Nearpost Football: A-League 2009/10

Showing posts with label A-League 2009/10. Show all posts

Showing posts with label A-League 2009/10. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 March 2010

Aussie Sportsmanship: It's a walkout?????

Wow! Now I grew up on Celtic Rangers rivalry so my non-Celtic Rangers mates in England always hooted long and loud when at the annual Scottish Cup Final (they always play don't they or maybe it just seems that way,) when Celtic (or ahem...Rangers have won it) the Cup is presented to the Celtic captain.

As the camera pans the stadium there is never ANYONE and I mean anyone in the Rangers end watching our hooped hero lift the precious cup.

Now having travelled along way I always hung around no matter who won. I didn't have the hatred I guesss, never did.

So when Sydney FC were presented with the trophy last night it seemed to me that 40,000 Melbourne fans had walked, gone home.

Is this a sign of real hatred, Celtic Rangers style? Surely not.
Were the Vic's too tired after all that extra-time? Surely not AFL goes forever.

or is it a sign that fans aren't that fussed about the whole A-League thing still. A final sure but hanging around to watch the celebrations. Meh!

Does this happen in AFL, always the stadium seems full to the end of the tedious speeches and same same in NRL.

Aussie fans generally seem to stay, in my view. So I was stunned to see the Melbourne fans do the whole Celtic/Rangers thing.

Can anyone explain?

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Hand of Payne...cue the Big Blue

Wellington lost 4-2 to Sydney in the A-League semi final in front of 13,000 fans at the SFS.

As many have suspected Wellington's finals were played at home the last two weeks, and despite their equalizer to make it 1-1 and a dubious hand of payne goal for Sydney to ease back into the lead, the Nix were never in this.

In truth they were porous against Perth and the Jets in the final series but through penalties and eventually last week through Paul Ifill they edged through.

All season they've been dodgy away from Wellington and last night they lacked much attacking inventiveness and almost no defensive nous. Four goals tells it's own tactical debacle.

Sydney, hardly the World's greatest team, show enough organisation to make the team way better than it's part. Thank the Coach, but they still lack real excitement and goal power upfront. Although last night with an inspired substitution, well injury forced John Aloisi off for two goal hero Chris Payne, and a Nix defence that went walk about all night really, Sydney cruised it.

Chris Payne was left unmarked early, then had enough strength to get his shot away. He clearly lacks real pace but his goal was a worthy one and encouraging for another young Aussie striker. Too slow? Another Sydney trademark?

The second was a real Payne of a goal, turning the match in Sydney's favour.

But in the second half, Andrew Durrante who has played well all season got skinned too easy for Sydney's match winner by Alex Brosque, and although Mark Bridge tried to miss an open goal it went in and the game was won 4-1. Dadi scored late on for Wellington.

So the FFA get a big game in Melbourne, hope Ian Collins sorts his debacle of a pitch out, and of course the FFA and AFC don't have to worry about the Nix getting in to the ACL.

Will Sydney win in Melbourne?

I think not. No Corica and maybe no John Aloisi. That should be enough for Melbourne if Archie Thompson is back and he seems to be.

Let's hope no-one is sent-off to ruin this final, but if necessary the book comes out early and often.

Also Brosque will stir the old Muscat and that should be good to see.

These are the two best football teams in the League, it's just Sydney never excite this neutral in the final third. Lack of pace, lack of firepower and still they make the top two.

Still they have shown they can beat Melbourne home and away over the ninety, with or without Corica or Aloisi. And Melbourne aren't the tightest in the midfield and even the Central Coast thrashed them at home this year so anything is possible.

But can Sydney halt the balls from Carlos to Robbie Kruse and Archie Thompson? Not all night and the defensive pairing of Stephan Kellar and Simon Colosimo should be exposed for positional by-passing and pace as they have been recently in games against the Jets, Perth and Victory.

With the Melbourne crowd expected to sell-out the stadium it should be a hell of a party...for the winner.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Tuesday: Advantage Melbourne

News just in says:

Blockbuster will be at SFS

The highly anticipated Hyundai A-League blockbuster between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday 14 February (5pm kick-off).

Sydney FC has been working closely with the Sydney Football Stadium and Football Federation Australia (FFA) and all parties are satisfied the pitch will be to the standard required to host the Hyundai A-League match.

