By Adrian Musolino
January 29th 2009 @ 3:01am
Related coverage
Should the A-League bother with a final series?
The A-League is often described as a developing child, still in its infancy. This does give us the opportunity to learn from other leagues, but also for us to create a competition unique to Australia. While some have questioned whether the A-League should bother with a final series, it is quintessentially Australian.
The first past the post system used in Leagues around the world works in countries in which football is established and, in most cases, they have a knockout Cup competition that delivers a Grand Final type match, such as the FA Cup final.
In a country like Australia, in which the A-League struggles to maintain attention from the media and casual sporting fans, the finals campaign allows the A-League to gain significant momentum with a climactic round of matches culminating in one single match to decide the champion.
Grand Finals are part of Australia’s sporting culture, part of the other major codes, and for the A-League, a chance to take centre-stage for one weekend with a showpiece event that, hopefully, showcases the best of the League to an audience greater than just another regular season match.
The A-League final will never have the heritage and tradition akin to the AFL’s great day in September, especially when it alternates the location of the Grand Final.
But it can build its own traditions and folklore.
Already A-League Grand Finals have given us a 41,000 plus crowd to see the inaugural champions, Sydney FC crowned, Melbourne’s 6-0 demolition which included some Archie Thompson heroics and Kristian Sarkies planting a smooch on John Howard’s head!
The regular season alone would not be able to gain more attention if we used the first past the post system, and with the mainstream press slow to jump on the A-League’s bandwagon, it is easy to envisage a situation where the importance of League position and individual results would be lost.
The NSL also tinkered with the finals series, occasionally reverting to the first past the post system. But the fact remains that the largest crowds and biggest games of the now defunct league were the Grand Finals.
The problem with the final series is rewarding the team who finishes the league at the very top.
The FFA is right to give some importance to the Premiership by awarding the victor one of the two Asian Champions League spots. And in this regard the A-League has one up on other codes that don’t have a similar reward to give.
However, with the games staggered over the weekend, the 28,905 Victory fans were robbed of the chance to celebrate their Premiership win and return to Asia.
The only footage the media could show of Ernie Merrick and Kevin Muscat was the pair walking in an empty Telstra Dome, along with a press conference.
How much better would it have looked for the League to have the parallel images of 28,000 plus fans celebrating with their team while Adelaide United players and fans scratched their heads at what could have been?
The FFA can have two bites at the cherry by making the final round of the regular season an event in itself, with a worthy prize to the first past the post after the home and away rounds, and then move into the finals series with momentum and capitalise on Australia’s love affair with Grand Finals.
If the A-League is a developing child, it still has some things to learn from its fully developed siblings around the world, such as not staggering final round games.
But it must also stay true to Australia’s sporting traditions and culture.
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Dave said | January 29th 2009 @ 6:01am | Report comment
There would have been more than 29,000 if it was the deciding match and yes would have been nice to know at the end of the game and celebrate. Not too upset we couldn’t knowing finals were to come.
The Oz way is finals (same as USA post season games) and if you want to draw on some mainstream general sport fan support you go with the local flavour…nothing wrong with that.
MVs reward for top spot of ACL and 2nd final at home is good enough with of course the PP.
sheek said | January 29th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
Yeah, you gotta have a finals series. Maybe some tinkering still needed. Do we need home & away semis, for example? Why not one semi at home of highest on ladder, i.e., 1 vs 4 & 2 vs 3 at home of 1 & 2.
dasilva said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:13am | Report comment
I think the A-leagues got the right balance with the First past the post vs finals
There is more prestige on the finals due to traditional Australian culture that loves a final series.
However there is a degree of prestige on the premiership (which does not have minor in front of the name) that’s not present in other codes due to traditional football culture and a bit of ACL incentive.
Kazama said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:19am | Report comment
I agree with the above posters, the finals series should stay. It might not be a football tradition but it is an Australian tradition. We have to do things our own way and cater for the wishes of our crowds.
ACL qualification, the double chance, the right to host the second leg of the major semi and the Premier’s Plate are enough of a reward for finishing on top of the table IMO.
NUFCMVFC said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:32am | Report comment
Generally it does need to stay because of the extra people it brings and the publicity and obviously gives a flavour to the competition that most Australians are familiar with
Personally I do think more attention and prestige needs to be given to the Premiership though, keeping in mind we are part of the football world
It is a bit of a balancing act
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Yes, for Australia a final 4 series is warranted.. But never, ever, to be increased to 8 when the league expands up to 14-16 clubs under any circumstances.. It should always remain a 4 team final playoff series to keep a sense of creditability about the league.. We must never allow the rediculous, 8 final systems like they have in the AFL or the ARL to occur in the HAL.. They only make a mockery of the competitions ..
However, personally for me, the real champions, is the team that finish first past the post.. More focus, and prize money should be attached to the Premiership Plate .. A better, and more significant trophy perhaps ..
~~~~~~~
KB
Redb said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
KB,
You may view the AFL as a mock competition but it’s Grand Final, the biggest stage was played at the MCG in front of a crowd of 100,000.
I actually agree with you on the final 8, the main finals games though are the two Preliminary Finals and the Grand Final and they each create enormous interest with fans. Mock the final 8, Ok, not the competition or just you sound like your AFL bashing (again).
Redb
Adrian Musolino said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
ATTENTION A-LEAGUE FANS!
If you support one of the four clubs in the final series and want to share with the world your love of the club please email me at adrian.musolino@gmail.com ASAP.
Cheers.
Carry on…
Adrian Musolino said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
NUFCMVFC and Koala Bear, I agree, more needs to be made of the premiership plate by making the final round more of an event, a trophy presentation perhaps etc.
JB said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
“Already A-League Grand Finals have given us a 41,000 plus crowd to see the inaugural champions crowned in a 6-0 demolition”
What??
That sounds like a mixture of seasons 1 & 2.
Season 1: 41,000 – SFS – Sydney beat CCM 1-0.
Season 2: Around 55,000 – Docklands – Melbourne beat Adeaide 6-0
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Redb,
What is your weight 250 klios…? I might have to adjust my line accoringly ….
I use to go down to the banks of the Currumbin Creek (river) and cast a line into it and wait for a long, long time for a bite .. But I have to say, here on the ROAR, it only takes a few minutes and it’s much, more, more fun…
~~~~~~~~
KB
Adrian Musolino said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
JB, that slipped through editing. It has been changed now.
