SBS catches up with the Aussie football fan - and comes full circle.

Having denigrated the A-League in its early years, SBS, the home of FTA Football has finally come full circle.

Many football fans were sick and tired of SBS in its coverage of the A-League in those eary season. They not only failed to promote and cover the game in a meaningful way but they stuck the boot in, again and again, to a new professional league with all it's teething problems.

Times have changed and in the last couple of seasons it's noticeable SBS has now caught up with the Aussie football fan.

Must have been an email from Sir Les!

And the proof of the change, if it were needed:

Sir Les Murray stated on his blog this week:

The A-League is now of a high technical quality and the vast majority of its players are Australians.

Great to see SBS on board again with the local game - although we've been seeing it for a while now.

For the rest of us - we've appreciated the A-League for what it was in the beginning, is now and can continue to aspire to.

SBS - looking ahead to TV contracts perhaps!

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS promotes Harmony Day: Football at your Primary School

In 2011, broadcaster SBS is supporting the initiative by encouraging primary school students to take part in The Harmony Game, a five-a-side football game to be played on Harmony Day.

“I fully support SBS’s new campaign and encourage all schools across Australia to participate in Harmony Day through ‘Harmony Game’ football matches,” Senator Lundy said.

More information on The Harmony Game is available at www.sbs.com.au

Seems Cory Bernardi and co gave this one a miss!

For more on the game between the Pollies and the Professionals read on.... Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Senator Kate Lundy pulled on her football boots today to promote Harmony Day in the Harmony Game – Pollies v Professionals.

Senator Lundy led a bipartisan team of football-playing politicians including federal ministers Stephen Conroy and Brendan O’Connor, as well as Alan Griffin, Bert van Manen and Senator Steve Fielding.

SBS presenter and former Socceroo Craig Foster led the Professionals, with team members including former Socceroos Kimon Taliadoris, Zjelko Kalac and David Zdrilic and SBS football personalities Les Murray and David Basheer.

Local Canberra players also participated in today’s game at Canberra’s Parliament House soccer ground, including Canberra United goalkeeper Jocelyn Mara, Canberra United and Matildas players Sally Shipard, and Caitlin Munoz.

“Football brings Australians from all walks of life together to share in a common passion,” Senator Lundy said. “Today’s match was all about celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity and highlighting the meaning of Harmony Day, by taking part in a game that brings people together every day.”

The Pollies team matched it with the Professionals for much of the game, with some aggressive and determined play. A second-half downpour threatened to spoil proceedings, but the teams played on, with the stars showing their skill in the end: the Professionals winning the match 7-6.

Harmony Day is celebrated on March 21 every year to celebrate the cohesive and inclusive nature of the Australian community and promote a culturally diverse society.

In 2011, broadcaster SBS is supporting the initiative by encouraging primary school students to take part in The Harmony Game, a five-a-side football game to be played on Harmony Day.

“I fully support SBS’s new campaign and encourage all schools across Australia to participate in Harmony Day through ‘Harmony Game’ football matches,” Senator Lundy said.

More information on The Harmony Game is available at www.sbs.com.au

Team Lists

Pollies

Kate Lundy, Stephen Conroy, Alan Griffin, Steve Fielding, Graham Perrett, Geoff Lyons, Bert van Manen, Mark Dreyfus, Michael McCormack, Dan Tehan, Richard Colbeck

Professionals

Craig Foster, Les Murray, David Basheer, Ned Zelic, David Reis, Peita-Claire Fothergill, Caitlin Munoz, Jocelyn Mara, Sally Shippard, David Zdrilic, Zelco Kalac, Kimon Talliadoris,

Read More...

Summary only...

World Game in Canberra - but why?

Sitting watching the Adelaide game at the Canberra Labor Club yesterday a friend noticed the SBS World Game crew walking in with five minutes to go.

Craig Foster, Sir Les Murray, David Zdrillic, Zeljko Kalac, Kimon Taliadoras,and David Basheer. ACT Senator Kate Lundy was with them.

What they all up to?

And the answer sent in by email is -

The SBS World Game Team are in town to play the Politicians at Parliament House for Harmony Day.

Read More...

Summary only...

State of Football: Insight SBS tonight

Now this show is on after the Nearpost Radio shows so okay you can turn on the TV...after Nearpost Local is finised, immediately.

But just a thought.

