By Tony Tannous
September 9th 2009 @ 2:44am
Related coverage
Five reasons I’m loving A-League season five
Melbourne Victory's Tomislav Pondeljak tackles Brisbane Roar's Charlie Miller, during round 2 of the A-League Season, played at the Ethihad stadium in Melbourne, Saturday, August 15, 2009. After full time, Victory drew with Brisbane Roar 3-3. AAP Image/Joe Castro
Quite ironic really, given all the talk about crowds, that the on-field standard of the A-League this season has been the best yet, and by some way.
Round three might have been a little underwhelming, but the other four rounds have been very good, with improvement in many areas, ensuring traditional powerhouses Melbourne and Adelaide are struggling to keep up.
Here are five reasons why the league has made giant strides;
The imports
In previous seasons the imports have been hit and miss, and we have often been left underwhelmed by the likes of Jardel, Zura, Wedau, Deane and Steve McMahon Jr.
Now there are success stories everywhere you look. Clubs appear to be hitting the mark thanks to the overall quality dished up from the likes of Fowler, Ifill, Henrique, Keller, Kisel, Traore, van den Brink, Byun, Jelic, McGlinchey, Doig, Greenacre and Sukha, to name some.
All but Henrique are new-comers, but adapting to the league quicker then their predecessors, which in itself says a bit about the improving technical standards, but more on that later.
Add to this vast improvement from the likes of Song and Sikora, who took a bit of time to adapt, and it’s safe to say the imports this season are definitely worth watching.
The returning Aussies
While the clubs have been hitting the mark with the recruitment of imports, they have also been doing well by targeting locals that have perhaps been unsettled in Europe.
Returning Socceroos Jason Culina, Jamie Coyne, Jacob Burns and Sterjovski were expected to do well and have generally lived up to the bargain (Sterjovski is taking longer to adapt), but it is the others that have been overseas and are now back to impart knowledge that are adding to the overall quality.
I refer to the likes of Porter, Steffanuto, Caravella, Milicevic, Talay and Srhoj. Even Haliti showed on the weekend how a few years, even on the fringes in Europe, can refine your game.
The biggest leap is that these guys are coming back earlier, with plenty to offer. This hasn’t always been the case.
The quality of coaching
Sydney has upped the ante by targeting an Eastern European and Lavicka has brought a much needed ruthless streak and level head to the local scene.
His team has shown some very good signs, especially the past couple of weeks.
Sydney’s transition from defence to attack is excellent and against Gold Coast on the weekend they even showed that Australian teams can put their foot on the ball and go backwards or square. It doesn’t always have to be forward, at a millions miles an hour.
Branko Culina and Miron Bleiberg are two others bringing greater sophistication, both in the style of football they wish to play and the type of footballers they are using.
Lawrie McKinna and Dave Mitchell have had to pull up their socks, while in North Queensland, Ian Ferguson has been getting things right the past couple of weeks. Ricki Herbert’s men have also looked good in attack.
Last seasons pace setters, Ernie Merrick, Aurelio Vidmar and Frank Farina, have some catching up to do.
The technical levels
This correspondent, on The Round Ball Analyst, has long bemoaned the over-physicality of the league, where athletes have often been valued more highly than footballers, players who can get their foot on the ball and make a difference.
I sense the pendulum has really shifted in this regard, and about time.
Credit, of course, must go to the clubs and managers for their recruitment and match-day selections.
What it means is that there are more players who want the ball to feet and aren’t afraid to play. Gold Coast have been setting the pace of course, while a team like Brisbane Roar have been left a touch behind, a point captain Moore emphasised on the weekend.
This greater emphasis on the ball rather than the man means games are far more watchable and goals far more spectacular. Better entertainment all-round, evidenced by the wonderful top-of-the-table clash on the weekend.
Hopefully, when the other codes are done and the league starts to get its share of tabloid space, fans will come out and appreciate the better work.
The tactics
I touched on the quality of coaching earlier, and generally the mentality of the coaching fraternity has been positive, attack-minded. Bravo.
There has also been a lot of positive work done on the tactical front, a subject I cover in depth in my latest Talking Tactics piece on the e-zine Half-Time Heroes, which will be out today.
Tony’s team of the week, round 5 (4-4-2, manager of the week, Miron Bleiberg)
——————–Vukovic—————–
————————————————-
T Elrich ——Colosimo—-K Dodd—–Kemp
—————————————————-
———————–Talay———————
Ifill—————-Caravella————–Song
—————————————————-
—————-Smeltz—Fowler—————-
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VootballKid said | September 9th 2009 @ 4:52am | Report comment
Still a ways from English Championship level but I think we’re getting there. Fowler seems to be a success and the returning Socceroos are great (for the A-league at least – maybe not the Socceroos). The coaching has improved and the tactics.
But I think the biggest shot in the arm has been the two new teams. 8 wasn’t enough. More variety and the two teams themselves are quite interesting. GC are obvious front-runners – FFA delayed one year too long with them – and how ’bout that Smeltz?! I love NQ’s colours and with the return of Talay even they are starting to come good.
But holding it back more than ever, aside from the free-to-air coverage issue, is the media bias towards the established codes. Jesus, what are they afraid of?
AndyRoo said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
This pretty much says everything I wanted to say.
I think on the pitch Season 5 has been the best so far and that’s the most important thing.
Ben said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Hmm, so right about the media bias. The commercial TV stations are the worst. On the opening night of the season Sport’s Tonight ran their story on the Victory-Mariners match about five stories in, after all the injury and training ‘news’ from the AFL, NRL and everything else apart from football. And every weekend I get infuriated by the coverage of the league on Sunrise and Today – it is appalling.
MVDave said | September 9th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Ch 10 5pm news bulletin has 15-20 minutes for sport…last Thursday night it couldnt find any time to mention MVs game vs NJ being played later in the evening?? This is for a Melbourne club with 19,000 members…what a joke and showing complete bias.
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
If people are interested in the A-League – the sports news coverage will follow – it doesn’t work the other way round.
Steve said | September 9th 2009 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
People in NSW/QLD dont give a S$%@ about Vicball. It Doesn’t stop C10/7 form ramming it doesnt people throats.
Is that a case of “the sports news coverage will follow”? Or a case of Commercial TV media bias?
you know the answer!
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Once upon a time each city had its own sports news – now it’s all done from Sydney across the whole country – so like it or not – you have to put up with what the majority of Australians prefer.
