What would Wanderers fans prefer? A striker who celebrates non-goals like Kerem Bulut, or someone who gets the job done like Tim Cahill?
Of all the controversial moments in Round 7 of the A-League – and there were plenty – perhaps none was as comical as watching Bulut celebrate a goal that was chalked off for offside.
Bulut looked level when he stroked home Nico Martinez’s pass in Western Sydney’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne City on Friday night, so perhaps we can excuse his over-the-top celebrations.
Yet all he had to do was glance across to the sideline to see the assistant referee’s flag, instead of expending so much time and energy cavorting with Wanderers fans behind the goal.
It summed up a striker who promises so much, yet delivers so little for a team in desperate need of some firepower.
But instead of worrying about the form of their erratic striker, Wanderers fans instead took to booing Tim Cahill all night.
That’s to be expected – passion is not a crime and all that – but instead of channelling their energy towards an opposition player, perhaps it’s time for Wanderers fans to ask their own coach some necessary questions instead.
Like, for example, what is up with Western Sydney’s recruiting?
For every Nico – and he certainly looks a decent player – there’s a Jumpei Kusukami, who would struggle to crack even the top 200 players in the J-League.
And it’s no good Wanderers fans booing a player like Cahill when their own coach has made it clear he’s not interested in signing someone of the Socceroo superstar’s stature.
Cahill looked hurt by the jeers in his post-match interviews, yet the joke is surely on opposition fans when he does exactly what he’s paid to do and scores goals for Melbourne City.
What is up with our tall poppy syndrome in Australia anyway?
Score 48 times for a national team not exactly brimming with goal scorers and your reward is to be booed by fans in a domestic league crying out for big names!
I’m not some card-carrying member of the Cahill fan club – I just don’t understand the animosity towards a player who simply does what he’s paid to do and plenty more besides.
And if you think Cahill doesn’t make a difference to the bottom line, consider the fact that Brisbane Roar drew nearly 3,000 more fans for Melbourne City’s visit a fortnight ago, than they did on Saturday night.
The Roar’s State of Origin-inspired clash with Sydney FC was billed as the match of the round, and it lived up to expectations in an old-fashioned slugfest of thrilling intensity.
The Sky Blues should have put the game to bed by the time Bobo and Alex Brosque failed to convert one-on-ones, and they were made to pay for their profligacy thanks to a Thomas Kristensen volley shortly before half-time.
But the real controversy came when fans thought referee Alan Milliner had shown Sydney defender Rhyan Grant a second yellow card.
Grant was lucky to stay on the pitch by virtue of the sheer number of fouls he committed, but from my vantage point, it was clear that while Milliner pulled a yellow card out of his pocket for a lunging tackle on Thomas Broich, he never actually booked Grant.
Cue pandemonium when Grant subsequently clipped Jamie Maclaren, with many in the crowd thinking the Sydney defender had earned his second booking.
There were howls of protest when Grant stayed on the pitch – and the noise around the ground was impressive all night – but it looked like the right decision from where I was sitting.
Jade North was equally lucky to stay on the pitch after pulling back Alex Brosque as the last defender in what was a pulsating encounter.
It’s just a shame the Roar don’t have another marquee star alongside Broich to help pull in bigger crowds.
We may love tearing down our biggest stars, but at least we’re mainly doing it inside the stadium.
Fadida
Guest
I remember fighting soccer. Like watching the Jets at home on a hot Sunday afternoon...
Bondy
Guest
A great weekend of football I just wonder when we become even more professional when more money comes into the game will young kids be given a go .
AR
Guest
Josh, do you boo Ange because he wears a Carlton scarf? Glad you're not too insecure about it.
Matthew H
Guest
I don't know how it works in other states, I have only attended one A League game outside of Adelaide (final at SFS v Syd), but here we have welcomed Robbie Fowler and Alessandro Del Piero with great revelry, when Tim Cahill was in attendance at a game he received huge cheers. In the ACL we have welcomed Rivaldo and Ziko. I too struggle to understand why someone like Tim Cahill - a legend - would be booed? Maybe WSW fans don't support the Socceroos? I just don't know.
