Macarthur’s blistering Australia Cup form has them firmly among the favourites to contend for A-League Men’s silverware this season, which kicks off on Friday night when Melbourne City host reigning champions Western United.
Western defied expectations in winning last year’s title in just their third season and Macarthur look well placed to repeat the dose this year, after 19 goals in five games saw them lift the Cup last Saturday five games into Dwight Yorke’s tenure.
Yorke’s appointment at the Bulls provides one of the season’s most intriguing storylines. Already he’s gone some way to silencing the sceptics, who have been quick to point to a coaching resume that consists of little more than a week with the A-League All Stars.
‘I was one who thought Yorke was a sugar-hit signing to get some publicity for Macarthur, he hasn’t coached before, but so far, so good. The football they played in the Cup final was brilliant’, eight-time Socceroo Robbie Cornthwaite told Box2Box.
‘With Yorke’s record as a player you’d hope they want to play attacking, free flowing football. He’s already given license to Daniel Arzani and Al-Hasan Toure looks back to his best. But it’s done with a structure, a discipline, and defensively they look rock solid.’
The Cup final undoubtedly marked the high-point of Macarthur’s history, as captain Ulises Davila pulled the strings on his way to the Mark Viduka medal before a heaving, but problematic crowd of 16,000 at Parramatta.
Sections of Sydney United’s support overshadowed the contest on the pitch; disrespect shown towards the welcome to country ceremony, pro-Nazi gestures and chants aligned with Croatian far-right Utashe movement left more than a sour taste, and presented Football Australia with much to consider as they reintegrate historic clubs back onto the national stage.
‘I certainly condemn those actions, and anyone that was there promoting anything we don’t want in our game. In terms of a National Second Division, that’s something the League and powers that be really have to look into.
‘It overshadowed what was an amazing spectacle and story of an NPL side reaching a final. I think the beauty from a Macarthur perspective is they haven’t let it affect them. They’ve still got the storyline of their first trophy, Davila winning the medal after an off-season which was so tragic for his family.’
The Bulls kick off their league campaign on Saturday away to Brisbane, with World Cup spots on the line for players who can hit the ground running. Daniel Arzani has returned home to rebuild his career after a tough four years abroad and needs to find end product quickly if he’s to convince Graham Arnold to reprise his national team selection.
Arzani may be pipped at selection by Garang Kuol, who will embark on eight-match farewell tour before moving to Newcastle United in January. Kuol is yet to start a game for the Mariners, but has shown enough from his seven appearances off the bench to earn a Socceroos debut, and a move abroad.
‘The beauty of players of that age is they don’t really care, he reminds me of Mat Leckie when he burst onto the scene, almost playing without fear. They’ve got a guideline, but it’s basically just to be free and run around, the only thing that can really happen is for them to be a hero.
‘With the trajectory Kuol’s on and the confidence he has, there’s every chance you give him that 26th spot and at some stage, you might just chuck him on.’