By Tony Tannous
January 13th 2010 @ 1:51am
Related coverage
How your A-League team is faring (part two)
Carlos Hernandez of Melbourne Victory challenges Emmanuel Muscat of Wellington Phoenix. AAP Image/Joe Castro
Yesterday, in part one of my look at how the A-League clubs are travelling just over a month out from the finals, I cast an eye over the teams struggling to break out of the bottom five.
Today I look at the top five, and while Sydney FC, with a four point lead, are in pole position to finish first past the post, that could change if the Gold Coast United win their next two games, at home to Newcastle tonight, followed by what is shaping up as a cracker in Sydney on Sunday.
But, while the defending champions Melbourne Victory go through a dip, others are circling, including the Jets and the Wellington Phoenix, which is where I start;
Wellington Phoenix, 28 points (21 games)
Ricki Herbert’s men were brilliant at home against Brisbane on Saturday, as they have been for much of the season.
The addition of Eugene Dadi looks a good one, at least with the rest of this season in mind, and will give Paul Ifill the freedom to buzz about and influence, as he has been doing all season.
Meanwhile, Manny Muscat has slotted in beautifully in the holding role, allowing both Vince Lia and Tim Brown to bomb-on and influence in the front third, while skipper Andrew Durante is leading from the back.
Troy Hearfield has been converted into an attacking fullback, Liam Reddy has been another great pick up, and the team will only strengthen with the return of Ben Sigmund.
Meanwhile, Ricki Herbert has plenty of impact off the bench through the likes of Adrian Caceres and Costa Barbarouses, and the squad is as deep as any in the league.
While they only have two games left at their fortress, Westpac Stadium, they have enough front third quality to give any team a contest before and during the finals. Watch out.
Newcastle Jets, 31 (21)
Another super home performance and another comfortable win over Melbourne, who the Jets historically measure up well against. That is now eight wins in 15 against the Victory, who will be hoping to avoid them in the finals.
Branko Culina’s men are smoking, with six wins from their past eight games, and have had some wonderful performers, especially in the front third.
The likes of Michael Bridges, Labinot Haliti, Sean Rooney and Jin-Hyung Song have been combining brilliantly, and scoring some cracking goals to boot.
A few weeks ago, when the unfortunate Fabio Vignaroli limped out for the season, it was important that Matt Thompson, Jobe Wheelhouse and Adam D’Apuzzo stepped up and maintained the marquee attitude. They have done just that.
Meanwhile, Neil Young is doing well between the sticks and Nikolai Topor-Stanley has been immense in front of him.
Now and again they have a brain-fade, as they did in Perth, and must look to improve their away form in the run-in to the finals, starting tonight.
With four of their remaining six games on the road, Culina has a big job to keep his men playing the quality football they have been, while picking up away points.
If he succeeds, the Jets will go into the finals with much confidence.
Gold Coast United, 34 (21)
After a poor middle third of the season, things have really picked up at Robina, with the inclusion of Charlie Miller and the return of Zenon Caravella and Joel Porter taking plenty of the pressure off Jason Culina and Shane Smeltz.
Culina and Smeltz are flying again, and the team is starting to look more balanced in the front third, with Culina and Caravella free to roam knowing that Miller will be supporting the front two.
There are still a few issues at the back, with only one clean sheet in their past seven games, but at least Jess Vanstrattan is finally playing with some confidence.
Losing Adama Traore, again, is a big blow, and Miron Bleiberg really needs to short things out at the back with some big games coming up against some potent attacks in Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington.
It is a tough finish to the campaign, and if they can start keeping clean sheets, it will give them much confidence for the finals.
Melbourne Victory, 35 (21)
After eight wins in 10 games in the middle of the season, the Victory have only won one of their past five, and that was a 3-0 win away to the struggling Mariners.
Undoubtedly Ernie Merrick’s men are going through a dip, and the worrying thing is the form of the backline, where the likes of Kevin Muscat, Adrian Leijer and Rody Vargas are being exposed far too often.
Merrick looks to be struggling to find the right way to use the three central defenders, with Muscat is being caught drifting into midfield.
