After three losses in the last four games, things don’t feel as good as they did not so long ago.
Slow starts have been an issue for Carl Veart’s team this season, but that wasn’t an issue in the contest against Brisbane. Adelaide started the game incredibly brightly and looked the better team for most of the first 45 minutes. The Roar came back into it with a couple of good chances and a disallowed goal as the half ended, but I never thought that was going to be a sign of what was to come.
I said last week that the Reds didn’t get off the bus against the Bulls, and this time they didn’t come out of the change rooms. They were completely dominated in the second half – not something we’re used to seeing at home. The Roar could have scored two or three more, as Joe Gauci once again kept the score line respectable for Adelaide.
The team has lost its swagger and fear factor for me. There was a time not that long ago when United sent a shiver down the spine of visiting teams once it hit the 60-minute mark. The team could come back from the dead in the final stages of matches and would always score late. It seems to be something that’s gone out of Adelaide United’s DNA.
I thought, other than the penalty Lachlan Barr conceded, that the central defensive pairing didn’t do too badly. While there were big holes at times in the structure of the entire team, I’d probably stick with at least one of the pair and see if you could find a combination that worked with Nick Ansell or Alexandar Popović
It’s not all down to the defence, obviously, and the midfield needs to do more to protect them.
Ryan Tunnicliffe certainly showed his best in the loss to Macarthur; maybe it’s about time he got another chance to start from the opening whistle.
Don’t panic
Let’s be honest; there’s no need to panic just yet. It’s still very early in the season, and the team is still sitting mid-table, well within reach of the top two or three sides.
We must remember that a common theme of Carl Veart’s sides has been the runs of wins and losses they go on. In nearly every season, they have a poor period before going on massive unbeaten or winning runs. They are only ever one win away from picking up a lot of points quickly.
The Wanderers away is never an easy task, but Adelaide has a good record at Commbank Stadium from memory. The Black and Red are coming off a loss to Melbourne Victory and will be looking to rejoin the winners’ circle as quickly as possible.
Two teams with big aspirations, on a Friday night.
What more could you ask for?
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