Redb said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
KB,
Ok, got me ya ol’ bastaaard.
Redb
Rob said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
Redb,
Ah, I think you might have missed something. KB wasn’t having a crack at the AFL per se, but only the rediculous situation where the first 8 teams (half the competition) play in a finals series. I think it’s ludicrous too, and makes a mockery of the league. It’s not unique to AFL, though, as the Rugby League does it too, and it’s equally farcical. I’m no fan of either sport, but I think the formula is wrong. But this isn’t unique to Australia.
In Brazilian football, a couple of years ago my team, Grêmio, was, regrettably, in the Serie B, and there were three phases of competition before the promotion places were decided. A whole home-and-away series between all 24 teams, then the top 8 played in two groups of 4, home and away, and the top two in each group went on to a final group of 4, where the top two were promoted. Sound complicated? You bet! And Grêmio won the final group in memorable fashion, with 7 players on the pitch in the final game against Nautico, who had 10, in the final few minutes. A certain young starlet named Anderson (now Man United) ran from inside his own half, dribbled about 5 defenders and slotted home past the keeper. Sensational. If you want to see it, look up “Batalha dos Aflitos” on Youtube. Oh, and all this drama occurred after the Grêmio keeper had saved a penalty.
I completely agree with KB that football should never allow the finals series to be expanded beyond 4 teams.
And Adrian, one way to set up a more important final day of the regular season would be to play all the games together, and have a trophy ready to roll at the end of the match. That would make all the difference. Although I’m not inventing the wheel here, because a couple of others said this here already.
And sorry about the Grêmio rant. I just can’t help myself… Grêmio Imortal!!!!
Redb said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Rob,
The great advantage of a final 8 is the two prelim finals, both of which make a perfect set-up for the Grand Final. However, I agree at least 2 of the finals in the early rounds are there just to make up the numbers, good for TV revenue, etc.
Remember currently, the A League has 8 teams and yet has allowed 4 teams to make the finals, effectively half the competition same as AFL and NRL with 16 teams.
FYI…the VFL with 12 teams had a final 5 for many years. With 14 teams it went to 6 finals places and then with 16 teams it increased to 8finals places.
Redb
Kazama said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Rob: “…have a trophy ready to roll at the end of the match.”
So if we had a situation where three teams at three different venues could win the plate then we would need to have three copies of the trophy made to allow for this. Seems a bit of a stretch to me, as well as maybe damaging the reputation of the trophy (anyone who has had the opportunity to hold or even have a photo with a famous trophy would know what I mean).
BTW, loved the clip. Worth watching for the fantastic commentary alone!
Finno said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
I think the final series is a must and the first past the post being awarded the ACL berth is good.
Maybe 3 team in the finals with the 1st team past the post to go directly through to the final with 2nd and 3rd to play off for the other spot. It is a great way for the A -League to generate money and media focus. With the inclusion of 10 team I will be interested to see if they leave it at 4 team final series.
I still think we need an FFA cup knock out comp for every team in Australia. With the A- League teams all getting automatic inclusion into the top 16. Regions play off for a spot then state play off. It would possible raise the profile of football an generate more interest at a grass root levels.
The top 16 could include 3 NSW Teams, 3 VIC 3 QLD 3 SA , 2 WA, 1 TAS , 1 NT.
There is little chance of these teams winning but strange things happen as we have seen every year in the FA cup in the England. It does give great local coverage and will generally media attention when a minnow beats Sydney FC (example only). You even give these clubs a small amount of money to help with travel. Even prize money for getting through.
Michael C said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Rob -
it’s all ridiculous, whether it’s 4 from 8 or 8 from 16, it’s still the ‘top’ 50% into the finals. Very, very, rarely, it HAS happened in this ‘modern’ 16 side era of the AFL that an 8th placed team had 10 wins (and either 12 losses or 1 draw and 11 losses). Normally this was a tight tussle with teams in 9th and 10th to play what invariably will be just one extra match.
In soccer – - with draws – you of course can more easily have a team make the finals with less wins than matches lost……..
reality though – - in a crowded sports market place – - a grand final on a regular weekend might become a regular ‘fixture’ in the broader sportsfans mindset.
But – no finals means greater capacity to expand regular season for a 10-12 team comp.
I still don’t ‘get’ that there are these 2 legged finals in the first ’round’ of finals, after which, it’s all or nothing matches.
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
It’s always interesting to read people’s views on finals, and how to work out who is the champion, etc. We all proffer views, but we’re kidding ourselves if we truly think there is one answer – or if there is even an answer.
For instance, having a world cup every 4 years has no greater merit than determining the world champion as whoever is sitting top of the pops on Christmas day, or new year’s eve – or any other day one cares to mention.
But we persist with a WC because of everything that it offers – which is far more interesting than checking the Top 40 once a month.
Similarly, determining the champion as last man standing at the end of the season, has no greater merit than letting 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or even 12 teams slug it out over 2 – 5 weeks at the end of the season proper.
1. It’s far more interesting; and
2. There’s a lot to be said for separating the boys from the men when all the pressure is on to perform at one crucial moment.
Now, we are used to witnessing plenty of cultural cringe in Australia, especially in the pages of the Roar, but there are plenty of reasons for continuing with what we do presently, and most have been covered by other posters.
I will say this, for those who suffer from cultural cringe, be aware that:
1. most leagues have now developed finals series to allow lower tier clubs to play off for promotion (excitement and money is pretty much the reason) – or even to play off for spots in the CL; and
2. even the EPL has put on the agenda the possibility of a finals series to determine its champion.
So, rather than suffering from cultural cringe, you should feel proud about the fact that Australian football (and you can interpret that in both ways) is 130 years ahead of the rest of the world.
My personal view? I’m gradually forming the opinion that it doesn’t really matter what percentage ends up in the finals. With the AFL going to an 18 team comp soon enough, Choco Williams has put up a proposal of 12 teams going into a finals system, where it’s knock out all the way to the final game – and I think the idea has plenty of merit.
Similarly, in the A-League, when we get to 12 teams in a couple of years time, I see no problem with a top 8, and making it all knock out till the final 2.
If people can move away from this mental block of 50% somehow being in any way meaningful, they will be able to adapt quite readily to a finals system that allows 66% of the teams, afterall, there’s no law against it!
