Not happy, again ... Arnie might field a weakened side this weekend. Source:News Limited
Coast Mariners boss Graham Arnold has threatened to field his side's youth side against Melbourne Heart on Saturday if Western Sydney Wanderers claim the premier's plate on Friday night.
- 1. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (54 points, Goal Diff +17)
v Newcastle (A)
Need a win or a draw in Newcastle to secure the premier's plate in their debut season.
- 2. CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (51, +25)
v Melbourne Heart (H)
If the Wanderers lose, the Mariners can pinch the premier's plate on goal difference with a win against the Heart.
- 3. MELBOURNE VICTORY (41, +2)
v Wellington Phoenix (A)
Will finish third or fourth and have nothing to really play for in New Zealand ahead of their home elimination final.
- 4. ADELAIDE UNITED (40, +1)
v Perth Glory (A)
To finish third or fourth and host a home knockout final, regardless of the result of their Perth trip.
- 5. BRISBANE ROAR (32, +2)
v Sydney FC (H)
Hold their own destiny. Beat Sydney, and their title defence continues into the finals; lose, and they need both Perth and Newcastle to lose. If they draw and only one of Newcastle or Perth win, they could still sneak in. - 6. SYDNEY FC (32, -8)
v Brisbane Roar (A)
Like Brisbane, masters of their own fate: beat the Roar and they make the finals. Lose or draw, and they rely on others, like the Roar, above.
- 7. PERTH GLORY (31, -2)
v Adelaide United (H)
Beat Adelaide at home and they're in the finals. Draw, and they're probably in - if Sydney are beaten. Lose, and they're out.
- 8. NEWCASTLE JETS (31, -12)
v Western Sydney (H)
Must defeat Western Sydney and hope Sydney and Brisbane draw, and Perth lose, to steal a finals spot. If they draw, but Perth win and Sydney get thumped by four or more goals, they can also sneak in!
The former Socceroos boss was making a point given the final round of the home-and-away season is split over the Easter weekend.
Arnold's side beat Adelaide United 2-0 at Hindmarsh to move within three points of A-League leader Wanderers and faces Heart next Saturday in Gosford.
What infuriated Arnold is that good domestic competitions around the planet play their final home-and-away clash of the season at the same time.
But the A-League has since inception in 2005, insisted on playing a staggered round.
"I said it last year and I've said it the year before but they (FFA) don't want to listen," Arnold said.
"Every game should be at the same time, last round everywhere in the world, last round simultaneously kick off because then you don't know that the other results are.
"I'll tell you for example if Western Sydney beat Newcastle on Thursday we play on Saturday night and we've got Asian Champions League after that.
"I'll play the youth team on Saturday ... that's wrong, that's wrong. So probably they are lucky we've got Melbourne Heart who are out (of the finals).
"They can't make the six. It's crazy you lose respect for the league."
The passionate Mariners boss also agreed with Socceroos coach Holger Osieck's sentiments that the A-League should halt when FIFA plan its international weekends.
The Mariners and Adelaide missed three players tonight - Eugene Galekovic, Mat Ryan and Michael McGlinchey - due to international duty.
"Same with international dates, Holger Osieck is 200 per cent right," Arnold said.
"Not only do you lose your best footballers you lose your best referees. Your best referees are going to referee international football this weekend.
"Second to last round biggest games of the competition and the referees are going over to referee in Asia.
"Strebre (Delovski) went to referee New Zealand and New Calendonia on Friday night. So not only are you losing your best footballers you're losing the best officials as well.''
Arnold also said Hindmarsh's pitch was the worst he had even seen.
"We were surprised because Hindmarsh is normally a bowling green, it's beautiful," he said.
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