Roar Guru
Joined November 2011
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“What a tragedy the #AUSvJAP game wasn’t on free to air so all Aussies can see what heroes our @Socceroos are & how proudly they represent us.”
Unlike you, my fellow football fans and Roar readers, I happened to attend a sneak preview of tomorrow’s A-League Grand Final. Don’t stress. I won’t give it all away.
This afternoon Ian Ferguson and his purple army will be landing on a beach near Gosford, New South Wales. Accompanying him on inflatable dinghies will be his hand-picked squad of professional football mercenaries.
”You’re a f—ing deadbeat, people like me don’t bother with f—ing you,” he said. ”You climb out of your bed every morning for your pathetic hundred grand a year, good luck.” That was Nathan Tinkler, talking to a journalist from Melbourne’s Sunday Age in 2010 in response to a question regarding his sporting interests.
As the season winds down, we love to celebrate the stars that make the A-League galaxy burn so bright.
The A-League finals have arrived. Four weekends of finals football before the extended period of winter hibernation sets in between the seasons. Four clubs have already fallen by the wayside. The remaining six meet in three finals this weekend.
For over 50 years Europeans have feasted on midweek continental club football. Last night’s pulsating Asian Champions League matches again confirm the fantastic potential of Asian continental club football to satiate the appetites of Australia’s football fans.
The A-League home and away season is about to come to an exciting close, with the final two rounds to determine the winner of the minor premiership and the finalists.
Last night, after the completion of the draw for the final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Socceroos captain Lucas Neill expressed his confidence that Australia will qualify.
Last night a tumultuous day in the life of Australian football ended with a showdown on the pitch and off the pitch in Brisbane. On the pitch nearly 11,000 people at Suncorp stadium witnessed a gripping arm wrestle between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart.
Four minutes from the Socceroos was all it took. Three goals in four minutes against Saudi Arabia on a rainy night in Melbourne to lift the gloom and take our minds away from a dark and dirty day in Australian domestic football.
Yesterday, Frank Lowy, inspired by fellow octogenarians, the recent Oscar winner for best supporting actor Christopher Plummer and nominee Max von Sydow, gave it his best shot in a feisty speech at the Melbourne Heart Business Luncheon held at Las Vegas on the Yarra.
“I love football!” you bellowed on Wednesday night, Clive. Your young, exciting, bottom of the table, minimum wage Gold Coast United team had just held the A-League’s leaders to an exciting high-scoring draw in front of 1146 spectators and your self-satisfied self.
The best way to look at Holger Osieck’s selection of the Socceroos squad to face Saudi Arabia is to walk a mile in the expensive shoes of Frank Rijkaard.
The A-League history books will record that on February 17, 2012, Melbourne Heart defeated what was ostensibly the Gold Coast United Youth Team at AAMI Park by the margin of one goal to nil.
Yesterday I received this email from an anonymous source. I have republished it here in full for the benefit of A-League fans and to promote discourse on this issue.
Don’t you just love it when your modest expectations are exceeded. That was the feeling tens of thousands of A-League fans experienced when they tuned in to watch an under pressure Melbourne Victory take on the seemingly depleted Central Coast Mariners last night at AAMI Park.
Cricket Australia has a problem. Like a scab that doesn’t heal in the tropics, they have allowed racism to fester at Australian cricket grounds.
When Anthony Di Pietro took over as chairman of Melbourne Victory, he was given a lamp. This was no ordinary lamp. It was a magic lamp. He rubbed the lamp and through the flare smoke a genie appeared dressed in Victory navy blue.
For some old school Australian football fans like yours truly, the news of Santo, Sam and Ed’s ‘Cup Fever’ moving from SBS to Channel Seven as ‘Sports Fever’ aroused a certain amount of suspicion.
Cpaaa – I avoided the technological aspect as to how I already watched tomorrow’s Grand Final as this is a sports website. But I heard New Scientist magazine is interested 😉
Spoiler Alert! Sneak preview of the A-League Grand Final
“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that” Bill Shankly
Not everyone thinks like you Rabbitz and thankfully not everyone writes according to your world view.
Perth Glory attempt A-League coup d'etat
I’m curious Rabbitz. What are you doing on a sporting website if you consider all forms of football stupid?
