Nearpost Football

Saturday, 31 March 2012

Joel Chianese - a rare find but too late for cautious Vitaslav..nice guy bye bye

Have Sydney unearthed a gem? And why has it taken so long to develop and give this guy a run.

A few more games could have meant a few more points with Joel on the team. But no Vitaslav and his coaching team were too cautious, too predictable, too scared throughout the season to go for youth and pace. Pace!

A local with pace and that rare ability to find the back of the net. Another two last night to add to his two last week. And he's had chances many chances in many games.

Pity his seasons over for it looks, still looks, like he needs a big dose of self-belief and anyone scoring as many and varied goals as he is should be cocky, arrogant and full of it. He'd get more.

It's the style of his goals that interest me. Something Sydney have missed for years. His second goal Mark Bridge could never score and never has. Following the play, in with pace, a tap in looks easy.

Funny how few Sydney players have achieved such goals over recent years. I love the tap in!

Joel has pace, and an eye for goal. With Eli Babalj down in Melbourne, another young Aussie hitting the net with increasing interest maybe just maybe we've unearthed a couple of strikers.

About time!

English catching the Aussies up...finally

You see it's not true what the anglophiles say the English have got great coaches and great football culture coming out of its ears.

And it's just beginning to spread and that's the point.

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Nearpost poddie: A-League heading to the finals. We got it all

The show is dedicated to Archie Thompson - is he moving on after his latest tweet.

Catch all the A-League news ahead of the finals and which team dropped 3,000 per week this season - this in a season when we had record crowds and more than 10,000 per game per week once more.

A-League on the up.

And Mike Cockerill takes his personal agenda out on Harry again and again - let it rest Mike. Harry played morDownload.
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e minutes than you dreamed of - bet it hurts!

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Ange Postecoglou: the greatest Oz inspiration to Aussie Grassroots Coaches ever?

If you've ever watched the Brisbane Roar play - and most Aussie's don't have Fox Sports so will never have seen them - they play to instruction, tactic and a tempo rarely, some say never, seen in Australia.

There is many elements to their game but one is critical to Australian football development at all levels.

Ange has his team keeping possession, with quick movement and interchange of player and ball. And it all starts from the keeper, and often returns to the keeper.

And here's the rub:

All A-League teams know how the Roar will pass the ball out from their keeper and indeed Michael Theolokitos, while not as poor as Mark Bosnich was with his feet, Theo is no Lionel Messi is he?

But Ange continues to persist, nay insist football must be played this way.

And this in a brutal professional era where fans and owners are quick to criticise or sack the Coach if results and performances are suspect.

So if the leader of Australia's Champion Club can persist while other professional teams know and try and restrict their play-out from the back style what reason is there for your local U16, U14, U8 Coach to "inspire" their kids to punt it long and to never play back, ever?

Ange gives us some hope down here in club land.

We haven't had many Australians to inspire us in Coach land over the years and the parents down here take a while to understand what you are trying to do.

Yes they take a while.

So as grassroots, the mighty, unattached grassroots kick-off we salute you Ange and will use your name and your team's name ad nauseum.

Even if they've never seen you, or your team play, they'll know you exist and stand for something good in football - at least on my sideline.

Viva - and thank you.

Is Jim's appointment the end of Vision Victory?

It looks like Jim down South, sounds like Jim and according to those in the know it will be Jim.

And while Australia Coaching stocks are at an all time high the Victory are unable to set a new course or claim to be an innovative club if they take on honest, but still unproven Jim.

He dropped Broxham and Brebner from the midfield and that for me gives him a huge tick, a huge insight. His results haven't improved but he saw the problem. His midfield and then his defence. He has bought in a Brazilian via Hong Kong, but it's no solution, no Kevin Muscat.

He's revitalised Marcos Rojas and Harry Kewell continues to play, well.

Like Mehmet before if Archie Thompson has simply scored 10% of this chances how many points would the Victory now have. They'd at least be in the six. Archie used to score - more.

