Apologies no National Show podcast this week due to technical difficulties.
Local news and Peter Funnell interviews
Cap Football Tech Director Ian Shaw discusses changes, including costs,trials,games to Cap Football Academy and trip/trials for players to Korea coming up soon
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A new fanzine http://pissanttown.blogspot.com/ home of Adelaide United..starting with the blog.
Now I've thought it's time to put together an A-League Fanzine, by the fans for the fans with a perspective you just never find in the commercial mags.
Would be easy to put together some of the best bloggers, forum posters from across the country giving their views on our league all in one spot.
Still thinking on this.
Too young, too quick, too slow, too fragile, whatever the reason, whatever your code I'm sure you've heard the criticism of the A-League.
But with the Socceroos heading to the FIFA 2010 World Cup few fans would expect to see the squad without a pack of A-League players.
Yes that's right the A-League will be sending a host of players to the World Cup,to one if not the greatest stage in World Sport.
Who would bet against Craig Moore, Chris Coyne, Jason Culina or Mile Sterjovski making the squad.
Add in Jacob Burns, possibly a New Zealand led Shane Smeltz, Costa Rica's Carlos Hernandez at the tournament as well, and who knows how many more local boys will make the grade, maybe it's time for the critics to actually acknowledge what the game is achieving, and the quality going around.
If New Zealand and Costa Rica make the World Cup there maybe as many as 10-15 A-League players heading to South Africa.
Add in Robbie Fowler, Archie Thompson, Charlie Miller and a host of others who have played in International teams, a heap of further Socceroos to return in Season 6 and the signs for A-League growth in quality are clearly increasing.
And while the quality of the league continues to improve it will be our young players, our first Youth League graduates, now starting to stake their claims at their respective A-League clubs who will benefit the most.
Well unique at least, and bring colour and atmosphere wherever they go.
31,000 turned up to see Celtic trounce the Brisbane Roar 3-0 today at Suncorp. And a Kiwi Chris Killen got two for the Celts.
And with Fulham and Wolves pulling in around 20,000 and 11,000 this weekend across the wide brown land clearly the Scottish Champions have slightly more fan power than the English Premier League clubs; no surprise there.
And I'm sure anyone at the game today from Brisbane would never have seen an away support like it. Not for Rugby League, Super 14, AFL or our wonderful A-League.
And remember this was just a wee friendly.
And for the record 31,000 was just short or the Roars record crowd which was 32,000 v Sydney FC a couple of years ago.
Powerhouse in women's football Queensland got beat by the ACT in the Under 15 Championship which started on Saturday.
Under 15 Girls – Group B: Capital Football 3 (G Yeoman-Dale 8’/39’, H Wilkins 56’) Queensland 2 (C Teveluwe 13’, B Lewis 55’), NSW Metro 16 (R Soutar 12’/17’, D Osman 13’/25’/44’, H Makrillos 31’/33’/39’/40’/42’/43’/46’/49’, C Fitzharris 39’, S Brown 55’, C Sciberras 58’) Northern Territory 0
WESTFIELD NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR GIRLS 2009
BCU INTERNATIONAL STADIUM, COFFS HARBOUR
Results Day 1 – Saturday 11th July, 2009
Under 15 Girls – Group A: Football West 1 (T Eastman 11’) Tasmania 0, Northern NSW 3 (M Parfitt 9’, C Smith 25’, S Stapleford 33’) South Australia 0
Under 15 Girls – Group B: Capital Football 3 (G Yeoman-Dale 8’/39’, H Wilkins 56’) Queensland 2 (C Teveluwe 13’, B Lewis 55’), NSW Metro 16 (R Soutar 12’/17’, D Osman 13’/25’/44’, H Makrillos 31’/33’/39’/40’/42’/43’/46’/49’, C Fitzharris 39’, S Brown 55’, C Sciberras 58’) Northern Territory 0
Under 17 Girls – Group A: NSW Country 1 (L Lloyd-Jones 51’) Football West 0, Queensland 2 ( B Whitfield 43’, 70’) Tasmania 0
Under 17 Girls – Group B: Northern NSW 11 (L Hudson 3’/17’, R Dobson 10’/15’/25’/69’, G Burt 22’, M Sochacki 23’, G Pearce 42’, 53’, A Harris 60’) Northern Territory 0, NSW Metro 2 (A Horafios 19’, F Urkanci 24’) Victoria 2 (J Nicolaci 34’, L Donnelly (og) 28’).
