A-League
Western Sydney Wanderers
Emma Kemp writes that Western Sydney Wanderers' “main man” Oriol Rieira, is key to the Wanderers' improving their position “if he can sharpen his execution”. For example, in last weekend's match he had eight shots on goal, but only two were on target, for a total 27 shots with nine on target in five rounds so far. In comparison, Kemp notes that Adam Taggart scored two goals from seven shots in Brisbane Roar's win against Melbourne City, and Newcastle Jets' Ronny Vargas scored one from four shots.
Melbourne Victory
They're not usually quick out of the blocks and it looked like it would be that way this season, but they've now got three wins on the trot and sitting second on the table. Leigh Broxham says Kevin Muscat is still seeking improvement in every game.
Melbourne City
Newcastle Jets' coach, Ernie Merrick, backs his Melbourne City counterpart, Warren Joyce, saying he simply can't understand the talk about Joyce and the suggestion his job is not secure. Merrick reminds us that Joyce took City to their best-ever finish in the A-League last season and that City was “unlucky to be knocked out in the semi-finals” by Merrick's Jets.
Ramy Najjarine was ahead of Daniel Arzani in the pecking order of young guns at Melbourne City until a shoulder injury sent him to the back of the queue. The Young Socceroo is proud of what Arzani has achieved and, after making his first A-League match last weekend, hopes to emulate him.
Brisbane Roar
Connor O'Toole is one who got away from Adelaide United. The 21-year-old was brought to Adelaide by the club but then failed to get an A-League game, but has slotted-in to a starting position at Brisbane Roar.
Daniel Bowles won't take the opportunity for granted to start the match for the first time this season, especially as competition for spots is so fierce. He talks of the fact that a player of the calibre of Luke De Vere can't even make it to John Aloisi's substitutes' bench.
A-League expansion
Dominic Bossi reports that Southern Expansion has offered to pay a seven-figure sum to Sydney FC if they are given an A-League license, to compensate for “encroaching” on their territory. Sydney FC are said not to be interested.
If Team 11 is one of the successful consortiums, they will thank champion horse Black Caviar (pictured). One of the investors in Team 11, Colin Madden, is also a part-owner of Black Caviar.
The man who was “a thorn in the side of Lowy” for years, Greg Griffin, says the FFA Board should not make a decision on A-League expansion based on money paid for the license fee, but on the basis of the right teams in the right locations (hmmm … those words sound familiar). Griffin also says that a separate entity for the A-League is as important a priority as A-League expansion, and the existing A-League clubs should be consulted on expansion options.
In the meantime, FFA management are pondering how a 12-team competition will be structured with the options including:
play 22 rounds with each side playing one another twice, which Vince Rugari writes is not enough football;
play 33 rounds, which would be difficult for FOX Sports;
keep the season at its current length of 27 rounds
The “awkward situation” is one of the reasons FFA management would appreantly prefer to see a 14-team competition with 26 rounds.