Third place

[Philby Ramone]

The table does not lie. Third is fair. We were inconsistent but better than every other team on our day - except maybe Brisbane.

Not so long ago Eugene was our best player every week. Now he only has to perform miracles on the odd occasion.

The team is great to watch, exciting, but often frustrating because we don't translate our excellent play to Goals.

Third is fair, third is good. Perth cheated, so discount them. For me a question mark hangs over the player payements at Sfc and Mvfc, but as it stands they had better years than us. We outplayed them both on every occasion except that last game in Sydney when they smashed us but we won. That's football, and over the season it works itself out.

Third is good. Next year will be better.

[ChillyPhilly]

I voted for Average.

We had the chances and opportunities to win each match - home and away - and usuing this logic could and probably should have been close to wrapping up the league by February/March. Too many times we were our own worst enemy and apart from away wins at CCM and Perth, we failed to break long-standing bogey streaks, ultimately leading to our finishing position.

However, I'm a big believer in getting what we deserve and also think that third place is still a good achievement given our difficulties with training facilities, injuries to key players and more.

I just think we could and should have done a lot better - even without a necessary striker.

[red wombat]

Gombau built the team and the style and the skills to go top. We didn't manage it because we don't have the guts and stability of MV. SFC can go get stuffed, they're still trying to buy success and get no respect as a result.

I think we underperformed and I think the reasons are ultimately a coaching issue. On the other hand, Gombau is no dill and still learning his trade. If he's willing to hang around and work on this team (and whatever his recruiting does to it), I believe he CAN achieve the results he's talked about ie, all three trophies.

Am I disappointed? Not really. Yes, I'm disappointed with some of our games and as shinAU commented once, this team breaks hearts. Overall though, I'm pretty proud of our club and how it consistently punches well above its weight. I just hope they don't do away with or weaken the salary cap because there is no way we'll ever compete financially with NSW and VIC (we're already losing out there).

[EdDog]

Improved on last year so that's a positive.

After our great start to the season, it has been a bit of a disappointing second half.

Still lots to play for though.

[sevengoals]

Great start to the season but that mid season slump cost us as we lost 7 of 13 games.

Winning the FFA Cup was a great achievement.
Now for the finals...


I'm looking forward to next season already.

(even if it is a long, long off season.

[bpowell454]

I feel like the Asian cup break killed our momentum a bit. Overall I think we did well this season but its soured by the chances we missed to go top and the games we should of won that we struggled with.

[double07]

The amount of leads we have squandered this season is astounding.

Yeah I was talking to somebody about this the other day as it felt like every third game we were in a winning position then when onto lose or draw. I went back and counted, 6 times we were winning and lost or drew.

[ChillyPhilly]

The amount of leads we have squandered this season is astounding.

Yeah I was talking to somebody about this the other day as it felt like every third game we were in a winning position then when onto lose or draw. I went back and counted, 6 times we were winning and lost or drew.

Yet how many times did we return the favour and come from behind?

[ganas]

I feel like the Asian cup break killed our momentum a bit. Overall I think we did well this season but its soured by the chances we missed to go top and the games we should of won that we struggled with.

completely agree - the break really did kill us. i don't know what happened during the time but we were pretty lucky with lack of injuries etc, after the break i don't think we fielded the same team week to week.

[mcjules]

I think Josep "played it safe" a bit too much this year. Lots of times he'd shuffle the deck chairs and play players out of position rather than utilising others in the squad. For example, moving Cirio central or Tarek to CB

Perhaps he didn't think they others in the squad were up to it but that last game showed that some were. Regardless we'll need to improve our depth.

[flavze]

considering the injuries and suspensions after the cup i'd give it a pass, from where we were when we won the cup and the poor form of the other top 3-4 teams after the break as well it was a bit poor.
The opportunity to win the league by 10+ points was there for one the us, MV, PG or the Nix and it hurts that we didnt take it.

[Stuckey]

I think Josep "played it safe" a bit too much this year. Lots of times he'd shuffle the deck chairs and play players out of position rather than utilising others in the squad. For example, moving Cirio central or Tarek to CB

Perhaps he didn't think they others in the squad were up to it but that last game showed that some were. Regardless we'll need to improve our depth.

I agree I hope that changes next season.

[Stuckey]

According to Andy Cussen AU have got the ACL qualifying spot.

Hopefully as with the last few years Australian club's get the home advantage.

Previous ACL qualifiers have been held around mid-February.

[ZANZIBAR]

SFC, MVFC AUFC in the ACL is awesome and the best three teams to actually not fall in a heap next year like we see so often.

[Stuckey]

SFC, MVFC AUFC in the ACL is awesome and the best three teams to actually not fall in a heap next year like we see so often.

Yeah we should really make a go of it. AU and MV are clearly building slowly and are showing good stability.
SFC seem to all be right behind Arnie so they should be heading in a similar direction.
Luckily for AU JG already has experience in Asia with Kitchee so I would hope there won't be a steep learning curve like we witnessed with Brisbane and their niave first attempt of ACL football.