1. Wingers Are Winners, Fullbacks Are Failing
Prior to Adelaide’s visit to Central Coast last round we mused why Iain Ramsey was a consistent figure on the bench in spite of John Kosmina’s rotation policy. The Reds lost, Kossie didn’t wilt and Evan Kostopoulos and Fabio Ferreira served up three of the home side’s four goals against Melbourne Victory. Victory wingers Andrew Nabbout and Marco Rojas were kind enough to provide a sense of symmetry between the teams by netting both of the visitors’ goals. So what does that tell us? The key lesson for both coaches taught by their respective wingmen, however, is a shared one: they are making the right choices. Adelaide have clearly settled on a pairing capable of accepting the gifts laid on by the spellbinding talents of Marcelo Carrusca, while Rojas, Nabbout and Archie Thompson are proving Postecoglou’s audacious ‘false 9’ gameplan is possible in the A-League. The problem posed to the two rivals now lies in their ability to build from front to back as Adelaide, again looking through a wider scope, must accept what is facing the rest of the league and formulate a plan to counter Victory’s unusual tactic. Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, can again pinpoint specific shortcomings of their own, with Postecoglou surely well aware that Mark Milligan’s return won’t help them at fullback. Adama Traore will, and perhaps Jason Geria can be the right-sided answer.

2. Take a Chance
No, not on me. Don’t listen to ABBA. On Golgol Mebrahtu we mean, or someone like him. Because when you do take a chance, that someone might just repay you with a much-needed three points, just as the former Gold Coast United winger did for John Aloisi. Melbourne Heart again effectively fielded four central midfield players in the forward six of their 4-3-3 on Saturday. As solid a player as Nick Kalmar is, and as the returning Richard Garcia will replace one of the incumbent central midfield trio, Heart won’t get what they need from the former VPL player – another attacking weapon. Josip Tadic has shown glimpses of real class but is still inconsistent, and as a floating, link-up kind of striker, he needs support. David Williams is like a recovering talent, exhibiting signs of a former self but without yet being able to again handle the talisman tag. And now with Mate Dugandzic ruled out for the season, Aloisi needs to take a chance on a winger. The miracle of Mebrahtu scoring on debut – remember, this is a guy who couldn’t hit the side of Hayden Foxe’s delivery van while with Gold Coast – suggests it should be him. Ian Ferguson would be well advised to do likewise, but in the form of trusting one of the three central midfielders he had on his bench on Saturday. Liam Miller’s continued absence meant Billy Mehmet and Shane Smeltz were retained as a less-functional front-two while Nick Ward, Brandon O’Neill and Jesse Makarounas sat waiting for a chance. We thought it was decided that Glory worked best in a 4-2-3-1, no?

3. Promises Broken In Newcastle
One team controlling 90 minutes worth of an A-League fixture is as rare as a Central Coast Mariners match passing by without Andy Harper praising the work of fitness coach Andrew Clark. But that’s what Clark’s employers did to their F3 rivals on Saturday, with alarming simplicity for all Newcastle sympathisers. The only danger posed to the Mariners throughout the night was the horrifying egg on Oli Bozanic’s forehead, an indictment on the Jets' attacking depth to cover Ryan Griffiths – and, we suppose, Socceroo Adam Taggart. It’s not a lack of quality personnel that’s the issue, although selection of them might be. Why was the underperforming and most probably still not fit James Brown selected over James Virgili, who troubled the Mariners last time around to widespread acclaim? Structurally, it was telling that Graham Arnold’s side chose not to heap pressure on the Jets’ young central-defensive pairing of Connor Chapman and Taylor Regan through forward pressing; rather, they snapped into their defensive structure and, when Newcastle didn’t look long for Heskey, broke up play in midfield – quite easily, too. And it is here that the great rivals are so far apart: if Newcastle’s inability to build an attack from back to front is stemming from instruction, then van Egmond can begin reversing their slide down the ladder by coaching towards his pre-season promises. If it’s ill-discipline – something so foreign to the Mariners that even the mercurial Bernie Ibini can succeed as a fullback-assisting winger – then the coach will need to identify which of his Hunter dwellers will conform to expectation and give them time to do so.

4. Forza Faith In Frank Farina
Much has been said of Sky Sports NZ’s gift to the A-League – the commentary of Wellington Phoenix matches. Plenty of it has been correct, meaning there are few lessons to be gleaned. But when the expert half of the duo, Fred de Jong, claimed prior to the second half of the ‘Nix’s match against Sydney that the home side needed to “find some passion,” “come out absolutely firing” and put Sydney “under extreme pressure,” we felt his platitudes were too mind-numbing to let pass by. He’s certainly not the first in the A-League to offer such vague insight, though, so we won’t unfairly harp on Fred’s opinions. We will, however, take the opportunity to pay tribute to the work of Frank Farina and the Sky Blues, since the pundit pairing neglected to do so. Turning Sydney from the rabble they were at Westpac Stadium in their first fixture this season into a side able to subdue their hosts for 85 minutes in such a brief timeframe is a testament to Farina as a coach. Perhaps the kind of commentary which labels Wellington – of all teams – as lacking passion is to blame for the retrospectively and incorrectly altered perception that Farina’s time in charge of the then Queensland Roar was typified solely by long-balls and past-it paycheck-seekers, and not attacking wing-play and the club’s most fruitful phase of youth development.

5. Roar Lack Instinct Of Old
This lesson is not simply to say “oh, Brisbane can’t score.” They are struggling to live out Mehmet Durackovic’s dream of ‘putting the ball at the back of the net’, sure. Chronically, though, they are lacking the intent to force victory at all costs; an issue which stems from the coach. The away side dominated in all aspects but attack from the moment Allan Milliner restarted play for the second half, yet for all Brisbane’s probing they were not posing a true goal threat. Eighteen minutes of a promising, but not forceful, half ticked away until Mitch Nichols, scorer of ten goals last season, was introduced … to the left flank, a departure from his best position as through-ball providing, goalscoring central midfielder. It was a surprise, then, not to see the attacking option of James Meyer explored until the situation was unsalvageable as it continued to appear that Roar were devoid of the necessary impetus. This is not an issue that was noted first on Sunday, or because Shinji Ono slotted a Wanderers winner. A round three draw away to Wellington was similarly bashful as, having drawn level from an early deficit, Brisbane were hesitant to delve into their trademark reserves of ruthlessness and overload the opposition defence with raiding fullbacks and midfielders amid a wealth of possession and territory. Instead, they settled for a point, and against Western Sydney a fifth 1-0 loss of the season granted them zero.