MVDave said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
This was the Melbourne news bulletin with Qatermain…disgrace really!
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:03pm | Report comment
Fair enough – it does sound extreme – but surely you’ve lived in Melbourne long enough to know that that can happen at this time of year.
MVDave said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
Certainly have lived in Melb long enough to expect such things…unfortunately they happen too often and there is no excuse…as l said complete bias and more reason why football fans are turning elsewhere for their news. Even 30 seconds on team news for the game but no…
Tifosi said | September 9th 2009 @ 6:36am | Report comment
the players are loving it too.
Look at Danny Allsop, leaves Victory to take a million dollar per year gig in Qatar. Without the A-league he would never be able to cash in.
Robbos said | September 9th 2009 @ 6:45am | Report comment
I too would agree with everything you say Tony. The standard has improved immensley, I’m really enjoying my football in the A-League this year..
The crowds are poor this year (no excuses), but like eveything else, if you produce the goods the crowds will come. If football wants to grow & it does, it needs more teams & more teams means longer seasons & that means more of an overlap with the more traditional sports in this fair land of ours. I understand there are plenty of multisports followers, but in my opinion we must learn to stand on our own feet.
The imports & you covered most of them has improved our league greatly & so has the returning socceroos & expect more of the same after next year’s world cup with the likes of Chipperfield & dare I say Viduka will also add more interest to our ‘Beautiful Game’.
As for more media attention, we have had more attention for our ‘Beautiful game’ in the last few years on the local scene & Socceroos than we have had in the last 80 years. People now know SFC, MV & PG & they are aware of some of the players. As time goes by & more & more of these traditional sports journalists will fade into retirement, you will fine the newer generation of journalists will not fear football as those that had gone before them.
Lastly, lack of free to air TV, I say thank you to foxtel, The A-league forced me to get foxtel (still get complaints from wife), but it’s the best thing I have ever done. There is so much football on Foxtel that I just have little time for those other sports I used to enjoy like both Rugbys & cricket. But yes ths lack of FTA TV has hurt the growth in a sense, but without this deal we were dead & buried. have patience, football in this country is like a out of control frieght train, watch it go.
albe said | September 9th 2009 @ 7:15am | Report comment
have the same thoughts about Foxtel, Robbos. I don’t have time to even glance at other sports these days. I watch a couple of games from the A-League each week, plus a game from the bundesliga, france, spain. Then there’s UCL match weeks. The IQ is a great piece of kit for football fans. I can sleep in on sundays!
But yeah a game a week on free from our league will open things up for football further.
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
so true, a league forced me to get foxtel too. i dont watch anything except foxsports and espn, wish they offered that package.
mahony said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Same here on the Foxtel box. Even if A-League went FTA – I would keep the box for the rest. Never again will I be forced to watch small games played by small people with small minds on small stages.
agga78 said | September 9th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Certainly there has been an improvement in Standards in the league, mostly coming through Gold Coast, they have raised the bar, they are clearly playing the best football ever seen in the A league, Brisbane Roar were the benchmark for playing attractive football but have always lacked any punch up front. Miron has got GCU playing a wonderful attacking, short passing game and has Smeltz (scoring plenty) and Porter who has been brilliant. My team Melbourne did not strengthen enough to compete this season we lack a player in Defensive Midfield, and the loss of Allsop, Celeski and maybe Archie has made winning the league impossible now. But overall apart from Melbourne and Adelaide most teams are improving even CCM are playing a better stlye, NQF are also showing plenty of signs of improvement a should of won there last 2 matches which is great for the league.
Gaz said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Hooray, finally a positive article about the A-League! Blow me down with a feather! You are dead right, Tony, it’s not all doom and gloom. People need to stop and smell the roses sometimes.
As a Gold Coast fan, I am obviously loving it. But even MV fans should be able to see the silver lining here. The standards are lifting right before our eyes, which is exactly what everybody always said they wanted. Right?
mahony said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Agreed! As a MV fan…
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
Tony,
you have made 5 good reasons why this HAL season is the best thus far in terms of footballing standards go… I have to agree with you on all your 5 astute reasons for that… I don’t have FOX so it is difficult for me to comment on all of the games… However, I have seen enough on FOX TV at my social club to come to the same conclusion as you… I have also been to “Fortress Miron” to see the GCU FC out play Fury and SFC (my team being an ex-pat Sydney lad) … But I shall be going to as many GCU home games as possible as long as I can afford it…
Football has arrived on the Gold Coast, and GCU are a fantastic footballing team… I have said this before that; Paul Okon should take most of the credit for the GCU’s performances thus far… For it’s definitely his tactics and football knowledge, his undeniable stamp on the team… They are playing a typical Italian style of possession football, with Miron’s brilliant front man media interviews and owner Clive Palmer making sure that, the Gold Coast are always in the media spotlight, all three make up a winning administrative team…
The crowds have yet to be realised, but I don’t fear for them on that front, as once the NRL season is over they will start to build and next year will be even better with an ACL spot almost assured in my opinion, with that, come the visiting J-League teams to play the GCU at “Fortress Miron”… Very exciting times ahead on the Gold Coast’s history making debut… Ah it’s good to be retired and living on the Gold Coast, sun, surf, but more importantly, good entertaining Football….
~~~~~~~
KB
Realfootball said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
KB, I think you underestimate the degree to which this is Bleiberg’s team. If you watch training sessions, see inside the dressing room and sit next to the bench you will see that the calls and the tactics are Miron’s. Paul Okon is the assistant coach and that is very much the way the structure works.
Gaz said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
Obviously a lot of people still have trouble giving due credit to Miron. No disrespect to Okon, but these are Bleiberg’s boys.
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Realfootball,
not putting down Miron, I think he’s a marvellous character and great for Football and the GCU… However, looking at his CV and how he performed at the ROAR … I’m betting that, Paul Okon is Miron’s greatest asset…
I’ve been a keen observer of Okon’s playing career and knowing how he likes to play the game; I see definite traits of his style in GCU’s playing style and a system they adopt 2-4-2-2 or 2-3-3-2 this is a system Paul Okon is greatly familiar with, in his playing days in Italy… A double sweeper behind a back 4 or 3 to drown the opposition with the majority of possession football
Miron and Okon have a wonderful marriage and I’m not one wanting to throw a spanner into the spokes… But, Okon may sit on the bench and let Miron run the show, and that’s the way it should be… I could be totally wrong, as you say, However, don’t underestimate Okon’s influence where you can’t see them behind closed doors…
Anyways love the GCU and the football they are playing… Cheers Realfootball…
~~~~~~
KB
AndyRoo said | September 9th 2009 @ 10:10am | Report comment
They are a strange couple. I think it would work well.
