Condo's Wrap - Bizzaro Week

A week or so ago if you had of said that the Jets would thump Adelaide, Perth would smack the Victory and Central Coast would thrash Wellington in Wellington you would have been locked in solitary confinement (which in the A-Leagues case is the Eastern stand at Skilled Park)

Friday night gave us only a slight indication that 'Bizzaro' week was upon us; the slightest of hints that only the really staunch football theorists would have picked up on. Sydney lost - which is a hit Tom Jones song - but the Gold Coast scoring three goals was a sight we don't often see since Smeltzy left.

Gold Coast were clinical and Joel Porter reminded us all that he can score a goal or two, although his celebratory dance in front of the empty stands left us scratching our heads. Ivan Necevski put pen to paper on a two year deal during the week and luckily for him the ink had dried on that contract as he put in one of his poorer shifts between the posts. Culina's goal from outside the box had all the speed of a 10y.o. at the ten pin bowling alley with one of those helper ramps.

The early Saturday game saw the Wellington Phoenix at home (sure they slipped up last home game but they are unbeatable at the cake tin nowadays aren't they? Nope.) Two questions were answered pretty early on - Who is Josh Rose? and Can he play?. Rose Scored two and had a big hand in the third in a standout game for the young left back. One question that needs to be answered is how Jade North continues to get picked for the national team? He must have some pictures of Osiek in a compromising position or similar because North is a shadow of the player he was a few seasons back.

The Mariners have slipped under the radar to date, but this win, coupled with Adelaide's loss, puts them right up there with the big boys.

Saturday night's game was as refreshing as an ice cold beer. The Jets tore Adelaide apart thanks to 'The Fox in the Box' Francis Jeffers who made his A-League debut and landed on his feet quicker than a cat dropped from the second story.

Nikolai Topor-Stanley scored his maiden A-League goal whilst Marko Jesic scored a brace in front of the Jets biggest home crowd of the season.

The sky is the limit for the Jets at the moment (pun intended) with David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy due in town at the end of the month. Maybe, just maybe, their season isn't quite finished yet. The Reds on the other hand are officially in a slump. After starting the season on fire they have lost three of their last four games, conceding 9 goals and only beating the struggling Glory. Not panic stations yet, but questions linger.

The two Melbourne teams were on back to back on Sunday and both teams blew chances to build a gap on each other on the table. First up the Heart were overrun by the sublime Brisbane Roar. Heart took the lead and had plenty of chances to extend but a late goal to Solozano saw the Roar grab the points at AAMI Park. Never has the phrase 'ball to feet' been used as common as it is at the moment when discussing Ange Postecoglou's Roar. Their passing game is as good as we've seen in Australia. Ever. They just continue to win and with a few more goals we might have our first ever brand of Sexy Football.

Sunday's late game was all about Robbie Fowler. A hat trick from GOD was just what the Glory needed.

Perth have now won four games this season, the same amount as the Victory. The Victory defense is in disarray, Merrick continuing to play Leijer as a right back which he is clearly uncomfortable in doing.

Unfortunately for the Glory only a touch over 6,000 were at NIB stadium to witness what everyone had been hoping would happen all along. Fowler was at his goal poaching best and deserves all the credit even though Michael Petkovic was beaten easier than a pinata at a fat kids retreat.


N.B. For all of you scratching your head at the Tom Jones song from the Sydney game it was - Its Not Unusual.


Hero of the Week

Robbie Fowler – When Perth needed some divine intervention, GOD answered with a hat trick.


Villain of the Week

Ersan Gulum.

During the week the Melbourne raised Gulum choose to represent Turkey instead of the Socceroos.

Whilst Gulum would have been one of those nice to have's the jury is out on whether Gulum would have been the answer to our lack of depth on the left hand side of defense.