Nearpost Football: Mark Viduka

Showing posts with label Mark Viduka. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Mark Viduka. Show all posts

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Mark Viduka: Leave us with dignity?

Mark Viduka one of Australia's greatest sportsmen is in danger of leaving the game with a stain around his image.

If he's retired from professional football, club football fair enough. But when he decided or if he has decided to step down finally from the National team the country deserves better. We deserve to know.

If Ricky Ponting left us lingering or Shane Warne we'd be screaming for an answer. Viduka is as important to Aussie sport as either of those guys.

He lead the line of our National team for years, got us to the World Cup and helped us through the group, he used to turn up when Harry often felt injured. He turned Croatia down when Australia called, and don't underestimate that issue for "The Duke."

He's done us proud but he should leave the National Team with the same dignity, or indeed in form us of his other plans.

The nation needs to know, so come on big man...who the hell is advising you or can't you hear him above the waves on your boat?

Thursday, 20 August 2009

Viduka: Don't leave us this way.

One of Australia's greatest ever players needs to tell us if:

He's retired.
He'll play for Australia again.

He's starting to annoy me. What is going on Big Man. Aussie Football Fans deserve to know. We've supported you through thick and less thick.

And we need to know so we can buy the Kennedy Australia shirt for Christmas or keep yours.

His Agent needs to write a better finale, because this one has disaster written all over it at the moment, for club and country.

Wednesday, 22 July 2009

Come out come out wherever you are.

English Premier League starts early August....so where is the "I need an extra six weeks of pre-season training" Mark Viduka?

Or is he heading to Italy/Spain where pre-season starts around now maybe.
Either way if he doesn't start soon he's buggered for the World Cup.

He must be training somewhere right now, waiting for his transfer, but where..in Croatia, in England?

Maybe he's retired already.

Friday, 3 July 2009

Aussie's Greatest to return? .

Australia's greatest ever player Mark Viduka looks sets to attempt to finish his career in the style a player of his ability deserved.

The Duke never played for a top side other than Celtic in Scotland, flirting with Leeds who were in the Dukes day on a roll for awhile.

Middlesboro and Newcastle; what was that all about.

So it was great to see the most talented or okay one of the most talented Aussies to reach the pinnacle, the World Cup in Germany, when let's face it we all thought he play out his career in some relegation battle up north.

And who else can allow a team to hang off him and see Tim Cahill, Mark Bresciano and Brett Emerton confidently take on the world.

If he is back, and does get to South Africa, in as good shape as a slow 34 year old can be, FIFA should increase our rankings from the current 16 to 10 based on that fact alone.

Or will a slower, older Viduka drag the team and team selection down?

Who knows but I'd love to see him in the squad, fit and ready to end his topflight career on the World's finest sporting stage.

Shame on the Aussie Frequent Flyer ACQ who might miss out as a result, but that's life innit, just ask Bruce Djite at the Olympics...er not again surely Bruce!

Type rest of the post here

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Mark Viduka: You can do it?

He's back, the big fella, but his team is going down.

52,000 Geordies will be crying in their beer if as expected they don't get the points they need in the next four games.

And it will make for great TV....unless you are a Geordie fan.

Must admit watching the last game of the English season is always a hoot, something about watching football fans cying when their team goes down...gets me everytime...

anyway on to the Master...

He's back and playing and judging by his attempts on goal against Portsmouth his touch has deserted him, or more like his luck.

And he's out of contract, but with a World Cup looming where now for the injury prone 33 year old?

He'll want another contract and the A-League is not an option either financially or in terms of World Cup preparation; our season finishes in March....although can you imagine if he did come back...I'll stop there.

The big man has missed most of his two year contract with Newcastle due to injury and he's slowed a lot already, and finds it harder and harder to get back to Premiership form, never mind 90 minutes fitness.

He could go to Croatia. He's has a long attachment to that country of course.

He could stay with Newcastle for one more season....if he scores a couple they'll beg him to stay.

He could stay with the Geordies in the Second division...no I can't see Viduka doing that can you.

More likely a promoted team or lower reach Premiership will offer him a one year deal or some overseas team may entice him with a two year deal.

My thoughts:
His body is gone, he knows it, we know it.
He may make the World Cup, if he gets another contract and is pampered a bit, as a striker off the bench...and he stays fit.

Very big if's, and of course will the Duke settle for a lesser role with any club in England?

Can he really continue in the Premiership?
Will he join his mate Josip Skoko in Croatia?

Is it the end for one of Australia's greatest?

I'd love to see him in the World Cup Squad, but only if he's fit enough to play a decent role.

He was one of our greatest, who my only regret was that he didn't stay with Celtic and form a long lasting partnership with Henrik Larsson.