Given Melbourne are used to playing on a Dome surface often wrecked by Concerts and AFL surely the ascendency is with the Victory.

More seriously, Melbourne will be tested without Archie and Kevin Muscat, but in Marvin Angulo, Carlos Hernandez, and Robbie Kruse they are perhaps the more inventive upfront.

Sydney don't have that many goals in them, but the much criticised forward line of John Aloisi and Alex Brosque need to perform and convert.

Sydney's defence is it's highlight we're told, but angled balls re: Taj Minniecon for the Gold Coast winner, Matt Thompson for the Jobe Wheelhouse strike, and McGarry's miss on the weekend show a defence who although having played together most of the season can easily give up very soft chances, particularly if you have someone who can thread a pass. Melbourne have that.

Nik Mrdja is not Archie Thompson but I'd give Melbourne the nod in attack.

However Matt Kemp and Muscat are gone, which means the Victory defence will be sorely exposed, or could be if Karol Kisel and Steve Corica can release Alex Brosque.

I still hate Terry McFlynn turning in from the left and neither Sydney full back has shown real quality in attack all season.

That said if Evan Berger replaces Kemp, The Cove fans should expect to field his crosses all afternoon! Similarly the boy Broxham is hardly the world's best provider if he starts at right back.

It will be tight, or should be, but I'm predicting a goalfest. 3-2 to Sydney.

But it's still Tuesday so I reserve the right to change my mind!

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

Nearpost podcast..a-league finals talk.

Is Matthew Leckie a World Cup bolter, can the Phoenix stop the Gold Coast, Is Kevin Mucast the dirtiest player in the A-League, should Arnie Coach in the A-League and all the news you'd ever wish to hear...and who will win the Premiership?

Download

Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Nearpost National Podcast

Download National Show we talk Socceroos, Dario Vidosic, A-League, Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and of course all the news, moves and opinions you could want.
And of course why Fozzie is wrong....again.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Asia on the line for Melbourne this Saturday

Melbourne v Sydney is always a big game in the A-League. Big crowds, send-off's thrashings we've had the lot.

This Saturday's is bigger than most.

Should Melbourne win they would be six points clear with 8 to play. Who would bet against them finishing top of the league and grabbing that crucial first Asian Champions League qualification spot.

And that would mean Melbourne a club that plans better than most in the A-League would be guaranteed two years in the ACL before the finals even start.

Barcelona, Man Utd and the like are always in the Euro Champs League, and if Melbourne make it again they will more evidence to say they are Australia's biggest and best football club on and off the field.

If Melbourne score first, at home, they will win and Asia is theirs.

Monday, 30 November 2009

Do you know more than Miron Bleiberg.

Stephen Lustica was plunged into centre midfield for Gold Coast United on Saturday against Melbourne Victory.

Stephen is 18 and playing his first start in the A-League. Away to Melbourne at the Dome.

Gold Coast lost the midfield and lost the game 4-0.

No-one could blame a young aspiring player, but one could wonder at the logic of Miron Bleiberg and former Lazio midfielder and Assistant Coach Paul Okon.

Gold Coast's depth was stretched, away to Melbourne so why play the best midfielder in the league, a proven International at World Cup level, out on the right wing.

Particularly when the Gold Coast were unable to get the ball to Jason Culina and indeed after the first goal is was quickly apparent that it would be Melbourne down the middle, Melbourne down the left and Melbourne down the right. It was.

Which makes you wonder when little old football observers like me can pick HUGE defects in Miron (One season wonder) Bleiberg...and Vitaslez (I'd like to water plants) Lavicka tactical genius what exactly do these guys bring to the table?

Laurie McKinna even had a chat with Fozzie on SBS yesterday...what is the World coming to? Anyone laugh when Fozzie asked Lozza, oh so gently, about the style of play from Season 1 to now?

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Nearpost: Radio Local

Download

Nationally we talk Expansion and why the FFA love Canberra. Ben Buckley did you take your national capital for a little ride? Are you continuing to take the city for a ride?

And all the A-League, W-League and football talk you could ever dream of.

Locally: Download

Peter Funnell talks to one of Canberra star footballers, Ned Zelic.
And Pat McCann gives the lowdown on High Performance Futsal program progress.

