FC in Matchweek 2.
However the 20-year-old was withdrawn at half-time at HBF Park as part of a triple change made by Andrioli, with Ajak Riak brought on to lead the line in the second half.
“They need to sign Kosta Barbarouses as soon as possible,” quipped Paartalu. “He needs to add another club to his collection!
“I think they haven’t got a striker. They missed so many chances against Lion City Sailors. That could have been completely different game had they put their chances away.
“Jovanovic last year was awesome, had a great season. I don’t feel as though that central striking role… that’s not filled yet.
“I don’t think they can just score goals from left and right, and from the midfield. They’re going to struggle until they they figure out how they’re going to score goals.”
Following their midweek trip to Singapore the Reds then return to Coopers Stadium for a mouthwatering Original Rivalry clash against old foes Melbourne Victory on Sunday, November 8.
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