People, some are always complaining that the NSW Premier League and VPL clubs have nowhere to go, we want our own FFA Cup etc etc; this has seen South Melbourne head off to play in Singapore a great initiative, but why don't the best two in NSW play off in a final series against the best in VPL and why hasn't this been going on for years.

Surely the inept and insular looking NSWFF could organise this quite easily...but then again maybe they couldn't. After all they can't let a Canberra team into the Premier League..guess they don't really want to develop the standard of the league.

Canberra FC should put their application in from Queanbeyan, NSW, see how Jim Forrest rejects that! NSW Premier League seems to be just Sydney local league div 1!

Read More...

Summary only...

Scott McIntyre: Asia's one man show

SBS Commentator Scott McIntyre proposes that Asian Champions League is so important to Melbourne Victory in terms of prestige, and financial rewards that they should play a Youth team in the Grand Final in Melbourne on Saturday. Even I don't write such tripe, well okay sometimes but only once a week!

Scott, we're trying to promote the local game, and you and your mates at SBS could sometimes help a tad more.

I like your sentiment about Asia, I love the ACL, but this is the Grand Final, in Australia.

And I'd rather see a game with 50,000 screaming fans at an A-League match where local pride is on the line, than the Champions of Korea, Japan or China taking on Melbourne Victory with 7,000 passing by. No matter the quality of either game.

Not very SBS I guess, but football is more than just the quality of the game. How would I know? I've been watching Celtic thump Kilmarnock and occasionally Rangers in front of 60,000 for years. Quality, who cares!

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS: So United are boring?

Watching the self-appointed football elite on SBS define Barcelona as the only exciting team in the World is pathetic.

Now I hate Man United..coz they are rich and buy the best..and my brothers support them and well that's enough..but even I can see the beauty of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and co as they excite across Europe with their brand of football.

Fozzie and Sir Les...Barcelona..we love em, but most of us can recognise that Ronaldo is on a par with the boy Messi if not better at the moment.

Barcelona the best in the world..maybe but you're drivel is almost making me wish United win just so I don't have to stomach your football snobbery...on second thoughts I could take my brothers phone call.

Come on Barca!

Read More...

Summary only...

'It's lovely playing beautiful football and never mind if we get beat'.

If you listen to their songs, they celebrate wins. I don't hear too much in their songs about beautiful football, 'It's lovely playing beautiful football and never mind if we get beat'. It's not like that.

Who said that? Craig Foster, Les Murray, Phil Micallef or another Aussie football pundit?


Gordon Strachan, Manager of Celtic FC ahead of Scottish League Cup Final on Sunday morning. Maybe the arch-critics of our Aussie game can learn a little about the game of football....right now.

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS: Give us a break! This time Phil Micallef writes garbage

One time football visionary's, SBS have become the whinging heart of Australia football.

Now I love what SBS have done for football but their negative slant on the game in recent times continues and many fans have switched them off...and SBS must surely know it by now.

The latest drivel is from Phil Micallef see below but it is drivel so be warned.


It’s about time we stopped pretending that the A-League is the best thing to hit our sport since Guus Hiddink.

FURPHY NUMBER ONE Phil: It is Phil...we have nothing else...so get over it. And in case you dind't know I've seen Dwight Yorke, Juninho, Hernandez, Archie score 5, Djite, Burns and Nicholls...and that's pretty good for a new, young league. Not to mention record crowds, great stadiums and minimal crowd violence. It's fantastic

.

Comments (0) | Your thoughts?


The competition is going alright and the main thing, I suppose, is that it has survived in a difficult market and next season will have two new teams.

Furphy number 2: The main thing Phil is that we have a national league without any racial tensions and a league we can improve and see our young players aspire to and improve it and them.

But the overall standard of play leaves a lot to be desired and the time has come for change.

The most embarrassing aspect of the A-League Australians’ clash with Kuwait last week was not the humbling 1-0 defeat that came out of the blue.

The side of the game that hurt most was the way a bunch of semi-professionals and amateurs ranked 98 places below Australia went about what must have been a tough away match for them with an attitude of “let’s play football and see what happens”.

And, boy, didn’t the men in blue show up the cumbersome Australians whose play reminded us of the days when we used to be outplayed and outclassed by touring teams before we pinched some 0-0 draw and then claim a moral victory on the basis of having created a couple of half chances.

