We’re officially at the half way mark of the Isuzu UTE A-League season with every club having played at least 13 games.
As such the Download crew have given their take on who’s top of the class and who has work to do in the second half of the season!
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The Concept
Former A-Leagues players Jake Barker-Daish, Thomas Sorensen and Naum Sekulovski cast their eyes over all 12 Isuzu UTE A-League clubs
Picking four teams each, they take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly it’s what’s proving to be an incredibly tight Isuzu UTE A-league campaign.
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Auckland FC (1st)
“Even though they lost over the weekend, for me solid as a rock,” Naum Sekulovski said of Auckland.
“I’m tipping them to go all the way.”
GRADE: A
Sydney FC (2nd)
“They can only beat themselves. I think they’ve got a good enough squad… it’s just that sometimes it’s finding that energy level,” Thomas Sorensen said.
“Sometimes they’re great, sometimes they, for some reason, don’t turn up.”
GRADE: A
Newcastle Jets (3rd)
“Third in the league, with the team they’ve got… big kudos to them,” Jake Barker-Daish said of the Box Office Jets.
GRADE: A+
Brisbane Roar (4th)
“The Valkanis blueprint works,” Naum said.
“Believe in it. For them it’s just about fine tuning.”
GRADE: B+
READ MORE: Mid-Season Transfer Centre: every club’s ins and outs
Melbourne City (5th)
“They’ve been a bit inconsistent,” Thomas said about his old side.
“A+ in the Champions League, but that doesn’t count in this show.”
GRADE: C+
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Macarthur Bulls (6th)
“They’ve had some very good moments, but they keep dropping points,” Jake said of the Bulls.
“I think the introduction of Mitch Duke, once he gets going they’re going to climb up the ladder.”
GRADE: C+
Adelaide United (7th)
“Squad depth matters,” Naum said of the Reds.
“[When] these boys (the Adelaide players away with the Ollyroos) come back from overseas duty, they’ll be a better team week in, week out.”
GRADE: B
Wellington Phoenix (8th)
“They’ve turned a corner,” Thomas said.
“They’ve got things at least moving in the right direction.”
GRADE: B
READ MORE: Archie Thompson explains the positions the Wanderers need to target for recruitment
Melbourne Victory (9th)
“There has been a very good period for Melbourne Victory, but a lot larger period where they haven’t been at the races,” Jake said.
“I think they are turning a corner.”
GRADE: C+
Perth Glory (10th)
“I think Griffo (head coach Adam Griffiths) is in that rebuild phase,” Naum said of his former club.
“Everything they’re doing now should be working towards a really, really strong next season.”
GRADE: C+/B
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Central Coat Mariners (11th)
“We probably didn’t expect too much, and I think they’re delivering where we would expect them to,” Thomas said.
“They’ve got some good young building blocks.”
GRADE: C
Western Sydney Wanderers (12th)
“Quality players in that team, there just seems to be a disconnect with how that’s going and the operation there,” Jake said.
“They believe they’ll get back up the ladder… right now they are very much underperforming.”
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