Football for Viduka is clearly about money, or else if it was about working with the best and achieving something special....

Larsson and Chris Sutton took Europe by storm sending Celtic to their first European Cup Final in thirty years....

What could Larsson and Viduka achieved?

As for Viduka he's never scored a World Cup goal.

Could this tempt the big fella now the work has been done.

If he's fit he'll need to play in June for the Socceroos otherwise I guess that truly is the end for Australia's best ever striker.

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Football gone mad? Viduka's wage and United THUMPED:)

Mark Viduka was asking for a salary which would equate to half the Middlesborough gate income when he was looking to extend his contract two years ago.

Wouldn't it be great if the clubs were restricted by their match-day crowd revenues to some extent. Then we may see more balanced leagues across the world, not-unlike the A-League, AFL and NRL.

For now just rejoice that the World's Second Richest Club Man United, got thumped 4-1 by Liverpool at home. It just felt good to see the team that is so good, purely because it can buy the best in the world, getting thumped.

Steve Gibson, Chairman of English Premier League club Middlesborough has explained the relationship of his club's match-day gate income with payments to players. Very little, it seems. Referring to the salaray request by the club's former striker Mark Viduka, Gibson claimed the player's agent had said Viduka would go to the highest bidder. "Mark Viduka is 32 on his next birthday and he was asking for a three-year contract and asking for a figure which, over a year, would equate to over half of our gate income," Gibson said. Viduka now plays for Newcastle.

Tuesday, 7 October 2008

Is Mark Viduka finished? I hope not.

It's October and the English season in full flight but "The Duke," Australia's greatest ever forward is back in Australia.

Why? To get treatment on his ongoing injury problem so we are told. Viduka would be the first to acknowledge he is no longer able to run beyond the defence.

And with an achilles injury and with Viduka being a notorious slow returnee to best playing fitness, Viduka could be looking at a very long lay off.

Why else is he here?

If it's a long lay-off maybe recovery in the Aussie spring is better for the soul and body than lying on physio tables in Northern England.

And more worryingly for Viduka his contract with Newcastle is up at the end of this season. If he's not back playing and playing well before March expect to see Viduka on the move again.

Is the best of Viduka now long gone? There's nothing worse than seeing a great striker lose his pace and watch his slow decline.

Just ask Sydney FC fans, and for that matter Adelaide United's as well.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Socceroos: Valeri, Kewell in, Viduka out.

Australian Coach Pim Verbeek speaking from Holland this afternoon says, "Mark Viduka is out," of the Socceroos games in June. He is currently playing with an achilles injury and may need an operation at the end of the English season.

"(Mark) He said he has a contract (with his club) until 2010 and he wants to finish with the World Cup. Whenever I'm fit, I'm ready for the Socceroos if you need me. So that is good," said Verbeek

But Liverpool's Harry Kewell is fit and will play. "Harry is not a question mark. He's training hard and will be in camp for the Ghana game," said Verbeek.

Canberra's Carl Valeri will be released for all games, including the Ghana game, if his club Grosseto are safe from relegation. "Valeri is keen to come," said Verbeek

Verbeek met with many players over the last few weeks and is flying to Japan today to check on Joel Griffiths and Eddy Bosnar.

"We have a few weeks to go here in Europe, so far we have all our players ready, we have some questions with the fitness of some players. Nothing is finalised but we have our plans ready," said Verbeek.

The Ghana game is a good possibility to "give some experience to players and see how they cope with the big game experience."

Josh Kennedy is expected to be fit for the last two games of the Bundesliga.

Scott Chipperfield is injured currently.

Scott McDonald will be available for Iraq, but the Ghana game will depend on Celtic's end of season title chase.

Jason Culina is currently injured
And four players' partners are expecting babies in June. Lucas Neill, Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski, and Josh Kennedy will all miss one or more of the qualifiers to be at the birth of their child. Michael Essien is out. Chelsea making the Champions League final put an end to his participation in this months friendly.

You can hear Pim Verbeeks thoughts on players availability on the Nearpost next Tuesday.

Thursday, 10 April 2008

Total Football: Viduka can pick his games!

Total Football sporting a new sponsor, and its a big one, Qantas, discussed the Asian Champions League and should Mark Viduka be able to pick his games for the National team.

Asian Champions League

Great tournament, with a great name.

But two teams need to go through from each group to keep the tournament alive for teams, for longer.

And Simon Hill suggests they, the AFC, are thinking of changing the name to the Pro-League.

Forget it. The Asian Champions League works.

And the final needs to be a one-off game. Everyone knows that. In fact the European model works, why wouldn't it work in Asia?