Kuwait showed us that our game is unappealing, unimaginative, pedestrian and predictable and some of our players lack the necessary skills to play representative football.

Furphy 3: No Phil Kuwait showed us that when our whole team bar one is changed in two years since the last Kuwait game you get that sort of team performance. It also showed us despite what SBS seem to think, players count as much as systems. And take out the best ten Aussie A-League players from this season and you are left with..well the next best. Jedinak, Holland, Griffith, Bridge, North etc were all not selected. So a little more analysis please Phil.

Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners, Australia’s ambassadors in this year’s AFC Champions League, enter the competition with this backdrop and it will be interesting to see if they can emulate Adelaide United who reached last year’s final against Gamba Osaka.

Furphy 4: Will it be interesting Phil or will you just rant about how crap we in Australia are if we fail to progress.

This season’s ACL should tell us if the Reds’ surge was purely accidental or a true reflection of the A-League’s standard.

Furphy number 106. Accidental, why not say United were the luckiest team in the World ever to get to a final and if the mess that is Newcastle Jets and the "only play Aussie Mariners" don't get out of the group than clearly Adelaide's success was fluke.

The Canberra match was a microcosm of the A-League: vigorous, muscular play with little thought and even less flair to back it up, an attacking mindset that is not supported by creative passing in the last third of the field and a “hope for the best” long-ball approach when patience runs out.

While Australia huffed and puffed in search of an opening that never came, the Kuwaitis showed composure and mastery of the ball from the first whistle and actually played their best football when they were under pressure.

This is not the first time that a Socceroos match involving A-League players has received an unflattering report card.

Furphy no 110. You forgot to add "from SBS." Maybe you should have hooked into the FFA not the players. Verbeek didn't select any of the A-League players in Asia or who have gone to Europe in January. The FFA needs to look at team selection strategies. And if Pondlejak had scored would we have won and everyone been delighted even the Aussie whingers SBS?

Remember China who gave the domestic Socceroos a football lesson in Sydney in their last match of the previous phase of World Cup qualifying?

Fans are entitled to wonder how long it is going to be before we realise that our style of league football is tactically antiquated and we are being exposed by countries that are ranked below us. Or when we are going to bite the bullet and import a few foreign coaches to give our competition a breath of fresh air.

Furphy no.120
Phil the Coach, who is out their every week bringing his wisdom to our players. Give us a break Phil. It's time Fozzie, Les and yourself took another line. Sure we want to see our game improved but it takes time and re-education, writing this sort of crap...saying we are exposed by teams ranked below us...er Phil your the journo teams ranked below the Socceroos containing Viduka and Kewell or maybe Dodd and Carney but a Socceroos side containing Zullo and M. Thompson and Simon aren't ranked in my view.

Oh and for the record Sydney FC have a Czech coach, and Perth had Steve Mcmahon, Sydney had Terry Butcher, Fury have Iain Ferguson...so define foreign Phil.

Football Federation Australia gets a bit twitchy when the standard of the A-League is brought into question.

Yet the FFA cannot remain in denial when the evidence suggests that the domestic game is clearly stagnant because overall standards are not rising.

And the reason they are not improving is because our style of football from grassroots upwards is still centred too much on raw physique and too little on subtle technique.

Furhpy SBS:
Small sided games, you all wanted them. Now you've got them. Unfortunately the 7 year old who started playing small sided games to supposedly improve his technique and therefore our league is ONLY 8. Give them a chance to come through and stop your whinging.

Australia's domestic football might score the odd international success which could be the result of various circumstances, not least our innate fighting spirit.

Adelaide’s run to the 2008 ACL final was a case in point. The Reds fought bravely against all odds, showing true Aussie grit and producing a magical half an hour in the semi-final against Bunyodkor that will go down in football folklore.

But in the competition's decisive match they were outclassed by Gamba essentially because the Japanese play a much better and more refined type of game.

Furphy no 1000:
So Gamba were better. Thanks for that:) They outclassed Adelaide. They play a much better game. Phil do you know anything about the history of the two sides, the two leagues, the players. Endo is an International for Japan. And our best Djite and Burns left half-way through the season two of the more gritty and brave Aussie players but unfortunately we couldn't replace them with grit and we got a couple of technical Brazilians in Diego, Cassio and the even less technically gifted Jamieson. Somehow we fluked it through.