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Nearpost podcast this week

Lucy Zelic says give Pim the flick, we dedicate the show to Tarek Elrich, Paddy Bordier reveals his A-League team after five seasons!

And why we all love the Gold Coast...and it's the team we all want to watch.And why the FFA have stuffed Canberra and their own expansion plans. Watch your back Lucas!

We've got it all here on Nearpost podcast. Don't miss it!

Download here.

Locally and timely in view of all the violence at the local Rugby games and Football games on the weekend with at least THREE games abandoned, nice one lads, and at Canberra Stadium as well, Peter Funnell catches up with George Huitker who keeps it real.

It's only a game, and a junior one at that.

Download

Monday, 17 August 2009

Jason Culina; Standard already slipping?

Now we all know Pim Verbeek is worried about his Aussie boys returning home to the A-League, and probably no-one concerns him more than ever-present Socceroo Jason Culina.

Great player, who Robbie Slater praises before he even plays a pass, but are Culina's standards already slipping?

A few showpony touches with the score at 1-0 in the Fury game on the weekend suggests this whole A-League thing has finally attracted a professional player who finds the games too easy.

From PSV to A-League is perhaps the biggest drop in standard any returning Socceroos or imported player has made.

So although fans, like me, will love Culina's showboating, he never does it for the Socceroos, or PSV, and one wonders if this is the beginning of what Verbeek is talking about.

Will Culina's standards slip. I think they are already.

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Round 2: Sydney shine?

Gold Coast stomped their rich footprint all over the A-League with a 5-0 home win, Wellington beat Perth in front of a healthy 10,000 crowd, Melbourne came back from 3-1 to draw 3-3 with Brisbane and the F3 Derby saw the Jets draw 1-1 with the Mariners.

Sydney had a tough test against a fit, tactically sound Adelaide United.

Despite some errors from Karol Kisel and Terry McFlynn in midfield throughout the game Sydney remained strong and won the game through substitute's Mark Bridge wonderful link play with Alex Brosque.

Korean import full-back Byun Sung-Hwan impressed again, quickly becoming a crowd favourite, but once again it was Kofi Danning who took the eye.

Up against the uncompromising Scott Jamison Danning was tested early, but the longer the game went the young star just got better and better. Another test passed for the young star.

Wonderful stuff.

And with Mark Bridge, Mitchell Prentice, Adam Casey, Brendan Gan, Rhyan Grant, Stuart Musialik among those fighting for a starting birth, seems like Sydney might have a bit more fight in them this season. Early days.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Nearpost Podcast: A-League, Socceroos, Young Matildas

Aaron Walker, Eamonn (me) and Paddy Bordier discuss A-League crowds, the Gold Coast, Pim's Socceroos squad, and our differing views on our Young Matildas and keep you up-to-date with the key football news in Australia.

Haven't got Fox? Where better to get your Aussie football news on the radio.

Download

Locally Peter Funnell has all the issues and the big local interviews. Don't miss an episode. And this is the best and only guaranteed place to get the local podcast as Capital Football rarely put them up. Why? I've no idea!

Download

Sunday, 9 August 2009

A-League: Look who's hot.

Gold Coast United has lifted the bar for domestic football in Australia.

Jason Culina, Joel Porter, Shane Smeltz, Robson, Bas Van Den Brink all lit up the Brisbane night with intelligent, skilful football. 3-1 to United. Great for the A-League, great for football fans everywhere.

Joel Porter particularly caught my eye. Strong, great vision on the ball and perhaps better than Shane Smeltz! As expected Jason Culina did not disappoint. And notched a beautiful team goal.

For the Roar: Scottish veteran Bob Malcolm over Luke De Vere in the central defence? Any improvement on our young Aussie? I think not.
Robbie Kruse is out of sorts, and Mitch Nichols was still the best of an uncreative bunch.

In Townsville:
Would Canberra get more than 8,900 for their first A-League game, especially if we drew Sydney and had a Robbie Fowler name on the team sheet. Of course we would.

And with that crowd you'd have to ask why Townsville got the nod and is it sustainable.

Loved David Williams, the Japanese defender Kaijiro Kiamoto and not much else other than a spirited fightback from the Fury. Although one suspects this says more about Sydney's lack of quality, again, then the Fury.

