With another Glory-less Grand Final completed, it would be easy to review just how far ahead both Brisbane and Central Coast are compared to Perth. But that would be too easy.
Instead, a less glamorous sub-plot of the great match temporarily drew my attention away from a game featuring drama, great skill and a rare case of both goalkeepers making the headlines for positive reasons. The battle down both flanks between opposing fullbacks highlighted the two things Glory *should* be able to take from season 2010/2011- how tactically inadequate the side is and how much potential we have in young Scott Neville.
The Modern Fullback
Modern fullbacks (by which I mean fullbacks operating in the modern passing game where teams utilise 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2-narrow-diamond formations) are quickly growing into perhaps the most important players on the field. Fullbacks are expected to carry out their defensive duties, lead the transition from defence to attack and provide the wide support in the final third. Some teams even expect their fullbacks to provide the late runs into the box and contribute goals.
The evolution of the fullback coincides with the near death of the winger. The 1990s saw the winger either converted into a sort of wide midfielder within the 4-4-2 formation or eliminated completely in a 5-3-2 and replaced with wing-backs and an extra covering defender. The diamond midfield often results in those 'wide' midfielders playing almost as narrow central midfielders forming the link between the defensive and attacking midfielders. In 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, the wide players are pushed further up the field and are more likely to be required to contribute on the edge of the box in behind the central striker than out on the flanks.
The result in all the above cases is that fullbacks are given more space in which to drive forward, and rather than work the overlap with the wide midfielders as has traditionally been their role a fullback will be getting forward as the ball is held in central midfield and offer the wide option during the attacking phase. The demands on a fullback are no longer to be able to defend competently and dribble and cross a bit, but the player must have passing skills, exceptional positional sense and reading of the game and they also probably need better stamina than even central midfielders.
While the likes of Brazil, Spain and Barcelona lead the way with their use of fullbacks with players like Maicon, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves and perhaps the father of the modern fullback Roberto Carlos established as star players for their respective teams, its worth noting that both A-League Grand Finalists also have played with narrow midfielders and driving fullbacks this season. Joshua Rose and Shane Stefanutto as left-backs are not far short of challenging David Carney for national team honours, while Ivan Franjic has been a revelation at the Roar at right-back and Pedj Bojic has been one of the Mariners most consistent contributors.
The Australian Fullback
The Stefanutto-Bojic and Franjic-Rose battles may not have decided the grand final, but the lack of impact of Stefanutto and Rose due to the nullifying effects of their opposite numbers certainly contributed to the lack of penetration and ultimately goals for the 90 minutes of regular time. In particular, Franjic and Rose have 5 goals and 12 assists between them this season and had either of them been able to get on top of the other, a winner probably would've come from their flank.
More generally, fullback has been a position particularly difficult for Australian clubs to positively utilise. We have had some very good players like Rose, Franjic and Stefanutto as well as positive contributions from the likes of Cassio, Scott Jamieson, Adama Traore and Tarek Elrich. We've also had guys like Shannon Cole, Matthew Kemp, Jade North, Matteo Corbo and Darren Bazeley and who have all had their fair share of critics. Glory's record is almost unrivalled though with Jamie Coyne, Jimmy Downey, Tyler Simpson and Steve McMahon Jr just some of the names to have filled the fullback spot for the club. It is perhaps a symptom of a greater lack of understanding of the position in Australian football- a problem which is highlighted by so few natural fullbacks being produced for the national team. Carney, Emerton, Wilkshire, Chipperfield and Lazaridis are just some of the players who have been forced away from their natural positions to fill the role.
The Perth Fullback
All that said, it is really exciting (not just because there's little else to get excited about) to see Perth Glory producing some young fullbacks of good quality. Joshua Risdon and Ryan Pearson showed some promising signs this year. But the jewel in the crown is of course Scott Neville, who had an outstanding season amidst the dire situation the club is in. Neville has shown plenty of drive going forward, decent technique and at times even an eye for goal. He's also shown leadership and commitment to the extent that he became the A-League's youngest ever captain this season. If he can take his fitness up another level and improve his final ball, Neville could well be looking beyond club success and eye of a Socceroos birth.
What makes Neville's performances all the more impressive are that they have come despite rather than thanks to the team's structure. Ian Ferguson's insistence on playing a flat midfield 4 (with the exception of one game in which McGarry was played as a narrow left midfielder and a centre-back was played in the left fullback position, leaving a massive hole in Glory's left midfield) deprives Neville of space going forward and on more than one instance the right midfielder was actually getting in the way of the fullbacks runs. Had Brisbane or Central Coast had Neville available to them this season, his performances could've been doubly as impressive.
The one major weakness in Neville has shown at times this season is defending and in particular defending quick wide players. Most memorably, Isaka Cernak and Adama Traore terrorised the fullback in games this season. Unfortunately, the Glory system does not help the fullback again here because modern formations often utilise a 3-man defensive unit to nullify wing attacks. The defensive midfielder will push across to assist the fullback in closing down the winger, while the centre-half takes up a covering position to nullify any opportunity to knock the ball down the line and outrun the markers. This support is what has allowed the likes of Dani Alves and Roberto Carlos to star for the best teams in the world despite only being serviceable defenders at best.
If Perth are fair dinkum about establishing themselves as a top A-League side, Neville is exactly the sort of exciting young talent that they should be offering their full support. If I were in charge of the team, I would have no hesitation in throwing Scotty the captain's armband on a fulltime basis next season, and I would be more than happy to build a team around his attacking threat. Gone are the days when fullbacks are merely the last players picked in a team built around its strike partnership or enigmatic playmaker. If Perth don't realise this soon and give Neville the chance to shine, it might not be long before the youngster goes looking for a club that will. And I know that for some fans that could prove to be the final straw.