Meanwhile, Merrick has problems elsewhere, chopping and changing things in central midfielder and the front third, and seemingly struggling to find a workable solution.
However, the draw might help the Victory, one senses. Three home games on the spin, four in total, and two tasty away trips to Robina and Sydney, have the potential to get the team focussed and flowing in time for the finals.
Sydney FC, 39 (22)
After three losses on the spin in November, Vitezslav Lavicka’s men have now gone six games without defeat, including maximum points from three home games, and one win and two 0-0 draws on the road.
As I noted in my piece on The Roar just over a week ago, they are ticking over like a machine, and have now kept five clean sheets in a row.
The formula has been a football classic, with the performances coming at home and the grind coming on the road, as evidenced in all three recent away trips to New Zealand, Melbourne and Perth.
The latest away performance was messy, but missing key players in Alex Brosque and Simon Colosimo, Sydney again scrabbled superbly, the sign of a desperate team, doing all the little things that lead to success.
At home, Sydney have been irresistible of late.
The key to the rest of the season will be to keep Lavicka’s preferred starting 11 together.
In particular he can’t afford to be without Brosque for too long, for John Aloisi proved again on the weekend that he just isn’t coping at this level. Indeed, right now, Chris Payne looks the next best option after an eye-catching display off the bench.
Missing Sebastian Ryall for a long period may also hurt the Sky Blues, for Ryall may have been able to put some pressure on Shannon Cole at right back.
Apart from a lack of depth and the fact young midfielders Brendan Gan and Ryan Grant aren’t keeping enough pressure on the established midfielders, right-back looks the one major weakness for Sydney, with Cole again exposed against Perth, as he was by Dean Heffernan just before Christmas.
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Al said | January 13th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
It’s a shame that the Gold Coast public is by enlarge lethargic and ignorant of Gold Coast United considering they play some of the best football in the A-League. It was obvious that the Gold Coast public would never embrace them, it is not a football city, it is not really a sports city. It is a shame that a good, entertaining team like them have to play in front of an almost deserted stadium.
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:10am | Report comment
give us time we will embrace the HAL with larger crowds next year..
Beaver fever said | January 13th 2010 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Titans seem to go OK with crowds, the GC is a sporting city there is plenty of sports on offer, its more than possible that the crowd at the GC soccer club reflect the sports popularity or rather lack of it.
MV Dave said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
How many previous attempts did the NRL have at setting up a team on the GC? Titans are 3rd attempt? How have AFL teams gone on the GC…seem to recall plenty of 4 figure crowds over the years.
Troll on other blogs BF or add to the discussion of AFL world domination… its on this site!
Beaver fever said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
I think its a relevant point i make, maybe soccer is just not going to work on the GC, but maybe you are right and they should just persevere, after all next year may bring bigger crowds, interesting how you accuse me of being a trol but then state i should return to the discussion of AFL world domination, is that not pot kettle black.
MV Dave said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
My comment was made under the football tab see above, if it was under the AFL tab you may have had a point.
bever fever said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
My comment was made in responce to Al’s post.
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Bever,
you are trolling as per usual when I make a comment on an AFL tab its quickly removed… Why is that..?
Anyway to answer your question we have had Bears and Kangaroos and now GC17 to enter the foray with $60m of Qld. taxpayers monies with Captain Karmichael Hunt ex Bronco at the helm… what a joke my son… Quite laughable when you really analyse it all…
~~~~~~
AF
jimbo said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
Same thing happens to me AF.
I can’t post on the AFL blogs any more.
It’s a tactic from the paid AFL mercenaries to report any sensible criticism of their game and their administration so it gets removed.
Maybe we should return the compliment and report every one of them when they get on a football blog.
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Jimbo,
yes its funny that Kurt and touchie Bever can troll as much as they like and we are … oops well I have to be careful this may be deleted…. Jimbo read my mind … yes you got it right…
bever fever said | January 13th 2010 @ 6:05pm | Report comment
I did not have a question, just a opinion on why the GC soccer club is only getting three men and a dog to their games.
