Half-Time Heroes Australian Football: What we don’t know we make up!
Sign up for your Half-Time Heroes at www.nearpost.blogspot.com Always available at: www.issuu.com/ September 2009 Available at: www.issuu.com/
No 2, Sept 9, 2009
Half-Time Heroes Australian Football: What we don’t know we make up! no.2 Sept 2009
Inside Issue 1 38 Lucy Zelic: Blabby Bleiberg 3 Welcome and DJ Simon Hill in the Record Store
39 Adventures of Buckle-up Ben.
4 Your Feedback:
41 Marty B: A forum moderator.
Editorials/Opinions/Interviews
42 Terry Henry: Annoying media men.
6 Football Passion: ABC’s Adam Spencer
43 Chippy B:.AFL makes you FAT!
8 Fiona Crawford: agirlcalledfred .com from The Homeless World Cup 10 Tony Tannous: roundballanalyst.blogspot gets tactical and technical
A-League Fever - Exclusive Content.
12 Mike Salter: The footballtragic.blogspot looks at our Referees.
44 A-League review: Con Stamocostas
14 Stephen Smith: FFA blew expansion.
46 A Scottish Play. Wayne Snowden
16 Neil Zimmerman: Fans want an FFA Cup.
47 Melbourne Victory: NUFCMVFC: Crisis down South.
17 Brendan McMillian: Baby Stealers 18 Chris Paraskevas: What the Korean debacle revealed.. 20 Ben Somerford: From euroos.blogspot is our Aussies abroad man in the know.
48 Newcastle Jets: Settle now Labinot, Ben ONeill 49 Sydney FC: Sarah D, Let’s pretend we’re still top. 50 Mariners: Glenn Siever on McGlinchinho.
22 Con Stamocostas: Our World Cup Bid. 24 Shane Davis: Styles exposed
51 Perth Glory: Usman Azad believes the hype. (footballperth.blogspot.com)
26 Shane Logan: Australia ranked 14th! 52 Who knows football? HTH: Quiz time. 28 Sunil Awasthi: Which players make me whinge. 30 Con Stamocostas: Young Socceroos.
54 W-League:
32 Eamonn Flanagan takes aim: NSWFF.
54 Eamonn Flanagan: Do women and football mix?
34 Andrew Donald: Attendance down? 36 Glenn Siever: Can you Vlog?
55 Russ Gibbs: W-League is coming. 57 W-League news and rumour wrap
37 Half-Time Shenanigans 3, 26,37, 44, 46, Wayne Snowden:
58 About us:
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About us. Half-Time Heroes: Eamonn Flanagan
no.2 Sept 2009
Hi and welcome to Half-Time Heroes. Over 6,000 readers for our first edition and 40,000 page views so I’ve announced the Half-Times Heroes a huge success. Self praise is awesome. Feedback (see next page) was strong and varied, with readers enjoying the many opinions, analysis and humour. Eamonn Flanagan Is a Glasgow Celtic fan Nearpost blogger, radio and podcast host.
Thanks to all the writers, reader comments and plugs from Simon Hill, Fox Sports, FourFourTwo and all our football bloggers. And in this issue special thanks to ABC’s Breakfast Presenter Adam Spencer for sharing with us his passion for football. Check out Fiona Crawford live from the Homeless World Cup in Milan. Half your luck Fiona, and all on a Heroes budget! All your favourite writers are back plus Jets fan Ben O’Neill joins the party this month. You can still get involved: wordpress design, futsal writer or got another football angle you have a passion for, let us know. Contact with your suggestion. flanagan.eamonn@gmail.com Hope you enjoy this edition, and if you do enjoy it why not forward it to a friend of football? Eamonn
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Half-Time Heroes:Your Feedback What the fans thought. Please send comments to: flanagan.eamonn@g mail.com
And negative ones to: pfitzSimons@union. com
no.2 Sept 2009
From EPW. ...I just devoured the first edition of the fanzine. So far you have cost me: - about 3 hours of work - I've gotten hungrier and hungrier whilst I sit here thinking about how little I had for lunch - I REALLY need to pee ...but it was worth it. Good read, kutgw, and great to read some W-League action too.
From JS: Congratulations, I’ve had a very quick look (missed a work meeting) thru and it’s great. Some fast comments. · The look and feel are different and will be a plus for you in the long run although some fans will complain about the format especially if they’re not pc savvy. I like it. · The cartoons are great, more would be good. Taking the mickey is a footballer’s favourite hobby. Humour will give you an edge and set you apart from the rest · The contributions are professional, your insight into juniors and game sizes is on the mark · There’s some controversy, a bit more would be even better. It’s a good way to engage readers by cutting through information overload. Don’t be shy. Look how Gus Gould has made a name for himself. Not hysteria but strong informed opinions that make readers think. · A-League is covered well and your contributors are very well informed. · Tough decision – to what extent do you talk about European football? People want to hear about the stars and the Aussie boys and girls O/S. · No doubt you will include some player profiles, pictures and interviews in the future? · If I could make a personal request, how about some belly dancers on the cover …
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Half-Time Heroes:Your Feedback What the fans thought.
no.2 Sept 2009
From Michael Hi Eamonn, I thought I'd at least introduce myself and say hi. My names Michael, I’m a Uni student, love my football. I came across nearpost footy found it interesting and it's really awesome the opinions and blogging on football is getting larger and more intellectually deeper. Well thanks a lot. I'll be getting my HTH dose every week....btw..keep doing that whole foster vs british football angle...I love that whole debate. that stuff is gold!!!!
From Dan W. Nice work, a great read. Eamonn et al Absolutely magic...thanks so much for this fix. With the utmost respect to all, was getting a bit tired of 442, the World Game and Foxsports sites every day. Keep on kickin’, see you in the box.....and look forward to very much of the same.
But it’s not all good; some are not happy. From King Kewell Melbourne Forum Fanzines are dead: From TH It’s way too long. From Alan C. It’s too hard to read and has too much n it. Please note: The authors assert their copyright. No material in this ezine can be used without the author’s permission. So ask and acknowledge them.
The opinions are those of the individual authors and should not be taken as representing the views of HTH.
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Football Passion: Adam Spencer Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
ABC’s Adam Spencer and Socceroos Tim Cahill after qualification Uruguay 2005
.If you have ever listened to Triple J, ABC radio or watched ABC television in the last decade you would have heard and seen Adam Spencer. Adam is a mad football fan. In fact after the Socceroos triumphant and dramatic penalty win over Uruguay in 2005, a moment that secured Australia’s qualification for the World Cup after a 32 year wait, Adam Spencer ran onto the pitch, and joined in the wild scenes of joy and jubilation. (see photo above.) Half Time Heroes: How did you come to love the beautiful game? Adam Spencer: I played football from under 5’s with the Gladesville Ravens, and then went off to Gladesville Uniting for six years, and then at High School I played for St Aloysius. I have never played a game of League in my life and maybe three games of Union. I love the poetry and individuality of Australian Rules, a truly beautiful game, but the world game has a natural beauty for mine. HTH: Your A League team? AS: S-Y-D-N-E-Y, I am Sydney till I die. (Except when I am at my mother in laws house on the Central Coast, in which case the Mariners go pretty well too.) HTH: Your Overseas Team AS: The first game of English Football I ever saw was the 1927 FA Cup Final, which my beloved Manchester United won 2-1. Mum and Dad let me stay up past midnight as an eight year old to watch and I have repaid the Red Devils for that life changing experience with everlasting loyalty. As for adults who say they say they support United and can’t name a player pre-Ronaldo I have as much respect for them as a Chelsea fan who doesn’t own a Jersey more than three years old! HTH: Favourite overseas player? AS: Andrei Kanchelskis went alright ……as did Peter Schmeichel …….There will never be another Ryan Giggs.
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Football Passion: Adam Spencer Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
HTH: Favourite Australian Player? AS: I was lucky enough to say on air about five years ago that “Tim Cahill could well end up the greatest player that this country has produced.” I feel vindicated. HTH: Tell us about the World Cup Qualification in 2005? AS: I had done the pre-match on field entertainment. So as the shot(Aloisi’s penalty) went in I flashed my badge and hopped the fence. The fat guy in the background doing the victory lap that’s me. Don’t believe m?……(photo with Timmy on previous page.) HTH: How do you think the Socceroos will fare in South Africa next year? AS: We’ll give it a red hot crack – I can’t wait to see the draw we are given as the 14th team in the world if we don’t jag a group of death we’ll go fine. HTH: Have Socceroos been boring, does it matter how they play or is it just about winning? AS: Huh…What’s that over there……The Score board!!!!.......Sorry what was the Question? HTH Can Australia host the World Cup in 2018/22 and why? AS: Yes…..Why not. HTH: Most cherished moment in Football ? AS: The final whistle in the North Western Suburbs Womens’ football all age 3rd grade Grand Final 2006. As coach of the 3-0 victors I could have cried (Actually I did, don’t tell the girls) HTH: Can you believe we are on our way to our second World Cup in a row? AS: What amazed me was the muted reaction to qualifying….. As a nation we expected it……What a transition. HTH: What does football need to do or change? AS: Offside rule should give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking side only if the assistant referee can see clear and unambiguous space behind the fullback should the attacking player be called offside HTH: You are a pretty smart guy does the tactical side of the game interest you? Do you have any ideas about formation and shape? AS: In advance of my team “702 United” Stepping on the pitch for the master games 04/05 World Championships, I can’t comment on formations or Tactics……..suffice to say I’m very excited.
