Interview w Central Coast Mariners star Fabio Ferreira

My yarn with former Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea youth graduate 'La Fletcha' Fabio Ferreira he's arrowing in on 10 goals & an A League finals push for the CCMariners 

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/ferreira-targets-10-finals-football-push

Interview with Central Coast Mariners Coach Tony Walmsley

Interview with Central Coast Mariners Coach Tony Walmsley, he talks about tonight's FFACup game with Wellington Phoenix FC & his hopes to finish in the finals for the upcoming A-League season ahead

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/cup-barometer-new-era-mariners

Exclusive Interview with Central Coast Mariner's striker Roy O'Donovan

My yarn with new #CCM signing Roy O'Donovan, he thanks royal ruckus for Mariners move | http://po.st/CXVMLp  via @FourFourTwoOz #aleague

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/odonovan-thanks-royal-ruckus-mariners-move

Latest Four Four Two Podcast

I'm on latest @FourFourTwoOz Podcast we chat about the strange round of 16 A-League upsets.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/podcasts/442FM_10x12.mp3

Interview with former Chelsea Fabio Ferreira

Exclusive interview @FourFourTwoOz with former Chelsea youth graduate & new Central Coast Mariner signing Fabio Ferreira

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/catch-week-mariners-ferreira-sets-sights-top-six

Interview with Socceroo and Sydney FC star Bernie Ibini

Even though Sydney FC attacker Bernie Ibini won't celebrate if he scores against the Central Coast Mariners this Sunday I know I will. 

Here is an interview I did with him leading up to Sunday's game.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/no-celebration-if-ibini-scores-against-mariners

A-League Season 10 Preview

So the longest off season in any sport in any world is over. My sentiments exactly.... pretending to care about the other codes is done. Let the real football begin. Bring on Season 10 of the A League. 

Here are some musings and rantings of what I expect from Season 10 of the A League.

O Marquee, Marquee wherefore art thou Marquee?

Alessandro Del Piero is in India drinking Mango Lassi and collecting Rupees, Emile Heskey is in England doing the pundit thing and Shinji Ono’s is in Japan’s second division the question is wherefore art thou A-League’s Marquees?

There will be pundits on TV and in print rolling out the line “The biggest Marquee in Season 10 of the A League is the number 10” or something like that. The A-League was spoilt the last two seasons with Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono

The Top Marquee this A-League season is the number 10. Why would you want a washed up number 10 when their is the Tenth Season of the A-League to celebrate. 

Judging by the memberships sales figures the lack of big name Marquees is not affecting the fan numbers. Nice work number 10! It’s taken you ten years but you’ve proved round numbers are very sexy.

David “who needs a pre season?” Villa

Word is David Villa with a hard soft L only arrived a week before the start of A League season because he wanted to see as many Enrique Iglesias concerts as he could. Check out Villa’s Instagram account it’s very true! http://instagram.com/p/tZEYTlPBfW/

Will the World Cup, Euro, La Liga, Champions League winner even bother to play the 10 guest games for Melbourne Heart (Excuse me I forgot it’s Melbourne City now isn’t it) before he heads over to New York to catch up with his superstar mate Frank Lampard?

Or will Villa with the hard soft L love Melbourne so much that he decides to stick around for the whole season?

Probably not. Melbourne City isn’t New York City.

Perhaps if Enrique Englesias does a 28 week tour of Melbourne he’d stay longer. Twenty thousand Euro snobs will be pissed off if he doesn’t play in the opening game of the season against Sydney FC?

Melbourne “Lipstick on a Pig” City

Continuing on with the Melbourne City theme without Damien Duff, Robert Koren and David Villa and a changed home strip and changed name this eerily still feels like Melbourne Heart. Sure it’s ok to change things around with new owners coming in but what will all those Melbourne Westpac workers do now? Only support Melbourne City when they play in their away strips?

Also Robert Koren as the marquee? The richest club in this dimension and the club have chosen a Slovenian Midfielder who used to play for Hull?

Sydney FC

Now that Alessandro Del Piero has left what will all those Euro Snobs do with their summers and their Sydney FC Del Piero named shirts?

I surely thought Sydney FC’s membership numbers would drop due to the Euro Snob factor but they’ve actually increased this season. At the Sydney FC fan day ex Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold said that it was always his dream to coach his home town club of Sydney FC. Nicely said Mr Arnold the Mariners fans must love hearing that.

