Coaches improve the A-League...well some!

Wellington and Perth, I've bagged them both here, particularly Ricky Herbert's men.

They both won, but I notice Wellington did it by removing Karl Dodd and Richard Johnson from the midfield and played Lei Lei Gao from the start.

Not hard is it Ricky, i mean to read the blog and get free advice, and suddenly you look like a football team at least. Kossie and Farina should do the same:)

Perth beat Sydney in an entertaining game. 2-1

Just waiting for John Kosmina to follow the Nearpost Coaching manual.

Drop John Aloisi. How much longer are you going to try an play a format that includes Aloisi. It's clearly not working; how many games does he need?

Perth entertained.

Perth entertained.

I know I repeated myself but it kinda felt strange writing those two words together.

Jamie Harnwell was outstanding, I'm not quite sure why but he's clearly a better forward than a defender. He attacks the ball and he scored twice!

John Aloisi didn't score...this season or in this game. $1 million! Why oh why oh why do people with such resources waste it?

Amaral for Perth is beautiful to watch he's so much better than James Robinson in Perth's midfield, and Nikolai Topor-Stanley is a centre-defender. And Perth just look better, a football team with passion, enough pace and flair around the park to lift their crowds at any rate.

Nikita Rukavystya had a storming game. I just lurved how he outpaced...what Tony Popovic. Was Poppa even moving?

Sydney..well just need to do what Dave Mitchell, Ricky Herbert and Gary Van Egmond have done. Sort the system to suit the best talents available.

Kossie like Farina up North is playing favourites, not coaching in my view.

Still plenty of time to sort things.

But the old masters, or so-called, Farina and Kossie are being out coached by Aurelio Vidmar and Gary Van Egmond and it's fun to watch.

Van Egmond again produced a team without Joel Griffith but a team good enough to play entertaining football and beat the league leaders Melbourne Victory 1-0. Marko Resic the youngster got a gorgeous goal for a striker.

Van Egmond with limited resources has improved his side already. Great to watch, and so many young talents in the team as well.

Must be half the price of Sydney's team, and still easier on the eye.

Clearly the Coach in Newcastle knows a thing or two the guy down in Sydney could learn, not to mention the fella up in Brisbane.

Hats off to Wellington...they are playing like a team, finally.

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A-League weekend: Sydney to lose again?

Sydney to lose at home, Mariners to do wha Japanese Champs Kashima couldn't..and defeat Adelaide, Melbourne to give Perth a hiding and the Jets to draw with the Wellington mob.

In Canberra news, will Kaz Patafta start this weekend, and what's wrong with Socceroo..make that former Socceroo Nikolai Topor-Stanley....


Adelaide United take on Central Coast Mariners tonight. New Socceroos Robbie Cornthwaite and Scott Jamieson on show again, also Matt Simon and Mile Jedinak for the Mariners.

Scott Jamieson, like Shannon Cole are the full-back finds of the season, even giving Nikolai Topor-Stanley the boot from the Socceroos squad this week.

Should be a great game at Hindmarsh. The Mariners hoping to take advantage of the Reds focusing on the Asian Champions League Semi on Wednesday.

In other games, Melbourne should punish Perth at home. Perth have too many problems, are too demoralised, and on the wane it seems.

Sydney v Queensland... should be a cracker. 24 year old Shannon Cole continues to outshine, outentertain $1 million John Aloisi and the cracks in Sydney's so-called stellar side could be simply exposed by the Roar.

The Roar have the perfect away game. Craig Moore to kick the bejaysus out of anything that moves and pace across the midfield and on the bench to win the game late on.

Sydney despite many wins have yet to convince me that they are a great side. This will be a true test of their home form.

Queensland to win.

And spare a thought for the Newcastle Jets. So many players out, they must be relieved they are playing Wobbly Wellington. Could I bare to watch Wellington again? I don't think so. Not even after last weeks win.

And Canberra's Kaz Patafta could be close to getting a start this or next week for the Jets with so many players out. Let's hope so.

and Nikolai Topor-Stanley dropped from the Socceroos reflecting the widespread belief that Nikolai is a tad disillusioned with playing at Perth, possibly carrying an injury, or just had too much football after his Oympic sojourn.

Why don't Perth play him at Centre-Back?