If your a young player at the club you have the nutter that woos you to sign, says your brilliant but then all of a sudden your only on the bench.
If you feel upset then there is an Austrlaian Football legend in Okon to tell you what you need to work on and tell you a few stories about his time at Lazio to give you a good perspective.
Realfootball said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Still have to differ, KB. I think GCU are playing exactly the kind of football the Roar played at their best under Bleiberg, except that this time he’s had the budget and the experience to get the players with the quality to do the job properly. At the Roar he was working on a shoestring budget and the fact that he still managed to get his young team playing the way they did is testament to his ability and vision as a coach.
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:14pm | Report comment
Realfootball,
you are mosl likely right… but as long as they play with the winning style they show at “Fortress Miron” I’m happy… I wouldn’t evern complain if they were appointed as the new national coaches to take the Football-Roos to SA 2010 … There’s definately a magic there that is working very well… I hope it continues…
~~~~~~~
KB
AndyRoo said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment
They play similar to howMiren had the Roar playing in season 1 but with better execution. I think the execution comes from Cullina, Smeltz and Porter finishing chances instead of a then young alex Brosque.
I wish every team had a Miren in charge
Roger said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
On ya Tony!
I must say I have to agree, crowd size aside, this is shaping up to be the best season yet.
GCU have definitely upped the ante, and are challenging the best teams in the league.
What has also been great to see (finally!) is some quality in the set pieces.
And Gaz – you’re absolutely right, as a MV fan, I’m loving it!
AndyRoo said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Watched the much Maligned Fury play some brilliant football last Saturday. If there the worst team in the comp I think we are very lucky.
It might not be the EPL but in a lot of ways thats a good thing.
1 It’s not English it’s ours
2 There isn’t such a heirachy determined by money that makes predicting results much easier
Realfootball said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
I find that I have stopped watching the EPL apart from “blockbuster” games. You can only watch so much football and the new A-League season is delivering entertainment and qualily AND I can go and see the games. A massive step up this season, for all the reasons you mention, Tony.
mahony said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Excellent point – I too am ‘cherry picking’ the EPL (as I have done with other leading leagues for years). This would indicate a shift in my preference that is important for Aus football if it represents an emerging trend.
whiskeymac said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
yes to all points raised – from foxtel to the wifes despair to the standard being noticeably higher and the game more enjoyable to watch. Who waddathunk that Roar and MV wld be the ones left behind in the technical stakes – bravo to GCU and coaches like Branko and the Czech block whose name i havent mastered yet. Here’s hoping the Melbourne Heart (or whoever) can be at least as good as season 5 teams when they start.
Realfootball said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Absolutely, whiskeymac. The degree to which MV and the Roar are struggling is a good indicator of the rise in standards.
Dickroo said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Good article!
And don’t forget that this is achieved at the background of a massive talent drain to Asian Championship League teams.
FFA should not hold the Western Sydney team back for another year.
A 12 team league will be very decent married with a major Socceroos come-back and the availability of international imports and coaches after the 2010 WC.
Season Six will be even better.
Millster said | September 9th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
I agree with the above. I think this season has been really good so-far. I was excited about it before it began, and I think it is delivering all we could possibly expect of our league 5 years in.
The only area of clear disappointment is crowds, and I must admit I find some of the low figures to be quite surprising. Perhaps football’s relegation to position #2 or #3 in people’s sporting priorities especially during AFL and NRL finals, combined with the modest broader exposure (no FTA and only moderate news attention) and the GFC are biting. Added to this, it is 3.5 years since the last world Cup and still a few months to go before the South Africa excitement really starts heating up.
But at least I’m now sure that people who go to a HAL game for the first time are likely to feel positive about what they see on the park and want to go again a second time. I didn’t feel the same way about a number of matches last year (e.g. I wish the crowd for last year’s Sydney V Wellington had been even lower as the less people who saw that game the better).
PS: I’m finding myself watching lots of minutes of the Fury on the internet or Foxtel at the pub… there is something about their combination of flair, naivety and sheer bad luck that is just rivetting and for no rational reason I’d have to say I’ve already grown somewhat of a soft sport for them. Anyone else the same?
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Millster,
you have taken the words right out of my mouth with the Fury… I love an underdog and this one has a few points to prove … with God now running into form he is going to make a few pay for some of the bad reviews he received in the pre-season….
I just hope it won’t be SFC that is going to be on the end of his Fury… no pun intendant… I love to see him knock in 5 against the MV so Pippi boy will threaten to burn his MV membership card and return exclusively to his Grooky Bullies… and spare us all of his Fozzie crap, conspiracy theories, and the Championship curse crap, he is now on about…
~~~~~~~
KB
Wilba said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Millster, ‘there is something about their combination of flair, naivety and sheer bad luck that is just riveting and for no rational reason I’d have to say I’ve already grown somewhat of a soft sport for them.’ Pure Gold.
Playing crap football in the pursuit of a point may avoid embarrassment but is not good for the development of the club, both players and supporters. After watching teams like the old New Zealand Knights, and a few more modern examples, lose in an absolute snooze-fest it is refreshing to see the Fury have a good old fashion crack – a bit like the Roar under Miron. I think they deserve a bit of credit for the effort and enterprise.
I am hoping that it all clicks later in the season; they string together a couple of wins, and make it into the finals. However, if this fails to materialise and they are the worst team in the comp, picking up the wooden spoon, well the A league isn’t going too bad.
cab711 said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Yeah the enticement of Fury is Fowler.
Perhaps low crowds are nothing to do with current issues but past ones. Coming off the back of a very disappointing last season perhaps alot of the fans were fed up and decided to not renew their membership this year? Maybe FFA made the biggest mistake of not adding the two new teams earlier and now it is 1 season too late?
Luke W said | September 9th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
I really hope any two out of Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast contest the grand final this year. I want them to show the other teams in the competition that the standard of the A-League is rising, and to compete you can’t simply rely on the same squad as last year, and that quality recruiting is necessary, and attractive football rewarded. For mine, these are the three teams that have raised the technical bar so far, and while some of the teams have managed to keep up (the Jets, thanks to Branko Culina, and maybe Central Coast, but in a more negative style) others have been left behind.
