A fascinating start to the Hyundai A-League season, with some great performances and surprise winners. What can we take from round one?
A fascinating start to the Hyundai A-League season, with some great performances and surprise winners. What can we take from round one?
1. What does Ange have planned?
It didn-t matter in the end – what counted was what John Aloisi had up his sleeve. Melbourne Heart surprised and impressed in their first match of the season. They were committed and well-drilled.
They gave Victory little time or space to settle, and stayed compact and organised at the back. Some defensive errors played their part in both goals Victory conceded, but that doesn-t take away from a fine Heart performance.
2. How will ADP fit in?
Majestically, as expected. But the question now is will his teammates be able to fit in around him. The Italian got a true introduction to life in the A-League, and it looks like it is going to take some time before Sydney will be able to get the best out of their marquee man. Expect better in their first home game next week.
3. Are the Wanderers ready?
A resounding yes. It was a tough opener for the new boys, but the Wanderers handled the Premiers, the pressure and the conditions well. There were even a few flashes of class from the imports, with Polenz, Kresinger and Ono all showing there could be some good things to come in Parramatta Stadium this season.
4. Will the Reds be too tired?
Hell no! John Kosmina had the perfect strategy, instructing his team to sit back and let their hosts do all the work. The pressure was on the Jets to turn their opening home game and introduction of Emile Heskey into three points, but the Reds were ready to contain the big Englishman, and were smarter on the counter-attack. A great start for United.
5. How has Rado stepped up?
It wasn-t quite a fail but neither was it a pass. Brisbane weren-t at their sharpest against Glory; perhaps because of the road trip or just opening day jitters, but the Roar didn-t show the will to own the ball and the game as they have in recent seasons. We-ll know more in a few weeks time but for now the jury is out.
