| Sydney |
| Melbourne |
| Perth |
| Brisbane |
| Adelaide |
| Canberra |
| London |
| Tallinn |
| Singapore |
| Wellington |
| Brussels |
| Tokyo |
| Craigieburn |
| Bonn |
| Tai-Chung |
| Nerang |
| Tel Aviv |
| New York |
| Nagoya |
| Syracuse |
| London |
| Puebla |
| Maceio |
| Galway |
| Thessaloniki |
| Pine Bluff |
| Colac |
| Los Angeles |
| Newcastle |
| Ichikawa |
| Gold Coast |
| Bangkok |
| Shingu |
| Dublin |
| Paris |
| Baltimore |
| Windsor |
| Givatayim |
| Iwade |
| Greensboro |
| Vienna |
| Bergen |
| Bauru |
| Glasgow |
| Sao Paulo |
| Cologne |
| Izegem |
| Chalandri |
| Suva |
| Iasi |
| Guwahati |
| Southlake |
| Huntsville |
| Ankara |
| Florianopolis |
| Hudson |
| Seoul |
| Salzburg |
| Southampton |
| Caracas |
| Ramat Gan |
| Chennai |
| Bronx |
| Dakar |
| Whangarei |
| Kuala Lumpur |
| Lancaster |
| Sofia |
| Erwin |
| Calcutta |
| Davos-Platz |
| Appleton |
| Cooksville |
| Lexington |
| San Gwann |
| Trier |
| Pisa |
| Nemours |
| Lincoln |
| Nice |
| Lichfield |
| Manchester |
| Vitoria |
| Straelen |
| Rock Hill |
| Swanley |
| Zurich |
| Liege |
| Philadelphia |
| Monterrey |
| Utrecht |
| Goiania |
| Bergen |
| Jos |
| Lower Hutt |
| La Paz |
| Le Chesnay |
| Puerto Madero |
| Munich |
| Garrett Park |
| Pakenham |
| Stillwater |
| Bogota |
| Montgomery Village |
| Mackay |
| Yamato |
| Irapuato |
| Dumbarton |
| Bucharest |
| Mexico City |
| Westgate |
| Wollongong |
| Reading |
| Atlanta |
| Glengormley |
| Springfield Gardens |
| Columbus |
| Floral Park |
| Sioux Center |
| Vancouver |
| Bethesda |
| Palembang |
| Porto Alegre |
| Delhi |
| Sarajevo |
| Inchon |
| Toronto |
| Lisbon |
| Edinburgh |
| Forus |
| Covington |
| Scottsdale |
| Norwood |
| San Francisco |
| Cardiff |
| Doha |
| Athens |
| Tallahassee |
| Ithaca |
| Severna Park |
| Luis Guillon |
| Dunedin |
| Minneapolis |
| Brasilia |
| Moscow |
| Suceava |
| Pisek |
| Richmond |
| Auckland |
| Bathurst |
| Leeds |
| Medford |
| Hialeah |
| Guadalajara |
| Copenhagen |
| Port Louis |
| Holt |
| Spokane |
| Amsterdam |
| St Paul |
| Porirua |
| Hengelo |
| Agawam |
| New Orleans |
| Santos |
| Birmingham |
| Hempstead |
| Paoli |
| Indore |
| Sheffield |
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Football Story Goes International
Another story about football crowds
While the action on the park in the first month of season five of the A-League has been filled with lots of action and goals (54 goals scored at at average of 2.7 goals a game) and controversy (cardboard Miron cut outs), most of the talk off the pitch has centered on the low NSL-type crowd figures.
Football pundits and bloggers have been speculating on why the crowds are so low.
Some have said that it’s because of the A-League’s early start causing the season to overlap into the peak of NRL, AFL and rugby seasons.
While I definitely think the overlapping seasons is one of the main reasons, I think there are three other main reasons.
And I’m sure you have read about them somewhere else.
First is the poor timing of the games, such as Thursday night and 3pm kick offs.
Number two is the backlash by fans not impressed with the overpricing of tickets in some markets such as Brisbane and Gold Coast.
The final reason is also a lack of promotion, with fingers pointed straight at the direction of the Football Federation Australia.
