Bleiberg the A-League king of spin

"Your word “CONCEPT” -AN IDEA ,A GENERAL NOTION." JB----OK the idea of starting up a youth academy at GCU FC was Miron's not Clive's tea lady in his office .... HAPPY NOW? (Although the use of the word concept is as you put an idea a general notion. Philosophers generally agree that a concept is an idea.) :D

QsAF. Let's cut this debate to the chase. You obviously read my answers to your replies,pick out what you consider are "put -downs", and proceed to answer them. Example - You contended the "youth CONCEPT at GCU came from Miron and Mike'". I attempted to explain to you that youth coaching has been around the football scene since the mid 1960's, but you obviously have been conned by FFA "spin" that would like us all to believe it started with the recent introduction of our "MASTER PLAN" that we are encouraged to believe started in Holland around 1974.( Is that the "programme being introduced by Miron and Mike that you are referring to.????). For your interest, the small sided game that is an important part of THAT PLAN was introduced into Australian coaching manuals in 1974 being the product of an investigation into junior coaching done by the English FA in the late 1960's.Youth academies are not an HAL initiative,they have been around in Europe for years. To finish I will try and explain MY viewpoint when reading your replies. From the Oxford Dictionary. Your word "CONCEPT" -AN IDEA ,A GENERAL NOTION. Now do you understand why I and other readers, would have thought you were giving credit to Miron for coming up with the IDEA of a GCU youth coaching scheme.??????cheers. jb

JB---just for the record I'm not trying to accuse you of holding a grudge against GCU but just trying to answer your comments as reasonably as I can. I do respect how knowledgeable you are on all Football matters. But of course you do realise that there is a lot of angst against GCU because the crowds being low---we accept that but we are trying to build a football culture where there has been no football culture before. At the end of the day if we raise our average above 4+k by the season's end and have run dead last in comp that is a win for football in the region as far as I'm concerned.

Come on mate the "youth concept at GCU" did not come from the tea lady at Clive's office---it came from Miron Bleiberg and Mike Mulvey (AC) overseeing the programme introduce. Sure it's part and parcel of a good Football Club---I'm not saying he invented the idea, but I'll bet he told Clive that's what is needed at GCU as all the other HAL clubs are introducing youth academies. After all he is the head Coach at GCU FC.

Sorry JB, this sentence should read like this. "Just on a point that you raised. I am sure Miron is not so vain to think that the supporters we have, turn up to see him parade around the field (I don’t)".

QsAF That point I raised was not only aimed at Miron ,or his thoughts, but simply cited as a "disease" in the football media that is apparent all over the world and can be seen on any game being televised.The "camera controller" obviously asks for these shots and uses them most indiscriminately during the telecast. Let me relate a story to you and you may understand. Many years ago I was asked to go to Mt Cootha and assist on the telecasting of the English cup final. The young man in the studio told me he had not a clue about the game of football and did not know when to insert the ads. True. I said I'd give him a clue, so, whenever there was an injury,a hold up,or the ball had been battered into the crowd I gave him the nod.He played an ad. Weeks later I got told it was the best telecast they had ever done and they had had calls congratulating them. That's what I mean . There is a time and place to show coaches but most certainly NOT when action is going on on the field of play.jb

Youth development at GCU of course---don't deliberately misunderstand what I meant JB. What will happen if the Clive pulls the plug of course it will go under unless the club can pay for itself--- really man don't treat people like fools that's the reason for all of these money cut saving exercises---to try and make the club survive within its own means and hopefully it will happen with the next TV deal. Also with a conveyor belt of footballers coming through from our youth team to our senior team. We have some good kids now but not enough. Perhaps in two more seasons we will look a lot better. You would know this is going to take some time it won't happen in two and half years. I think Clive would knows that as well. I keep saying Clive lives on the Gold Coast and is a community man and has gone on the record saying he wants to give to the youth of the Gold Coast a full time professional pathway to Australian Football.

Just on a point that you raised. I am sure Miron is not so vain to think that the supporters we have, do not turn up to see him parade around the field (I don't). Please tell me do you live 200 klms North or South of Skilled Park? I only live 8 klms away from the ground and to go to our home games is a real treat---to watch this standard of Australian Club Football has been a real privilege.

QsAF - I have a problem following your logic at times. You seem to think I have a grudge against GCU when in fact that is simply not true and you also introduce Roar into the discussion,why, I am not sure. Lets be objective. Someone wrote in the other day comparing GCU's " non- money worries" with other clubs in the HAL. What a joke,after all CP is a very rich man and as long as he keeps signing the cheques for all that you infer is going on behind the scenes all will be rosy. Ever wondered what will happen should he stop????? That's where the constant referral to GCU's crowds comes from by people who think deeply about the future of the game. You may not believe me but there would be no one happier than I (perhaps I should exempt CP from that statement) if the club were pulling 10-15k to all their home games. You mention "youth development" as being a concept of Miron's,That of course is a nonsense,youth development as we know it today has been spoken about and tried since Busby got huge publicity for his Busby Babe teams in the mid 1950's.You mention Mike Mulvey.Mike took part in a similar scheme when he played at Brisbane Lions in the NSL back in the early 1980's a programme that saw Alan Hunter,Calvin Daunt,Stephen Hogg.Danny Wright,John Ogden,Craig Low,Tom McGregor, Graham Wilson,Ian Fagan,Paul Burns,Stephen Jackson,and more, progress through the scheme to play NSL & international football ??????. Back to today.I would have thought that a successful youth programme would be a mandate to all clubs holding an HAL franchise licence, so I think hinting that it may be a "Miron concept" is a little presumptious on your part. Cheers jb

