On the first day of Christmas my true love (Adelaide United) sent to me - a Paul Reid injury-free (I can only dream - his loss this season has been huge).

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me - two Roo selections (onya Eugene & Jamo!) and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me - three measly goals (Cristiano's goal tally as the club's top scorer in 19 games this season - not good enough!), two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - four at the back (who those best four players are now is anyone's guess!), three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - five gold rings ('gold rings' being a nice name for the five 'toilet seat' trophies that the club will bring home as part of its A-League dynasty over the next five years - again I can only dream), four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - six offsides (Owusu's season tally - amazing seeing the limited amount of time he's actually played), five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me - seven shots on goal (by Rudan this season, without netting one), six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - eight games to go (for the club to climb the ladder and gain a finals spot), seven shots on goal, six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - nine years in prison (for whoever it was that decided that selling Marrone to North Queensland was a good idea), eight games to go, seven shots on goal, six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - ten new owners (that many and more under the proposed new model!), nine years in prison, eight games to go, seven shots on goal, six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me - eleven Victorians dancing (the Reds still can't knock over the Victory!), ten new owners, nine years in prison, eight games to go, seven shots on goal, six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me - twelve on the pitch (the number of players the Reds will need to use each week to actually make the finals!), eleven Victorians dancing, ten new owners, nine years in prison, eight games to go, seven shots on goal, six offsides, five gold rings, four at the back, three measly goals, two Roo selections and a Paul Reid injury-free.

Merry Christmas all!