WHAT exactly did Michael Zullo do to find himself on the bench this season?
Did he accidentally scratch Frank Farina’s car in the training ground car park? Was he caught mistreating Roary, the Queensland Roar’s cowardly-lion mascot? Is it because his current haircut makes him look a little like Liza Minelli? These reasons seem as good as any because it certainly has nothing to do with his performances on the pitch.To say Queensland supporters were pleased about the emergence of the young Zullo last season would be an understatement. Frank Farina had unearthed an exciting and dynamic left-winger whose young legs showed up more than one aging defender as he helped rejuvenate the Roar’s stalled finals campaign.
When given his first start in October last year it took Zullo barely five minutes to become a local favourite. His left-footed volley from outside the box against Wellington had the fans and football media slightly ga-ga - I believe that is the technical term - for the Brisbane-born youngster.
He managed to net another pearler against Melbourne Victory in Round 6 this year. Taking the ball a foot inside the sideline then, with his first touch, scooting past Kevin Muscat before coolly dribbling into the box and placing a composed shot past the keeper with his right foot. Yet it would seem even an away goal against the title favourites is not enough to earn Zullo a regular starting spot.
Granted, he has made two starts this year but they unfortunately coincided with two of Queensland’s more woeful home performances. This has hardly been Zullo’s fault. He played an hour, while carrying a knee injury, in the 4-2 loss to Central Coast. His second opportunity came a few weeks back against Adelaide. In that match it was Zullo who provided the pinpoint cross for Matt McKay’s disallowed header – one of few highlights for a disappointing Roar side.
His performances have appeared solid enough to earn him a start against Wellington last weekend. Instead, Matt McKay was given the nod to control the left side of midfield. McKay is a lot of things but a left-winger he is not. At times McKay resembled Kevin Rudd’s election platform as he continually drifted from the left to the centre, and then inexplicably found himself on the right. As if to emphasise the point, some of the more penetrating runs down the left flank that chilly Sunday came courtesy of designated left back Andrew Packer.
The value of a genuine left-winger is undeniable, and there is little doubt that Zullo would have been a prized recruit for both the Gold Coast’s and North Queensland’s inaugural squads. Thankfully for Queensland supporters, Zullo was re-signed by the Roar earlier this month for another two years. It would be a shame for both the fans and Zullo if those two years were spent making impact appearances from the bench.
So, with that in mind, I’d like to offer Michael some friendly advice: volunteer to give Frank’s car a polish; take Roary out for a night on the town; and make an appointment with Danny Tiatto’s barber. Because it seems that no matter what Zullo does on the pitch, that at the moment, it doesn’t seem enough to impress Frank Farina.