With no presence on free to air television, most people would not even know who is playing, never mind what times the games are on.
In a story John Taylor wrote for the Daily Telegraph this week, the only people happy with the low crowds appear to be TV rights holder, Fox Sports. Murray Shaw, the executive producer of football for the network, said: “The cumulative reach is up 4 per cent year on year, which means more people have watched this year’s coverage than ever before. This is an extraordinary effort given that two of the four rounds have been up against the Ashes.”
This is quite an ironic result as the reasons for the early kick offs is because of Fox Sports scheduling.
Another Thursday night kick off is sure to provide a smaller crowd for the Victory Jets game that kicks off round five of the A League, as Thursday is not a traditional football night in Australia, or anywhere else in the world.
When you decide to play with the Devil, you can’t really complain when he cheats.
Published hither:
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/09/03/another-story-about-football-crowds/
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory: Round Five Preview
Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Local kick-off: 8.00pm
Referee: Ben Williams
An historic occasion for the A League finishes Friday nights double header as Canberra host it’s very first competitive A League game.
The Central Coast Mariners have played pre-season games before in Canberra. The Fishermen take on an in form Perth Glory. The Glory has won their last two games and after a stuttering start to the campaign that began with two losses, the team is starting to live up to the hype.
It was only going to be a matter of time before the Socceroos Triumvirate of Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Chris Coyne started doing the business out West.
The Central Coast Mariners are like energy vampires sucking out the life of an unsuspecting neutral. Whose only crime is some see signs of what is often called the beautiful game.
The Mariners remind me of Dark Matter.
According to scientists Dark Matter does not emit or reflect enough light to detect, so it is not bright like a star and scientists can only estimate where it is. Just like some of the Football the Mariners have played this season, no matter how hard I look I just haven’t been able to detect any yet.
At least the Mariners can boast that they have in their pack the best name in the A League. Perhaps the best name ever to grace an Australian sporting field. Ladies and Gentlemen Boys and Girls I present: Wolry Wolfe. .
The Wolfe man has 14 senior caps for Jamaica’s "Reggae Boyz", and is a left sided midfielder. I just hope he scores a bundle of goals I want to hear the howls of a Jamaican Wolfe!
"Wolry comes highly recommended by our partners at Sheffield United, he is a Jamaican international, and we’re hopeful he’ll add a new dimension to the Mariners squad," CEO of the Mariners Lyall Gorman said.
The Mariners website says Wolfe began his career with Jamaican Premier League outfit Hazard United (which had a name change to Portmore United in 2003) as a 19 year old in 2000, before making a move to Trinidad and Tobago’s professional league with Joe Public FC.
Joe Public FC that’s the team I should have played for.
Fishermen Quotes: "That’s two weeks in a row. I thought we were OK in the first fifteen minutes until they scored, and when they scored, we just stopped," said the most honest coach in the A League Lawrie McKinna, after his side lost to Brisbane last week.
"We kept the ball reasonably well and looked very comfortable, but then from a set piece, which should have been marked up on and dealt with, wasn’t, and it has cost us. Craig Moore has got a great header, free run, free challenge, and it just shouldn’t happen, but it did", added a frustrated McKinna.
Fishermen Form:
WDDL
Glorious Quotes: “I think the momentum is there, with each game we are putting another piece of the jigsaw together and we will be looking for the three points,” Perth's Captain Jacob Burns said at training this week.
“It’s something that we’re mindful of, something we want to set right. Perth has never had three wins on the trot so we’re going to Canberra to do that. We’ve set a target, we have a goal and want to keep the run going and get three wins.”
Glorious Form:
LLWW
A Football Story Prediction:Mariners 1 -2 Perth
Central Coast Mariners Squad:1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Dean HEFFERNAN, 9. Nik MRDJA, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 15. Andrew CLARK, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Ahmad ELRICH, 22. Nicky TRAVIS, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 27. Wolry WOLFE.
