Before the game, we asked Con Tsakiris and Steve Cervaro (pictured) their views on 2009 from a Reds' perspective.

As we head into New Year's Eve 2009, how's this year been for Reds fans? Or daren't we ask??

Con: Very disappointing. We came into the season full of expectations and I honestly thought we'd make the top four on the back of a fantastic ACL campaign and unfortunately it's proven that a few behind the scenes things have gone wrong. And possibly the cattle on the park ain't correct. We've still got a good chance [of making the A-League finals] but it's going to be very difficult.

Steve: He hit the nail on the head. I had high expectations and soon as the fixtures came out I made a lot of bookings for away trips. Unfortunately as the record shows, it's been majorly disappointing. But while there's life there's hope. 

This behind-the-scenes malarkey, what's the view on the terraces?

Con: Ownership is an issue. There's no direction. The club's in cruise mode. Without proper ownership and capital injection, the club is feeling it on the park. There is a consortium willing to buy us for next year, but that's next year. We've still got this year to worry about. The season's not over. We need an owner, like a Clive Palmer or a Nick Bianco.

Is Viddy the right man to lead the club?

Steve: [pauses] Long-term if things stay the way they are then you'd probably say no. But if he can turn it around by the end of the season, you'd have to say yes.

Con: I think he's only got the A-League in terms of time to turn it around. His problem is capital injection. He can't go out and get a marquee player. The FFA won't part with money for that. Then again, he's picked the players we've got. This is his team. He's got to take responsibility.

Should Ange Costanzo have been allowed to leave?

Steve: I would've loved to have seen him stay for one more year. His experience would've been invaluable at the back and we have looked suspect there at times. It makes you wonder.

Lloyd Owusu? Your thoughts...

Con: Lloyd came full of confidence and was saying, "I am the answer, I am King". Six months later he's playing in the youth squad with no confidence at all. His confidence has been shattered. Just looking at him now [against Sydney FC youth] he had three pretty clear cut chances to score... Look, good luck to the fella, I think it's just a confidence thing. He's come here, full of confidence and we've shattered it.

Could Viddy play Lloyd and Cristiano in a two-man strikeforce?

Steve: I just don't think it's his [Vidmar's] game-plan. He has changed it to a 4-4-2 recently but I don't know if something behind the scenes has happened to get him [Owusu] offside with Viddy. I know he's come out in the local media and say he'd love to play alongside another striker. Whether that's put a cross against his name, who knows?

One positive has been the crowds. I'm told it's the community programme is pretty good down there, what are you seeing on the ground?

Con: Their community programme is great. They introduced a scheme where members got four free tickets for a Friday night. It's called "Friday night shout". If we have 5000 members, that's 20,000 fans walking in. And if you can then capture 10% of that, that's fantastic. What's more they are very, very active within the primary and high school scene and in city and country. So they are out there and getting the brand out there.

How much travelling do you do and how much does it cost? Over $2000?

Steve: I've travelled all over. I don't want to say how much... but I've been to New Zealand that set me back a lot. It's over $2000. It's dead scary actually.

Does the club realise how much you sacrifice for them?

Con: They do. We travelled to Townsville recently and by coincidence stayed in the same hotel as the players and they were really accommodating. They saw us after the match and we had a good chat with the coach, the media manager and assistant coach and we were supplied with tickets. They do appreciate us, and even today we saw Dom Rinaldo, the media manager, and we had a good chat.

You sound like two genuine fans, and for that I reckon you should be applauded...

Steve: You stick with it because when it turns around it makes the good times even sweeter.

Con: And we've been very fortunate, from day one we've had successful seasons. It's a little blip and I'm positive we'll rebound, regardless of whether Viddy is coach or not. The club has to learn from this and come back bigger and stronger.

Say Viddy did leave - and that's just a hypothetical - who's your ideal coach? And could assistant Phil Stubbins step up?

Steve: There are plenty of local coaches... Unfortunately at times we don't think outside the square. A lot of things seem like jobs for the boys. So I think the club definitely has to look outside. Definitely.

Con: I don't know what qualities he's [Stubbins] got. But I'd like to see a coach from interstate rather than South Australia. I think there's a .... I won't say it...

A"pissant town" mentality?

Con: [pauses]... yes. Yes. That pissant town mentality. That word is so true. Not only in football but in South Australian culture. We just can't make up our minds and go out and 'do it'. We muck around, get other people involved. It's a South Australian mentality.