Indonesia host Australia on Wednesday evening - the Socceroos' first match of their bid to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.
Ahead of the big match in Jakarta, Goal.com talks to Bima Said of Indonesia and Australian football writer Con Stamocostas.
How important is this game?
Indonesia - Indonesians have highly passionate fans. Any game is important.
Australia - The game is important in two contexts: getting the second tier Socceroos experience in Asia so the pool of players Pim Verbeek has to pick from for the World Cup get vital exposure to his tactics and style of play; doing that in a competitive international in Asia will benefit the players greatly.
Is the Asian Cup a priority?
Indonesia -Yes. We didn't succeed in the AFF Cup and World Cup 2010 qualifiers. Having reached every Asian Cup since 1996, it would be very disappointing to miss out in 2011.
Australia -Yes all international trophies are important - the FFA cupboard is bare. Australians like winners so winning is good for the Socceroos brand commercially, not forgetting the fans traveling to Asia to experience the thrill a different cultural and football competition.
Australia's big-name stars will not be there, how do you feel about that?
Indonesia - This proves that Australia has placed a low priority on the Asian Cup because their major aim is to reach World Cup 2010. That looks very clear. Nevertheless, you would expect a second string Aussie team to still match the strongest Indonesian line-up, and perhaps do even better. It is disappointing that the big stars aren't in Jakarta, but Indonesia can still expect a tough match.
Australia -Part of me wishes that some fringe Socceroos in Europe were given a chance. There are players in Scandinavia, Greece and Russia like David Williams, Nathan Burns and even Luke Wilkshire who could have been used. The FIFA window not being open has caused the overseas players to be logistically unavailable. It will be interesting to see how the A-league players go; we could find a potential star.
Indonesia is the closest Asian nation to Australia, is there are special feeling/rivalry?
Indonesia -Although we're neighbours, I'm not sure we have a special rivalry when it comes to sports. Indonesians, along with China and South Korea, are the world's best when it comes to the sport of badminton. And Australians are top class in rugby and cricket. Those are sports we never really compete in. When it comes to football, It's nothing close compared to Man United vs. Liverpool. Maybe after this match and the away match, things will look a bit different. But apart from that, of course there's also strong friendship. There are lots of Indonesians who study and work in Australia, and many Aussies visit Indonesia, mainly for tourism and there are also quite a lot of expats. In politics, sometimes we will argue against one another, but that is a common thing to do in a democracy.
Australia -I suppose it's time to grow one. Australia played Indonesia in Perth in March 2005 and Australia won that game 3-0. Indonesian club sides have played A-league clubs in the Asian Champions League in past with Persik Kediri having beaten Sydney FC before. So the rivalry is growing. How happy are you with your respective coaches?
Indonesia - Benny Dollo has not convinced me that he is currently the best coach for the Indonesian team. He came in for a second term to replace Bulgarian Ivan Kolev two years ago, but he has brought very little to the squad. He was heavily criticised for failing to make an impact in the AFF Cup. If I was him, I would avoid such disgrace and quit my post. But Dollo, just like our corrupt FA chief, choses to stay.
Australia -Pim Verbeek is going great. We are two wins away from the world cup. The team has played badly and won at times and there is still improvement to be made but overall I am quite happy.
How is the team's form?
Indonesia -Very bad if not terrible. We escaped with a goalless draw at Oman, but that is simply because their players were too tired, just two days after beating the Saudis in the Gulf Cup final by virtue of a penalty shoot-out.Meanwhile, we had a lot of time to prepare after losing to Thailand in the AFF semis, a tournament we have never won before, even with the luxury of hosting it. Tens of thousands of Indonesians continuously support the national team, only to come home disappointed or angered two hours later. No major trophy since 1991 takes a lot of patience.
Australia- The A-league players chosen have been in form in the A-League this season and should be fit so hopefully Pim can get them playing well with each other. The problem will be adapting to the Dutch style when most A-League coaches play a different style of football.
Which player should the other team watch out for?
Indonesia- I'm sure Boaz Salossa is in fine form. The 22-year-old Papuan was miraculously omitted from the AFF squad but was in good shape against Oman. I think if he gets support from Elie Aiboy, Firman Utina and Syamsul Bachri Chaerudin from midfield, Indonesia will have a strong chance to beat Australia
Australia -Shannon Cole's free kicks and crosses if he is chosen, Scott Jamieson is a speedy left back from Adelaide has been in great form this year, Archie Thomson on his day can be menacing for defence. It all depends on who Pim picks to play. I'd love to see Michael Zullo and Tarek Elrich have a go as well as they can both be quick and explosive.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your team?
Indonesia -Indonesia have always lacked the physical strength to go the full 90 minutes. But these players can really gel as a team and create opportunities for one another. But in a game against Australia, they will need to be able to control the tempo of the game, and not make silly passes and fouls. You can expect Indonesia to do just that.
Australia -Australian teams are usually defined by good physical strength, organization, sometimes speed and in Asia, a threat from corners and set pieces. Traditionally Australia’s weakness has been a lack of technique and a lack of flair and the presence of creative players who are able to breakdown defences. The Asian climate when it is hot and humid and raining can be a factor as well, keeping possession and playing a slower tempo is something Australian teams have had to learn to deal with in Asia if they are to be successful.
What will the score be?
Indonesia-It seems that the Aussies are underestimating us. I reckon Indonesia winning 2-1 is a good learning lesson for those guys down under. Australia- Australia 2-1 Do you have a message for the other team? Indonesia -Never underestimate the Indonesians. It might come back to haunt you some day. But wait, you have done that before. Sydney FC came to town in the 2007 Asian Champions League and lost 2-1 to an attacking Persik Kediri side.
Australia- Just that I look forward to the encounter. The atmosphere will be amazing and hopefully we can witness a good game and may the best team win - Australia, of course!
Bima Said & Con Stamocostas
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
This Is Stability? Jan 26 2009
FOOTBALL is an easy game which is made more complicated by the presence of the other team.
You see this quote doled out in football literature all the time. It was coined by a small French coffee drinking, womanizing and philosophy geek called John Paul Satre. Watching Sydney smash a pretty awful Newcastle Jets 4-0 it seemed like even John Alosi would get a goal.
It wasn’t to be though, Aloisi provided a trade mark air swing with his first opportunity after coming on as a sub around the 60th minute.
It’s hard to really talk about this match seriously because Newcastle were so bad, they did not complicate things for Sydney at all.
Adam Griffiths, I personally admire for his resolve; to be able to bluff his way into the A-League, and still not be found out as an imposter after four season is incredible.
And he provided Sydney with two goals after striker Alex Brosque skinned him twice to give Sydney a two goal lead at half time. The second goal, a glorious feint before chipping over the goalkeeper, the ball floating onto the net at the same time Ante Covic was falling on his backside.
