SA Footy

Current points: 32 (1st)
Run-in
Queensland Roar, home
Melbourne Victory, home
Perth Glory, away
Central Coast Mariners, home
New Zealand Knights, away
Sydney FC, away

Current Form
Last five matches ? W W W W L
Last three home matches ? W W L
Last three away matches ? W W W

Race for the finals
Given that 31 points is the estimated number to make the finals, Adelaide is mathematically already in the finals, but victories in its two home games straight after the break, will confirm its place in the inaugural finals series. But coach John Kosmina, a firm believer in the traditional first past the post European-style system, will already be eyeing retaining the leadership all the way to the season's close. Before the break, Kosmina admitted he would be prouder of his team winning the league than the grand final and would no doubt want the title wrapped up before the last game against closest rival Sydney FC.

Player availability
Utility player Matthew Kemp is Adelaide's sole major injury concern heading into the final phase. Kemp seems likely to miss the rest of the season with a groin strain although the club are conducting a week-by-week prognosis on the 25-year-old. Ross Aloisi and Qu Shengqing return after serving suspensions for reaching four yellow cards although Michael Valkanis, leading-scorer Carl Veart and Travis Dodd will all need to tread carefully over the coming rounds.

Season highlights
The fact that Adelaide is in the top three in restricting opponents shooting and goalkeeper pairing Daniel Beltrame and Robert Bajic have repelled the most attacks has gone a long way to contributing to United's success. The Reds are statistically the most effective tackling side (76% tackles won) and have scored the league's equal second highest tally of goals (23). All in all the archetypal team effort.

Will want to work on
More of the same. Kosmina will only hope the enforced mid-season break has not pulled the team's momentum from under its feet. The only area in which Adelaide has fallen behind its rivals is in passing. Both pass attempts (3782) and passing completion rate (72.4%) are the lowest in the league.

In short
The main aim for Adelaide is to now finish as premiers and they cannot afford to lose twice before the final game against Sydney.

All statistics correct to Round 15
Team (ranking in the league)

Goals Scored ? 23 (=2nd)
Goals Conceded ? 18 (4th)*
Total Team Shots - 195 (=4th)
Total Shots ON Target - 104 (4th)
Total Team Passing Completed - 2740 (8th)
Total Team Passes Attempt ? 3782 (8th)
Total Team Passing Success % - 72.4 (8th)
Total Team Crosses ? 254 (6th)
Total Team Shots Conceded - 181 (3rd)*
Total Keeper Saves - 56 (2nd)
Total Team Turnovers ? 2696 (6th)*
Total Team Tackles ? 370 (=4th)
Total Team Effective Tackles % - 76.0 (1st)
Total Team Fouls Conceded ? 245 (8th)*

Player (total)

Leading Goal Scorer ? 5 Carl Veart (=6th)
Most Goal Assists ? 4 Qu Shengqing (=4th)
Most Shots at Goal ? 42 Carl Veart (=6th)
Most Shots ON Target - 22 Carl Veart (=6th)
Most Passes ? 523 Angelo Costanzo (10th)
Most Crosses ? 42 Travis Dodd (10th)
Goalkeeper Saves ? 45 Daniel Beltrame (5th)
Most Tackles ? 55 Angelo Costanzo (5th)
Most Fouls Conceded ? 33 Ross Aloisi (3rd)
Most Offsides - 11 Qu Shengqing (=13th)

Just like every other fan of the world game (or any game for that matter) likes to be, is on TOP and that's where we will and should be.

Are United fans a bit concerned with Kosmina's comments a couple of weeks ago that he's more interested in where the side finishes at the end of the minor round as opposed to how they go in the finals?
Bit of a cop out and a blowing of one's own trumpet if you ask me.

yeah i am abit Wedgie, finishing top would be nice, but winning the finals would be alot better.

i give kosmina a lot of credibility for sticking to his view that winning the league is of more value than winning the grand final. of course both would be nice but i just like thinking that the best team should be judged based on their entire season, i.e. rewarding consistency, as opposed to the grand final system which rewards peaking on the last day of the year*

brent wrote:i just like thinking that the best team should be judged based on their entire season, i.e. rewarding consistency, as opposed to the grand final system which rewards peaking on the last day of the year*

Doggies could have 6 in a row

Sammy, you reckon we'll ever see an FA Cup style competition running throughout the land in conjunction with the Premiership??

brent wrote:i give kosmina a lot of credibility for sticking to his view that winning the league is of more value than winning the grand final. of course both would be nice but i just like thinking that the best team should be judged based on their entire season, i.e. rewarding consistency, as opposed to the grand final system which rewards peaking on the last day of the year*

Pfft, that's crap, he's just covering his arse in case his team chokes in the games that really count. He must spend too much time with Choko Williams.

Kossy, concentrate on getting your side for the games that count instead of making excuses beforehand.

wedgie, i think its just the traditional way that most football (soccer) leagues around the world have always been. i'm pretty sure that the idea of a "grand final" or a "super bowl" finish to a season is mostly to accomodate the aussies and the yanks

by the way, a great win tonight against queensland roar, 4-2 the final result

qu's lob for our second goal was awesome!

and who said adelaide plays boring football.........

brent wrote:wedgie, i think its just the traditional way that most football (soccer) leagues around the world have always been. i'm pretty sure that the idea of a "grand final" or a "super bowl" finish to a season is mostly to accomodate the aussies and the yanks

Yeah but soccer in Australia has had finals for years, its not as though its a new concept, still sounds like a cop out in case of a choke IMHO.
I'm pretty sure any sane person who is shitting people would choose the GF win over being minor premiers.

i see what u mean, it does sound a bit like an insurance policy in case of finals failure

i think that if we achieve top spot in the minor round then we'll hear how much kossie would actually like to take the inaugural a-league premiership

its a girls game any way who cares

Adelaide is looking as good as "Centrals"

holden78 wrote:its a girls game any way who cares

holden supporter = centrals supporter = pom or descendant pom = soccer fan = adelaide united supporter

enjoy!