Gold Coast United FC poised to make history
Roar Guru By Australian Football, 3 Feb 2010 Australian Football is a Roar Guru
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The Premiership Plate is fast becoming the most sought after trophy that the clubs want to win with first ACL spot up for grabs. This season’s HAL Ver. 5 holds the most exciting finish to an Australian Football season yet.
Three clubs from three different states can take out the Plate ,right down to the last round: Melb Vic, GCU and SFC.
However, will Australian Club Football history be made in Version 5 of the HAL with the Sth East Queensland outfit from the Gold Coast?
Home attendances for the GCU have been abysmal.
However, this has not stopped them from forging ahead with a brand of football that has defined them as being worthy Premiers or both with a Championship double and the Plate.
I have no doubt about that, with their own exciting brand of football created in the main by Bleiberg and Okon coaching partnership with the supporting staff.
The question, though, has to be asked: is that enough to endear them to the Queensland football fraternity?
Judging by the home gates, it seems not. But the Queenslanders are starting to warm to this great footballing outfit.
I am sure the Brisbane Roar FC would’ve been recording record home gates if the team’s squads and coaching were swapped over. But for the tempestuous GCU FC, not so.
The club had to do some smart PR and marketing to win over the hearts and minds of the Queenslanders in the main to back them for the HAL final, because of some big mistakes that were made with crowd capping and high priced ticketing, and an owner who had unceremoniously declared they would enter the comp and win it undefeated in their first year.
However, this has now all been rectified. But will it have been in time when, and if, they make the final of the Championship?
I am almost convinced that the Premiership and Championship double is in the hands of Clive Palmer’s GCU FC – if a few things go their way.
So the question that has been playing on my mind is, should it be played on the Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium or in Brisbane at the magnificent Suncorp stadium?
I think a good venue would be the Suncorp Stadium Brisbane (home of the NRL Broncos and the ROAR FC), a lucrative 55k capacity attendance and a windfall for the FFA.
Not since the old glory days of the old Brisbane Strikers has Queensland had a team on the cusp that can go all of the way.
Will we see a team based in Queensland play out the final of the HAL? I think yes.
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February 3rd 2010 @ 12:53pm
Midfielder said | February 3rd 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
KB
Does this mean you are swapping you blue pills for yellow ones ….
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:14pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Midfielder,
btw my original article was twice as long but it was cut by the Roar moderators—–some wonderful descriptivisms of CCM in it. I once read from a Craig Foster’s article
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AF
February 3rd 2010 @ 1:37pm
whiskeymac said | February 3rd 2010 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
I wld think that an combo of MV, SFC and GCU wld make for a good final, but that MV and SFC wld be best of all i fplayed in Melbourne. You;d hope the atmosphere wld be unrivalled in the HAL for that game. Worse case wld be Perth v Phoenix, in NZ…?
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:04pm
Towser said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:04pm | Report comment
Speaking Of Adelaide & the ACL previously,they have signed AdaM Griffiths for that Comp:-
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/reds-snare-adam-griffiths-285882
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:17pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Towser,
Just in time for the ACL with their new Argentinean midfielder it could be just what is needed..
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:29pm
Towser said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Indeed
Maybe the mystery of AU’s demise is that the brilliant run through ACL to WCC was on a higher plane than the A-League.
Coaches dont just become crap overnight,but they can lose the motivating factor & so can players.
In other words “they just couldnt get it up” for the wife after being with the bit on the side.
Some of the stuff AU played in the last ACL campaign was great to watch.
Outplayed by Gamba no doubt in the end, but by A-League standards most matches were a cut above.
Certainly way above what we’ve seen from them this season.
February 3rd 2010 @ 2:58pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Yep, they may need a good break to refresh, or some one like Patrick Kluivert to visit——a legend to go into the team dressing room now and attend a few training sessions—–look at the ROAR and how they responded to a football legend on their bench.
February 3rd 2010 @ 3:18pm
Dogz R Barkn said | February 3rd 2010 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
The Roar won, with quite literally, an ar$ey goal!!
February 3rd 2010 @ 3:50pm
Towser said | February 3rd 2010 @ 3:50pm | Report comment
Dogz R Barkn
Mate as a fan & at home(14 wins 18 losses 12 draws over 5 seasons) I take any Goal scored by the Roar,by any part of the anatomy as a reason to celebrate.
If SVD became should we say aroused & the ball bounced of that part of his aroused anatomy via Reinaldos left nostril into the net off the goa;keepers chin,”What a Goal”
February 3rd 2010 @ 4:18pm
Dogz R Barkn said | February 3rd 2010 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Towser
fair enough – and all strength to you!!
It’s quite funny that the one time we talk about an ar$sey goal – on this occasion – no matter from what perspective you look at it – it’s very difficult to argue with!
SVD celebrated in an emotional matter, and it just goes to show that it doesn’t matter how you put the onion into the bag!
February 3rd 2010 @ 6:57pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
With Towser on this one as Sydney had their chances and fluffed them—-but they will redeem themselves by smashing those elbowing mongrels
who live south of the Murray in the last round. Full house at the SFS will be on hand to watch the Vics go down 2-0.
February 3rd 2010 @ 3:38pm
MV Dave said | February 3rd 2010 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Just wondering AF if you have ever written any episodes for that TV show ‘Fantasy Island’?
Once your bogey team WP has finished ‘Slow Coast’ off this week it will come down to a MV vs SFC final with MV having already picked up the Prems Plate. At least you can say your teams finished 2nd and 3rd!
