You have to be able to beat Melbourne and Adelaide to get to Asia. Clearly these two teams have the ambition and depths of squads to get there.
Just watching this game, none of the other A-League teams have shown so far that they can consistantly match these teams.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Wellinton 3 v Newcastle 0
Instead of preparing for the ACL, Newcastle seem to be imploding.
Newcastle brought Antun Kovacic for Mark Milligan late in the game. His only action was to jump into the A-League's number one striker, Shane Smeltz, without looking for the ball. Amazing no yellow card. Smeltz scored a penalty then went off injuryed. This is the second time he seems to have got away with deviant behaviour - the first after a youth league game in a Brisbane hotel.
Kovacic played in two games for Melbourne Victory in season 3. He doesn't seem like the sought of player that is going to take Newcastle to the ACL final. Von Eggmond was the best coach in the A-League last year, this year the players club management have been prepared to buy have caught up with him.
Newcastle brought Antun Kovacic for Mark Milligan late in the game. His only action was to jump into the A-League's number one striker, Shane Smeltz, without looking for the ball. Amazing no yellow card. Smeltz scored a penalty then went off injuryed. This is the second time he seems to have got away with deviant behaviour - the first after a youth league game in a Brisbane hotel.
Kovacic played in two games for Melbourne Victory in season 3. He doesn't seem like the sought of player that is going to take Newcastle to the ACL final. Von Eggmond was the best coach in the A-League last year, this year the players club management have been prepared to buy have caught up with him.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Three Card Trick - Tahj Minniecon
Tahj has signed for Gold Coast United Football Club. The Courier Mail says he will get $130,000 per year.
This type of deal, which I assume is the salary cap excluded youth contract, was designed by the FFA to keep young players in Australia. In practice it has robbed Roar supporters of one the players they get out of the house for.
Tahj has a lot of fans at the Roar. He came up through the former owners of the Roar, the Queensland Lions. This means he is also very well known to Miron. And while Tahj's agent was trying to play the Roar off against North Queensland Fury, ultimately successful negotiations were being laid at Gold Coast United Football Club.
If you read my blogs you will know that I am against players going from one club to another in the same league. It is anti-fan. That is, it is anti what the game is really all about.
In Tajh's case, he can be exciting and he is a reason that families take their kids to watch the club. He wears bling, he is young. The problem for the A-League is that he may have to start from scratch on the Gold Coast or the Roar families may leave the 52,000 seat Lang Park for the 27,000 Skilled Park. Or some of these families may just decide to stay at home, kids not understanding why their favourite player is now playing for the opposition.
The problem for the Roar is that Mitch Nichols is a better player than Tahj, better technique and a lot more energy (as Craig Moore said 'come on Tahj, WORK'). Tahj's agent has been pointing a finger at Roar management, and I think in the past they may have been slow to spend money when they really needed to. However, the Roar know that winning is more important than having a player who is currently popular. This season clubs have shown they can close him down.
Would they like both Mitch and Tahj. Yes. But Tommy Oar is starting to look more of a replacement. He can run at players, run into the box. And take free kicks.
This is why the Roar are complaining about the way the salary cap treats youth. The Roar are spending a fortune and investing massively on senior talent teaching youth. The money bags on the Gold Coast are just sitting on the couch picking up the ones that make it.
I would have been happier to see Tahj go overseas. Then I could support him and his new club. Like I will when Sasa heads to Korea.
So far GCUFC has taken Wellington's star player and favourite son, Shane Smeltz, and one of Newcastle's favourites Adam Griffiths. Who else have they got up their sleeve? Miron knows how to create interest. And this will. It is like the guy in a cape at a pantomime.
This type of deal, which I assume is the salary cap excluded youth contract, was designed by the FFA to keep young players in Australia. In practice it has robbed Roar supporters of one the players they get out of the house for.
Tahj has a lot of fans at the Roar. He came up through the former owners of the Roar, the Queensland Lions. This means he is also very well known to Miron. And while Tahj's agent was trying to play the Roar off against North Queensland Fury, ultimately successful negotiations were being laid at Gold Coast United Football Club.
If you read my blogs you will know that I am against players going from one club to another in the same league. It is anti-fan. That is, it is anti what the game is really all about.
