It’s called win, win!!

The Roar Fantasy EPL 09/10 League – Code: 41532-13109

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/

I’ve finished Fallout 3, but I’ll probably start again when I get bored and play as a bad guy, see what sort of mischief I can get up to. Awesome, awesome game.

Kaz, what only us two?!? I am in a few other comps already so will get some of my EPL fantasy fix out of them, but how is it possible that the various EPL fans aren’t taking the opportunity to get involved? Maybe we should ask the Fink?

Kaz: what about both a head to head and a classic league? I am in one for 2 other football sites (thinking of joining the WGF one as well…)

After getting ko’ed in the group stage of the world cup I quit the UAE, and then waited for all the sackings at the end of the tournament to find a new job. I’ve ended up with Chile, currently 19th in the world.

Still at San Jose however I think I’ll move on at the end of the year. Not because I am losing matches – in fact, I’m 3/4s through the season and I’ve already won the North American Champions League (Club World Cup here we come!) and the SuperLiga. I’m on top of the MLS with only one loss.

Problem is a lot of my players are getting big headed and want ridiculous salaries or are trying to bugger off to Europe. I might be joining them. The club is in massive debt and there’s a takeover looming in the next month. I should survive though – the current board has me listed as “untouchable.” I just want to play in the CWC, see how I do against the big boys, then I’ll resign and see where I can end up.