BTW The mighty MV revealed their ACL kits today…here we go here we go…
BTW2 Chelski 1 Hull City 1
February 3rd 2010 @ 6:47pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 6:47pm | Report comment
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
February 3rd 2010 @ 11:04pm
Moonface said | February 3rd 2010 @ 11:04pm | Report comment
Well said AF.
Looks like a SFC and GCU final with Muscat out and Thompson not 100%.
But who will finish first and who will claim the home GF?
February 3rd 2010 @ 4:15pm
hazza said | February 3rd 2010 @ 4:15pm | Report comment
FFA would be praying for a Melb v Syd grand final. If its in Sydney they better put aside 10000 tickets for all the Melbourne fans who will want to travel for the game.
February 3rd 2010 @ 4:52pm
Realfootball said | February 3rd 2010 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
My tip: GCU pip Melbourne to finish first, them lose to Melbourne over two legs, giving the FFA another Etihad final. GCU beat Sydney in the preliminary final to secure the Etihad rematch.
I don’t think any of the teams outside the top 3 have the quality to make the final. Certainly the last 2 games favour GCU for the plate. Great season, shame about all the empty seats.
February 3rd 2010 @ 6:49pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
That would be a nice outcome.
February 3rd 2010 @ 8:11pm
Lindommer said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
Australian Football? And you barrack for a Queensland team? Surely that’d be for the Lions.
February 3rd 2010 @ 8:21pm
Australian Football said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
Nah I’m not talking about Australian Aussie Rules—-I’m talking about Australian Football. If you have any doubts click on the small image next to my moniker name and it will lead you to my profile.. Only too glad to put you back on track.
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AF
February 3rd 2010 @ 8:48pm
Robbos said | February 3rd 2010 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
The Lions are British, no AF?
February 4th 2010 @ 8:26am
Australian Football said | February 4th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Robbos,
my apologies, of course—-what was I thinking? He was referring to the British Lions UK not the Australian Football-Roos.
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AF
February 4th 2010 @ 9:01am
AndyRoo said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:01am | Report comment
The Lions, their in the Queensland State League. Unless he thinks they still own the Roar
February 4th 2010 @ 9:12am
Australian Football said | February 4th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
AndyRoo,
Who knows what he was thinking—-but I am confident enough to say he was not referring to the state league Brisbane Lions FC.. But then he maybe Frank Farina looking for more compensation dollars
February 3rd 2010 @ 10:58pm
Cpaaa 2018 said | February 3rd 2010 @ 10:58pm | Report comment
The first Queensland team to make history in the AFC… i hope so, because i think Queensland will be waiting a long time for the Roar or NQ to progress. Now this will really give Clive a chance to talk about something else on his business trips instead of mining contracts, the big fellow called it and i hope he gets it.
If Gold Coast does indeed take Premiers or the final or both, i would like to think the state government will also get behind them in promoting Gold Coast/Queensland tourism across Asia…just a thought.
The Golden Boys, just might take it all.
February 4th 2010 @ 2:03pm
realfootball said | February 4th 2010 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
I have to revise my earlier prediction for the season finale. No Thompson and no Muscat means that Sydney will finish second behind Gold COast, not Melblourne. Gold Coast will beat Sydney in the playoff and Melbourne will beat Sydney to meet GCU in the final. Part of this prediction is an FFA conundrum – they will have to move the final to Etihad because 15 k at Skilled Park would (perhaps irreparably) damage the A-League, and Suncorp would be too high a risk. Expect confrontational brinksmanship from Clive Palmer.
February 4th 2010 @ 2:18pm
Towser said | February 4th 2010 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
I wont have that.
The Roar will win their last two games & the cards will fall their way regarding competitors.
From the sixth position Reinaldo will morph into Patrick Kluivert(learning rapidly from his 2 week stint at the Roar) & score a hat trick every match.
GCU will qualify for a home grand Final. Clive will see the Business sense of Suncorp. Sell out 52,000 .Roar win & qualify for the ACL.
Well that was in my dream anyway.
February 4th 2010 @ 2:53pm
Australian Football said | February 4th 2010 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Hmm interesting analysis—so what we may see is an all Queensland final? I also think it will be very difficult to see Melb Vic winning their last two games now that Archie has strained his toenail and with Musky’s untimely elbow dislocation from an illegal x-rated jaw tackle by Culina, which has put Musky out for two weeks. Damn shame, and Culina has gotten off with just a warning…
Typical biased decision from a Queensland judiciary panel. None the less I’m grateful for their leniency on this occasion and that a blind eye was shown to ensue the FFA will get that recorded gate and the 55k full house sign hung outside at Suncorp.
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AF
February 4th 2010 @ 3:03pm
Art Sapphire said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
AF- you will be happy to know that Victory will in all likelihod play strikerless tomorrow. Kruse is 50-50, meaning that he will probably start off the bench,if at all, and only come on in the second half if we are not winning by then. I still can’t see us not winnning tomorrow though.
Your boys on the other hand will slip on a big banana skin called the Wellington Phoenix.
Just need the Sydney boys to get homesick out west in Parramatta and my weeknd will be complete
February 4th 2010 @ 3:19pm
Australian Football said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Art,
Kruse out too? Damn shame
February 4th 2010 @ 3:05pm
Towser said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Glad you can see AF that it is all falling into place for the Roar.
February 4th 2010 @ 3:23pm
Greg said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:23pm | Report comment
What happends if the Gold Coast get a home final????
Will they play at Suncorp?????
February 4th 2010 @ 3:33pm
M1tch said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
No way
February 4th 2010 @ 3:38pm
Australian Football said | February 4th 2010 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Far too early to say—but I would support it.. They would get over 40k for sure if SFC made the final
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AF