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One ball can change the World Half-Time Heroes: Fiona Crawford
no.2 Sept 2009
HTH’s Global Correspondent reports from the Homeless World Cup in Milan. Most people assume that a trip to Milan is inspired by an interest in fashion. For me, it was an interest in football. Specifically, empowering, inspiring, life-changing football.
Fiona Crawford ‘agirlcalledfred’ Fiona ‘A Girl Called Fred’ Crawford is a freelance writer, editor, blogger, and proofreader who writes for FourFourTwo, Goal.com, and a variety of Corporate and Creative Clients.
More at: agirlcalledfred.com footballfix.com.au
“Now in its seventh year, the 2009 Homeless World Cup includes over 500 players hailing from 48 nations spanning five continents and a unique and empowering approach to addressing homelessness.”
As with all good ideas, the Homeless World Cup concept was devised over beers, when The Big Issue Scotland founder Mel Young and Megaphone street paper editor Harald Schmied were at a conference about homelessness and realised that there weren’t actually any homeless people in attendance. So they conceived the idea for a conference where homeless and marginalised people could represent themselves: the Homeless World Cup. And, unlike most beer-brewed ideas, this one was followed through after the morning-after hangover cleared. The result is an annual football event, which uses sport to help for homeless and marginalised people participate in a team sport, build their confidence, improve their health, and turn their lives around. Now in its seventh year, the 2009 Homeless World Cup includes over 500 players hailing from 48 nations spanning five continents and a unique and empowering approach to addressing homelessness. The passion that football can inspire is both impossible to explain but intimately understood by anyone who’s experienced it. Likewise the Homeless World Cup, which takes that passion and puts it to powerful, life-changing use. As its motto says, one ball can change the world. Over 70 per cent of players go on to improve their lives as a result of participating, finding stable shelter or employment, coming off drugs, or reuniting with families. But it’s not just participants whose lives are changed. I can’t talk about the Homeless World Cup without my eyes welling up and my voice cracking with emotion. My perceptions of homelessness as well as how football can tackle such a complex, multifaceted issue more effectively than traditional bricks-and-mortar solutions have fundamentally changed. And my pride in the event and its achievements knows no bounds. 8/58
One ball can change the World (Cont) Half-Time Heroes: Fiona Crawford
no.2 Sept 2009
Photo courtesy: Bryan Crawford.
At the time of writing, we’re at Day 2 of the 2009 event, and the camaraderie is already emerging. The Australian team has been equally supportive of the teams on the pitch at any given time, first cheering for one and then the other.
“a Japanese journalist getting absolutely nailed………. She hit the deck and didn’t move for quite some time,”
The Irish serenaded the Scots with The Pretenders’ 500 Miles during the warm up for their match against Namibia. And the South Africans and the Japanese created a surround sound cheering effect for the Australians, barracking ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi’ from opposite sides of the stands. Also emerging is an unexpected spectator sport prompted by the absence of the crowd-protecting nets they had in Melbourne in 2008: falcon spotting. It started early, with a Japanese journalist getting absolutely nailed by a stray shot during the warm up for the event’s first match. She hit the deck and didn’t move for quite some time, with photographers and match officials leaning over her to ensure that she was ok but at the same time— it was clear—unsure of how to help her. My brother and I knew that it was only a matter of time until we got falconed, with the agreement that the first one sconned had to buy dinner. I was awarded the honour early on the second day, when I was interviewing a referee pitch-side and not—as I should have been— watching the game. The shot hit me so hard it drew blood and plenty of titters from the crowd, but karma and the falcon tally caught up with my brother, who was falconed twice himself before the day’s end. There are six more days of Homeless World Cup football—and falcons— set against the backdrop of fashion capital Milan. Ireland, Scotland, Portugal, England, and Ghana are looking like early frontrunners in the competition, but it’s too early to pick the winner. What I can say, though, is that with six more days of falcon-watching and falcon-flinching, we spectators might just need some helmets.
9/58
Talking Tactics with Tony Tannous Half-Time Heroes: A-League tactics on the rise?
no.2 Sept 2009
Tony Tannous: As one Culina lifts the technical standard, another raises the tactical bar One measure of the development of our local league this season, at least on the field, has been the growing use of tactics by A-League managers. Tony Tannous is theroundballanalyst. (trba)
Too often in the opening four seasons of the league managers were guilty of putting out regular formations, making like-for-like changes, and not really mixing it up enough.
Tony is one of Australia’s finest football bloggers and he also writes for www.theroar.com.au
There wasn’t enough “keeping the opposition guessing”, as I like to say.
theroundballanalyst. blogspot.com
Often this will happen at the break or during a game, when a manager may tinker to find a solution for something that isn’t quite working.
While crowds have been down, fortunately one of the more pleasing aspects of the season to date, at least for this observer, has been the growing sophistication and subtlety of the tinkering from the bench.
There have been a couple of really good examples of this, most notably when Branko Culina shifted the momentum of the F3 Derby in round two by moving Lubjo Milicevic from defence to central midfield and adjusting from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, which effectively evened up the numbers and neutralised the Mariners. I wrote about it at the time in my regular column on www.theroar.com.au
“moving Lubo Milicevic from defence to central midfield …adjusting from a 4-4-2 to a 4-43…..evened up numbers and neutralised the Mariners midfield”.
The other great example of a successful half time adjustment came a week later, in Brisbane Roar-Wellington clash. Brisbane dominating the opening period, running Ricki Herbert’s 4-23-1 ragged. But they only managed to score one. Cue for a shift to a 4-42, with Paul Ifill moved alongside Chris Greenacre. The Phoenix dominated thereafter, and deserved their equaliser. The other time where managers can make a real tactical mark is pre-game, via their game plan. To my mind there have been two particularly noteworthy pre-game strategies this season. The first came in the season opener, when Lawrie McKinna took his team to Melbourne and suffocated the life out of the defending champions, never giving playmaker Carlos Hernandez room to turn and play.
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Talking Tactics with Tony Tannous (cont) Half-Time Heroes: A-League tactics on the rise?
no.2 Sept 2009
The next piece of pre-game brilliance came from Culina, who devised a way of beating the previously unstoppable Gold Coast in round four. Recognising that there was some space in behind Miron Bleiberg’s attack-minded wing-backs, one of Culina’s strategies was to get the ball forward early, in behind both Adam Traore and Steve Fitzsimmons. Deploying Jin-Hyung Song high up on the left, close to the front two of Sasho Petrovski and Sean Rooney, ensured there were always Newcastle numbers in the front third, and it gave the Jets a ball-to-feet outlet on the left. The plan was obvious, get the ball forward early, especially into the space behind Traore, and get at the twin stoppers, Bas van den Brink and Kristian Rees. By doing so, Culina was able to expose a lack of pace and comfort on the ground from two men who look far more comfortable dealing with the aerial ball. On the field it took a while to get this game-plan going. For the first quarter of the game you could see Culina deploying Tarek Elrich and others to get the ball forward quickly, over the advanced Traore. You could also see him encouraging Petrovski and Rooney to make runs into that space. Eventually it started working, and the Jets took control and got their goal. The other aspect of the game-plan that day was the collective work of the midfield and front-men in shutting down the man on the ball, which stopped the supply to the dangerous front-pair of Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter. It was intriguing stuff from the older Culina, and prompted a reaction from Bleiberg for round five, where the more defensive minded Matt Osman came in for Fitzsimmons on the right. It was noticeable also that Traore played more as a traditional fullback, starting from a deeper position. This was yet another example of the type of detailed tinkering, and there have been numerous other cases, which suggests the A-League is indeed maturing. Long may it continue.
11/58
The Football Tragic takes on our Referees. Half-Time Heroes: Mike Salter
no.2 Sept 2009
Mike Salter is The Football Tragic. Mike is author of one of the most popular football blogs in the country. Read www. thefootball tragic.blogspot. com
We've all met them, while hacking ‌.: straight-backed, fussily-groomed blokes, immensely conscious of their own importance and enamoured of the sound of their own whistle
"Who'd be a referee?" say the commentators, whenever a contentious incident is shown on the replay. Unlike most rhetorical questions, this one has an easy answer. We've all met them, while hacking around in suburban AA4 competitions: straight-backed, fussily-groomed blokes, immensely conscious of their own importance and enamoured of the sound of their own whistle. The world needs them, of course, but their officious tendencies do occasionally drive us to distraction. As in the local kickabouts, so in the A-League. Exercises in petty authority are infuriatingly popular at the professional level in Australia, but genuinely violent play has frequently gone unpunished in recent years. Already, season 2009/10 has thrown up a classic case. Cast your minds back to the third round game between Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix, at Suncorp. A tense, bad-tempered game, refereed indifferently by young Chris Beath. As so often happens in the A-League, a cardless first half was followed by a stack of yellows in the second, as the tempers rose. An issue in itself, this: by "letting things go" early on, refs are often forced to over-compensate later on, as the players see just how far they can go. But I digress. In the final minute of injury time, with the tackles flying, Brisbane's Robbie Kruse commits an absolutely horrendous foul on Leo Bertos. It's two-footed, it's deliberate, there is no attempt whatever to play the ball. And Bertos is extremely lucky to escape injury. Kruse receives...a yellow.
