“For him to be saying that is disgraceful,” said Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler after Western United had just beaten his side 2-0 at Suncorp Stadium. “I think he needs to look at himself.”
Fowler was talking about visiting coach Mark Rudan, who had accused the Englishman of failing to shake his hand on the back of one of the most fractious games of the season.
It was a Round 10 fixture that started with plenty of buzz around the appearance of United’s star midfielder Alessandro Diamanti and ended with the Roar’s normally mild-mannered chief executive David Pourre getting involved in a post-match altercation with Rudan on the pitch.
So does the cliché, for once, ring true? Do Brisbane Roar and Western United actually dislike each other?
Roar midfielder Jay O’Shea has already denied Sunday’s game will be a fiery affair, telling AAP journalist Ed Jackson “things in football are quickly forgotten about”.
However Roar officials were incensed with United on that hot and humid December evening, accusing the visitors of employing time-wasting tactics from as early as the 20th minute.
Rudan was having none of it.
“I thought we were smoking cigars in the second half to be honest with you,” he said of his team’s 2-0 victory on the night.
(Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
All of which makes Sunday’s clash between Western United and Brisbane Roar at Mars Stadium in Ballarat more than just a routine fixture.
Add in the presence – or lack thereof – of new Roar signing Scott McDonald and suddenly the A-League has a genuine grudge match on its hands.
McDonald has been left out of the Roar’s squad to travel to Ballarat owing to a clause in the contract that saw him recently depart United for a stint in the Queensland sunshine.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, the 36-year-old has been a breath of fresh air for the Roar in the four games he’s played since signing for the club in January.
Yet it remains somewhat of a mystery why he was deemed surplus to requirements by Rudan. Is it because he was brought to the club by someone no longer involved with Western United?
McDonald’s absence on Sunday should hand youngster Mirza Muratovic a return to the starting 11, after the 20-year-old rattled home the equaliser in the Roar’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Adelaide United last weekend.
That victory made it 14 points from a possible 21 in the Roar’s last seven games, with Fowler voted the coach of the month for January on the A-League website.
His win led to accusations from some A-League fans that the poll had been hijacked by overseas-based Liverpool supporters, which is possibly true given the overwhelming margin of victory.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
But it also exposed the undercurrent of anti-British sentiment that often ripples through the A-League, with plenty of online critics derisively labelling the Roar’s campaign “Brexit football”.
So is Fowler getting the credit he deserves? He seems to be more warmly regarded in his native Britain than he is down here in Australia.
But having leapfrogged Western United into sixth in the standings, there’s no denying Sunday’s showdown is a huge fixture for both clubs.
And after more than 5000 fans packed the entire stand on the eastern side of the ground for Western United’s first game at the venue in Round 12, it’s also one that should attract a decent crowd in Ballarat.
A chorus of boos rang out at full-time the last time these two sides met, with the Suncorp Stadium faithful stunned by Western United’s keep-away tactics.
“I thought we played a very, very intelligent game of football,” said Rudan in the wake of that victory, although Fowler wasn’t sticking around for a cordial chat about it.
Will they shake hands on Sunday afternoon? Probably.
But this fixture has an edge to it.
And that’s something to celebrate in a league that makes most of its headlines – like Tony Sage’s stunning announcement he plans to sell Perth Glory to a cryptocurrency company – away from the pitch.
At work
Roar Rookie
It wouldn’t surprise me if he was on here.
Micko
Roar Rookie
He’s just one of those intense, competitive guys I think.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Are you certain about that? I remember when we first emigrated thinking how American the place looks in many respects and how strong US culture is here through television mainly. As far as sport goes, lots of cheerleaders, ra ra and playing of national anthems at domestic games all provides an American feel. Franchised A League clubs licensed out by the governing body; I wonder where that idea came from? Still, there is nothing wrong with learning and observing from around the globe and using the best ideas if they work well.
Coastyboi
Guest
Woah... This is peculiar stuff. Understandably, Rudan would deny all allegations. Interesting though. This is X-Files territory. I wonder if Rudan is reading this forum right now?
lesterlike
Roar Rookie
Dwight Yorke may have played all his football in England but he is still from Trinidad and Tobago. Anyway the deriding of English influence on Australian Football is nothing new, it was a pretty central part of the games culture in the post war years and only got stronger as the rest of Europe and South America started to outpace English football technically and tactically in the late 20th century. Older heads would remember the cries of “Pommy Mafia” that started up during the games tenure under rampant Anglophile Sir Arthur George. The sacking of Rale Rasic as Socceroos Coach after the 74 World only to replace him with two inferior Englishmen with no qualifications was a key issue that split the game between migrants, particularly those who were raised in the Danubian school of football and the established British culture looking to cling to the English way of Football as the way forward for the game. The absolute glut of sub par English players being imported at the start of the NSL compared to the real talents that NSW and VIC clubs were signing (albeit with very dodgy methods) from central Europe in the previous decade didn’t help either.
At work
Roar Rookie
Enjoy the read https://twitter.com/patrick478/status/1181669853087883264?s=21
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
game of the season? or one of, I can't see that, not insofar as attractive play goes anyway.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Rudes always looks a bit sour. What's that all about I wonder?
Coastyboi
Guest
It’s difficult to separate gambling with sport, as most people like a punt - even a hypothetical one. These clubs are quite powerful & have strong links to all levels of government, such as can be seen in the review of Crown Casino.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I tuned into a roar game a few weeks back, cant remember who they were playing, painful is an appropriate description. They may have improved since then.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Fowler gets all the credit he deserves. The Roar are painful to watch. Their defence is a big improvement on last season, but their attack seems to have regressed. I'd love them to do well, but in some other way would be nice.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
ps Maybe, Fowler should bring Milligan back if he has no hidden injury.
Nick Symonds
Guest
NEWS: A ClubsNSW board document obtained by the ABC shows up to 95 per cent of clubs have not been complying with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance laws - "A whistleblower and former employee of ClubsNSW has claimed that money laundering through poker machines is rife in pubs and clubs across the country." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-13/wilkie-says-clubs-non-compliant-with-money-laundering-laws/11958254 - I wonder how many sports clubs this might affect. A number of AFL and NRL clubs are very dependent on pokie revenue, as are some NPL clubs. If 95 percent are in breach then this could really have a big impact on the AFL and NRL. At least the A-League should be safe.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Interestingly, I have found that Mark Milligan (the has been Socceroos' captain) is playing in League One. And his Southend United F.C. is about to be relegated.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. Wanderers and the RBB are good for the league. Here's to their return to strength. It was also pleasing that despite it being Thursday night, there was a healthy crowd at the Matildas qualifier last night. Lots of families and kids. There's the future of football right there. I'm biased I know a good friend was a Matilda and just recently madiy to the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, in the company of Kewell, Johnston and Warren.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
**NEWS FLASH** Australia is not the 52nd state in the USA. We are unique, our culture is different, our demographics are different and our football is different. Not better, no worse, just different.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
J-League on Optus :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Waz
Roar Rookie
Correct, go a goal down and you’re in bother against WU. The sad thing is they are capable of playing some very good football, and that’s the annoying thing - they choose to win the way they do.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Personally I’ve always liked WSW. Great first season, noisy fans, good football. But I know what you mean.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Agree on McGing. Needs a spell in NPL