Millster said | September 9th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Final thing before I get down to work… ALLEZ LES BLEUS for tonight. Goddamn we need this win away to Serbia or else we are in embarrasingly serious trouble…
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Millster
tough, tough assignment, and with all the backroom chatter – both the coaching staff and players are going to be feeling the pressure big time.
If they get through it, they would have earned it all right.
Art Sapphire said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Millster – you must have read this yesterday. I even posted it on another thread. Nice to see they are such a harmonious group just before the big game. Good luck, but something tells me you will be finishing 2nd in the group and will have to face another 2nd place team.
Thierry Henry – “I have been in the France team for 12 years and never have I been in this situation. We do not know how to play, where to go, there is no organisation. There is no style, no guidance and no identity.”
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Good article Tony
I note your penchant for the incongruous in your team of the week, with both Elrich and Kemp filling their respective full back positions!
But when you sit down and think about it, it’s fair enough. Kemp had just about the best game of his career with the Victory, and Elrich helped the jets get back into it in the final quarter (temporal and geographic).
onside said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Plus; I love the doubleheader match fixtures on TV.
Wilba said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Yeah, how was Saturday night: 5-7pm GCU v SFC; 7-9 pm NQF v BR; 9-11pm AUS v S Korea. When the Socceroos were looking a bit lost I flicked over to see the Lions bury the Blues in the last quarter. I even caught the Wobblies downing the Boks. I loved it, my wife not so impressed.
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
…when too much football is not nearly enough – I was doing the exact same thing on Sat night – needs plenty of mental toughness and stamina – it’s not easy being an arm chair expert!!
DT said | September 9th 2009 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
One reason I’m loving A-League season five:
Season four: Distance to nearest live game = 1334km
Season five: Distance to nearest live game = 13.4km
Tony Tannous said | September 9th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
As mentioned at the bottom of my article, the good folk at Half-Time Heroes, namely editors Eamonn Flanagan and Con Stamocostas, have been putting in the hard-yards to bring football fans the latest editon of HTH, which was relased this morning…it can be found here;
http://issuu.com/nearpost/docs/halftimeheroessept09?viewMode=magazine
For those interesting delving into more of my tactical stuff, it’s on pages 10 and 11…
For those that cant get enough football coverage, dont miss Wayne Snowden’s cartoons – he’s got DJ Simon Hill in his record store, Pim Verbeek up to his usual tricks and Miron Bleiberg in conversation with Jason Culina.
Meanwhile, Con talks to football-nutter Adam Spencer, Mike Salter, the Football Tragic, takes on the men in black, Fiona Crawford reports from the Homeless World Cup and Ben Buckley is in for some banter.
Hope you enjoy.
Midfielder said | September 9th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Tony
Once agian a brilliant article and what you say s very true… I would add one addational point to your list… My point is the management of the clubs and their coaching staff is getting better each year …
I find that I can watch a non Mariners A-League game now … and not turn it off … a small start but an important one…
Midfielder said | September 9th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Tony
Great read that HTH … suggest to all it is a msut read if you like your football..
Rob said | September 9th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
I was getting excited about the triple header on Saturday night until I saw that my semi-final was being played at 7pm, meaning I would be travelling to it from 5 (GCU vs SFC out), my game would prevent me seeing Fury Vs Roar (curses – or rather, thank goodness, due to all reports about how the Roar played that night!), and due to a delayed kick off of our game (the game prior to ours went to extra-time, to be decided by a goal in injury time!!!), I missed the first 3 goals of the Socceroos vs Korea match! It would have been a total write-off if it wasn’t for the fact that we won 1-0 and play the grand final this saturday, where I will, lamentably, miss more exciting A-league action!
Here’s hoping it’s worth while to miss so much quality football!
Go New Farm United!!!!
(my team, of course)
PS, Have to say, that even just having a quick look at the front cover of HTH, I agree with Midfielder. Looks like a great read already!
Wilba said | September 9th 2009 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Rob, good luck in the gf. Great entertainment or not, watching is usually second best to playing, especially the gf.
Although if you want the best of both worlds iQ sounds the way to go. Gotta get on that band wagon.
MVDave said | September 9th 2009 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
Terrific stuff Tony…even though my team MV are struggling in more ways than one…nevertheless l’m enjoying the rest of whats on offer. Look forward to GCU coming down to the ES to be shown that whilst they may have a decent team it will count for nothing vs the rejuvenated (hopefully new striker and midfielder by then) MV!
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Can’t wait for the Melb Vic to come to “Fortress Miron” Gold Coast … you better park a wider bus in front of your goal mouth instead of getting a new striker and midfielder… Also a blackout on all media reporting back to Melbourne for the fixture at “Fortress Miron”…. Ah but you already have that blackout in place in Melbourne .. no worries then, I guess the Scottish one can return to Melbourne undetected
~~~~~~~
KB
Koala Bear said | September 11th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Poor young Kruse, a reject from the ROAR FC, but Farina’s gallant servant as first reserve, now the front runner of the Melb Vic FC to replace their second highest profile striker Allslop….
The lads at the Roar were indeed wondering why the sudden interest of Kruse’s reading of Robbie Burns poetry. Whilst sitting and waiting patiently for the call to play at the Roar… Now down south amongst the Portuguese interpreters he sits…
It’s now also very clear that, the “Scottish One” had plans all along for Kruse to join him at Etihad Dome, abandoning his failing Portuguese altogether; to play the Scottish kick and run style, long and hard, up the guts, for the greyhound sprinters…
Alas another promising young career now poised to go to even greater depths of despair… A young Queensland lad to be led to the slaughter like Twaite was, but fortunately saved by the mitis touch of Super Coach, ex Israeli Paratrooper Miron…
Twaite is now back on track as the vice captain of the GCU FC, winning man of the match awards and on top of the HAL’s most technically skilled, enthralling season thus far….
Indeed some say Melb Vic’s demise was because of the “Championship Curse”, a medieval concepts throw back from the dark ages … But it really was just winning a comp that had no technical skill and now competing in a far superior HAL season with better players involved and they have stood still … with a manager still playing 1950’s Scottish football…
~~~~~~~
KB
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:37pm | Report comment
Rejects like Panta and Thwaite are really going to make us quake in our boots.
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
Did you really expect that Grooky administrators could recognise really good footballers when they came across them…. ?
~~~~~~~~
KB
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 5:56pm | Report comment
Panta got zero game time in a season featuring the double, and Thwaite was dropped about three quarters of the season through, never to regain his spot – it was once he was dropped that we made a serious run at the double.
