ADELAIDE United are in danger of becoming the Buzz Aldrin of Australian football.
If you’re unsure on who or what Buzz Aldrin is – that will go someway to highlighting my point. The educated among you or those with a talent for futile strands of information, will know that Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon. Stepping foot on the moon’s surface just after the household name of Neil Armstrong, by which point no-one really cared. He was second.
Adelaide travel to the Telstra Dome on Saturday and are 90 minutes away from a hugely successful season which will be remembered for an historic ACL final, a notable World Club Cup voyage and Grand Final victory in the toughest possible circumstances against rivals Melbourne in their own backyard.
Failure to conquer Melbourne at the weekend will leave an entirely different taste in the mouth. Memories from the 08/09 season will centre firmly on humbling losses against Gamba Osaka, finishing second in the league by a single goal, Viddy’s public implosion and a relentless inability to ever beat Melbourne.
Put simply if Adelaide lose at the weekend their season will be remembered as a failure. In football second is nothing. Just ask former Chelsea manager Avram Grant.
Soon after Grant’s appointment in 2007 Chelsea went on to register a 16-game unbeaten run, he then led them to the league cup final, reignited the EPL title race by taking Manchester United to the final day and were a John Terry slip away from winning their first ever Champions League title. But Chelsea won nothing and Grant was sacked.
This is by no means a campaign to get Viddy sacked and expectations in West London are far higher. What it does demonstrate is the nature of the game. The line between a historic victory or forgettable disappointment is slight. Adelaide’s season is in danger of becoming categorised by the latter.
It would be a huge surprise to see Adelaide win the Grand Final. It would be a surprise if they only lost by a single goal.
Adelaide need to turn in the performance of their season or they will be playing the bridesmaid role once again in a season of hollow near misses.
If you’re unsure on who or what Buzz Aldrin is – that will go someway to highlighting my point. The educated among you or those with a talent for futile strands of information, will know that Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon. Stepping foot on the moon’s surface just after the household name of Neil Armstrong, by which point no-one really cared. He was second.
Adelaide travel to the Telstra Dome on Saturday and are 90 minutes away from a hugely successful season which will be remembered for an historic ACL final, a notable World Club Cup voyage and Grand Final victory in the toughest possible circumstances against rivals Melbourne in their own backyard.
Failure to conquer Melbourne at the weekend will leave an entirely different taste in the mouth. Memories from the 08/09 season will centre firmly on humbling losses against Gamba Osaka, finishing second in the league by a single goal, Viddy’s public implosion and a relentless inability to ever beat Melbourne.
Put simply if Adelaide lose at the weekend their season will be remembered as a failure. In football second is nothing. Just ask former Chelsea manager Avram Grant.
Soon after Grant’s appointment in 2007 Chelsea went on to register a 16-game unbeaten run, he then led them to the league cup final, reignited the EPL title race by taking Manchester United to the final day and were a John Terry slip away from winning their first ever Champions League title. But Chelsea won nothing and Grant was sacked.
This is by no means a campaign to get Viddy sacked and expectations in West London are far higher. What it does demonstrate is the nature of the game. The line between a historic victory or forgettable disappointment is slight. Adelaide’s season is in danger of becoming categorised by the latter.
It would be a huge surprise to see Adelaide win the Grand Final. It would be a surprise if they only lost by a single goal.
Adelaide need to turn in the performance of their season or they will be playing the bridesmaid role once again in a season of hollow near misses.