Viduka can pick his games!

Paul Okon, Robbie Slater and Simon Hill seemed to agree. All thought the big Dukes should be able to play whenever he feels able.

But for how long?

Until the end of June, or for the next qualifiers which take place during the English season.

I think he should put up or shut up. He plays in June for as long as it takes and then he and Pim reassess again.

But if he doesn't play in June then goodbye Big Dukes.

Viduka needs to go gracefully. He's been a wonderful Australian player but I would like to see him go, or stay. But make a decision. A clear decision, and if he stays Pim decides when he plays or not.

Pim Verbeek has shown he respects his players, Viduka needs to respect Australia and Aussie Pim.And I guess Viduka will agree to Pim's request. Why else would they be meeting?

Thursday, 27 March 2008

Kossie on Total Football

John Kosmina always speaks his mind.

Except maybe when it comes to Mark Milligan. See earlier post today.

On Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka.
Has Harry Kewell got three more years football in him.
Kozzie says, "No, I think not."

It's not a nice thought, a nice thing to have to say, but Kozzie said what everyone is now thinking.

"He's missed a lot of football in the last three years and it's very hard to come back from there."

On Viduka:

"Mark Viduka needs to make a decision. Does he play in the June qualifiers and we have to leave Josh Kennedy out?"

Kozzie is right. Let's bring Dukes home for the Cameroon game and give him a wonderful Australian send-off.

Why play Dukes in June, if he can't play in the next Qualifiers? And let's face it if we do get to the World Cup, we do not want a 34 year old Mark Viduka leading the line.

Well you might, but I don't. He's too slow for top International football now, and the World Cup is beyond him.

Friday, 21 March 2008

Why is Steve O'Connor so happy!

"Smile Steve, you're off to Sydney FC," said the photographer and at that point Rocky as he's known in football circles, lifted his head and gave the biggest smile ever!

Steve was a great guest, wit, football stories and insight, a radio hosts dream. Pity we only had an hour.

He told us how Mark Viduka drove everyone mad in the Residences at the AIS bouncing the ball against his dorm wall with his head.

How Vinnie Grella demanded to be taught how to hit long balls into space, how to control the ball in tight situations, how Lucas Neill, Mark Viduka, Josip Skoko, Joe Simunic, and Craig Moore all played in the same AIS team at one point.

Has there ever been such an intake?

And he told us how he's off to Sydney FC. A challenge, a big challenge with lots of uncertainty but one that needs to be done and done well.

Friday, 15 June 2007

Urgent phonecall from Mark Viduka...cancelled

Would you get out of bed at 6am for Mark Viduka?

Viduka to play, it's all okay.

About 5pm last night I received an urgent message from the FFA.

Very big announcement re:Socceroos tomorrow. Teleconference at 6am

Nothing more nothing less.

I had two thoughts.

Could I be bothered getting out of bed, I'm in Canberra, its cold and a I just love my bed!

Second thought: What could it be? It had to be something from Europe, at that time of day.

Viduka, to be captain? Lowy to announce new coach, Kewell..what to play..hardly worth getting everyone out of bed for.

And then FFA inform me, just ten minutes, later that its all cancelled, forget it, stay in bed....

And this morning Viduka has come out of retirement and plays.

I didn't know he was retired? Didn't he play against China? Wasn't he named in the squad?

Anyway I got to stay in bed, and Viduka plays. All good:)

Thursday, 7 June 2007

That Mark Viduka song

Beautiful song, beautiful player.
Sung written by Alistair Griffin

Tuesday, 5 June 2007

Viduka offered $150,000 per week

Mark Viduka has been offered $150,000 per week by Birmingham City.

I lived in Birmingham for five years and I'd need at least double that to live there again.

Don't do it Mark, hold out for a real team.

I see Viduka at Manchester United, holding that ball up for the developing Rooney and Ronaldo.

Birmingham, Newcastle, Middlesboro, have all offered big pounds, but Viduka deserves a better place to end his top flight career.

Don't sign for Birmingham.

Where should Viduka go? Have your say.

Monday, 14 May 2007

Aussies had a great night in England.

Harry Kewell scored from the spot for Liverpool, Mark Viduka scored 2 for Middlesboro, Lucas Neill won at Manchester United to survive the drop. Josip Skoko and John Filan' Wigan won at Sheff United to avoid the drop and send Neil Warnock's team down.

Will Viduka stay at Boro? I think not. If you've followed his career he generally lifts his game and talks up his decisions when he is on the move. 19 goals this season he'd be worth a fair bit.

I reckon Man United could do with him to support the flying Ronaldo and Rooney?

Do you think he'll stay at Boro? Let us know.

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