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Sent-Off...Melbourne again!

Wellington won, honest they beat the leaders Sydney FC. I kid you not. And Victory had another sent-off, for what I don't know.


Central Coast thumped Perth, will Dave Mitchell be sacked after Pim Verbeek's vote of confidence, and the youngsters shine for the Kruse less Roar.

Queensland Roar are better away. But Frank Farina needs to change the style of play at home. It's simple.

Defend well away and with speed on the break they can create chances and they do. That's what all A-League sides can do, bar Wellington and Perth.

And didn't you love Kevin Muscat getting skinned by Michael Zullo at the end and scoring.

But Indigneous Taj Minniecon stole the show with an even better goal, squeezed into a narrow gap.

Victory were laboured, and without Carlos Hernandez next week not to mention Ney Fabiano and Michael Theokiltos they will struggle further...maybe.

Sydney lost to Wellington in a shock! But Sydney have been flattering all season and even with Pele I mean John Aloisi in the side they got beat by the cellar dwellars.

and didn't Lei Lei Gao prove what he can do. Play him Ricky, love him and play him. At least he's a footballer!

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Mitchell Prentice off again as Aloisi flops.

Sydney drew 0-0 with a rejuvenated Newscastle Jets in Newcastle. Pity the same couldn't be said about the Ref. Million dollar Aloisi disappoints, Kossie gets it wrong and Van Egmond outsmarts us all.

And still no place for Canberra's Patafta..not even on the bench!

Mitchell Prentice came on as a sub late on, returning from suspension, and got sent-off. What was in his head?

And the ref may have got it wrong but Prentice certainly did.

Indeed in Melbourne the night before Ney Fabiano was sent-off for spitting and the ref got that one wrong as well I reckon. Certainly from where he was standing he couldn't have seen it.

And the Chinese guy Lei Lei Gao was yellow carded last week for asking for a card having been chopped down. A Sydney player asked for a card tonight. No card.

Punish the crime, more than the (foreign)player asking...please.

And tonight John Aloisi was on show for Sydney, was he? and The Jets backing up from a thrashing dropped Jade North.

There was one chance in the game. A fast game. The chance came to the million dollar man Aloisi and he fluffed it.

I just wouldn't have paid the money. Not for all his goals, or misses. He won't bring the crowds in. He's not Dwight Yorke, even Juninho is he?

Interestingly it was the least inspiring attacking performance from Sydney. Aloisi's inclusion may have hindered the team, but ssshhh we can't say that can we, not about the richest man in any football code in Australia.

The Jets Coach Gary Van Egmond must be delighted with his teams performance and his own tactical nous. He changed his central defence, put Adam Griffiths in centre midfield and got more from Eduardo Zura upfront.

The Jets are improving...as they do under Van Egmond each year.....now they just need a goal or two. That may prove harder with their forward power or lack of it.

Jason Hoffman a man who has impressed Aussie Under 20 Coach Jan Versliejen showed something in the second half.

James Holland impressed for the first time this season, and generally a fired up Jets grew stronger as the game went on.

For Sydney John Kosmina got it wrong.

Shannon Cole had a great first half at right back but tired quickly.

And playing Aloisi slowed the Sydney attack and blunted their best asset. The skill and mobility of Alex Brosque, Mark Bridge and Steve Corica.

Brosque hugged right, Bridge left and it was all a little predictable once Van Egmond had sorted things out.

Tony Popovich had his best game for Sydney suggesting if the other teams have no forward he could play for years.

Kossie will be happy with a point. But another stupid send-off and an insipid forward display from a team in form is a cause for concern.

Game needed a goal, but Aloisi couldn't provide it.

So Melbourne are the team of the moment, the team to beat, and they are playing the best football so that is how it should be. Will Ney Fabiano get a huge ban, and if so will it blunt the Victory style?

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Football not phased by AFL finals

AFL Finals. Big game in Melbourne drew 45,000 to the MCG. Across at the Dome Melbourne Victory passed another test.

They drew 25,000 to watch their 1-0 win over Adelaide United. This was the first time football had been played in Melbourne at the same time as an AFL Final.