Are Sydney FC doing a Manchester United and lining up the attack with quality, but not bothering to improve the defence?  With Alex Brosque, Shane Smeltz, Marc Janko, Corey Gamiero and Bernie Ibinie, Sydney FC probably have the best attack in the A League. It will be back four that that will be the Sky Blues problem this season.

Brisbane Roar

My new Albanian - Mensur Kurtishi is better than my old Albanian -  Bersart Bereshia. That's what Brisbane Roar will be hoping.

The off season was so long I forget that the Roar are the current A-League champions. Is the reason I’m forgetting because of the A-League has world’s biggest offseason in sports? Or just the fact that because of the vast news and information going through our modern brains as each moment occurs we are simultaneously experiencing and forgetting them.



Western Sydney Wanderers

Can they repeat last two season’s success and lose the grand final three seasons in a row? 

Can they lose the Asian Champions League Final in between and lose four finals in a row? 

Everyone knows the real star of the team is The Red and Black Bloc. Perhaps they should try a new way of supporting their team. Perhaps they could try the reverse of turning your back on your team, and actively watch them from the front of their heads.

And what’s with the silent protesting and the I’m not coming to the game anymore because my mate lit a flare and they banned him for life protest!

Tony Popovic must be an autistic genius at the art of suffocating the opposition and the grinding out a result with Mark Bridge and Labinot Haliti and Brendan Santalab in attack. He could have been Crystal Palace Manager by now instructing Mile Jedinak to break legs and shave off that beard.

Beware Victor Saba your Ned Kelly is numbered!

 The "Mutiny” on the Perth Glory

Last season “ The Mutiny” on the Perth Glory “ was led by their captain Jacob Burns, against Lieutenant Alister “Curriculum “ Edwards.

According to accounts, the players were not happy with the "idyllic" life and the opportunities that Lieutenant Edwards afforded to his two sons Cameron and Ryan.

It has also been argued that the Mutineers were motivated by Edwards’s allegedly harsh treatment of them when asked they were asked to play out from the back.

The Mutineers look foolish now as one of the sons Ryan Edwards had amde a decent impact at Reading since he set sail for the Royals in the English Championship.

Newcastle “for sale” Jets

When will the suited and booted folk at Football Federation Australia realise that having billionaires like Nathan  “I want to buy the club, no sorry I want to sell the club”  Tinkler  who use A-League clubs as their playthings is not a good idea?

The Jets haven’t made the finals for years and this year will be just as tough as they have more injuries in their squad than the aftermath of a Friday Night out in Kings Cross and an NRL grand Final.

Adelaide “Mini Me Barcelona” United

So the coach of Adelaide United Josep Gombau was at FC Barcelona for seven years.

The Technical director of Adelaide United former Barca and Spanish International Gillermo Amor after his playing days was responsible for the youth categories at FC Barcelona for four years and most recently he was the director of football training while Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were there.

A slow start to the season led to Gombau being told to harden by a local journalist. The Reds could make a big impact this season they have best technical football knowledge. Will their 3-4-3 make an impact?

Central ”I’m moving to North Sydney maybe” Coast Mariners

One week they are staying on the Central Coast, the next they are moving to North Sydney, another week they can’t pay their players, another week they are opening a 10 million dollar Centre of Excellence, another week goes by and they announce a team of football scouts, the next week, they are being bought by South Melbourne.

It’s never dull up the Coast.

Wellington “does anyone care besides us Wellingtonians?” Phoenix

No Disrespect to the sheep botherers but I’d rather watch a team from Wollongong or Canberra.

Melbourne Victory

For the team that is the biggest club in World Football, it Feels like Melbourne Victory have flown under the radar during this pre-season. Usually the Central Coast Mariners fly under the radar. The Victory took the Bipolar Albanian Besta Berisha from Brisbane Roar so they should be challenging.

Will some Melbourne Victory fans rush to buy memberships because they have mistaken Allesandro Del Piero for Matthieu Delpierre ? Thinking that it’s a typo and the Blue Tongued Maestro is now playing for the Victory?

Who is Del Pierre anyway and what is the Victory's fascination with Marquee defenders Paulo Contreas ?