Mark Milligan, Sydney FC’s ex glamour boy for three seasons returned to the SFS to a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball in defence for the Jets; and talk about déjà vu, he managed to score in the last game of the regular season again, making it two own goals in a row for two different clubs at the same ground. That one moment is a sports statistician's wet dream.
Mark Bridge looked sharper and fitter than at any time this season, I think that is what they call tapering. But usually it’s the beginning, not the end of the season, where this is supposed to happen.
Rhyan Grant was moved to a midfield position for this game and he was busy running around breaking down the Jets play, and always in good position to receive the ball from his team mates. How Stuart Musialik would wish he had someone like Grant playing alongside him all season.
Kofi Danning showed some good touches after he came on in the second half. It’s worth paying the money just to watch this young kid show some of his more experienced contemporaries how it’s done.
Straight after John Aloisi hit an open header on to the cross bar, my brother said that he felt sorry for him; nothing seemed to be falling his way.
I feel a little different and after reading that Shannon Cole is the leading crosser in the league with close to two hundred crosses this year I don’t buy the argument that he hasn’t received enough quality service. My eyes tell me that he is too slow to that service.
After coming fifth and missing the top four by only two points some can argue the season wasn’t a total waste. They will argue about injuries, loss of form to key players and the success of some of Kossie’s kids.
Questions remain regarding future of the club and the main one is Will they stay or will they go? Will Kossie stay or go? Will Johnny Aloisi stay or go?
So far nine players have been confirmed as leaving: Iain Fyfe, Robbie Middleby, Jacob Timpano, Brendon Santalab, Mike Enfield, Nik Tsattalios, Adam Biddle, Bobby Petta and Beau Busch and if you include Tony Popovich that is almost half the squad.
It makes the argument that keeping Kossie as a coach for the sake of stability laughable; isn’t letting 10 players leave in a squad that has maximum of 23 players a sign of instability?
Let the games begin...
You see this quote doled out in football literature all the time. It was coined by a small French coffee drinking, womanizing and philosophy geek called John Paul Satre. Watching Sydney smash a pretty awful Newcastle Jets 4-0 it seemed like even John Alosi would get a goal.
It wasn’t to be though, Aloisi provided a trade mark air swing with his first opportunity after coming on as a sub around the 60th minute.
It’s hard to really talk about this match seriously because Newcastle were so bad, they did not complicate things for Sydney at all.
Adam Griffiths, I personally admire for his resolve; to be able to bluff his way into the A-League, and still not be found out as an imposter after four season is incredible.
And he provided Sydney with two goals after striker Alex Brosque skinned him twice to give Sydney a two goal lead at half time. The second goal, a glorious feint before chipping over the goalkeeper, the ball floating onto the net at the same time Ante Covic was falling on his backside.
Mark Milligan, Sydney FC’s ex glamour boy for three seasons returned to the SFS to a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball in defence for the Jets; and talk about déjà vu, he managed to score in the last game of the regular season again, making it two own goals in a row for two different clubs at the same ground. That one moment is a sports statistician's wet dream.
Mark Bridge looked sharper and fitter than at any time this season, I think that is what they call tapering. But usually it’s the beginning, not the end of the season, where this is supposed to happen.
Rhyan Grant was moved to a midfield position for this game and he was busy running around breaking down the Jets play, and always in good position to receive the ball from his team mates. How Stuart Musialik would wish he had someone like Grant playing alongside him all season.
Kofi Danning showed some good touches after he came on in the second half. It’s worth paying the money just to watch this young kid show some of his more experienced contemporaries how it’s done.
Straight after John Aloisi hit an open header on to the cross bar, my brother said that he felt sorry for him; nothing seemed to be falling his way.
I feel a little different and after reading that Shannon Cole is the leading crosser in the league with close to two hundred crosses this year I don’t buy the argument that he hasn’t received enough quality service. My eyes tell me that he is too slow to that service.
After coming fifth and missing the top four by only two points some can argue the season wasn’t a total waste. They will argue about injuries, loss of form to key players and the success of some of Kossie’s kids.
Questions remain regarding future of the club and the main one is Will they stay or will they go? Will Kossie stay or go? Will Johnny Aloisi stay or go?
So far nine players have been confirmed as leaving: Iain Fyfe, Robbie Middleby, Jacob Timpano, Brendon Santalab, Mike Enfield, Nik Tsattalios, Adam Biddle, Bobby Petta and Beau Busch and if you include Tony Popovich that is almost half the squad.
It makes the argument that keeping Kossie as a coach for the sake of stability laughable; isn’t letting 10 players leave in a squad that has maximum of 23 players a sign of instability?
Let the games begin...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thumbs Down, Sydney
BOOOOO is the cry of the unsatisfied, the angry, and the unimpressed. It’s been the common noise at Sydney FC home matches this year.
This year will be the forgotten year, like Wednesday or past Australian Idol winners.
It is the year that will make you appreciate Sydney’s first championship more, while Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland and most probably Central Coast will be playing in the final series.
Sydney’s omission for the first time is going is to give me some mad hunger pains causing me to watch the Sydney grand final DVD and the Sydney vs LA Galaxy DVD. It was a time when Robbie Middleby didn’t get bashed after a game; those were the days I hummed.
The cold comfort being dished up by the Club and Coach, that this was the season we had to have, makes me want to boo more. Paul Keating said something like that about a recession in 90s and looked what happened to him. We could be reading in the near future: “It was the sacking we had to have.”
If you ask the paying members and other fans of Sydney FC who gave up dates with real girls, guaranteed good time parties, blow your mind never to forget concerts, tea parties, book clubs, gym sessions, beach frolicking, Meat and Vegetarian BBQs and practising beat boxing so they could be at Sydney FC games they would not like to be told: “Sorry we were crap, it was the season we had to have!"
Excuses are for employees who have had enough of their boring mind-numbing jobs and haven’t handed in the December sales report yet. There are no excuses in football, those that win sing, the loser sings but it’s hard to hear over the whimpering.
The Final GameDuring the last three years of the A-League, two of Sydney’s final home games of the regular season have been epic.
Season 1: Sydney beat Adelaide 2-1 crowd of over thirty thousand. Sydney qualifies second. Dwight Yorke, Band Wagoners and a full Cove, will the first year ever be topped?.
Season 2: Queensland Roar and Sydney FC draw 1-1. Sydney sneak into fourth over Queensland. Another 30 thousand-plus crowd. Kossie makes Terry Butcher look successful.
Season 3: Sydney draw with Melbourne 2-2 crowd of over thirty thousand Sydney qualifies 3rd. Sydney blow a 1-0 then 2-1 lead and failed to win the Premiership decider.
The football fan that has had a losing season usually finds comfort in nostalgia. They will have a favourite movie that they might watch a few times.