Watching football in Australia today is an infinitely more exciting and rewarding experience than it used to be, not least because we are now involved in Asia and facing all the stiff challenges this vast continent is presenting us.

Furphy no 1004.
Can you write this at SBS? After all I've read we have a positive comment...but hang on not because of anything in Australia but because of Asia..a back-hander I guess..but the team will surely have words

Even the A-League has an open, pleasant feel about it. Most games are fiercely contested but thankfully gamesmanship is virtually non-existent.

But unless we learn to play with far greater technique and more modern tactics, our long-term prospects for success abroad won't improve.

The Kuwaitis impressed a healthy gathering at Canberra Stadium with their first touch and their ability to pass the ball with intelligence to players who ran into space with intent. Australia could have stolen an undeserved draw in the end but in reality they should have lost by more than one goal.

It took a double humiliation by Hungary (6-3 at Wembley and 7-1 in Budapest) in 1953 for the English to take a good look at themselves and realise that they were deluding themselves with their archaic ‘made in England’ football.

Total furphy: This is crap. Did England change their style of play? Didn't they win a world cup at home playing the English way. Does Fozzie and Lez agree that England have changed their style since 1953...stop laughing at this one guys...and haven't we had lots of "modernised English coaches" in the A-League..I'm missing something clearly

The Poms were forced to modernise their game. They did so, perhaps even reluctantly, but 13 years later they won the World Cup.

An unequivocal disaster on the international stage might just be what the A-League needs for change to take place.

Furphy no 2001: Well we will probably get our unequivocal disaster in South Africa because with our once in a generation Viduka and Kewell less likely to play we will be left with what. But of course Australia will expect..and be disappointed. So far we've had a header in Uzbekistan and a shot in Bahrain...and it was late...maybe our overseas aren't as good as SBS try to make out.

Now Phil exactly what would you like to see. More tactics...hmmn interesting, more passing,...better skills, less goals, less space and when would you like this..next week, next year and how do you propose we, or any club might do this. Come on Phil you are the expert so educate us..can't wait:)

top

Join the Discussion
PLEASE NOTE: All submitted comments become the property of SBS. We reserve the right to edit and/or amend submitted comments. HTML tags other than paragraph, line break, bold or italics will be removed from your comment.

email this page print this page change font size Save to
Google Bookmarks Del.icio.us Facebook Reddit Newsvine Technorati Stumbleupon Yahoo! MyWeb Philip Micallef

See all Philip Micallef's posts


Recent Posts
A-League's delusions of grandeur
Asian Cup the joker in Pim's pack
Cahill's talents wasted up front
Why Socceroos have the wood on Japan
Beckham stars in a real galaxy

ADVERTISEMENT











Blogs
More
LATEST LES HTO ACL
A-League's delusions of grandeur
By Philip Micallef

It's about time we stopped pretending that the A-League is the best thing to hit our sport since Guus Hiddink. The competition is going alright but the overall standard of play leaves a lot to be desired and the time has come for change.

Comments (0) | Your thoughts?

Kuwait and an inconvenient truth
By Les Murray

Calls are being made, by those who make a hobby of stating the bleeding obvious, that Pim Verbeek should revert to using only Australia's best, European-based players for the remaining Asian Cup qualifiers. Rest easy. He will and he should.

Comments (68) | Your thoughts?

Is there a gulag for referees? We need one
By Half Time Orange - Jesse Fink

Referee Matthew Breeze seems to have taken a lot of lessons from his performance in the A-League grand final after the two red cards he meted out to Cristiano and Danny Allsopp were rescinded. But an admission that he could have done better? Not a chance.

Comments (36) | Your thoughts?

ACL preview 2009: Part I
By Scott McIntyre

For those who questioned the relevance of the ACL to local football the successful march of Adelaide United to last year's final has proved once and for all that it is the pinnacle of club football in the region. And this year there's five times' as much prize money!

Comments (12) | Your thoughts?

Your Views
Your right about opportunity, look at Adelaide, It's fair enough that the loser of the top 2...

Says James on Plundered by Asia, A-League is still a land of opportunity

Comments (38) | Your thoughts?

A-League Poll
From which continent would you like to see more imports brought in to the A-League?