Ernie Merrick, Gary Van Egmond, Graham Arnold, Ange Postecoglou, Aurelio Vidmar are five of our most proven best coaches. Will we add Robbie Hooker in time?

Some Coaches have failed in Asia - most notably Ernie Merrick - but all have impressed at times, with their tactical and team tempo and presentation.

Ange Postecoglou is a living legend but that's another story.

Should our leading club Victory turn to Europe? Or why not Asia or again why not Australia.

Muscat is too inexperienced, perhaps too close.

The playing squad has been too old, too stagnant for too long. Ernie must have known. And they've achieved this year what such an unbalanced squad would. Too rich up front and not much at the back.

Look at the goals conceded and even the Captain Adrian Leijer has looked rather ordinary without Muscat covering his errors and inexperience.

British Jim has tweaked the team and I've seen enough to suggest he can take the next step. Will he really not be able to improve that defence, rejuvenate the forward line?

Victory may not return to the top spot anytime soon but surely with a clear out of Brebner, Allsopp, Salorzano, Hernandez, Vargas, Pondeljak, Kemp and Broxham the remaining players and new personnel can gel into something evolving a football unit.

And there'd surely be some money to spend on decent wages with most of the above gone.

Attacking they've done well but rarely scored enough. Defensively from the front they've been a disaster.

Is Jim the guy to lead them forward - it looks like it, but Victory are not heading for the stars and Asia with this appointment are they?

Victory the end of a vision?

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Mariners are favourites to win the A-League, in three years...

The Mariners win their first Youth League title, Adelaide actually win a match and Melbourne Victory make another misguided signing by offering Jim Magilton a 2-year contract extension! It's all here on the Nearpost, brought to you by Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston and Nick Amies.

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Saturday, 3 March 2012

Victory fails to take their chances but Aussie Coach of Jets making gains

Gary van Egmond has one Championship under his belt and looks like he has the craft to give this years title a little shake.

As he builds his team around him it was the quality of the goals that took my eye.

Ruben Zadkovich spreading 40 yard balls, player movement off the ball and young Jacob Pepper a local lad tapping home not once, but twice. Nice.

Melbourne Victory are out of the A-League. Not Mehmet Durakovic, uber British Coach Jim Magilton or Harry Kewell could save them.

They've improved since Magilton came. Mostly because Ernie Merrick's legacy of Grant Brebner and Leigh Broxham have not played.

But with Kevin Muscat on the bench as Assistant Coach it has been their miserable defensive record that has let them down. Muscat has been arguably the best player in the previous six A-League seasons and his loss more than any of the fabled recruits has seen the Victory's demise.

They had many many chances to win the game v the Jets but three goals conceded in the first half makes it difficult to draw never mind win and they needed a win.

Kewell missed a penalty, Archie keeps missing and Carlos Hernandez and Juan Carlos Salarzano also missed. That's a lot of talent - missing.

And if they all miss you can be sure the likely lads down the other end will be conceding at will - as they have been all season.

A lot not to like about Melbourne this year. Not least there unfulfilled promise.

But with another Aussie Coach taking them to the cleaners you just wonder if Jim Magilton is really the man for the job.

Has he shown us real signs he's shoe-in. The pro-British football media will talk him up - he's mate of some and others just want to see a Brit do well to shut you know who up.

I don't think Jim is a certainty or has shown us enough thus far. Mind you anyone who removes the visionary Merrick duo of the Killer B's in centre midfield must be worth another thought.

Victory in transition.

And he won't have much room to move with a Salary Cap in place you wouldn't think.

Victory have a lot of work to do - for next season - and it starts now. But is Jim the man or is their an Aussie out there, like Van Egmond who could give you so much more with so much less?

Clive Palmer: Did you just get bored?

Clive Palmer, A-League Club Owner and Billionaire tries to takeover football, all of it - yet he can't even get his own Franchise right.

Before we forget:

Here's five things Clive did really well -

Signed Jason Culina and made a splash.

Appointed Miron Bleiberg and got plenty of coverage.

Made some nice noises early about his clubs intentions.

Opened the gates for free once the whole crowd thing seemed to be going pair shape.