http://tools.goldcoast.com.au//photo-gallery/index.php?group_id=125

~~~~~~~
KB

I started a 3rd game – I got sick of juggling two seperate games, and wanted to control my three teams in the one game, so I started again from scratch.

I started managaing NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie (who I knew had plenty of upside from my other game), the Victory and the Nix (who I enjoy managing because they only have the one team).

I wanted this game to be perfect, so used all my knowledge to revamp the lists and staff and training before the season even began – it took me a whole weekend just to get to my first practice game!

Interestingly, I did such a good job with the Nix (finished 3rd and then defeated the Victory in the grand final!!), that Heerenveen offered me a job – so now I’ve got two teams in the Eredivisie.

It was a bit sad because just before I left the Nix I had stumbled on three gun 18 year olds and had to leave them behind.

Then managing the Victory, I had to play the Nix, under new manager Rufer, and they beat us at home – and these kids starred!!! (grrr, I hate that!)

There’s unrest in the Victory rooms because I dropped Milligan as captain in favour of Theoklitis.

The Roar Fantasy EPL 09/10 League – Code: 41532-13109

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/

Made me sick in the guts.

Honestly, no team in the history of sport has deserved to lose its very first game as much as this mob.

Me too. Hate the Goldie team almost as much as I hate the place itself! Yeah, and the Bne Roar smashing them at a sold out suncorp stadium would be a super sweet sporting moment…

“Gold Coast (By the skin of their arrogant teeth)”

here’s hoping!!

(hate ‘em already, as Con hints, losing that first game to your mob would be one of the sweetest sporting moments of the year – well, since we won the toilet plate!!)

Nic Mrjda if he can stay fit is a very creative player arguably the most creative Striker in the league just needs to stay fit… Nick Travis only played for 10 minutes is a very talented player IMO will be the surprise packet of Hal 5, young very quick attacking mid who can play great balls through … he is a player well matched to our strikers … Elrich is back & fit again… and we have 5 players on trial two from Asia .. but it’s OK to write us off .. there has never been a season when we have been expected to finish in the finals …

Huke, Travis, Elrich .. IMO a very god nay very strong core for our midfield …

”’ Nobody Rates Us But We Don’t Care”"” ……………. just keep saying we give the ball a big Yoooffffff up field all day … makes us laugh … Also Doig coming out of defense …. Also expect at least 2 maybe 3 players still to be added…

I can see the AIS having less importance in 5-10 years when all the clubs have got their acts together and the FFA can monitor the talent across the clubs more effectively. With a greater pool of quality players in general it will be harder for the AIS to claim they have the best. It won’t be a bad thing mind you, it will just show that we are becoming even more of a football nation. Clubs will realise that money is to be made from developing high quality juniors and hopefully all will become self funding/perpetuating.

On the predictions I think the top four will have Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and either Gold Coast or Perth in final position. Interesting to watch the friendly between Sydney and CCM on Monday night at Leichhardt Oval. Sydney played all over them but couldn’t find the net …. seemed to overcook it a bit once in the box. If Aloisi comes good (big if), then goalscoring shouldn’t be a problem for the team, Payne may get some too. Brosque looks awesome at the moment and I hope it can continue into the season proper – looks stronger and harder to get off the ball, but a shame he is sooooo left footed. Central Coast have absolutely nothing in terms of creativity but were ultimately difficult to break down, with some thanks to Vucovic.

They got some big units the CCM – particularly Nic Mrjda. The guys is size of refridgerator. Have to say I was also struck by his physical appearance to this fictional character (from Ren & Stimpy)

http://www.sobras.com/nelsondaniel/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/colpowderedtoastman_big001.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoBq_2e5xUc

The season before the CCM finished first, the average of the last two seasons is therefore around second place (2.5nd place for the pedants), making my second spot prediction more feasible.

I think I’ve talked myself around to agreeing with myself! Splendid…

1. Victory
2. Roar [the team everyone's forgotten about]
3. Gold Coast
4. Perth
5. Sydney
6. Jets
7. Adelaide
8. Fury
9. Central Coast
10. Phoenix

I think that Adelaide will struggle to reproduce the form of seasons past. Also, Central Coast will continue to struggle without THAT creative midfield player unless Adrian Caceres comes on in leaps and bounds.

I think its a great step forward as long as the AIS continues what it is currently doing. Each club will have different philosophy’s on what makes a professional player, so the system has to make sure that the most talent technicians have a pathway. Mix the AIS and the AL academies together and the standard of the A-League will come on in leaps and bounds in the near future.

Thats pretty brave, but then again I have got Perth to finish 2nd and you have got them to finish 9th.
Now thats what you call a massive divergence of opinion.

By 12 there is an core of players identified that have the ability to make it as pros, and they are given more specialist training, taken overseas to tournaments, playing in state-based and national competitions, and the intensity is ramped up as the kids get older…

I think making the clubs develop academies is an excellent idea, and could be a fantastic place to find and develop talent going forward. The QAS, AIS, VIS, etc, is only interested in the cream of the crop at an age where they are already mostly developed technically, but an academy system such as the one set out above can lead to a better level of player reaching the age that a QAS etc. would have picked them up.

Time will tell I suppose. And I suspect that your post, Midfielder, will probably need its own thread at some point…

That makes sense…the best juniors will be picked up by the HAL clubs and devloped at an earlier age than currently (currently the clubs can pick players 17 plus to go into their youth team. It is crazy to have the various sports institutes competing with the HAL club from that region for the best young talent. Lets hope this streamlining of the process provides greater opportunities and a clearer pathway.

Major leap forward … Huge leap forward

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/foo…732332187.html

Academies to close as A-League clubs take on development

Michael Cockerill
July 8, 2009

THE pillars of Australia’s development pathway – the state-based academies – are to be dismantled and replaced by programs run by A-League clubs, with help from the taxpayer.

The change in emphasis towards club-based training in the key age group from 15 to 18 is part of the new national curriculum released earlier this year by national technical director Han Berger. The Dutchman is keen to follow many of the development models used in Europe, where clubs provide the finishing schools for talented youngsters until the decision is made whether they will go on to play professionally.

By contrast, Australia’s development pathway has historically been organised by state academies, underpinning the pinnacle of the system, the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. The AIS will remain under the new system – and will be included in the national youth league from this season – but starting next year the A-League clubs will take over the roles previously undertaken by the state academies. The first to be disbanded will be the state academies in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, with the other states eventually falling into line.

Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, Gold Coast United, Brisbane Roar, North Queensland Fury and the new second A-League team in Melbourne are all hoping to establish their own academies by the end of next year.

The financial burden for the clubs will be alleviated with Football Federation Australia believed to have secured a deal from the various state governments to simply redirect funding from the existing programs.

The NSW Institute of Sport program is likely to be the last one to fall, having recently formalised a new deal with the state government that secures its existence until 2013. That will give extra time for Sydney FC, a new western Sydney team, and the Newcastle Jets to form their own academies. The other NSW team in the A-League, Central Coast Mariners, already have their own academy.

So, predictions. I hate to even countenance Melbourne winning again, but they probably will. Sigh. I think Roar will finally crack it and make a grand final, thereby qualifying for Asia. They have a stable group, play good, stylish football, and finally have a striker or two, or so the second half of last year proved. so, on to the league table:

Melbourne
Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC
Perth Glory
Adelaide
Gold Coast (By the skin of their arrogant teeth)

Newcastle
Central Coast
Wellington
Fury