Blog

This season, we’ve had 25 weeks of fantastic A-League football, and 25 Team of the Week selections. Now, we have our first-annual Team of the Season. Throughout the season, 142 different players have been selected in the Team of the Week, earning themselves either 1 point for a TOTW start or 0.5 points for a bench appearance. So, we’ve totted up the points and have a squad of the best defenders, midfielders, strikers and goalkeepers (and one manager) from the entire 25 weeks of A-League action, representing eight of the ten clubs.

And, yes, we realise some players there are fielded in an un-natural position. We simply were choosing the best four defenders, the best four midfielders and the best two strikers – whether they prefer to play in the middle or out wide wasn’t a concern.

So, without further ado, here is our 2011/12 Ultimate A-League Team of the Season:

… Continue Reading

So, we’ve reached the final week of the 2011/12 A-League regular season, meaning this will be our last Team of the Week for the season. Week 25 was a terrible week for defences, with 19 goals scored across the 5 games and not one clean sheet maintained. Adelaide and the Heart played out a 1-1 draw on Friday, Shane Smeltz put Melbourne Victory to the sword, Sydney booked their finals trip with a hard-fought win over the Jets, Brisbane left it late to beat Gold Coast, and Central Coast won away in Wellington to secure the premiership plate. Now, tomorrow, we will announce our 2011/12 A-League Team of the Season, so stay tuned. But first, who excelled in week 25 enough to earn their place in the TOTW:

Goalkeeper – Matthew Ryan (Central Coast Mariners)
Matt Ryan showed great tenacity under pressure, with a series of great saves … Continue Reading

Week 24 was full of twists, turns, comebacks and surprises. But still we are no closer to knowing the make-up of the final 6, with Sydney and Newcastle battling it out next week for a place in the finals, and Brisbane and Central Coast both heading away to try and snatch the premiers plate. 14 goals across the five games was a great return for the neutral, with Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast recording 3-nil wins, Sydney coming from behind to draw with the Heart 2-2, Brisbane winning on the road against Newcastle, and the Central Coast pipping Adelaide 1-0 at the Bluetongue Stadium. But which individuals stood out enough this week to warrant a place in our Team of the Week?

Goalkeeper – Michael Theoklitos (Brisbane Roar)
The Brisbane stopper stood up when he had to, making an incomparable double save to deny Jeffers, and a fingertipper … Continue Reading

Week 23 will go down in history as the ‘binary’ week of the A-League, after all 10 teams managed to score either 1 or 0 goals. 8 goals in total across the 5 games was slim pickings for the neutral, but made for some nerve-wracking and exciting games to the final whistle. Perth defeated league-leaders Central Coast 1-0, Sydney finished off the Victory’s mathematical finals chances with a 1 nil win, and the other 6 teams all shared the points with 1-all draws. So, out of all those close games, which players did enough over the 90 minutes to warrant a spot in the Team of the Week?

Goalkeeper – Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)
Paston made a few key saves, including a ripping one off a Fred thunderbolt, to keep the margin at one, and give Wellington the chance to be in a position to force the draw; … Continue Reading

Week 22 led us closer to knowing the make up of the top 6 in 2011/12, as losses to Adelaide and Melbourne Victory (to Perth and Newcastle respectively) doomed their finals chances. Elsewhere, Wellington knocked off a plucky Gold Coast 2-0, Brisbane and Melbourne Heart played out a 1-1 draw, and a late Troy Hearfield goal ensured the Mariners edged closer to the title with a 1-1 draw at home against Sydney. In terms of picking a TOTW, with so many even games and few standout players, it was incredibly difficult to select this week’s 15 players. But, here’s our take on the best-of-the-best this week:

Goalkeeper – Clint Bolton (Melbourne Heart)
A great double save off Murdocca and Berisha, another series of saves in the second half, and a penalty save to ensure his side went home with a share of the spoils was more than enough … Continue Reading

Week 21 did very little to paint a clear picture as to the make up of the top 6, with Newcastle and Melbourne Heart both recording wins to keep their 5th and 6th spots in tact. Elsewhere, Melbourne Victory faltered against the bottom-placed Gold Coast for a 1-1 draw, Brisbane outclassed Perth Glory 3-0 in WA, Sydney went down 1-0 to a determined Phoenix, and in the midweek game the Mariners and Gold Coast played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. But out of all those games, which individual performances were of enough quality to garner a selection in the week 21 TOTW?

Goalkeeper – Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)
Mark Paston wears the gloves this week, after a great early save and a double save all off Cazarine in the first half of the Phoenix’s game against Sydney. Add to that a few saves from shots and corners off … Continue Reading

Week 20 of the A-League gave us some first-time goal scorers, some first-minute goals and some first-rate action on the park. Melbourne Heart scraped by a plucky Gold Coast to keep their top 6 position in tact, Brisbane overcame a fast finishing Victory at Suncorp, Central Coast showed their strength in a comfortable win over the Phoenix, Perth continued their strong home form with a win over the Jets, and Sydney’s youngsters proved the difference against Adelaide on Sunday night. But, out of all those games, which individuals did enough, and stood out enough, to ensure themselves a place in the week 20 Team of the Week:

Goalkeeper – Ivan Necevski (Sydney FC)
Necevski made countless saves off Barbiero, van Dijk, Vidosic, Caravella and Ramsay in the second half at Hindmarsh in what was his finest performance thus far this season. Sydney have Necevski to thank for walking … Continue Reading

Week 19 was moving week for many of the teams further down the ladder, with Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC all winning; keeping their finals dreams alive. Elsewhere, Brisbane fought out a 2-0 win away at the Phoenix to keep their slim premiership hopes alive. Aside from that, 14 goals over the 5 games, a few red cards tossed in for good measure, and you have yourself a cracking weekend of football. However, who were the players who stood above the pack, and ensured themselves a spot in the week 19 Team of the Week?

Goalkeeper – Michael Theoklitos (Brisbane Roar)
Theoklitos pulled off some key saves off Paul Ifill in the second half against Wellington, when the Nix were pushing for an equalizer. Add to that some important cut outs, and the fact he kept a clean sheet away from home, and this … Continue Reading

It was a goal fest in the A-League in week 18, with 16 goals scored across the 5 games at an average of over 3 goals per game. The third Melbourne Derby of the year ended in a scoreless stalemate, Brisbane found their mojo again with a 2-0 away win over the table topping Mariners, the Glory juggernaut grew with a thumping 4-0 win over the hapless Gold Coast, the Phoenix beat Adelaide on the road, and the Jets put 5 past a disappointing Sydney FC at the SFS. But, from all those games, which players stood out from the pack, and secured themselves a TOTW slot this week:

Goalkeeper – Ante Covic (Melbourne Victory)
Ante Covic is the starting keeper this week, after pulling off a series of saves off the line, off free kicks and from open play against the Heart. Nothing was getting past Covic, … Continue Reading

Week 17 saw the cancellation of one game, one game taken to the Apple Isle, 14 goals scored, two players break long scoring ducks, and plenty of talking points. Melbourne Victory blew a lead late in both of their games this week, drawing with Sydney FC and Gold Coast. Elsewhere, Newcastle shocked the Roar at Suncorp, Wellington continued their charge up the ladder, and the Glory were clinical against Adelaide at Hindmarsh. But who played well enough this week to warrant a spot in our Team of the Week:

Goalkeeper – Ben Kennedy (Newcastle Jets)
With a particularly strong defence in front of him against Brisbane, Kennedy didn’t have a huge amount of work to do. But what he did have to do, he did very well. A few key saves, controlled his area well, distributed the ball well through his back four, and most importantly kept a … Continue Reading