For some clubs, the turn of the year can bring a swift change in fortunes. For some, it all goes pear-shaped. Opta Data analyses the impact a new year can have on clubs’ form in the back half of the season.
In the last couple of seasons we’ve seen some sides produce incredible turnarounds when the calendar has switched over (remember Adelaide United last season?)
It may be due to in-coming signings in the window (think Glory a year ago and Sydney FC a year earlier), or a new approach that lays the platform for a winning run. Â
But others have tended to fall away in the second half of the season as injuries, confidence and ACL – for some clubs – take a toll.Â
Opta Data has taken a closer look at how all 10 Hyundai A-League clubs have fared in the second part of the campaign over the last couple of seasons.
And if you’re a Phoenix fan, look away now.Â
LAST SEASON
Of course, in the 2015/16 Season it was the Reds that were the great improvers after NYE.
|
2015/16 |
Before New Year’s Eve |
After New Year’s Eve |
||||||||
| Â |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
W% |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
W% |
|
Adelaide United |
3 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
25.0% |
13 |
3 |
1 |
42 |
76.5% |
|
Brisbane Roar |
7 |
3 |
2 |
24 |
58.3% |
8 |
3 |
6 |
27 |
47.1% |
|
Central Coast Mariners |
2 |
2 |
9 |
8 |
15.4% |
1 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
7.1% |
|
Melbourne City |
6 |
2 |
4 |
20 |
50.0% |
8 |
3 |
6 |
27 |
47.1% |
|
Melbourne Victory |
5 |
2 |
5 |
17 |
41.7% |
6 |
6 |
4 |
24 |
37.5% |
|
Newcastle Jets |
3 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
25.0% |
5 |
2 |
8 |
17 |
33.3% |
|
Perth Glory |
3 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
25.0% |
10 |
1 |
5 |
31 |
62.5% |
|
Sydney FC |
5 |
2 |
5 |
17 |
41.7% |
3 |
5 |
7 |
14 |
20.0% |
|
Wellington Phoenix |
4 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
30.8% |
3 |
1 |
10 |
10 |
21.4% |
|
Western Sydney Wanderers |
8 |
2 |
2 |
26 |
66.7% |
7 |
1 |
6 |
22 |
50.0% |
Gui Amor’s side had a win percentage of just 25% in the 12 games before the New Year, but won 13 of their last 17 games [including the Finals Series] to improve their win percentage by 51.5 points (76.5%).
Perth Glory was the other big improvers last season.
Bolstered by some clever signings during the January transfer window, Glory improved their win percentage by 37.5 percentage points.
After winning just three of their first 12 games in the 2015/16 Season, Kenny Lowe’s men won 10 of the last 16 to feature in the Finals Series.
But it was a different story for Sydney FC. The Sky Blues fell away dramatically in the second half of last season, winning just three of the 15 games at the start of 2016.
That saw their win percentage drop from 41.7% to just 20% and they ended up missing out on finals football despite a superb campaign in the champions league group stage.Â
Sydney’s late season capitulation was in stark contrast to 12 months earlier, when Graham Arnold’s troops were the big improvers after NYE.
2014/15 SEASON
In Hyundai A-League Season 2014/15, the Sky Blues improved their win percentage by 38% from the first half of the season to the second.Â
The team was bolstered in January and this laid a very strong platform for a new feeling and confidence in the group that lead all the way to the Grand Final (won by Victory).Â
|
2014/15 |
Before New Year’s Eve |
After New Year’s Eve |
||||||||
| Â |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
W% |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
W% |
|
Adelaide United |
7 |
2 |
4 |
23 |
53.8% |
8 |
2 |
6 |
26 |
50.0% |
|
Brisbane Roar |
3 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
25.0% |
7 |
1 |
8 |
22 |
43.8% |
|
Central Coast Mariners |
1 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
8.3% |
4 |
3 |
8 |
15 |
26.7% |
|
Melbourne City |
4 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
33.3% |
6 |
4 |
7 |
22 |
35.3% |
|
Melbourne Victory |
7 |
4 |
1 |
25 |
58.3% |
10 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
58.8% |
|
Newcastle Jets |
1 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
7.7% |
2 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
14.3% |
|
Perth Glory |
9 |
2 |
1 |
29 |
75.0% |
5 |
6 |
4 |
21 |
33.3% |
|
Sydney FC |
4 |
6 |
3 |
18 |
30.8% |
11 |
2 |
3 |
35 |
68.8% |
|
Wellington Phoenix |
8 |
1 |
4 |
25 |
61.5% |
6 |
3 |
6 |
21 |
40.0% |
|
Western Sydney Wanderers |
0 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
0.0% |
4 |
3 |
10 |
15 |
23.5% |
Western Sydney Wanderers, Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners, were also significant improvers over the same period.
But if there’s one club that has consistently struggled in the second half of the season it’s Wellington Phoenix.
The Kiwi side’s win percentage has decreased after the New Year in each of the last two campaigns, especially last season where they won just 21.4% of matches in the second half of the season.
