You are spot on Uncle Eric – FFA are gutless.

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/9563446/ffa-stands-behind-blatter-vote/

They make me ashamed to be an Aussie.

Has anyone else seen this? Frightening. http://twitpic.com/55hfbs

Says it all doesn’t it? If football really belonged to everyone, he would have been given his marching orders for this statement alone.

Big three days for football – two great games in the UCL final and the Playoff final last night, but that has all been overshadowed by the FIFA crisis. And don’t let Sepp’s words fool you, it is a crisis. The credibility of FIFA’s leadership is gone. This cannot be swept under the rug as it has been in the past, as we all have allowed it to. The time is now for everyone to speak up and say we have had enough of the lies and corruption and that we will not tolerate it tarnishing the image of our sport anymore. You have a voice, use it.

Did anyone else watch the full press conference last night? I have to say I was disgusted and appalled by Sepp’s actions and words. To begin with, he was 30 minutes late. People were joking on twitter that he would then deny that he was late at all, and that’s exactly what happened! Then he rambled on about nothing much at all for around 15 minutes before finally answering some questions. And he did so in a very arrogant manner, before it all got too much for him and he lost his cool. The gall of him to use the Champions League final in a sad, desperate attempt to enhance his own image. Never seen anything like it before, telling journos that we are not in a “bazaar” and that we need to show him “respect” and have “elegance.” Then he stormed off. What a joke, what a disgrace to the game that was. To me it just says that he has to go, and the pressure being exerted by fans, journos and some MPs is getting to him.

Time for an independent inquiry to come in and investigate the corruption, then clear out all involved, rebuild FIFA and clean up our game – and it is OUR game, not Sepp’s or anyone else’s plaything – for good.

Follow Kazama on twitter @TheKazama1984

Agree Ben that playing two games in three days will mean most of the squad will get a run, but the cynic in me says that the Adelaide fans will get stuck with the “B” team while the first choice players will all be held in reserve for the game against Serbia in Melbourne.

No wonder I just received an e-mail from SACA offering members Category A tickets for $55 Adult (were $85) $30 Concession (also were $85). Clearly ticket sales are not going well, and the fact that Kewell and Cahill aren’t making the trip does nothing to inspire confidence in sales picking up. And no, I haven’t got a ticket yet.

Follow Kazama on twitter: @TheKazama1984

Good article Melanie. Yes I agree Brisbane under Voss have gambled big, not just on Fevola and Proud but by bringing in players like Raines and Clarke with histories of injury and erratic form. While you have to take risks to win flags, they have utterly failed, and I’m very surprised that Voss hasn’t paid with his job – after all he has taken a side from the finals in his first year to mediocrity, with what seems like a list with some gaping holes.

I think if Fev wants to play football again he’ll have to prove himself at a lower level like Andrew Krakouer. Honestly I’d like to see him at least try to get it together for one last go at it. Really if he just walks away from the game and “tell(s) us he did it his way,” it would be like he learned nothing from his mistakes. And others may not learn from him either.

I wouldn’t want him coaching juniors at this time because really he’s not the best role model for young footballers, is he?

And sorry to nitpick but Albert Proud has only ever been with Brisbane, and not at any other AFL club: “The Brisbane Lions had no hesitation in getting rid of Albert Proud two weeks ago, after being convicted of assaulting a police officer. He too was given many chances, albeit from other clubs (much like Fevola) and was living out his final life at Brisbane.”

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No worries mate. And your point about the footballing world being a different place when the next bidding process takes place in 2018 is a valid one. I would still suggest Europe will be as powerful then as it is now, but anything’s possible and yes there are only a limited number of nations outside of Europe and Asia you could justify hosting a world cup as things stand…

…but then again look at Qatar. Using politics shrewdly, maybe anyone can win.

Please re-read my post. I have Europe as hosting once every three World Cups.

I think Asia getting a world cup once every 12 years is too much at this point in time. Aside from Europe, the only other confederation I could see getting hosting rights that regularly is South America, but they would have only a small number of viable host nations IMO, so perhaps not them either.

Well done Adrian, easily the best summary of the 2022 WC hosting decision I have read.

I think there is too much against our bid for us to win. I think what will cost us is that there are four bids from Asia, and we won’t get any votes from our own confederation, so IMO we will be eliminated in the first round. Sorry.

It will probably come down to USA and Qatar, with USA winning and then China hosting in 2026, then the cup will go back to Europe in 2030… then Africa and South America in 2034 and 2038, then Europe again in 2042… So if we don’t win this one it will be a long, long time before we get another chance. Australia 2046? I’ll only be 62…

A lesser known Hewitt dummy spit was when he thought he got a bad line call while playing in Adelaide a few years back. After abusing the linesman, Hewitt won the next two points to wrap up the set. He then placed a ball on the line and gave the linesman the death stare as he cockily strutted back to his chair.