But when it comes to football the playing of a famous victory video/DVD/YouTube/ over and over again can make the dark and lonely final series less nights bearable.
So boooo to you Sydney, I have to take off my manic depressive fan hat and put on my indifferent neutral viewer hat with only entertainment and goals from opposition teams to whet my football thirst.
Are you so vain as to deliver a season of undelivered promises and unfulfilled expectations then lock me in a world of suffering that only nostalgia brings and then yell “that this the season I had to have”?
Boooooooooooo
This year will be the forgotten year, like Wednesday or past Australian Idol winners.
It is the year that will make you appreciate Sydney’s first championship more, while Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland and most probably Central Coast will be playing in the final series.
Sydney’s omission for the first time is going is to give me some mad hunger pains causing me to watch the Sydney grand final DVD and the Sydney vs LA Galaxy DVD. It was a time when Robbie Middleby didn’t get bashed after a game; those were the days I hummed.
The cold comfort being dished up by the Club and Coach, that this was the season we had to have, makes me want to boo more. Paul Keating said something like that about a recession in 90s and looked what happened to him. We could be reading in the near future: “It was the sacking we had to have.”
If you ask the paying members and other fans of Sydney FC who gave up dates with real girls, guaranteed good time parties, blow your mind never to forget concerts, tea parties, book clubs, gym sessions, beach frolicking, Meat and Vegetarian BBQs and practising beat boxing so they could be at Sydney FC games they would not like to be told: “Sorry we were crap, it was the season we had to have!"
Excuses are for employees who have had enough of their boring mind-numbing jobs and haven’t handed in the December sales report yet. There are no excuses in football, those that win sing, the loser sings but it’s hard to hear over the whimpering.
The Final GameDuring the last three years of the A-League, two of Sydney’s final home games of the regular season have been epic.
Season 1: Sydney beat Adelaide 2-1 crowd of over thirty thousand. Sydney qualifies second. Dwight Yorke, Band Wagoners and a full Cove, will the first year ever be topped?.
Season 2: Queensland Roar and Sydney FC draw 1-1. Sydney sneak into fourth over Queensland. Another 30 thousand-plus crowd. Kossie makes Terry Butcher look successful.
Season 3: Sydney draw with Melbourne 2-2 crowd of over thirty thousand Sydney qualifies 3rd. Sydney blow a 1-0 then 2-1 lead and failed to win the Premiership decider.
The football fan that has had a losing season usually finds comfort in nostalgia. They will have a favourite movie that they might watch a few times.
But when it comes to football the playing of a famous victory video/DVD/YouTube/ over and over again can make the dark and lonely final series less nights bearable.
So boooo to you Sydney, I have to take off my manic depressive fan hat and put on my indifferent neutral viewer hat with only entertainment and goals from opposition teams to whet my football thirst.
Are you so vain as to deliver a season of undelivered promises and unfulfilled expectations then lock me in a world of suffering that only nostalgia brings and then yell “that this the season I had to have”?
Boooooooooooo
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Kossie And Farina Panto Extended Version Jan 19 2009
LOOK behind you!” shout the audience. Coach Farina motions to the audience “where?” he asks, “he’s behind you” the audience shout again. Finally coach Farina turns behind and there is Kossie playing the big bad scary coach.
Queensland beat Sydney 3-1 on Saturday night again, ending their season early at Suncorp Stadium again, for the second season in a row.
Koffi Danning scored again, making me look good again, the Oracle I have working for me has been consistent with emerging players, but not so good with predicting results.
Kossie got into a fight with another coach again.
Taking the pressure off him and making all the talking points about the little pantomime fights between him and his best mate Frankie Farina.
Why was Kossie upset?
"I actually had a shot at Frank afterwards. The conversation (in the newspaper) didn't happen - Frank lied, end of story," Kosmina said. (The unintelligible Kossie rant begins)
"It was a fairly immature, very unintelligent, typical Farina-esque attempt at trying to beat up the game for whatever reasons I don't know. (Farina-esque is a new one)
"He apologised so I said 'well put it in the papers where you put the other crap'. (You tell him Kossie!)
"Why Frank wants to get into that sort of crap I don't know. (I hate it when people talk crap as well.......)
"But it's finished as far as I'm concerned. (Really I think you still want to say more?)
"I just don't like liars. Don't mind a beat-up, a bit of fun but not like that."(I knew you had more, you tell them Kossie, if only other people knew what you where craping on about..............)
How lovely for a coach to be in the headlines for spats and no handshakes that were actually handshakes and fights about lies that were not lies and shoulder charges and throat grabs and swearing at referees.
Also how lovely for a coach whose team has got knocked out of the finals race being able to escape questions that relate to football; like the team's dismal performance over the year, save for a few bright sparks like Koffi Danning and Brendan Gan and Rhyan Grant who by the time where given a chance it was all over anyway. And now they are called Kossie’s kids!
Absurdity shines like a lone stream of light, like a lighthouse showing boats the way at sea; this absurdity light sooner or later will send boats crashing on the rocks. Sending drunken sailors crashing to the shore, thinking they had seen beautiful mermaids, when really they were seals.
Kossie’s antics are smoke and mirrors and he is fortunate that he has a buddy system working for him in the media. Most pressure will come from the fans and the Tractor man (nickname for new Russian owner that I stole from football fever).
An ego like Kossie's will always want the attention, but the best part of an ego like Kossie's is being able to deflect attention. Perhaps it’s time the idea that we need a showman as a coach in the A-League to promote the game is put to rest and a coach that has a grasp on tactics and some real football knowledge steps up.
So in times like these after failing to make the final for the first time in their history, it is time for Sydney FC to indulge in a bit of self reflection; time to take a good look in the mirror and all that.
And when they take a good look they would probably realise that Alf says some funny stuff, but really what they need as coach is not a caricature of a coach but a real one
Queensland beat Sydney 3-1 on Saturday night again, ending their season early at Suncorp Stadium again, for the second season in a row.
Koffi Danning scored again, making me look good again, the Oracle I have working for me has been consistent with emerging players, but not so good with predicting results.
Kossie got into a fight with another coach again.
Taking the pressure off him and making all the talking points about the little pantomime fights between him and his best mate Frankie Farina.
Why was Kossie upset?
"I actually had a shot at Frank afterwards. The conversation (in the newspaper) didn't happen - Frank lied, end of story," Kosmina said. (The unintelligible Kossie rant begins)
"It was a fairly immature, very unintelligent, typical Farina-esque attempt at trying to beat up the game for whatever reasons I don't know. (Farina-esque is a new one)
"He apologised so I said 'well put it in the papers where you put the other crap'. (You tell him Kossie!)
"Why Frank wants to get into that sort of crap I don't know. (I hate it when people talk crap as well.......)
"But it's finished as far as I'm concerned. (Really I think you still want to say more?)