Ray Junna United's new Coach is seemingly looking to engage more local talent for Canberra United this season, andLydia Williams set to come home from the USA for United's new season.
For Canberra Times Journo Merryn Sherwood's recent articles in the Canberra Times read on.
By Merryn Sherwood
Last season Cian Maciejewski was the only local premier league player to take part in Canberra's inaugural W-League side.
This year, even Maciejewski thinks that will change.
New United coach Ray Junna started holding trials last week and invited players from all ACT clubs to participate along with ACT Academy of Sport squad members and a selection of NSW players.
''I think it's fantastic that Ray has gone to the local league first and given them that chance,'' Maciejewski said.
''Last year, you could have gone along to training but it's kind of hard to just pick yourself up and go out there by yourself, but this year Ray has really given them the confidence to come in and be part of it.
''It's been great to see so many more girls involved.'' This year's story is different from Maciejewski's.
Maciejewski played in the old women's national league for the Canberra Eclipse.
However, a knee injury meant she spent time out of the game before coming back to play for Belwest in the local women's league where she has played for the past three seasons. This year, it's a host of talented teenagers making their way on to the national stage.
Almost every premier league team has players in the ACT schoolgirls under-15s and under-17s nationals teams who are making a difference. At Belwest, Georgia Yeoman-Dale and Hope Wilkins have impressed, Weston Creek has Aleisha Tupper, Krista Hagan and Elizabeth Pearson and Belconnen United has Erica Weatherly.
Woden Valley has the biggest contingent, with players like Sally Rojahn, Catherine Brown, Grace Field and Ashleigh Palombi all scoring bags of goals in Woden's so far undefeated season.
The biggest issue for Junna could be age restrictions.
This year each W-League team is allowed to have just three under-17 players.
Almost all of the women's premier league players coming through are under that age.
But Maciejewski doesn't think that's a bad thing.
''The W-League can be pretty stressful, maybe some of them their age, they might be a bit too young,'' Maciejewski said.
''But they certainly have potential. There are some great players there.'' Junna is still working out how to balance his squad, which will start to take shape when the W-League registration opens, but is keen for more Canberra-based players.
Last season, the whole 20-player squad didn't train together once, even in the week leading up to the grand final against the Brisbane Roar.
For season two, Junna wants that to change.
Canberra United can officially sign players when the W-League registration period opens on July17.
Williams netting plenty of experience
By Merryn Sherwood
As an understudy to one of the world's best goalkeepers at the Chicago Red Stars, Lydia Williams believes she has learned a great deal and can't wait to bring her form back to Canberra United. After finishing the inaugural season at Canberra United with the second-best defensive record in the league last year, Williams trialled with Chicago in the new American women's professional league club in March and secured a contract.
For the past three months she has trained almost daily, earning enough to live on and has been mentored by one of the world's leading goalkeepers and practised against some of the sharpest female strikers in the world. ''I think Carli Lloyd is the hardest shot to stop in training,'' Williams said. ''So I know if I start stopping her shots regularly then I'll be up there.
''But it's definitely given me a lot of incentive, I think its the most physical competition there is, so being a part of that will improve me a lot.''Williams is yet to take to the field for the team but is happy to be gaining skills to bring back to Canberra when the W-League starts in October.
While no players can be officially signed until July 17, Williams was keen to return to her home team, Canberra United, for its second season.
