Crowds declined again as the finals in other codes heated up and the smaller A-League markets dominated this round's home turf, but this was an important week as winless clubs got desperate and the pack jockeyed for position on the ladder. Some savage action was fought out across the land, as three red cards were handed out along with a spate of yellows.
While Richie Alagich, Steve Corica and Mateo Corbo will be spending some time on the sidelines in the future, to varying degrees of effect some other seemingly permanent benchwarmers were promoted into the starting lineup. Robbie Middleby, Scott Higgins, Tyler Simpson and Ricky Diaco may not have done enough to remain the apple of their respective coaches' eyes, but Labinot Haliti, Steve Pantelidis, Adrian Leijer, Aaron Goulding and Matthew Kemp all put in solid performances to exert some pressure on the pecking order at their clubs.
Spectacular goals dried up some this weekend, but top bill strikers Yorke, Milicic and Despotovski (with a brace and a missed penalty) stepped up the top goal scorer competition a notch with some fine finishes. The goalkeepers shone yet again, with Danny Milosevic and Jason Petkovic in particular surviving a near ceaseless bombardment of their area. I don't think there's too much doubt that our goalies are among the best in any league in the world - growing up among other sports that develop hand-eye coordinaton is surely a big reason why we've developed so many fantastic shot stoppers. Unfortunately, they also conspire to keep scores low. Will we see a 7 or 8 goal match anytime soon?
Melbourne Chairman Geoff Lord must hope so. Lord was definitely wary of miserable tallies from his accountants when he vented some steam after his side lost to a gutsy but relentlessly defensive Adelaide. While crowds matter, results matter too, and after Alagich was sent off
United coach Kosmina had few options but to try and secure the points. Even though the Reds are the unlikely ladder helmers at the moment, Lord's bitterness shouldn't be misconstrued as a case of cellar-dweller envy. Indeed, we all want exciting, attacking football. But imagine if similar comments were extended towards Australia's World Cup campaign, where according to Lord's logic it wouldn't matter if we made it to Germany or not so long as we banged in a few goals? That'd be dangerous talk in these woods, pilgrim. So, yes let's be concered about the quality of the attraction (football) and the financially detrimental effects of 'boring' defensive attitudes, but above all let's keep one eye on the bigger picture, eh? There's a competition to be won and lost and while it's early days yet every point counts. With so much at stake (e.g. qualification to the Asian Champions League), winners will most definitely be grinners. Besides, there's always next week, Mr Lord.
Best of Round Three:
Player: Danny Hay (pictured) - dealing with late inclusion due to a groin injury and captaining the Knights to their first victory
U-20 Player: Adrian Leijer - another solid deputisation for Mark Byrnes
Coach: John Adshead - keeping the faith and extracting a miraculous victory against both the odds and the run of play
Match: Perth Glory vs Queensland Roar
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Goal: Dwight Yorke - lurking on the edge of the box, taking a deft touch and rapidly firing home with consummate ease
4-4-2 Team of the Week:
Ante Milicic - Bobby Despotovski
Nick Carle - Angelo Costanzo - Andre Gumprecht - Matt Thompson
Kevin Muscat - Ned Zelic - Danny Hay - Jade North
Danny Milosevic
Subs: Michael Valkanis, Ross Aloisi, Michael Baird, Jason Petkovic
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