M1tch said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Titans are 4th attempt
MV Dave said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Thanks. Can you tell us when the 1st NRL team was placed on the GC? l know the Titans are doing very well but would like an indication of how many years it took to get to this point in time.
M1tch said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
1988 with the Gladiators..disaster with the fans
They changed to the Seagulls and based from West Tweed..they went broke but had fans..Chargers made plenty from going to Super League but were a crap team and last count had 3000 fans.
It took the public, administrators, coporates and sponsors to get the Titans off the ground and up and running..
It took 19 years from the first attempt..with a 8 year break but its working, and this is for the number 1 sport in the area..
Dogs Of War said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
It was the Gold Coast-Tweed Heads Giants first. I think that’s your first clue why it didn’t work. QLD/NSW shared club, always doomed to failure!
Seagulls took over when they went bankrupt. And struggled along for many years with poor recruitment.
Chargers were only a casualty of the Super League war, and actually were doing fine on and off the field (actually had $1.5mil in the bank when they were shutdown). It’s criminal that they left the comp in the first place, though the Titans have a much better ground because of it.
AndyRoo said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
I think the reasons why the titans worked are more important.
In all fairness to the other GC teams I don’t think they left anything like a legacy for the Titans to work from. They likely would have prefered a clean slate so that time line isn’t relevant. If the first attempt at Rugby league on the Gold Coast was as well executed as the Titans bid they likely would have worked.
MV Dave said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
Thanks again for the info. Seems GCU need to persist and indications are they will. They also need to do a lot more off the park to gain some decent level of support.
ItsCalledFootball said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
Keep trying Bever Femur,
football has never been more popular in this country and the interest just continues to grow.
PS: we all know you are a paid AFL disruptionary troll.
Elbusto said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
Great commtnt mate- Bever and his mates troll every site but report every one for doing anything vaguely similar. They beat their chests about how bloody marvellous their little game is but act like sooks as soon as anybody disagrees!
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Tony, love your work and for what it’s worth my thoughts and input on you column…
1) Wellington Phoenix:- The best football team to come out of NZ thus far and I’m delighted for them too Tony…
2) Newcastle Jets:- What a shame for the Jets when Fabio Vignaroli limped the field for the rest of the season… But all credit to Branko for getting the team playing some good football without him and Michael Bridges at the pointed end the inspiration for the Jets they would have had another ordinary season without him ..
3) Gold Coast United:- I have been to all the home games so far and you have not mentioned the unsung hero for this team in Steve PANTELIDIS and what his contribution has been for this club… When he plays the defence has real steel about it and when he is out it can be fragile at times… Joel Porter and Charlie Miller (good players) but playing them together leaves the team with less mobility and I don’t like seeing them together on the ground at the same time… When the subs were made last Saturday against the AU with James BROWN and Andrew BARISIC it was noticeable that the game started to swing in favour of the GCU lads with a higher work rate in the middle of the field.. Jess VANSTRATTAN is fast becoming the best keeper in he HAL with his intelligent dispatching of the ball, he hardly hoofs it up field and releases the ball to one of the two sweepers or one of the back four in front of them to keep possession… I am sure he has modelled his game on the Juve Italy keeper Baffon (sp) … Adama TRAORE what a great loss for the club but we hope to see him back in a few weeks time for the finals—we hope..
4) Melb Vic:- Tony I won’t comment on the enemy
5) Sydney still have a lot to come on the field and are peaking just at the right time albeit for an ordinary performance in Perth.. Foxe coming to the club has given the club more options in the back four if (big if) he can get his body back into Football shape—he could even force his way into the finals contention… I would be delighted to see that happen for the big fella—he has had no luck since coming back home to Australia…
~~~~~~~
AF
Ben said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:22am | Report comment
It’s not really even a city Al!!!
Griffo said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Have to agree with your assessment on the Jets Tony. A win tonight against Gold Coast will really give Branko’s team confidence heading into Brisbane, and set them up for lunge at the top. As long as they overcome the seemingly ‘holiday’ mode the team can get away from home. Will be interesting to see the outcome for Joel Griffiths, if only to see his reaction if he has to play for the Jets. Branko has been quoted as saying that, with Joel wanting to be anywhere other than in Newcastle, he may not even get on the park. Why would he, if he hasn’t trained since Beijing’s championship and the Jets in fine form.
