Well.... It seems like United are going to chance their hand at the silver toilet seat by trudging the hard way round. It was an article on FourFourTwo last year that outlined the obvious importance of finishing in the top two, but also the less obvious danger of finishing third or fourth.
In fact Gold Coast lived out the theory last season after comfortably taking third place after dropping out of premier's contention with three games to go, only to be ousted in the first week of finals by the Jets in a penalty shoot out. To make the whole occasion worse United played exactly like Australia in the Asian Cup final, endless scoring opportunities continually wasted. We also happened to be on the wrong end of Ben Kennedy's greatest goal keeping effort he has ever put on. Even as I watched my team fire shot after shot, I was in awe of his amazing saves.
Alas, the circle is coming back around and United who could not muster a vital win against Kevin Muscat's hatchet men on Wednesday now face the prospect of finishing in that dangerous third or fourth position.
With the season clearly dominated by four teams and the rest of the pack fighting seemingly for 25 weeks for the final two spots the theory goes that these teams that snare fifth and sixth spot will be keener. They will feel like they have achieved something grand by just making the finals and thus have nothing to lose or prove. On the other hand coming so close in the final weeks to maybe securing that vital double chance can knock a team's confidence and add to the pressure to perform in the knockout game.
Another aspect is that all this should be nonsense, these players are professionals and should approach every game focused on a win. Whether you're first or sixth you all have a chance to win the silver seat if you're willing to fight for it.
In a season of record breaking goals and winning runs, it is also interesting to note for the stats addicts out there that NO team outside the top two in the regular season has ever gone onwards to win the title. In fact the only team outside of a top two finish to ever make their way to a final was 2005's Central Coast Mariners.
The only shining light is that 'mathematically' the fate of our finals is in our hands. With games against both Adelaide and Central Coast looming as '6 pointers' I will be crossing everything that we sneak in that coverted top two position. If not there is always the the chance we can break the top two hoodoo and be the first team to win the championship from outside those positions....
