Glory Story: Perth’s early-season A-League Men’s clash with Western United already looms as crucial

In this week’s Glory Story, Ben Smith assesses the Glory’s start to the A-League men’s and women’s and the challenge presenting David Zdrilic this weekend. Expectations and a shuddering halt There are a couple of lyrics in Spanish Love Songs’ song ‘Self Destruction (As a Sensible Career Choice)‘ which Perth Glory fans could relate to over the past few weeks/months/years. “It won’t be this bleak forever? Yeah right”. “Thinking some day I just need a miracle, need about 30 goddamn miracles”. To quote the philosopher/Batman villain Bane, there can be no true despair without hope. Perth fans were sold a pipe dream of attacking football, competing for finals football and exciting signings in the off-season; all three of the clubs look ill-equipped to deliver after four rounds this season. Granted, not all the off-season signings have been bad — some of them, like Luis Canga, are even good — but the early returns are not great. After two heavy defeats in four games, fan disillusionment has alarmingly spiked, and this Friday’s clash with Western United already feels like a must-win match for several reasons. What was most worrying at HBF Park when Melbourne City swept past Perth 5-0 was the growing sense of apathy in the crowd. A lot of fans have already been lost to the club down the years and those still attending are currently doing so out of a sense of duty, rather than joy. Lose even a portion of remaining fans, and while the new ownership group have the right intentions, when the on-field ‘new era’ feels like the last one, it will be even tougher for the club to come back. Z-Day (pronounce the ‘z’ like an American would) A disappointing outing against a fellow A-League Men’s straggler in Western United on Friday, and the pressure on David Zdrilic will be ramped up even more. He was positive and upbeat at his mid-week press conference, so here is to hoping that confidence is not misplaced as they head into a clash against the similarly-winless Western United. Zdrilic was brought in as coach because of his tutelage at RB Leipzig and schooling in their pressing ways, and how it had worked during his time as an assistant at Sydney FC last season. At the start of the season, injuries to certain players in pre-season led to the press being exploited, to the point where it has been watered down, and only selectively used. But sitting back defensively did not work against Melbourne City, and led to their opponents enjoying the lion’s share of possession. We will find out very quickly how wedded to his principles Zdrilic is, or whether he is pragmatic enough to abandon it altogether, because while he has been in tough situations before as an assistant, the heat is a bit more intense when you’re the face of the operation. The upside of bringing Zdrilic in was meant to be his pressing mantra — if the Glory are not going to press, what was the point of bringing him in? Fans have quickly made their dissatisfaction known and Zdrilic cannot afford to die wondering. Path to Perth progress in the dub Three A-League Women’s games in, there have been positives and negatives for the Glory, but there are reasons for hope despite two comfortable defeats in their first three games. Let’s start with the bad — they are averaging just 35.2 per cent possession and have not really been able to control games, instead picking and choosing their moments to press and win back possession high up the pitch. In their first two games, against Melbourne City and Newcastle, this plan worked, although it was less successful in a loss to a well-drilled and impressive Brisbane Roar side. Glory coach Stephen Peters is well aware of the side’s early season deficiency in this area, and was quick to point out mid-week they are building on it, totalling 40 per cent of the ball against Brisbane. Perth have, however, also been on the receiving end of some excellent goals and four of the 10 goals they have conceded have come from outside the 18-yard box. Per Opta, Perth’s expected goals (xG) conceded is 5.4, which indicates they have been a bit unlucky and opponents have converted low-quality chances into goals — although their xG is still the third-worst in the league. However, there is optimism for improvement. Hawthorn’s AFLW season ended on the weekend, which means Casey Dumont is heading west post-haste to battle for the number one jersey, while Onyinyechi Zogg is in line for increased minutes at centre-back. Going forward, Perth have been without international signing Megan Wynne and the winger’s return will be important to their structure in the final third.