"I just don't like liars. Don't mind a beat-up, a bit of fun but not like that."(I knew you had more, you tell them Kossie, if only other people knew what you where craping on about..............)
How lovely for a coach to be in the headlines for spats and no handshakes that were actually handshakes and fights about lies that were not lies and shoulder charges and throat grabs and swearing at referees.
Also how lovely for a coach whose team has got knocked out of the finals race being able to escape questions that relate to football; like the team's dismal performance over the year, save for a few bright sparks like Koffi Danning and Brendan Gan and Rhyan Grant who by the time where given a chance it was all over anyway. And now they are called Kossie’s kids!
Absurdity shines like a lone stream of light, like a lighthouse showing boats the way at sea; this absurdity light sooner or later will send boats crashing on the rocks. Sending drunken sailors crashing to the shore, thinking they had seen beautiful mermaids, when really they were seals.
Kossie’s antics are smoke and mirrors and he is fortunate that he has a buddy system working for him in the media. Most pressure will come from the fans and the Tractor man (nickname for new Russian owner that I stole from football fever).
An ego like Kossie's will always want the attention, but the best part of an ego like Kossie's is being able to deflect attention. Perhaps it’s time the idea that we need a showman as a coach in the A-League to promote the game is put to rest and a coach that has a grasp on tactics and some real football knowledge steps up.
So in times like these after failing to make the final for the first time in their history, it is time for Sydney FC to indulge in a bit of self reflection; time to take a good look in the mirror and all that.
And when they take a good look they would probably realise that Alf says some funny stuff, but really what they need as coach is not a caricature of a coach but a real one
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Genius of the Crowd Jan 15 2009
I had my blog ready to go about the infighting that has been occurring between the Sydney FC board, John Kosmina and John Aloisi and the absurdity of the so-called “gentlemen agreement” regarding the second year of the strikers contract.
However even more absurd is the news today about Robbie Middleby being attacked by his own fans.
Charles Buckowski said it best: “There is enough treachery, hatred, violence, absurdity in the average human being to supply any given army on any given day.”
This part is the most sickening of today’s story: "If my wife hadn't turned up, something serious could have happened, but these blokes didn't want to stop," Middleby said.
The old NSL was derided for years by the mainstream media as a hot bed of ethnic tension that occasionally turned violent. The main violence used to be amongst opposition fans.
This new violence where we bash up a current player that has given four years to the club and won a championship is something new to football in Australia.
Again with Sydney FC the talk is about the off field drama’s rather than talk about the stuff that happens on the pitch.
After the Central Coast Sydney game a few weeks ago in Gosford I saw Robbie Middleby with his wife and kids go into the same car park I was in, a very similar situation he was in after the Wellington game.
I’m not shy at yelling out smart arse comments but I let the man go on with his business; how can you justify an attack on a player while he is with his family?
The team that Robbie Middleby is leaving for, North Queensland Fury, only exists in name and colour. They haven’t even played a game yet. How can you get that angry?
This is a joke of course and I don’t mean any ill will towards anyone but why choose Middleby? He seems like such a nice guy, he hasn’t the dubious history of players like David Zdrillic or John Aloisi which I could understand with a little bit of the special sauce some fans could hurl abuse at, but even those playersdon’t deserve a bashing. No players do.
Queensland
So it’s with some sadness that I look towards the game against Queensland Roar. John Kosmina won the fight against Paul Okon to keep his two young players Rhyan Grant and Kofi Danning who has had more Coffee innuendos and puns than Kofi Annan, the ex-leader of the UN.I’m looking forward to seeing the young kids go at it again against Queensland Roar.
If Central Coast and Wellington lose this week and Sydney win, the final week will still see Sydney with a chance to make the finals perhaps undeservedly.Nevertheless we are still on the ride, let’s hope we can ride the train to perfect laughter.
However even more absurd is the news today about Robbie Middleby being attacked by his own fans.
Charles Buckowski said it best: “There is enough treachery, hatred, violence, absurdity in the average human being to supply any given army on any given day.”
This part is the most sickening of today’s story: "If my wife hadn't turned up, something serious could have happened, but these blokes didn't want to stop," Middleby said.
The old NSL was derided for years by the mainstream media as a hot bed of ethnic tension that occasionally turned violent. The main violence used to be amongst opposition fans.
This new violence where we bash up a current player that has given four years to the club and won a championship is something new to football in Australia.
Again with Sydney FC the talk is about the off field drama’s rather than talk about the stuff that happens on the pitch.
After the Central Coast Sydney game a few weeks ago in Gosford I saw Robbie Middleby with his wife and kids go into the same car park I was in, a very similar situation he was in after the Wellington game.
I’m not shy at yelling out smart arse comments but I let the man go on with his business; how can you justify an attack on a player while he is with his family?
The team that Robbie Middleby is leaving for, North Queensland Fury, only exists in name and colour. They haven’t even played a game yet. How can you get that angry?
This is a joke of course and I don’t mean any ill will towards anyone but why choose Middleby? He seems like such a nice guy, he hasn’t the dubious history of players like David Zdrillic or John Aloisi which I could understand with a little bit of the special sauce some fans could hurl abuse at, but even those playersdon’t deserve a bashing. No players do.
Queensland
So it’s with some sadness that I look towards the game against Queensland Roar. John Kosmina won the fight against Paul Okon to keep his two young players Rhyan Grant and Kofi Danning who has had more Coffee innuendos and puns than Kofi Annan, the ex-leader of the UN.I’m looking forward to seeing the young kids go at it again against Queensland Roar.
If Central Coast and Wellington lose this week and Sydney win, the final week will still see Sydney with a chance to make the finals perhaps undeservedly.Nevertheless we are still on the ride, let’s hope we can ride the train to perfect laughter.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Hunger is the best Food Jan 12 2009
SYDNEY FC live to fight another day and it took a 17 year old refugee from Ghana armed with fleet feet and cult status already to announce to the A-League “the kid can play!”
After blitzing the youth league all year, it was going to be only a matter of time before Kofi Danning the speedy left winger from Canberra showcased his skills on the big show.
With due respect to Bobby Petta, he has been there and done that in Uefa Cups and all that; but it was so refreshing to see some speed on the left wing. With the game not reaching any great heights until Alex Brosque and Troy Hearfield decided to bump foreheads, Hearfield went for an extra bump and was sent off.
After a great tackle on Shane Smeltz by Stuart Musialik the ball went wide to Danning on the left who passed nicely infield to Steve Corica, who hit Brosque in the box, Danning kept running forward and Brosque with one touch presented the ball to Danning in the box who controlled with his left foot and toe poked it with the right foot. Cue the ecstasy from the home crowd and I will join the queue of those who say “I told you so”.