Asia Africa South America North and Central America Europe
submit vote





Launch playerVideos
More
GLOBAL OZ FOCUS EXPERTS ACL - Beijing Guoan 2-0 Newcastle

11 Mar 09 | 00:51
UCL - Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid

11 Mar 09 | 02:13
UCL - Juventus 2-2 Chelsea

11 Mar 09 | 02:00
UCL - Bayern Munich 7-1 Sporting

11 Mar 09 | 02:14
UCL - Panathinaikos 1-2 Villarreal

11 Mar 09 | 01:45
Champions League Preview

10 Mar 09 | 35.3:
Ronaldo scores for Corinthians

10 Mar 09 | 4.2:
FOOTBALL WRAP

10 Mar 09 | 34.0:
Captain Socceroo Presents Ep5

10 Mar 09 | 05:13
Lille 2 - 0 Lyon

10 Mar 09 | 00:57
ADO Den Haag 1-1 Ajax Amsterdam

10 Mar 09 | 01:08
Spanish Primera Liga Big Wrap

09 Mar 09 | 05:53
FA Cup - Arsenal 3-0 Burnley

09 Mar 09 | 01:08
FA Cup - Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough

09 Mar 09 | 01:11
St Etienne 2-1 Nantes

09 Mar 09 | 01:16
Scottish FA Cup - Rangers 5-1 Hamilton

09 Mar 09 | 02:14
FA Cup Latest

08 Mar 09 | 01:11
Overnight Leagues Wrap

08 Mar 09 | 02:35
Kuwait Feature

08 Mar 09 | 05:21
Elrich ACL Preparations

08 Mar 09 | 02:09
Porto remain on top in Portugal

08 Mar 09 | 19.5:
Rio Ave 1-1 Maritimo

08 Mar 09 | 40.1:
Mix Zone Interview with Socceroo Archie Thompson

06 Mar 09 | 02:01
Mix Zone Interview with Socceroo Matt Thompson

06 Mar 09 | 01:09
Mix Zone Interview with Yaqooub Abdullah from Kuwait

06 Mar 09 | 02:34
MIx Zone Interview with Jarah Alateeqi Kuwait

06 Mar 09 | 00:54
Batistuta playing polo

05 Mar 09 | 22.8:
Overnight Leagues Wrap

01 Mar 09 | 03:14
HIDDEN STORY - Top Of The World

24 Feb 09 | 04:38
HIDDEN STORY - EPROCAD

24 Feb 09 | 04:30
EXCLUSIVE: Ossie Ardiles Pt 1

24 Feb 09 | 07:10
EXCLUSIVE: Ossie Ardiles Pt 2

24 Feb 09 | 05:03
EXCLUSIVE: Ossie Ardiles Pt 3

24 Feb 09 | 05:07
Exclusive Osvaldo Ardiles

22 Feb 09 | 07:58
FFA Coaching Conference

22 Feb 09 | 03:13
EXCLUSIVE Zeljko Kalac Pt 1

19 Feb 09 | 07:06
EXCLUSIVE Zeljko Kalac Pt 2

19 Feb 09 | 06:32
HIDDEN STORY - One Game One Family

17 Feb 09 | 04:33
Socceroos WCQ Review

15 Feb 09 | 05:17
WCQ Japan Wrap

15 Feb 09 | 03:59
Green Point Stadium

11 Feb 09 | 01:36
HIDDEN STORY - NACRO

10 Feb 09 | 04:39
HIDDEN STORY - Child's Play

03 Feb 09 | 04:04
HIDDEN STORY - Play Soccer

03 Feb 09 | 04:07
HIDDEN STORY - Football For Peace

27 Jan 09 | 03:33
HIDDEN STORY - Colombianitos

06 Jan 09 | 04:24
Champions League Draw

20 Dec 08 | 02:21
Coming up on SBS Sport in 2009

17 Dec 08 | 01:54
Captain Socceroo Ep5 Pt1

10 Mar 09 | 05:57
Captain Socceroo Ep5 Pt2

10 Mar 09 | 09:38
Socceroos ACQ Review Pt1

08 Mar 09 | 05:37
Socceroos ACQ Review Pt2

08 Mar 09 | 03:32
Exclusive - Scott Chipperfield

08 Mar 09 | 03:23
ACL Chat Pt1

08 Mar 09 | 04:02
ACL Chat Pt2

08 Mar 09 | 04:24
State Leagues new role

08 Mar 09 | 04:08
CLUB SOCCEROO Angelo Costanzo

08 Mar 09 | 00:40
Josh Kennedy Feature

01 Mar 09 | 02:51
CLUB SOCCEROO Alistair Edwards

01 Mar 09 | 01:10
John Moriarty Indigenous Football

01 Mar 09 | 04:44
CLUB SOCCEROO Les Scheinflug

22 Feb 09 | 01:06
Con Boutsianis Free Kicks

15 Feb 09 | 05:17
CLUB SOCCEROO Eddie Krncevic

15 Feb 09 | 01:16
Club Socceroo - Paul Okon

07 Sep 08 | 01:27
FOOTBALL FOCUS State League

08 Mar 09 | 07:02
STOPPAGE TIME ACQ

08 Mar 09 | 02:31
SHOOTOUT Reds robbed by red and ref

04 Mar 09 | 11:02
FOOTBALL FOCUS Socceroos ACQ

01 Mar 09 | 08:41
FOOTBALL FOCUS FFA Conference

22 Feb 09 | 06:23
SHOOTOUT A-League new arrivals

05 Feb 09 | 08:30
SHOOTOUT Premier League Special

24 Oct 07 | 08:13

Read More...

Summary only...

Canberra bid on SBS