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A-League preview

Key Questions and answers this week:
Will Mark Bosnich get caught out again either kicking or coming to clear the lines. Yes and it will be fun to watch, or maybe embarrassing.
Can Perth win at home? Not this week.
Will the Jets turn up? Not unless Van Egmond solves the central midfield woes.
How many will Victory score this time? Three at least. They are irresistable.
Will Wellington ever win again at home or away for that matter? Not in my lifetime.

Victory take on Adelaide United tonight at the Dome. Should be a cracker.

Victory are back to their fluent flowing football with a more mobile attacking unit. This could be the best Victory side yet.

Adelaide United head into their Asian Champions League quarter final next week but this game will be a severe test of where they are at.

Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite have left and while United recruited reasonably well the mobility of Djite could be a key missing ingredient. And the recruits like Paul Reid, Cristiano and Alamar will take time to gel, although all have had positive impacts so far.

Tonight could be different.

Cristiano is going well, but Paul Agostino has yet to fire, or even move really. Age has slowed the big fella, and if he's not among the goals, and he's not, then he could limit the style of United.

Archie Thompson is on fire. His partnership with Carlos Hernandez could win the league alone this season.

Should be a great game. A win for Melbourne and they are on their way.

Sydney FC also on top of the ladder, have also started well, but injuries to a number of defenders could half their progress.

They take on the wobbling Newcastle Jets. A team who cannot afford to lose.

Jade North and Ante Covic are back from Socceroos duty and expected to play but this may not be a good thing if their performance against Melbourne is repeated.




Winners this week.
Victory
Sydney
Central Coast
Perth Roar to draw.

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Podcast. Dylan Macallister Alen Stajic Robbie Hooker and more

National Show:
Download



Dylan Macallister talks about his debut and the standard of the A-League.
Lawrie McKinna discusses Mark Bosnich's debut and Ahmed Elrich's season ending injury.
We talk A-League and Socceroos
Alen Stajic talks Young Matildas and W-League

Local show including Robbie Hooker interview Download

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Magnificent Mariners...Mile and McAllister

Central Coast Mariners smashed Queensland 4-2 and Sydney FC put five (5-2) past Perth.

The Mariners lost Ahmed Elrich for the season due to injury and Adrian Caceres before the match.

But they needn't have worried.

Mile Jedinak was back and wiped out any threat from Charlie Miller or indeed any Roar player. How the Mariners had missed him.

Keeper Mark Bosnich returned significantly overweight but it was Liam Reddy who stole the show...with a number of embarassing errors giving Matt Simon and Dylan MacAllister easy opportunities. They both scored.

The Mariners looked well-organised this week. Jedinak ran the show and scored a wonderful free-kick. Their confidence grew throughout.

They may have lost their wingers but with Dylan MacAllister adding a serious goal threat, two on debut he should have had three, the Mariners will take some stopping.

Even if they have no width.

The Roar have a lot of work to do. Matt MacKay and Massimo Murdocho huff and puff but they'll rarely blow much down, not regularly anyway. One has to go and Frank Farina needs to reshape his team.

Danny Tiatto is way too slow at full-back these days and Robbie Kruse needs to start.

He, not Michael Zullo, was dynamic last season and it's time to give him an extended run.

Farina has plenty of talent but the team is lacking variety and invention. They may do better away from home. With Reddy gifting goals a poor performance tonight was punished further.

In Sydney Perth somehow contrived to give away a shocking first goal to Alex Brosque. Eugene Dadi showed they are a team to reckon with, if they get their collective minds on the job.

Dino Djubic was sent-off for abusing or maybe even spitting at the ref and Sydney converted the penalty and scored at will for a 4-1 half-time score.

Were Sydney any good? Hard to tell. But their fourth goal showed three Sydney players in the box waiting for a cross. Shannon Cole scored and that might be the difference.

Players actually getting into the box. Sydney missed that last year. Corica, Cole Bridge, Brosque all scored and John Aloisi came on to look for more goals. Sydney were shocking in the second half against ten men. Perth were poor throughout. But it's Sydney's goal threat that will give them hope this season.

They are already top...with Melbourne.

Interestingly Canberra's Nikola Topor-Stanley looks jaded, like his mind or body hasn't quite returned from Beijing. Seems like he needs a break after three months training leading into the Olympics. But there's no time for that is there?