Both 2nd stringers that GCU picked up only because the salary cap forces them to pick up second stringers.
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 6:18pm | Report comment
And now they are playing at a club with better coaches and on the top of the table … that says it all really
~~~~~~~
KB
Koala Bear said | September 9th 2009 @ 6:38pm | Report comment
PS and let’s not forget, ver 5 HAL is a far more technically better footballling standard… except for Melb Vic of course as the table reflects
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KB
Koala Bear said | September 11th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Poor young Kruse, a reject from the ROAR FC, but Farina’s gallant servant as first reserve, now the front runner of the Melb Vic FC to replace their second highest profile striker Allslop….
The lads at the Roar were indeed wondering why the sudden interest of Kruse’s reading of Robbie Burns poetry. Whilst sitting and waiting patiently for the call to play at the Roar… Now down south amongst the Portuguese interpreters he sits…
It’s now also very clear that, the “Scottish One” had plans all along for Kruse to join him at Etihad Dome, abandoning his failing Portuguese altogether; to play the Scottish kick and run style, long and hard, up the guts, for the greyhound sprinters…
Alas another promising young career now poised to go to even greater depths of despair… A young Queensland lad to be led to the slaughter like Twaite was, but fortunately saved by the mitis touch of Super Coach, ex Israeli Paratrooper Miron…
Twaite is now back on track as the vice captain of the GCU FC, winning man of the match awards and on top of the HAL’s most technically skilled, enthralling season thus far….
Indeed some say Melb Vic’s demise was because of the “Championship Curse”, a medieval concept throw back from the dark ages … But it really was just winning a comp that had no technical skill and now competing in a far superior HAL season with better players involved and they have stood still … with a manager still playing 1950’s Scottish football…
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KB
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
If they end up winning the double – you could argue that there was merit in leaving the most succesful and biggest club in the HAL.
They’d want to have a good reason for going to a footballing backwater where only 5,000 or so fans turn up.
It’s a long season, and one of the GCU’s objectives has already bitten the dust.
Norm said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:19pm | Report comment
why don’t you stick to afl threads?
Pippinu said | September 9th 2009 @ 11:24pm | Report comment
are you KB’s son?
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Pippi Boy,
why don’t you listen to my son Norm…? and stop with all of this arse licking…
Norm, well said son….
~~~~~~~
KB
Norm said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
thanks papa smurf
Robbos said | September 10th 2009 @ 6:40am | Report comment
I think you will find that Twaite is a good player but had for whatever reason a bad year with MV.
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
I also had a high opinion of Thwaite before he went to MV and am glad he is turning it arround.
Simmo said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
it’s “Twaite” – that’s what it says on the back of his strip
Kurt said | September 10th 2009 @ 3:04am | Report comment
And don’t forget these:
1) Easy to get a car park (due to the tiny crowds)
2) Plenty of space to spread out once in the stadium (due to the tiny crowds)
3) Peace and quiet during the games so you can focus on doing a crossword or reading a good book (due to the tiny crowds)
4) Plenty of opportunities to have a whinge with your fellow supporters about how your sport is discriminated against by the big bad Australian media
5) A good chance to reminisce with your fellow Brits about the home country.
Robbos said | September 10th 2009 @ 6:44am | Report comment
Thanks Kurt, never thought of those ones. And Pip calls your comments constructive ala Michael C.
The proof is in the pudding.
No problems you having these opinions, we are all open to them, just don’t understand the need to post.
Kurt said | September 10th 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
Just a bit of a boring day in the office really. Sometimes I feel like making constructive comments, other times I feel like teasing soccer fans. After all it’s not like anything we say on this site has the tiniest degree of relevance to the real world, it’s just a bit of fun.
Robbos said | September 10th 2009 @ 7:33am | Report comment
Fully understand, I sometimes feel that way too about AFL, throw in the odd negative comment, but then you get the Wrath of the AFL evangelists, the protectors of all things foreign & evil. Sometimes they double tag or even triple tag (isn’t that something you do in AFL tagging)you on this forum, so I’m careful to earn such wrath when only being bored.
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
Robbos,
don’t worry about Bozo-Kurt he was once a piece of 4×2 block of wood now fashioned into a clown puppet… He only comes out in the grave yard shift to make his contribution when his evangelist, ventriloquist, master performer, of Wally World USA is a sleep… A slow day at the office he says, more likely getting out of his wooden chest where he spends most of his productive time to make another one of his humourless contributions on a Football threat… While all of his fellow Marngrook followers are fast asleep bored to death with his Grooky comment contributions…
~~~~~~~~
KB
Kurt said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Fair play to KB, I think this post contains the largest number of weird visual metaphors and weird,slightly indecipherable insults I’ve seen for some time. Nice work.
Kurt said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Well it would at most be triple-tagged because as far as I can tell there are only three AFL supporters on this entire website. So we need to stick together…
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
Gosh don’t tell me I put your little red pinky nose out of joint … What time is it over in Wally World USA, 3am..?
No problem, stick together on a Marngrook thread, not on a Football thread … You have no interest in Football, nothing fair to say on the Football thread… Why do you bother…?
~~~~~~~~
KB
Pippinu said | September 10th 2009 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Robbos
I said Kurt and MC do not denigrate other particpants, unlike a couple of your best mates.
In any event, even in this instance, Kurt’s comment does give us all a reason to pause and reflect, so from that point of view, one could argue that the comment was constructive.
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
ha, ha, ha, are you serious….? another glorious piece of arse licking Pippi boy… Let us remember this is a Football thread not an AFL Grooky thread… Stick to what you guys know best the modern game of Grooky
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KB
albatross said | September 10th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
He’s one of those interesting people who can turn anything into the truth.
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
You mean his bullshit into what he believes is the truth ….
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KB
Robbos said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Funny Pip, I do recall KB as being a Carlton fan & abit of a dual follower of football & AFL, though a bigger followere of football. I wonder what caused him to be so anti ‘The Australian game’ (I still find that so hard to write, but I persist).
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Robbos,
yes I did have a soft spot for the Carlton Blues tho be it at an arms length , but the evangelistic, ventriloquist, master performer, Pippi boy, and his cast of puppets on the Roar have turned me off forever … In fact I have become very anti Grooky these days…
Now that the HAL and the Australian National Football Team is here to stay … I don’t need the other codes so much … But I will continue to attend the odd Titans vs Rabbitohs match on the Gold Coast..