Kossie stuck the kids in and, without setting the world on fire, they can definitely hold their heads up high for at least giving everything for the team and keeping Sydney FC’s season alive for one more week with the 1-0 win.
Rhyan Grant comes from Orange and looks like he should doing Mambo ads; the 17 year old looks assured on the ball, and made some nice runs and interceptions in a busy display at right back.
Zach Cairncross showed Bea Busch how it’s done at the centre of defence and one wonders if Kossie had used some of these kids earlier perhaps our season would not have been so frustrating.
You hear the term “you can’t win trophies with kids” thrown around often; it’s like that saying “children should be seen and not heard”, and it’s usually said by old people. But what do old people know?
Probably that it’s better to be 17 years old with your football career ahead of you, fearless, reckless and hungry.
Brendan Gan, Shannon Cole, Chris Payne and the other young players I mentioned will only get better with the experience they accrue from playing games. With some of the more experienced players out of form or injured the younger players have been the only bright light in a season that has thus far been dark and gloomy.
The Sydney Football Stadium groundsmen did his best to get a mention on TV again with the pitch still looking like a shaggy carpet, causing the ball to hold up at the most inappropriate times.
Last Chance Saloon again
Let’s hope Central Coast lose against Melbourne away next week, pray Wellington get defeated at home by Adelaide and cross your fingers that Sydney beat Queensland away. This will give Sydney a chance of making the finals if they beat Newcastle and will put the pressure firmly on Coast and the Nix in the final round.
Stranger and more complicated things have happened, but I’m a dreamer and have been accused on occasion of being Quixotic, but that’s why I love football.
After blitzing the youth league all year, it was going to be only a matter of time before Kofi Danning the speedy left winger from Canberra showcased his skills on the big show.
With due respect to Bobby Petta, he has been there and done that in Uefa Cups and all that; but it was so refreshing to see some speed on the left wing. With the game not reaching any great heights until Alex Brosque and Troy Hearfield decided to bump foreheads, Hearfield went for an extra bump and was sent off.
After a great tackle on Shane Smeltz by Stuart Musialik the ball went wide to Danning on the left who passed nicely infield to Steve Corica, who hit Brosque in the box, Danning kept running forward and Brosque with one touch presented the ball to Danning in the box who controlled with his left foot and toe poked it with the right foot. Cue the ecstasy from the home crowd and I will join the queue of those who say “I told you so”.
Kossie stuck the kids in and, without setting the world on fire, they can definitely hold their heads up high for at least giving everything for the team and keeping Sydney FC’s season alive for one more week with the 1-0 win.
Rhyan Grant comes from Orange and looks like he should doing Mambo ads; the 17 year old looks assured on the ball, and made some nice runs and interceptions in a busy display at right back.
Zach Cairncross showed Bea Busch how it’s done at the centre of defence and one wonders if Kossie had used some of these kids earlier perhaps our season would not have been so frustrating.
You hear the term “you can’t win trophies with kids” thrown around often; it’s like that saying “children should be seen and not heard”, and it’s usually said by old people. But what do old people know?
Probably that it’s better to be 17 years old with your football career ahead of you, fearless, reckless and hungry.
Brendan Gan, Shannon Cole, Chris Payne and the other young players I mentioned will only get better with the experience they accrue from playing games. With some of the more experienced players out of form or injured the younger players have been the only bright light in a season that has thus far been dark and gloomy.
The Sydney Football Stadium groundsmen did his best to get a mention on TV again with the pitch still looking like a shaggy carpet, causing the ball to hold up at the most inappropriate times.
Last Chance Saloon again
Let’s hope Central Coast lose against Melbourne away next week, pray Wellington get defeated at home by Adelaide and cross your fingers that Sydney beat Queensland away. This will give Sydney a chance of making the finals if they beat Newcastle and will put the pressure firmly on Coast and the Nix in the final round.
Stranger and more complicated things have happened, but I’m a dreamer and have been accused on occasion of being Quixotic, but that’s why I love football.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Football Triumphs and Failures; Season Review 2008/2009
Quixotic Dreams
I want carpet-like football pitches, fuller stadiums without club price beers, security and police to be logistically organised, Marquee players that can play, free to air coverage; we understand you have to pay extra for a quality sport like football but the dude that sold Football to Foxtel now runs Rugby Union. I want to see coaches taking a punt by playing and showing faith in younger players. In the lead up to the world cup I want to see returning Socceroos not say I came back because I wanted to give something to the game back in Australia.
Triumphs
Rudd Government/Frank Lowy/Kate Ellis
Thanks for the cash Mr Rudd 77 million over 4 years; thanks for the A-League and Socceroos Mr Lowy, and help us score the World Cup in 2018 with your striking good looks charm and intelligence Kate. If you weren’t married I would be attempting to court you right now.
Failures
Ground Staff
All ground staff that work during the A-League season and all those associated with decisions involving laying turf and applying markings. Just because you like Rugby or AFL better does not mean you can prepare a steaming pile of shit and call it fit for playing football on.
The A-League advertising department
Is anyone home? Where are you guys? Didn’t you spend 3 years studying marketing, engineering a coke habit and growing a pony tail? Perhaps you should take a cue from the guy that sells Doctor Pepper and Cranberry Juice. They have been able to sell an inferior product for years.
Graham Arnold
Once I realised George Bush and John Howard were no longer going to be in public office I feared I would not be able to direct my fear and loathing on anyone. But then Graham Arnold arrived like a shining star. Badly shaven, more gold rings and chains than Mr T. During the Olympics he instructed midfield and defence to hit 60 metre passes for three games. He is famous for the early release, early exits and a lack of shirt buttons.
Real Estate and Finance Sectors
Nice work for sending the world on the brink of financial collapse. Your ability to use the word crisis and speculate is nothing short of genius. I wonder if you will actually be able to get your own lunches or type up your own letters now that all your admin staff has lost their jobs. What does this have to do with Football? Not sure but I felt I needed to vent more after talking about Graham Arnold.
4 -2- 3- 1
What on earth is going on with formations? Back in the day when everything was in black and white and nostalgia was only a feeling rather than a commodity if the opposition scored a goal, you would run up the other end and score one yourself. Both teams did this until the 90 mins was up. It was common for scores to end 4-4, 5-5 etc.
Now it’s all defence and midfield, wingers, strikers and flair players are in the minority; while the box to box midfielder hangs with his 4 or 5 mates and the striker is left alone to hold things up. Hold things up? I want the striker to shoot, swivel then shoot and dummy then shoot. Push up bra’s hold things up, not Strikers. I blame you 4-2-3-1.
Favourite Football One liners
John Aloisi has a chocolate leg. Chocolate leg is a Dutch saying which refers to a player’s weak leg, alluding to it being made of chocolate and being hollow.
Sydney FC has a shoe fetish it can’t stop avoiding defeat.
