2010/11: the best AU yet?

[David Votoupal]

The question on many lips no doubt is: is this the best Adelaide United vintage yet? Is it premature to declare it such with the season nearly two-thirds complete?

My answer is: "yes". This is not only the best-ever Adelaide United side, but together with Brisbane Roar, United have set a new benchmark for the A-League. In terms of style of play and results, in terms of coaching, is undoubtedly above what we have seen in previous seasons. These are not the only things in which Rini Coolen does better than Vidmar had done- in terms of his relationship to the media and players, especially in the last season, things appear far more relaxed and refreshing. One must consider too that there have been a fair share of injuries this season- that can hamper anybody, but I doubt it would have handled it as well under Vidmar as it has under Coolen.

The only question is whether United have the mental toughness when it really counts. The team's record against Melbourne Victory is absolutely abysmal. It has to change although fortunately, Victory are looking more like also-rans this season. But just one win over them, just one win, will break that final psychological barrier.

Time will tell whether this is a genuine new dawn, whether the self-destructive tendencies of the past have been purged.

[sall123]

hoorah

[WINDSOR]

Etihad is one hurdle in that psycological battle that is now gone.

I have been so impressed by the approach of regular player not just new imports (Van Djik, Flores, Ramsey). Reid, Hughes, Dodd, Cassio, Pantelis these guys were all there at the foot of the table in Feb. Coolen has empowered these guys.

Your spot on regarding mental toughness when it really counts.... we need to be there when they hand out the toilet seats in Feb.

[King_Billy]

Too early to tell. Need some silverware before this question can really be answered. If we have a 4 point lead over Brisbane at full time at the oval against the tards then the answer will be yes

[Agostinho]

I'm not suggesting that the 10 losses in a row to Melbourne isn't woeful - it is... but just for a bit of perspective - only 3 of those matches have been in Adelaide. In fact if you go back 1 more game (which we drew) and that was also in Melbourne.

And given that the next time we meet them it will also be in Melbourne, by the end of this season that will make only 4 games out of 13 against them played in Adelaide. Fair enough there was a Grand Final in there (of which they earned the right to host) but the rest of that scheduling is terrible. So while we really should have taken some points somewhere in there - when you get on a run it's sometimes difficult to shake and that scheduling doesn't help us.

[King_Billy]

I'm not suggesting that the 10 losses in a row to Melbourne isn't woeful - it is... but just for a bit of perspective - only 3 of those matches have been in Adelaide. In fact if you go back 1 more game (which we drew) and that was also in Melbourne.

And given that the next time we meet them it will also be in Melbourne, by the end of this season that will make only 4 games out of 13 against them played in Adelaide. Fair enough there was a Grand Final in there (of which they earned the right to host) but the rest of that scheduling is terrible. So while we really should have taken some points somewhere in there - when you get on a run it's sometimes difficult to shake and that scheduling doesn't help us.

Interesting point.

If you take out season 4's finals all together (fixtures the FFA don't control)

Season 3 last game in Melbourne
Season 4 1 in Adelaide 2 in Melbourne
Season 5 1 in Adelaide 2 in Melbourne
Season 6 first 2 in Melbourne.
So by the time we play them at AAMI on Jan 9 FFA would have scheduled 7 out of 9 AU v MV games in Melbourne. Ridiculous.

[sevengoals]

^^
That sucks!
Whatever happened to home and away?
Fairness?

[Stuckey]

^^
That sucks!
Whatever happened to home and away?
Fairness?

i think if we get a huge crowd for our MV game it will prove we deserve two next season.

I agree though if AU end this poor run against MV this will be probably our best season yet.

[Max Power]

It should not be about proving we 'deserve' the fixture, it should be about fairness. How is that scheduling fair to United??

[shinAUFC]

financially it is very unfair also

[Steelinho]

Are they a great side? Yes.

Are they one of the best United sides? Sure.


Are they the best ever United side? No. They've only played a total of 18 games. We can have no idea.

Other United sides have actually achieved things in seasons (Premierships, Club World Cup appearances) and until they can prove their worth to a similar level, we won't know.
Also, I don't think this is a side that would be able to perform in a continental or international tournament. Domestically, they're very good, but there are too many faults that will be their undoing against foreign sides.

[Spiro]

Maybe AUFC did a deal?

1 x MV fixture at AO
2 x MV fixtures in Vic

The question of whether this is the best AU yet is interesting.

The AU that finished first in season 1 was our most succesful team but this year's AU would have probably gone undefeated in season 1.

Then there is the team that made the GF, ACL final but never actually won anything.

If this year's team take home some silverware, then yes, they are the best team but at this stage, it is still the team from season 1

[David Votoupal]

Going over the Adelaide United seasons so far:

NSL Season- were well behind the top two, but to get that far with a club and team quickly assembled in a league whose last rites had been administered was an achievement.

Season 1- Burst out of the blocks to finish top. However, cracks were already showing at season's end and ultimately went out in the preliminary final.

Season 2- Average performances and really only claimed second place by default. Kosmina comes under fire for playing favourites. Getting to the GF papered over the cracks, which were ruthlessly exposed by MV.

Season 3- promising in patches yet ultimately disappointing. In retrospect the failure to win the first 5 games, where Robbie Bajic was in goals and directly responsible for much of those conceded, proved as costly as the later poor run of results.

Season 4- So year yet so far. Unlucky in losing out to Melbourne in the standings and the Grand Final, but not without criticisms either, especially up front. And that's because the club thought before Season 3 that signing Paul Agostino was a good idea.

Season 5- Nothing more needs to be said. A disaster of the season.

Notice that there were certain commonalities between seasons 3 and 5- namely injuries, questionable tactics, and so forth. Vidmar's failings as coach were fully exposed last season, even though some people thought he could do no wrong. You can see that Coolen has taken the team and have them playing at a whole new level.

And the ACL successes. It's nice to have that, sure. But don't look too much into the ACL- many clubs don't take it seriously, it's not the same as the European CL or other cup competitions, and frankly nowhere near as difficult to succeed in.

The standard of the A-League has risen greatly since the first few seasons, especially Season 3 which was awful. I think the damage done then is something the A-League has had to try hard to make up for, because it's easy for the word to spread and hard to shake off a bad rep. IMHO.

[General Ashnak]

I disagree with you only about the ACL. It is irrelevant if other clubs don't take it seriously - we have done so and we need to continue to do so. The ACL is the highest level of competition our clubs can compete in within the AFC and as such demands that we respect it, it is still a young competition and as such is still evolving - if AUFC was to replicate its previous feats we would do much more than post a slight loss (due to the FFA imposed financial drain), we would post a massive profit.

[blahblah]

It is irrelevant if other clubs don't take it seriously - we have done so and we need to continue to do so. The ACL is the highest level of competition our clubs can compete in within the AFC and as such demands that we respect it, it is still a young competition and as such is still evolving

very well put. To ignore the ACL is to declare your club has no ambition and can't mix it with the confederation's best. Such low ambition is fine for other clubs, but it is not good enough for us