Albert Ross said | January 29th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
As a matter of interest which code developed the finals system first? How has this system been modified?
DaveW said | January 29th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
If the FFA responds to the general consensus and plays the final round games at the same time, we’ll have the absolute best of both worlds. Finals football, which always cranks up a gear, plus, going on the last two seasons, the potential to generate hype ala the final day in the Premier League title/top 4/relegation allotment where all sorts of possibilities fluctuate as the matches pan out. Perhaps pay TV is the major hurdle to this? Completely agree that it’s a great decision by FFA to give the Premiers Plate winners a spot in Asia, rather than just the grand finalists.
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
I don’t know the full history of finals systems per se, but there is the following wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_VFL_Final_systems
It says: The perceived need for a structured final system was, perhaps, the most important single reason that eight senior clubs broke away from the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1896, and formed the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897.
Between 1877 and 1896, the VFA awarded the premiership to the team finishing first at the end of the season.
Prior to 1877, ladders were kept informally, but since there was no strict fixturing, there was no formal way of determining who was the best apart from the media proclaiming one team or the other as the best in a particular year.
Robbos said | January 29th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
WOW, Pip I was getting worried, i was agreeing with alot of your posts lately.
However, I totally disagree with you here. What might work for AFL (Redb, not having a go at the AFL here) might not work for football. In AFL the dominant team generally wins, so an 8 team or even 12 team finals system will work because generally the better teams will win thru.
Now for football, this might not be the case as (love it or hate it & I love it) the dominant team does not always win. However over a whole season the better teams will end up at the top of the ladder, eg MV, AU & QR are definitely the best 3 sides in the competition this year. I agree with some other bloggers that the Premiership should get more attention & credit.
However I also agree that the finals series should also stay as this creates the romance as luck may play big part in the romance or ill luck in the tragedy. The final series also allows the teams something to play for if a side is so dominant as MV was in V2 & the premiership was over along time ago.
So I think the FFA has nearly got it right, the premiership (needs promoting has a huge achievement) & a finals series that luck can play a big part providing you with a champion of the top teams.
Rob said | January 29th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Kazama,
The commentary is sensational, especially if you’re a Grêmio fan! There are some classics like, “Anderson, the comet”, “Anderson the Formula 1, It’s the Imortal Grêmio, The heroic Grêmio…” and others. Even better is how the commentator screams Gremio’s keeper’s name after he saves the penalty: “Galato Galaaaaaaaatoooo GAlato galato Galaaaaaaattooooooooo saving Grêmio!!!!” By the way, if you saw the one that I did, you would have heard the commenatry from a radio station from Porto Alegre, and the comentator is clearly a grêmio fan. This is the link, just in case: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ismw4Hjvj_s
Just sensational. I arrived in Brazil just a day after the game, and it was all everyone was talking about, even in São Paulo, where Grêmio is respected but generally not liked too much. If only I’d arrived a day earlier… sigh.
As for the possibility of 3 teams having the chance to win the plate on the final day, why not have 2 extra copies. It’s unlikely, but possible. They’ve had extra copies of the Premier League trophy made for just such scenarios in the past, so why not do it here?
And in Brazil, they had a finals series until quite recently. The first past the post points system is only about 5-10 years old there, and there’s always a debate about the value of the points system that goes on. So much so that this year, São Paulo’s captain, Rogerio Ceni, spoke about how awesome it was that with 5 games to go, there were at least 4 teams in the running for the Brazilian championship. Stupid São Paulo won, of course, beating Grêmio by 2 points. Dammit. I just wanted to make the point that Australia isn’t unique in having finals for their league, but in places like Brazil they have recently moved away from finals towards a points system, figuring they have enough knockout titles, with the state championships and the Brazilian Cup.
DaveW. I agree with you. Final day fixtures all played simultaneously, with a finals series after that. That would be all good.
Redb said | January 29th 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
Robbos,
for the Premiership to take on more significance it would need a higher financial prize, but for fans they would still think the job is not done until the Grand Final is played. I accept that might just be an Australian view.
Redb
Mick of Newie said | January 29th 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
As someone who sat through a victorious grand final for the Jets last year (was it onyl last year) I cannot imagine winning the league any other way.
I would be happy to give ACL spts to first 2 past the post. The GF winner would stil lbe significant.
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
I don’t think it’s that important to have concurrently played games in the last week of the season. The AFL doesn’t and I don’t recall it being an issue or reading any criticism about it. Am I wrong about this?
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Pauly
I can’t recall either, but the situation is a bit different. In the AFL, nothing but bragging rights has ever been linked with finishing the season in first- it carries with it no silverware, prize money, or anything – in fact, trivia buffs would be hard pressed to name the teams who finished on top of the ladder 40 or more years ago.
But winning the grand final, well, we all remember that!
In the A-League, and quite rightly so, more prestige attaches to finishing first for a host of reasons – so the concurrent finish to the season should definitely be looked at.
Just as an example – when MV defeated the Nix on Friday – it meant a certain top 2 finish, but all other celebrations had to be held off. By the time the premiership was decided 48 hours later, in quite dramatic circumstances I might add, it was more a “phew”, rather than a “yay us!”.
I agree with another poster that it’s very important being able to celebrate there and then (give or take 5 minutes) – the Dome would have gone off if that had been the case.
Joe FC said | January 29th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Yes Adrian the finals series is quintessentially Australian and the consensus seems to be that we keep it. But with more teams meaning a longer season do we need to shorten it, thus adopt the format used in Rugby’s Super 14 or the 3rd promotion spot for the EPL?
Millster said | January 29th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
I’m getting over my dislike of A-League finals. I used to think that a knock-out comp (whether one or two legged) should be totally separate and in the tradition of a Cup competion as has been mentioned earlier in this thread. But now I accept that the ‘finals’ are an Aussie tradition, and my football purism is sufficiently satisfied by one of the Asian spots being granted to the regular season premiers.
An idea – if we have the A-League plus an all-inclusive broad Australian Cup down the track, why not schedule the Cup final such that it coincides with the end of the A-League regular season. Then a ‘prize’ for winning the Cup could be entry into the A-League post-season (with the prize of that being the second Asian spot) under certain conditions which I’ll try to detail below (sorry if there are flaws but this is a new thought):
With a 10-team A-League and an Aussie Cup, the A-League’s top 3 would go into the finals and the 4th spot would go to the Cup winner. If the Cup winner is also a top 3 A-League club, the ‘Cup spot’ goes to the best performing team in the Cup who is not an A-League top 3 team (this will always mean inclusion of a club which has at minimum made a Cup semi final, as there will, of course, be 4 of those involved).
