On the Ball: A-League Round 8
Why fans must stop walking out, Kevin Muscat's Asian Champions League selection dilemma and Aaron Mooy's rising star all in this week's edition of On the Ball.
Fan protests must stop
A-League fans across the country protested against Football Federation Australia for what they perceive as poor handling of A-League stadium bans and a lack of support this weekend, but the way in which it was done in some cases was questionable.
While protesting against what fans claim to be unfair bans is fine, walking out on the team you support is not.
Football is the biggest growing game in Australia and scenes like we saw in Melbourne and Central Coast with thousands of Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers fans walking out of the stadium does not do anything but create negative publicity for the game.
The quicker the FFA and fans find a happy medium, the better for the future of the game.
Aaron Mooy won’t be here much longer
If Aaron Mooy keeps up his form there is no doubt he will be snapped up by an overseas club.
The 25-year-old has become a regular Socceroo on the back of the best form of his career for Melbourne City where he single handedly lifts the entire team around him.
Mooy has already spent four seasons in Europe with English side Bolton Wanderers and Scottish club St Mirren before he returned to the A-League with the Western Sydney Wanderers for more game time.
The fact he admitted his aspirations to play at the highest level after leading City to a massive 5-1 win over Perth Glory on Friday proves he is ready to make the step back towards the bigger leagues – and it will definitely happen sooner rather than later.
Muscat facing tough ACL decision on foreign players
Melbourne Victory continue to be the benchmark of the A-League but a major hurdle lies in front of them – choosing only three of five foreign players for their final Asian Champions League squad.
Victory’s five imports – Besart Berisha, Gui Finkler, Matthieu Delpierre, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and Kosta Barbarouses – provide the spine of the team and realistically is the most difficult decision Kevin Muscat will have to make in his short coaching career.
Striker Besart Berisha will be the first pick of the three no doubt with the marksmen the most dangerous man on the park for the side.
From there it becomes much tougher. Does Muscat go for Delpierre and Finkler to provide steel at the back and then creativity through the middle? Does he pick only one of Khalfallah and Barbarouses due to their similar traits and positions?
The club does have depth on their side with a number of players able to step into the positions but either way, I’m happy I don’t have to make this decision.
Team of the week
Goalkeeper – Mark Birighitti (NJ)
Right Back – Manny Muscat (WP)
Centre Back – Jade North (BR)
Centre Back – Connor Chapman (MC)
Left Back – Storm Roux (CCM)
Midfielder – Mitch Nichols (WSW)
Midfielder – Aaron Mooy (MC)
Midfielder – Oliver Bozanic (MV)
Forward – Fahid Ben Khalfallah (MV)
Forward – Bruno Fornarolli (MC)
Forward – Jamie Maclaren (BR)
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