Robinho was nicknamed the “Triathlon” in Spain. First he runs, then he does the bicycle, then he dives.
Have a Happy New Year.
I want carpet-like football pitches, fuller stadiums without club price beers, security and police to be logistically organised, Marquee players that can play, free to air coverage; we understand you have to pay extra for a quality sport like football but the dude that sold Football to Foxtel now runs Rugby Union. I want to see coaches taking a punt by playing and showing faith in younger players. In the lead up to the world cup I want to see returning Socceroos not say I came back because I wanted to give something to the game back in Australia.
Triumphs
Rudd Government/Frank Lowy/Kate Ellis
Thanks for the cash Mr Rudd 77 million over 4 years; thanks for the A-League and Socceroos Mr Lowy, and help us score the World Cup in 2018 with your striking good looks charm and intelligence Kate. If you weren’t married I would be attempting to court you right now.
Failures
Ground Staff
All ground staff that work during the A-League season and all those associated with decisions involving laying turf and applying markings. Just because you like Rugby or AFL better does not mean you can prepare a steaming pile of shit and call it fit for playing football on.
The A-League advertising department
Is anyone home? Where are you guys? Didn’t you spend 3 years studying marketing, engineering a coke habit and growing a pony tail? Perhaps you should take a cue from the guy that sells Doctor Pepper and Cranberry Juice. They have been able to sell an inferior product for years.
Graham Arnold
Once I realised George Bush and John Howard were no longer going to be in public office I feared I would not be able to direct my fear and loathing on anyone. But then Graham Arnold arrived like a shining star. Badly shaven, more gold rings and chains than Mr T. During the Olympics he instructed midfield and defence to hit 60 metre passes for three games. He is famous for the early release, early exits and a lack of shirt buttons.
Real Estate and Finance Sectors
Nice work for sending the world on the brink of financial collapse. Your ability to use the word crisis and speculate is nothing short of genius. I wonder if you will actually be able to get your own lunches or type up your own letters now that all your admin staff has lost their jobs. What does this have to do with Football? Not sure but I felt I needed to vent more after talking about Graham Arnold.
4 -2- 3- 1
What on earth is going on with formations? Back in the day when everything was in black and white and nostalgia was only a feeling rather than a commodity if the opposition scored a goal, you would run up the other end and score one yourself. Both teams did this until the 90 mins was up. It was common for scores to end 4-4, 5-5 etc.
Now it’s all defence and midfield, wingers, strikers and flair players are in the minority; while the box to box midfielder hangs with his 4 or 5 mates and the striker is left alone to hold things up. Hold things up? I want the striker to shoot, swivel then shoot and dummy then shoot. Push up bra’s hold things up, not Strikers. I blame you 4-2-3-1.
Favourite Football One liners
John Aloisi has a chocolate leg. Chocolate leg is a Dutch saying which refers to a player’s weak leg, alluding to it being made of chocolate and being hollow.
Sydney FC has a shoe fetish it can’t stop avoiding defeat.
Robinho was nicknamed the “Triathlon” in Spain. First he runs, then he does the bicycle, then he dives.
Have a Happy New Year.
Will The Grass Be Greener Out West? Jan 9 2009
IT'S BEEN a vewy vewy quiet on the Sydney FC front this week. So much so that I ventured out of my Blog headquarters to a rock show for some Swedish punk, some half hearted moshing and some tasty kebabs.
At the rock show I spotted a couple of friends we joked that Sydney FC is going so bad at the moment that if a new Western Sydney team joins the A-League we would be switching allegiances.
It got me thinking, how many current disgruntled Sydney FC fans will be switching their allegiances in the future?Are you going to be one of those fans? Will I be one of those fans? Will the grass be greener on the West Side?
It’s like being in a relationship that has been going stale. Sure things were great at the start; in fact the first year together was very successful.Everything was new and interesting with trips overseas and people interested in what you were doing.But after four years the performance on the field haven’t been as good as the first year; communication has stopped and everyone is blaming everyone else.
You even get some new people around you to try and liven things up. Now things are almost rock bottom, sometimes you can’t even look at the replays.So suddenly the Western Sydney Pitch looks very green, and very playable.Some people might find the notion of switching sides akin to treason or treachery.
What if the Western Sydney team started doing things differently to what Sydney FC have been doing?
Things like:
• Really forging links with the Sydney community? Like for real, not pretend.
Free entry for all kids under 16 who play football at school or who are registered at a local club in Sydney
• Free Parking
• Quality Marquee players that stay for more than one year.
• Players spending more time in local private and public schools.
• Running free coaching clinics for underprivileged children
.• Providing free tickets to the thousands of volunteers that give their services to football (within means of course, we can’t just give everything away.)
• Free Parking
• Free Public Transport with game ticket.
• Half Time entertainment
Would a better run club make you switch allegiances even if are not a westie?Lucas Neil has been spotted in Dubai this week hanging out with Zeljko Kalac at an AC Milan stretching session. Would Lucas Neil’s soul patch (the hair under his lower lip) inspire you to follow his club?
In Sydney there are many old NSL fans that are still disgruntled about the “old soccer” tag. I know that many of these people, that while they may not go to games and they may not follow Sydney FC as a fan of the club they still follow the A-League and Football in general.It will be interesting to see what happens.
While the Sydney sporting market is fickle I wonder who will stay loyal; who will fly west and how many newbie’s will join in.
Wellington
I will begrudgingly attend this week’s match against the Nix even though I have already announced our season as over with three games left. If Sydney FC can go against all past recent form, logic and reasoning; and win those last three and Wellington lose two out of the next three, and Queensland lose three out of the next four, Sydney have a chance.If that happens I promise you that when you look out of you office window on that Monday morning there will be pigs with replica Sydney FC jerseys and scarves flying in a V-formation, snorting and oinking “I’m Sydney till I die.”
At the rock show I spotted a couple of friends we joked that Sydney FC is going so bad at the moment that if a new Western Sydney team joins the A-League we would be switching allegiances.
It got me thinking, how many current disgruntled Sydney FC fans will be switching their allegiances in the future?Are you going to be one of those fans? Will I be one of those fans? Will the grass be greener on the West Side?
It’s like being in a relationship that has been going stale. Sure things were great at the start; in fact the first year together was very successful.Everything was new and interesting with trips overseas and people interested in what you were doing.But after four years the performance on the field haven’t been as good as the first year; communication has stopped and everyone is blaming everyone else.
You even get some new people around you to try and liven things up. Now things are almost rock bottom, sometimes you can’t even look at the replays.So suddenly the Western Sydney Pitch looks very green, and very playable.Some people might find the notion of switching sides akin to treason or treachery.
What if the Western Sydney team started doing things differently to what Sydney FC have been doing?
Things like:
• Really forging links with the Sydney community? Like for real, not pretend.