Tony Tannous said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Griffo, I think it would be really dangerous to upset the balance of the squad by making a player who doesn’t want to be there play.
He’s an excellent striker at his best Joel, but really needs to have his head and heart in it.
Griffo said | January 13th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Agreed Tony, I was talking from Branko’s point of view – I would be surprised if Joel plays this year, unless there is a run of injuries during his three game stint, and he is even around and training. All academic as there is no word yet on the verdict…
Tony Tannous said | January 13th 2010 @ 10:57am | Report comment
AF, good point about learning from Buffon, Jess sure does have an air of the Buffon calms about him….just needs to deliver it consisitenly over the next 3 to 4 years, and then we can all start getting excited.
As for “yellow-card-a-game” Panta, he’s a real enforcer, and as you say, an unsung hero, but he is a marked man by refs (unlike, say, Kevin Muscat, who gets away with plenty), and generally lives up to expectations. Because GCU have alot of good ball users, Panta is important at breaking up play and giving them a hard edge.
But he can also be a liability, and is as likely to miss a crucial game due to suspension as he is to get sent off in a grand final, or premiership plate decider.
Going to be interesting seeing who Miron uses in the back 4 and holding role for the remainder of the season, I think he has to get the balance right here
Really looking forward to tonight, should be a beauty, the tactical battle should be a gem…enjoy the game..
As for Hayden Foxe, I’m not quite as convinced about the signing…
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Tony,
I’m sure Branko has made with a few moblie calls today… 
Gold Coast to win 2-0
thanks for your reply I shall enjoy the game tonight; it should be very interesting—if Jason can get past his father’s mind games..
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
“As for Hayden Foxe, I’m not quite as convinced about the signing…”
Tony,
can you elaborate a bit more with your views on Foxe… Lavicka must have seen something in him at training to sign him, apart from just injury cover. He is very experienced and still at the age of 32 I think he could work out OK… I’m not sure I like Keller anymore with his long ball persistence, he gives me the impression of wanting to be a star with these long balls, instead of playing it from the back thru the midfield… He is not what I expected and hoped for, for SFC…
Tony Tannous said | January 13th 2010 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
AF, what’s the vibe around town about tonight’s game, any has there been any special promotion? or is it far too quite?
I know the FFA has taken over the marketing of GCU games, but have you seen a presence/change on the ground?
It’s holiday season, so off you go, down to the beach and spread the word
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Tony,
to be honest I don’t know how it will pan out tonight (fingers crossed) far as crowd numbers are concerned, but the Gold Coast Bulletin have been great and very supportive of GCU FC from the first home game with special editions for the GCU coming matches… I’m a Sydney expat retiree and I’ve haven’t bought today’s Bulletin yet so I will go down to the shops and have a look… There’s sure to be some write up in it… But mainly the word is getting around through the local junior clubs directly, inviting them to come along to the games…
About a month ago we had a march pass before the kick off of the game GCU v Glory (?) with about 15 junior clubs (?) carrying their banner with squads of youngster up to 15 or so getting clapped by the pundits as they marched past… A fair lot of community work is now being done since the 5k cap which was a tragic event in the club’s history and hopefully never again will we see such a ridiculous concept ever being tried again…
With the new Fox deal reported in the Sydney Telegraph (Fox $300m new TV deal) some time back that clubs will be able to avoid such drastic measures again…
Al said | January 13th 2010 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
The prices were quite ridiculous inititally for games in the Gold Coast i’ve been led to believe, has this been a major factor in keeping people away or is there just no real support for the club?
M1tch said | January 13th 2010 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Both..before they were given a licence there was no promotion at all. They needed to play trails and a-league games last season to get people interested.
Promotion has been ordinary, local radio stations do their bit but to be honest support for a a-league team wasnt there, but they cant pack and go, they gotta stick with it.