''I probably won't be playing this season in the [US] league unless Carre [Jonsson] gets injured, but I don't mind at all because she's probably one of the best keepers in the world at the moment,'' Williams told The Canberra Times from Chicago.
''I'm learning so much from her and its only making me better.''''... On crosses I think I'm a lot cleaner now and my foot work has improved, there is a whole lot of things have been cleaned up a little bit.''Williams said the experience had given her incentive to improve.
As the No1 Matildas goalkeeper, she was one of the most experienced players in the W-League. But in America, Williams was was an under-study to Swedish international Caroline Jonsson and is one of the youngest players in the league.
The women's pro soccer league season ends in August.
The official W-League draw is expected to be released in the next fortnight.
The news that Melbourne Victory are set to bid for a Super 15 Rugby Union licence makes so much sense to me.
AFL and Football should create two teams, one club in West Sydney, and of course the Brumbies one of the countries smartest business teams are missing a huge opportunity by not bidding for the A-League4Canberra licence. Probably too late!
Economies of scale, access to the 17,000 footballers and their parents, health benefits for kids playing both games, and further benefits and access to sponsors...across a broader region, not to mention further enhancement of their great brand.
Of course the diehards in both codes won't have a bar of it, but really it makes so much sense....and would the Canberra Raiders wondering wouldn't it.
Nothing against the Raiders, just think the Brumbies with their international exposure would be the better fit, and benefit football most.
Spread the word, send the link to your network and friends so they don't miss out on the offer http://eepurl.com/cgGb
Central Coast Mariners and A-League4Canberra Foundation Members Priority Offer - Check it out here http://eepurl.com/cgGb
A-League4Canberra and the Central Coast Mariners are proud partners in the promotion and development of football in Canberra.
The Mariners, in conjunction with Football Federation Australia, are excited to announce today that we will be playing two Hyundai A-League 2009/10 matches in Canberra on Friday 4 September v Perth Glory @ 8:00pm and Saturday 31 October v Adelaide United @ 7:00pm.
As a member of the Canberra football family, we are pleased to extend you a priority booking period for these matches to ensure you have access to the best available seats.
Tickets are on sale through Ticketek with the priority offer available from 9am Thursday 9 July to 5pm Wednesday 15 July. To access this offer you must quote code CCM when purchasing your tickets at ticketek.com, by calling 132 849 or by visiting a Ticketek outlet.
Ticket prices for pre-purchase Platinum reserved seats are $35 and Gold reserved seats are $24 for adults, $9.00 for kids and $57 for Family tickets (2 adults & 2 children). General admission tickets are $17 for adults, $7.00 for kids and $41 for Family tickets. Student and Concession tickets are also available.
We are also excited to announce a two match pass, available for reserved seating only with Platinum passes $54 and Gold passes $40 for adults, $15 for kids and $95 for Families. With entry to both matches included in this price – its great value!
If you have any enquiries regarding this offer please visit ccmariners.com.au or contact the Mariners on 02 4353 7200.
Make sure you are a part of the action when the Hyundai A-League hits Canberra!
Lyall Gorman, Mariners Chairman said,
“It also gives the A-League for Canberra bid supporters the perfect chance to get behind the game, and further strengthen our support of a truly national competition, with the imminent announcement of the Hyundai A-League’s successful 12th franchise.
Prime Minister heads to FIFA HQ to lead the Aussie World Cup bid.
Gold Coast beat Englands seventh best side, 2-1!
Perth sign Socceroo Chris Coyne.
Enjoying the off-season.
MEDIA RELEASE:
July 9th
Canberra to host Hyundai A-League games: Fans urged to buy tickets early.
The Central Coast Mariners will play two Hyundai A-League games at Canberra Stadium in coming weeks and this is great news for the Canberra A-League bid and all sports fans in the region.