~~~~~~~
KB
Kurt said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Hey KB, we have something in common – being completely turned off a football code due to its supporters!
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
eeerr then Kurt, don’t post on the “Football Thread” and then you won’t be turned off… Will you…!!!!
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KB
Pippinu said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Robbos
I once said to you that over a lifetime it’s impossible to predict precisely how you will feel about different things. There are many twists and turns in the journey that is life.
Once upon a time I was a rabid azzurri supporter and occasional Socceroo fan.
Now I am far more interested in the Socceroos than the azzurri (although old age has ensured that I am no longer rabid) – but if either are on – I’ll make an effort to get up all hours to watch it.
The one constant is that no matter where I have lived in my life, I have never forgotten where I came from – and that’s Footscray – and it’s impossible for me to imagine never being a bullies supporter (even though the strength of that attachment can wax and wane, depending on what else is happening in my life).
It’s all normal – and if KB has less of an interest in the AFL – I would say that’s all quite normal as well – and if he now feels a very strong attachment to GCU – I would say that is to be expected – why wouldn’t you if you lived anywhere near the Gold Coast?
Robbos said | September 10th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Yep over the years I stuck true to Derby County, despite never setting foot there & not them performing at the level they were when I was a starry eye teenager.
I’ve had many opportunities to change & sort of did during 3 years living in England, but when I got home a old school friend said, but I thought you were Derby & he was right. Thru thick or thin.
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Normally I would be a bit miffed by Kurts comments but living in South East QLD and hearing the replies from the clubs on 442 regarding the Ticket prices(of GCU and the Bne Roar) I have come to the painful realisation that despite being a life time football fan I am in a demographic (person with young family and avg income) that is not supposed to support the A league.
So go for it Kurt, rile em up.
Koala Bear said | September 10th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
AndyRoo,
After reading that same article in the 442 site I am miffed why the prices in South East Qld are the highest in the land… I am a SFC supporter, but as I live on the Gold Coast I am grateful to be able to attend live games with my family and watch good football at any price… Last week we saw the GCU v SFC with a mere 6,800 supporters but the atmosphere was an incredible Footballing experience…
A few years back I attended a game of Grooky, Nth Melb vs Collingwood at Carrara on the GC with my late next door Collingwood neighbour and it was a total bore… The only chant they knew was, “clap, clap, North Melb, clap, clap … clap, clap”, you know the one I mean, which only the Grooky supporters know or the “Let’s go Melb, let’s go”… As far as a football atmosphere experience goes that was a load rubbish …
Now let me give you the Gold Coast Un FC experience lesser numbers but 50 times the decibel noise; now that the Gold Coast is here and building, I am prepared to pay the $29 for a real game of Football…
~~~~~~
KB
mahony said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Kurt – sStill a child eh….?
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
I went too the GCU vs Roar game and it was fantastic and I would say worth the money.
But ever since the arrival of bubs I really feel uncomfortable not getting more value for my dollar when it’s spent on something just for me. I will hopefully get to a game in early October when the wife will be visiting my mother in law (one ticket by itself is fine, it’s when you start paying for a couple of adults and one of them isn’t that into football that the price really hurts) and that will be it for the year.
I have been a big spruiker for he HAL in the past but I feel a little shy about it now, after all I won’t be attending most of the games because of the price why should I expect someone else.
I guess it’s the clubs doing the right thing to remain viable during the growing pains period but I was glad some other fans felt the same as money matters are an awkward discussion.
Just a little hard to accept I shouldn’t be going to the game when you grow up being able to attend Socceroo games and now have to think about attending the new NSL.
Then I saw the prices for the Fury and if you lived in Townsvile it would be a crime not to get season tickets! I hope they hit the magic 12k mark they need soon.
AndrewM said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Ticket prices are pretty outrageous when compared to the other sports.. I know things will get cheaper when the next deal is done but that is some years away.. Hopefully they will see this as a priority to fix.. Play the games out of other stadiums if need be and subsidise the ones that cannot be.
Be great if the ticket prices were the same nation wide, 15 bucks each to sit wherever.. and family tickets for 40 bucks. Lets face it to watch it on foxsports might be only 50 a month and the whole family can watch it week in week out.
So pricing will hurt the crowd numbers this season but i do think we will reach a 15k average or so by the end of the season. Looking forward to going to my first game this weekend sydney fc vs god!
Pippinu said | September 10th 2009 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
Tickets will be cheaper in three years time?
I’m not sure if the world works like that.
Realfootball said | September 10th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
If you are a new business in a competitive market, you discount to get your foot in the consumer door. This is basic marketing. Why have Gold Coast Untited not grasped this basic fact? Or the Roar, because 4 years still makes you the new kid on the block? And I say this as a season ticket holder, so I can’t be accused of not supporting my local club, which is GCU.
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
i have to admit i am happy with the HAL on a couple of fronts.
1. i also agree the standard has risen and this is mainly due to gcu and sfc. gcu play the best counterrattacking football ever witnessed in australia and sydney play with more tactics and system then most other teams. i think for all the other teams, the success of those 2 will be a wake up call for how we need to play to improve our game. i wont lie i want lawrie mckinna, david mitchell, ernie merrick and ian ferguson out. realllllllllly badly want them out that is. if we have coaches like that we wont continue to improve and can play as badly as their homeland plays, and yes scotland is very poor at the moment. i am excited about melbourne heart and their desire to bring in non-scottish euro coaches, its only good for the growth of the game.
2. i also quite happy with the way sfc conducted their pre-season, considering we have football players flowing left right and centre, our biggest challenge is to get them attending, sfc did the right thing and their attendances are up despite being on the busy end of the nrl.
i do have my problems with the a-league tho.
1. as i mentioned the scottish coaches. i could understand if we were using dutch or croatian or whatever coaches and they did not perform, at least they come from a good football pedigree. scotland is not a good football pedigree, they havent made a major tournament in years, they lose to macedonia and get slaughtered by norway. their league is very very poor in standard and all they do is play the typical brittish kick and chase style. if this is what we want to move away from, then why on earth do we have them coaching our teams. lets not forget ernie merrick used to coach the VIS and when you consider how we whing about the technical standard of our players, coaches like that were the reason. (thank god for versleijen).