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
There is a hard core of 4+k for the club we have had 7k for the Fury about that for SFC and 10k for the Roar for the home matches at Robina still a lot of untapped English who are now starting to show some real interest like my neighbour across the road a Birmingham FC supporter.. This will take time to build and I think we will grow next year… I’m a SFC supporter that will eventually become a one club man… But for now I will support SFC and GCU as my teams
Dogs Of War said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
The prices for the Titans games are some of the highest in the NRL. It will be interesting to see how the AFL plays this game. Will they subsidise AFL games to attract families to the games (Free tickets help, but people only return if the price is right). In turn forcing a pricing war for the entertainment dollar?
Al said | January 14th 2010 @ 8:18am | Report comment
There is no doubt that the AFL will make tickets affordable and also hand out a whole heap of freebies. If there is one thing they do know how to do well it is the promotion of their game. In the long term however the product isn’t there and besides a hardcore band of victorian refugees, no one is going to care.
Towser said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Unknown for me as a long time football follower the Gold Coast. To be honest the amount of times the area would have crossed my mind in relation to football is zilch,prior to GCU.
Every other area in Australia has crossed my football radar over the years even North Queensland & Tasmania,but Gold Coast a big blank. Wont say its not disappointing(poor support) but no suprise given a football history void.
Even more disappointing because given the same team,backer in another area(Canberra Wollongong maybe) it could have been a goer.
Still theres relatively poor drawing teams in the J-League compared to the average(19500) with the lowest 10000 & the highest 45000. Think the GC can do better than present ,but if they dont its no tragedy. The Crack in the A-League is in the big cities ,particularly Sydney,Brisbane ,Adelaide & Perth. They need to lift their game considerably in relation to crowds not the Gold Coast,which after all if you remove the holiday glamour tag is just another small provincial town compared with the capital cities.
realfootball said | January 13th 2010 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
Without wishing to denigrate GCU (of which I am a member), the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the eating says that the A League would have been better off with Palmer buying the Roar and having one well funded team for GC and Brisbane. After all, its only an hour on the free train to Suncorp, and in the Roar’s heyday, the train was always full of orange shirts travelling up for the game.
There seems to be a core of 4.5 thousand fans who turn up to Skilled Park regardless. It will be interesting to see what the finals crowds are like.
MV Dave said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
It would seem from afar (Melb) that the best GCU could hope for is around 10,000. Now if they can work to get the ave up to 10,000 over the next 2-3 years that would seem to be a good result. Will BRs crowds get back towards 12-15,000 ave if they start off next season with decent prices, decent home form etc?
Australian Football said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
RealFootball,
I am not sure where you live but I live at the far end of the Gold Coast and the train trip up, 90klms away was a turn off… I only managed one game for the Qld ROAR v Melbourne Vic in version one HAL… So thumbs down to the travel for me and now my family and I can go to one of the best stadiums in Australia and watch the GCU FC and the odd Titans game against the Robbitohs thumbs up and thank you Mr Clive Palmer for bringing football to the Gold Coast … I’m off to Fortress Miron shortly (alone to night) so c’mon you beach boys… 2-0
~~~~~~~~
AF
Towser said | January 13th 2010 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
I’d just like to add one more thing about GCU. Clubs in close proximity can use the strength of an already well run estabilished club with strong support as a springboard for themselves. For Titans read Broncos in as Mitch says above the main sport in the area.
For GCU read Roar. Nobody in their right mind would suggest that The Roar have ticked any of the above Bronco boxes. Add to fact that in the area (SEQ) at least in a spectator sense , there is no history of football having had a large fan base. At least for the local product anyway.
Lived here 30 years & until the last five years apart from the Strikers GF win in 1997 no crowds over 20000 till Lowy era.Even 10000 crowds as scarce as Rudd in Australia.
More relevant to the discussion none on the Gold Coast, with memory saying the present crowds at GCU are mountains compared with past molehills for football in the area.
Real Footballs suggestion above has merit. But as we all know hindsight is the greatest creator of millionaire wealth on the planet.
Tony Tannous said | January 14th 2010 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Spot on AF, 2-0 it was…
In truth, Newcastle never really looked at the races after playing in sweltering conditions, and with 10 men, on Sunday.