Canberra A-League bid leader Ivan Slavich is delighted, “Canberra supporters have already shown outstanding support for football at the recent Socceroos game played at Canberra Stadium; and now fans of football, and sport, across Canberra and the region have further reason to celebrate.
“I’d urge everyone who wants to see a successful Canberra A-League bid to attend both Central Coast Mariners fixtures to be held at Canberra Stadium in coming weeks. A strong crowd will further enhance our bid and progress,” said Canberra A-League bid Leader Ivan Slavich
“We are delighted there will be a special offer for all Canberra A-League Foundation Members and fans of football. Foundation Members and fans can show their support for the A-League4Canberra bid and top level football in the region by buying tickets to both games and take advantage of the significant discount prior to Wednesday July 15th.
“Football Federation Australia will be watching the level of interest from the region. And we’re expecting a decision on Canberra’s A-League bid in next few weeks,” said Slavich.
Match and ticket details: Tickets are available from Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au
Friday 4th September: Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory (Canberra Stadium)
Sat 31st October: A-League Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United (Canberra Stadium)
Slavich added, “Foundation Members can still join and take advantage of this special offer. We are aiming to get as many Foundation Members signed up as possible before the A-League 12th spot decision is made and if you haven’t signed up yet I would urge all sports fans from the surrounding regions to join us now and show your support for Canberra sport.
To sign-up as a Foundation Member go to www.a-league4canberra.com.au
When Johnny Foreigner, in the shape of newly-promoted but soon to be relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers steps up in Perth on Friday, closely followed by crack EPL outfit Fulham in Melbourne (I'm joking), one of the best supported clubs in world sport Celtic (I'm not joking)in Brisbane and Shanghai Shenhua in Sydney in coming weeks the new pre-season will be in full swing.
Tickets sale appear strong in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane and surprisingly mediocre in Perth according to an expectant Glory Chairman Tony Sage.
That said I'm still expecting record crowds to attend an A-League game in Perth Brisbane and of course the Gold Coast who have yet to play!
Are these overseas sides a good thing for our game? Blood oath they are.
Melbourne Victory attracted 43,000 to see a second string Juventus smash them 4-0. And Victory were amazingly outplayed.
Did it improve the profile, or damage the local league? Dunno but our Aussie players will have learnt from it.
It's too early to say if these games will be an annual event, or how many times these friendlies will entice fans to pay good dosh who knows. But surely there has to be more interest in these games than in another Victory v Adelaide pre-seaon game and of course the crowds will be bigger.
Thought one:
What happens if the crowds although healthy by A-League standards don't make it viable to bring overseas teams back? Do we revert to a pre-season comp?
Thought two:
Aussie Clubs need to introduce their new signings thru these games each year.
Thought three:
In the continuing battle between the four codes it's a marvellous way of getting some noise in the Aussie media before the A-League season, plus it's in the middle of the junior season and of course no other code can or appears able to bring overseas teams across for any games (outside of S14 normal season.)
The innovative Brumbies, probably the only innovators in Union or League really, they are currently planning to play a European side in Japan. The Brumbies might lead the way in the other codes, but even that innitiative only leads to Japan. Not much good for your local product, your future.
So football's advantage is the grassroots, and the international game. Bringing the international game to our kids is a great point of difference, hooking the kids to holler for their local team is of course the next part of the journey.
Surely every Aussie kid from Perth will want to see their side beat the English teams Wolves or Fulham. And if they don't it shouldn't be too difficult to get that anti-English feeling thru to our Aussie tackers should it!
Get a few guys around WAFL grounds to shout "come on the Pommies reckon they are gonna thrash our Aussie boys," and the Shed should be sold out in minutes!
Whatever these games provide, you can rest assured Union, League and AFL will be watching with envy.
When was the last time any of these codes attracted an international team with the supporter base of Glasgow Celtic for a pre-season game, and how long have those codes being playing!
With the games been played across Australia, East, West, North(ish) and South that's a noice spread innit.
