1. Heart Still Nurturing A Learning Environment
Early season form suggested that guiding Melbourne Heart to the finals would be a challenge greater than scoring in Europe’s top three leagues for John Aloisi. That’s still true, although his squad’s even spread of talents across the age spectrum, and how it can work, has become more apparent. Richard Garcia has been a clever acquisition with his natural energy making the conversion from Championship winger to A-League midfielder not just seamless, but eye-catching. It’s the same move Rado Vidosic must make with Thomas Broich who, while dangerous when attacking the spaces of the left-wing, is the man to provide the create drive missing from the centre of Roar’s midfield. And while recurring anonymity denied Erik Paartalu and Mitch Nichols a Socceroos call-up, the vibrancy of Aziz Behich and Michael Marrone has been rewarded for one and, hopefully soon, again for the other. It’s their form which keeps the club’s youth policy relevant, even when John Aloisi has clearly sought to fine-tune the balance.

 

2. Get on the Griff
Sweeping declaration: Ryan Griffiths will score as many goals as Emile Heskey this season. True, the Powerhouse has a two goal jump on the brother of Jets fans’ God at the conclusion of a week in which both struck to overturn a 1-0 deficit. On the evidence of that win over the Wanderers, though, we’re willing to make the gamble. And no, this isn’t because we’re tipping Heskey will help out the league’s fans and their armory of chants with a much-anticipated form slump. This is all down to Griffiths, who nipped in front of the former England international to exemplify his all-round striking skills with a lethal header for Newcastle’s leveller – before threatening to do the same on Heskey’s winner. Few attackers in the league have Griffith’s ability to successfully operate in a number of front-third positions. With James Brown now occupying the flank opposite to Craig Goodwin, the five-capped Socceroo can concentrate chiefly on hitting the scoresheet alongside Heskey, and blessing Gary van Egmond with potentially the most dangerous front four in the A-League.

 

3. Credentials First, Craziness Second
The news of Ian Crook’s resignation as coach of Sydney FC coincidentally broke on Twitter just as our replay of the Big Blue was approaching Sydney’s second goal. Simpler, happier times for the coach promoted from the club’s youth team. Maybe. If he felt the opening six rounds served up enough stress then he might not have enjoyed Pascal Boschaart’s first career goal all that much, and his decision to vacate the position will be absolutely the correct one. It can, after all, get worse for the Sky Blues. It can get immeasurably better, too, assuming they appoint the right replacement. Perhaps surprisingly to all those calling out for a ‘personality’, the best way to do that is to judge the applicants primarily on credentials. Sydney already have their pulling-power in the shape of a diminutive Italian, they just need someone who can command respect from within Del Piero’s shadow.

 

4. Safe Old Ryan Will Do Fine
We caught ourselves asking exactly what Eugene Galekovic has to do to earn a Socceroos recall when Holger Osieck nominated Mark Schwarzer and Mat Ryan as his ‘keepers for the squad to meet South Korea. The end conclusion centred somewhere around the continent of Europe. Thankfully, Ryan pushed that irritation aside with another clean sheet away to Wellington on Sunday. It was, in a backwards kind of analysis, an almost critical error in judgement from a second-half free-kick which confirmed our satisfaction with his selection. The ‘keeper, while not often tested by Wellington, was again assured in the vast majority of his decision-making, demonstrating ever-improving consistency. We’re still wondering why Schwarzer was again called for a friendly, though.

 

5. Keep It Cool, Kossie
John Kosmina tested Adelaide’s newest five-man combination ahead of screening midfielder Osama Malik against Perth to underwhelming results on Sunday. The foremost of those would be the two points dropped at home to a ladder rival and a performance which was flat for too long. The coach should not be blamed for comparing arrangements of his bounty of attacking options though because the ongoing search, notably to find the best role of in-between man Jeronimo, should result in a frightening formula. However, his tinkering should be limited to the roles of Jeronimo and the two wingers because, as they proved several times against Glory, Marcelo Carrusca and Dario Vidosic are striking a partnership, with the defensive insurance of Malik, worth tracking. Carrusca is a less busy athlete than Vidosic – more of a laconic #10 – but his speed of footwork and thought is not lacking. It’s the contrasts of their styles which has made Adelaide a more unmanageable red beast in midfield and attack, and may eventually extend beyond their blossoming double-act.