Comments on: Five reasons I’m loving A-League season five

By: AA

AA — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:41:36 +0000

Nice sumary Tony, nice.

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:41:13 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:04:11 +0000

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.

By: MVDave

MVDave — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:52:11 +0000

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.

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:42:02 +0000

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.

By: David V.

David V. — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:22:39 +0000

Heh, just go through previous threads and see what I mean by over the top!

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:01:56 +0000

Agreed. The defensiveness of Mariner fans is a reflection of their unease with their team, I suspect.

By: David V.

David V. — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:01:05 +0000

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.

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:45:33 +0000

Talk about missing the point.

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:44:42 +0000

Mine, David V? Sorry, you are too cryptic. No idea what you mean.

By: David V.

David V. — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:17:13 +0000

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.

By: mahony

mahony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:51:52 +0000

Kurt – sStill a child eh….?

By: mahony

mahony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:37:40 +0000

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.

By: David V.

David V. — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:34:49 +0000

One’s weird over-the-top rants aren’t guaranteed credibility too

By: mahony

mahony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:34:24 +0000

Agreed! As a MV fan…

By: mahony

mahony — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:33:05 +0000

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.

By: Chop

Chop — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:47:51 +0000

By: Chop

Chop — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:47:34 +0000

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…..

By: Realfootball

Realfootball — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:33:07 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:53:48 +0000

Meaning no disrespect to Mid – but it’s because the words: rough, tumble and all over the shop readily come to mind.

By: Koala Bear

Koala Bear — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:52:41 +0000

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

By: Koala Bear

Koala Bear — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:46:03 +0000

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….

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…

~~~~~~~
KB

By: AndyRoo

AndyRoo — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:36:13 +0000

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.

By: David V.

David V. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:19:19 +0000

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.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:11:47 +0000

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”””

By: AndyRoo

AndyRoo — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:20:24 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:59:44 +0000

Tickets will be cheaper in three years time?

I’m not sure if the world works like that.

By: melbvictory87

melbvictory87 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:54:19 +0000

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

By: Simmo

Simmo — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:43:37 +0000

it’s “Twaite” – that’s what it says on the back of his strip

By: melbvictory87

melbvictory87 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:39:51 +0000

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