I seem to vaguely remember a cricketer ramming their bat into the wall of the dressing room after being dismissed – can anyone help me out here?

“Any reason why they are usually on Friday nights?” – Because it is the preferred game time for our supporters, apparently. Probably moreso over the summer months than during winter.

5 hours, 29 minutes… My mind has already left the office and is waiting for me at Hindmarsh

“It was a bit unfair to have them as the first game of the season and at home.” – Agree – and to make it a Thursday night match as well and against the Mariners (no offence, but not exactly a high-drawing team for non-Mariners fans) was throwing them well and truly into the deep end. So to get 11,000 was a good result.

“But nothing compares to watching AUFC for me.” – Agree again. It’s always better watching a football match when you have a vested interest in one of the teams. Also watching live football – even if it is ‘only’ the A-League – is a fantastic experience, especially in a stadium like Hindmarsh where you can get really close to the action.

I hope you are talking in actual footy terms, not Dream Team! Merrett, like most defenders of his ilk, will always be completely useless in DT.

Agree. First of all, it is the whole team that has to lift, not just Fev. Secondly, Fev is somewhat one-dimensional in that he needs other players to provide him the ball if he is going to kick goals. He’s not the type of player to drop deep into the midfield and win his own ball if he’s being starved of possession. This is why he has never been and will never be in my AFL Dream Team – if he doesn’t kick a bag of goals he is useless.

I think maybe just the free kick would be enough punishment, but definitely the free + 50m penalty is better than going back to zero points.

Agree on Michael C’s last point above. With rotations now so crucial, there is a ‘loophole’ of sorts to be exploited. Even if the player is suspended for several weeks after the match, it is still *after* the match. So in a key game like a Grand Final there would be players who would probably ‘take one for the team’, and rub out an opposition player at the cost of a suspension at the start of the next season. Or no suspension if they are retiring after the match.

While I watch most A-League games and have some interest even if Adelaide aren’t playing, I am definitely excited by having a true derby match this season. I am seriously considering heading over the border to watch the first meeting between Heart and Victory, more so than going over to watch United take on either side (possibly because we’ll likely get flogged by both Melbourne teams).

😀

I know how you feel, the code war rubbish was annoying the hell out of me too and I’m certainly glad to see it dying off. Good to see you back.

Youth teams are optional for expansion clubs in order to keep expenses down. The Heart haven’t taken up the option as yet, but may do so in future seasons.

EDIT – you beat me to it General!

Seems he is returning to Spain, but perhaps not with Valencia?

I believe Theo Markelis has recently been released by Valencia.

First of all Melanie, congratulations on your move from the blue side of the page into the red.

Amazing that we are even mentioning the words “title challenge” in regards to a team that after nine rounds many thought wouldn’t even win a game this season. Their first nine losses were by an average margin of 52.56 points; only one (3 points to the Hawks) was by under 35 points, and only two were by less than 50.

While there has clearly been a massive improvement since then, I think we are getting a little ahead of ourselves by claiming they will contend for the title next year. Their wins have come against Port (currently 14th and on an 8 game losing streak), West Coast (16th), Brisbane (12th, have won once since Round 4), Sydney (6th) and Fremantle (4th, but missing several key players including this year’s revelation and new Dream Team god Michael Barlow). Demand respect? Maybe the latter of the two, to a degree, but beating Port and West Coast is not exactly a tough ask at this point.

For me, the real test will be in the coming rounds when they face credible opposition in Collingwood (Round 17), a resurgent Adelaide (R18), Carlton (R20) and St Kilda (R21). If they win two of those games (plus the three I haven’t mentioned) I would consider them finals contenders next season. It’s not impossible – Fremantle have shown this season that by injecting some quality young players into the team you can push up the ladder quickly. If Richmond finish off the season strongly, and then recruit well in this post season – and the opportunity to do so may be created by the moves the Gold Coast makes – then maybe, just maybe they can push not only for the top 8 but the top 4 next year. But there is a lot of work to be done by everyone involved with that footy club for that to be a realistic goal.

Regardless, the future is certainly looking much brighter for Richmond than it was at the end of Round 9.

EDIT – sorry, my ladder positions were wrong. Was looking at last week’s ladder for some reason.

Spain all the way for me. They were brilliant against Germany, yet you feel they could easily go up another gear. I don’t underestimate Holland, but I think they will have to worry about Spain more than Spain worry about them, and therefore should win.

As someone pointed out earlier this week – that would leave mighty New Zealand as the only undefeated team of this World Cup. Sweet as bro.