These are crucial weeks in the fight against relegation from the Australian A-League. In the mix are poverty-stricken North Queensland, whom many thought would end up in this very position, and two teams who were picked to finish towards the other half of the table - Perth Glory and Sydney FC. For the Fury, it is becoming a battle for the very survival of the club - it’s finances already under strain and requiring help from the FFA, a last-placed finish for the team could very well seal its fate.
For Perth and Sydney, these are difficult - and embarrassing - times. These teams have big name players in their ranks, the likes of Carle, Sterjovski, and Fowler, and to be relegated would be the ultimate ignominy for clubs that are both two-time national champions. Sydney should have the easier task - they have an experienced, championship-winning coach, a solid squad, and enough motivation in the form of wanting to beat rival teams such as Melbourne and Central Coast to get them home. Perhaps not into the playoffs, but certainly well away from the trapdoor.
Perth, on the other hand, are going to struggle. Their coach is a former Rangers striker with little managerial experience at this - or any - level. Their confidence is completely shot, having been near the top of the league at the beginning of the year and now sitting above only North Queensland, who have several games in hand on the West Australian club. Their discipline has been shocking, picking up eight red cards in eighteen games. What’s more, key players such as Victor Sikora have had prolonged absences through injury, meaning that combined with suspensions for ongoing red cards, the club have struggled to field a coherent starting eleven.
So for the Glory it could be a long hard slog until the end of the year, with fans biting their nails until the final weeks and hoping that the expected return of defender Chris Coyne in January can add some much-needed steel to what has been a very fragile - both physically and mentally - side. Simply put, they have to hope for an improvement... if only because the alternative is unthinkable.
Meanwhile, Back In Reality...
Of course, this is all fanciful nonsense. Not the part about these three teams struggling of course, but the supposed fact that they’re all fighting to avoid relegation. Unless you’ve been living on another planet, you’re well aware that the A-League does not have a concept of promotion or relegation; something that many people use as an argument that the league rewards mediocrity (which, let’s face it, it does - what else do you call a team four places from the bottom qualifying for finals football?)
So, that’s a bit of good news for Perth fans then - no relegation to worry about. Or is it? Thing is, if we did have relegation looming, things might be little bit different for the Glory. For a start, there’d be a lot more focus on Ian Ferguson’s position at the club - and for seconds, the players might actually give a damn.
Yes, that’s right - I’m not sure many of the current Glory lineup actually care if the club’s doing well or not. Either they’re in some stupid sort of club-built cocoon which prevents them from feeling the bitter criticisms circling in the press and terraces, or they’ve got no interest in it - viewing their job as something they can ‘clock on, clock off’. Now the PFA, Simon Colosimo, and Brendan Schwab might see it that way - but the average fan certainly doesn’t.
I think it’s great that the game has gotten to a point where Adriano Pellegrino, Michael Baird, and Naum Sekulovski can run around on the pitch as professional footballers and get paid a professional wage. No need to have a second job, no worries about needing to move overseas to get money - we can do it all here in Australia. Unfortunately, the modern game seems more geared towards mercenaries than loyal servants, providing ample opportunities to move from a club struggling to keep under the salary cap to a newer franchise or one that’s rebuilding - somewhere you can earn that bit more coin you’re looking for.
Unfortunately, the league is best suited to people with this train of thinking and not guys like Jamie Harnwell. Now, Jamie will be the first to tell you that he’s no Pele - but you underestimate the bloke at your own peril. The most capped Glory player of all time, he’s 242 games and 44 goals of pure heart. Other teams have shown their interest over the years, especially after he displayed his ability for putting the ball in the back of the net - he’s got the hat-trick to prove it - but he has stuck fast as a pillar of strength at the club; loyal to the end.
We are talking a bloke who has won two championships for the club, who had the option to play in England at the end of the NSL but chose to wait for the A-League by playing state league football with his brother, and someone who proudly wore the captain’s armband in the new league. Even more importantly, he’s the kind of guy that stuck around even after losing said armband to Simon Colosimo. He has always been a fan favourite, and even though those legs aren’t running as quick as they used to, he always will be.
The Heart Of A Harnwell
Bringing it back to the topic at hand, the type of player you want when you’re staring down the barrel of releg- um, finishing last - is someone like Jamie; not some young bloke who is enjoying a salary some of the game’s biggest stars of yesteryear could only dream of, and certainly not some clock-on-clock-off bandit who has no feeling for what Perth Glory FC stands for. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough Jamies in our current side.
