Paul Okon Column
FOR me there’s been so many goals scored this year of real quality; there’s been a collection that has surpassed any from previous years of the Hyundai A-League.
I think back to year two, Nicky Carle-s solo effort against Adelaide was named goal of the season, but if you looked at all the other goals that was by the far the easiest choice, there was never going to be another.
I keep thinking every time I see a goal go in I say it-s going to be goal of the season and then next game another one goes in that-s even better.
And that is one area where we-ve been lacking in the A-League, in what you would call a spectacular goal, and I-ve always thought that was something we-re behind in so far if you compare it to the EPL and the goals that you see, but as of late we-ve seen some really good goals.
It changes the look of the game when you look back at the highlights as to the goals that were scored during the games and the ball has made a difference.
It favours players that strike the ball well rather than goalkeepers, but defensively teams are more organised as a unit so because it-s hard to break down teams players are being encouraged now to have that confidence to strike from distance and this will continue because the more goals that you see throughout the game, especially as a player, that teams are scoring it encourages you to have the confidence to do something similar.
We-ve also seen a lot of goals from dead ball situations from numerous different players.
That was always something that when you watched A-League games and you saw free-kicks outside the box you-d think, “Well, where is this going to finish up?”
But this season players have been very good at executing free-kicks.
Therefore you can obviously imagine the amount of work the players are putting in during the week to allow them to be able to execute super strikes.
Frank Farina said in the press conference of Tommy Oar-s free-kick that it wasn-t a one-off or a fluke as he scores free-kicks all the time in training.
And it-s good entertainment especially when there-s better crowds, like last week, especially in Perth where there-s always good support it-s just a matter of Perth giving the supporters a reason to come out and the Glory have done that.