I think they possibly should have lobbied the FFA to move that game forward to Saturday, or Friday night, but they appear hell bent on having all their home games on a Sunday. That cost them.
But that shouldn’t take anything away from GCU’s controlled effort, especially in the first half, where I thought that Jason Culina owned the game.
He was everywhere, setting the tempo, playing the game at his pace.
Thought he was ably supported Caravella, who was outstanding, while the back four were solid. Thought Anderson and van den Brink had their best games for some time.
Up front, Brown did well, giving Elrich constant headaches
Some credit to Branko Culina, who changed things around at the start of the second half, going to a 4-4-2, but after a good start to the 2nd period, they fell away, and only really threatened in the final 10, with a bit of ping-pong football.
The crowd? A tad disappointing it didn’t crack the 5k, particularly after a couple of recent encouraging crowds, the good form of GCU and NJ, and what is at stake for GCU.
Anyway, last night’s result sets up the cracker against Sydney we were all hoping for on Sunday, and I, for one, can’t wait.
Australian Football said | January 14th 2010 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Tony,
I enjoyed the match enormously along with the other 4,853 GCU odd patrons as you would guess… Football Ballet by GCU FC a commanding performance… Yes the Jets paid the price with their home fixture with Melbourne… Crazy they did not try to do something about it…
However, man of the match Caravella tho I believe it was Culina both little mobile men ran the midfield at will at times… But the real architect and I have guessed this before is Okon’s influence at the club; now I’m almost 95% sure of it with “his” structure at the back… You wrote before of the system employed by Miron his 2-4-2-2 and I believe its Paul’s tactics that have taken this club to clear second spot…
At times they seem to play 2-3-3-2 sort of a “W” at the back and a “M” at the top end then back to the 2-4-2-2 when under threat and Culina is dropping back to receive the ball from his sweepers, Bas van den Brink and Kristian Rees playing at times square with Thwaite then the wing backs drop back along side to form the back 4 with two sweepers behind… it has a real Italian defensive look about it and it must be Okon’s influence who has formed this structure at the back which gives Jess Vanstrattan a lot of protection and allows him to throw the ball out with so many options available and retain possession instead of hoofing it up field… (Although you have to at times)
Also the “Managers” must have picked up on not playing Porter and Miller at the same time in the starting line up—opting for more mobility younger player in James Brown… Yep that worked a treat and also my fear that Panta was going to be missed never was a concern with Dino Djulbic taking up the right wing back position and Anderson for the absent Traore never put a foot wrong last night… Smeltz as always dangerous in the top third he and Porter missed two certs between them in the closing stages… But when Culina was replaced with 10 mins left the Jets suddenly looked threatening but to no avail…
I’ll be watching out for your column next week with the top of the table clash with SFC I have to sit on the fence with this one as an expat Sydney boy…
Towser said | January 14th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Tony
Clive Palmer would have been pleased with the last 2 crowds. Now that should fit into the book of “The Worlds Strangest Football Facts” . Very bizarre scenario,needs to be fixed by next season.
I have to admit that as a Roar fan & seeing a team nearby who can actually retain possession is very frustrating.
One wonders that if we could have been the Gold Coast from Season 1, whether the whole stadium,ticketing fiasco,13 wins,18 losses 12 draws at Suncorp etc would have eventuated? Hindsight ,the dreamers crutch.
AndyRoo said | January 14th 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
I doubt the crowd avg for Gold coast will be improving much any time soon. their was a recent interview with Palmer in the Bulletin and next year he is back in control of match day and he made it pretty clear that unless the stadium rent price drops then it will be same old same old.
Australian Football said | January 14th 2010 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
Towser,
Pure Art it was indeed…
I was at Robina last night and it was Football Ballet by the GCUFC, best you come down and join the party… “Football Ballet” I heard that phrase used once before by an English Football commentator describing Barcelona—I have waited a long time to use it in Australia describing an Australian football match—-sheer grace and beauty on the football field…
Towser said | January 14th 2010 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
AF
Wont be down except to see the Roar one day kick (to quote modern vernacular) some butt. Wont happen though unless we get some players who are comfortable on the ball. That is the major difference I noted last night between GCU & the Roar. Never had them except your own CM & he in my book was never a 90 minute player.