A League Before of Season Awards

Best Name that almost has a swear word in it: Devante Clut (Brisbane Roar)

Best use of alliteration in a name: Jimmy Jeggo (Melbourne Victory

Best misspelt marquee name: Matthieu Delpierre

Best if it worked with one Albanian let’s try another: Brisbane Roar

The Tom Rogic Groin Injury award: Tom Juric just like the RBB his groin is involved in a rather loud active protest.

The award for best use of useless A-League knowledge: being able to name the Wellington Phoenix squad besides Paul Ifill who doesn’t even play with them anymore. Just joking Phoenix........

Best Hipster Ned Kelly Beard: Victor Saba

Australian Football Podcast A League 2014/15 Season Preview

                                                                                            

What do you get when you combine a football writer with a comedy genius? 



You probably get the funniest Australian Football Podcast maybe in pod-casting history perhaps!


Featuring the 2014/2015 A League Season Preview. Quirky Music interludes, The Les Murray Football Hotline


Every A-League Team is covered, even Wellington Phoenix! We talk David Villa, Preview the chances of Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory, Wellington Phoenix and the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Click the link below to listen to Rob Toddler and Stama's A League Podcast:

http://magiclunchbox.com/shit/podcast/Podcast_01_v01.mp3

Generation Next: Bernie Ibini -Isei

Here is an interview I did with Central Coast Mariners Star Bernie Ibinie - Isei. 

 Last A-League season you were the top scorer for the Mariners inthe Youth League and then finished the season by playing in the Grand Final against Brisbane Roar. Tell us your thoughts on your performance. Did it surpass your expectation?

Bernie Ibini-Isei: Yeah last season was a great season for me and I certainly surpassed all expectations for the season. To have started off in the youth team and by the end of the season be coming on in the Grand Final it was a dream but certainly not what I was expecting at the start of the season.

Tell us about your football journey so far. How did you get to the Mariners?

Well I was at Blacktown City playing 20's and 1st grade there as well as at Westfield Sports High School with both of them having links with Mariners which helped a lot, where I joined Mariners youth team half way through the season 2 seasons ago and I have continued since then.

Tell us what went through your mind when during the Grand Final when late in the game you where through on goal and the referee blew the whistle before you had the chance to shoot?

To be honest not much I was just thinking about how I was going to finish the chance but then the referee blew the whistle and I was devastated, so there wasn't much I could do but get ready for extra time.

Mustafa Amini, Oliver Bozanic, Sam Gallagher, Mathew Ryan and Trent Sainsbury were also in that camp. It must be a comfortable feeling having your Mariners’ teammates with you?

It definitely helps having so many boys from Mariners there; it makes it a lot easier to fit in straight away.

The Mariners have really got an exciting group of youngsters at the club. What it like being part of the young Mariners crew?

Yeah as you can see throughout the past season he believes in youth which is really encouraging because u know if you work hard and perform you will get your chance, Graham Arnold has been great his brought a lot of professionalism to the club which has helped us young boys mature a lot more quicker.

Graham Arnold has a lot faith in youth what has been your impression of the former Socceroos coach?

It’s been great and it’s good to have so many young boys around, we definitely cop the stick off the older boys though.

Who was your junior team that you played for growing up and your most important influences in your football education?

Earlwood Wanderers, there has been a combination of coaches but the number one influences would have to be my parents they were always pushing me to strive for the best.

What do you hope to achieve in your football career?

I hope to have a long successful career and eventually play in one of the top leagues in Europe.

What was the best piece of advice a coach or anyone has given you?

Best advice was, not matter how tough the situation is you just got to keep working hard and it will happen for you at the right time.

Tell us about your experiences growing up in Australia how did you choose football? The AFL has been targeting African immigrants, did you ever think of playing the oval ball shaped sport?

Well I just started playing soccer at lunch times at primary school and loved it so just continued from there really, no never but I did do athletics when I was younger though and loved basketball.

Only Dwight had the Bling

There was some interesting rustling at Sydney FC training this week. 


First off there was the training ground spat between Clint Bolton and Terry McFlynn. The head line on 442 earlier this week read “Bootsa Blow –Up at Sydney training”

Clint Bolton is the one known as “Bootsa”. In the Greek language bootsa means penis. So reading that headline again with that in mind it takes a very different direction to what you initially thought it would be.