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The Football Tragic takes on the Referees (Cont) Half-Time Heroes: Mike Salter
no.2 Sept 2009
There are few other leagues in the world where Kruse would have received such lenient treatment. Perhaps Beath held back from producing a red card because he had recently sent off another Brisbane player in Tommy Oar, but this is a poor excuse. The corollary to this failure to punish physically dangerous play is the A-League referees' addiction to the officious booking. A shirt off during a goal celebration? A microsecond's continuation of play after the whistle? A doubtful "encroachment" at a free kick? You can bet your bottom dollar on a quick dash to the pocket, and a yellow card. Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this situation is that the FFA appear to be unaware of it. In fact, their pre-season press-release bleatings were all about eliminating diving in the A-League. Frankly, diving is the very least of the A-League's problems. In fact, I would suggest that we will see several instances this season of players going down in the box under a genuinely illegal challenge, and receiving a yellow card even if they don't immediately protest. One of the main reasons why A-League referees need to adopt a sterner attitude towards rough play is that it is not tolerated in Asia. In the Asian Champions League, we have seen referees veer towards the other extreme, if anything. We have already gained an unwanted reputation as the bully-boys of Asian football, and spineless refereeing in our domestic competition can only exacerbate this. Players move from the A-League to the continental competition, and suddenly a run-of-the-mill A-League tackle attracts a yellow card, or worse. Like it or not, we are part of Asia now. And when in Rome, referee perhaps not quite as the Romans do, but not as if you were among the barbarians either.
13/58
FFA to blame for Western Sydney fiasco Half-Time Heroes: Stephen Smith
no.2 Sept 2009
Stephen Smith has written a number of blog pieces for Webdiary and other websites.
The shadow of Michael McGurk, murdered outside his home last Thursday, must be haunting Football Federation Australia (FFA) because of links the Sydney financial hard man allegedly had with one of the bids for a Western Sydney A-League licence.
Stephen has been a long time member of supporter groups for the former Canberra Cosmos and Belconnen Blue Devils and lately, Canberra United in the W-League.
McGurk feared he was a deadman walking as a result of tapes he claimed would expose corruption among top ranking NSW MPs.
Bizarrely, these events followed a few days after the largely unexplained collapse of another Western Sydney bid led by Joe Meissner. His colourful past does not exactly fit all that is good and great about FFA’s much trumpeted “football family”.
On Monday, The Sydney Morning Herald exposed a link between McGurk and the Sydney Wanderers A-League bid led by Socceroo captain, Lucas Neill and his chairman, former NSW planning minister Craig Knowles. The Neill group denies links with McGurk, beyond his capacity as a go-between in raking in funds. However, as revealed by the Herald, the Neill group’s registered office is at a business owned by Mr McGurk. Tainted or not by events that may follow referral of evidence on McGurk’s murder to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Neill bid may not survive such exposure. Bizarrely, these events followed a few days after the largely unexplained collapse of another Western Sydney bid led by Joe Meissner. His colourful past does not exactly fit all that is good and great about FFA’s much trumpeted “football family”. Nonetheless, our concern here is not to judge those chasing the 12th A-League franchise. Rather, it is the FFA itself that needs to be held accountable. Two of the main players in the bidding war have scored own goals in the last week. But the real question is why the FFA had allowed them to enter the field in the first place. When proposing the 12th ALeague spot, the FFA should have put in place a due diligence process to weed out those not likely to run the full race. Due diligence means the process of investigating the details of potential investors, including examination of the operations and management of bid teams and their associates.
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FFA to blame for Western Sydney fiasco Half-Time Heroes: Stephen Smith
no.2 Sept 2009
Generally, due diligence refers to the precautions a reasonable person should take before entering into a legal or contractual agreement with another party. It’s not good enough for the FFA to claim that due diligence is the final hurdle prior to awarding a licence. It also needs to be the first hurdle. To create a level playing field for all bidders, surely these groups need to be able to act as ambassadors for the FFA (and by association, the Socceroo brand name) before they are allowed to kick off in the bidding contest. In the case of the Lucas Neill group, any connection with standover man Michael McGurk should have resulted in a straight red card from the licence quest. The Western Sydney fiasco has proved very unfair to others in the race, including those bids from Canberra, Tasmania and Wollongong. Clearly, some potential investors and sponsors lined up with the now faltering Western Sydney bids on the basis that they had the FFA seal of approval are now lost to football. However, these backers could easily have first looked outside Sydney if FFA had applied stricter guidelines as to who might be allowed to register to bid, or where potential conflicts of interest might be found. Any FFA decision about the 12th expansion spot for 2010 has been delayed beyond the point of no return. The reputation of the A-League has suffered as a result of the poor calibre of some groups who should never have been allowed to progress this far. As a result, not only the remaining bid teams, but all existing clubs, will have suffered damage. Some years ago an ABC Four Corners program, The Big League, exposed links between sport (Rugby League) and corruption in Sydney. We dread any comparable underbelly that might envelop football and undermine the progress of the A-League. Assuming no such disaster emerges, it is essential that FFA dispel even the faintest hint that ‘new football’ might be unraveling to what FFA itself refers to as the bad old days of ‘old soccer’. If the FFA has simply been engaged in a cynical bidding war to set as many aspirant groups as possible against another, then this plan has badly misfired. If however, the FFA board, for whatever reason, has gone soft on due diligence, then they must be held accountable. If so, it would be time for some of the big names to step down.
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Fans want an FFA Cup Half-Time Heroes: Neil Zimmerman
no.2 Sept 2009
Neil Zimmerman: Should we have an FFA Cup? For the last couple of years there has been a particular push by fans to follow in the footsteps of the most popular football league in the world and see the introduction of an FA Cup style competition in Australia, an FFA Cup for want of a better word. Neil Zimmerman is a Melbourne Victory fan.
However, despite Football Federation Australia having made noises to the effect that they are looking into the logistics of setting up an FFA Cup style competition, their heart doesn’t really appear to be in it. Firstly, the creation of an FFA Cup would mean that the FFA would have to deal with the state federations, something that it has appeared loathed to do up until this stage.
Neil has a keen interest in all levels of football. He writes for 442 and you can find him at his own blog at http://www.victoryin melbourne.com.
“the creation of an FFA cup would mean the FFA would have to deal with the state federations”
Many federations still have the problems of years gone by and could well be exposed for the mismanaged operations that they are with the publicity that this kind of competition would generate – something that the FFA would be keen to avoid. Secondly, when it comes to publicity, the FFA would be keen to avoid any kind generated by the incidents between A-League and State League teams, which is easy fodder for the anti-football media out there. From my own experience, Melbourne Victory fans seem to get a little overexcited by the prospect of visiting Victorian Premier League grounds, with incidents at recent games against South Melbourne and Green Gully not doing the footballing establishment any particular favours. Another issue would be that the FFA would have to sink a significant amount of money into any type of cup competition. The provision of financial support to the cash strapped State or Premier League teams to allow them to travel interstate would be a given. In this current climate that sees the FFA providing financial support to a number of A-League teams I can’t see them creating a competition that will also add another financial burden to their books. So to all those people out there who have the romantic notion of clashes between State League teams and A-League teams in the vein of the FA Cup I don’t think the FFA shares the romance.
16/58
Football, Baby Stealers and Slave Traders Half-Time Heroes: Brendan McMillan
no.2 Sept 2009
Brendan McMillan says FIFA’s youth policy favours Europe over Australia! Thank god for the FIFA, striding forth on their crusade against all that is morally wrong in the world of football. Like a Fred Nile in an Oxford Street Nightclub, their indignation at European clubs luring underage players to their academies would be amusing if they weren’t playing with kids lives. There is no doubt that FIFA’s regulations around the international transfer of minors are a decent attempt to curtail the cynical trade in African youngsters but once again they have gone too far and have produce a set of rules that favours Europe while putting youngsters in countries like Australia at a disadvantage. The FIFA statue states, “International transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18” but of course like all things within FIFA there are exceptions and it is the second one that creates the problems, “except where the transfer takes place within the territory of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and the player is aged between 16 and 18”. Of course the reason for the exception lies with the European Union and its employment laws. FIFA know they cannot approve a rule that any player could challenge in court using the restraint of trade/employment laws that the EU has enacted and so FIFA must allow underage transfers in within this region. With FFA toeing the FIFA line (they really have little choice) our top players will no longer be afforded the luxury of attending some of the best finishing schools in the football world.
