The intricate questions as Glory’s season hangs in the balance

The less said about last week, the better. Clearly Adam Griffiths had the same mindset based on his response to questions following his side’s dire 4-0 loss to Adelaide United.

There may have been some charm to the short, quick answers early in his tenure, but the schtick wears thin when performance and results start going downhill.

Perth are closer to the spoon than finals. Another loss for the Glory and a win for Macarthur would put them eight points adrift of the top six with seven games left to play.

Adam Griffiths didn’t learn anything from last week’s horror show. Well, he needs learn something and find answers immediately.

Brisbane has lost four of their last five matches and just like Perth, a snippet of early season promise has faded away in the blink of an eye.

Both teams will see this as an opportunity to play themselves back into some form at the perfect time. Neither can afford to drop too many points from this moment forward.

It’s a huge game for two former powerhouses. Winning keeps you firmly in the hunt; a loss almost completely kills your finals dreams. The ultimate high-stakes encounter.

What’s up with Taggart?

Service is golden for strikers. Give them chances aplenty and watch them thrive. Deprive them of scoring opportunities and you’ll notice the difference.

This is exactly what we’re seeing with Adam Taggart currently. Without a good enough playmaker to link up with and chances few and far between, the Glory’s star striker has made little impact in the last four games.

Against the Wanderers, Auckland and Adelaide, he didn’t capitalise on a high quality chance which in the past, he would have buried with conviction. The one against the Reds was particularly costly given what occurred later on.

The goalscoring instinct remains intact. The pressure to take advantage when an opportunity finally comes your way is having an impact on him.

Spurned shots aside, Taggart is hardly on the ball and getting involved in the build-up. The Glory generally play better when the ball is at his feet.

I’ve called on his teammates to provide better service for him and his strike partner. It’s only fair to call on the skipper to up his level, because what we’re seeing right now is below his standard.

What’s the best midfield combo?

Rhys Bozinovski’s exit left us wondering what the midfield would look like without him in it. Right away, it was obvious the new preferred partnership would be Will Freney and Giovanni De Abreu.

The two have operated deeper as no.6’s, taking up a more defensive position, leaving two wide players and the two up top to do the majority of the attacking load.

On the defensive end, their numbers have been good. Part of it is because they are good at that aspect of the game, but it’s also down to the amount of work they have to put in.

The midfield battle has been a struggle for a while now. The Glory at times have gotten outnumbered in the centre, which has made it difficult to retain possession and advance the ball.

Ideally, a third player in the middle would be the remedy. Someone to assist the younger duo with a bit more experience and the licence to go forward.

The other option is to pair a more experienced head with a younger body. For me, Freney and Nicholas Pennington is the best alternative.

I feel an adjustment is needed. Freney and De Abreu haven’t been poor, but they’ve not been brilliant either. Pennington is more of a difference maker, which is what the Glory need right now.

And for the Tillies…

Which big names miss out on the opener?

The women’s Asian Cup kicks off at Optus Stadium on Sunday, with the Matildas hosting the Philippines in the opening clash of the tournament.

The squad flew into Perth earlier this week and quickly got stuck into their preparation at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Of all the talking points to possibly discuss, of which there are many, the one of most intrigue regards the fitness and availability of some key players.

Mary Fowler has only just gotten back to playing club football for Manchester City after tearing her ACL twelve months ago. She is no guarantee to start any of the group stage matches.

Kyra Cooney-Cross has been through a difficult period away from football. With only one Arsenal appearance in 2026, she might not be ready to start straight away.

In goal, Mackenzie Arnold left yesterday’s training session early, putting her in doubt for Sunday. That would open the door for Chloe Lincoln or Jada Whyman, two talented keepers with very little international experience.

Luckily, the depth of the squad is better than three years ago at the World Cup. The talent throughout should be enough to see them comfortably through the group stage.

How strong their early performances are will indicate the possibility of them breaking the silverware drought. If they gel on the pitch and produce the style of football Joe Montemurro is after, the odds of success will skyrocket.

Predicted lineup (Glory)

Taggart – Kucharski

Despotovski – Freney – Pennington – Colakovski

Sutton – Wootton – Kaltak – Shamoon

Sutton

Predicted lineup (Matildas)

Foord – Kerr – Raso

Wheeler – Cooney-Cross – Gorry

Catley – Hunt – Kennedy – Carpenter

Lincoln

All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.