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FFA: Archie leads assists... a mistake surely?

A-League Assists

If you look at the FFA Hyundai A-League player assist table it shows after Melbourne Victory's 5-0 demolish of Newcastle Jets that Archie Thompson leads the assist table with 3.

A mistake....

Surely Jade North should be on 3, and after last weeks showing Tarek Elrich should be on at least 2.

Interestingly it's not a lack of new players that is causing the Champions to ship goals, it's the fellas who won the title.

Ante Covic and Jade North must already,mentally, be on the Socceroos plane. Tarek Elrich will clearly never be on that plane if he continues like this.

Melbourne. Were they that good? Hard to tell, although Billy Celeski thought so as he started to showboat. Joel Griffiths wasn't happy. Me I loved it. We need more of it:)

But the Jets were woeful and the best Coach in the league's side Gary Van Egmund's side has shipped 8 goals in 2 games.

And Victory certainly have the depth to challenge any team that can't commit for the ninety.

It started like all Victory home games tend to do. Dull with a Victory side struggling to make any impact never mind play decent football.

For once, Ernie Merrick took a risk. Michael Thwaite got injured and Archie Thompson was sent on in the first half. Well done Ernie three attackers.

And the League's best player combined with, well everybody, Danny Allsopp, Carlos Hernandez and Ney Fabiano. It was vintage Archie from a more central and slightly deeper, at times, position.

And even Grant Brebner scored. Last week his first touch went thirty yards and more. This week he would have done the same but the net stopped it:)

Good signs for the League to see Victory starting to match the standards of season 2. Maybe Ernie can play attacking football without Fred.

With Carlos Hernandez fit and firing, and Archie ready to toy it should be great to see the Victory take on Adelaide next. A win there and well they really will be setting the pace.

Newcastle Jets 9 goals in 3 with Sydney FC next up. Lacking a Stuey Musialik and a Mark Bridge. I'd like to see Adam Griffith in centre midfield, Matt Thompson at left-back.

Jade North and Tarek Elrich need to improve. The imports need to improve. And Van Egmund needs to seal up the defence and soon.

One thing about Van Egmund is he'll be looking at ways, creative ways to improve his side. But with such a short season it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

A home game against Sydney could be just what they need..then again maybe not.

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Melbourne to fire at home...what Salary Cap?

Can't wait to see Melbourne and Sydney playing at home this weekend. Both of the big city clubs have shown they have enough talent and money to keep me awake this year...

Melbourne might have the luxury of leaving Archie Thompson on the bench. Wow!

And Sydney still have John Aloisi to come in.

Melbourne take on Newcastle but could stuggle at home in front of the passionate and demanding Victorian support. And Joel (Griffiths) is guaranteed to cause a stir and maybe a goal or two at the Dome. Should be great to see what Ernie, oops nearly said Arnie, comes up with.

Grant Brebner, Archie Thompson, Leigh Broxham, Nicky Ward and Seb Ryall all fighting to get on the bench for Melbourne?

Sydney miss the swearing, Ref-abusing Stuart Musialik but they too have Mitch Prentice, Adam Casey, Adam Biddle and John Aloisi all pushing for a start. The Sydney-side showing more depth in the forward line than previous years. Pity about the defence.

Perth will relish the challenge and with Nikita Rukavystya coming off the bench there is the suggestion of an increased quality in the Western Australian side. Jimmy Downey and Jamie Harnwell haven't started yet, so again more depth?

Adelaide take on Wellington. And can you really see Wellington getting more points than last year. Lei Lei Gao and Adam Kwasnik give some hope. But Gao has been injured and Kwasnik needs a midfield to help him.

The Phoenix have not one midfielder, maybe Daniel on a sunny day, that I would like to see in my team. Will the crowds plummet in NZ? Let's hope not.

And Mark Bosnich makes his professional return against the only man fatter than him in the league the goal-scoring sensation former Glasgow Rangers star Charlie Miller.

And how come Craig Foster Miller, the goal-scoring sensation, can play football if he's Scottish!

Should be a good game. The Roar have Robbie Kruse still to play, Michael Zullo a nice sub, Reinaldo maybe on from the start. Again a team from a big city with more depth?

Tell me again how the Salary Cap spreads the talent?