If this regulation had of been enacted 15 years ago. Harry Kewell would not have made the leap to Leeds United at 16, Lucas Neill would not have debut for Millwall at 17 and Rhys Williams would not have taken up a spot in the Middlesbrough youth academy at 16. Now it is open to debate whether these and other players football development would be hindered by waiting till they are 18 but is there really a need to even have the discussion. A simple clause that outlines that minors may transfer if certain conditions are meet, for example that the player must be accompanied by and live with a parent until the age of 18 and the cost of certain level of schooling be provided by club would surely be enough to protect the kids against unscrupulous clubs. After all, FIFA and the FFA are not these kid’s parents, they of course should endeavour to protect them against being taken advantage of but they should not be trying to usurp the role of the parent in ultimately deciding whether to allow their children to take up such an opportunity.
17/58
Socceroos 14th in the World? You’re dreaming Half-Time Heroes: Chris Paraskevas
no.2 Sept 2009
Chris Paraskevas is worried it could all go wrong in South Africa for the Aussies but no-one wants to say that do they.
Chris Paraskevas is a prolific football writer.
A little while back I typed up a piece about the sterility of the Socceroos in front of goal without Tim Cahill. How wrong I was. The piece should have outlined the disfigurement of the Socceroos all over the pitch without any of their key men.
You can find him at: www.goal.com/en /news/808/austral ia
Saturday night in Seoul was supposed to be the moment where Australia asserted itself as Asia’s powerhouse, justified its lofty FIFA ranking and generally felt good about itself against opposition of a reasonable quality – Korea has hardly again hit the heights it reached in 2002.
www.footballblog daily.blogspot.com
Yet what was revealed had nothing to do with the touted pragmatism or ill-timed experimentation of Pim Verbeek but rather the harsh reality that Australia’s talent pool of players lacks quality in depth.
www.au.fourfourt wo.com www.greece.theof fside.com www.theoffside.c om www.greece.world cupblog.org
the harsh reality that Australia’s talent pool of players lacks quality in depth.
We didn’t actually think we were a Top 20 nation, did we? Some loosely accurate facts for the more optimistic fans to analyze: Tim Cahill, Caps: 34, Goals: 18 Harry Kewell, Caps: 42, Goals: 13 Mark Viduka, Caps: 43, Goals: 11 Mark Bresciano, Caps: 51, Goals: 11 Josh Kennedy, Caps: 15, Goals: 6 Scott McDonald, 15 caps - 0 goals Now, a quick comparison of Pim Verbeek’s first-choice back four: Left back: Scott Chipperfield, Club: Basel, Caps: 61, Goals: 12, Age: 33 Centre-back: Lucas Neill, Club: Out of contract, Caps: 50, Goals: 0, Age: 31 Centre-back: Craig Moore, Club: Brisbane Roar, Caps: 43, Goals: 3, Age 33 Right-back: Luke Wilkshire, Club: Dinamo Moscow, Caps: 35, Goals: 0, Age 27 ...and the back four in Seoul: Left back: Shane Stefanutto, Club: North Queensland Fury, Caps: 3, Goals: 0, Age: 29 Centre-back: Patrick Kisnorbo, Club: Leeds United, Caps: 16, Goals: 1, Age: 28 Centre-back: Mark Milligan, Club: Shanghai Shenhua, Caps: 8, Goals: 0, Age 24 Right-back: Jade North, Club: Incheon United, Caps: 28, Goals: 0, Age
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Socceroos 14th in the World? You’re dreaming. (Cont) Half-Time Heroes: Chris Paraskevas
no.2 Sept 2009
In a hypothetical situation where any of Verbeek’s first-choice back four were ruled out of a World Cup match (or indeed, the entire tournament), none of the players in the latter list will come close to providing an adequate replacement in terms of experience, presence and form, bearing in mind the likes of Milligan and Kisnorbo are hardly playing at the highest level of club football. Similarly, assuming Cahill, Kewell and Viduka were unable to play (and that is a very distinct possibility) that would leave the goal-scoring burden with Kennedy, McDonald and Bresciano, none of whom have been consistent enough in front of goal for the national team of late. Even in midfield, where Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak have been unconvincing, there is nothing to accommodate for the loss of either Jason Culina and Vince Grella. The equation: Australia will need every single one of its stars fit, inform and playing if it is to have a chance of progressing past the group stages at the World Cup. And that’s assuming the rest of the civilized world hasn’t by that stage worked out that Tim Cahill is Australia’s only legitimate goal-threat at the present moment. Say it with me people: ”Man... Marking”. It is easy to get caught up in the hype of talk about a Quarter Finals berth in South Africa following a highly successful qualifying campaign but the reality of the situation is that Australia fans should simply be hoping for a respectable showing at the World Cup. Qualifying for Germany was a miracle in itself, let alone getting through a group that contained an artery-clogged Brazil. The recipe was perfect for success at the time: two weak group opponents in Japan and Croatia, one of the best managers in the world, the unpredictability of Tim Cahill and the most important players inform at a high level of club football and at their peak in a national team jersey. All but one of those elements remains this time around – and it certainly isn’t the “best manager in the world” tag. Be warned: South Africa could be a sobering experience for the confident Socceroos fan. For more of my musings and as an alternative to downloading porn with your work’s bandwidth (That’s what you office people do with your spare time, right?) wander over to http://footballblogdaily.blogspot.com
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Which Keepers should we take to the World Cup? Half-time heroes: Ben Somerford
Ben Somerford writes at www.euroo blogspot.com
no2 Sept 2009
Ben Somerford, our Aussies abroad Guru, assesses Pim Verbeek’s option for South Africa . With the 2010 World Cup now only nine months away, the make-up of the Socceroos squad for the trip to South Africa is being heavily analysed. One of the areas of special attention is the central defensive pairing and Australia’s recent friendly with Korea was an opportunity for Pim Verbeek to experiment, albeit unsuccessfully. But another area which isn’t confirmed is a tad further back, in between the sticks. Sure, Socceroos stalwart Mark Schwarzer is irreplaceable and it’s actually hard to recall the last time the proper Australia team played without him. But what if the unthinkable occurred and Schwarzer got injured. Where would Verbeek turn? But never mind that horrible occurrence, as no matter what happens there will be three goalkeepers going to South Africa next year, but who will they be?
“Turkey-based Michael Petkovic is the obvious other choice, but his disastrous Confederations Cup error in 2005 hasn’t been forgotten. Nor has Brad Jones’s mistake in a friendly against Uruguay.”
Adam Federici is a popular choice amongst Aussie fans and having graduated to the number one guernsey at English Championship club Reading, his hopes have been bolstered. But a recent blunder by Federici against Sheffield United signals the danger of getting complacent at the Madejski Stadium, with little competition for places in the shot-stopping department there. Many reports have also suggested Federici has made a few errors with his feet of late, although his reflexes remain as good as ever. But you’d think regular football should earn Federici a spot on the plane to South Africa. Turkey-based Michael Petkovic is the obvious other choice, but his disastrous Confederations Cup error in 2005 hasn’t been forgotten. Nor has Brad Jones’s mistake in a friendly against Uruguay. But both are well regarded at club level and that must count for something. Nevertheless, the pair are both experiencing tough times early on this season with their clubs.
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Which Keepers should we take to the World Cup? (Cont) Half-time heroes: Ben Somerford
no2 Sept 2009
Petkovic’s Sivasspor were Turkish runners-up last campaign, but they have already crashed out of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League and have lost all three of their Super Lig matches. Petkovic’s frustration boiled over in the recent loss to Shakhtar Donetsk and he was sent off and hasn’t played since. Jones on the other hand, was (like Federici) handed the number one shirt at his club Middlesbrough this season, but an ankle injury has prevented the Aussie from donning the jersey. His replacement Danny Coyne hasn’t fared too badly either, suggesting Jones may battle to win back his spot when fit. We know regular football is crucial in Pim Verbeek’s mind and these goalkeepers will need it. Verbeek has recently turned to Sweden-based 2006 World Cup squad member Ante Covic. The ex-Newcastle Jets stopper has enjoyed a nice return to Sweden (where his wife hails from) with club IF Elfsborg chasing the Allsvenskan title. Covic has done well back in Sweden and even helped his side beat Lazio in Europe.
Beyond those players, Verbeek’s best options come from the Hyundai A-League, but the Dutchman doesn’t fancy the home-based stoppers for some reason despite the fact they actually enjoy regular football. Eugene Galekovic is certainly one of the unluckiest players in Australia, although it could be worse, just ask Michael Theoklitos who’s move to Norwich City has gone horribly sour. Others such as English-based keepers Dean Bouzanis, Alex Cisak and Daniel Ireland are all too raw for 2010, while Denmarkbased Nathan Coe just can’t get a game, wherever he goes. But the new season hasn’t been smooth sailing for any of our stoppers abroad so far (except Schwarzer, of course), so the race for those back-up spots is on. The question remains, who’ll win it?