When the A-League moves to 12 teams a switch to ‘top 5 + 1 Cup’ or ‘top 4 + 2 Cup’ might be worth looking at to create a 6-team finals which continues to provide a balance of reward reward between A-League ladder performance and Cup success.
And finally one of the reasons why these proposals are interesting to me is that, though perhaps not fully thought out, they do include a good selection of teams in the post season (benefits as argued by the ‘big finals series’ proponents) while not simply drawing the line at the 50% mark on the ladder to determine finallists. In fact my system is more like the top third of the league get in and then the Cup places are an alternative route to participate (and of course give the Cup a real meaning).
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Millster
I like where you’re heading with this – there are a zillion variations that are possible, but generally, the idea is worth looking at.
Does this mean that a non-A-League team might make it into the finals? That idea is a bit out there!
I’d probably only favour leaving one spot open for the Cup winner (or equivalent).
In a 14 team comp (which I’m sure we’ll have within the decade), you can have a top 7 plus 1 type of idea – then proceed with a straight knock-out finals format.
The main problem there is that in a knock out format, the top team quite rightly deserves to play the 8th seeded team, for obvious reasons – if the Cup winner was not one of the top 7 teams – does that mean they are the 8th seeded team?
All of a sudden the top team is having to play a team that has already proven their worth in the knock-out format – very interesting!
Millster said | January 29th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Pip – absolutely yes.
The mentality would have to change from “A-League finals” to “Australia football post-season” as the potential for a non-HAL team to be involved would exist. I think this is good though, and the link from the hypothetical Cup to a post-season title and potential spot in Asia is to me really interesting.
In a 14 team HAL I’d surely go 6+2, but that’s just me and my psychological block at the 50% point for finals participation based simply on ladder position….
And yes the issue of the ’seeding’ of the Cup winner is interesting. Though if they are a HAL team they are obviously lower than the ‘normal’ ladder cut-off, and if they are a state league team one would argue that they are a level down in quality despite – as you say – a great Cup run having seen them achieve their participation in that particular year. The finals need to be set up so that the first fixture (or pair) is not sudden death for the top seeded club anyway.
Slippery Jim said | January 29th 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
No.
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Millster
yes, I think you’re right with what you say in the last para – the seeding sorts itself out quite neatly.
SJ
heh, heh – concise – you should work to maintain that quality in all of your posts!
Have you got the latest fantasy league scores? With FM09 taking up all of my time at the moment, I’m struggling to find a spare minute to have a look!
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Coincidentally, on the subject of how I felt about winning a second premiership, please check out this 442 blog:
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/95112,blog-thoughts-on-a-second-premiership.aspx
Greg Russell said | January 29th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Adrian gives “Australia’s love affair with Grand Finals” as a reason for the A-league having a finals series. Indeed this is true.
However I think there is another equally important reason. In most other parts of the world, and in particular in European countries, there is a Cup competition that captures the imagination of the public and runs in parallel with a league competition. Quite clearly the cup competition plays the role of the A-league finals in Australia.
So a potent reason for having A-league finals is that there is no Cup competition in Australian.
I for one am extremely sceptical of the FFA’s plan to introduce a Cup competition in Australia – we simply don’t have the gradations to make a Cup competition a success. But should the Cup competition ever be introduced, then I hope that the A-League switches to being a round-robin only, with the Cup competition taking the place of the finals.
Millster said | January 29th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Pip – actually I was thinking that SJ should give MC some lessons…
phil said | January 29th 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
Leave the final series, change the trophy though
Slippery Jim said | January 29th 2009 @ 4:51pm | Report comment
Your wish is my command, Pippu:
EPL
# Team Manager GW Total
1 Chelsenal United AFC Slippery Jim 76 1304
2 Barkly St End Pippu d’Angelo 67 1222
3 EEW TIGERS FC United 79 1208
4 FC Hutcho Van Hutcho 81 1136
5 Samps Champs Sampson Obrian 47 1127
6 Derby Dazzlers The Heads 59 1123
7 Gunnerwho Matthew Potter 54 1122
8 The Gooners Quashi . 57 1116
9 Brian Fantana L Mac 48 1105
10 Beni’s Submarines Beni d’Angelo 80 1105
11 Pirate Ninja Posse Paul Kavalec 77 1105
12 Misty County old misty 48 1095
13 aussiereds Chris of Brisbane 38 1091
14 Smackdown Force . Cheech 58 1081
15 Daves dream team david bishop 44 1061
16 A Whale’s Vagina J B 33 1038
17 riverplatejpa paul pallett 54 1027
18 1860 Bad Endorph FC The Silent Flogger 46 1016
19 All stars Nigel Crampton 46 1003
20 builder Josh Gallagher 41 995
21 Flog FC Ben Willing 52 983
22 The Froggatteers Joe Lloyd 63 974
23 Sitting onthe throne 44 969
24 I r serious cat D Jebella 40 958
25 jose’s hemorroids Ivan Kurucz 34 924
26 MD untied Md Bay 12 60 900
27 Bogan Villa Jimbo R 29 898
28 Martin Tyler’s Voice Matt Cocking 41 893
29 Zadkids 11 Robbie Da Silva 48 861
A-League:
# Team Manager Game round Total
1 Bunyip City Adam Brzozowski 53 832
2 riverplatejpa Paul Pallett 41 818
3 James_FC James Gosbell 30 815
4 Forza Ravens Taylor Carrad 39 813
5 Flog FC Ben Willing 43 801
6 Wes Mantooth L Mac 26 788
7 Daves dream team-II david bishop 26 779
8 FC Gobouten Gobou Sama 49 764
9 Stavros S M 48 764
10 Silver Smurfers Slippery Jim 46 753
11 jose’s hemorroids ivan Kurucz 42 750
12 Woodserelli FC Matthew Wood 55 743
13 Degei D Jebella 25 741
14 Hutcho FC Van Hutcho 40 740
15 Misty Forest old misty 39 740
16 Marty’s Allstars Martin O’Connor 59 729
17 Smackdown . Cheech 30 720
18 bullcreek meese jordan mercer 57 714
19 Barkly St End Pippu d’Angelo 36 714
20 Colourblind FC Md Bay 12 28 689
21 Samps Champs Sampson Obrian 32 682
22 Juggernauts Erin Morrow 45 667
23 RickRolled United FC Paul Kavalec 35 663
24 E.J. Sth. Coast FC. Edward Jay 34 593
25 Derby Athletic Rob Da Silva 18 554
26 Uncle Sam’s Army Josh Solorio 24 505
27 Bogan Villa Jimbo R 27 486
28 aussiereds Chris Rodwell 19 473
29 NEWTOWN MAGIC MARTIN GODFREY 29 464
30 Fozzies Ties Matt Cocking 14 391
Pippinu said | January 29th 2009 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Bloody hell sj – your lead has blown out to 82 points!
