I've tried to be positive about Glory's prospects over the last month. When the side lost to Gold Coast, I was willing to put it down to the Miron Bleiberg game-plan. When Newcastle took the points, it was due to their motivation resulting from off-field problems. Even when Adelaide won, I was willing to write it off as a result of a strong opponent and some excellent Eugene Galekovic keeping.
The lost against Brisbane, though, was the final straw. It wasn't just the result (which as an aside ensures Glory will go over at least a month without picking up a single point) but more the manner in which the side was beaten that has me completely writing off our prospects for a season that promised so much. Perth Glory weren't even close to being in the same class as Brisbane. Admittedly, Roar showed themselves- as they have done all season- to be an exceptional A-League side. That said, Perth's lack of answers was embarrassing for the players, the coach, the club and even the fans who thought the team would be a genuine contender this season.
The combination work of Queenslanders Broich, McKay, Barbarouses, Paartalu and Reinaldo going forward was exceptional, and showed the potential for the A-League to be a genuinely credible football league on the world stage. It also showed Glory defenders Neville, Harnwell, Sekulovski and even the usually indefatigable Andy Todd to be absolute pretenders. The introduction of young Ryan Pearson upon Harnwell's injury in fact was probably one of the few blessings for Perth in the game, because at least he might've learned something from the classy Queensland show and indeed probably withstood the onslaught better than most of his more qualified teammates.
When Perth went forward, it was less like credible national football league and more like an above-average amateur team. The token effort to play the ball around in the back half to keep the possession statistics credible inevitably lead to a desperate long-ball to the flanks or hopeful lob over the top for "speedy" Michael Baird or Robbie Fowler. The only variation from this was when Velaphi or Harnwell got the ball, and subsequently pumped it towards the head of Baird, Fowler, Sterjovski or Jelic (none of whom exceed 6 foot compared to two central defenders in DeVere and Susak who do top that mark). The false sense of achievement when one of these efforts did happen to pay off was inevitably dashed by a wayward cross or dribble, with Adriano Pellegrino the culprit nine times out of ten.
Details aside, a few simple truths have now well and truly emerged as a result of the poor run of results:
1- Glory won't (deservedly) win a league title under David Mitchell
Mitch, simply, isn't up to it. He's done wonders to recruit quality players for the club, but he doesn't know how to use them. Football teams need to be successful, or at least failing that entertaining. Glory are neither of those things, and haven't been for the entirety of Mitchell's tenure.
I've credited (and maintain the compliment) Mitch for mixing up his tactics this season and deviating from the previously set-in-stone 4-4-2 especially when chasing a result, but it's what doesn't change that is disturbing. The style with which attacks are launched is inevitably nothing more complex than your average pub team could put together. And the players - even the good ones - aren't good enough to balance this lack of team cohesion.
2- Glory cannot carry passenger players if they want to win the league
Too many Glory players are simply not up to scratch. Gone are the days when we've had to watch Brian Deane, Henry Fa'arodo and "MacJu" parading around the park, but we've still got Jamie Coyne and Adriano Pellegrino. Not a week goes by when these two don't frustrate the hell out of at least 50% of Glory fans. Naum Sekulovski only barely avoids falling into this category based on a handful of good performances towards the end of last season, and Michael Baird will need to show significant improvement to also keep off of the fans' hit-list.
3- The youth players need to be given a chance
Following on from the previous point, one wonders how Perth have managed to push so few youth team players into the senior side. Most A-League clubs are starting to reap the benefits of the NYL, but Glory only really have Scott Neville to show for it. While Gareth Naven's runners-up from last season have managed to go unbeaten in their three games this season, the likes of Andrija Jukic, Howard Fondyke, Dean Evans, Cameron Edwards, Ryan Pearson, Brent Griffith and Anthony Skorich have all received few chances if any to displace the mediocre players currently sabotaging the senior side.
It really has gotten to the point where even the most optimistic Glory supporter must have abandoned any hope for success this season. Indeed, as long as Mitch is coaching the likes of Coyne and Pellegrino while Jukic and co are performing wonders in the NYL, I'll probably choose to go to 6PR Stadium to watch Gareth Naven's boys next Saturday and give the senior team a miss.
