The Christmas weekend of action is over, but there’s plenty to dissect coming out of the latest round in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Here are the Round 9 talking points.
Snakes and Ladders: A-League Men’s edition
After Round 9, it’s almost impossible to get a clear read on how this Isuzu UTE A-League season is going to play out.
At the conclusion of the latest round, only five points separate second placed Western Sydney Wanderers and second-last Western United – with the gap between the top and the bottom closing each and every week.
The unpredictable nature of the season so far has made picking a winner in some cases almost impossible – while one win has been enough to catapult teams right up the table.
Some of the early season strugglers find themselves right in the mix for finals, with one win or even a draw or two taking them right up the table – while some of the pace-setters have regressed to the trailing pack in recent weeks due to a string of poor results.
Newcastle Jets, for instance, came into Tuesday night’s clash with Adelaide United in 11th place, but after recording a 1-0 win Arthur Papas’ side now sit in sixth place.
Brisbane Roar (five points since the break), Wellington Phoenix (five points) and Western United (six points) have been able to close the gap with better form-lines since the end of the FIFA Men’s World Cup break in comparison to some of the sides above them.
Conversely, the second-placed Wanderers (two points) and fourth-placed Adelaide (one point) are both still yet to win since returning to action – dropping points against sides who currently are out of the top six or who were prior to the contest.
Thus, the gap between the league’s top and bottom sides since domestic action resumed has closed from where it was prior to the break.
Heading into Round 10, the game of snakes and ladders that is the A-League Men’s table is only set to ramp up with a number of contests that could see teams scale or drop a number of positions.
Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, who have been plagued by inconsistency to begin the campaign, could be as high as equal-fourth if they win next round – as could Western – who still sit second-last.
Even a loss for first-place Melbourne City against Wellington Phoenix on January 2 could throw them back into the trailing pack should their four-point gap on top of the league close.
While a win for bottom-of-the-table Perth Glory on their road-trip to Adelaide could also close the gap on sixth significantly from the five points it is now.
As Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish said in Game of Thrones: “chaos is a ladder” and that’s no exception right now in the A-League Men’s.
Arabuli arrives with second consecutive impressive outing
Macarthur have been crying out for a striker to take the proverbial ‘bull by the horns’ for quite some time.
Head coach Dwight Yorke may have finally found the answer with Georgian striker Bachana Arabuli answering the call.
Arabuli has put together back-to-back eye-catching performances – most notably, scoring a brace in Macarthur’s 3-0 win over Sydney FC on Saturday.
It had been a slow start to life in Campbelltown for Arabuli, who only debuted for the club as a substitute just before the break in their 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners – but he’s exploded to life since the return to action.
Arabuli scored his first goal as a Macarthur player in their 1-0 win over Perth Glory last week, before following it up with a sensational showing against the Sky Blues – making it three goals in two games.
The Bulls have long been searching for an answer at the pointy-end of their attack since Matt Derbyshire left the club after their inaugural season, where he scored 14 goals.
A number of different options including ex-Socceroo duo Apostolos Giannou and Tomi Juric were given opportunities last season, while 2018-19 Y-League Golden Boot winner Moudi Najjar was preferred as a left-back under Yorke’s predecessor Ante Milicic last season.
Off-season signing Anthony Carter got first crack this season, but was unable to cement his place in the XI – with a single goal from seven appearances, and Al-Hassan Toure and Lachie Rose had been used in the middle at different points throughout the season.
However, none had been able to truly stamp themselves in Yorke’s starting XI. Arabuli may have solved their problem for the time being – and he won’t be shy of service with the likes of Ulises Davila, Daniel Arzani, Craig Noone, Danny De Silva, Matt Millar and Toure providing him with opportunities.
“I’ve got to give credit to our CEO Sam (Krslovic) who highlighted him (Arabuli),” Yorke said post-game on Saturday.
“It’s taken him time to get up to speed, but we feel we’ve got a No.9 who can score goals.
“He uses his body well, his link play is good and for this league, I feel he sent a message today. We’re delighted he’s on our team.”
Western regain the cavalry
Western United are finally hitting their straps again.
The reigning champions made it three wins in their last four games with a backs to the wall 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, despite being down a man for the majority of the contest after Nikolai Topor-Stanley received his second red card of the season.
REACTION: REIGNING CHAMPIONS ROLL BACK THE CLOCK IN ‘VINTAGE WESTERN UNITED PERFORMANCE’
United are beginning to show the form which won John Aloisi’s side the championship lat season, regaining not only their defensive prowess and confidence as a result of winning games – but important players who missed a number of games at the start of the season.
Gun central defender Tomoki Imai has returned with a vengeance, helping United to back-to-back clean sheets (their only two of the season), while off-season recruit Tongo Doumbia has added some much-needed steel in the middle of the park.
Aleksandar Prijovic’s impact up front can’t be understated, scoring two goals in four games, dragging defenders left, right and centre whilst adding an overwhelming presence for defenders in attack.
“We’re starting to grow, we’re getting players back in. No one spoke about, during that period, that Tomoki Imai was out since round one, after about 25 minutes he hurt his shoulder,” Aloisi said.
“Tongo Doumbia is showing he what he can do in only his second start. This was Alex’s (Aleksandar Prijovic) third start. So we’re getting our players back and then it’s not only level out there but the level in training lifts because you’ve got so many players that are fighting for positions so it was great.”
Imai’s return has been a godsend for United’s defence which struggled in the early-going this season and has been plagued by uncharacteristic defensive mishaps along with a lack of continuity in their back-four due to injury and suspension.
United has shipped an equal league-high 18 goals this season, but incredibly only one of those has come when Imai has been on the park, with that being an own-goal from Leo Lacroix against Melbourne City in the season opener.
And since returning, United have not shipped a single goal in 180 minutes.
“It’s always nice to be able to keep your back four in general,” Aloisi said.
“And this is still Topor-Stanley and Jacob Tratt when they’ve been called upon, they’ve done well but we know last year that Tomoki and Leo (Lacroix) ended up creating that really good partnership and it’s not only them.
“Then Tomoki with Josh Risdon, and then Leo with Ben Garuccio and when you have to swap players around it becomes a little bit disjointed at times. But when you’ve got your strongest side to pick from it’s a lot easier.”
Jets’ defensive solidity in Adelaide
Talking about solid defensive showings on the weekend.
Newcastle Jets appeared to overcome their early season defensive struggles on Tuesday evening, as Papas’ side secured their first clean sheet of the season in their 1-0 win over Adelaide United.
REACTION: ‘PHENOMENAL’ NATTA RELISHES PHYSICAL IBUSUKI TEST TO HELP JETS ACHIEVE SEASON-FIRST SHUTOUT
The Jets were sensational in the defensive half all evening, nullifying the impact of Socceroo winger Craig Goodwin and Japanese striker Hiroshi Ibusuki – which went a long way to getting them over the line at Coopers Stadium.
Ibusuki was taken out of the game largely by the work of centre-back duo Mark Natta and his defensive partner Jordan Elsey, with the former being described by Paramount+ pitch side reporter Bruce Djite as “phenomenal”.
“I think the coaches do a really good job of identifying the players we’re going to be up against,” Natta told Paramount+. “I got told (Ibusuki’s) strengths and weaknesses, and I think our whole backline dealt with them really well.
“As I said before, all the other boys (have) loads of experience: (Carl Jenkinson) has played at the highest level, (Jordan) Elsey, Matty (Jurman), they’re players to look up to. They help me around the team and make me feel comfortable.”
Certainly, a step in the right direction for the Jets, who will be looking to use this as a springboard going into the new year.