Worse still, who’s this bloke catching up to me fast?!
Adrian Musolino said | January 29th 2009 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Just a reminder, if you support one of the four clubs in the final series and want to share with the world your love of the club in a leading football magazine please email me at adrian.musolino@gmail.com ASAP.
Cheers.
Carry on…
Slippery Jim said | January 29th 2009 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
Pippu, I’m going on holiday for a month in March, so I want a nice cushion of points to tide me over while I am away
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
you’re not going to bore everyone wth the fantasy stuff are you… ? keep it in the SMH flog…
~~~~~~~
KB
Slippery Jim said | January 29th 2009 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
Feel free to avert your eyes, KB – I was merely responding to Pippu’s request…looks like RedB’s not the only fish biting
Albert Ross said | January 29th 2009 @ 5:12pm | Report comment
>> In the AFL, nothing but bragging rights has ever been linked with finishing the season in first- it >>carries with it no silverware, prize money, or anything – in fact, trivia buffs would be hard pressed to >>name the teams who finished on top of the ladder 40 or more years ago.
Yeah they don’t even get a place in the “Asian Footie Championship”
>>But winning the grand final, well, we all remember that!
What’s this “we” Pipeface?
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
“Adrian Musolino said | Today | Report comment
Just a reminder, if you support one of the four clubs in the final series and want to share with the world your love of the club in a leading football magazine please email me at adrian.musolino@gmail.com ASAP.
Cheers.
Carry on…”
Carry on… ?
Project Runway reference or movie series? If the latter then you left out which movie it was.
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:26pm | Report comment
Sorry did I miss something? Pipeface????
thinker said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:35pm | Report comment
Why do people seem to think (or want) they that when Australia gets a Cup that the finals go out the window. Since every other league in aus is in Autum/Winter, the only thing that the FFA cup will be replacing is the PSC and thats it.
Finals are great, Infact its time for a double legged GF It would be epic win for both set of fans, the FFA and Foxtel
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
Double legged?? Initially I thought you meant womens league, cos men have a middle leg. But I hear you now, double legged, added revenue, the added drama of a possible penalty shoot out etc.
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 7:57pm | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
Hey Redb.?.. Oh .!.!. I see now what you’re up too…. 
I would if it didn’t appear in my mail box so prominent… The only thing Redb and I agree on; that’s why he does not post on the SMH flog anymore ….
~~~~~~~~
KB
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
KB wasn’t having a crack at the AFL
Rob,
.. It works like a beaut…!.!
thanks for the support lad … But I must confess; I was trying out my new AFL fishing rod with its 250 kilo breaking strain ….
~~~~~~~~~
KB
jimbo said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:19pm | Report comment
KB,
I’ve always found if you use the right bait in Port Phillip Bay, especially around the St Kilda area, you’ll always get a tug on the end of your rod.
jimbo said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:26pm | Report comment
Is the FIFA World Cup first past the post or decided on goal difference.
The FA Cup?
The European Champions League?
The Asian Cup or Asian Champions League?
SuuuuperBowl?
Olympics?
World Cup Qualifiers decided on for and against?
SInce when is a final unique to the Australian sports culture?
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
Jimbo,
Port Phillip Bay .?.. Maaatey we ain’t after mullet affected with Dioxin … come up to the CRSL and I can show you the catch of the day… served up on a platter for the GC17 lads…
~~~~~~~~~
KB
jimbo said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
. . . and a bucket of big red Fraser Island prawns and Doris’ fish fingers . . .
Maayte, I’m with you now.
Slippery Jim said | January 29th 2009 @ 8:45pm | Report comment
The problem I have with our main competition being decided on a finals system is it does not reward the best team, merely the luckiest. I like my champions to be truly the best team over the season, not just jag the title because they hit a good vein of form over the last couple of weeks, or manage to have everyone fit for the finals series or some other fortunate happenstance.
Adrian Musolino said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:00pm | Report comment
Jimbo, most of those are specifically knockout competitions and in this case I am referring to our domestic leagues compared to other football leagues around the world.
jimbo said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:01pm | Report comment
SJ,
MV already has the Premiers plate for finishing top of the regular season and our heartiest congratulations.
.
No matter how lucky they are – the Jets, Glory, Phoenix and SFC can’t win the final.
Only the top teams qualify for the finals series, so it is biased towards the best teams to get rewarded.
Then, the GF can only be played at the ground of one of the top two teams, who only have to win one game to get into the grand final.
The 3rd and 4th teams have to win a semi and a preliminary final to get to the GF and they have to play the top team away in their home city.
It’s not just a matter of luck, the 2 best teams of the top 4 get to the final. They got into the top 4 by being consistently the best team over 21 rounds. Not just luck of the draw.
We don’t have a FA Cup style knockout comp, but the finals series is our surrogate and its biased to towards the top four. The top two teams are then given the best chance to win it.
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:02pm | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
I wouldn’t have mind a best out of three for the UCL final.. Chelsea v Man U and then … a loaded … Fist, scissors, paper.. Anything to get Big Ears to Stamford Bridge….
~~~~~~~~~
KB
jimbo said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
Adrian,
fair enough, but the A-League is not mature enough to support relegation and promotion and knockout comps from various divisions.
The FFA has tried to please both camps by having the Premiers plate and the Grand Final winners, who each get a ticket into the ACL as well as the prizemoney and recognition.
Playoffs and final series are also common in a lot of sports around the world and not just Australia.