Anyway getting my mind out of the gutter for one moment the other interesting headline again involved Sydney FC keeper Clint Bolton.

The 442 headline shouted “Bolton: We’ve Never Been Bling”

Bootsa had a few words to say about the ‘Bling’ tag. Apparently the players felt uncomfortable wearing it.

"We've always been a hardworking side that spends a lot of hours out on the pitch," he said.  "That's always been our trademark really, despite the old tag 'Bling FC'”, Bootsa said.

To be truthful the ‘Bling FC’ moniker was only worn by ‘All night’ Dwight Yorke. He was the only one who could really afford any proper ‘Bling’. The rest of the team were dragging on Dwight’s ‘Bling’ encrusted coat tails.

So when Dwight left early in season two the ‘Bling’ left with it, replaced by a hard drinking instant coffee connoisseur called Terry Butcher. The ‘Bling’ did make a short lived come back later in the season when Benito Carbone had a guest stint, but that was until he pulled his hamstring.

I really liked the nickname it gave Sydney a term of reference that differentiated us from the other teams. All it takes is a new marquee who doesn’t have a dodgy knee (*cough* John Aloisi *cough*)

To the Mariners

Public Holiday Monday should see a pretty good crowd at the SFS particularly since it’s a double header involving the W League game with the Sydney ladies taking on the Central Coast ladies.

The A League ladder is as tight as a camels arse in a sand storm at the moment. If I was on radio or television I would sum up the season as a “tipsters nightmare”. People like to slag off the Mariners as long ball and boring. You can really say that about most A League teams most, English Premier League teams and most International Football teams.

I hope Larry keeps on picking Disco Stu. I also hope he drops the ineffective Kisel. It’s not that the ex Slovak international is playing that badly it’s just that he hasn’t done anything that well either.

I thought the performance by Sydney against Brisbane last week had its moments. Even though we lost, I though the movement and intensity was perhaps the best the team have shown so far this season. It must be said that the clear cut chances so far this season have been frustrating low. 


The Mariners will be hard to beat but so is Sydney and after the 0-0 bore draw at Gosford earlier in the season both teams have a duty to perform for the crowd.

A League Round Five Review

(Article published in Goal weekly)

The A League crowds are the talk of the competition at the moment. Particularly puzzling are the Gold Coast Crowd figures. Arguably the White Shoe Brigade has the best squad in the league, the best stadium and is getting more press than any other team. Mad Miron and Professor Palmer are doing a great job PR wise so what’s the problem?
  

Even though most of the Surfer chicks and Grommets were absent at Skilled Park Stadium up on the Gold Coast, those who did go were treated to a wonderful game of entertaining high pulse football.While sometimes the focus is on who is not there, when it should be on who is, the action on Saturday evening was excellent dude, gnarly even! 

The Gold Coast support would have been stoked to get a 2-1 win over title pretenders Sydney FC and go two points clear at the top. Shane Smeltz has been as cool like an ocean breeze this season with eight goals scored in five games. Like Russell Crowe, Phar Lap and everything else that is good from New Zealand we should really be claiming him as an Aussie……… somebody check his passport.

Melbourne Victory is in crisis mode read the Tabloid head line.Danny Allsop is normally the consummate professional but he did a Cassio and refused to play on against the Jets on Thursday nights. The management at Victory knocked a big money move to the Middle East and Danny had a bit of a dummy spit and took his ball and went home. 

The Victory must be cursing the FFA and Fox for scheduling their games opening two home games of the season on Thursday night. Both round one and five crowds were lower than expected and the A League need the large victory support so they can prop the league's plummeting crowd averages.

Adelaide United is a club who seem to have lost their way at the moment. They just can’t put it together on the park. The team look they are trying too hard and it’s draining to watch at times. The Reds are wasting chances when they get them and some players are not showing up….Cassio, has anyone seen Cassio? A couple of weeks back Red’s coach Aurelio Vidmar said they would have to change the way the team trains, due to the large amount of players that were getting struck down with calf injuries. If you can’t train properly the obvious question how can you play……..

