Socceroos' pain could be the A-League's gain

Unless the incoming, yet-to-be-appointed Socceroos coach can find a way to reinvigorate the moribund national team (a job that seems to require not just a firm boot up the posterior but the rather-more-difficult-to-source elixir of youth) then he'll have to reinvent them instead. This may have unexpected benefits for the A-League. Prior to the Socceroos' thrashing by Brazil and France (O Canada, if only we could play you every week) there were no signs that sacked Holger Osieck was planning on forcing retirement on some of Australia's long-serving stars – never mind they're so entrenched that this would require ambushing them on the street, bundling them into an unmarked white van and driving them to a hidden location where they'd remain bound until the World Cup is over.

Now, however, there's a chance that forced retirements may indeed be in the offing, giving hope and possibly impetus to a bunch of fringe Socceroos and young up-and-comers who may have thought Australia's World Cup first team was hitherto a closed shop. No one is going to pretend that these players – the likes of Mitchell Duke, Tomi Juric, Trent Sainsbury, James Troisi, and Craig Goodwin – are superstars who have so far been inexplicably overlooked but they are young, talented, and, crucially, have the potential to improve. Will the chance of going to the World Cup – not to mention getting oiled up to play beach football in tiny bathers on Ipanema beach— see them lift their games to new levels? How could it not?

More thrills in Adelaide

If it's not envy-inducing enough that Adelaide United fans are offered Coopers at their home ground, on early evidence they also have a thrill-a-minute team to watch; and one led by a man with the best name in the A-League: Jeronimo Neumann. The Argentinian striker scored a double in the opening round and, with the Portuguese winger Fabio Ferreira chipping in with a goal and an assist, and Spaniard Isaias contributing a brain-explosion and subsequent red card, Adelaide were eminently watchable if still some way from the kind of 24-carat tiki-taka they're striving to produce. But how will they fare against Ange Postecoglou's well-drilled Victory? Especially now that Josep Gombau will have to change his starting XI given the suspensions of Isaias and Nigel Boogaard.

Much will depend on the midfield battle. The Victory were allowed to dominate possession against Heart in last week's Melbourne derby but Adelaide's high-tempo pressing game means Victory will need to work harder, and be more aggressive, to get to the final third. In this endeavour they'll miss the sure touches (but not the sharp elbows) of suspended marquee man Pablo Contreras. On the flip side Adelaide's sense of adventure may leave the back door ajar for Victory's Connor Pain, Archie Thompson, James Troisi and Mitch Nichols. Victory will also be buoyed by the presence of captain Mark Milligan whose understandable annoyance at making a pointless 30,000km round trip to France must be tempered somewhat by the relief that he missed the French lesson. It'll be an intriguing match.

To counter or not to counter, that is the question

Melbourne Heart will be hoping to set a season precedent by pulling more than 10,000 fans to their opening home game against the Mariners (and it might help that the Victorian Premier League grand final is being staged as a curtain-raiser), but what sort of show will they put on for the believers? Fans don't tend to mind their team sitting deep and playing on the counter when away – as the Heart did so well last week in a cagey derby (thanks in big part to centre-backs Patrick Kisnorbo and Rob Wielaert who looked as cool and untroubled as they might have done lazing about a gentlemen's club in smoking jackets while listening to Les Murray crooning Frank Sinatra songs).

But when at home the unwritten rule says the home team are obliged to make the play. Either way, the Heart will be desperate for the services of Harry Kewell (it's a common refrain, but he's injured – though at least the problem is with his less-than-precious head and not his legs) who proved an effective conduit between defence and attack last week, and who showed signs of developing an understanding with pacey attackers David Williams, Mate Dugandzic and Golgol Mebrahtu (although Mebrahtu might lose his place to Michael Mifsud, returning from international duty). But the Mariners have beaten the Heart in seven of nine matches, and given their more than solid hit out against the Wanderers last week (highlighted by Mitchell Duke's lovely dinked finish from a dagger of a Marcos Flores through-ball), perhaps John Aloisi's team will prefer to again play on the counter. Whether or not this makes the fans happy might just come down to whether it works or not.

Roar will be a better test of Sydney's start

Brisbane were delighted to pinch an away win in the dying moments against Wellington last week, but Ivan Franjic's winner masked a rather sluggish performance from the Roar's much-heralded midfield, which turned over far too much ball. Sydney will be delighted with their opener against Newcastle, but how much was the win down to Sydney's solid defence (overseen with distinction by centre-back Nikola Petkovic), and how much was it a result of Newcastle's attack, so blunt it wouldn't take an eye out. Certainly Brisbane's attack should prove a greater threat and as such you'd expect Sydney to be all over Besart Berisha like head lice on a kindergartner. The Albanian scored against Wellington and positioned himself well for more but he was let down by poor first touches which can put down to early season rust. But with that game under his belt, and a goal to boost his confidence (which needs little boosting), he'll be itching to add to his impressive goal record – four in four – against the Sky Blues.

Will Michael Bridges spark the Jets?

In light of their bright pre-season the Newcastle Jets were the disappointment of round one. Certainly their cause wasn't helped by midfielder Zenon Caravella who played a role in both goals, not least the first when he gifted Alessandro Del Piero a goal-scoring opportunity after barreling his team-mate Connor Chapman onto the ground as if Chapman were engulfed in flames. But calamitous defending aside, the real problem for the Jets was their inability to break down Sydney's organised defence, even though Sydney obliged them by sitting back and allowing them 59% of possession. Yet for all that Newcastle managed just one shot on target. With Emile Heskey still injured Newcastle will need to find a way to threaten Perth, who they have not beaten in five matches. In a sign that youth isn't always the answer, Jets coach Gary van Egmond will be hoping the return of veteran Michael Bridges in the No10 role will help create a few more chances for strikers Adam Taggart and Nathan Burns. Equally important will be the ability of Newcastle to unsettle Perth's back four by getting in behind them and to the byline. You could have had a picnic on Sydney's byline last week and not once had a Newcastle player trample your sandwiches. If they shoot blanks again, Newcastle fans will get an early case of the glooms.

Round two

Friday:

Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory, Coopers Stadium

Saturday:

Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners, AAMI Park

Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC, Suncorp Stadium

Sunday:

Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory, Hunter Stadium

Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix, Pirtek Stadium

