By Paul Frederickson
With a third of the A-League season to go, how has your team fared to date? I've broken down each team's season as their wins, draws and losses.
ADELAIDE UNITED
WIN
The late inclusion of Adelaide United into this year's edition of the Asian Champions League has to be an exciting adventure for a team whose A-League season has almost sputtered to a stop. This is also an exciting time for the A-League gaining the hard fought-for third ACL spot.
DRAW
The signing of Dario Vidosic should have been a win but due to the poor form of the team and a suspected fracture to the lower back his marquee signing is yet to have met expectations.
LOSS
The season promised so much, with many people expecting Adelaide to end in the top three at season's end. Currently second last, and with the 'back to the future' re-signing of John Kosmina, the club is on the verge of slipping down the A-League ladder on a more permanent basis.
BRISBANE ROAR
WIN
An Australian footballing record of any of the professional football codes, thirty-six games unbeaten, had the Brisbane Roar and the A-League leading football stories across the country and internationally. Whilst the Brisbane Roar have struggled since that point the unbeaten streak is a momentous achievement in Australian sport.
DRAW
After the achievements of last season the Brisbane Roar lost a plethora of pivotal players headed by their club captain Matthew McKay after the Grand Final win. The replacements, in particular Besart Berisha, have highlighted Ange Postecoglou's astute recruiting eye. The ledger, at the moment, is slightly behind.
LOSS
The system that Brisbane wreaked upon the competition last season has also been its anchor this season. The Roar have seemed inflexible in their approach when circumstances in certain games may have required a change to the game plan. This has been illustrated in their six losses to date.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
WIN
The continued success of the Central Coast Mariners has culminated in an almost unstoppable self-belief. They sit atop the A-league ladder in an seemingly unassailable position. The Premier's Plate is theirs for the losing. Another ACL campaign would ensue and they also have this year's campaign to look forward to. Nothing but positives for the Mariners this season. They have been the most successful team, excluding finals, in the last two seasons of the A-League. If only they could have the last four minutes of the 2010/11 Grand Final back!
DRAW
The Central Coast Mariners are acknowledged as one of the hardest working teams in terms of community engagement. They are part of the fabric of Gosford but are finding it hard to increase their supporter base. This is vital for the long term stability and success of the club.
LOSS
Club striker and stalwart Matthew Simon has departed the Mariners for South Korean K-League club Chunnam Dragons. Loved by his own club, disliked by others he will be a big loss as the season closes and the finals begin. It is always hard to replace a big, solid and reliable front man part way through a season.
GOLD COAST UNITED
WIN
The development of young, local players, such as Ben Halloran and James Brown have been exciting for the Gold Coast team and supporters. It is arguably what the club should have done since its inception.
DRAW
The fact that the club is in its third season would be considered a win for their fans, but the continued speculation over their future tempers any excitement about the direction of the club.
LOSS
The abysmal crowds are handicapping the club, the league and Foxsports. The atmosphere is more akin to a funeral than a celebration of football at times. It is hard to see the crowds increasing for the foreseeable future.
MELBOURNE HEART
WIN
At this moment the Melbourne Heart are above their same town rivals Melbourne Victory, for many supporters this means that the season has already been a success. The Melbourne Heart have played a similar brand that was demonstrated by the Brisbane Roar in the previous season and the style of play should also a see the Heart play in their inaugural finals campaign.
DRAW
When there is an existing team in the same city it can be very hard to attract supporters to your new franchise. The Melbourne Heart have been able to build a supporter base but it has stalled in season two. The Heart will need to continue to engage their supporter base as well as trying to attract new supporters. This will be best achieved by providing a positive and consistent vision for what Heart encompasses as a club.
LOSS
Melbourne Heart’s manager John van’t Schip will be leaving the expansion franchise at the end of this season. This will leave a giant hole in the fabric of the club. It must be acknowledged that he has successfully built the club from the ground up and will be a hard man to replace.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
WIN
In the long post-season of 2010/11 Melbourne Victory went on an aggressive recruiting campaign which culminated in the protracted signing of Socceroos legend, Harry Kewell. The ability for the Melbourne Victory to sign big-name players to a custom built stadium with very good crowds will continue to be a win for the club.