In Tajh's case, he can be exciting and he is a reason that families take their kids to watch the club. He wears bling, he is young. The problem for the A-League is that he may have to start from scratch on the Gold Coast or the Roar families may leave the 52,000 seat Lang Park for the 27,000 Skilled Park. Or some of these families may just decide to stay at home, kids not understanding why their favourite player is now playing for the opposition.
The problem for the Roar is that Mitch Nichols is a better player than Tahj, better technique and a lot more energy (as Craig Moore said 'come on Tahj, WORK'). Tahj's agent has been pointing a finger at Roar management, and I think in the past they may have been slow to spend money when they really needed to. However, the Roar know that winning is more important than having a player who is currently popular. This season clubs have shown they can close him down.
Would they like both Mitch and Tahj. Yes. But Tommy Oar is starting to look more of a replacement. He can run at players, run into the box. And take free kicks.
This is why the Roar are complaining about the way the salary cap treats youth. The Roar are spending a fortune and investing massively on senior talent teaching youth. The money bags on the Gold Coast are just sitting on the couch picking up the ones that make it.
I would have been happier to see Tahj go overseas. Then I could support him and his new club. Like I will when Sasa heads to Korea.
So far GCUFC has taken Wellington's star player and favourite son, Shane Smeltz, and one of Newcastle's favourites Adam Griffiths. Who else have they got up their sleeve? Miron knows how to create interest. And this will. It is like the guy in a cape at a pantomime.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Adelaide 2 v Sydney 0: Results based football
There crowd of 23,000, as a result of the move to the cricket ground, were not worried by the lack of excitement. A goal in each half was enough to send Adelaide to the top of the A-League for season 4. In the second half about 90% of the game was in Adelaide's half (and like the Roar last night) Sydney just made pass after pass for no result. Mark Bridge just looked so much stronger partnering Joel Griffiths last year - both teams have lost out in a demonstration of how a team makes an individual look like a star (the other example is John Aloisi who was injured for this match). What happened to that young striker Sydney used at the start of the season when they were winning games?
It probably means John Kosmina is coaching his last 3 top level games, at least for some time. Expect Sydney's new owners to bring in a European coach. Expect also almost a whole new team of players. From where it is unclear. In previous seasons players have been fighting to get the attention of the Sydney scouts. Now that is unlikely. And Gold Coast has its hand up as the new glamour club (although it will have to prove that pretty early). Anyway, it is already happening as players stick up their hands to leave. To North Queensland Fury, even to Adelaide.
Even next year it will be a big ask for Sydney to have a top side. Budget cuts in season two killed off their chance to become the club of choice of the A-League.
And Adelaide. They don't need players from other clubs. They can afford to have players of the quality of other teams regular players sitting on the bench or in the stands. Salley for instance. Or tonight's goal scorer and super sub, Alemeo. Adelaide's first of two mid-week clashes, v Melbourne, should show who is this year's favourite.
Sydney's defence didn't have to do much. What they did do was terrible. The Roar have only achieved 2 of 6 points from Sydney. Will the Roar crowd turn out to watch Sydney this year? 32,000 turned out twice last year.
It probably means John Kosmina is coaching his last 3 top level games, at least for some time. Expect Sydney's new owners to bring in a European coach. Expect also almost a whole new team of players. From where it is unclear. In previous seasons players have been fighting to get the attention of the Sydney scouts. Now that is unlikely. And Gold Coast has its hand up as the new glamour club (although it will have to prove that pretty early). Anyway, it is already happening as players stick up their hands to leave. To North Queensland Fury, even to Adelaide.
Even next year it will be a big ask for Sydney to have a top side. Budget cuts in season two killed off their chance to become the club of choice of the A-League.
And Adelaide. They don't need players from other clubs. They can afford to have players of the quality of other teams regular players sitting on the bench or in the stands. Salley for instance. Or tonight's goal scorer and super sub, Alemeo. Adelaide's first of two mid-week clashes, v Melbourne, should show who is this year's favourite.
Sydney's defence didn't have to do much. What they did do was terrible. The Roar have only achieved 2 of 6 points from Sydney. Will the Roar crowd turn out to watch Sydney this year? 32,000 turned out twice last year.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Victory 2 v Roar 1
Melbourne were the better team on the night. However, it was perhaps the worst pitch this season. The ref said he was not happy to play the game. The game went ahead because both coaches said they would risk their players. Did they really have a choice? Probably not.
The poor pitch had a significant impact on the game.
