WELL, the ACL circus has packed its tent and rolled out of town leaving a bare patch of grass and a bunch of teary-eyed kids wondering if they’ll ever have that much fun again.

Sure, there are other games to play but none of them seem quite as much fun anymore. Little Travis, the big-eyed kid who can run the 100m in 4 seconds is shuffling around kicking at the dust, looking miserable. In the shade of the trees Cristiano and Jamieson are trying hard to elbow each other, only succeeding in both falling over.

‘Big hands’ Eugene is swatting flies. The Ogre and Riedy are off having their first shave – at least for some time. Diego’s got himself lost again and Sarkies is looking for new friends. All around them the town is quiet, gone back to sleep after the party. Only Viddie is happy, looking at his reflection in the polished surface of his gold, plastic ‘Legend’ medal. Maybe it was all a dream...

The sad fact is that it’s no dream for Adelaide at the moment. 3-0 to the Mariners on Saturday was a sharp reminder that all the talk of J-League contracts and all the newspaper headlines amount to nothing if you’re playing the blues in the dressing room.

Not that the Mariners are a bad team – not at all – but Adelaide have shown that they can be a great team if they are up for it. Saturday may have been another physical step too far for an exhausted group but it also seemed that our boys were looking backwards.

So, time to ditch the dressing room DJ. From the performance on Saturday night it sounds like they were playing a steady stream of old tear-jerkers. Well, fair enough. It’s been a heart-breaking couple of weeks and let’s indulge in a little self-pity one more time. Cue Jimmy Ruffin with:

What becomes of the Broken-Hearted?
I'm searching though I don't succeed,
But someone look, there's a growing need.
Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning,
All that's left is an unhappy ending.
Now what's become of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care.

Watch him here if you really want to cry into your beer.

But enough of that. It’s time to get the kids fired up for the next match. No more of this soul-searching, maudlin, last-dance-of-the-night rubbish. Get out the ‘fire-me-up’ music and make the boys listen until they’re bouncing off the walls. Cue Chumbawamba with:

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down
We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing

Watch it here with an (appropriate) Japanese manga backing. Made in Osaka.

If you, like me, are now ready to see Adelaide push for the A-League title then post your picks for the dressing-room DJ. “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”, said Berthold Auerbach. Let’s make a soundtrack to wash off the ACL circus dust and get United back into the groove. I’ll send it on to the club.

As for the others... I'm happy to hear suggestions for theme songs to suit other teams too.

Melbourne Victory – “The Great Pretender”, The Platters?
Oh yes I'm the great pretender (ooh ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (ooh ooh)
I play the game but to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone

Sydney F.C. – “You’re So Vain”, Carly Simon?
You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain, I bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you? Don’t you?

Perth Glory – “ Long Way to the Top”, ACDC?
Gettin' robbed, Gettin' stoned, Gettin' beat up, Broken boned
Gettin' had, Gettin' took, I tell you folks, It's harder than it looks
It's a long way to the top….

Over to you.