2. i think some of our teams really need to take their heads of you know where and stop acting like a corporation (act like a club). the prices of some of the clubs are fkn ridiculous despite what archie fraser has to say. furthermore, mvfc still has not agreed that they made a mistake when they started telling their supporters where to sit, what flags they can bring etc.
3. during pre-season, for gods sake connect with the community. stop this rubbish playing tianjin teda in china or local teams behind closed doors. sydney did the right thing, why isnt every1 else following.
crowds are a good reflection, because honestly even i am getting slightly put off by the inadequate management of mvfc
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
For me its not so much the nationality, it’s more the style.
If they were Scottish coaches that were attacking minded and trying to win the league then I wouldn’t mind. Frank Farina’s not really a great coach based on how little the young players seem to be improving but I think I give him a pass mark in that he does get his team moving and playing an attacking style of football.
So even though he is not a great manager at least if we had 10 Franks we would have an entertaining league. Miren seems a better version of Frank, 10 Mirens really would be a league worth watching!
McKenna is definitely a negative coach and to that extent I won’t cry when he moves on but like Vidmar is on a budget. This year brought in Travis and Mcglinchy which are interesting players. Mcglinchy especially was described by Celtic fans as technically good but small. Not the stereotypical McKenna signing. He has done a good job so I wish him well in his next job…hopefully in Scotland and soon.
Foster seems to rate Vidmar as good as Lavitka so whether that’s genuine or as a result of them being in the national team at the same time (got to look after your mates) I don’t know as I don’t watch enough of Adelaide. I have always been impressed with what I have seen though and hope the Pissants get some money soon.
Ferguson doesn’t seem a great coach, but the Fury do play some nice football at times so I will give him a little more time.
Ernie well, I don’t know about Ernie. Sometime he plays 3 strikers, he brought in Fernandez and Fred, he has filled gaps midseason admirably with Kruse and Lejir and has won two championships.
He also is responsible for some pretty clueless performances, plodders in midfield and Kevin Muscat.
Herbert and Mitchell I really don’t rate yet but also they’re both at far away outposts so harder to judge. Mitchell has done well recruiting and Herbert’s team seems to be capable of scoring goals but can’t defend. Sounds ok to me
I like Cullina, he plays Pafta and Song in the starting line up and I really enjoyed SFC’s ACL Campaign when he was in charge. Power to him.
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
i need to alleviate my point a bit more so get rid of confusion.
we need coaches to bring us to the next level, ones which play a proven system. the scottish system is not proven in fact their quite hopeless. football is the main sport and they perform terribly in it. look at dutch of croats which for such a small nation do so well. we need these types of systems to lift our game NOT the old school british system.
i know nationality doesnt matter and if you look at alex ferguson hes a gun and scottish too. but the systems these guys bring here are reminiscent of the old nsl (which i rate is better than the spl). we dont want to be on par with our countries, we want to be better than them.
just look at how japan and korea are doing with their dutch, brazilian and balkan coaches.
David V. said | September 11th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
It’s funny how Scotland produced plenty of technically gifted players in the past- who could forget Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Hope, Alex Young, Bobby Collins, Bertie Auld, Jim Baxter, Ian McMillan and Davie Cooper just to name a few. And who could forget Gary McAllister, now there was a classy and cultured footballer.
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:31pm | Report comment
There is a timetable in place that eventually all coaches in the HAL will have to possess a pro license so that should help.
I knew what you meant about the coaches that aren’t really technique focussed I just ended up on a tangent.
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
na na i understand, im on a tangent too because i feel so passionately about this. i hold a view similair to craig fosters anyway.
we dont need coaches which focus on physicality because really in this landscape many kids will play afl and rugby and football, allowing them to develop physicality anyway. we need technique, badly. our players dont have powerful shots, they dont react well to constant pressure and they just dont dribble enough. i cant blame any1 because really, football has only existed in australia as a professional sport for 5 years. japan still have 13 years on us. but we want to make it to that level and need to bring in new systems
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
in fact, our coaches need coaches. we cant build messi’s or ronaldo’s if our coaches here cant foster them. cahill and kewell had guidance of good coaching to make them even better, thats what we need. we have the potential players but we just lack the guidance to take them to the next level. i think verseijan is a gold mine, im really happy hes there. im a fan of what han berger has done too. we need more of these guys, we need them to get the locals up to scratch because right now their not.
i need to add, i think viddie, farina and bleiberg are decent. i really like those guys, but some of the anti football you see with central coast is a complete shamble to the system. mckinna should switch to afl (i reckon hed be a gun afl coach) with his kick and chase and outmuscle the opponent strategy. whilst this used to suit nsl, its not good if our a-league will make it to the next level
AndyRoo said | September 10th 2009 @ 7:20pm | Report comment
Amen
i think there have been a lot of positive signs that people realise it is all about technique.
Bit of a worry thought that GVE didn’t have confidence in Pafta though and left Newcastle to take on a position in the youth system.
melbvictory87 said | September 10th 2009 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
i just want to add, i am extremely proud of how our league is progressing. in 5 years so much has changed. so many people who hated the game have attended a game or two and watched more, so their mentality can shift. we have expanded and tapped into new markets for resources. we have a nyl which if cared for properly will allow our clubs to be football factories. the standard is up due to better imports and better coaching (lavicka). its so multicultural now and just look how many internationals our fledgling league now has (this would have been unthinakble), even better were going to be getting more internationals. and now our players are being hunted not only by europe but by asia too (on million dollar contracts). the leagues gone so far and it was such an honour watching it develop. may it keep progressing even further!!!!! love my HAL
Midfielder said | September 10th 2009 @ 10:11pm | Report comment
Andy
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/MrCelery/NoOne.jpg
You and many like you cannot see pass your own bias …. the Mariners play as good as other teams … the standards you apply against us you do not apply against others… our mid field will tear other apart and we will be in the grand final … but each year people say we will come last … and when we don’t out come insults as to why…. just for the record a thread I wrote on the Mariners forum before the season started …. copied below for you …. enjoy ………..
HMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm if you listen to the media, the Mariners, are a tad above cavemen status when it comes to playing..
Heard it all before, Fozza analysis was one lower English league defender signed, coached by a Scotchman … Wow we are gone… NOTHING could be further from the truth ……..as FFC Mariner only if we change our name to Athletico Gosford, would the media give us some cred.
Our true position, we have signed five players and still have a number on trial.. Signings to date are Michael McGlinchey (an Attacking mid /striker), Shane Huke (defensive mid), Nick Travis ( box to box mid), Chris Doig (central defender), Matthew Lewis (youth league mid), plus we still have a number of people trialling.
