If you missed it, Bleiberg – AKA the walking headline – blasted Victory for their physical and ‘dirty’ style of play, claiming they ‘fixed up’ Bas van den Brink who was injured early in the game and physically targetted other players including new Korean signing Kim Sung-Kil.
To be honest, I hadn’t seen the rant coming. The game appeared no more physical than any other.
But Bleiberg insisted: “What happened today was a war in the first half. It was dirty, it wasn’t the A-League the way I want to see it.”
This about a side who committed only nine fouls throughout the 90 minutes (in comparison to Gold Coast’s 15) and picked up only two yellow cards – one for dissent.
Bleiberg was particularly angry with the van den Brink injury, but after consulting the TV replay it’s hard to lay much blame to tackler Grant Brebner who won the ball before the Dutchman got locked under his legs.
You could hardly say on that evidence there was much malice in it. Moreso a hard-nosed challenge early in the game to set the standard, as you see in every match as players try to establish the physical upper hand in their personal battles.
That’s part of football, it happens everywhere.
Unfortunately for Bleiberg, the best way to deal with it is not by whinging to the media or the referees about it, but rather his players rising to the challenge, engaging in the physical battle and not being intimitated.
When asked ‘is it not the responsibility of your side to be as physical when there could be intimidation from the opposition?’ Bleiberg struggled for an answer, before admitting his side got intimidated and then adding the referees shouldn’t have let it happen.
Gold Coast’s players failed here and that’s where Bleiberg should be disappointed rather than whinging to the media about the referees or Victory’s culture.
Indeed, it’s interesting to ponder his motivation on this whole issue. Bleiberg initiated the discussion on Victory’s physicality at the conference and spoke about it for over eight minutes.
And this was, of course, in the wake of last week’s Kevin Muscat incident where the Victory skipper was sent off for a horrible tackle on Heart’s Adrian Zahra and subsequently suspended for eight weeks.
Bleiberg was asked if it was all a bit of calculated gamesmanship ahead of a likely finals clash between the two clubs, but the United coach deflected the question. But you sense there’s an element of truth to it, considering the wily Bleiberg’s history.
And he added later on: “I will do everything in my power, including propaganda before the game, everything, to ensure they will get yellow cards in the future if they play like this,” which was a bit of a giveaway, really!
Victory coach Ernie Merrick responded during the week: “I think Miron’s comments were a surprise because they didn’t reflect the game whatsoever, it was either an attempt at deflection or some sort of mind games – either way he failed miserably.”
It remains to be seen if he has failed in what he set out to achieve, but Victory have come out of this looking the better, despite the recent scrutiny they’ve received following the Muscat incident.
Bleiberg’s rant was essentially a dummy spit and wasn’t a good look. And it’d be hard to believe the rant could get into the officials’ heads prior to the finals.
Unfortunately for Bleiberg it was all rather ill-conceived and with Merrick stating his side will use the rant as motivation in the future, he may have made matters worse.
But more than anything, Bleiberg shouldn’t forget his own team first and foremost, as it is a man’s game, contact is permitted and his side got beaten by Victory.
If they meet again in the finals – which looks likely with the two sides sitting fourth and fifth – he’ll need to find some better answers than this episode provided.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Best ever coverage of the women's world cup 2011: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/organisation/media/newsid=1376651/
Phil Osopher
Guest
It's a mans game. We should allow open flying kicks to the head, direct punches to the nose - for no real reason but that guy just bugs you - spitting, swearing every second word, bum scratching, testicle adjustment, big growling farts, big guts, slothery, low temper threshold, taunting minorities, treating women like they're good for two things, and absolutely no crying - that's not for men. Anything but a kick in the nuts - that's the code on the street isn't it? If anyone complains I'll tell them to toughen up, it's a mans game, and they'll apologise and say of course, I forgot again.
RobD
Guest
Yep. Some lazy latent sexism in this headline. When you say 'it's a man's game' why not write it's a physical game or even it's a tough game? These are all traits of women who play the game too. All this headline does is perpetuate an outdated stereotype.