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Our World Cup Bid: England 0 Aussies 1? Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
Con Stamocostas takes a look at the progress of our World Cup 2018 bid and wonders if our competitors are shooting themselves in the foot. Make sure you pencil this date into your I Phone diaries, December 2 2010. It is the Day FIFA will announce which country will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
. Con Stamocostas
Around the world a couple of events could have an impact on the decision making process when the 24 person FIFA executive makes their decision. First off one of the Asian bidders for 2018 Indonesia suffered a horrific terrorist attack when a hotel in Jakarta was bombed on the 17 July killing nine people. Then in England the scourge of hooliganism raised its ugly head as West Ham and Millwall fans thought they were involved in the filming of Green Street Hooligans 3. I couldn’t see if Elijah Wood star of the original was on the pitch this time. Perhaps he was still searching for that elusive ring. Th vision of plump, bald, half naked middle aged men running onto the pitch was beamed around the world. There were also images of scuffles breaking out all over the stadium. This new Hooliganism could derail England’s cause.
The vision of plump, bald, half naked middle aged men running onto the pitch was beamed around the world
The Guardian online reported that straight after the violence the English FA held preliminary talks with the Football League, the Metropolitan Police and the two clubs. One man was stabbed in the chest in mass brawls outside the arena as inadequate security struggled to cope with three pitch invasions. The English FA is reinforcing its commitment to see all proven offenders banned from attending games for life. A spokesman for the English bid said: "The scenes from Upton Park were a regrettable but isolated example of a culture that the football community has worked tirelessly to eradicate from our game". British Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe described the violent scenes as “a disgrace to football” and backed the Football Association's call for life bans for those found to have been involved in the incidents.
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Our World Cup Bid: England 0 Aussies 1? (Cont) Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
“We have made great progress in the past 20 years in tackling football hooliganism in this country and we will not tolerate any return to the dark days of the 70s and 80s when it plagued the game,'' added Sutcliffe American Comic legend and Hero to many Bill Hicks said it best about hooligans: “When I was in London I read an article in the paper and it said: “Yesterday some Hooligans knocked over a dustbin in Shaftesbury..............whoohoo the hooligans are loose! the hooligans are loose! I hope they don't turn into ruffians. "I'm sure it's a serious thing hooligans, but it just sound stupid don't it “Picture a bunch of pale guys with penny loafers and no socks "Come here.' 'Nope! Got-to catch us! If you corner me I might become a scalliwag!' In other news relevant to the bid, Michel Platini UEFA president stated that unless FIFA agrees that the 2018 World Cup must be staged in Europe, it would be important for the continent to put forward only one candidate, so as not to split the votes for the European option. If this occurs obviously this could affect the English bid’s chances as the Russian and Iberian bid of Spain and Portugal are strong. I don’t have to remind you of the excitement that emanated around the country when the Socceroos proudly represented this multi-cultural nation at the last World Cup in Germany in 2006. Imagine if the world’s biggest party was in our own back yard……… I can, can you?
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A-League Tactical Analysis: Styles exposed Half-Time Heroes: Shane Davis
no.2 Sept 2009
Shane Davis says there is more to a quality football team than just short passing. In Australia, what now often appears synonymous with the idea of attacking, progressive football is a specific, stringent manner of moving the ball - imaginative but patient short passing along the ground through the middle.
Shane Davis is a 23year-old football writer and statistician in Brisbane overly obsessed with the history and trends of Australian and World football. He also has a very geeky collection of videos of football matches played before he was born and enjoys arguing football tactics. Find more Shane at: www.hiraldo. wordpress.com
“what was significant was a deeply concerning lack of players being committed forward and expansive movement of the ball�
It's a perfectly admirable style in itself, but it isn't the only good one and a lack of it isn't the reason the Hyundai A League can struggle to be pleasing to the eye. Good movement of the ball is heavily dependent on good movement off it and the latter has undergone a significant fall in standard in the last couple of years. Following a (to be expected) mediocre inaugural season in terms of quality, the A-League reached quite a promising level in 2006-2007 with half of the league in Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Queensland playing particularly good football. Off-the-ball movement was a prominent and important feature in the football played that season in general. Perhaps mindful of the runaway success of Melbourne Victory's counter-attacks and the conservative style that was so predominant in the 2006 World Cup, A-League coaches by and large have since seemed to place a heavy importance on hassling the opposition like mad when defending. This has come at the expense of energetic movement off the ball as teams look for a breather only when in possession. With less options to pass forward to and under more opposition pressure, teams now heavily favour passing back to the defence or goalkeeper to boot it long. Commenting on the insipid Euro 1996 tournament as much as he could have been on the A-League at present, former Argentina striker Jorge Valdano said "in every match we are seeing two teams who fight incessantly for the ball and when they have it they kick it anywhere."
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A-League Tactical Analysis: Styles exposed (Cont) Half-Time Heroes: Shane Davis
no.2 Sept 2009
Short passing, too, isn't exactly the key antidote to defensive risk-free football. One dimensional long ball football wasn't a big feature in the dreadful knockout stage of the 2006 World Cup, in which short passing along the ground was still very prominent. What was significant was a deeply concerning lack of players being committed forward and expansive movement of the ball. Quality playmakers like Zinedine Zidane, Francesco Totti, Juan Romรกn Riquelme, Kakรก and Deco were not short in supply in the decisive stages in Germany. Most teams in the A-League last season employed a playmaker of some sort themselves. But when the midfield playmaker invariably has only one striker ahead of him to supply or play off, or there is a lack of good play down the flanks to relieve the pressure and expand the field, his task becomes difficult. If the 2006-2007 A-League season remains a high point and something to aim for, then what should also not be overlooked is the manner that Adelaide United in particular played that season. Their clever and aggressive interplay down the flanks saw wingers Travis Dodd, Greg Owens, Bobby Petta and Jason Spagnuolo and full-backs Richard Alagich and Matthew Kemp enjoy some of, if not the best form of their careers. For much of that pleasing season, John Kosmina's team was one of the brighter aspects until they imploded in the finals. And a key component was, again, vibrant off the ball movement. Simply professing that passing the ball patiently along the ground is the way forward for A-League teams is short minded and self-limiting. The tactical and strategical issues in the league go beyond that and there is an obvious value in teams employing contrasting styles in terms of both entertainment and development. For supposedly progressive approaches to playing football, the styles often lauded and demanded in Australian football are not exactly broad-minded.
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Australia: Top 15Football Nation Half Time Heroes: Shane Logan
Shane Logan is a junior coach, wannabe tactical analyst, opinionated hack and fan of all things football in Australia and Argentina
How can a team that boasts a clumsy Brett Holman and musters results with the style of a walrus on heat, currently outrank one that is built around the polish and petulance of Cristiano Ronaldo?
no.2 Sept 2009
Shane Logan says now Australia is in the Top 15 it’s time for RESPECT.
There was a time not so long ago when a top 15 ranking in world football for Australia would have been met with howls of laughter. Let’s face it, the FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings do tend to throw up some odd numbers at times, the latest of which saw Australia ranked 14th, above Portugal! The mechanics of the ranking system could be argued, but there is a method in the madness. FIFA’s website goes to great pains to explain it here. So is it possible that these rankings are accurate, or at least a good guide to our standing? How can a team that boasts a clumsy Brett Holman and musters results with the style of a walrus on heat, currently outrank one that is built around the polish and petulance of Cristiano Ronaldo? FIFA says that it bases its ranking not just on results, but strength of the opposition, strength of the region, importance of the match and downgrades results as they fade in to memory.
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Australia: Top 15Football Nation. (cont) Half Time Heroes: Shane Logan
no.2 Sept 2009
Australia qualified unbeaten from its second stage of qualifying, whilst Portugal is currently out of the qualification places in a group that boasts Malta, Albania and Hungary. You can only win against the teams placed before you, and whilst Australia lacks the pure talent and glitz of Portugal, it seems we are a unit better prepared to get the results we need. This brings me to my pet peeve of the month. All too often I hear fans belittle the qualification achievement, mock the quality of the side and most recently, scoff at the team’s world ranking. What will it take for so many fans in Australia to start judging the national side based on results in the real world rather than hypothetical comparisons to European football? How many international footballers are required to back up a trip half way around the globe to Australia, with another to somewhere as exotic as Tashkent whilst still play the next weekend for their European club? How many sides in Europe have contended with stifling heat, altitude, near zero temperatures, food poisoning and twenty plus hour travel times all within the same qualifying stage? How many nations are required to pull together a squad from their bases as far away as Beijing, Istanbul, Palermo and Sydney? Whilst many would argue that a ranking of 15th in the world is underserved because of the perceived weakness of the Asian confederation or the relatively unfashionable make-up of our squad, the successful qualification process that led us to that ranking was no easy task. It is an achievement of which to be proud. Even though the bread and butter of our international football isn’t the cut and thrust of European competition, we continue to meet and overcome the challenges presented to us in our own way, and for that, the Socceroos deserve respect, especially from their own fans.