We preview Wellington and Sydney FC
Russ Gibbs, Terry Henry, Lucy Zelic and myself discuss all the weeks Aussie football news and issues.
National Show Download
Local show Download
And locally Peter Funnell and Russ go through all the local news and "Fireside with Peter," hears from local lad Lukas Cole on his trials in England don't miss that.
It's a great interview for any player or parent thinking of taking the "trial" in Europe.
Tottenham manager Harry Rednapp was, amazingly, cleared of corruption allegations raised in the book I mention below in the previous post.
With managers on the take the "Brian Clough" or "George Graham" syndrome of getting $100,000 in cash or in Graham's case maybe $500,000 in a Jersey bank account for a player transferring in or out of their club makes for interesting reading and many football fans will have followed these stories.
So when any club is moving in or out an unusual number of players it makes you think dunnit. Is someone in the club on the take?
So Harry Rednapp moved heaps of players in and out of West Ham and Portsmouth and survived the allegations that he was on the take. "Nah just my management style mate," you can hear the crafty cockney saying...or was that Venables!
Has Harry changed his behaviour? Or are Tottenham now shifting more players than goals. Has Harry suddenly changed his management strategy?
Probably only a Tottenham fan could tell, who else follows them?
And in Australia the club that seems to shift more players than any other club to any part of the world as quickly as possible is...
Newcastle Jets.
Hmmmm got me wondering...maybe I should stop reading about transfer deals!
Ever wondered why so many rich people and wannabees get involved in football. Clearly Reading the book by Tom Bower, Broken Dreams, about the amazing corruption of Brian Clough, Socceroos Boss Terry Venables, Arsenal supremo George Graham and former Leicester player come $25 million dollar income player agent Dennis Roach football is a great way to pocket the odd $200,000 in cash for doing sod all.
Really puts you off professional football, player agents and managers for life. I got the bool from my local library in Canberra so take a peek if you love the wheeling and dealing of football, in England, Croatia, Germany and Italy etc.
There are two chapters alone on Terry Venables, he was considered that corrupt! No wonder Soccer Australia hooked up with him.
A couple of examples:
Dennis Roach wanted $400,000 for negotiating the Olivier Dacourt transfer to Leeds from Lens.
Peter Ridsdale the Leeds Chairman was outraged at such a fee to an agent.
Roach, "Leeds could not have got Dacourt without me. I was the only one in the room who spoke French," came the Agent's justification
Ridsdale reacted, "I spoke English to the Lens Manager."
Or the time when a Spurs recuit was available on a free transfer.
Italian side Brescia were surprised when Tottenham paid $2.8 million for the player from Red Star Belgrade Goran Bunjevcevic. "We were offered him on a free transfer," said the Brescia Chairman.
Of course Dennis Roach, the Cockroach as he was known, managed to turn a free transfer, which Tottenham agreed to into a $1.4 million deal which Spurs paid!
Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, Nicholas Anelka, the list goes on and on. Everyone transferred, only me and you not on the make!
How much do you reckon Ronald's Agent got for that transfer? Pretty difficult one to negotiate.
Ronaldo wanted to go, everyone knew that and of course Real wanted to buy. Worth at least 10% of $160 million I guess or maybe in the Harry Kewell $10 million transfer to Liverpool, the player agent Bernie Mandic was reported to get $4 million a tad more than 10%.
Did anyone turn up to greet Australian Rugby's most expensive player Wallabies and Brumbies returning superstar Matt Giteau when he signed on for the Brumbies...well judging by his ads for ACTTAB maybe some ACTTAB staff, but 80,000 turned up to see Ronaldo arrive at Real Madrid.
No game, just Ronnie and his shirt!
Poor old Kaka..he only got 50,000.
So how many will turn out to see the arrival of a Canberra marquee....in football, or any code for that matter!