*three to be omitted*
In: Dylan MACALLISTER (promoted), Matthew LEWIS (promoted), Wolry WOLFE (new signing)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Shane Huke (knee - 6 weeks), Chris Doig (calf - 2 weeks)
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 4.Andy TODD, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 8.Victor SIKORA, 10.Wayne SRHOJ, 11.Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 24.Matthew MAYORA, 25.AMARAL
*one to be omitted*
In: 23.Andrija JUKIC (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Jamie COYNE (knee – 1 week), Jimmy DOWNEY (knee – 3 weeks), Anthony SKORICH (hip – 4 weeks)
*Head-to-Head: Played 12: Central Coast Mariners wins 8, Perth Glory wins 1, Drawn 4
Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United: Round Five Preview
Friday, 4 September 2009
Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Local kick-off: 7.30pm (5.30pm AEST)
Referee: Michael Hester
The first of a Friday double header kicks off with Wellington Phoenix playing host to Adelaide United. Both teams will be looking for a win so they can creep out of the bottom four.
Wellington did not do much wrong against Sydney FC last week. They were on their way to a hard fought away point, with the score at 0-0 with less than 15 minutes left to play the Phoenix defence fell asleep at a corner and allowed the Bling substitute Brendan Gan to head in the go-ahead goal (ESPNism).
The Phoenix will welcome the addition of attacking midfielder Adrian Caceres to their squad. Look for the former Perth Glory, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariner to take up his normal position- on the Bench.
Adelaide United is struggling with poor form and some distracting off field issues. The Pissants are suffering from a discipline problem with Brazilian Cassio and Robert Cornthwaite the main offenders, especially in the latter’s case.
Phoenix Quotes: “We’ve set the scene from an intensity point of view at training this week and worked on some changes in personnel to see the reaction from the players,” Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert said at training this week.
“We’ve got good depth and quality in the squad. The players understand there are no (selection) guarantees going into this match or any other and we’ll make the final decision on the squad after final training at Westpac Stadium and make the decisions around what we feel in necessary,” added Herbert.
Phoenix Form
LWDL
Adelaide Quotes: “It’s only four games in and we’ve been disappointed with the way we’ve started. We weren’t hoping to be in the position we are in so we’ve got to bounce back and be mentally strong,” Adelaide midfielder Paul Reid said from Adelaide Airport prior to the squad departing for Sydney en route to Wellington .
“If we get a couple of wins we’re right up there so it’s only early days, but we can’t keep playing the way we have been and we’ve got to bounce back against Wellington.”
Adelaide Form
WLLD
A Football Story Prediction:Phoenix 2- Adelaide 1
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Jon McKAIN, 5. DIEGO, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL. 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 12. Jiang CHEN, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 16. David MULLIGAN, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Costa BARBAROUSES
*four to be omitted*
In: Mark PASTON (gk) (return from personal leave), Tim BROWN (promoted), Jiang CHEN (promoted), David MULLIGAN (promoted), Marco ROJAS (promoted), Costa BARBAROUSES (promoted)
Out: Manny MUSCAT (international duty), Jonathan GOULD (gk) (short-term cover)
Unavailable: Adrian CACERES (new signing)
Adelaide United Squad:1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3.ALEMAO, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 9.CRISTIANO, 10.Adam HUGHES, 11.Lloyd OWUSU, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Michael MARRONE, 19. Mathew Leckie, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Mark RUDAN, 23.Joe COSTA
*one to be omitted*
In: Francesco MONTEROSSO (promoted), Joe COSTA (promoted), Mathew Leckie (new player)
Out: Robert CORNTHWAITE (suspended – 2 weeks), Scott JAMIESON (calf – 1 week)
Unavailable: CASSIO (calf – 2 weeks), Kristian SARKIES (calf – indefinite), Travis DODD (calf – 1 week), Fabian BARBIERO (calf – 1 week)
*Head-to-Head: Played 6: Wellington Phoenix wins 0, Adelaide United wins 4, Drawn 2
Melbourne Victory-Newcastle Jets: A League Round 5 Preview
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Melbourne Victory v Newcastle Jets
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Local kick-off: 7.30pm
Referee: Chris Beath
Matchday Five of the A League begins in Melbourne on Thursday night with 7th placed inconsistent Victory taking on the high flying 3rd ranked Jets.