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Aussie players who make Sunil whinge Half-Time Heroes: Sunil Awasthi
no.2 Sept 2009
Sunil Awasthi looks at the ten Australian players we complain about most-and the bona fides of our complaints. 10. Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Defender, Newcastle Jets) Why he’s complained about: People think he’s crap, to put it bluntly. Is it justified?: No. He’s alright. There’s plenty worse out there.
If he’s in the squad to go to South Africa, you know we’ve got problems.
9. Mark Viduka (Striker, unattached) Why he’s complained about: Fat. Doesn’t have a good enough scoring record for the Socceroos, according to some. Won’t decide whether he will play for us in South Africa, or whether he’ll bloody keep playing at all, for that matter. Is it justified?: Partially. Make up your mind, Dukes! 8. Jason Culina (Midfielder, Gold Coast United) Why he’s complained about: They say he doesn’t take enough responsibility on the pitch, playing too many sideways and backwards passes. Is it justified?: For the most part, no. He’s much more a defensive than attacking midfielder, no matter what you may hear said. Being played out of position, or people having slightly unrealistic expectations, isn’t his fault. 7. Jacob Burns (Midfielder, Perth Glory) Why he’s complained about: People think he’s crap. Is it justified?: Partially. He’s been pretty good early on for Perth. But if he’s in the Socceroo starting line-up, you know we’ve got problems. 6. Patrick Kisnorbo (Defender, Leeds United) Why he’s complained about: Once again, people think he’s crap. That bandage-thingy he wears on his head. Oh yeah, also got hit in the back of the head by a ball v Iraq in the Asian Cup. Is it justified?: Yes. If he’s in the squad to go to South Africa, you know we’ve got problems.
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Aussie players who make Sunil whinge Half-Time Heroes: Sunil Awasthi
no.2 Sept 2009
5. Scott McDonald (Striker, Celtic) Why he’s complained about: Yet to get off the mark for Australia, despite 15 appearances in the green-and-gold. Looks slightly fat. Is it justified?: No. True, he has struggled to get into some games, even when Pim has played two up front. But he’s been played out of position. And he’s helped set up some goals, even if he hasn’t scored any. And the signs have been looking better lately. And we don’t have a whole lot of other striking options. And the goals will come eventually, I promise! 4. John Aloisi (Striker, Sydney FC) Why he’s complained about: Despite being the bloke who knocked in that penalty, he’s not been very good since he signed with Sydney. Plus, those anti-dandruff ads! Is it justified?: Yes. Has to get more involved for Sydney. But don’t be too surprised if he’s on the plane to South Africa. 3. Ljubo Milicevic (Defender, Newcastle Jets) Why he’s complained about: For once, it’s nothing to do with on field ability. He’s got a big rep for being disruptive and petulant. Once admitted to watching gay porn and going to gay nightclubs. Oh yeah, and his voice… Is it justified?: Yes. Look, he’s started this season well with the Jets, both with the on-field action and (lack of) mouth action. But he has much to atone for, so he’ll have to put up with being pilloried a while longer. 2. Kevin Muscat (Defender, Melbourne Victory) Why he’s complained about: Being a thug, a hindrance, too old, too slow, and probably more. Is it justified?: For the most part, no. He’s been one of the cornerstone reasons for Melbourne’s success since the A-League began, and is still a damn good player. Show some respect. 1. Brett Holman (Midfielder/Striker, AZ Alkmaar) Why he’s complained about: Being a favourite of Pim Verbeek, despite not often showing much technical skill or ability in front of goal. Constantly gets a run in front of fan favourite Nick Carle. Is it justified?: For the most part, yes. Doesn’t often play well in the national shirt. A squad player.
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Young Socceroos take on the World in the land of the Pharaohs Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocstas
no.2 Sept 2009
Con Stamocostas is excited about the Young Socceroos journey in the land of The Pharaohs. The Young Socceroos head to Egypt for the Youth World Cup to be played from 24 September to 16 October. "Watching Mark Bosnich Paul Okon and Steve Corica play so well at the Youth World Cup is the reason I became a football fan"
Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen yesterday announced his 21 player squad for the tournament. The Young Socceroos have been drawn to meet 2007 runnersup, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and Brazil in the group stage. Before the Australian team plays in Egypt they are off to face the Trinidad and Tobago, the USA and England in the motherland Cyprus for a warm–up tournament. During the 1991 Youth World Cup in Portugal I stayed up late and watched the Aussie side reach the semi finals, where they eventually lost to the winners Portugal in front of almost 100,00 fans. Watching players like Mark Bosnich Paul Okon and Steve Corica play so well at the Youth World Cup is the reason I became a football fan. During one of the Aussies group games, I distinctly remember SBS’s Les Murray commentating and yelling “Malaoneeeeeeeey” as Brad Maloney scored a screamer from way outside the box against Russia. Other images from that tournament that have left a permanent imprint on my brain are current Gold Coast United assistant coach Paul Okon’s 30-40 metre runs he would make out of defence and the class and ease he would distribute the ball with. Another image is Mark Bosnich saving everything that came his way. I recently saw footage from that tournament where Mark Bosnich saved from his future Manchester United team mate Dwight Yorke. So it came to be that when Mark Bosnich came to play club football I started supporting Aston Villa. I also made a mental note to follow any future Aussie that was to play football in Europe.
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Young Socceroos take on the World in the land of the Pharaohs Half-Time Heroes: Con Stamocstas
no.2 Sept 2009
You see I am the son of two immigrants. Growing up as a kid in Sydney I loved Cricket and Rugby League, but seeing that young Socceroos team during the 1991 under 20’s youth World Cup changed everything. Most of that team were first generation immigrant children seeing these kids play so well and represent their country with such distinction, gave me heroes who I could identify with. This weekend’s A League games will be the last chance to catch the likes of Kofi Danning, Tahj Minniecon Ben Kantarovski and Mitch Nichols before they take on the world in the land of the Pharaohs. Look for Aston Villa’s Chris Herd he has mostly made Premier Reserve League appearances, but Herd who has been described as a dynamic and energetic central midfielder was on the subs bench for Villa’s UEFA Cup game away to Hamburg SV in December. The Young Socceroos squad will depart next Monday for the final pre-tournament training camp in Cyprus. How good will it be that Australia’s games will be broadcast live and exclusive on SBS TV? Young Socceroos Squad is: Andrew Redmayne (gk)( Central Coast Mariners, Australia) Daniel Mullen (Adelaide United, Australia), Luke DeVere (Brisbane Roar), Australia) Ryan McGowan (Hearts FC, Scotland) Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC, Australia) James Holland (AZ Alkmaar , Netherlands) Tahj Minniecon (Gold Coast United, Australia), Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, England), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Mitch Nichols (Brisbane Roar, Australia) Thomas Oar (Brisbane Roar, Australia), Nathan Elasi (Melbourne Victory, Australia), Chris Herd (Aston Villa, England) Kofi Danning (Sydney FC, Australia) Sam Munro(Sydney FC, Australia) Ben Kantarovski (Newcastle Jets, Australia), Rhyan Grant(Sydney FC, Australia) Dean Bouzanis (gk) Liverpool FC, England) Sean Rooney(Newcastle Jets, Australia) Sam Gallagher (Manly United, Australia) Alex Cisak (gk) (Leicester City, England)
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Grassroots: NSW Federation blinkered. Half-time heroes: Eamonn Flanagan
no.2 Sept 2009
Eamonn Flanagan takes aim at the New South Wales Football Federation and wonders exactly how they are proposing to “help the game this time.”
“NSWFF is the major football State body in Australia and to hear them whingeing and feigning support for the unity and growth of the game, well it’s really too much”
Jim Forrest, President of New South Wales Football Federation is concerned that his State League Premier teams are being held at arm’s length by the FFA Jim says, “For a number of years now, FFA has held state Premier League competitions at arm’s length. Increasingly, many of us have wondered just where our senior State League competitions, often seen as a vital feeding ground for the A-League, fitted under the increasing weight of the establishment and expansion of the A-League. Faced with the need to develop and later expand the A-League, FFA has until now largely neglected, indeed ignored, the state leagues.” NSWFF is the football powerhouse State body in Australia and to hear them whingeing and feigning support for the unity and growth of the game, well it’s too much. Too much for me and the lads from Goulburn, NSW. And too much for the whole of the Canberra region. Here’s why: Goulburn Strikers herald from Goulburn NSW. But they play, like some other teams/towns located close to Canberra, under Capital Football, the Canberra based football body in ACT State League 1. Goulburn Strikers pay their registration fees to Capital Football in Canberra. They play in the ACT competition so fair enough, but the NSW Federation, so keen to help the game, make STFA register with them as well. Yes that’s twice the registration fees and twice the fun for Goulburn! Goulburn Strikers only entered the NSW Tiger Cup this year purely because they’d paid NSW registration fees and would otherwise get no benefit from the wonderful NSWFF.