The Roar dominated the first half. But conceded two goals in the middle of the second. In both it appeared that Craig Moore was out of position. Moore came back to score from a corner. However, I wonder if he picked up an injury, he didn't seem to be keeping up and seemed to hold his hamstring a few times.
The Roar looked slow on the right side against both Thompson and Hernandes. And Thompson could have scored 3 times in one-on-one's with the keeper. Mitch got one cracker on target in injury time, but had trouble controlling the ball in the box most of the time. Van Dijk missed two headers, set himself up with brilliant flicks for about 60% of the game but his last touch was disappointing. Tommy Oar came on late but only got the ball once or twice. Once Packer came off for Oar, Melbourne were using their speed against the Roar back 3.
Too slow at the back Roar.
The Roar now have Adelaide mid week, then Central Coast. Hmmm the last 2 games at home could be to make a top 4 spot.
Looks like Adelaide and Melbourne are in. Central Coast also look too strong to miss out. Sydney will throw everything at all their games now otherwise Kosmina will be out of a job. And Wellington could upset things too.
Oh dear, this was a 10 beer game. And the Roar only had 9.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
1988 Olympics = todays paradice club
In the 1988 squad were:
John Kosmina (now Sydney FC coach)
Robbie Slater (now journo and Foxtel)
Alex Tobin (now assistant coach CCM)
Gary van Egmond (now coach Newcastle)
Graham Arnold (now - still - attached to the Socceroos coaching staff)
Frank Farina (now coach Roar)
David Mitchell (now coach Perth)
The rest of squad:
Paul Wade
Oscar Crino
Alan Hunter
Jeff Olver
Mike Gibson
Andy Koczka
Micky Peterson
Vlado Bozinoski
Scott Otterenshaw
Robbie Dunn
Charlie Yankos
Alan Davidson
Any still involved?
John Kosmina (now Sydney FC coach)
Robbie Slater (now journo and Foxtel)
Alex Tobin (now assistant coach CCM)
Gary van Egmond (now coach Newcastle)
Graham Arnold (now - still - attached to the Socceroos coaching staff)
Frank Farina (now coach Roar)
David Mitchell (now coach Perth)
The rest of squad:
Paul Wade
Oscar Crino
Alan Hunter
Jeff Olver
Mike Gibson
Andy Koczka
Micky Peterson
Vlado Bozinoski
Scott Otterenshaw
Robbie Dunn
Charlie Yankos
Alan Davidson
Any still involved?
Central Coast 1 v Perth 0: Potency?
McMaster (red) and Simon (yellow) both received one match bans after their involvement in the post match melly after the whistle against Newcastle. This gave Nik Mijda his first start for the season. His 4-4-2 strike role with Sasho Petrovski lacked finish. And it took a late 70s strike from distance by John Hutchinson to separate the two teams.
Perth left, 8 time goal scorer and soon to be off contract, Dadi at home. And Wayne Srhoj was out injured. Their key player Amaral seems to have disappeared altogether now. Dutch international Victor Sikora got his first start with Nik Rukavytsya up front.
I thought that the Perth mid-field of Scot Marc Anthony, find of the season Adriano Pelligrino and Nick Rizzo and James Downey disrupted and occasionally dominated CCMs attack. Downey in particular was way too fast for Dean Heffernan at the back.
FFA site is reporting 92% possession to CCM. This site usually under-reports dominance. I didn't think it was that bad. CCM couldn't push home their advantage. Sikora looked like he was trying to teach Perth a game plan. He had a few shots on target from distance that lacked venom. Only CCM looked like scoring.
Perth left, 8 time goal scorer and soon to be off contract, Dadi at home. And Wayne Srhoj was out injured. Their key player Amaral seems to have disappeared altogether now. Dutch international Victor Sikora got his first start with Nik Rukavytsya up front.
I thought that the Perth mid-field of Scot Marc Anthony, find of the season Adriano Pelligrino and Nick Rizzo and James Downey disrupted and occasionally dominated CCMs attack. Downey in particular was way too fast for Dean Heffernan at the back.
FFA site is reporting 92% possession to CCM. This site usually under-reports dominance. I didn't think it was that bad. CCM couldn't push home their advantage. Sikora looked like he was trying to teach Perth a game plan. He had a few shots on target from distance that lacked venom. Only CCM looked like scoring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)