But Canberra junior Kofi Danning stole the show. Another gem of a performance, another goal, and it was a cracker.

In Adelaide Joe Costas, 17, very interesting to see him take the field and Aurelio Vidmar noted his team were very fit.

It showed.

With an improved Perth, still lacking forward pace it has to be said, Melbourne and Central Coast look like yesterday's men. Ernie Merrick lift your game!

And still Ljubo Milicevic to come.

Monday, 27 July 2009

Santa: Not even for Christmas?

Every A-League player agent must be working overtime to secure their players a more lucrative contract in Asia, Europe, America, Antartica or wherever before the August deadline.

God bless the Agents as they work hard for Australian football.... mainly to send overseas.

Brendan Santalab another who returned from Europe with high hopes of taking it to the A-League, he didn't did he, has fled the Fury before a ball was kicked.

He's no loss. Oh sure a couple of stunning goals, a few runs off the bench and a lot of time injured, what did he give us?

He hasn't made it in the A-League, he won't make it in China.

How his Agent spammed him is beyond belief. Clearly the club has no idea who is coming, how unproven he is in recent years, consistently.

He's no loss, give me David Williams anyday. A younger Santalab with heaps to prove, and hunger to burn.

But one thing for sure is that although your local A-League club might have settled on a squad for next weeks start you couldn't guarantee Shane Smeltz, Adam Griffiths, Tarek Elrich, Ljubo Milicevic, Jason Culina ( I didn't mean that honest) and a host more will run out come game day could you.

Santa, well he'll be home for Christmas won't he. And when he's back I'll be giving him heaps not presents.

Friday, 17 July 2009

Anyone seen an Aussie number 10?

Jason Culina could be a playmaker for the Gold Coast, and he's Australian. But we need more and when you look around the A-League there is a dearth, particularly from the Aussies

Each club needs a Carlos Hernandez, or someone heading that way, and from that group of ten playmakers only then can we push one or two overseas and only then will we get one good enough to play internationally for the Socceroos.

Nicky Carle was great for the Jets, but he's gone and still only a Championship player and no real star man even at Crystal Palace. Do they play Champions League?

Mitch Nichols I like a lot at the Roar and hopefully will be good enough to push Charlie TimTam Miller out. And maybe he'll go on to Championship football as well, given his age maybe he'll go higher.

Kaz Patafta, the jury is out. Steve Corica, age has taken him.

Adelaide's Shin is held high but he's Korean, Hernandez, Daniel (Brazilian) at the Phoenix, Sikora (Dutch) at Perth, even John Hutchison at the Mariners is Maltese now!

We need more and here's hoping we see someone, another Aussie or five breaking through this year. Don't expect it do you?

Any ideas?

Tuesday, 14 July 2009

Get your Canberra membership

Can't see why they would have left Canberra out even at this stage!

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Jets departure lounge still crowded

Inspiring A-League Coach Gary Van Egmond leaves the Newcastle Jets for the sheltered workshop down in Canberra.

Maybe after three years in Newcastle working with Con everyone should be given such a job!

I'm not happy, not because I don't think teaching our Under 17's aren't important, but because Van Egmond was one of the few coaches in the A-League who could produce great football teams, good young players...and one season they won as well.

And doesn't the A-league need them.

The Jets, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide, Brisbane Roar, even Perth and Sydney have produced good football playing teams over the years, but the loss of one of Australia's youngest and best coaches, and it feels like a loss, will be harshly felt.

Particularly if Con Constantie, the Jets Chairman, takes his ball and goes home which he is threatening to do if he doesn't get some compensation from the FFA.

Will the shambolic Jets where players vent their spleen, the Chairman rants and the fans turn on Con, will they recover from this blow?

Con Constantine clearly has his own chaotic way of running a club; The Jets must be the A-League team who have lost the most Socceroos in history. A tad careless!

Adam and Joel Griffith, Nicky Carle, James Holland, Stuart Musialik, Ned Zelic, Mark Milligan, Jade North the list goes on and on.

And Van Egmond is perhaps the only Coach who could work with Con sucessfully, for even a short-term.

So who next. Branko Culina. John Kosmina, or Graham Arnold. Phil Moss?