Kevin Muscat, Archie Thompson, Carlos Hernandez, Socceroo Michael Thwaite, Nicky Ward, Ney Fabiano, Juan Luis Lopez, Danny Allsopp, Grant Brebner...how do they fit them in under the Salary Cap compared to say...the Mariners or the Jets.

or are other clubs just not able to fill the Marquee, the Under 23 Marquee, the Service Agreement and indeed spend the Salary Cap?

Enjoy the goals:)

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A-League: Goals, Cole, Goals

Shannon Cole scored a superb late free-kick to give Sydney FC an away win in Gosford, and Jade North found the net even later for the Jets in Perth.

Goals everywhere in the opening games.

Shannon Cole scored the winner, he almost did the same the week before against Melbourne. Last week his free kick bounced off the post, this week it went in to seal the win against the Mariners.

Not bad for a 24 year old just starting out in the A-League.

Central Coast Mariners up against ten men must have thought there was only one winner as the clock went down, but it wan't to be.

Stuart Musialik, sent-off, for a crude foul and then verbal abuse of the referee. Seems like Stuey has a few problems, still, to contend with. And it was his debut for Sydney and now he's out. Well done Stuey, top effort. All I can say is you are following in the proud tradition of Sydney FC players getting sent-off because of their lack of professionalism. Alex Brosque, Steve Corica and Ruben Zadkovich just three who come to mind.

The Mariners are missing Mile Jedinak. There is a huge hole in their midfield. The strength the enforcer brings is lacking and the points are falling away.

His replacement Brad Porter gave away two points last week against the Jets. Would Sydney have romped around for their first two if Mile was their? I think not.

Sydney for their part showed what a difference a forward makes. Last season Steve Corica had Alex Brosque in front of him and that was it. Now they have Mark Bridge and the passing between the three will allow more options...for one of the league's best..Corica. Should be interesting to watch as the three develop.

Sydney with a forward line...could be interesting:)

The Mariners worked like Mariners, Ahmed Elrich still no-where near his flamboyant best, and I guess with a pre-season under his belt he never will be.

Adrian Caceres is what eveyone knows, a wonderfully gifted player, but limited to influence games only occasionally. I think Lawrie McKinna bought a dud here. Especially in terms of Championship winning medals. Has Caceres ever had one, or even Ahmad?

The Mariners could struggle for points, for fans this year. They've never been outside the top four and for all their success the crowds could drift if the team aren't performing.

Travelling fans from Sydney and Newcastle inflate the Mariners crowds but last night the game drew only 11,000. How much for a game against Perth if the team are struggling?

And in Perth a raucous crowd saw the Glory win their seventh ever A-League game. Well that is if you don't count the 93rd minute plus 45 seconds. Jade North scored a dire goal to send both teams home with the points. A dire goal from Perth's point of view.

Is it possible to lose such a goal in the last ten seconds in professional football when the ball is in the other keeper's hands? Clearly it is.

I like Amaral Perth's newest and oldest Brazilian. Nice on the ball, a great passer, should be fun to watch.

Eugene Dadi scored and that's more than Brian Deane ever did and he looked able, well able to bring others into the game. Nikita Rukavystya slotted a beauty. A great finish, pity he couldn't do it against Argentina. And local lad Scott Bulloch is going to have a prescene this year. Good to see.

The Jets had James Holland impressing in midfield. Eduardo Zura needs more time and Kaz Patafta came on late.

But like in Melbourne Kaz must be jinxed. The other team always score, or so it seems, as soon as Kaz appears. It wasn't his fault, Tarek Elrich..well let's just say it was his! Anyway a goal always seems to come for the opposition as soon as Kaz enters the fray.

Both games were open affairs, poor tactically I guess and Ernie Merrick would have died for a 0-0. But let's have more, let the flair players do their stuff and the league to encourage 3-3 over 0-0 anyday.

It won't last, Mile Jedinak will return, and Gary Van Egmond may shift Adam Griffiths into centre midfield and bring young Ben Kantorovski in. Stuey Musialik has already gone from the Jets, Gary Van Egmond is missing him or any real defensive midfielder badly in the holding role and The Jets are struggling to win games as a result.

Interestingly Jobe Wheelhouse was dragged in Friday. Is that the end of him?