Free entry for all kids under 16 who play football at school or who are registered at a local club in Sydney
• Free Parking
• Quality Marquee players that stay for more than one year.
• Players spending more time in local private and public schools.
• Running free coaching clinics for underprivileged children
.• Providing free tickets to the thousands of volunteers that give their services to football (within means of course, we can’t just give everything away.)
• Free Parking
• Free Public Transport with game ticket.
• Half Time entertainment
Would a better run club make you switch allegiances even if are not a westie?Lucas Neil has been spotted in Dubai this week hanging out with Zeljko Kalac at an AC Milan stretching session. Would Lucas Neil’s soul patch (the hair under his lower lip) inspire you to follow his club?
In Sydney there are many old NSL fans that are still disgruntled about the “old soccer” tag. I know that many of these people, that while they may not go to games and they may not follow Sydney FC as a fan of the club they still follow the A-League and Football in general.It will be interesting to see what happens.
While the Sydney sporting market is fickle I wonder who will stay loyal; who will fly west and how many newbie’s will join in.
Wellington
I will begrudgingly attend this week’s match against the Nix even though I have already announced our season as over with three games left. If Sydney FC can go against all past recent form, logic and reasoning; and win those last three and Wellington lose two out of the next three, and Queensland lose three out of the next four, Sydney have a chance.If that happens I promise you that when you look out of you office window on that Monday morning there will be pigs with replica Sydney FC jerseys and scarves flying in a V-formation, snorting and oinking “I’m Sydney till I die.”
Flow My Tears, The Football Fan Said Jan 5 2009
IT'S OVER kids, the music comes up, the credits are rolling, the Fat lady is singing, the bells are ringing and the horn is horning.
Relax, it’s not the rapture, it's worse. Sydney FC’s 2-0 loss away to Adelaide has consigned Sydney’s season to the dustbin of history and with it our hopes of glory have been kicked to the kerb on the boulevard of broken dreams.
Before the Adelaide vs Sydney FC game The Klaxons It’s Not Over Yet was the theme song. If Sydney won the four remaining games and if the teams above lost points, FC had a chance to make the finals.
As my mate Jeof says “never bet on the fairytale.’ Robbie Middleby does not believe in fairytales either. On the cusp of entering the half time break at a safe 0-0 score line, the man they call chook attempted to shepherd the ball out play after he dispossessed Travis Dodd.
Instead of shepherding the ball to safety he decided to run into Adelaide players - he was then dispossessed and Adelaide scored: 1-0.
There are many songs that are called It’s over. Mariah Carey and Jesse McCartney are just a few. But I think Roy Robinson said it best when he sang “It's over It's over It's over It's over”
Into the second half now and the eternal football optimist inside me still thinks we can do it. Even in the face of a season-ending defeat, a football fan will still find hope, even if he said it’s over earlier. You are not a true football fan if you don’t spend time constantly lying to yourself.
Midway through the second half and Adelaide United where cruising and Sydney FC couldn’t get out of second gear; strange substitutions again by Kossie, taking off Shannon Cole who I thought was playing ok and rewarding Robbie Middleby for his earlier indiscretion by moving him to a midfield position. At least he gave Koffi Danning a run.
The game got a bit dull towards the end, the cricket pitch in the middle didn’t help as players were avoiding the centre pitch like the plague.
For the last 10 minutes Iain (with two I’s) Fyfe decided to play up front leaving a 17 year old two-gamer (Ryan Grant) and a 20 year old few gamer (Matt Jurman) and Beau Busch at the back.
Sydney eventually conceded another goal. It was ironic and apt that Aurelio Vidmar, John Kosmina’s apprentice at Adelaide for a couple seasons, was showing the master how it should be done.
Better tactics, better player recruitment and an all-round nicer guy, Aurelio Vidmar is now the teacher and Kossie needs to go back to school.
There are three rounds left to play. I suppose the smart thing to do would be to use this time to blood more youngsters.
The recriminations will begin in the terraces, the new guys were crap, the old guys where crap, the coach was crap, stuff like that.
So seven months till next season, Flow My Tears, a piece by the 16th century composer John Dowland says it all:
Flow, my tears, fall from your springs,
Exiled for ever, let me mourn
Where night's black bird her sad infamy sings,
There let me live forlorn.
There are song lyrics and poems in a football blog. Apologies for breaking the rules...
Relax, it’s not the rapture, it's worse. Sydney FC’s 2-0 loss away to Adelaide has consigned Sydney’s season to the dustbin of history and with it our hopes of glory have been kicked to the kerb on the boulevard of broken dreams.
Before the Adelaide vs Sydney FC game The Klaxons It’s Not Over Yet was the theme song. If Sydney won the four remaining games and if the teams above lost points, FC had a chance to make the finals.
As my mate Jeof says “never bet on the fairytale.’ Robbie Middleby does not believe in fairytales either. On the cusp of entering the half time break at a safe 0-0 score line, the man they call chook attempted to shepherd the ball out play after he dispossessed Travis Dodd.
Instead of shepherding the ball to safety he decided to run into Adelaide players - he was then dispossessed and Adelaide scored: 1-0.
There are many songs that are called It’s over. Mariah Carey and Jesse McCartney are just a few. But I think Roy Robinson said it best when he sang “It's over It's over It's over It's over”
Into the second half now and the eternal football optimist inside me still thinks we can do it. Even in the face of a season-ending defeat, a football fan will still find hope, even if he said it’s over earlier. You are not a true football fan if you don’t spend time constantly lying to yourself.
Midway through the second half and Adelaide United where cruising and Sydney FC couldn’t get out of second gear; strange substitutions again by Kossie, taking off Shannon Cole who I thought was playing ok and rewarding Robbie Middleby for his earlier indiscretion by moving him to a midfield position. At least he gave Koffi Danning a run.
The game got a bit dull towards the end, the cricket pitch in the middle didn’t help as players were avoiding the centre pitch like the plague.
For the last 10 minutes Iain (with two I’s) Fyfe decided to play up front leaving a 17 year old two-gamer (Ryan Grant) and a 20 year old few gamer (Matt Jurman) and Beau Busch at the back.
Sydney eventually conceded another goal. It was ironic and apt that Aurelio Vidmar, John Kosmina’s apprentice at Adelaide for a couple seasons, was showing the master how it should be done.
Better tactics, better player recruitment and an all-round nicer guy, Aurelio Vidmar is now the teacher and Kossie needs to go back to school.
There are three rounds left to play. I suppose the smart thing to do would be to use this time to blood more youngsters.
The recriminations will begin in the terraces, the new guys were crap, the old guys where crap, the coach was crap, stuff like that.
So seven months till next season, Flow My Tears, a piece by the 16th century composer John Dowland says it all:
Flow, my tears, fall from your springs,
Exiled for ever, let me mourn
Where night's black bird her sad infamy sings,
There let me live forlorn.