JB----all of the initiatives that go on with GCU have come from Miron, Mike Mulvey and staff as Miron is the head coach the buck stops with him. behind the scenes he is doing all he can. I can assure you that the youth development etc is very much a concept of Miron's. I'm pretty sure Clive is not on the coaching staff but occasionally goes to the training ground to see where and how his money is being spent and as it should be, because after all it's his dough and I don't blame him for that being new to football. The Roar have had a 5 yr start and a stellar last two years. Really can you tell me how many band wagoners from the GC have jumped on the back of the ROAR. I would expect quite a few that is only human nature and to be expected---they will also fall off when and if the ROAR go on a 36 game losing streak (if that ever happens). But for the moment GCU will be living in the shadow of the ROAR that's life at present we will hang in there until our fortunes turn and they will. Thanks for the item I never read the Sunday Mail but it's nice to now he made the paper up there and yes maybe it was an oversight and lost opportunity. Nevertheless, I have never read or heard of any initiatives that Ferguson is doing at grass roots either who bought all of his players from GCU that perhaps we should have kept, but the season is not over by a long shot yet and the decision to go with our winning youth team still may pay off. Let's wait 'til the end of this current campaign before we speak too harshly of the Miron and Clive partnership. Just on last Sunday's game two things happened---2 hrs before kick off the weather turned and there was an electrical storm that looked like it was setting in for the rest of the afternoon. Secondly the Surfside Bus Co. that usually ferries the pundits to the ground had the kick-off times wrong thinking that they were 5:00pm in Qld. when it should have been 4:00pm I was ready to go and was frustrated waiting for the buses that did not arrive until very late. I don't know how many people gave up and went home because of the weather and the bus stuff up.

QsAF. First of all let me put your mind at ease.I live over 200ks from Skilled Park and am getting past the age for driving that distance to watch a game that I can see on TV. You will note I did not criticise the club for any of it's off field activity but simply pointed out that Miron would be better taking EVERY opportunity to publicise his PLAYERS ,for I have a very deep seated belief that people don't pay money to watch coaches parading up and down their "area", but could be attracted if the players were "sold" to them,or their kids, at every opportunity. I don't think at this time GCU have a big problem ON the field despite their lowly position.The league is still wide-open and 2 wins would lift them up the table quite dramatically, but their crowd problem IS a problem and how much better would it have been to hear Miron say "I have some of the best players in the HAL,give me a ring and I'll arrange for a special rate for next week's game (or words to that effect)". Now I don't know who to blame for the article in the Sunday Mail but the spread was very eye-catching and, IMO was a gilt edged opportunity for Miron to "sell" his club,his team,his players, to an obviously doubting public. Instead we got inane questions about Miron's future(if he got sacked)?, how he got on with CP ?, does he see himself as a future media personality ? and, the most inane of all, "Who picks up the bill when Clive and you go for lunch?", Riveting stuff ,all aimed at increasing GCU crowds?? I think not. jb (PS answer to your request. Sunday Mail,Dec 11, pages 44&45.)

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/goldcoastunited/news-display/Uniteds-youth-academy-set-for-launch/41310 JB----do you check out the GCU webpage for news items? Did you go to any of the free games GCU put on last season? I don't think we have seen any other club do as half as much for the community as Clive and Miron have done---not to mention the Brisbane flood victims open gate and all receipts to that cause. The author of this article is referring to a post game interview don't know what else you would have expected to hear? I haven't heard Ange go on with any community activities in a post match interview either. I did not see this article you have mention do you have a link so I can read it: "Miron was featured over 2 pages (an unheard of coverage in Brisbane press space)"

Always feel bad for Bleiberg and his team when they play at Skilled Park, it must be strange playing every two weeks in an empty stadium. They're not a bad team as well, some decent players, and if they can nurture the younger players (Brown, Halloran) I hope their results get better.

One wonders carrying on from j binnie how much longer quality players will keep staying or want to come to GCU. There can only be so much enthusiasm generated from what is an obvious lack of support from the people of the Gold Coast. Overseas players like the Dutch imports will play observe,see theres better(ie appreciation for their effort ) on offer in the A-League. For me unless the situation improves(strangely win or lose ,quality football or not it makes little difference) GCU will fold because no player can keep lifting if they feel nobody cares & greener pastures will be sought. Did SFC drop their intensity against GCU on Sunday because Lavicka couldnt motivate them as per the Roar, or was it because the players were uninspired by the lack of crowd & therefore atmosphere. As I've stated before I admire Clive for sticking in there,but if things continue regarding poor crowds the choice will be made for him.

QsAF - I've said it before and I'll say it again. I would much rather read of Miron's attempts at how he, and Clive, intend solving GCU's major problem of the last few years, ie "how they intend getting more people to watch their team". If they don't do that sooner than later the outcome will be inevitable.No GCU. To dissect and analyse his "spin" in this instance is wasted space for anyone who knows anything about the game can tell you there is very little difference in the teams in this league and "position" doesn't prove anything. This article was not the only one over the weekend for Miron was featured over 2 pages (an unheard of coverage in Brisbane press space) and in 10 questions asked by the interviewer the GCU problem of small crowds was only mentioned once,but once again Miron "spun" his way around this subject in a most skilful manner bringing it back to show that despite this never ending curse on the club he was doing a good job and Clive must be happy or he, Miron, would have been gone by now?????. In 2 pages,not one mention of his "new" exciting Dutch imports, his young talent who are performing well individually, his loyal team men who "bust a gut" week in,week out, the type of publicity that maybe,just maybe, would increase the crowds at Skilled Park. A badly needed opportunity went a-begging once again. Not good. jb

No doubt Miron is a character and spin doctor, but what else would you expect him to say? Could you imagine Ian Ferguson describing the position of GCU if he were in charge.?