Realfootball
Guest
I think what we need is a good decapitation to put it all in perspective. Kevin, I'm talking to you.
Realfootball
Guest
You obviously have a very low aggro tolerance. Perhaps synchronised swimming...?
Realfootball
Guest
Bleiberg has had a pie surgically attached to his face so he doesn't have to bother with reapplications.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Paul Reid has had his red card rescinded: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1043277/Reid-s-red-card-rescinded I think the thing that saved him was that the ref made it clear the red card was for showing his studs rather than following through with a forearm to the head. Both players showed studs, around the same height, in going for the ball.
Titus
Guest
The one where Sydney FC are good.
gawa
Guest
Miron has as usual a different way of saying things, but he is not alone in saying that the over reliance on the physical side of the game is normal in many leagues around the world. But, the biggest difference with the A League is that all too often the player who tackles over the ball, elbows in the face, fingers flailing all around his opponents eyes etc does not get adequately delt with by the referee. This in my mind is a major problem on the pitch in our league, we all love the crunching tackle and physical side of the game but if the referee does not keep a lid excessive and deliberate foul play then the balance of varying styles of play gets thrown too far out of balance. When this occurs then the physical style is actually allowed to flourish at the expense of the rules of the game as most of us know them.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Skoko to retire at the end of this season: http://au.fourfourtwo.com/News/195402,skoko-to-hang-up-his-boots.aspx
Mahony
Guest
Spot on Ben - but I notice Miron is maintaining the rage today arguing MVFC should try to reform rough players like they did with Pantaledis. So next time Panta gets a red will the press do a job on Miron? Miron is setting himself up for a further pie in the face today!
Danielle Warby
Guest
I've always maintained the A-League is too full of agro... Is fact. Noting irrational about it.
Melange
Roar Rookie
Beat me to it Davidde. I've been reading Roar for a long time and only just now became a member so I could comment on the ridiculous headline. Can't people just make the point that sport is tough? If I'm wrong Ben and it is a man's game, can you please have the decency to cut out Danielle's comments on this article? It is clearly not appropriate for a woman to put her point forward on this issue.
punter
Guest
dfr, it's the women's A-League.
djfrobinson
Guest
I've only recently taken a interest in soccer, I know the A-League, I know the EPL (Go Liverpool) but what is the W-League?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Really disappointed by your comment Danielle - you are usually a voice of rationality and reason. Tell me ... do you watch the EPL? Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, who is also a bit of a whinger like, and hugely more successful than, Miron Bleiberg was crying about his players being roughed up in the EPL and refs not protecting his lads! In the wake of that 2-1 defeat, Wenger berated (Blacburn) Rovers for showing "no purpose to play the ball" as they blocked keeper Lukasz Fabianski at every opportunity and also blamed referee Martin Atkinson for not providing his team with more protection. Sound familiar? Remember, Wenger is talking about rough-house tactics in the EPL ... NOT the HAL! Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/7967134/Arsene-Wenger-urges-referees-to-protect-his-Arsenal-players.html
punter
Guest
Exactly, let's also not forget the same player's tackle on Skoko the week before. Both tackles far worse with intent than Paul Reid'd tackle last night & he go sent off.
Danielle Warby
Guest
Surely you don't mean 'manfully'?! You mean 'like good sports'? Switch over to the W-League for some tips on how to behave on the pitch.
Danielle Warby
Guest
Well said Futbanous & jupiter53... it's a lack of skill that that lands these players on the side of "dirty" more often than not. It takes skill, precision and timing to pull of a "hard" tackle. It is a beautiful game when played well. Here's hoping the whole league improves.
Danielle Warby
Guest
Absolutely! Though this kind of ridiculous rough play is why I don't watch the A-League. I just don't find it enjoyable. So much agro... probably comes from all this trying to compete with AFL and League. Give me the W-League any day.