There are song lyrics and poems in a football blog. Apologies for breaking the rules...
Three Minutes And 40 Seconds Dec 29 2008
IT WAS the most amazing 3 mins and 40 sec of my Sydney FC life.
The two goals scored by Shannon Cole and Brendan Gan where so good that I spend the next 15 minutes rewinding and fast forwarding my Foxtel IQ, watching the goals over and over again.
Reluctantly I forced myself to watch the game live again; remembering that this was Sydney FC and the game was 90 minutes. With the score at 2-0, I kept on thinking that the self proclaimed halo above Kevin Muscat’s head was now gone forever because of his and Grant Brebner's gambling odyssey.
It was as if the Football Gods had cursed Melbourne Victory, losing to the bottom team Newcastle Jets last week and now losing 2-0 to Sydney - could this be the beginning of the end for Melbourne’s season? I was optimistic, but then after 13 minutes the wind changed and Sydney FC reverted to ballwatching from a free kick and Archie Thomson put Melbourne back in the game.
This was a great game to watch, both sides had lots of room to move particularly Melbourne who passed out of midfield through Kevin "I didn’t know I couldn’t bet" Muscat. The problem gambler is very good at organising and I felt that Sydney would have trouble holding on at that stage; you wouldn’t have bet on the score being 2-1 to Sydney for very long.
Well maybe Grant Brebener would have bet on Sydney leading 2-1, he likes betting against his own team.
Sydney had chances to go 3-1 up when, in the 18th minute, Mark Bridge gave a beautiful flick pass off the outside of his right foot to Alex Brosque who ran through on goal only to hit ball straight at Micheal Theoklitos. If Brosque converted more of those chances into goals he would be in Europe and a regular Socceroo.
In the 28th minute another beautiful through ball this time from Corica to Mark Bridge gave Sydney a half chance from outside the box but the keeper saved.
Lately Shannon Cole has been bullied out of taking free kicks from close range by Bobby Petta and in the 33rd minute it shows why you should stand up to bullies.
With Petta on the bench Cole took a beautiful free kick that was sailing into right hand corner of the goal only for Theolkitos and his square jaw to save again. Necevski saved brilliantly off Thomson earlier but I really don’t want to talk about Melbourne.
In the 35th minute Shannon Cole did some good work on the right wing sending in a lovely cross for Brosque who sent the header wide. Cole is much better as a midfielder.
This was Sydney’s best performance since the first few rounds of the season. The second half brought a couple of crucial substitutions; Billy Celeski, who reassured my faith in his inability a couple of weeks ago with a free kick attempt that ballooned into the stands, was substituted for Nick Ward who has done fark all this year.
Ward decided now was the time to pull out one of the goals of the year scoring a screamer from outside the box, he hit his shot with great power and the ball swerved away from the keeper's left hand and into the back of the net the score 2-2. Grant Brenbner looked like he was going to lose his bet.
Ernie Merrick had emptied his bench and John Kosmina substituted Steve Corica with John Aloisi.
Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge both had chances to give Sydney the lead again, Alex Brosque dispossessed Muscat in his own penalty box but his tame shot made the keeper look good.
Melbourne took the lead when the spitter Ney Fabiano bundled the ball over as Iain Fyfe turned up late again.
Losing to our main rivals a team made up of gambling cheats, and spitters is hard to take but I do feel optimistic that if we play like that with the same energy and enthusiasm and a bit of luck we can make the finals.
Our Judas defence needs to work harder - and our coach still doesn’t how to make subs yet.
The two goals scored by Shannon Cole and Brendan Gan where so good that I spend the next 15 minutes rewinding and fast forwarding my Foxtel IQ, watching the goals over and over again.
Reluctantly I forced myself to watch the game live again; remembering that this was Sydney FC and the game was 90 minutes. With the score at 2-0, I kept on thinking that the self proclaimed halo above Kevin Muscat’s head was now gone forever because of his and Grant Brebner's gambling odyssey.
It was as if the Football Gods had cursed Melbourne Victory, losing to the bottom team Newcastle Jets last week and now losing 2-0 to Sydney - could this be the beginning of the end for Melbourne’s season? I was optimistic, but then after 13 minutes the wind changed and Sydney FC reverted to ballwatching from a free kick and Archie Thomson put Melbourne back in the game.
This was a great game to watch, both sides had lots of room to move particularly Melbourne who passed out of midfield through Kevin "I didn’t know I couldn’t bet" Muscat. The problem gambler is very good at organising and I felt that Sydney would have trouble holding on at that stage; you wouldn’t have bet on the score being 2-1 to Sydney for very long.
Well maybe Grant Brebener would have bet on Sydney leading 2-1, he likes betting against his own team.
Sydney had chances to go 3-1 up when, in the 18th minute, Mark Bridge gave a beautiful flick pass off the outside of his right foot to Alex Brosque who ran through on goal only to hit ball straight at Micheal Theoklitos. If Brosque converted more of those chances into goals he would be in Europe and a regular Socceroo.
In the 28th minute another beautiful through ball this time from Corica to Mark Bridge gave Sydney a half chance from outside the box but the keeper saved.
Lately Shannon Cole has been bullied out of taking free kicks from close range by Bobby Petta and in the 33rd minute it shows why you should stand up to bullies.
With Petta on the bench Cole took a beautiful free kick that was sailing into right hand corner of the goal only for Theolkitos and his square jaw to save again. Necevski saved brilliantly off Thomson earlier but I really don’t want to talk about Melbourne.
In the 35th minute Shannon Cole did some good work on the right wing sending in a lovely cross for Brosque who sent the header wide. Cole is much better as a midfielder.
This was Sydney’s best performance since the first few rounds of the season. The second half brought a couple of crucial substitutions; Billy Celeski, who reassured my faith in his inability a couple of weeks ago with a free kick attempt that ballooned into the stands, was substituted for Nick Ward who has done fark all this year.
Ward decided now was the time to pull out one of the goals of the year scoring a screamer from outside the box, he hit his shot with great power and the ball swerved away from the keeper's left hand and into the back of the net the score 2-2. Grant Brenbner looked like he was going to lose his bet.
Ernie Merrick had emptied his bench and John Kosmina substituted Steve Corica with John Aloisi.
Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge both had chances to give Sydney the lead again, Alex Brosque dispossessed Muscat in his own penalty box but his tame shot made the keeper look good.
Melbourne took the lead when the spitter Ney Fabiano bundled the ball over as Iain Fyfe turned up late again.
Losing to our main rivals a team made up of gambling cheats, and spitters is hard to take but I do feel optimistic that if we play like that with the same energy and enthusiasm and a bit of luck we can make the finals.
Our Judas defence needs to work harder - and our coach still doesn’t how to make subs yet.
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