THE LOWEDOWN: A-League or b-grade
By DAVID LOWE
April 14, 2014, 10:45 p.m.
TO save some work I really should keep a copy of my columns, particularly the ones that have followed the final round of the regular season, because let's be honest, it's a familiar story, isn't it?
For the fourth season in succession the Jets finished outside the top six, there would be a string of sevens next to their name in the form guide if they were racehorses, and a roller-coaster season came to a regulation - some would argue premature - end.
As Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater are fond of reminding us: "The table doesn't lie." After 27 rounds, and despite several significant victories, the Jets haven't been consistent enough to make the finals.
Everyone will have a theory, the club will no doubt conduct an internal review, the experts will dissect the pros and cons, but I'm not convinced that anyone is too devastated by the events of the season.
Lots of what ifs, and we can beat anyones, a Golden Boot for Adam Taggart, a good victory to end the season, a fitting send-off for Michael Bridges, and we can all wander home reasonably happy, remarking wistfully "there's always next year".
And so there is, and not just for the Jets. But, in my opinion, it's that kind of attitude that pervades the A-League and, contrary to popular belief, isn't leading to improvement season by season.
Who would be willing to argue that the Wanderers, Mariners, Victory and Sydney FC are noticeably stronger, if any stronger at all, than they were last season?
Brisbane Roar have won the Premiers Plate by 10 points but have looked vulnerable to teams with discipline, organisation and pace on the break.
I enjoy watching them in full flight, but they are by no means untouchable.
Fox Sports commentator Andy Harper is a fan, but he answered my recent question - can Brisbane win the title if Thomas Broich is injured - with "probably not", which says a lot about the German's quality and just as much about the myth of system, style and structures.
Are Brisbane as good as two or three seasons ago?
Adelaide have improved, but is that because they have learned a system, or because a talented side and their coach have adapted and modified their playing style? Do they have the grunt and desire to complement their skill and win a title?
Would the current Adelaide side have beaten John Kosmina's team that included Travis Dodd, Fernando Rech, Ange Costanzo and co. from the A-League's formative years? Irrelevant, you might say, and unprovable, and that may be true, but it is relevant if we are to believe all the messages about improvement.
Melbourne Victory may yet go on to win this year's championship, but you'd have a hard time convincing me that their current side, playing with structure, set rotations and false No.9s, would have lived with the title-winning sides that featured a flying Archie Thompson, Danny Allsopp, Kevin Muscat himself, and the enigmatic Brazilian, Fred, to name a few.
Point being, that with no relegation or promotion there are not too many consequences for mediocre seasons, poor management, poor planning and such - except perhaps for a slight drop in the number of bums on seats.
Are we all happy with a league where every team can beat every other side without too much of a shock? The Mariners and the Victory, who finished third and fourth, both have negative goal differences, the Jets' was zero, and the Heart's, who finished last, was all of minus six.
The Jets have proven they could beat almost any side, anywhere, except Perth unfortunately and tellingly, and I'd back the last-placed Heart with real confidence against anyone if the games were played over 60 minutes, rather than 90.
While the salary cap ensures the sustainability of clubs, does it do so at the expense of improving the top level achievable in our domestic competition?
It's good for fantasy team managers and ensuring that nearly all teams are engaged in the playoff hunt until round 25 or 26, but has it made the standard better?
Believe it or not, I'm not old enough to remember the St George rugby league team that won 11 premierships in a row, but I wonder did everyone get bored with that, or did they drive opponents to improve and catch up? You'd hope it was the latter.
Competing with Barcelona and Real Madrid cannot have been easy over the past decade, but Atletico Madrid have lifted themselves to the semi-finals of the Champions League and the cusp of the league championship because they had to raise their level to compete.
Would it be so bad to have a big-spending team to loathe and berate, from this day forth until death do us part? Someone to sneer at, disrespect at every opportunity, who a victory against would provide the greatest thrill and joy of a season.
If that team were to be near unbeatable would it be so bad? Bayern Munich (reserves) lost their first game since the Royal bub was a twinkle in William's eye the other day, but there is nothing but admiration for their football.
When Sergio Aguero scored that famous late goal for Manchester City, and ended 41 years of trophy-less seasons, many rejoiced for them, but more still rejoiced in the fact that they had denied Manchester United in Fergie-time.
Is top-flight football the domain of sage financial sustainability and an even spread of talent, or of the most powerful clubs harnessing as much playing quality as they can muster, and saying to the opposition "see what you can do to compete"?
So back to the Jets, in particular, and a relatively blank canvas.
What is the strategy? Who is going to steer it? Is the car still in the garage waiting for a driver while others are way down the road with their plans for next season, and beyond.
Has Clayton Zane done enough to retain the job? If he doesn't, why will the next appointment be theoretically better?
The Jets are apparently going through a process to find the best candidate, but surely they should know by now?
Zane, to me, and I hope this doesn't sign his certificate of expulsion, has done a pretty decent job in terms of the football the Jets have played.
Would he be a better coach if Sydney had fallen over against Perth, and the Jets had then defied history and sneaked a win in a semi-final at Gosford against the Mariners?
I think we know the answer to that, but if that scenario had unfolded, we might be hailing him as some sort of messiah.
Whoever gets the coaching gig is starting behind the eight ball in terms of recruiting from the domestic talent pools.
Most players are now contracted for the upcoming year and beyond so if, as we expect, between five and seven players depart the club for a variety of reasons, the Jets are going to have to find some real overseas talent to make a telling difference.
It's a time for reflection, analysis, and yet always of hope. Will anything change, though, or will the fans just be happy to go to games in a largely jovial, convivial atmosphere, and have a pretty competitive mid-table team?
The time of due process has surely expired. Decisions need to be made now, hopefully for the right reasons, unhindered, or unaffected too much by financial considerations.
The hardcore will still turn up. Surely it's time to reward their loyalty with improvement in all aspects of the football club.