Into the “All Heart” basket goes Harnwell, Andy Todd, Scotty Neville, Steve McGarry, and every single friggin’ player from Gareth Naven’s youth team. Why? Because Gareth himself was a heart-on-his-sleeve kind of guy, purple through and through, and he’s going to make bloody sure you want to play for his team before he picks you. Jacob Burns, based on his form last year, would have made it here too. But this year he unfortunately falls into the “Mental Holidays” camp.
Interesting bunch, this. Some, like Jacob, are on holiday not so much in the respect that they don’t care about the club or winning, but they’re just not thinking. Stupid mistakes, stupid tackles, stupid suspensions. Joining Jacob are Jamie Coyne, Naum Sekulovski, and Todd Howarth. Probably a bit harsh on Todd given that he tends to try hard, but he does go absent for prolonged periods of matches.
Those enjoying a holiday of another sort are the “Everybody Hates Me” club. Headed up by Aleks Vrteski, these guys rarely get given a shot and have to be content to sit on the sidelines getting paid for training (and visiting Maccas) until they have the opportunity to sign for another club. Fellow ‘hates’ include poor Andrija Jukic (who rumour has it will actually be playing for a club appreciative of his talent next year) and ex-Bundesliga striker Branko Jelic.
The “Too Big For Their Boots” group features, disappointingly, our exciting shot stopper Tando Velaphi. ‘Tandiggity’ is an enigma - he makes saves that no other keeper in the competition could dream of, and yet at the same time he slacks off on positioning in his own defensive area, which often has dire consequences for the team. Tando is clearly a confidence player - last year he struggled and wasn’t dropped even though his form warranted it (because the other option is in the Everybody Hates Me club). Yet a Socceroos call-up gave the kid some confidence and he was exceptional on the run to the finals. This year, the youth marquee status and clear number one tag has gotten to his head, and his form has dipped once more. Sterjovski is even more annoying - he has the quality, we know he has the quality, I just wonder if he thinks he’s far better than this standard of league - or perhaps the standard of coaching he’s receiving.
Finally, the “I’m Only Here For The Paycheque” club. Screw club loyalty, screw the pride of Perth, where’s my money? Step up Michael Baird, often seen laughing with opposition players at the end of a thumping defeat; Chris Coyne, holidaying in sunny China with a well-paying team; Josh Mitchell, who must be laughing that he scored a contract with ‘Bairdy’ in the first place - not to mention the extra holiday they received for Visa difficulties; and Adriano Pellegrino, whose form fluctuates so wildly one must assume he tosses a coin to decide if he’ll put any effort in that day. I’ll leave Robbie Fowler out of this as, despite his very expensive goals-per-game record, he seems to try and is as frustrated as the fans at the poor service he is receiving from midfield. Poor old Victor Sikora is injured, and allegedly that’s been exacerbated by some poor decisions made by the club’s medical staff - but he is another player collecting cheques for drinking in the stands.
The Run Home
Clearly, there’s only one type of player Glory wants for the rest of the season. If you’re staring down the barrel of a wooden spoon (evidently a heavily modified wooden spoon) then you only want players who play for pride, play for the shirt, and play for the fans. You don’t need passengers, you don’t need mercenaries - you need passion.
If Ian Ferguson wants to have any positive impact on Perth’s season at all, then it’s clear the first thing he needs to do is ditch the dead weight, no matter how big the name. Stick Harnwell and Fowler up front - at least Jamie can deal with the stupid amount of high balls we send there - and to aid this slow front two, use youngsters like Amphlett on the wings to give them some decent service. They’re not fully developed footballers by any means - but they’re eager and they will try, dammit - Something that Mile Sterjovski and Adriano Pellegrino can be accused of not doing nearly enough of.
Stick Jukic in the middle with McGarry, and then bring on Jacob Burns when somebody gets a yellow card. Keep giving youngsters like Ryan Pearson, the impressive Josh Risdon, and Scotty Neville a gig in defence. Ensure the rock known as Andy Todd is present to pass on some valuable advice to them. Put Tando in goal, but let him know that unless he stays awake 100% of the time, Vrteski or a youth keeper is in line to replace him. The fans won’t mind seeing the team lose so much - they understand they’re mis-managed and inexperienced - just as long as they try.
Perth might not be facing relegation at the end of this A-League season; but its players can at least play like they are.