McGlinchy was offered a place at Man U & Celtic just over three years ago, took Celtic and has played for Scotland under 20. Injury has kept him out the last couple of years … Travis will be the surprise packet of the league fast, great pass ,and again young only 22. Both players attempting to rebuild there stalled career after injury. Many football folk have judged Huke as a potential Halroo he is very good at closing play down an excellent signing. Doin & Travis have an essential ingredient all clubs need and the Mariners have lacked to date. They are players with a little mongrel in em. Returning from injury, Elrich, in 2006 the next on the plane to the WC has a lot to prove. Mrdja another highly skilful player, said to be free from injury this season.
We will make the finals and our midfield is very similar to the Man U midfield that took the treble..
Beckham, Scholes, Keerne, Giggs … Elrich, Travis, Huke & Caceres… Elrich will provide those balls into a fast running attack of Simon & McGlinchy, Travis is like Scholes a great box to box mid with a little mongrel. Huke like Keno our defensive hub, and finally Caceres to attack and run at players like Giggs…
It is an interesting and has gone under the radar that the Mariners have signed two players.. three years ago…. who where possible bench players in the EPL.. but their careers as I said before stalled by injury.. our medical staff believe they have recovered. … This strategy of using young players attempting to prove they are EPL ready could or will add a dimension to the Mariners the like of which the A-League has never seen before..
Meaning we have two players in Travis, McGlinchy who will be playing to prove they are ready to return to the EPL.. Huke also wanting to go back to Europe… add the return of Elrich who wants his Socceroo right mid position back … the Mariner signings have the potential to tear the A-League apart.
In closing every year we are written off as having no hope .. this year it has been a constant attack.. we don’t mind being underdogs …. We do tire of the some of the Media and there analysis .. Not because there may not be some grains of truth in what is said ………more when things are done very well no comments are made….The perfect example the Mariners Centre of Excellence a 60 + million investment in technical improvement rarely if ever talked about.
I remember a chant from Hal 1 that is as true today as it was in Hal 1… It goes …
“”” Nobody rates Us
WE don’t Care”””
David V. said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:19am | Report comment
Midfielder, come on… Caceres is gone, and is Travis comparable to Scholes? Scholes didn’t even play in the final. By going over the top (which no offence seems to be a habit) you miss those important facts.
AndyRoo said | September 11th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
I did give some credit to Lawrie for Travis and McGlinchy but I can’t help it, whenever I watch them play it’s not a pretty sight. Sometimes because of there play but sometimes because of how good they are at disrupting their opposition.
Whatever the reason which ever game involves the Mariners has the least appeal to me as a spectator.
Pippinu said | September 11th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Meaning no disrespect to Mid – but it’s because the words: rough, tumble and all over the shop readily come to mind.
Realfootball said | September 11th 2009 @ 11:33am | Report comment
No way round it, Midfielder, for most A-League supporters, the Mariners are a blight on the competition. I sincerely hope you are right in your optimistic take, but my feeling is that McKinna is simply past his useby date in this competition. For the development of kind of football most of us want to see, I have to say – without intending to be uncharitable – that I sincerely hope that the Mariners don’t do well this season, because otherwise nothing will change at the club, and McKinna’s brand of football will get a life extension it doesn’t deserve. You are right, you shouldn’t care that nobody rates you, but you should care about the kind of brainless muscle football that McKinnna promotes.
Chop said | September 11th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
I love it !
As a mariners member, supporter of a club that started from scratch (Most a-league at least had a state league side associated with it) I love the fact that people from lots of the other clubs (especially Sydney and Brisbane) say we play ugly football as some sort of justification for losing to the Mariners…..
It’s ok people, I hope your teams continue to look pretty and lose to the Mariners…..
Realfootball said | September 11th 2009 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Talk about missing the point.
Chop said | September 11th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
David V. said | September 11th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
One’s weird over-the-top rants aren’t guaranteed credibility too
Realfootball said | September 11th 2009 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Mine, David V? Sorry, you are too cryptic. No idea what you mean.
David V. said | September 11th 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Not yours, more Midfielder’s rant above which (without causing any insult of offence) are typical of him going over the top reacting to criticism. A lot easier when you’re calm and collected in conveying your point.
Realfootball said | September 11th 2009 @ 6:01pm | Report comment
Agreed. The defensiveness of Mariner fans is a reflection of their unease with their team, I suspect.
David V. said | September 11th 2009 @ 8:22pm | Report comment
Heh, just go through previous threads and see what I mean by over the top!
Realfootball said | September 12th 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Midflielder, I watched the Adelaide/CCM game last night. Did you? That is an awful football team – relentlessly dull and short on quality all over the park. I could not say that there is one player in that side who get a run for Sydney, Melbourne or Gold Coast except for Nicky Travis, and he would struggle. I was reminded of what Ifill said about the wild difference in standards from player to player in the A League, how it varied from Premiership down the line to the Conference. CCM are pure Conference. They will cause problems for better sides because they are fit and a fit low ability team can always harry a better team and make life difficult for them (see it in the FA cup often). I am sure they will give teams like Gold Coast problems for that simple, uninspiring reason. But how you can be proud of a team like this is beyond me.
MVDave said | September 12th 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Realfootball
l.m not a fan of CCM either but…if all teams played the same it would be a very boring league. l like to see varying styles, players with different abilities, coaches that use different tactics, players of various sizes and shapes playing etc etc.
The FA Cup example you use can also be said for the EPL now where the smaller (resources, finances etc) teams play a harrying defensive style vs the big 4.
CCM have a particular style and whilst the current coach is there will probably continue with it. This is a matter for the club and its fans. Remember Wimbledon from the old English Div 1 who were as ugly as sin to watch but still made for some fascinating viewing as they were a small team playing in the big league against the odds. Their players and fans knew it and played accordingly.
Pippinu said | September 12th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
We can all understand the context of the Wimbledon example – so you can say fair enough.
But in the A-League, the teams are very close to each other in standard.
Nevertheless, it’s a fair enough point – there are 10 teams and 10 styles and gameplans should emerge.
Realfootball said | September 12th 2009 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
Wimbledon were entertaining because they had Vinnie Jones. They were entertaining in the same way that a Sam Peckinpah movie is entertaining.
CCM are not entertaining in the same way watching cement set is not entertaining.
There is a big difference.
AA said | October 14th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
Nice sumary Tony, nice.