Perth Glory attempt A-League coup d'etat
May you make it to 100, Mid.
All the best to you and your family.
Athas
Midfielder: It could have been my last game
The team was selected with winning games in mind. Hence the selection of Burns as well 😉
Who made the A-League's Select XI of 2012?
Considering late breaking developments re: Western Sydney. This team has been given to Ben Buckley as a template for success. Carlos needs a new team doesn’t he??
Who made the A-League's Select XI of 2012?
Soul Ranch – Yes, I agree Beauchamp is worse than Bosschaart, but I had to give the team a chance of winning a game 🙂
Who made the A-League's Select XI of 2012?
Thanks Fuss, but I had to give the team a serious chance of winning a game. Hence his inclusion.
I can’t rely on my forwards to win a game 🙂
Who made the A-League's Select XI of 2012?
Yes ICF, its a tough ask.
But if you don’t ask you don’t get 😉
Finals a time for wishful thinking and nerves of steel
Thanks Melange.
I did say in jest on twitter last night that Gamba was tapping up Luciano Trani 🙂
Adelaide and Brisbane provide feast of ACL entertainment
Thanks realfootball for the comments.
A few months back I wrote how Brisbane’s lack of could be their downfall
Adelaide and Brisbane provide feast of ACL entertainment
Can’t see that happening this year Mid with 3 qualifiers being played away from home.
Hopefully, we’ll see some exciting new blood come thru in the next few years.
Socceroos, Japan in battle for supremacy on road to Brazil
Haha, thanks Roarchild.
I very much hope this piece is not a kiss of death.
Having lost to Oman the first time round in qualifying, I won’t allow it to happen again 😉
Socceroos, Japan in battle for supremacy on road to Brazil
I would love to be in your shoes Futbanous. I’m really looking forward to Brisbane Roar’s matches in the ACL.
Can’t wait to see some ACL action come to AAMI Park in Melbourne some time soon.
Clint Bolton is a football hero, Clive Palmer is a football zero
Thanks fuss, I hope not be writing about Clive soon.
At least I gave you a mini-match report of last night’s match.
And remember I also gave you a nice big write up of the Socceroos match 😉
Clint Bolton is a football hero, Clive Palmer is a football zero
Thanks Futbanous – thanks for commenting about the game last night. It was overshadowed by events off the pitch. I tried bring both events into focus.
Clint Bolton is a football hero, Clive Palmer is a football zero
thanks jbinnie – interesting take. Palmer as sacrificial lamb for the good of the game 😉
Yes, the complaints of club owners have merit. No disputing that.
However, Clive’s conduct has been disappointing to say the very least.
Clint Bolton is a football hero, Clive Palmer is a football zero
Thanks DJB – its good to know that Clive is a hero somewhere. But when it comes to football, the vast majority of the football community have cast their verdict and it does not look good.
Clint Bolton is a football hero, Clive Palmer is a football zero
Yes fuss, I did notice that in the last 30 minutes 30% of the outfield was made up of MV players.
I omitted this fact from the piece as I wanted you to proudly tell this to everyone this.
I was being magnanimous 😉
On the face of it makes MV’s position on the table even more mind boggling.
Makeshift Socceroos add sunshine to the darkest of days
Cheers – Axelv. Our ecstasy was Saudi painful agony.
Makeshift Socceroos add sunshine to the darkest of days
Thanks Mid, I’m relieved the Socceroos result last night gave me the chance to write a positive football piece.
Agree, with you. Terrible timing.
Should’ve waited until after GCUs last game of the season.
Makeshift Socceroos add sunshine to the darkest of days
The Clive Palmer / Frank Lowy divorce was always going to be messy. A real pity this tawdry episode was not played out in the post season.
Looks like FFA’s haste to revoke Palmer’s licence can be seen as buying more time to get 10th team ready for next season.
Frank Lowy and his fed up A-League fans
Thanks to everyone who read the piece and for all the great comments.
A combination of Euro 2012 and work meant I could not jump until now.
Hope to see you again some time soon with another piece.
Tim Cahill and the Socceroos: Aussie Samurai Heroes