A-League season preview [part two]

MVD & Others We won tonight... sms received from a mate who was at the match.. The Korean just scored - he plays right mid. Goal-mouth scramble after a corner. Can't tell who everyone is because they're wearing the wrong shirts. Hey! Gary Wales just scored - it's 2-0. 3-0. Elrich, who's played well behind the strikers in the 2nd half ... remember a mates report Freezing fingers, hard to sms. Coast dominate 2nd half - Belco barely say the ball. Crowd maybe 1500 or so. McKellar's a great little stadium. No amazing stand-outs. Elrich MOM, maybe. Nearly all chamber from corners. The match was against .. Belconnen United, an ACT team

Thanks Mid Hope that guy sitting near the window was having fun...not so sure. :) They are a break away team and group of supporters...they turned their backs on ManU when the Americans came in and started their own club called FC United of Manchester. They are way down the tiers of non league football but get good crowds being made up mainly of disenfranchised ManU fans. Certainly look like they know how to enjoy themselves!! Good to hear CCM fans have taken the games in Canberra in their stride...sounds like a good excuse for a bus trip and a few drinks. Hope the club does the right thing and organises the buses etc. Pity MV weren't scheduled for Canberra would have had hundreds if not thousands travel up.

MVD This is being planned as the trip song .. watch it is from a Man U trip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL4n5E1VEM8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fmarinators.net%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Ftopic%3D3490.msg108726&feature=player_embedded So hoist up the John B sail, see how the main sail sets call the captain ashore let me go home, I wanna go home This is the worst trip, i've ever been on Comment from our site is typical of local feeling: 4) The pitch at Bluetongue better be like a billiard table when we return. : 5) I do not expect us to become Central Coast Rovers, but if the "Special Relationship" proves to be successful and profitable in players and dollars it may become an annual event. I could cope with one game per year if the comp goes out to 12 teams, but that would be my limit. Could be a fun trip away, especially if the club gets itself organised with buses etc

I think I got this right .. for the Mariners as of today Singed for sure Attacking Mid :Travis Defensive Mid : Huke Central Defender: Doig, Left Mid: Kwassie On Trial Strikers: Wales, McGlinchley, with the assumption these are A-League quality or higher. Note McGlinchley was a Scottish U 20 player had some injuries and wants to prove he is OK again is only 22 I think could be a massive signing if fit. Others on trial not sure of their positions; Lim Dong Sup and Milos Lujic + next week we’ve got three more coming in from overseas. Link http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/mariners-seek-capital-gain-202842 Youth League players Signed Left Back: Sherlock Centre Mid: Lewis Returning from Injury: Right Mid : Elrich Striker: Mrdja Summary 8 new or returning from injury players, plus another 7 players on trial.

...far enough to bring a cut lunch.

Mid So the ground will be undergoing maintenance and thats the reason for the 2 Canberra games? Sounds like the playing surface is going to be poor for some time well into the season. Will you or many others make the trip and how far to Canberra?

Gibbo/Kaz I'm similar - generally speaking - I only want to watch my team playing aussie rules (and lo and behold if any of my kids get in the way while I'm waching!!) - but funnily enough, I watch a fair bit of A-League not involving the Victory. With aussie rules - we all hate each other so much - as you know Kaz - I hate Crows people so much - I can't stand seeing them or their fans on tele!!!

MVD Talk about it ... everyone has the shits up here about it.. Bluetounge is down for maintenance and the surface is being redone.. Why you ask why not in the RL season... because the ground and surface where made for winter sports not summer sports and the maintenance needs to be done as per the schedule of Bluetounge management.

Same Gibbo, grew up around a footy club and only started following football through playing FIFA and then getting dragged along to a match by some rellies - it was love from then on though. And yes, I tend to watch most o/s matches as a neutral, though I follow Chelsea in the EPL and have for nine years now. I do watch plenty of footy when the Crows aren't playing, but my obsession with fantasy AFL might have something to do with that. Before Dream Team I was the same as you, didn't care if it wasn't Adelaide.

just a point on supporting the league first then second team - i'm not sure if anyone on here shares my experience but i grew up in an AFL environment and was only converted to football by playing FIFA video games and then watching the premier league on telly. Now i'm a complete neutral when watching clubs from o/s, whether its english, spanish or otherwise - i just wanna see a couple goals and a good match, or hope for the underdogs to put in a good effort. IMO football has many more neutral supporters than other codes (ie. i'd never consider watching a footy match if Geelong weren't playing, bar the gf or an occasional big clash) so perhaps there is a substantial portion of the footballing market who are just craving good quality entertainment from the league. feirce team loyalty can come later. that said, go Victory... at least until the Heart come around (who'll win me over on the proviso that their kit isn't a total ghey).

Yes - I would think Darwin is a natural for Fury spill over games (and most teams from the South are going to have trouble seeing out the full 90 minutes in those sorts of conditions).

Phutbol I reckon the Townsville "wet" is a fair bit different to the Darwin "wet". The former is bearable - the latter is absolutely and utterly insufferable.

As a Mariners member living in Canberra I think it's the best thing ever....I'm torn between going to watch them tonight in sub 0 temperature or staying home and watching the Ashes....Come to think of it i'm not really that torn after all :-)

Midfielder What's your take on CCM playing 2 of its 'home' games this season in Canberra? Round 5 v PG and Rd 13 v AU in Canberra with CCM members getting in for free. Do the fans at CCM mind losing 2 x home games?

I can genuinely say that I am a supporter of the A-League because I live and originate from an area (NT) that has no A-league team. I love the competition but have no allegiance to any one team. Thats one drawback of a region/city based franchise structure I guess - leaves those regions without one in the cold to some extent. Still, I guess we are a minority in the scheme of things (all for the greater good and all that).... and if the Fury do stage a home game or 2 in Darwin next year then that will give us a psuedo home team :) Just a thought on the Fury too while on predictions - don't underestimate the advantage they will have playing at home, particularly in the 'wet season' (summer) with humidity at 100%. Could be their not so secret weapon. I know most of their squad are recycled southeners but they will have well and truly acclimatised by then. I think it will be worth points to them - probably a small factor in their pre-season win over Adelaide up here too. Perth for a top 2 finish this year too - gonna get my bet on at 15-1 before they announce C.Coyne :)

Fair enough General!!

Thanks Pips, looking forward to AUFC being in the final again ;)

General I'll be rooting for Adelaide next ACL....to suffer more humiliations!!!