The Newcastle Jets should get a big thank you from all the other A League teams after ending the Gold Coast United unbeaten 3 game run last week. Melbourne Victory seems to be suffering from the after effects of champion’s syndrome. Will it be a case of success then failure again or is too early to make such a prediction? It’s not a do or die game for the team from Bleak City but another loss and they could be bottom of the table and nine points off the lead if Sydney beat Gold Coast United on Saturday and other results go a certain way..
I wrote off the Jets before the season and tipped them to come somewhere in the bottom four. Proving once again that most of the time, most people don’t know anything, and I’m quite sure of that.
Victory coach Ernie Merrick may move Tom Pondeljak in a more advanced role to cover for the loss of Costa Rican attacking midfielder Carlos Hernandez who is on World Cup duty this weekend. Nick Ward is to come in to the midfield. Ward has been getting splinters on the Melbourne bench during the season so look for the ex QPR player to have an impact if given room.
Victorious Quotes: I'm really glad that at this stage of the season we are playing good football. I think over the course of the season, that's what you rely on, rather than the game against Fury which is all defence, we win the game, but you aren't going to do much in the year if you play like that," said Victory coach Merrick during training this week.
Victorious Form (last four games):
LDWL
Jets Quotes: “It was terrific,” said an excited Jets Boss Culina speaking after the win over Gold Coast United. “I just briefly looked at some statistics there and they had 59% possession of the ball but I thought the best chances by far fell to us.”
“I was disappointed that we didn’t take one or two others because it was too close for comfort considering the number of chances that we had,” added Culina.
Jets Form (last Four Games):
WDLW
A Football Story Prediction:
Victory 1 v 2 Jets
Melbourne Victory squad:1.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 5.Surat SUKHA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Matthew KEMP, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS (c), 14.Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 17.Matthew FOSCHINI, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Nick WARD, 23.Adrian LEIJER
In: Matthew KEMP (promoted)
Out: Carlos HERNANDEZ (international duty)
Unavailable: Evan BERGER (groin - 3/4 weeks), Kevin MUSCAT (hamstring - 1 week)
Newcastle Jets Squad:1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Angelo COSTANZO, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC, 7. Jin-Hyung SONG, 8. Matt THOMPSON (c), 9. Sasho PETROVSKI, 10. Donny DE GROOT, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 15. Sean ROONEY, 16. Jason HOFFMAN, 17. Fabio VIGNAROLI, 19. Jason NAIDOVSKI, 20. Neil YOUNG (gk), 22. Kaz PATAFTA, 24. Chris TRIANTIS, 25. Labinot HALITI
*three to be omitted*
In: Labinot HALITI (new player), Donny DE GROOT (promoted), Chris TRIANTIS (promoted)
Out: Shaun ONTONG (Achilles – indefinite)
Unavailable:6. Ben KANTAROVSKI (ankle – 1/2 weeks), 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE (ankle – 2 weeks), Marko JESIC (knee – indefinite)
*Head-to-Head: Played 12: Melbourne Victory wins 3, Newcastle Jets wins 7, Drawn 2)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I’m So Bored Of The Gold Coast Chavs
To celebrate Sydney FC being top of the A League and to highlight the grand occasion of the Bling and White Shoe Brigade playing on Saturday I wrote a song called I’m so bored of The Gold Coast Chavs (sung to the Clash Song I’m so bored of the USA.)
It works best if you watch the clip with the lyrics handy otherwise it’s a bit lamo(not that it already isn't) I don't think gloating is my best colour as a Sydney FC fan I'm just not used to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_UN2tweVZw&feature=fvw
Original Lyrics here:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/clash/im+so+bored+with+the+u+s+a_20031726.html
New Fandangled Lyrics
Ex Israeli soldier
He wanna shoot his mouth
He met Clive in Paradise
But now he can afford a Title
Clive’s Dollar Talk
To the FFA’s of this world
In fact he’s giving orders
An they can’t afford to miss a word
I’m so bored with the Gold Coast Chavs(x2)
But what can I do?
Mad Miron
Is Always on the TV
cos the cause of football
Work seven days a week
Never mind the legal case
Lets print more Clive and Miron
I’ll salute the new Football
with nobody at the game
I’m so bored with the Gold Coast Chavs (x 20))
But what can I do?
Move up Sydney
For the C.O.V.E
Suck a lemon
White Shoe Brigade