Every so often a player comes along. A real player. Welcome Marcos Flores.
The A-League is a tough competition. Aussies like their football played with mind and muscle. But just below the skin of most football fans lies a pulse of hope that our games might be brought to life with some real, red-blooded football flair.
Step forward the dark-eyed, Latin lover with the clever flick, the deft touch, the smooth pass and the absolutely stunning, net-bulging strike.
And the....um...rather interesting celebration dance, complete with borrowed wig. Let's not go there.
From the moment Magnificent Marcos took the field for Adelaide in the ACL competition it was obvious that he brought something special to the team. There can be no question that he has the skills and the flair to light up any game. That's not it. What Flores brings is the ability to make those around him shine. It's a rare gift. Many players have enough talent to hold their own in this league. Few have the capacity to be generous.
In those early matches his interplay with Travis Dodd lifted Dodd's game out of the 'maybe' realm and into the 'seriously good'. Travis must be kicking himself for being injured right now. (Not too hard, Trav, you could hurt yourself.)
Now we see him fronting the line in the absence of Sergio and slipping into the playmaking role when Serg is back. And everyone around him seems to have gained a yard of pace and a year of experience and more than a touch of class.
Leckie and he are establishing a fantastic relationship based on different but complimentary talents. Pantelis has raised his game. Ramsey has come onto the scene at the right time to shine. Reflected glory? I think so. Marcos is the type of unselfish, creative and hard-working player who puts the ball where his team-mates might have hoped for it but never really expected.
He's a genius of sorts. And he loves the game.
Admittedly he's a 45 minute genius at the moment. He tends to disappear after half-time a bit. But he does enough in those 45 minutes to make the difference, and it'll only get better.
We've seen him weave like a fish through pylon-like defenders, put cross-field passes onto the feet of his teammates without even looking up, show steel and strength to hold off three hacking opponents and still have the wit to make a pass to a free player, play dazzling one-twos at a speed and accuracy Hindmarsh has sorely missed - and then we got to see him bring that ball down off his chest and instinctively swivel and smash it into the corner of a goal he had his back to. Not bad.
Commentators look for Fowler's brilliance and are used to Hernandez's dazzling skill. Some players come with expectations they have to meet. Marcos is like the first spring flower in Adelaide after a long, cold winter. Unexpected but inspiring. A joy to behold. A sign of things to come.
After the last round of games it's good to be able to laud a player who'd rather play a great ball than take a prat fall. Every team needs a player like Marcos but they are hard to find and likely to be stolen. We can, right now, thank whatever gods or stars we follow that our football team has our very own forty-five minute genius.
++++
And how are the rest of the lads travelling?
Hugene: Still looking the goods but being a little more exposed by a makeshift backline. Class - as ever.
Watson: Badly caught out for the first goal. Great diving header to save another chance. Not in the right position and not yet ready. But good signs that he will be a player.
Mullen: Great finish! Doing well in the centre but he's better on the right.
Fyfe: My unsung hero. Needs his mates Corny and Boogs back soon.
Cassio: His defence has improved out of sight this year. He wants that spot as his own. He used to attack and get caught out. Now he attacks and is back there to hold the line. Can you but love him?
Hughes: Always there. Always tough. Always worrying.
Reid: With every game in sequence we're getting back a player of true class. Still more to come.
Pantelis: He could complete more passes and make fewer mistakes but he has the invaluable knack of being there when you need him to chip in with goals and assists. Deserves to be VC this year.
Flores: Who ?
Leckie: This kid has such a future if he keeps learning the way he is now. Incredible strength and drive match his pace and his footballing intelligence is on the up. But learn to look up and pass, lad!
Sergio: We can thank Ramsey for Sergio's rediscovery of his mojo. In the first half he looked like the striker we thought we'd bought. Some beautiful skills, plenty of run and a real team ethic. Faded in the second....
Ramsey: Don't push it too hard. Looked lost when he came on but still nearly caught them napping. Unpolished but of real value. Stupid card.
Keenan: Time will tell.
Shin: Deserves more chances.
The Reds: Looking good.