Signed a whole heap of local talented Youth players.

Here's five, just five things he did really poorly.

1. Game one, away to Brisbane advised his own supporters not to travel.

2. Closed the stadium

3. Refused to pay injured players.

4. Talked the game down and other codes in the Gold Coast region.

5. Refused to sign players for more than one year contracts....which suggests to me the guy wanted out and is looking for an out.

He now has forced his out. Was this his plan all along???

Belwest Foxes new website

There you go a new website for www.belwestsoccer.com by yours truly.

Simple and effective communication and layout - that's the aim, you be the judge.

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Does the A-League need money? We're not so sure

Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston and Nick Amies follow the billionaire saga filling the back pages, the continued slide of the previously unstoppable Mariners (much to Nick Junior's disgust) and the selection policy of Holger Osieck; is he really helping build a future or de we have another Pim?

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Sunday, 26 February 2012

Mighty Rangers in administration

News out of Rangers:

Fan through a coin at Rangers FC game last weekend.

Police didn't know if it was a violent act or if the guy was trying to buy the club!

Also:

Celtic fans to send the bucket round for a collection for the Mighty Gers at their next home game - everyone to put 10 pence in!

Friday, 24 February 2012

Pathway for U13 ACT Girls

Girls in the ACT U13 are heading to play in the Australian National Championships in April.

National Coach Tom Sermanni and his Coaching team will be at the Championships to watch the future players and to pick the All-Star team.

These players will be noted and will have the first chance to impress the National Coach.

For ACT players we have a record of getting one player in the All-Star team in the past two years.

ACT U13 players will then be pushing for a place in the ACT Academy of Sport train-on squad and some may even be offered a Scholarship place come December this year - or again in the following year.

Realistically if a girl doesn't make ACTAS she will not go higher in football from Canberra.

So what should an Under 13 girl do this year in terms of her football team.

Most will play with the boys in the Open division. Not a wise choice in my view - but one players and parents seem to think is appropriate.

I'd argue the best way for players to gain access to ACTAS train-on agreement post-U13 National Champs is to have an individual plan.

Train with Capital Football
Play in a team where you dominate for the 16 week season, improve your touch and your confidence over and over.

How many girls will improve their touch playing in boys - 1 or 2 I'd argue. The rest will be shoved down the back or on the wing.

At 13 girls like boys are not complete.

Forget the physical and even the speed for the 16 week of the junior season and concentrate on getting a strong coach, a coach who builds a players confidence and knowledge and most of all technique.

Does anyone advise ACT Rep players what is best for an individual - they do in Swimming Rep teams - or are they just encouraged to do their own thing without any guidance from those that know.

I'm not hearing much from players coming out of Rep squads with anything approaching sane advice.

Players and parents should be informed exactly what the pathway, opportunities are for U13 girls and indeed advised individually on a course of action.

One size does not fit all. But is there a player who needs to work more on speed, aggression and game understanding, than technique.

I wouldn't think so - not if you're aiming for ACTAS>

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Move over Arsenal, Australia's got Gold Coast United

Clive Palmer is leading the way in terms of giving chances to younger players and Holger Osieck looks set to play the good old 8-1-1 against Saudi Arabia. All this and more in this week's edition of the Nearpost podcast, featuring Paddy Bordier, Aaron Walker and Nick Amies.

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Skillaroos - not SSG's for all?

If you talk to some in clubland they follow and preach the FFA Small Sided Game mantra.

Nothing else.

Well those of us who work with kids know SSG's work in the working class areas of Brazil, although even I would maintain some of those kids could have technical correction to speedy along their SSG development, but they aren't the complete answer in clubland in Australia.

And the FFA recognise this.

It's interesting to see the FFA has introduced the Skillaroos.

All Skillaroo Coaches have been trained by Coerver Coaching Technical Guru Alfred Galustian.

And now the very best kids get this technical Skillaroo training on top of their Small sided Games.

The game is the teacher, and of course SSG's are way better than what we used to have. But any coach working in clubland with the 7 - 11 year olds will know that SSG's on their own will never correct or show the proper technique for side foot passing with both feet - for example.

