It's the squad, stupid! From the Socceroos to Barcelona to your Sunday pub side, it's not all about the stars. As soon as one of them sneezes or twinges a hamstring you start to find out how thin your line is stretched, how strong it is - and how well it's led.
Last Friday night I arrived at Hindmarsh strangely subdued. Admittedly, a friendly match between the purple meanies and the rampaging Reds is never going to bring one out in a cold or hot sweat but...something else was going on. I was disengaged.
Maybe the glut of World Cup football following on from a dismal season and an (admittedly more encouraging) ACL campaign had taken its toll? Maybe. Maybe those vuvuzelas were an AFL conspiracy designed to trigger football apathy in the minds of the hard-core hold-outs who ignore the threatened oval code? Maybe. Maybe not.
I've been thinking about it and I wonder whether it's just the complete lack of energy that's been coming from the club. Yes, we have a new coach in Rini Coolen. Apparently he likes blooding young players, knows more than the Dutch system and loves and breathes football. Could be good - or could be Pim 'lite'. Time will tell. What we do know is that his arrival has not yet triggered mass celebrations in public places.
We have a new striker - but he's not that new and we kind of know what to expect. We have a new defender - but he's not that new and we.... Get it? We haven't got new owners - but that's not new either.
Maybe it's just me? That's what I thought as I walked to my seat. "I'll get excited when they come out to play", I decided. No worries.
Then they came out to play.
Now, I've already read numerous comments about how the game can't be taken seriously because we had so many players missing, but that takes me back to my opening remarks. Missing players happens. And when some of your best get injured, sick or called elsewhere you find out whether your squad is going to hold the line. Even in a 'friendly'.
Last Friday night they didn't. 1-3 at home against Perth is not good whichever way you read it.
Yes, we were missing Dodd, Cornthwaite, Leckie, Hugene and Barbs. But our starting line-up still contained SVD (GREAT goal!), Flores, Reid, Mullen, Cassio, Pantelis, Boogaard, Hughes and Fyfe - all of whom could be called first teamers. Shin (despite some great passes and a commitment to the team) continues to show he's not yet ready. His replacement, new-boy Ramsey, showed some of the older players just what drive and commitment mean when he came on at half-time.
The trialist keeper is best forgotten. The last goal he can call his own and the previous two might not have happened with Hugene between the sticks and commanding his area.
But Hugene wasn't there. And he might be gone. That leaves Birighitti, who's apparently doing well with the Young Roos. Still, he is our second string - and that means a thinner line.
Boogard and Fyfe did not show the confidence, relationship and command that Cornthwaite and Fyfe show. Second-string and a thinner line.
Pantelis and Ramsay are not Dodd and Leckie. Second-string and....
And when an army is up against a formidable opposition (and you could argue that many A-League teams have improved this year) the only way to hold a thinner line is to have a great general and tactician in charge. And a great team spirit (ala NZ in the World Cup). The question is whether Rini can be that general and instil that spirit.
If he isn't and can't this could be another long year for Reds fans. Obviously it's too early to tell yet but the signs were interesting.
For me, the team didn't look like it was playing its heart out to impress the new manager. The new manager, having said he needed time to see what he had to work with, had sent them out in entirely predictable formation. Fair enough I guess, except that Hughes and Reid were like carbon copies of each other. Reid was off the pace and Hughes was...all over the place. Why not have one on and try something new?
Freshness is necessary. Leckie will be no shock to oppositions this year. He'll need to find some new tricks. Same with the Adelaide style. Other teams now know how to play us and if we're not 100% on our game we're vulnerable. If we're down to a thin red line of players....?
So, let's give Rini time and hope the player squabbles of the last couple of years are behind us. Let's hope - as all fans do - that the players all want to be here, work for each other and make the fans happy. Let's be there to support them, whatever happens.
But let's not forget that a line is as strong as its weakest point and that we must expect better from all our 'reserve' players. As they must of themselves.
Let's remind the club that the 11-12000 fans who turn up to cheer on our team deserve communication, nurture and respect - and a voice.
And, of course, let's remember that each of us is part of making that thin RED line stronger, on the field and in the community.
If football is war then it's time to stand and fight.
