Recently, as I watched Blacktown City FC and Mount Druitt Town Rangers do battle in the opening round of New South Wales NPL1 action, my ears pricked up thanks to a nearby conversation.
The accent was what first caught my attention. The speaker was an elderly Scotsman, wearing the traditional tartan cap with a mane of wild grey locks hidden beneath.
He also sported a pair of monstrous and hair riddled eyebrows that belonged somewhere in a cartoon or on an ex-Prime Minister.
He and another man, who I later discovered was an English ex-pat, were discussing all things football and hoping the Town Rangers would pull back a one-goal deficit late in the second half.
That never eventuated yet their conversation kept me entertained and amused throughout the final ten minutes of play.
It zigged and zagged across a range of topics. The Scotsman was strong in his view that Lionel Messi was a more complete footballer than Cristiano Ronaldo and convinced that the Portuguese was overrated.
He seemed quite certain that Ange Postecoglou was to blame for the Socceroos’ performance in Russia and expressed a clear view that watching women’s football was a waste of time due to the fact that they were ‘all lesbians’.
I was entertained to say the least, and there was more to come.
Scotsman: Do you know that fellow that plays for Sydney? Ninkovic?
Englishman: No.
Scotsman: You know, the guy that plays for Sydney FC? Milos Ninkovic?
Englishman: No.
Scotsman: Oh….well you should see him play. He is such a cheat. Every time someone touches him he hits the ground to win the free kick.
Now, Milos Ninkovic does not need me, nor anyone, to defend his character.
However, I had thought that general consensus saw Ninkovic as one of the classiest imports to ever grace our shores.
Milos Ninkovic of Sydney FC celebrates after scoring their second goal during the Round 20 A-League match between Melbourne City and Sydney FC at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Saturday, February 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Hamish Blair)
I assumed people realised that he was one of the most closely marked players in the A-League, thus copping some rough treatment from time to time and hitting the turf regularly.
Apparently not. Well certainly not, according to one fellow with a Scottish accent in western Sydney. I gave him due respect by considering his position…nah!
What the exchange reminded me of, was the ever present difference of opinion in the game and the tendency for people to see it through their own lens.
Josh Hope polarises Victory supporters and his inclusion in The Roar’s A-League team of the week for Round 22 came off the back of another performance that divided social media opinion.
Hope’s effort on Saturday night against the Roar was somewhere between polished, classy and close to best on ground or just another frantic and clumsy effort that contributed little to the overall cause of the Victory.
I sat more in the camp of the former yet there were plenty mystified by any plaudits launched in the direction of the 21-year-old Hobartian.
For West Ham United fans, the enigmatic Andy Carroll has bred a similar discourse for many years.
Seen either as a giraffe like impediment capable of nothing more than poaching a headed goal to keep the Irons ‘up’ or a man that offers a serious threat in the box thanks to his aerial skills, Carroll is either loved or loathed.
Scoring 33 goals in 126 matches for the Hammers suggests there is a serious footballer in there somewhere, yet many would scoff at that description and often lampoon the London club for sticking with him for so long.
Everyone’s favourite A-League star Matt Simon has fuelled a similar debate for a decade. Still the Mariners’ all-time leading goal scorer with 45, the ‘Wizard of Woy Woy’ occasionally pops up with the odd headed goal and for just a minute, teases people to appreciate his hustle and body work in the box.
Matt Simon of the Mariners places the ball for a penalty shot (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Then there are others who prefer to see the ‘Thunder from Kincumber’ as a thuggish and combative footballer, blessed with nothing more that pointy elbows and a foul mouth.
Rarely is a footballing opinion universal. Managers are not immune either. Warren Joyce has had his bags packed by the City fans for some time. However Sunday’s win over Sydney was impressive, as has been their recent form, with Jamie Maclaren finally providing a focal point to the attack.
Social media now identifies a few Joyce-sympathisers. Could the lynch mob be wrong?
Newcastle’s Brazilian marquee Jair has lived through similar divided opinion. Appearing unfit, unfocused and ineffective early in the season, the 30 year-old has become a key component in the Jets’ revival; muting many of the criticisms of Newcastle fans.
Whether it is seeing a footballer as too old, too young, playing in the wrong position or just flat out useless, opinions are formed through the individual lens that we all apply to the viewing of the game.
I guess I am just lucky that my lens is spot on 100 per cent of the time. As for yours? Well I’m not so sure.
Freddie
Guest
"Bias" is the most oft-used word when it comes to football commentary in all countries, always with the accuser acutely, and hilariously unaware of his own in-built leanings. Here's a hint on perhaps why Fox have a lot of panelists from Sydney. They are based in Sydney. It can't be cheap to fly people in from around the country for a ten-minute segment. Also, Archie Thompson, John Kosmina, Sasa Ognenovski, Ned Zelic. All regulars on Fox, and not one of them from Sydney.