And if it does it could take a long long time for the games to get the kid on track.

I know I've seen it and watched it.

Small technical individual correction is required. A kid quickly improves and then can return to play a higher level of SSG.

So any Coach out there who tells me SSGs are the be all and end all simply ain't got it have they.

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Former Gunner gives Fozzie some help - but Fox Sports drops that pin:)

Had to laugh on Fox Sports panel last night.

Stuart Houston, former Arsenal defender, is a commentator and discusses all things English football. (Dead boring bit of the show and I normally switch off but last night I stayed for a while.)

So when asked about the merits of Arry I can't write only add up dollars Rednapp for England he basically said Arry was a manager, he can't coach. A wheeler and dealer on the transfer market and you can't buy players for England FC!

He went further and said there was a massive crises in English Coaching - still. Basically the standard of coaching was shocking.

And what did Fox Sports panel do with this gem - straight through to the Keeper. Not a murmour from Harps, Bozza or Mike Cockerill.

I heard the pin, albeit briefly, but it was loud.

Of course given the recent debates in Australian football at least a little humour or dig could have come from it - but it didn't....but then Robbie works for Fox I guess.

Maaaaattteeeesss!

Woden Valley leading the way in girl development?

Football registration days are upon us - and players can't wait for the May 1 start.

When you're a kid do you know how far away that is!

Woden Valley so long the leaders of girls football - where would the two div 1 Under 13 Rep program be without the talent produced by Colin Johnstone and the Woden Valley club over the last two years. Take a moment to see how many girls were from Woden, in the last two Rep teams, and then consider why a group of players were technically gifted ahead of the rest of the city.

It's not just a numbers thing. Someone has to guide, teach and work with the technique.

And this year the Woden Valley girls program has stepped up, well actually jumped up. It's exciting, unless you are Coach of other girls teams across Canberra!

140 girls. I'll repeat that. 140 girls training two nights a week from Feb 1 in Ages 10 - 15. Have you ever heard anything like it?

Not through Capital Football programs or any other club in Canberra ever?

With Colin's guidance in technical and game improvement this pool of players will quickly rise above the girl programs across other Canberra clubs - unless you know different.

Fantastic to see the response of the girls - maybe Capital Football have been handed a gift here, and should sit down with Woden to work and assist this huge group of players - at least watch and learn from club development - nay send some Coaches.

Should this be the Canberra United Development Academy Southside?

This is player development on a massive scale.

I know Woden have been blown away by the response.

At Majura, my club, U13 girls will train twice a week from Feb 22nd, Brindabella have used Coerver programs I'm told and others including Belnorth, Belsouth and Belwest have joined to create a new development program, so there are changes, positive improvements, in girls football in clubland, across Canberra.

As positive in Representative land - not for girls, not yet.

But to hear of 140 girls playing football from Feb 1 under great football leadership as well - very impressive. Let's hope there is some competition to keep them challenged.

I fear not!

Would society benefit without the Evil Twin?

So Rangers are in Administration.

Basically Rangers have over spent through the last however many years - owing so much money they are law breakers!

Does that mean all the Championships over the last 3 or 10 years were won unfairly, nay illegally.

Perhaps they should be stripped of their titles and hand them back to their law abiding and rightful owners.....Celtic.

And the cry is "Rangers out" is not good for Celtic?

Well really, I don't doubt for a minute that the mighty Rangers won't continue in some form.

For me; a society without a focus of bigotry, racism and sectarianism is a better society.

Fined by UEFA for their sectarian chants - they weren't playing Celtic that day either!

Ban on Catholics for so many years - the stain remains.

And listen to the songs of the 50,000 Gers fans - hard to understand where such hatred comes from. Hatred for Ireland, and indeed the Pope. And there are no Catholic lovers on this site! Less still in the Celtic stands if they even realised.

Celtic will survive with or without Rangers - but would society be better off without the evil twin?

Rooney and Hart for Carle and Antonis? Maybe if your name is Fabio...