NUJ helped in this respect by their style of play,but refreshing anyway to see in the A-League.
Loved the way GCU players even in tight positions turned with the ball & nearly always there was a teammate in a position to receive the ball. Call it “Football ballet ” if you like, for me its creative football.
Roar are supposed to be recruiting more players off season,hopefully some are of the creative variety.
Australian Football said | January 14th 2010 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Towser,
I’m sure it will turn around for the Roar, but last night was some of the best club football I have seen in Australia for a long time and hope one day we will have a league of teams which can produce that sort of entertainment week in, week out.. When that happens you will be able to say with pride Australian football has arrived… Even the GCU warm ups are entertaining and last night was no exception… I get there early to watch the one touch football warm up to try and gauge how they will perform on the night, how hyped up and ready they are for the game, and last night they were great… As it showed in the end they meant business and wanted to win this one comfortably.. In fact I thought the score line flattered the Jets ..
Towser said | January 14th 2010 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Australian Football
The Roar are trialling 3 young Ghanaians.Good move. Unlimited talent in Africa:-
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26584861-5003412,00.html
AndyRoo said | January 14th 2010 @ 4:06pm | Report comment
All 3 are from the u20 world cup winning team
Towser said | January 14th 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
AndyRoo
Leads one to ask the question that if Clives favoured political party was in power,would the stadium rental business be an issue for him?
Australian Football said | January 14th 2010 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
“He said a perfect example of young African talent shining in the A-League was Ivory Coast youth international Adama Traore, who before leg injuries had been one of Gold Coast United’s most consistent performers.”
Towser,
that will be an interesting experiment… Traore is a perl—I hope he stays on at GCU—great to watch
Tony Tannous said | January 14th 2010 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Towser, the news of the Roar looking at young Ghanians, it’s not before time.
Have been saying that we should tap into Asia and Africa since day dot over at TRBA…
It’s taken years, far too long for my liking, but the recruitment this season was the best yet, and hopefully next year is another step forward. God only knows what was going through the heads of recruiters (if you could call them that) in season 1.
I remember season one at the Roar, you actually dished up some decent football, but couldn’t score to save your life…players likes of Osvaldo Carro, Stuart McLaren and Remo Buess were less than memorable…
Anyway, a couple of areas the Roar should be focussing on next year include Fullbacks, Goalkeeper and attacking central mid…
AF, I thought it looked something like this last night;
——————-Jess————–
—————————————
————–VDB——-Rees—————
Djulbic————-Thwaite——–Anderson
————-Culina———————-
—-Caravella——–Miller———Brown
——————Smeltz————–
Earlier in the season GCU were definitley playing two holding mids, but in recent times, you’re right, it has been either Panta or Thwaite holding, with Culina floating about anywhere.
For mine, it looked lopsided on paper, and shaping up, but it seemed to flow pretty well.
When Porter plays he plays higher up, closer to Smeltz, but I thought Brown was more withdrawn, like a modern winger…it was very interesting from Miron…can’t say I was expecting it, and I’m sure it caught Branko by surprise.
I think the point is – be flexible and adaptable with your tactics.
Australian Football said | January 15th 2010 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Tony,
yes that’s pretty much how it was, come to think more about it… Smeltz was clearly at the pointed end alone with Brown just behind with Miller and Caravella hugging the touch line more often then not with some wonderful interplay with Culina in the midfield at times…
I think Lavicka will be studying the DVD all week to try and work out a strategy to nullify Culina and Caravella for the next coming fixture in Sydney. However I would think that Miron/Paul will again change the side a bit and bring in Panta along side Twaite to bring another tough defender because its the away game… At home GCU seem a yard faster then the opposition and can afford to play a lot more creative… In Sydney I think they will sit back a bit more and try to counter attack… Either way a match that will probably be the one that could decide the Premiership if Melb Vic slip up again … I hope lol (Are you watching Melbourne ?
) Tony a draw in Sydney 1-1
~~~~~~
AF