David Basheer ran a great story on the Canberra A-League bid yesterday.

Ivan Slavich, Walter Valeri and Anthony Hatton put the Canberra/SNSW bid forward on SBS yesterday.

Watch the video here

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS shoot down South Melbourne A-League bid.

Southern Cross FC are bidding to be an A-League team in 2010. Same as Canberra. And Les Murray from SBS is an Ambassador for the bid.

Biased? Hardly...couldn't be more Canberra friendly....

SBS reported today on Les' show that Les Murray was with the bid team when they presented to the FFA last week.

And proceeded to say that the bid is strongly linked and backed by former NSL Club South Melbourne FC. No problem there you might think.

But the footage as the story ran showed moments, lots of moments of so-called ethnic violence at games from years ago. And it was violent and ran and ran. It was bizarre.

Was Ivan Slavich pulling the strings? Does his influence extend so far. The Chaser couldn't have done a worse report.

So thanks to SBS the Southern Cross bid is now linked with so-called Ethnic violence for evermore....and gives Canberra a further edge.

No-one can show ethnic violence linked to previous football games in Canberra as no-one went, not even to fight..bum bum!

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS: Talk about whingers!

It used to stand for Soccer Bloody Soccer, now it's Soccer Bagging Soccer....and we love it.

Take your pick. At SBS, you can read the Opinion pieces by Australia's finest Grumpy Old Men, and some not so Old, but very Grumpy:

Can you imagine the Tea-room at SBS. Les muttering and chuntering about the English, Fozzie walking behind smiling and agreeing, occasionally moving a chair so the master doesn't spill his tea, Jesse Fink complaining about the lack of funds for the sugar, and young upstart Scott McIntyre shouting, "Where's the Asia tea, English Breakfast, pah I say!"

You can read pieces about bagging the English Premier League, but if you are not happy with that, let's bag the Player Agents, no wait Harry Kewell give him a serve, and just in case that wasn't enough. Let's bag the A-League clubs in Asia. All in just a few days!


Sir Les Murray, Mr Football God Bless Him, tells us that the English league isn't the best in the world, just the richest. What he should have added is "we don't have the TV rights," but he does say the best league in the World is "the Champions League," and yes you guessed it SBS have the rights. Tongue in cheek I know Sir Les but read on.

Jesse Fink, despises Player Agents, fair enough, doesn't everyone except the players? Nice easy target, then he sticks the boot into Harry Kewell. Suggesting Harry should play and stay at Liverpool for nothing or on much reduced wages.

Poor Harry having to live in England without $300,000 per week. Well nice try Jesse but why did you leave News Limited? Nothing to do with the money I hope, because I think, personally, you should have stayed. Produced something to pay back the lame weeks you had occasionally, okay there were only a few, but still bet you took your dosh.

And Scott McIntyre bags out Aussie clubs in Asia. Basically if Adelaide don't win against a Chinese side that have lost their last three games, well what are the Aussies sides worth. Seems Scott doesn't want the Aussies to succeed.

We've been in the ACL nearly two whole years, have only missed qualification on the last day once, maybe twice if it happens this year, and according to Scott we've learnt little, and whinge about injuries, travel and salary caps.