Capello could be coming to Sydney, the Mighty Mariners will rise again and Director's commentary is to the Nearpost. Or not, listen and find out what we think! Paddy Bordier, Aaron Walker and Nick Amies talk everything Aussie football this Valentine's Day.

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Sunday, 12 February 2012

Jim Magilton sees the future - and it ain't the killer B's thank god!

We knew the Melbourne Victory defence, central defence was too slow, too fragile and lacked Muscat.

And in midfield the pairing of Leigh Broxham and Grant Brebner could never control the game in the Asian Champions League games - at times the Victory were embarrassing - and these our Aussie Champions - and this season they've never had the ball, kept the ball or enabled the style boys to get on the ball.

No good for Asia - surely not a pairing worthy of Australian style - and so it proved - Ernie didn't know it, Mem didn't nor Muscat it seems.

Are they gone for good as a pair - they should be.

Thank you Jim!

And in Sydney - everyone talks up Liam Reddy. Finally he's gone too - but how long did it take and the Coach and the Aussie media talked him up for two years too many.

How many goals were Sydney prepared to concede through Reddy's displays? How many points were lost as a direct result of his fumbles?

Seems we football fans often have clearer perspective than so-called wonderful coaches.

Nice one Jim didn't take you long to see the light - and Vitelav you might have taken two years to do it, but it might have saved your season. You never know do you?

Canberra continues to produce quality footballers - Tom Rogic is next.

We're a small city in a region of 700,000 people. Not a professional mens football team worthy of a mention, not now, not in living memory.

And yet we still produce quality - quality footballers and in the case of Joe Simunic, Carl Valeri who are both still playing, star Internationals.

Throw in excellent A-League stalwarts, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Matty Kemp and Brisbane Roars Kofi Danning and we've almost got a half a team.

Steven Lustica is on the rise - a four year deal in Hadjuk Split's centre midfield - how good is that for a guy who couldn't get 90 minutes or a new contract with the Gold Coast.

And now we have Tom Rogic.

When did Canberra last produce an attacking midfielder of real excitement, real promise? Kaz Patafta? But his star waned. Before then - who knows.

A long long way to go for Tom - but there are guys running around professional football all over the World, who have never and will never produced two pieces of football like Rogic did on Friday in Victory land - one a goal, the other an almost.

We love the biff down here in Canberra - League, Union and now AFL - and yet somehow we keep produce these real football gems.

If we had a Professional Mens team - could we double our output of the type of quality we have listed above.

Of course we could.

Anyone got a plan?

Monday, 6 February 2012

Mr Nice Guy: Why is Sydney's defence so poor this year?

There was a time under the soon to be booted nicest man in football when Sydney won 1-0 - boring but they won.

Then in season 2, they lost 1-0. More boring and more frustrating.

Now in Season 3 they lose, by 3, 4 or 5 and that's at home.

Mr Lavicka might be nice - but he's a pretty ordinary coach.

Sydney dumped him - and on Sydney the Jets showed why they have made the right decision.

He's a defensive expert coach - or so we're told - and yet look at his recruits and results in the defence this year.

Michael Beauchamp - poor recruit
Scott Jamieson - poor recruit
Liam Reddy - shocking recruit
Shannon Cole - intermittent performances.
Jamie Coyne - average
Pascal Bosschart - average

Simon Colosimo, Clint Bolton, Matt Jurman, Iain Ramsay (full back) Nikolai Topor-Stanley are just some who jumped ship - not all under Vitaslav's leadership but you have to wonder what is going on.

Most of the attacking players who have left scored against Sydney on the weekend!

If Gary Van Egmond can inspire his team to such performances how come Mr Nice Guy has not given Sydney fans one inspiring home performance in three years.

And I don't count finals football all late comebacks - they just get too much practice at late comebacks - one is bound to come off!

Only one Czech Coach of any note in Australia - and she's in Canberra.

Meet the Billionaires throught football....Aussie football of course

The Indonesian based Bakrie group have taken ownership, 100%, of Brisbane Roar.