Bruz
Roar Rookie
Del Peiro had similar traits in his stint at Sydney Fc too. Would always take a dive and given his legendary status, most referees would obliage.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
The older I get and the more matches I watch, the more I value dour defensive efforts. Most people seem to hate the 0-0 result, but I’m happy when I see a really solid defensive effort from my team, even if it results in a goalless match. There’s a lot of honour if you play hard and fair and keep a clean sheet against a really good team. Each to their own I guess.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Fox commentary team are the worst I’ve heard for ‘differing opinions’, or shall I just say ‘biased opinions’. I think it’s the one factor about the A League that I dislike – the Fox commentary and talk shows. Harper and Bozza are the worst, although Bozza’s likeable persona gets him off the hook. Nothing can save Harps, not even his occasional step into praise for MVs opponents in an attempts to even out the count, so to speak. Bozz and his mate Bill give football a fair hearing on their nightly talk show, but somehow the conga line of Sydney guests and panellists from Sydney clubs, and the sky blue paraphernalia just give a hint of where their loyalty lies, even before the talk starts. I hope, with an independent A League, that we get a professional and independent broadcast coverage, like Optus offers.
Nick Symonds
Guest
NEWS / OPINION: FFA smashed by Matildas boss Milicic over Australia's youth programs - "Our underage programs, they're not serious programs," he said "They're not designed for qualification. Simple as that. "When I look at the preparation that we give our teams compared to what the other Asian teams are getting, we have got no right to expect or to assume we will qualify for these major tournaments." - "Take the latest tournament ... the eventual winners were Saudi Arabia. "In the last 12 months they played 17 games. We played one against a national team. "So why do we expect to qualify? Based on what?" - https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ffa-smashed-by-matildas-boss-milicic-over-australia-s-youth-programs
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I agree Jordon, my daughter plays and she is no Lesbian [that I know of] That would come as a surprise to her Mother, Husband, our family and her kids, not that it matters either way. But some of the girls in her team are in a same sex relationship, good players to and some aren\'t. But I think it is a common topic of conversation for some older types.
Punter
Roar Rookie
You could say exactly the same about Ninko, every team double teamed him & as such, they illegally stop him. Ninko has quicker feet then Broich & his first touch much better & hence was faulted a lot but no BR supporters want to believe it\'s a conspiracy.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Josh Hope’s better footballing brother??
Ian
Roar Rookie
lol, Broich 'is a diver'. a penalty puller......because he got double teamed most of his career so the defender/s who couldn't legally stop him because he was that much better committed a foul to stop Broich's progression. hence a penalty. hence some Melbourne and Sydney fans said he dived. also because they could never buy him.
Craig
Guest
Who the hell is James Hope?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
You walk into the shed, about 20% are English, Scottish etc. Anywhere else in the ground and its probably 8%. And Waz, that was never a penalty. I was only about 7 but i can tell you, there was plenty of swearing after Berisha started celebrating before he had even taken the shot. But anyway, thanks for Ivan Franjic's own goal, and thanks for Ivan Franjic all together!
Jbinnie
Guest
Stuart - Google Ibrox Park and you will see that the main stand (has been there for years) is built with a shiny faced red coloured brick. Celtic Park which was only built recently used grey coloured "breeze blocks' to erect the walls and these are usually rendered or painted. This was obviously a sign of some "class" to my erstwhile Rangers fan. Cheers jb.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s actually “all Perth glory fans SOUND like they’re English” ... blame the Shed and their lower English league repertoire for that one! And P.S. it WAS a penalty, Berisha WAS fouled. Please can you English-types let it go now ...?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
The only lesbians play female sport annoys me more than when people say all of Perth Glory's fans are English.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Aaahh! Interesting search results. Well there you go, I've learnt something today. Breeze Blocks! Are they the bricks used in Bankwest Stadium? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Buildershop-UK-Medium-Density-Breeze/dp/B008H42DZQ
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Aren't penalties pulled due to the threat posed by the player and the defenders eagerness to shut them down? I don't feel either player in question does/did any excessive diving or falling considering the attention on them. Krishna is currently one of the most dangerous running players into the box. He is getting belted from pillar to post and does earn his fair share of frees (not sure about the number of penalties he has earned) some might suggest he has gone down looking for the whistle a few times but the close marking brings plenty of contact. That's sort of football in a nutshell really.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Come on Stuart - you must have seen breeze blocks - real lightweight large blocks used extensively in the 50’s and 60’s - cheap building materials. My dad told me here were called breeze blocks because they blow over in a light wind!
Waz
Roar Rookie
You’re only saying that because the media is biased towards Melbourne and Sydney teams. If Broich had of played in Melbourne or Sydney you wouldn’t be saying that. And I gave you the latest example in Niedermeier’s dive - he got off scot free because he plays in Melbourne Let me dislocated it out for you: Ninkovic is a cheat!
Punter
Roar Rookie
Broich was the biggest penalty puller in the A-League, this is what the article was about, how we see things in different ways. Broich great player but even bigger diver.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'll need some photos to fully understand this difference of bricks.