It will be someone local in my view, someone desperate for a gig. Culina appears out.
Kossie could last a week or two, surely that would be a clash of the titans. Arnie I imagine will pick his club carefully.

It's important for the Jets club that stability is found but really any Coach walking into that powderkeg could see his reputation destroyed, by the players, the management, in a matter of weeks.

Con may have poured money into the team, and he has, but it seems the money hasn't been spent with any long-term view.

Perhaps another Sydney FC. Spending to win, but no long term legacy and now Sydney and in the future Newcastle will have to revisit their whole club strategy.

Do the Jets even have a strategy?

Newcastle United Jets, a little laughter from the Owner as the kept a blast from the past in the badge of the club. Who is laughing now?

United should be taken out, surely a breach of the Trade Descriptions Aact.

They've earned an A-League title, destroyed the team, had a tilt at Asia, managed to rebuild a team in a couple of weeks in 2009 and now they've lost the man who skilfully did it.

What a waste of four years!

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Fury well below the Salary Cap?

If you take out marquee Robbie Fowler and Jason Culina from North Queensland and Gold Coast United..the quality of the players being signed by the Gold Coast, compared to Townsville one can only assume that either Gold Coast have found away to smash the salary cap...or North Queensland can't afford to spend anywhere near the Cap.

Ryan Griffiths signed for Gold Coast this week, adding to an impressive list of Shane Smeltz, Jess Van Stratton (bolter for the World Cup?) Adam Griffth, Joel Porter, Tahj Minniecon, Michael Thwaite all who would presumably costalot for various reasons.

Whereas the Fury has who of the above calibre?

I'd argue only Robbie Middleby would collect a decent wage, possibly Ufuk Talay although I suspect both are being overpaid to attract them North.

The rest? Well not too many salary cap concerns, but perhaps more worryingly is the level of finance the Fury has and the likelyhood of many thrashings as they finish a dismal last.

Still time, but either the Fury has no money, or players aren't going north for some reason. I think it's the first. Both squads listed below.

Goal Keepers
Scott Higgins
Jess Vanstrattan Defenders
Adam Griffiths
Daniel Piorkowski
Kristian Rees
Michael Thwaite
Bas Van den Brink

Midfielders
Robson Alves da Silva
James Brown
Zenon Caravella
Jason Culina
Jefferson de Souza Pinto
Steve Fitzsimmons
Richard Greer
Matthew Osman
Steve Pantelidis

Forwards
Andrew Barisic
Milson Ferreira Dos Santos
Tahj Minniecon
Joel Porter

Fury Squad?

Goal Keepers
Justin Pasfield

Defenders
Beau Busch
Robbie Middleby
Jacob Timpano

Midfielders
Fred Agius
Chris Grossman
Paul Kohler
James Robinson
Ufuk Talay
Marton Vass

Foward
Brendon Santalab

Thursday, 4 June 2009

A-League Season 5: Best yet.

The A-League is shaping up for it's best season yet. There's still a way to go and expect a few more twists and turns but new teams, new players added to an established old guard seem to be getting the fans excited like never before.

The new teams: Gold Coast and North Queensland Fury, the bank and the paupers, top v bottom maybe.

The imports: Jason Culina, Robbie Fowler, three Brazilians at Gold Coast, Thai International at Victory.

Aussies returning: Jason Van Stratton, Jason Culina, Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski(?)Ljubo Milicevic

Youngs guns to shine brighter: Ben Kantarovski, Scott Neville, Kofi Danning, Mitch Nicholls, Rhyan Grant, Taj Minniecon, Sean Rooney the list goes on and on and expect a few bolters a la Shannon Cole.

The oldies but goldies in the broadest sense: Kevin Muscat, Archie Thompson, John Aloisi, Craig Moore, Charlie Miller, Carlos Hernandez, Ney Fabiano, Travis Dodd, Eugene Dadi, Shane Smeltz, Stevie Corica....

And if Sterjovski does sign for Perth...they won't be in the bottom two this year will they?

And wouldn't it be great to see New Zealand qualify for the World Cup..they have the old Aussie battle, not against the 5th placed South American but against the 5th placed Asian team..could be Australia but not likely is it.

And season 6, expect Melbourne to pack their new stadium and two more teams after the World Cup...the journey continues!

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)