The Central Coast Mariners are just the jammiest of bastards of the A League aren’t they? The game was played in Canberra on Friday night .A small crowd of 5000 plus will not help the Canberra’s bids cause to get into the A League next season. However the surface certainly helped the Mariners get a win as a tennis ball bounce did not assist Perth Glory keeper Tando Velaphi. With the score at 1-1 and with only a handful of minutes remaining Velaphi slipped and fell at them most awful moment.

Dylan Macallister did show some skill to run past the Glory keeper who was now crawling on his knees. The Mac then laid the ball to Mat Simon from the by line and the tall lanky striker side footed it in to an empty net, for an unlikely home away from home  2-1 victory to the Mariners.


The North Queensland Fury are starting to finally get there shit together. The Scouse man Robbie Fowler scored a delightful goal when he found room in the penalty box to open the scoring with a sublime right finish. The Fury were unlucky to have Paul Kohler sent off in the first half and were cursed by the football gods when a Mitch Nicholls deflection salvaged a point for the Brisbane Roar. 

The Roar seem to be suffering from a huge fan backlash after the club raised membership prices from $390 to $1080 for a family pass. Those extra four games the hike has been justified for better have fairy dust sprinkled on the ticket; otherwise it’s a con job. Who knew Scrooge moved to Brisbane!!!

All in all round five of the A League had a mixture of granite juxtuposed with some excellent play, if only the crowds would stop paying attention to those sports they play with a rockmelon.

A League Import Watch:Chicks love getting them and blokes want to play like them………… I’m talking about Gold Coast United’s Brazilian triumvirate of Milson, Anderson and Robson. Other imports that impressed were the Phoenix’s Paul Ifill, Adama Traore and Bas Van der Brink of Gold Coast United and of course the Fury’s Robbie Fowler. Song for the Newcastle Jets is playing consistently well this season and the Kosovo kid Labinot Haliti scored a great equalising header against the Victory.

A-League Socceroo Watch:Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns are starting to “show themselves” as Pim Verbeek likes to say. The Jets Ljubo Milicevic was superb again. and Verbeek should have a look at Grizzly Adams when Holland and Oman come to Australia in October.

Hot Spot: The Gold Coast United showed that without Jason Culina they can beat a full strength Sydney FC and must be favourites for the Championship.

Odd Spot:Mathew “Hallmark” Breeze once again showed he has a card for every occasion, sending the Fury’s Paul Kohler to the sheds after the defender received a second yellow for a rather soft challenge.

Best Goal Celebration so far:Lloyd Owusu (ADL) scored against the Fury last week and there must have been at least three different dance moves in one. The man who played for Ghana twice finished the move by the holding up the roof.

Quotes Of The Week:“When Shane is one-on-one with the goalkeeper like he was for the second goal, you can light your cigar!”Miron Blieberg coach of league leaders Gold Coast United lights up a Cuban.

Goal of the Week: Robbie Fowler’s poise and composure for the Fury’s opening goal against Brisbane Roar brought back memories of God’s Liverpool days.

A Football Story Team of the Week:

GK:Vuckovic(CENT), LB:Traore(GCU), Ljubo Milicevic(NEW), Vargas(MEL), RB:Elrich (NEW), LM:Minneicon(GCU) CM:Talay(Fury) CM:Thwaite(GCU) RM:Williams(FURY) FW:Smeltz(GCU) FW:Fowler(FURY)

Round Six Predictions:

Adelaide United 1v1 Central Coast Mariners

Newcastle Jets 2 v 1 Brisbane Roar

Sydney FC 2v 1 North Queensland Fury

Melbourne Victory 2 v 1 Wellington Phoenix

Perth Glory 0 v 2 Gold Coast United

Hyundai A-League 2009/10 – Leading Goal-Scorers

 8 – Shane SMELTZ

 3 – John ALOISI, Robbie FOWLER, Sergio VAN DIJK, Archie THOMPSON

 2 –Chris GREENACRE, Carlos HERNANDEZ, Jason HOFFMAN, Branko JELIC, Lucas PANTELIS, Paul IFILL

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

A League Round 4 Preview Part One

Friday 28 August 2009

Adelaide United v North Queensland Fury

Friday 28 August 2009, Hindmarsh Stadium, 7.30pm local (8.00pm AEST)

Round four kicks off with a Friday double header. The action begins in Adelaide with the Reds taking on the winless and pointless Fury. The Reds will be looking to bounce back from being outplayed by the Gold Coast while the Fury will be looking for their first ever A League point.