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Grassroots: NSW still blinkered. (cont) Half-time heroes: Eamonn Flanagan
no.2 Sept 2009
Apparently the club pays registration fees to New South Wales Football Federation because the town and club are based in NSW. And further; Jim Forest complains about his Premier League State teams being neglected by the FFA. Well Jim when Canberra were allowed to enter the NSW Premier League, Belconnen Blue Devils and Canberra Deakin, now Canberra FC, always did well. In fact the Belconnen club were the winners of the competition until NSWFF kicked them out. And when they and Canberra FC reapplied this year, and in previous years, the NSWFF so keen to improve football across this country said no. Take a look at the map of NSW’s Jim. Where do you think the best team(s) in Canberra are supposed to play a higher level of football. So exactly how have NSWFF spun the rules to block a team, or even two teams, from the Capital. We improved your competition in the past, we would again in the future. So when the FFA gives you a bit of your own medicine don’t expect any support from the Capital. And Jim Forrest ends his piece by saying: “We at Football NSW keenly look forward to FFA’s new embrace of the state league competition structure and its overall incorporation into the national scheme of things. At long last we are moving towards making a genuine whole of the football family in Australia: grassroots, state league and the national/international levels of our game. FFA is to be congratulated on its new stance for the betterment of the game in this country.” And to show Jim and I are completed united notice anything in my final paragraph. “We in Canberra keenly look forward to NSWFF’s new embrace of the state league competition structure and its overall incorporation into the national scheme of things. At long last we are moving towards making a genuine whole of the football family in Australia: grassroots, state league and the national/international levels of our game.
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Attendances falling: We’ve only ourselves to blame? Half Time Heroes: Andrew Donald
no.2 Sep 2009
Andrew Donald asks: What can we learn from MLS and Japan?
Andrew is a Melbourne based football fan, he follows Newcastle United and Melbourne Victory at club level and the Australian and English National Teams.
Fan culture Sydney FC style.
We need a balanced approach to fan policy: to stop treating actively oriented fans as a “threat” and being mutually exclusive with the passive “family” demographic. In August, an article by Tom Dunmore regarding the MLS fan policy appeared on “Pitch Invasion” (http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/07/08/american-soccer-alittle-bit-dangerous/). It was a discussion of former MLS Commissioner Doug Logan’s comments to a US newspaper about the MLS needing to be “a bit more dangerous” –
“Soccer audiences at their best have got to be a little dangerous,”
“Soccer audiences at their best have got to be a little dangerous,” Logan said. “It’s three guys with a beer cursing at the guy on the field. It’s not a family activity. If you want a family activity, go to the circus. Success at the gate has to have a tribal following and not just a van of soccer-playing kids who come to one game a year,” Logan said. “If your business model depends on youth soccer, it won’t be enough.” While the “dangerous” term Logan chose isn’t perhaps the best word the article raises some important issues for the issues for the A-League and even the Socceroos support. The article goes on to discuss the past policy of alienating the 18-34 demographic out of a fear that the “slightest swear word” would scare away the “Soccer Mom” types. Then the article goes on to discuss the differing approach of some MLS teams that made the
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Attendances falling: We’ve only ourselves to blame? (Cont) Half Time Heroes: Andrew Donald
no.2 Sep 2009
effort to work with and accommodate active supporters but also how most of the league like teams from Dallas ignored this – “presumably petrified that the perceived ‘danger’ of supporters’ groups would scare off their dwindling youth soccer crowds. Obstruction to supporters culture based on a customer service rep occasionally receiving a few emails complaining about a curse word or because of the myth that youth soccer groups who come a few times a year would inevitably develop into anadult fanbase on their own dampened the atmosphere and slowed season ticket sale growth.” Why is this all relevant? Because we are seeing the same patterns emerging in Australia, but we are in a position to have the foresight to be able to learn from others’ mistakes, and this is not happening, sadly. Like the MLS as stated in the article, one of the criteria looked at in determining where to expand and for bids to underpin their arguments is local participation numbers. In season 4 the A-League numbers began to drop, it was well cited that this was a pattern that occurred “naturally” in both the MLS and J League and it is expected that like the J League they would just magically rise over time naturally and if we managed to get a World Cup. That the “locally hosted World Cup will equate to higher league attendances” argument is one that isn’t exactly applicable to fellow 2002 host South Korea which hasn’t exactly experienced the same surge in attendance figures as Japan - so an Australian hosted World Cup shouldn’t be seen automatically as a given and taken for granted. A more sophisticated analysis (Japanese football expert Mike Tuckerman should be able to add to a productive discourse here) needs to look at how the Japanese engaged with grassroots communities and in a way directly facilitated active fan culture, to the point where teams can be supported in regional areas as well as a viable J2 league. An understanding of critical importance if Frank Lowy’s ambitions for an A2 2nd tier league are to be realised let alone have an A1 League that can viably sustain teams in regional areas such as North Queensland, Tasmania, Canberra, Wollongong and Central Coast.
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New Media: Mariners fans love to Vlog Half Time Heroes: Glenn Sievier
no.2 Sept 2009
Glenn Sievier looks at our New Media:Vlog & Pods Football has always struggled in Australia for mainstream media support. Online with all its offshoots football has or is in the process of creating new broadcast methods.
Trent Dickeson, Michael Kmet, Luke Byrne are three very passionate football folk. And they are producing high quality Vlogs.
Podcasts and Vlogs are emerging as arguably one of the fastest growing and widely used new media forms. www.coastfm.org.au at Gosford has started to create their own Vlogs on Football. This is a huge, nay massive step for Football. Coast FM have always supported Football and called the Mariners matches from Hyundai A-League Season 1. I am sure many readers would have listen to their calls over the years. But with the advent of streaming why listen to a call when you watch it live. Trent Dickeson, Michael Kmet, Luke Byrne are three very passionate football folk. And they are producing high quality Vlogs. High quality in content not necessarily in the boys fashion sense and set design! By linking old media (radio) to new media (Vlogs) Coast FM is showing how football can get its message to gen Y. I have three gen Y sons and over the last two weeks, spoke to them and a number of their friends about reading newspapers, none of my three sons (19 to 25) or any of their friends brought newspapers. Most did not look them up online either. My personal belief is all major football sites will need to develop Vlogs as part of their long term planning. The appeal to Gen Y is they will see the people making the Vlogs as part of their group and marketers will tell you that is how Gen Y view the world .i.e. through their groups and interest. Check the boys out on their Vlog; and send comments to football@coastfm.org.au I think we are looking at part of new media and a successful part. .
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Half-Time Shenanigans starts here Half Time Heroes:�
no.2 Sept 2009
You know who is at it again.
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Is Blabby Bleiberg aiming for World Domination! Half Time Heroes: Lucy ‘Zela’ Zelic
no.2 Sept 2009
LUCY ZELIC: Is Miron Bleiberg aiming for World Domination? Much to the surprise of well, everyone, the Gold Coast United have quashed the ‘all-talk and no action’ predictions, by earning the top spot on the ladder courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Sydney. The combination of Zenon Caravella, Tahj Minniecon and Robson throughout the midfield left the Sydney FC defense in tatters and John Aloisi still riding on the coat tails of his one-penalty and one-goal season tally so far. Lucy “Zela” Zelic presents Nearpost and Farpost radio in Canberra. A football writer Lucy is from one of Australia’s finest football family’s.
Thanks to the trap-flapping styling’s of Clive Palmer and the cocky-concoctions of Miron Bleiberg, the Gold Coast proved that even without international star, Jason Culina, they still have what it takes. Bleiberg who played alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator, excuse me, who previously coached the Brisbane Roar has once again come out guns blazing with his ‘pearls of football wisdom.’ After a post match interview, The Bleibernator was quoted as saying; "we said we were going to have a good team and we have good team, we said we were going to have depth and we have depth, we said Robson could do a job when Jason wasn't there and we did that".
Blieberg who played alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger… ……has come out guns blazing with his pearls of wisdom
So, according to Blabby Bleiberg, whatever the Gold Coast touch will turn to salvation for the entire human race, pardon, gold and once total A-League domination is complete, the world is next. With the Gold Coast set to take on the fifth-placed Perth Glory this Sunday, Perth fans should be prepared to bring a pair of strong sunglasses with them to the Member’s Equity Stadium. Supporters will need these to deflect the sun, which will be shining out of Miron’s ass-umptions because once again, they will come away with another victory. To the Glory fans I say be warned, the Bleibernator is coming and you can be sure that once the whistle blows for kick off that his first words will be “Hasta La Vista Baby”.