With Clive Palmer, Tony Sage, Nathan Tinkler and all the Billionaires in and around Sydney FC ownership it can't be too hard for the hard-nosed progressive Aussie businessmen to see how they might get an opportunity to meet and greet and get introduced to some very rich men.

That's a lot of wealth in A-League dressing rooms, grounds right now etc so this should be another stepping stone to enhancing and growing the code and with renewed focus from the FFA we should see the game further progress.

I love the FFA online registration system - 100% of football registrations across Australia in the FFA database eventually, all coaches registered under the new FFA scheme.

You'd have to think slowly but surely we can leverage more dollars into the game as we get more of our "grassroots community" hooked in. And that can only be good for the whole growth of the game.

The football is good right now, even Wellington - but we need further increase in crowds and sponsorship - but you wouldn't think you'd have too many problems selling corporate packages these days would you!

And if we could just get Sydney to put two or three seasons of decent football together we might have further media coverage. After all Sydney loves a winner.

Interesting to see what happens with the Roar in coming years.

Saturday, 4 February 2012

Where now for Cricketer Ellyse Perry?

Can you still really play two sports at the elite level in Australia?

Ellyse Perry thinks so and with great support from Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni over the years she has done so.

But her recent decision to play cricket for Australia and miss the semi and final of the W-League season left me wondering where now for Ellyse?

She's worked hard to perform at the elite level in both sports - making World Cup Squads in both.

But anyone who watched her over the last few years in the W-League would have seen a player who made a huge impact in her first W-League season, a Matilda in waiting it seemed. But despite continuing to perform admirably she has never really achieved that next level.

Ellyse, in my view, should have been a guaranteed starter in every game in the last World Cup - that she wasn't in part was due to her continuing participation in two elite sports.

She simply didn't progress quickly enough, check some of her United team mates progression and Ellyse is no longer the standout she was - ironically at the last World Cup she lost her spot to a 16 year old in Caitlin Ford.

Now the rumours are she walked away from United, or some say she was booted out and who knows where the truth lies - but you have to wonder if you can't play a semi or final for your team then who will recruit you under such conditions next W-League season?

Maybe one of the lesser teams would be happy - but a title chasing team, I wonder?

Similarly if she'd played football and missed the cricket internationals how would cricket view that.

While all the celebrations were happening in Canberra last week it was sad to see Ellyse Perry unable to be part due to her amazing talents. She'd contributed much over the last few seasons - when she'd played!

I feel she is going to have to make a choice between the two sports - I could be wrong - and one senses with the Matildas lack of football in coming months the choice is made for her.

It's cricket!

Canberra United: Why we were the best!

Les Murray on SBS's website wrote an article about the W-League coming of age this year - presumably because he watched the Grand Final and enjoyed it. Apparently the league is full of players with great technical skills this year!

Rubbish Les - not much has changed. The point being the standard from the top few teams has always been pretty high and remains so. So thanks Les but no thanks!

Canberra United won the league this year and deservedly so. Unbeaten throughout the season new Coach Jitka Klimkova gets a well-deserved wrap.

United have been strong in every A-League season, due in the main to CEO Heather Reid's passion for the club and desire to go beyond the other clubs, particularly regional clubs, in terms of salary payments and innovations.

It is noted that Canberra is the only team without an A-League side sapping all the funds and maybe that is to our advantage. Certainly hasn't harmed our crowds.

Robbie Hooker (now Socceroos Assistant Coach) Ray Junna (AIS Coach) lead the team in the first three years. And now Jitka; who's training schedule and attacking philosophy puts her Czech mate at Sydney FC to shame.

Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes, Ellie Brush, Lydia Williams, Sally Shipard, Caitlin Munoz, Grace Gill and Jenny Bisset were some who have played under all of these coaches and it seems developed and improved. Who wouldn't have improved?

Interestingly all Coaches played all of the above players in the same position for each of their terms in charge. Only Jitka had the luxury of pushing Caitlin Munoz into midfield due to the new attacking signings this season.

So, Jitka inherited an increasingly mature group of players already fiercely competitive and players who have learnt under quality coaches.