Adelaide will be missing Travis Dodd while the Fury will be hoping one at least of their defenders knows how to play the offside trap.

Reds Quotes:“It’s very disappointing but there’s not much you can do about it, you’ve just got to get on with it".said Reds Coach Aurelio Vidmar speaking about the disappointment at the loss of Captain Travis Dodd to a calf injury.

"But we’ll still put out our strongest team and I’m still very confident we can get the three points, because we’re in a position already after four rounds that it’s a must win,” added a determined Vidmar.

“Every striker wants to score as many goals as they can and don’t get me wrong, the opportunities have got to come, we’ve just got to make sure we put them away…and hopefully on Friday night they’ll be in the back of the net,” said the Reds’ former Ghanaian international Lloyd Owusu speaking about Fridays night’s game with the Fury.

Furious Quotes:'I want to bring that attacking flair. We've got Robbie up front, there haven't been too many balls put through to him, so hopefully I can do that,'' said 25-year-old Attacking midfielder Fred Agius who could debut for the Fury on Friday Night.

Here is under pressure Fury Coach Ian Ferguson speaking about left back Shane Stefanutto’s inclusion in the Socceroos squad for next weeks game against South Korea: “It's a great thing for Shane to be selected to play for his country and I'm sure David (Williams) will want to be given another chance with the Socceroos and (Osama) Malik recently toured Argentina with the Young Socceroos.

“We have quality players in this club, we just have to click,” added Ferguson.

A Football Story Prediction: Adelaide 3 - Fury 0

Adelaide United Squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 9.CRISTIANO, 10.Adam HUGHES, 11.Lloyd OWUSU, 12.Paul REID, 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Michael MARRONE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Mark RUDAN, 23.Joe COSTA

*two to be omitted

In: Paul REID (returns from injury), Mark RUDAN (promoted)

Out: 13.Travis DODD (calf – 1 week), 18.Fabian BARBIERO (calf – 1 week)
Unavailable: 6.Cassio (calf – 2 weeks), 8.Kristian SARKIES (calf – indefinite)

North Queensland Fury squad: 1.Paul HENDERSON (gk), 2.Robbie MIDDLEBY, 3.Chris TADROSSE, 6.Ufuk TALAY, 8. Shane STEFANUTTO, 9.Robbie FOWLER (c), 14.Chris GROSSMAN, 15.Fred AGIUS, 16.Paul KOHLER, 18.James ROBINSON, 19.Daniel MCBREEN, 20.Justin PASFIELD (rgk), 22.Karl DODD, 23.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 24.Dyron DAAL

In: Fred AGUIS, Chris GROSSMAN

Out: John TAMBOURAS, David WILLIAMS (thigh – 1 week)
Unavailable: Scott WILSON (foot – 4 weeks), Jacob TIMPANO (hamstring – indefinite), Jeremy BROCKIE (quadriceps – indefinite), Osama MALIK (thigh – 1 week), Jason SPAGNUOLO (hamstring - 1 week)

Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory

Friday 28 August 2009, Members Equity Stadium, 8.00pm local (10.00pm AEST)

Perth Glory will be looking to continue on from last week were they more or less grinded out a 2-0 win against a disappointing Newcastle Jets. The visit of Melbourne Victory who last week travelled to North Queensland and got a narrow 1-0 win against the Fury will be an opportunity for the Glory as the Victory players could be tired from all the travel.

Expect a fast start from the home team. The Socceroos trio of Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Chris Coyne will be out to prove to Pim Verbeek they are worthy of a World Cup place after missing out on the latest Socceroos squad to face South Korea next week.

The return of former Brazilian international Amaral could be an inspired choice if the veteran stays fit as the Glory lack a genuine playmaker.

Having Adrian Leijer back from OS is a huge bonus for the Victory. Club captain Kevin Muscat is still out injured for two more weeks and Leijer's return from Fulham after almost three years away is almost like the former Olyroos captain never left. A negative for the Victory is that left back Even Berger is out for two weeks.

Glorious Quotes:“He has an infectious character, he’s bubbly, a good guy and great player. He felt that the club and fans didn’t get the best from him last season and he wanted to come back and help the team achieve our goals this season and I’m sure he will be able to do that,”said Glory Coach Dave Mitchell talking about prodigal son Amaral.

