Perth Glory, how low can we go? We might not be bottom of the table, but with games in hand Sydney and North Queensland could leave us dead last with just 15 points from 17 games. Perhaps even more disturbingly, we've conceded very near to two goals for every one scored this season including two or more goals against in every away fixture since the visit to Melbourne in round 2. The surprise 3-1 win last week looks very much like a momentary flash of inspiration in what are otherwise the bleakest of times.
The sad truth for Glory is that the month of November, despite providing just 4 of a possible 15 points (with a double-header in Queensland to come), has been a major improvement on September and October. The team has played with more confidence, aggression and desperation. They've competed better and shown a lot more energy than in the uninspired performances against Brisbane, North Queensland, Sydney and Central Coast last month.
In short, Ian Ferguson has got the team playing the way he wants them to be playing.
Against Heart, Glory battled to a hard-earned 0-0 draw for their first clean sheet in 10 matches. Four days later they conceded in the first minute against Wellington but managed to fight back and create the better chances from then on. Then against Adelaide they held a rampant title-favourite out for more than an hour before finally succumbing 2-0. Later that week they rounded out their 5 games in 16 days with that gritty if not pretty 3-1 drought-breaking and Fowler-inspired win over Victory. And of course the weekend just gone they went toe-to-toe with Sydney for large portions of the match before finally being let down by a lack of quality.
The results might not quite be there, but the fight has returned. Or perhaps "the fight has returned but the results still aren't there" would be a better way to put it. Because the sad truth is fight alone is not enough to win football matches on a regular basis without the quality to go with it.
This is sadly where Mr Ian Ferguson falls down as an A-League coach just as David Mitchell did before. When the team is up and ready for the battle, they might well have enough individual spark to beat better organised teams- but more often than not they won't. When a team attacks with vigour and passion from the first whistle, they might force an opening goal and go on to win the game, but if luck doesn't go with them (such as when McFlynn somehow cleared Baird's early header off the line) then there is no team strategy or plan to fall back on.
I don't, it should be clarified, mean to suggest that there is no place for passion, energy, grit and determination in football. These are all wonderful characteristics for a team so long as the fundamental skills and tactical competency are there to go with them.
Brisbane's form over the last few games is certainly proof enough of that- even when they've been down and struggling against the Heart, the Jets and the Fury they've managed to come back for a win and two draws. The confidence of a team that is exceptionally well drilled and fit was enough to allow them to keep battling and get results that perhaps would've slipped away from an equally good but less emotionally strong side.
The beauty of Brisbane Roar is not purely that they play a wonderful brand of football, but that they also have enough confidence in their style to fight from the first to the final whistle as if they're a team that's going to win.
Perth against Sydney looked like a team that was going to win until McFlynn cleared Baird's chance off the line. Then they looked like a team happy to draw. As soon as Cole scored the opener Perth looked like a team helpless to do anything but lose. The fight is there, but the confidence comes only with success and success comes only with technical proficiency and adequate strategy.
Until Ian Ferguson is replaced or learns the difference between 'coach' and 'motivational speaker' then we Glory fans can continue to be occasionally delighted to see a team with energy and passion score an upset win thanks to a brilliant individual performance, but ultimately only dream of competing for ultimate honours.
