Adelaide United coach Ross Aloisi believes that Melissa Barbieri is still the best goalkeeper in the country, and has stated how happy he is with the influence she has in the team.
The former Matildas custodian has made a successful return to football following the birth of her child and is one of the main reasons for Adelaide’s strong performances this season.
Aloisi is delighted to have such an seasoned goalkeeper to marshall his inexperienced defence, and feels that she is using that to the team’s advantage.
“Her experience is second to none in the country,” Aloisi said.
“I still believe she’s possibly the number one goalkeeper but that’s just my opinion and that she’s massive for our side, she communicates non-stop and she’s a good goalkeeper.”
Playing in front of Barbieri is W-League debutant and Casey Comets midfielder Alex Gummer and Jenna McCormick who plays up front for Adelaide Unversity in the South Australian Women’s Premier League.
With both Gummer and McCormick playing out of position for the Lady Reds, Aloisi praised the duo’s versatility.
“Alex Gummer is a number nine, and Jenna McCormick in our National Premier League plays as a number ten, and they’ve played in the centre of defence all season and they’ve been very, very good,” he said.
“To only concede one goal I thought it was a great effort from the whole team even though the goal was soft in my opinion.”
Adelaide did put up a good fight before Lisa De Vanna’s headed goal, but Aloisi conceded that his side were second best on the day
“Against a side like Melbourne Victory who has to be the strongest side we’ve played against to date, they are strong all over the park,” he said.
“There’s [Jess] Fishlock, they got De Vanna, [Steph] Catley and everyone else – they are a quality side.
“Probably in the end the stronger side won but we did have a game plan, and it was coming along quite well until the goal.”