Perth will be very hard to beat at home, Sydney have shown they are perhaps along with Melbourne the team to beat.

Early days, The Roar and Adelaide have yet to play.

Goals galore and hats off to Shannon Cole. Brilliant stuff.

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Mario Jardel is back

but this time he's Scottish and he's playing for Queensland Roar.

Charlie Miller is doing his best to impersonate Mario Jardel. He's got the whole belly thing off pat.

Even wears the shirt the same.

He looks like he's come from a Scottish pub just before the game, but he did play in the 3 degree Summer A-League kick-off game for the Roar in Wellington.

At one point he motioned to the bench about being too cold, or maybe thirsty or maybe too hot. After all he'd done 30 minutes or so by then.

He strolled nicely into forward areas, but unlike Jardel he scored. Admittedly it was just after half time when he'd had a long long rest.

Nice touches undoubtedly but will he last the distance. 30 degrees in Brisbane, I'm not sure he liked 3 degrees in Wellington.

He's got M and M's for pitch comfort. Massimo Murdocha and Matty McKay are going to just love running all day for Charlie.

Dwight Yorke never played a pre-season game, Juninho took ages to get fit, Jardel remained fat, Romario never moved, even Stan Lazaridis, Ljubo Milicevic, Carlos Hernandez all took a while to get going. John Aloisi injured, Paul Agostino has hardly played.

Anyone ever get the impression we're been taking for a ride.

Charlie Miller? He's got to be a huge gamble at best. And of course he's a mate of Craig Moore's. Good luck Charlie you've proved me wrong so far but if you wobble off injured, can't sustain the pace, or just fall in a heap expect no sympathy from me.

It's a professional game and it's about time players coming here arrived in shape.

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God help the Kiwi's

Now I love my Yellow Fever fans but the second year in and someone has to help them out....Ricky Herbert is the

New Zealand equivalent to Graham Arnold. It's tedious, deadly to watch and I hold little hope for the season for our loud yellow fans.

Of course they'll be bottom.

Did you see how they played at home, against a Scottish midfielder Charlie Miller who looked like he'd just rocked out of a Scottish pub. He's living at Craig Moore's house apparently, should that read The Moore and Miller local?

Anyhoo, The Yellow Army, god bless em, loud and vocal in the rain willing their team despite another dire season ahead.

And they drew their first game! How did this happen? With the ball missing the midfield on many occasions and little in the way of forward link players. The crosses were dire and I had to turn it off, I couldn't take it.

In Leo Bertos, Adam Kwasnik, Daniel and the free scoring Shane Smeltz they've got some bits of talent sometime, but no-one all the time.

And it's painful to see one Dodd on the park but two, I had to turn it off. The A-League should make a rule against it.

And Ricky Herbert if anyone in any of the football fraternity, football media EVER tell me what a great coach he is...total baloney.

Where is the evidence? I can produce a team of plodders and make them plod. He even makes the Brazilians look like plodders.

He's recruited well in Andrew Durante and Jon Mckain and Glen Moss will earn his money more than most keepers, but where is the football going to come from.

It is going to be painful.

The Phoenix reckon yesterdays game was "Dour" isn't it always from any New Zealand team.

When did an NZ side ever play with any flair, indeed not since Winton Rufus or some of the great All Blacks sides has a Kiwi team kept me watching.

Even the All Blacks are woeful these days:)

So Ricky good luck to yer, but you may as well come last playing football than last with the sort of stuff we saw yesterday.

It can only get better, of course, but I'm expecting you to get flogged on away trips as you hoof it up the field and hang on with what seems to be a much-improved defence.

The Yellow Fever fans are going to need to keep singing as at the moment they are more entertaining than the home side will ever be!

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A-League kicks off: Canberrans ready to go.

Kaz Patafta, Matty Kemp and Adam Casey are all in their clubs respective clubs squads for the opening round. Olyroo Nikolai Topor-Stanley may well turn out for Perth Glory on Sunday.

Shaun Ontong is out indefinitely with a dodgy ankle and Ben Wilson will be an Assistant Referee and Ben Williams will control the game in New Zealand and Craig Moore is suspended already:) along with Alex Brosque and a heap of others.

Good to have the football back.

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