A-League round 12: what you need to know

Anthony Colangelo
Dec 28, 2014, updated Dec 28, 2014

• Gritty Phoenix hold on against Warriors

Who needs David Villa? This is how to announce yourself Melbourne City …

Within the space of a week Melbourne City earned a last gasp Melbourne derby win and a draw with runaway league leaders Perth Glory in two fairly complete performances.

That is how you announce yourself on a competition: with good and honest football at both ends of the park played by 11 men who are all committed to the cause and want to win for the club.

It sure beats flying in hyped players from overseas for guest stints. If they keep playing like they have this week the crowds, commercial gains and on-field success will come.

Don’t treat the A-League like a circus by getting punters to come and see only headline acts.

Just put on good winning football. It should go for all clubs.

Poppa to Palace?

The time is perfect for Tony Popovic to take the vacant Crystal Palace mangers role.

The former Palace captain, club stalwart and assistant coach has got his Asian Champions League crown with the Wanderers, and even though an A-League title alludes him he can leave happily.

Providing Palace still want him (reports are he turned down the Palace senior coaching role pre-season) he should head to London.

Some may question if he is ready but we’ll never know if an Aussie coach can do it in Europe until someone tries.

Hello Jean Carlos! We’ve been expecting you

Central Coast Mariner’s 3-3 draw with Brisbane Roar was one of those games that had everything … even a Jean Carlos Solorzano goal!

His last strike in the A-League was on January 29, 2011 against Melbourne Heart. In between he played 26 games including 13 barren appearances for Melbourne Victory.

His 11 goal haul for Brisbane Roar in 2010-11 saw him touted as one of the most dangerous strikers we had seen in the league, making his dry run so perplexing, especially in his ‘big’ move to Victory.

Can he do it again this season for the Roar?

Why did the Grinch visit Gosford?

In a perfect or even more compassionate world Central Coast Mariners would have held onto their 3-2 lead against Brisbane.

There isn’t much to be happy about in Gosford with poor crowds, an under-pressure coach, financially struggling management and losing their big off-season signing.

A win would have been the perfect Christmas present for Phil Moss and his side, bringing some optimism going into 2015.

So pull up a pew Central Coast Mariners fans and wallow in your pain together, with us. There is plenty of room to lament mistakes over Christmas with people who over-indulged during the silly season. You’ll be right at home in your sadness!