These days, the A-League average (salary) is more than $100,000 — a marked increase in a few short years on the sort of wages that were offered (and often not paid by bankrupt clubs) in the old National Soccer League.
Anyone seen the Kaka ad recently, you know the one selling Sony TV's, with Kaka, the celebrity, and the skill set.
Well Channel 7 have gone one better.
The lads of Canberra, mates, Aussie till the end can continue to look forward to playing against their mates in the Kanga Cup, next week at 10 and then every year thru to 18 and then continue to play against their mates in the local leagues and maybe one day in the local Premier League, and then the lower leagues as they get older and finally again in the Masters.
We really are the epitome of mate against mate.
While Canberra waits for a decision on it's A-League bid, once again our Young boys have missed out on further development.
The FFA have announced the AIS will play in this year's Hyundai A-League Youth League. No that's not a Canberra team, merely a team with the best players in Australia playing in Canberra!
But surely a Canberra team, with a squad of 20 players from Canberra and the region could have got into the League by now.
We got a Women's team in so we know how to work with the FFA!
John Mitchell nearly got the nod last year, when he reached out to Wellington Phoenix, themselves in need of a Youth team or that should be STILL in need of a Youth team, but that was blocked. Nice try John, but maybe too visionary!
Indeed the recent review of Canberra football identified clearly the missing pathways for our players. It compared them to the Brumbies and showed our players had nowhere to go at any age.
You didn't have to pay for that advice did you?
Capital Football Board took up the reigns briefly but decided against joining or supporting a Phoenix proposal, or indeed a Canberra FC proposal or any proposal. And don't seem to have revisited the idea or have anything significant in place for this age group.
And still the youth of Canberra flounder, running around in the local Premier League losing further ground behind a player training and playing in the Youth League, or running off to other Club's in other States desperate for trials...at what cost?
And what now for our 17 and 18 year olds?
While everyone waits for a Canberra A-League team, will it be a panecea for all our ills? No! And god help our kids if we don't get a team because there is nothing else in the pipeline it seems.
Even the cashed up Gold Coast and new Townsville side haven't got a Youth team yet so one would expect a Canberra Youth side would have to wait even further should we get a team in.
The Youth side should have been a priority for Capital Football, by hook or by crook over the last couple of years and then handed over to an A-League side if and when it was admitted and could be financially sustained.
Why it hasn't been is beyond me. Has it even been considered?
What's the plan if the Canberra A-League bid is rejected. Has anyone heard it? There must be one right?
When will we see some, if any progress, for our Youth(boys).
Or do we just have to wait for an A-League team and then maybe in a further two or three years we might get a Youth team.
Clearly if ANU, or Canberra FC can do it then we should let them. Or any other private group.
Because Capital Football and it's Board clearly don't have the desire, or the funds to pull this one off. And why should they?
They have enough to do in my view, and running a club side is beyond most local administrations. They should empower others to get on with it and now!
For now all our best 18 years olds can do to hold onto any possible football dream is to move from Canberra as quick as possible.
Set themselves up in another city at 18, and hope to get a gig at an A-League side or try and win a contract through some TV show. Not really a great outcome for out huge junior player base is it.
I hope I'm wrong on this but Plan B needed and now!
With so many boys playing in the Kanga Cup this week, we need to be demanding progress possibilities for our boys.
A Youth team
A NSW Premier League team, or even two.
These are bigger priorities, to me, for Capital Football than the review of the local Premier League.
Is the best our boys can do is play football in the Canberra incubator, locked away from the real world.
Mate against mate....forever!
Man United lost Ronaldo, the freak goal-scoring machine. Let's face it, United aren't a one man team, but without him and his goals, no championships and no Euro finals in the last three years in my view.
So they've spent their money on who.
Michael Owen...and even he was free! Bet the fans can't wait to see Owen in that new Rugby League shirt. Channel Nine Commentators will be shouting that it's further proof about their great game!
God love them. Owen will score for United, even I could, but he won't win them a title or European title.
