Draws. Pesky things. Especially for Phoenix fans.
A look at the A-League table reveals that after 17 matches, no-one has lost fewer games than Phoenix. However, it also shows that no-one has won less often. In fact, Phoenix have lost the same number of games as the league leaders, but won only as many as the bottom side.
What all this demonstrates is the problem with drawing games in such a tight league. Avoiding defeat is all very well, and Phoenix had a seven-game unbeaten streak across September and October, but they won just one of those matches and drew the other six. It would have been better to win three, draw one and lose three of those games as far as the accumulation of points is concerned.
On many occasions this season, Phoenix’s draws have represented two points dropped rather than a point gained. Certainly that was the case against Melbourne on Friday night when victory over Victory was thrown away in the last five minutes, leaving fans to again contemplate what might have been. How Melbourne – with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the game – managed to dominate possession so much in the last 15 minutes remains a mystery.
It was the fourth time a side has come back from 1-0 down to draw with Phoenix this season and third time that equaliser has come in the dying minutes. North Queensland have twice scored late to steal a share of the points, just as Melbourne did on Friday. On the fourth occasion – against Adelaide – a Phoenix “winner” from Paul Ifill was incorrectly ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag.
It’s easy to dwell on “might-have-beens” so I won’t for long, but had Phoenix converted those four 1-1 draws into wins, they’d be second on the table. Second. Fruitless as this sort of thinking is, it does demonstrate a key point – in a league this tight, wins are absolutely crucial.
The Jets prove the point. They were awful in Phoenix’s 1-0 win over there in round fifteen and rock bottom in the league afterwards. But in the last fortnight, they’ve won two on the bounce and all of a sudden, they’re in the sixth playoff spot, ahead of Phoenix! Further up the table, there’s an even clearer demonstration – Sydney FC have lost seven games, but they’re in second spot courtesy of their nine wins.
Phoenix somehow have to find a way to turn one point into three, whether it be a more ruthless streak in front of goal, allowing them to turn slender leads into comfortable ones, or an ability to close out games they’re leading by whatever means required. With ten minutes to go, the ball should be pumped towards the corners, not played around in intricate, yet risky, passing movements in the middle third.
Paul Ifill remarked on Saturday that he’d rather “win ugly” than “draw pretty” and no Phoenix fan would disagree. The table doesn’t take any notice of attractive passing or flowing football. Winning is everything, and when 27 games have been played, a handful of points will separate fifth from eighth. It’s the teams who turn one point into three most often who’ll be involved in the playoffs.
A look at the A-League table reveals that after 17 matches, no-one has lost fewer games than Phoenix. However, it also shows that no-one has won less often. In fact, Phoenix have lost the same number of games as the league leaders, but won only as many as the bottom side.
What all this demonstrates is the problem with drawing games in such a tight league. Avoiding defeat is all very well, and Phoenix had a seven-game unbeaten streak across September and October, but they won just one of those matches and drew the other six. It would have been better to win three, draw one and lose three of those games as far as the accumulation of points is concerned.
On many occasions this season, Phoenix’s draws have represented two points dropped rather than a point gained. Certainly that was the case against Melbourne on Friday night when victory over Victory was thrown away in the last five minutes, leaving fans to again contemplate what might have been. How Melbourne – with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the game – managed to dominate possession so much in the last 15 minutes remains a mystery.
It was the fourth time a side has come back from 1-0 down to draw with Phoenix this season and third time that equaliser has come in the dying minutes. North Queensland have twice scored late to steal a share of the points, just as Melbourne did on Friday. On the fourth occasion – against Adelaide – a Phoenix “winner” from Paul Ifill was incorrectly ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag.
It’s easy to dwell on “might-have-beens” so I won’t for long, but had Phoenix converted those four 1-1 draws into wins, they’d be second on the table. Second. Fruitless as this sort of thinking is, it does demonstrate a key point – in a league this tight, wins are absolutely crucial.
The Jets prove the point. They were awful in Phoenix’s 1-0 win over there in round fifteen and rock bottom in the league afterwards. But in the last fortnight, they’ve won two on the bounce and all of a sudden, they’re in the sixth playoff spot, ahead of Phoenix! Further up the table, there’s an even clearer demonstration – Sydney FC have lost seven games, but they’re in second spot courtesy of their nine wins.
Phoenix somehow have to find a way to turn one point into three, whether it be a more ruthless streak in front of goal, allowing them to turn slender leads into comfortable ones, or an ability to close out games they’re leading by whatever means required. With ten minutes to go, the ball should be pumped towards the corners, not played around in intricate, yet risky, passing movements in the middle third.
Paul Ifill remarked on Saturday that he’d rather “win ugly” than “draw pretty” and no Phoenix fan would disagree. The table doesn’t take any notice of attractive passing or flowing football. Winning is everything, and when 27 games have been played, a handful of points will separate fifth from eighth. It’s the teams who turn one point into three most often who’ll be involved in the playoffs.
