Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 17, thanks to Mitre.
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Roar’s plan after ‘toothless’ display: ‘That’s quite clear’
Who will replace Thomas Waddingham? That is the question facing Ruben Zadkovich and Brisbane Roar following their 1-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night.
After Waddingham’s big move to Portsmouth in the EFL Championship, the Roar fired a blank in their narrow defeat at home to the Wanderers, who snapped a winless streak at the hands of Brisbane dating almost four years.
MATCH REPORT: Wanderers end a four-year wait as Western Sydney boss outlines transfer plans
Roar boss Zadkovich labelled his attack “toothless” after the Round 17 showdown at Suncorp Stadium – where Scott Neville played his 300th and final A-Leagues game before retirement – as he provided an update on the club’s transfer plans, with Brisbane bottom of the table following nine consecutive losses on home soil.
FAREWELL: Scott Neville’s wholesome interview after 300th and final Isuzu UTE A-League game
“There’s a few areas where we need to strengthen and improve,” he told reporters.
“I think that’s quite clear. Losing Tommy to Portsmouth is a great thing for Tommy and it’s a good thing for our club from a business point of view but we have to replace him and we’re actively trying to find the right type of nine for us.
“Obviously at the back as well with Scott retiring and Lucas (Herrington) away (on international duty), that’s an area we probably need to strengthen.
“There’s a couple of other areas but it needs to be a work in progress. It’s small steps in this window because it’s a tricky window to find the right players.”
As for Wanderers counterpart Alen Stajcic, who saw superstar Juan Mata hobble off with an apparent hamstring injury in the first half, he also gave an update on Western Sydney’s transfer quest. Read it here.
Macarthur coach’s response to non-penalty call: ‘What for?’
Macarthur Bulls left Go Media Stadium emptyhanded, while their head coach was visibly upset by a decision that went against his side on Saturday.
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Moreno broke the deadlock in the ninth minute before Macarthur’s Jake Hollman equalised 10 minutes later. However, the Bulls had a penalty shout waved away minutes earlier with VAR ultimately deciding there was nothing to see despite Moreno appearing to trip Chris Ikonomidis inside the box.
Asked for his thoughts post-game, Macarthur boss Mile Sterjovski replied: “What do you think?”
He then added: “I think it was definitely a penalty.
“We keep questioning VAR. We spend a lot of money on it. What for?
“If the right decisions aren’t going to be made, it’s a waste of money.”
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‘Discussion’ looming for Adelaide after heavy loss
Focus was the theme of Carl Veart’s post-game press conference as he dissected Adelaide United’s 4-1 rout at the hands of rivals Sydney FC.
MATCH REPORT: New signing watches on as scintillating Sydney FC blow Adelaide away to end winless run
It snapped Adelaide’s four-game unbeaten streak, while it was only their second defeat of the season through 14 matches as Sydney moved fifth in the table.
Veart, though, questioned the mindset of his team after the lopsided defeat on the road.
“I just don’t think our focus was fully there,” he told reporters.
“We had some good opportunities to score goals and our quality in our final shot and delivery wasn’t there. We didn’t make the most of the good chances we did get.
“The focus wasn’t there. Our work rate off the ball wasn’t where it has been this season.”
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Veart continued: “It’s always difficult when you’re at the top and being hunted then doing the hunting. Today we didn’t deal with that.
“Whether it’s that pressure of being up there, I’m not 100% sure. It’s something we will have a good discussion about.
“We have to improve on. Hopefully it’s just a little hiccup today.”
Area making the ‘difference’ for Newcastle
Newcastle Jets’ bench came up big in Saturday night’s F3 Derby.
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Rose pulled a goal back in the second half before star Japanese recruit Mizunuma set up the 87th-minute equaliser in Gosford, where Charles M’Mombwa also impressed off the bench.
“The last two games I think our bench have made the difference,” said Jets head coach Rob Stanton. “We really haven’t had that (before).
“I feel now, and those players coming on can be starting soon too. It means we can change players, we can mix them around if we can keep everyone healthy. We still have (Aleksandar) Susnjar and (Dane) Ingham to come back – two guys we have missed and two guys with good experience. I’m keen to get them back as quick as we can.
“The bench is looking strong and that’s really positive. From a fans perspective, it gives them a lot of excitement too.”
How a Socceroo and J1 League legend is inspiring title hopefuls
Two games, two wins and two clean sheets. That is Melbourne Victory’s record since Mitch Langerak assumed number one duties following his return to AAMI Park.
The Socceroo and J1 League legend, who cemented his place in Nagoya Grampus history during his unforgettable spell in Japan, is back at Victory and starting after Jack Duncan was moved to the bench a fortnight ago.
MATCH REPORT: Victory soar from seventh to THIRD as Perth picked apart in five-minute blitz
Since starting his first Victory game after 15 years, the 2023-24 Grand Finalists have celebrated back-to-back wins to move third in the standings thanks to Saturday’s 2-0 win at Perth Glory.
It came after his clean sheet in the Big Blue against rivals Sydney FC and there was a priceless moment during the Round 17 showdown that highlighted the 36-year-old’s quality.
Langerak was seen speaking to 20-year-old teammate Josh Rawlins in the second half.
Victory head coach Arthur Diles said: “That’s part of his character, right?
“That’s what he brings and that’s important. The leaders out there, irrespective of your position and age, you need to communicate and drive the team.
“That’s really important and Mitch has that in abundance and so do other players too.
“Even Rody (Roderick Miranda) during that period where we were under the pump, Rody got the group together. That’s a real leader for me.
“He called the group in and pretty much told them to wake up and get control of the game again, and they did that.”
Diles added: “Clean sheets are really important and that’s credit to the team, not just the goalkeeper.
“Mitch, when called upon, did a great job. The defenders in front of him defended the box really well. Even the recovery from the rest of the players to get back and win the second balls.”