I'll guess there will be further buys but is it possible we could see United outside the four.
Who next Mark Viduka, surely not. But he is free!
Over 50,000 Aussies applied for South African World Cup tickets, and 27,000 were lucky enough to get one.
And this was before we qualified, making us the fifth biggest nation of ticket applicants; a list that included England, USA and Canada!
Organisers are expecting a further surge from Australian fans now that we've confirmed qualification.
And of course it shows the interest to FIFA of Australian's, and can't harm our World Cup bid can it!
And we've sent yer man Kevin Rudd off to FIFA this week in Switzerland to do a bit of work for football.
Nice one PM.
station location
2ARM Armidale NSW
2WET KEMPSEY NSW
3UGE UG FM Alexandra VIC
4NSA Noosa Heads QLD
2TLC Yamba NSW
5EFM VICTOR HARBOUR SA
Here's a list of some stations who take our Nearpost national football show live on Tuesday at 6.30pm or on the national network Wednesday 6.30. You can of course stream us from the website www.2xxfm.org every Tuesday at 6.30 or catch the podcast on this blog every Wednesday.
Costa Rica, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Germany and this week Scotland are just some of the places we have heard from listeners. And of course across Australia fans of football are turning to various sources for their football coverage.
T'internet is an amazing thing and with Kozzie and Alosi's Net TV show, other podcasts and radio shows increasing, 442 Magazine/website, Channel 9 TV, Fox 8 Football Superstar, Fox Sports and many more we are seeing a significant increase in football content across the land over the years
You can only expect it to continue, and the last frontiers await...national newspapers and free-to-air TV.
Be interesting to see how the build up to the World Cup is exploited by the media, and to football's long-term advantage, this time.
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
Monday:
I don't want the job, I'm still bitter about my experience at Sydney.
Tuesday:
Can't wait to get started.
Someone loves you in football land Branko, and not just Les Murray,
There are only 10 A-League jobs in the country and only one position up for grabs this year so far, and yer man the blast from the past....with let's face it a pretty ordinary success record, got it.
Got to love the spin
Canberra football star Josip Simunic has often stated his desire to play in England so it was a little surprising to see him sign for German shock side Hoffenheim.
After ten years in Berlin playing in front of 75,000 fans on many occasions, playing for Hoffenhiem, who must be cashed up given their tiny town, will be a "new challenge."
Joe is 31 so this could be his last major move. Where next Croatia or Canberra?
It's July. Will Canberra get the nod this month?
Can we dare to dream, or will the journey end in tears?
One thing for sure is we haven't died wondering, we're in there fighting for our lives.
Will Canberra be taking the field in twelve months time, three weeks after the World Cup.
And if we are can you imagine the football talk around town over the next 12 months as the club takes shape, players are discussed a Coach is signed.
When Matt Giteau signed for the Brumbies their was an outpouring of sorts from the Canberra Rugby fan base, Ben Cousins in AFL joining Richmond had an impressive turnout but 50,000 turning out to see Kaka as he arrives at the Bernabau outdid them all.
Nationally we cover the Jets, Van Egmond, Branko's appointment and start our A-League Season 5 review.
Gold Coast insider Bernie Lustica, Russ Gibbs and myself take a look at Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.
National Download
Locally Russ and Peter Funnell cover all the local news and Peter Funnell's "Fireside with Funnell" this week is Eddie Senatore.
Every week Peter has an interview with a someone from the local football community, with a story an idea or opinion to tell. With over 17,000 players plus coaches, refs, parents, volunteers and administrators getting interesting and quality material is never a problem.
Peter talks to Eddie Senatore about his exciting and somewhat radical proposals for Futsal in Canberra. Bring it on!
Local Download
And next week "Fireside with Funnell" hears from Lukas Cole, 16, Woden Valley junior just back from his trial with Blackburn and Notts Forest in the UK. Every boys dream?