“The reception has been great, the team has made me feel very welcome and I think the team this year has big potential. There is a strong squad and I think I can complement the players that are already here,” said Amaral talking about his glorious return.

Victory Quotes: "I think it's always difficult to travel over that distance and also to New Zealand and to Townsville. We found it difficult to get the guys up for the game. It's something we need to learn to cope with if we are going to do well. We've got our flight protocols in place and it's really about individual motivation to play at their best every game, home and away, travel or no travel," Victory Coach Ernie Merrick said.

A Football Story Prediction: Glory 1 - Victory 1

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, 13.Scott BULLOCH, 14.Eugene DADI, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17.Todd HOWARTH, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC, 24.Matthew MAYORA, 25.AMARAL

*three to be omitted*

In: Scott BULLOCH (promoted), Eugene DADI (promoted), AMARAL (promoted - guest player)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Jamie COYNE (knee - 2 weeks), Jimmy DOWNEY (knee - 4 weeks), Jamie HARNWELL (hamstring - 1 week), Anthony SKORICH (hip - 5 weeks)

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, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Matthew FOSCHINI, 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 22.Nick WARD

In: Matthew FOSCHINI (promoted)

Out: Evan BERGER (groin - 2 weeks)
Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (hamstring - 2 weeks)

Saturday 29 August 2009

Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 3.00pm

Referee: Ben Williams

The Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners have the Saturday to themselves. The Roar will face a tough Mariners side. The Fisherman will be disapointed they are not on nine points after out playing the Jets in round two and missing two late chances against Sydney FC last week including a penalty. The Mariners should have had a perfect record instead they have started the season with a win and two draws.

The Roar has not won a game so far this season. They have played well in their last two. but they have only two draws to show for their attacking efforts. Craig Moore and Bob Malcom do not look comfortable at the back and it appears the loss of midfielder dynamo Massimo Murdocha is affecting their play.

Roar Quotes: "Everyone was disappointed with the crowd on the weekend."(But) from a team's perspective, we have only really played 45 minutes poorly (this season) and that was in the second half against Wellington.

"But it's a long season and we encourage our fans to continue to support us because we will get there - we will be there at the end of the season.

"It's not all gloom and doom." said Roar coach Frank Farina speaking about the record low crowd of 7,084 fans last Sunday.

Mariners Quotes: "We need to keep on top of what we’ve been doing. We are really well disciplined, the only thing we need to do is keep the ball a wee bit better, as we said last weekend. We got better as the game went on whereas the week before we probably dropped off a wee bit in the second half.

"It’d be great to put a good 90 minutes in at the weekend, and three points would put pressure on Sydney and Gold Coast as well," said Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna.

A Football Story Prediction: Roar 2 - Mariners 1

Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Craig MOORE (c), 5. Josh McCLOUGHAN, 6. David DODD, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 11. REINALDO, 12. Matt MUNDY, 13. HENRIQUE, 15. Matt McKAY, 16. Bob MALCOLM, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 18. Danny TIATTO, 20. Griffin McMASTER (gk), 24. Robbie KRUSE.

*two to be omitted*

In: Josh McCLOUGHAN (returns from injury), REINALDO (promoted)

Out: Tommy OAR (suspended - 1 week)

Unavailable: Andrew PACKER (adductor - 2/3 months), Massimo MURDOCCA (fractured leg - 3/4 months), Tommy OAR (suspended - 1 week)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Dean HEFFERNAN, 9. Nik MRDJA, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 15. Andrew CLARK, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC, 21. Ahmad ELRICH, 22. Nicky TRAVIS, 23. Adam KWASNIK

*one to be omitted*

In: Andrew CLARK (promoted)

Out: Nil

Unavailable: Chris DOIG (calf - 2 weeks), Shane HUKE (knee - 4 weeks), Adrian CACERES (hamstring - 1 week)

Hyundai A-League Head-to-Head: Played 14: Brisbane Roar wins 6, Central Coast Mariners wins 2, Drawn 6

Overall Head-to-Head: Played 19: Brisbane Roar wins 7, Central Coast Mariners wins 4, Drawn 8

Quotes Courtesy of Sportal Australia and A League website.