I like the finals series, but I was also glued to the TV set to see if QR or AU could win and take the plate away from the Vics.
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:16pm | Report comment
Slippery Jim,
in all seriousness the first past the post is the honest and best system in my view and I hope we never ever have the AFL type style finals if we ever grow to 16 teams .. But for now we have to go with the flow until the Australian Football Family demand it; otherwise it will be out right rejected.. As it was back long ago when the NSW Soccer Federation tried it out for 2 years .. Totally misfired and rejected by the Australian Football public, I remember it well…
~~~~~~~~
KB
Koala Bear said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
more needs to be made of the premiership plate by making the final round more of an event, a trophy presentation perhaps etc.
Adrian,
we agree on this point and it should be done before we try any other final system … A greater focus on the Premiership… Then the finals of the Championship as the last event of the season .. This would create an impression similar to the English system , FA League and FA cup..
~~~~~~~
KB
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:38pm | Report comment
First past the post is fine if everyone plays eachother the same amount of times and at somewhat regular intervals. The problem with the AFL’s fixtures are that with only 22 rounds for the 16 teams there’s a chance that a team may come up against the stronger teams more than once, while another team may chance playing the weaker teams twice. This is clearly inequitable, but to some extent (apart from the scheduling being strategically determined) it is a matter of chance. The heirarchy in preparing the scheduling may consider the form of a team like the Melbourne Demons to be ordinary in the 2009 year, based on their performance in 2008. But they may surprise and be the powerhouse of the comp in 09 (hopefully!).
Being relatively new to the A-league, while I assume the fixture is fair, I’m not sure if this is the case. I read that that was part of the issue with the EPL considering (clubs proposing that) an extra game or two be played abroad (eg in the American market).
Albert Ross said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:42pm | Report comment
PW – it was supposed to be a play on words. You know Tonto and the Lone Ranger are surrounded by Native Americans bent on preserving their independence and territorial integrity and the LR says “What do we do now, Tonto?” and Tonto replies “What do you mean ‘we’ paleface?” I wanted to draw Pip’s attention to the fact that not all of us in this sea girt land share the same experiences and so by extension Pip was changed to “Pipface: but the there was an errant “e” in the way.
You had to be there.
Michael C said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
Jimbo – - funny line that re bait, rod, tug and StKilda.
Millster – - amazing…….you’re coming around to it?
Robbos – - I see what you mean re the non dominant team more able to win and so a season topping team is more accurate a representation potentially than a finals system…….but………..like any sport, half the battle is that of the favourite…..whether an individual in Tennis, or a swimmer in the Olympics, or a dominant regular season team in a footy comp – - the capacity to actually carry the ‘red hot favourite’ tag is as much an indication of sporting greatness as anything. but, yeah, – - in soccer, such as the FIFA WC – too much can come down to one penalty, one ref decision etc. Is that really the way to sort it out, especially if it ends in a penalty shoot out. I’m coming to understand that there’s a perfect fit for AFL, a perfect fit for the EPL…….and somewhere there and there abouts is the HAL, with no P&R and trying to get noticed in the Australian sporting landscape.
…..btw I still don’t get the 2legged early finals and sudden death in the prelim and GF.
btw – - agree totally with Redb – re the current AFL system, allowing 2 prelim finals, such that both GF contenders have effectively the same lead in. In the old days, one side had a week off.
Pip – the AFL ladder topper might in the past have earned the Dr.McClelland trophy – - where it was based on a ratio points for u19s, ressies and seniors. These days, the table topper after rnd 22 I believe still does get this trophy – - and it’s now stand alone for the senior side……..but, no one seems to care too much. A clear sign that you can do whatever you want – - but, it comes down to the mood of the mob as to what is deemed ‘worthy’.
Pauly Walnuts said | January 29th 2009 @ 9:50pm | Report comment
AR – Thanks for your detailed explanation, Wouldn’t have gotten that if I had a lifetime of trying. A appreciate you filling me in. I was thinking there was a new abusive term… Any chance you’ve heard of monkeyface? The web reference in which I was explained the term is now defunct. If you can look it up, it is perculiar to say the least, But not football related of course,
Koala Bear said | January 30th 2009 @ 6:47am | Report comment
Albert Ross wrote: “What do we do now, Tonto?” and Tonto replies “What do you mean ‘we’ paleface?”
AB, thanks for reminding me of that funny line … a classic….
The AFL Mexicans south of the border take a lot for granted..
~~~~~~~~~
KB
Redb said | January 30th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
KB,
Port Phillip Bay fishes a lot better than off the beach at Tugan these days unless you like your fish salty.
Give me South West Rocks any day of the week – now that is fishing heaven.
Redb
jimbo said | January 30th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Rebd,
I don’t think KB has got the joke yet about St Kilda.
Yes SW Rocks is excellent for fishing particularly because of the local abattoir up there that pumps burley into the ocean all day.
Pippinu said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
MC
You’re right about the McClelland trophy – I had forgotten about it – but as you intimate – all footy followers have probably forgotten about it – it’s never been the main game in VFL/AFL. The flag is the ultimate and I’m very comfortble about that, and equally I’m quite comfortable about how things work in the A-League – there’s still plenty of difference and that’s a good thing (just as it’s good that we don’t go out of our way to copy what every other tom, dick and harry does).
Koala Bear said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
Jimbo,
and that’s no joke… btw I ‘m not sure what Redb gets up to at SWR with his array of AFL rods… but he should take some fresh cream with him next time he goes 
was your St Kilda comment a fishing gag… ??? lol And I thought it was a serious comment…. Now up here at Tugun we always have a small carton of fresh dairy cream in our fishing tackle to lubricate our AFL fishing rods with its 250 kilo breaking strain lines to reduce friction and strain to bring in the biggins …
~~~~~~~~~~
KB
Pippinu said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
SJ
I think it’s a bit rich to say the luckiest team wins it under our present system. A fairer thing to say that potentially a bit more luck can come into it, but you have to survive an intense four week period, and hold your nerve at the very end – more often than not, that doesn’t come down to luck, but to preparation for the event itself.
Interestingly, at the moment people are complaining that it was luck that delivered MV its premier’s plate! (referring to Vuka using his face to make one save, or the fact that Arch managed to squeeze through that crucial second goal that probably should have been cleared by Lochead, who watched it dribble over the line, etc)
Either way – it’s all good!