And Adelaide did beat the Koreans ACL representatives twice, but of course this in no longer enough says Scott

Adelaide, under the stewardship of Aurelio Vidmar, has shown they’ve learnt from the experience of a failed campaign but are yet to strike a decisive blow against comparatively weak opposition this year (the 6th best side in Korea last year, for example).

We all love Opinions but can't anyone write anything uplifting and positive about football at SBS?

Come on guys I dare you.

Oh I forgot the Euro's. We'll be writing reams of joy about that won't we, but then having EIGHT games live, a nice trip to Europe, and it will be all great football with Engerland at home in their beds.

Who's side are you guys on anyway, just remind me!

Read More...

Summary only...

Why I want Newcastle Jets to win..

bandwagon

Because I have a ticket for the Grand Final. Can't wait..even before the Semi.
And I reckon the atmosphere will be that bit more special for a Jets/Mariners final.

It will be close but my head says the Roar by one but my heart wants the Jets!

Don't miss it today, this will be the most passionate emotional semi-final we've had.

Adelaide/Mariners didn't fill the stadium on Season 1, last year Kossie set the place alive after penalties Adelaide/Newcastle, but again there were big gaps on the terraces.

Novacastrians are a passionate lot, and they love their football, their town. Either way it will be an emotional roller coaster.

Full house, Asia and a Grand Final on the line. Joel Griffiths, Mark Bridge and James Holland, Robbie Kruse, Reinaldo and Craig Moore. And don't forget Danny Tiatto:)

SBS can whinge about the quality, me I'm in football heaven.

Read More...

Summary only...

SBS....about to embrace the A-League...finally!

SBS launch their new website on Sunday promising to focus more on the Australian game.

Socceroos, Olyroos and A-League, they say.

Well Les Murray and co your A-League coverage has been poor, inconsistent and highly critical. Don't believe me. Read EVERY fan forum in the country. SBS have behaved like a little fella having a tantrum after he has lost his ball.

Come back to the fold. Embrace the domestic game. Make yourself relevant again. We still love you!

SBS

Read More...

Summary only...

Craig Foster: How dare you!

Celtic 2 AC Milan 1

On SBS Craig Foster derided Celtic. Himself and Paul Okon, and Andrew Orsatti severely criticised almost mocked the performance of my team this morning.

We football fans love to criticise, even mock, but try and do it with it some humour or insight.

The three of you gave a less inspiring performance than the mighty Milan. You should be mocked.

Get the Chase in I say!

You were boring, uninformed and lacking in any creative spark.

You guys are in the entertainment business. So lets have some entertainment in between boring games. You gave us nothing.

When asked what he thought of Australian Scott McDonald's performance Fozzie couldn't speak or give any assessment, never mind intelligent assessment.

So Fozzie and the SBS team here is my thoughts:


Lets' compare the budgets of the two clubs.

Celtic have drawn 0-0 with the mighty Milan at home in previous years. Milan are the European Champions.

We are the Scottish Champions with a very minuscule budget compared to Milan. Kaka would cost more than our whole team, but this doesn't seem to be of any use in your analysis Fozzie.

You get what you pay for in this game.

Creative players cost.

And you expect us with Nakamura and Vennegor of Hesselink out injured to conjure up other quality replacements to become dynaminc forward options.

Where do these players come from? Of Champions League standard.

After all we are playing AC Milan so beloved by the SBS team.

And weren't they boring. One of the most boring away performances at Celtic Park in recent years.

Would a Benfica or Manchester United have played with such caution.

Strachan set his team out to stifle Milan, hold the Champions and sneak a win.

He did it.

Dare I suggest if Strachan attacked as you would have liked then I'm sure you could have spent the show telling us how great Kaka and co are as they rip Celtic to shreds.

Celtic 2 AC Milan 1

Fozzie eat your heart out!

It was a dire first half, and little improved in the second half although Celtic did win Fozzie. Despite according to Fozzie at the break, "Celtic are not a football team."

It's the Champions League mate so a little respect.

ps. Celtic may only be Scottish, as you so often love to put it, but Viduka, Vidmar, Muscat, McDonald and Zdrillic and many other Aussies earnd and do earn their living there.

pps He who laughs last laughs longest. Celtic 2 Milan 1...not bad when you compare the budgets...not bad at all!

Read More...

Summary only...