A-League: five things we learned from round 12
Perth Glory avoid the banana skin
Having lost just one game in 12 and with an unbeaten record at NIB Stadium, Perth Glory sit four points clear at the top of the table. Adelaide United are their only bogey side, having beaten them twice this season, once in Round 3 and in the FFA Cup grand final. They are unspectacular but effective – as Kenny Lowe says "speak to people over east, Perth Glory aren't fluid, we just win games" – and even when outplayed by Melbourne City on Boxing Day, they still managed to come away with a point. The first half was all City, and although Perth probably should have been awarded a penalty when Garcia was tripped in the box by Patrick Kisnorbo, Aaron Mooy put the home side ahead early in the second half. But with Youssouf Hersi, Nebojsa Marinkovic and Mitch Nichols all missing, Perth stayed in it and got their equaliser from their first shot on target. On this evidence Perth must be hot favourites for the title … unless, of course, FFA decide to get all Joe Stalin on them for their alleged salary cap breaches.
A familiar cliche, a familiar crap Sydney FC
When Graham Arnold was at the Central Coast Mariners, his perennially grumpy "me against the world" schtick was sort of cute. It galvanised a small community behind him and the club and it helped create a working class club culture. A culture that represented an Australia of yore, when men were blokes, women were sheilas and true Aussies were defined by their ability to show absolutely no emotion whatsoever and neck a schooey or two down at the local pub. But while building an empire on egalitarian ethos might be impressive in Woy Woy, it doesn't cut it in Sydney. In the south of Sydney they reckon they're in 'God's country', in the inner west they're ragged trousered intellectuals and in the northern suburbs they are comfortable in the knowledge of their wealth and social capital – whichever way you cut it, Sydney people think the world revolves around them. So when Sydney FC lost 3-0 to Adelaide on Boxing Day, Arnold's familiar gripes and refrain that the players need to "man up" barely cut it. While Sydney FC plunge large amounts of money into investments off the field, the stability Arnold brings might make him Mr Right Now. But you have to wonder if he's Mr Right for a market that demands style as well as success.
Stand Up For The Mariners
It was just a few short weeks ago that Central Coast mayor and former Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna formally distanced himself from the club. It followed several broken
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