Lionheart
Guest
excellent viewing - it was great at the ground
Buddy
Guest
Oh no what have I started here? Did anyone ever try "fighting soccer" i recall you barged and tripped your way around the field in that one. In the early 80's I was given a pirated version of International soccer where the players were in wheelchairs and the gk had crutches. Everytime he tried to save a shot, he threw away the crutches and dived for the ball...oh those blotchy graphics were such good fun!
AR
Guest
When the "Nemesis" charade began a few weeks back, he was posting things like: "Im new in town, and my daughter doesn't usually follow football, but now that Cahill has signed with MCFC, she has asked for a Cahill shirt. It really shows how popular football has become in this city blah blah blah..." I honestly couldn't believe what I was reading. So I called him out - repeatedly. Of course, the usual suspects ran to Fuss' defence, but the whole thing was embarrassing. It still is. The fact that he has the gall to accuse others of the same nonsense is just extraordinary.
The word
Guest
Well this is awkward other me....fancy bumping in to you posting here
Realfootball
Guest
He can't tackle to save his life - viz, the penalty against Thailand.
Josh
Guest
I thought the AFL redefined our borders for their hilariously bad Battle of the Bridge ?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Correct. The fans know that there will be no silverware under JVS. Or at least only a very slim chance. Silverware winning coaches have win records into the 40+% and close to 50%. JVS currently stands at 37% overall. If the team gets on a winning streak you can bet that at sometime it will fall into a hole. Pulling the plug on this bloke is well and truly overdue.
Waz
Guest
He's a big Melbourne Victory supporter as well. Big following in Eastern Europe apparently lol
Evan Askew
Guest
Nah I passed it around like the guys in the serie A highlights we used to watch every Sunday morning on sbs. With rhcp pearl jam faith no more and gunners playing in the stereo. Good times
Fadida
Guest
Speaking of Leckie, I still think he might be the answer to our right back woes. Incredible athletically and massive work rate, but not the quality to be an attacker. As an overlapping fullback on the other hand....
Fadida
Guest
I think if you type in 'can't understand" and "van Schip" into a search engine you'd strike gold Real. The only thing holding back City from being a monster in this league is their coach. He is terrible.
Fadida
Guest
You did well to get Scotland that far! :) Had an Amiga 500 too Evan. Many hundreds of hours were spent getting the right amount of bend in sensible soccer. It was English football at it's finest. Straight down the middle, ferocious slide tackles , shoot for goal and chase the rebound! Those were the days.
punter
Guest
I like the look of Lachlan Scott, he wanted the ball, as shown by that last desperate lunge that eventuated as the own goal.
punter
Guest
Mid, I lived in England in the 80s & Lineker between 1986 & 1990 was awesome, he was the man!!!!! Lineker, like Owen had speed & could score goals, they were poachers. Lineker had more guile then Owen.
Midfielder
Guest
Real I remember the 86 world cup were he and Batistuta were rated the two best strikers at that point in time ... TC not as quick as you mentioned but he has that same gut instinct and run all day into spaces attitude ... TC from a technical view is not on the same page as Harry & Dukes but as a poacher and calmness in front of goals he is a class act.
AR
Guest
Wowee. You honesty couldn't make this stuff up. Just to recap... - Fussball accuses others of posting under multiple pseudonyms... - He then disappears...only to reappear under various multiple names himself (Uncle Junior, FIUL, Nemesis etc) - then, he creates an exotic backstory - "oh hi everyone, I'm Nemesis, I've been living in Eastern Europe for the past 9 years and noticed this internet sports forum, mind if I join in?" (It's amazing I'm not making this up) - and then, juat to make he whole scene more bonkers, he continues to accuse *other people* of posting under multiple names. Anything I'm missing here Nemefuss? Amazing really. Now cue the indignant backlash in 3...2...1...