In Jitka they had another quality coach.

Add in Michelle Heyman, goalscoring freak, signed since the Mariners went defunct a couple of years ago, and US import Taryn Hemmings, one of the signings of the season, and the team was always going to be hard to beat.

In my view Brisbane and Sydney were not so hot this season. Lacking a little in cohesion; in Sydney's case despite an attacking squad, and in Brisbane the forward firepower was not the Roar of old.

Sarah Walsh and Heather Garriock - key Sydney players in the past are no longer at their peak.

Remove injured Lauren Colthorpe and Elise Kellond Knight from the Roar and again a team is lesser.

United deserved to win. As exciting an attacking line-up as you could ever hope for.

When Caitlin Munoz or Jenny Bisset had the ball at their feet you could almost hear the drools as they looked up.

In front was the pacy and skilful Ashleigh Sykes, goal scoring machine Michelle Heyman, Queensland young flyer the quickly improving Hayley Razo, add in the late addition of Emma Kete and of course the supremely talented, highly skilful and pacy American Taryn Hemmings and which defence was ever going to stop them?

No-one!

This truly was a great Canberra United side - a side it should be said that had developed under Robbie Hooker and Ray Junna. Jitka to her credit took the team to another level.

And a note on United keeper Lydia Williams - prone to the occasional gaff in previous years she secured the Matildas spot over the last 12 months - and has turned in a fantastic season between the sticks. Early days but if she remains in this sort of form - and again she continues to improve - Lydia must be in the top three keepers in the World.

A more confident, athletic keeper I've yet to see in the W-League.

Controlled, attacking, fast football that was United under Jitka, our Czech Coach. Viteslav eat your heart out. Les you need to watch more W-League.

Sydney FC: That was nice...but bloody boring!

Viteslea Lavicka is leaving!

Well is he leaving or was he dumped? Guess it doesn't matter.

Has a manager in Australia, in Sydney, ever been given such an easy ride.

The media in Australia all write and tweet about the guy being a lovely bloke but what about his coaching, how will he remembered?

Like Pierre Littbarski he won a Championship - unlike Littbarski's one year era I can't say Vitaslav had an attacking bone in his body. Terry McFlynn v Dwight Yorke. Who would you prefer to pull the strings in midfield?

The year Sydney won the title, albeit on penalties, his defence was the key. The next year he lost half his defence including his goalkeeper and since then they've been pretty poor at best, rubbish at worst.

As an attacking team they produced little of interest in the three years...some good signs this year....but then their defence/keeper has thrown away easy points.

But the reality is Mr Nice Guy was given three years, three years and he still has a shadow of an attacking team.

For Sydney FC it's been a disaster. Poor crowds, woeful football.

Don't believe me? Do you turn on Fox just dying to watch Sydney FC?

As your answer is no - I must be right.

Glad to see the nice guy gets to go home.

Monday, 23 January 2012

Victory has no Muscat - it's that simple

Melbourne Victory were worse than ever - and yet that's despite changing the coach.

Kevin Muscat has been told to work on the defence!

He'd be better doing a Paul Scholes and get himself back on the pitch.

Adrian Leijer and Roddie Vargas are not just weak, but have been exposed all season and how is Leijer a leader.

Another shocking defensive performance from the Captain yesterday.

With the midfield looking to Leigh Broxham for domination and control, Jacob Burns must have been laughing his boots off. Probably even put his shinpads away.

Perth simply destroyed the Victory. Defensive blunders came thick and fast. And Victory looked a complete mess.

No link play, no ball retention and incredibly exposed by the wonderful and oft criticised on this blog, Evan Berger.

A full back at Victory - his energy and skill perhaps much more to offer in a forward left-side role. Time will tell but he had his best and most exciting A-League game ever yesterday! Nice one Evan, great to see.

The bunch of old pros at Perth looked great for 45 minutes, but at 3-0 up they knew their job and legs were done and eased back.

Just as well.
Victory were simply embarrassing, Leijer was worse. Is that the Coaches fault if your Captain and defence are so poor?