Redb said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
KB,
It’s good to know your such a big fan of AFL footy that you were only fishing for a comment. Good to see, keep it up.
Jimbo,
St Kilda has that strange mix. It’s a place where you’ll see a Lamborgine parked next to divvy van which is next to a 1960’s vintage jeep full of backpackers next to punker on his skateboard who is checking out the pair of shoes hoisted above.
Throw in some good restuarants right next to the crappiest and most violent night clubs on Fitzroy st and well its just plain wierd…
Redb
Pippinu said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
sj
do you want me to look after your fantasy team while you’re away on holidays?
Kaz
where are you? I wanna talk some more FM! I’ve got huge news – huuuuge!
dasilva said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
About playing all the matches at the same time in the last round.
I think people are missing out a certain scenario. When the final matches is played and both team knows what result is needed and both team then plays towards o get the mutual beneficial results. I believe the World Cup 1974 ensured that all the team from the same group plays the last match at the same time to avoid that scenario due to a previously farcical match at a previous world cup.
Let’s say Melbourne drew with NZ phoenix and let’s pretend that NZ had equal points with Central Coast and a superior goal difference.
Adelaide only needed to draw to win the league. Central coast only needed a draw to make the top four. Both play a terrible 0-0 draw and everyone in the two teams involves are happy.
We want to prevent that scenario as much as possible as it will be truly a farce. It could still happen without simultaneous matches but the rarer the possibility the better it is.
Pippinu said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Das
it was actually in the 1982 WC that we had the farcical result of W Germany achieving a result that got them past Algeria, but allowed Austria to go through as well (and they basically did nothing for the remaining hour of the game once the necessary scoreline was achieved).
Since that time, all final group games have been simultaneous.
Mind you, you still had the situation in 2002, when Italy scored a late equaliser agaisnt Mexico, which was enough to put both through, they immediately plonked all 11 men in their box for the last 5 minutes because they knew Croatia was losing to Ecuador in the other game. I can recall an Italian player then had the temerity to cross the half way line with the ball, and the Italian manager was furious at him.
When the final whistle went, the ref rolled his eyes, and did the sign of the cross, as if to say: thank goodness that’s over.
dasilva said | January 30th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Thanks Pip for fixing up an error
Ok i got the thing mess up.
I was trying to find out when they changed it.
1974 and 1978 all had simultaneous matches on final group games (except for one match involving germany in 1974 world cup)
I assumed that 1974 was when they decided to change the rule.
For some reason they reverted to separate days in 1982.
Like I said you can’t get rid of the scenario fully but you can reduce the odds of that occurring.
Kazama said | January 30th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Pippinu
Go on mate – what happened?
My mob isn’t having the best time at the moment. Some key injuries and the loss of Phil Stubbins to Burnley have seen me slip to second behind the Mariners, who are killing everyone again. Sydney are off the bottom and on a winning streak, but I’ll be addressing that in the next game…
I found Dukes in my game – he’s rotting in the Sunderland reserves.
Kazama said | January 30th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Oh and on the point of turning ‘live’ matches into a farce – how about the 0-0 draw between Man United and Valencia in the 1999/00 UCL?
Pippinu said | January 30th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Kaz
Dukes in the Sunderland reserves? But he’s probably a year older now? You’re in your 3rd season and I’m only in my 2nd. It’s probably a dicey decision. Have you tracked down Skoko?
Anyway, as I said, Dukes had accepted the $1,900 per week on a free transfer, 34 years old, I thought it was worth a try at that cost (it was CCM who were trialling him when I stumbled on his name, that prompted me to act, yeh, they’re always on top!).
Got all the papers formally signed last night, just in time for a match away to Adelaide! (who were sitting in 5th and challenging for a spot in the top 4).
Maayte – it was a 0-4 whitewash! On top of that, the news is that the MV supporters are wrapped that we’ve been able to attract big Dukes to our club! The hype is unbelievable!
When you see how the two teams went into their respective games – you’ll understand immediately why I won 4 zip (I’m sure you would’t have gone into the game like this).
———– Elasi ——— Allsopp ————-
—————————————————
———- Ward———- Celeski ————–
Berger ——— Broxham ———- Vasilevski
——— Muskie ——— Lee Sung ———–
—————– Di LIzia ————————
—————– Langerak ———————
I started Dukes on the bench, along with Kemp and Ryall.
Notes:
1. Arch is injured, and Lopez was on Int duty, otherwise, I think I had a full list to choose from.
2. You can see I use two strikers up one end, and a back three incl sweeper at the other, and the only width I have is from wing-backs. I use Broxham as the holding mid, and two central midfileders, with Ward used more as the go forward mid to support the front two.
3. I use Berger more as the attacking wing-back, and Vasileski more as a defensive wing-back. I keep Kemp on the bench because he can fill in either role, or play as a full back as well – Berger and Vasilevski both get through the kms going up and down the sidelines. I favour the left because of Berger’s pace and ability to get to the byline and his superior crossing.
4. I ended up bringing Di LIzia in as the sweeper because of the slowness of my primary central defenders. Lee Sung is an ex Sth Korean international, excellent positioning and headering, but susceptible to pacy forwards (as Muskie is). Di Lizia is only 18, and is pretty reliable – I’m developing a champion there for sure.
5. I use Broxham as a back up for Lopez, but he has been excellent in most games I’ve played him. I occasionally push Lopez up to replace either Ward or Celeski – he has been fantastic in the middle of the park, but I’ll have to spend $130,000 to keep him beyond this season (I’m going to try it with the board).
Anyway, this is how Viddy lined up AU (from memory):
————- Cristiano —— Younis ————
——————— Sarkies ———————
Cassio — Costanzo — Salley ———- Reid
———????——– Ogre ————?????
———- Inexperienced keeper ————-
Sorry, can’t remember the names, but the point is AU had inexperience in a back three with the Ogre, along with an inexperienced keeper. On top of that, their central midfield pairing of Costanzo and Salley was a bit dubious, as was putting Reid on the wing.
Both Muskie and Lee Sung were able to look after Younis and Cristiano. I also had Broxham tightly marking Sarkies out of the game, and Vasilevski doing the same with Cassio. I allowed all of Berger, Ward and Celeski to have free roles. Elasi and Allsopp gave the AU back three the run around. Ward opened the scoring with a header from a Berger cross, and Allsopp drilled one in soon after. To add insult to injury, Vasilevski has follwed Cassio down to his own box, and then latched onto a loose ball to drive it home from the edge of the box. 0-3 at half time, I the replaced Vasilevski with Kemp because he was out of petrol – and would you believe that Kemp does the exact same thing to make it 0-4!
