Unfortunately we can’t do a video this week, thanks to an Alex Saxon goalkeeping malfunction which has left his right ankle in tatters. Luckily, though, the boys have got together using the power of the internet.
Alex Saxon: If you want an idea of what I am like in goal, think Ron Weasley protecting the sticks for Gryffindor – capable of going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Matt Bungard: I feel like my humour is wasted in text form. But then again, we can fit more Harry Potter references in this way. But yeah, no video this week as Saxon is resting comfortably in his North Shore Palace. Why exactly couldn’t you pay one of your servants to take you to my house?
Saxon: Hah. Because I’m from North Sydney I’m rich…these jokes never get old. But yeah… Unfortunately, a collision with a striker saw me tear ligaments in my ankle, now I’ll miss the whole season.
Bungard: I think the real tragedy is our work futsal team, to be honest…
Saxon: Speaking of which, when we’re back up and running next week there will be a video for our viewers to enjoy of our captain Matt Bungard getting sent off last week. Great job.
Bungard: Not my finest moment. Can we talk about the A-League now?
Saxon: Fine. In a tense final week of the regular season, it was Central Coast who deservedly come out in top spot. In one of the more clutch victories I have seen this season, they went away to Wellington and edged what was always going to be a nervy encounter with a performance reminiscent of Inter’s famous away triumph at Barcelona ….did I just take that too far?
Bungard: Maybe just a little bit. I was as surprised as anyone to see Sutton bury that header from six yards out. If he is putting them away things must be going well. As for Wellington, They really need to find some form fast going into their finals clash against a red hot Sydney side next week.
Saxon: Leo Bertos’ goal was hilarious. After years of watching him I have grown accustomed to his overhit set piece deliveries from corners and free kicks…he finally flukes one over Matt Ryan’s head. I thought Bosnich was a bit harsh on the keeper afterwards.
Bungard: But it’s not like Wellington had that much to play for. Unless they won by four goals they were going to finish behind the Glory, who have flown largely under the radar and capped off their excellent regular season with a convincing 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
Saxon: However, the final score came as a runner up in the headlines to my man, Shane Smeltz, who was back amongst the goals this week. I can’t really explain my admiration of him. All I will say is the A-League seems a much better place when Shane Smeltz is on form and scoring goals. Like Giggs in the Premier League, Raul in his Real Madrid days, or Inzaghi in the Serie A, the A-League just seems complete when Smeltzy is knocking in the goals. All we need is for Dyron Daal come back from destroying the Netherlands Antilles Second Division, and things will feel complete.
Bungard: Your man love for Smeltz is like the antithesis of my hatred for Ruben Zadkovich. Who, I hope relished his little celebration in front of The Cove on Sunday before Sydney sent the Jets packing and he got subbed off at half time.
Saxon: The first half of that game was the best Sydney has played this year, hands down. But yet again, they couldn’t pull away despite being the dominant team. Just like in the Victory, Glory and Mariners games we’ve watched in the last few weeks, Sydney couldn’t put their chances away and it almost cost them the game with the Jets pulling one back with a few minutes to go.
Bungard: Yeah, this is the way it always is for Sydney. They can’t ever pull away and put a convincing scoreline on the board regardless of how much their play dictates it. Just like that Melbourne game, they should’ve scored five or six.
Saxon: Not that it matters at this point – all that does is that they’re on their way to the finals. Great form by The Cove to send Lavicka off with that lovely banner and a few chants…when they took a break from singing about Zadkovich’s mum.
Bungard: In their defence…
Saxon: No. Just… no.
Bungard: Back on topic, Perth host Melbourne Heart in the other knockout semi and honestly, I am finding it hard to predict anything in this finals series. I can just as easily see Heart beating Perth as I can a home victory. Heart have such a strong squad, and no A-League defence has really managed to successfully contain the wonder kid Eli Babalj.
Saxon: The same goes for every other finals fixture actually. I don’t think I can remember a finals series before now where I have honestly believed that every team in it has the capability to win the whole thing.
Bungard: The important thing is, it won’t be the Victory. It also won’t be the Gold Coast, who played their last game in front of 6,102 people at Skilled Park…and threw away a lead to the Brisbane second string team.
Saxon: Yeah, a bit unfortunate for them and especially in a dead rubber for Brisbane I was definitely cheering for the Gold Coast. Shame they couldn’t send them off with a win.
Bungard: I don’t care. Look at the Titans. Sport just doesn’t work up there. You know what does? Theme parks. Now all I want to do is ride the Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster at Movie World.
Saxon: I feel we may have been side tracked slightly.
Bungard: Perhaps – let’s talk about England, and Manchester United’s lead at the top is just getting bigger. Although, I struggled to stay awake in that win over Fulham… God, that was boring. You know what wasn’t though? Peter Crouch’s goal for Stoke. Wow.
Saxon: It kind of reminded me of Danny Rose’s strike against Arsenal a couple of seasons ago, purely because of the audacity. It was an extraordinary bit of technique. Nobody was prepared for the attempt on goal, let alone that they were both so well struck. But alas, Peter Crouch has made me look a fool with the sort of strike that should only be capable on Football Manager or FIFA. To those who haven’t seen, I am going to state the obvious and say go and watch it. Now.
Bungard: The fact that he’s 15 feet tall makes it even better.
Saxon: So, aside from Crouch’s goal, the real excitement lies in the fight for survival at the moment, which is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years (and yes, I acknowledge that last season final day battle was very intense). Wolves are looking like the only team who are in real danger of being left behind, and things look to be getting more and more desperate with every week. Was sacking McCarthy the right call?
Bungard: I didn’t think so at the time and there’s been nothing to prove me wrong. That said, it was not as if he was doing a whole lot right there this season. A massive loss to your closest rivals is not something to be shrugged off lightly, right buddy?
Saxon: I’m still not ready to talk about that game.
Bungard: Fair enough. Speaking of teams of ours getting beaten, Celtic lost one of the more irrelevant Old Firm derbies in years, and typically, there were a few red cards along the way. I watched this with less anxiety than I’d ever felt for one of these games which just further strengthens the argument that no matter how much I might hate Rangers, the SPL needs them to survive. Or just move the whole pyramid of Scotland into the English one. This is an argument we could have an entire hour’s discussion about, though.
Saxon: And plus, who would you go for if Leeds played Celtic?
Bungard: Exactly. I hope I don’t have to worry about that until they play each other in the 2017 Champions League final.
Saxon: I’m not sure how to respond to that.
Bungard: It’s probably best if you don’t. But speaking of the Champions League, I can’t wait for tomorrow morning’s fixtures.
Saxon: Could not be more on the APOEL bandwagon. Check out this video I just found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32a54OS26tE
Bungard: That’s inspiring. The only player I even know of from that team is the keeper, Chiotis. He was amazing on Manager 01/02.
Saxon: We could see a Barca v Madrid final. Or Bayern winning it in their own stadium. So many possibilities.
Bungard: It’s as exciting a year of football I can remember. Every league I can think of apart from the La Liga is wide open. Not to mention the Championship, which is as tight in the middle as it always is. Just nine points between fourth and 14th.
Saxon: The important thing is West Ham don’t get promoted. Never forget that.
Bungard: I won’t. And on that note, I think we’re done. I should put some ice on this leg which I hurt at futsal… which we lost. Because our star midfielder can’t play anymore…
Saxon: I can’t help but feel a bit responsible for that. But thanks everyone for following our ramblings, and we’ll be back with another video next week.
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