Honeymoon over Jim?

Record crowd for Canberra United

The result was important - but the attendance of 1750 at the weekend semi final was a record for Canberra United, has all associated with football in Canberra delighted.

In fact the crowd increased by over 100% from the previous game - could the same happen for this weeks final?

Brisbane will take on United in the W-League final this weekend and it should be a cracker.

Local talk is more about what time you'll have to get their to secure one of the decreasing number of available seats!

462 - that's how many seats we have, and with an increasing membership, media and sponsors allocated seats there are hardly any left for the fans!

1.30pm - that's the word if you want to actually get a seat at the Grand Final next week. Alternatively a spot on the bank should be available but we all love a winner so who knows if the crowd could swell to capacity. A capacity of just 3,500!

Australian football media: Weekend highlights were in Canberra?

A bloggers role, in football, is perhaps simply to call and comment on things as they see them.

Free of entrepreneur "vision" or the paymasters check I can call it as I see it. Simple as that.

For too long Australian football media has produced unscintillating football reportage. Many still are uninspiring but with Fox on board, more bloggers we have an increasing varied and slowly but improving media.

Still we have dross and this weekend made me weep just a tad.

First check out this Tony Palumbo videi - I probably don't need to say more but would you put your story to air if you produced something for Youtube of this quality never mind SBS?

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/2188312569/A-League-A-nalysis

Do you think in 2012 we could only use material of a professional standard, with something worth saying.

Then we have Robbie Slater with his continuing bewildering attack and analysis of SBS journo Craig Foster. Enough about that except to say as Robbie has seemingly and rightly lost his key role at Fox, although continues as a match commentator for now, maybe this is Robbie's desire to remain important. His ego has always been on display when he has been on-air, often endearing it seems to have taken over his commentary pieces.

To his detriment.

David Davutovic chipped in with a rather lame piece on the Women's game discussing how the women's game (yawn) has come such a long way - ahead of the Victory's semi-final. A strange piece given we've had five years or more of hugely increases in quality and media coverage of the women's game.

But it's not all bad - the Canberra Times had fantastic coverage of the United players leading into the semi-final. Each story was interesting had real information on players, tactics or their football journey. David take note!

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Nearpost poddie goes where Fox Sports FC dare to tread. We talk Robbie!

Nick Cumpston, Paddy Bordier and Lucy Zelic talk Aussie football

We've got Aussie football covered. All the news. Socceroos, A-League and W-League: all the footy news and talk. How many football poddies only cover Aussie football?

We are clearly Australia's number one football poddie, apart from all the others, We discuss all the news from Australian football. What more could you wish for from the Australian media?

Download.
or play right from your computer....

Canberra's biggest football game in years

When was the last time a Canberra team got to a football final, a home final?

Not the Cosmos - remember them?

So when Canberra United walk out for their home semi this weekend Canberra sports fans will be watching history in the making.

And while the Melbourne Victory will make a very tough opponent, United under new Czech Coach Jitka Klimkova have lifted to a new level this season.

Are they good enough to go one more?

The strike force is better than ever. US star Taryn Hemmings and young Queensland winger Hayley Ruso are both pacy, skilled and quality additions to Ash Sykes and the goalscoring machine Michelle Heyman.

Caitlin Munoz will be a big loss in midfield, but Jenny Bisset has caused many an eyebrow to rise this season as the local girl fulfills her huge potential. Isn't it great to see?

Sally Shipard and Grace Gill will give the team plenty of experience and skill, but it could be Jenny with her touch and shrewd passes that could unleash the United forwards.

Ellie Brush and the ever improving and fan favourite Caitlin Cooper have had strong seasons and Ellyse Perry and Nicole Sykes are phenomenal speed merchants out wide. Their athleticism is wonderful to watch.

Lydia Williams has had her best season ever. And that says something. Her confidence and shot stopping brilliance lift the whole support, never mind the team.

It's going to be another great day for football in Canberra - we don't have enough do we - but win or lose United have made history.

Enjoy the game, could be a nailbiter - C U in Green!

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