I put Dukes on for the last half hour. He didn’t star, but you could see immediately that he will absolutely cruise through the league. His skill level was well above anyone else’s, lovely flick ons and angled passes that Elasi didn’t read – but when Arch is back in the team – Dukes will be devasting! (he’s very slow mind you)
The other news is that I took up your advice and went looking for Mullen, made him an offer, and the news comes back that he has rejected an AU offer to stay at the club! Nabbed him for something like $1,100 per week for three years. Good buy?
For the rest of the season, I tracked down another experienced central defender from the state comps with a bit of pace – so I reckon I am now set for an assault on CCM!
The other team I’m managing,the Nix, had a bit of bad luck when about 10 of the team were on international duty! I had to rely on a few youngsters, and they weren’t up to the task, going down to the Glory 2-1 away. That means that the Nix and MV are now equal 2nd behind CCM.
The good news for the Nix is that their new LIberian striker got his first start and he scored on debut!
jimbo said | January 30th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
No worries KB,
I look forward to Doris’ seafood basket at the CRSL tonight and the whipped cream is not a bad idea either.
Kazama said | January 30th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
You aren’t kidding when you say he’s slow: pace 5 acceleration 6! No point in me signing him because my strikers have to do tons of running and his stamina is only 7. Well, actually I can’t sign him because there was no ‘make offer’ option – maybe he’s retiring? Skoko is at Hajduk in my game – contracted and out of my price range.
I think you’ve got Mullen at about the right price. I play in pounds and he’s on 600 a week at the moment. I lost him to injury and it was telling because he’s a lot faster than my other defenders. Og was out too because the silly bugger kept getting suspended. They’re both back for my next game so hopefully I will regain some form. I’ve invested in a lot of young Aussies during the transfer window. Next season some will graduate from the youth team once I sell off some of the dead wood (Sarkies, Costanzo, Younis). Ransford Osei will be ready to go next season, he’s killing it in the youth league ATM. He’s got 9 goals and 9 assists in 12 games.
It seems like you got it spot on tactically there and have been rewarded with a fine win. It’s always pretty sweet when everything comes off like that. The Adelaide side doesn’t look good though. The computer hasn’t strengthened the squad like I have. I got rid of Salley in the first season because he does nothing except collect yellow cards. He and Costanzo together sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. In my system Reid works well on the wing because of his stamina and passing – my wingers also rack up the kms. He doesn’t tire as quickly as Dodd and still gets plenty of assists. Having said that he’s not nearly as reliable as Dodd or Griffiths and he rarely scores when I play him there (the GF against the Mariners being a wonderful exception).
Pauly Walnuts said | January 31st 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment
Dodd has endured a long season…
Pippinu said | February 2nd 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Kaz
funnily enough, the board just gave me my monthly performance update, and they said that they’re disappointed I signed Dukes!
He’s blooky slow all right, but his touches are quite good (his skills ratings are through the roof). I’m hoping he might go good for our ACL, I’ve got him for one more season, but he’ll be 35, definitely a risk.
With the Nix (coz I’m managing two teams at once), I’ve just signed Danny Invincible, I think he’ll really give us a lift next season. I sold John McKain to St Zenit for $3.9 mill – that’s some serious money in the A-League! We’re back in the black again by the tune of $2.5 mill, and we can start planning for the future again.
I’ve just finished my season and the Nix scraped into 4th, just ahead of AU!
I now see why they drop off at the backend of the season. There was one week where I had to play two games within four days – and I had 10 players out with the NZ sqaud – I had 8 players available! and to fill in the spots they give you all these 17 year old kids – I was on a hiding to nothing!
Then for the first week of finals, the same thing happened again, I was lucky to just cop a 0-1 loss at home to the Roar, so we still have a small chance to get through. MV had a 1-0 away loss to the top team, CCM, so I am still hopeful there that we can win our way through to the GF.
But here’s another odd thing, 3 days before the grand final, we’re scheduled to play in this pan-pacific championship against Gamba – you’re kidding me!!
Kazama said | February 2nd 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Pippinu
At the end of the third season Dukes retired in my game so be wary of that. John Aloisi is still around though, last seen in the queue at Centrelink if you know what I mean.
I fell just short of the Plate, a couple of dodgy results meant I lost out to the Mariners on goal difference. I fixed that in the Major Semi though, winning the tie on away goals. I then went to the stupid Pan Pacific tournament and lost both matches on penalties (I have some woeful penalty takers on my team). Take my advice – treat it as two friendlies and save your best players for the GF if you make it. I rolled the Roar 3-1 in the final to make it back to back toilet seats for the Reds.
The ACL was unkind to me. Despite taking four points off all three teams I still didn’t get through. Bloody Gamba!!!
For the fourth season I signed a couple of kids and picked up Matt McKay on a free after the Roar let him go because of their money problems. I have a lot of fake players in my team now. Kaz keeps asking to leave. I finished runners up in the Pre Season Cup for the third time in four seasons, losing to Perth. I have a bit more on my plate now as I’ve been appointed manager of the UAE (I’m doing a Guus).
Pippinu said | February 2nd 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
Kaz
yeh – I had decided I would treat that silly tournament as a friendly and send my B-team to it (unless I fail to make it to the grand final).
So when you’re offered an overseas coaching role – do you essentially have two coaching jobs at once? Sounds like hard work! (and getting on top of all those unfamiliar names too!)
Funnily enough, as SFC kept on imploding in my game, my Nix coaching name kept coming up as a possibility and I would tell the media: NO WAY!!
Kazama said | February 2nd 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Yes, I basically am coaching two teams at the moment. If it gets too much I can always quit one to concentrate on the other. I applied for the job because I thought it would be a bit of fun to see what I could do with a national team. At least there are no contracts and transfers to worry about! We’ve got two seemingly straightforward games against Pakistan coming up in the WCQ, so that should ease me into the job.
I’m dealing with much better players than I’ve got at United and I think they’ll suit my system too so hopefully I can get them to the World Cup. I might throw the game if I have to play Australia though!