DRAW
After such an exciting post/pre-season period the Melbourne Victory faithful would have been entitled to think that the club would be pushing for a top two finish. As we all know the club is struggling to make the finals, a task made very hard with only four wins in 19 games. Throughout the season the crowds, although lower by Victory's standards, have been the best of the competition.
LOSS
Besides the obviously disappointing season to date the loss has been the instability in Australia's biggest A-League club. Three managers in just over 14 months is too many for a club craving and expecting success. Pick your manager, believe in their vision, and stick with them.
NEWCASTLE JETS
WIN
The Newcastle Jets, through initiatives by owner Nathan Tinkler, have the best value memberships in the A-League. This is forward thinking and has seen Newcastle post respectable crowds in a difficult playing period for the club.
DRAW
With an unstable club roster the Newcastle Jets have performed above many pundit's expectations. The Newcastle Jets have the real possibility to play finals football this year if they can be more consistent. Gary Van Egmond knows the club and should go along way to providing the stability required.
LOSS
A club's reputation is not down to results alone. The sacking of Branko Cullina on the eve of the season, after attending the season launch was one of the lowest acts in Australian football. The subsequent legal action pending over insurance issues of Branko Cullina's son, Jason Cullina remains a sour note for the club.
PERTH GLORY
WIN
Perth Glory have had rosters that have underperformed over recent seasons. After starting well again this season the Glory went through another lean spell with one win from eleven games. There were numerous calls to sack the incumbent manager Ian Ferguson. Since that time, and with the faith of the Glory board, Perth Glory are challenging for 2nd. Stability in the line-up and with Ferguson finally settling on his tactics have brought renewed optimism to the Glory supporters. This is a great period for Perth glory in their 15th year as a football entity.
DRAW
Ferguson looked to be on shaky ground this season and must have been close to losing his job when the results mirrored those of previous seasons. Many questioned Ferguson's tactics. It is still questionable whether he has a clear direction for the playing style of the club, but no one can question their current form.
LOSS
The loss must be the continuing ownership saga at the club. Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has flipped and back flipped over whether he wants to remain at the helm of the club. No one can doubt the time, money and effort that he has put into the club but the uncertainty that still surrounds the clubs ownership structure must be resolved.
SYDNEY FC
WIN
Sydney for whatever reason have been known as A-League front-runners. When they are going well, they are going really well but when confronted by adversity during a match they have had the reputation of shirking from the challenge. This season they have had late wins and recently recovered from a 2 nil half-time deficit to draw 2-all with Melbourne Victory on Australia day. The former 'bling' team are starting to demonstrate some street-smarts and grit.
DRAW
Whilst Sydney's team and their marquee signing, Brett Emerton, are another team that hasn't lived up to their pre-season hype they are still in finals contention. There is still the chance that Sydney can obtain a coveted ACL spot.
LOSS
The end of season departure by mutual consent of current coach Vitezslav Lavicka highlights the lack of continuity at Sydney FC. Whilst the club has announced that their search for a new coach will be worldwide the high turnover of coaches at Sydney FC in their seven year existence would raise some concerns for anyone considering taking the job.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
WIN
The current away form and highest ladder position, 2nd, at this time of the year must have been unimaginable for many Phoenix fans at the start of the season. In round one and two the Phoenix barely had enough players to fill the field, let alone the bench. Three away wins in a row demonstrate Wellington's new found strength and resilience.
DRAW
The current squad is playing arguably Wellington's best in their short history. This is in no doubt one of the team's great strengths but it could become their weakness in coming years. The loss of young players such as Rojas and Barbarouses in recent seasons may come back to haunt the club.
LOSS
Wellington Phoenix are in the unique position of playing in Australian federated competition but governed by New Zealand football. They are an Ocenia sanctioned team playing in an Asian Federation competition.They could conceivably finish in an ACL position that they cannot participate in. This would definitely put a dampener on their successful season to date.
What are your thoughts on your team's wins, draws and losses so far this season?