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Adventures of Buckle-Up Ben Half Time Heroes:”
no.2 Sept 2009
Adventures of Buckle-Up Ben: AFL plan to steal the Socceroos
16th November 2005: Down in Melbourne the Big Man is worried. Its dark now, the room seems smaller. The champagne hasn’t been touched the glasses remain empty. Craig Foster’s voice can be heard on the TV in the corner, “we’ve done it, the Socceroos have done it.” The Big Man looks around the room. Everyone is silent, no-one dares speak. “Turn it off!” Buckle up Ben obliges. “What now Boss?” The Big Man says nothing. He swivels in his chair and reaches for a folder. He places the folder on the table and looks at Buckle-Up. “We’re sending you in.” Buckle-Up gives a nervous laugh. “In?” “You will be our man in FFA Headquarters. John O’Neill will return to Rugby, we can sort that, then all we need is to get you in.” “I don’t know about this, they know he’s an AFL man through and through. It’s not Soccer Australia we’re dealing with anymore,” St Kilda CEO Archie Fraser dared to stall. The Big Man looked at Buckle-Up. “Man or mouse? This is for the AFL. We need our own AFLSocceroos.” Buckle-Up sits up. “I’m in.” And so it came to pass. “Buckle-Up, never forget the goals. Just two. No A-League, never, and no World Cup qualification. And report in the usual way usual time. Now go.” Buckle-Up and Fraser left. As they walked into the Melbourne night they could hear the Socceroos supporters cheering across the city. Fraser shook his hand. “This is for the AFL.” And Buckle-up was alone.
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Adventures of Buckle-Up Ben (cont) Half Time Heroes:”
no.2 Sept 2009
September 2009. The Big Man sat in AFL Headquarters with his friend. His red phone rang. He beckoned his friend into bugsweeper alley between the offices. “Buckle-up, where the hell have you been? It’s been months and I’m gonna kill yer. Remember we said, no World Cup, no A-League. You’ve been there three years and what’s this crap I’m hearing about South Africa, then I hear the A League season starts again, now they’re bidding for their own World Cup. Are you useless? Have you made any progress?” stormed the Big Man. “Listen, I’m going well. I know it may not seem it but I’ve bought in Archie as my offsider. He’s only been here a few weeks and he’s getting great results. He’s shifted games to 3pm when all the grassroots are playing; crowds are dropping by their thousands already. We tried to get morning games and midweek games but no go, not yet.” “Nice one, very nice,” the Big Man softened. “There’s more. We’ve killed them in Western Sydney. We got some of the Melbourne AFL Underbelly gang to touch up Meissner, he ran. We’ve been pumping money into Canberra and it looks like the Board will buy it. No Western Sydney this time and a team in Canberra.” “Very good Buckle-Up, very good. I like your thinking. But this World Cup bid could kill us.” “No, I’ve been running it. It’s got no chance. England are a shoe-in and then the Americans. We’re gonna push and push to the siren. You know pour our time and money into it, and then gallantly lose. It’ll be close, we’ll make sure of that, but look at the money we’re wasting, money the A-League desperately needs. No problems, it’s going to kill them. “But they might win?” “And if we do, there’ll be no A-League, no player to play, so your ultimate plan will succeed.” “Yes, the MCG will stage the World Cup Final. But no Harry Cool. A team, an International Football team to take on the World. The Socceroos with Chris Judd, and Buddy Franklin, and no friggin Dutch Coach you hear, I want Sheedy.” The phone went dead. The Big Man laughed and turned to his friend, "Buckle-Up is good, very good." O'Neill smiled, "I know I got him in, remember.
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Football Forums Moderator Half Time Heroes: Marty Bell
Marty Bell is the FourFourTwo forums Moderator
Lock up your forums before it’s too late.
no.2 Sept 2009
As a forum moderator on Australian FourFourTwo’s website, and as a university student who looks for any excuse not to study, I find myself reading just about every comment posted. Be it a 500 word essay on South Melbourne FC being alienated by the FFA, or a useless chant of “go Sydney”, chances are I’ve read it. So here’s a bit of an insight into the world of the forum. The Australian Football sub-forum is where most of the action takes place and is first port of call for any Aussie football fan.
But don’t forget your ego: an essential tool for survival in more involved discussion, especially if you hail from Sydney.
But don’t forget your ego: an essential tool for survival in more involved discussion, especially if you hail from Sydney. With news articles linked directly to the forum, there’s no shortage of topics to discuss, debate or complain about. The hostilities between the clubs’ fans are amusing, and despite sometimes being confrontational and the basis of heated attacks between forumites, this rivalry helps form the basis of the A-League. The thought of Sydney and Melbourne fans joining forces to dispel the gospel of Gold Coast United, for me at least, is bittersweet. As is the ironic support most provide North Queensland Fury, if only out of pity. For a safer forum experience, FFT hosts and boasts some of the best A-League bloggers in the land, some of whom you’ll recognise from Half Time Heroes. A dedicated assortment of football nuts who have a passion for their clubs and aren’t afraid to speak their mind. Be it an “AMEN!” in that sports clothing companies neglect female players, or utter bullshit in insisting a new franchise will win the double undefeated – they’ll fight the power! So check out the FourFourTwo forum, where some may argue that for every person who hates Brett Holman there is another who likes him.
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Our most annoying media men. Half-Time Heroes: Terry Henry
About Terry Henry: Terry is a tragic.
no.2 Sept 2009
HTH Terry Henry, our resident muckraker, takes a stab at our Aussie pundit.
This will outrage the lovely Mariana Rudan and many others, but Craig Foster bores me senseless. He’s like an evangelist convinced in his own beliefs and determined to foist them on sane people like me. Sure Craig, I can marvel at the way Barcelona play the game. I’m an Arsenal fan after all, but if every team played the same way what a dull world game it would be. Fozzie also forgets what it means to be a fan. Sometimes you don’t give a stuff about the aesthetics. If the Arse is playing crap against Spurs yet we win it with a fluky last minute deflection against the run of play, do you think I am going to give a fig about the preceding 89 minutes of garbage? Of course not!
His teams: Arsenal Sydney FC
Under values WLeague Loves his young girl
Will soon value WLeague
So come down off your pulpit Craig and remember what it’s like to be a fan. Peter FitzSimons. Not a football expert by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s here purely because of his idiotic anti-football comments in his weekly column. What was particularly hard to stomach was his being at the World Cup in Germany 2006 at the expense of a true football expert. Like me. How unfair is that? He spends years taking the piss, winding up football fans and denigrating the beautiful game at every opportunity then the dickhead is paid to cover the biggest sporting event and crow about it in print. And you can bet your life, after four years of more of Fitzy’s famous wit, he is going to be in South Africa next year as well. Makes me sick. I am increasingly finding much to be annoyed about by Ange Postecoglou. After that infamous interview with Fozzie my sympathies were with Ange. Being subjected to that kind of public humiliation by Australia’s self appointed premier football ‘analyst’ was a disgrace. But lately I have found Ange’s brand of confrontational punditry to be boring and predictable. I am all for a bit of controversy and passionate football debate but you don’t have to be quite so intense and humourless Ange. It’s a game for f#cks sake! You need to be more like Mark Bosnich. Bozza, always manages to say something interesting, even if it is at times grammatically excruciating, and he still has a laugh along the way.
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AFL makes you FAT! Half Time Heroes: Chippy B
no.2 Sept 2009
What Chippy thinks this month: AFL makes you fat. We’ve all heard of Australian’s getting fat, fatter I tell you and recent research says it’s all the fault of the AFL. Deakin University Head of Fat Department, Dr Eve Slimmerman leaked her report ahead of the AFL finals series. Chippy B fires up.
“Evidence suggests that AFL is making the nation fat. Unlike football the Indigenous game, sorry just have to smile, thought the Indigenous population was generally ignored in Australia but AFL seem to have stolen the term for themselves,” said Dr Slimmerman, “Anyway with no-one playing AFL beyond the age of 16 bar a few professionals and amateur knucklehead men it seems fans still to continue to pour into the Pie Fillers in droves. “Over 84,000 watched my team St Kilda beat Collingwood in the finals last week at the biggest Pie Filler of them all, the MCG.”
“Over 84,000 watched my team St Kilda beat Collingwood in the finals last week at the biggest Pie Filler of them all, the MCG. “It’s not good. Fans sit there for over two hours, eating chips, pies, and drinking coke. “Is it any wonder with those crowds, and those habits the nation is fat? “We need to get the people playing football, and keep them playing. And let’s face it you’ll never get those crowds eating that amount of pies at an A-League game …because no-one goes,” added Dr. Eve. Ouch, Chippy ain’t sure about the last bit but the first bit makes sense, thanks Doc. And finally the Chipster loves our A-League Socceroos. Did you see that Socceroos goal made in the A-League: Jason Culina to Shane Sefanutto nearly, to the Korea forward exactly, and bang. Goal. One for the A-League lads
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Hyundai A-League Monthly Review. Half Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
A League Half Time Heroes Monthly Review
HTH Team of the Month: 442 Formation (Remember that?) GK: Danny Vukovic (Mariners) LB: Adama Traore (GCU), CB:Bas Van Den Brink (GCU) Ljubo Milicevic(Jets) RB: Elrich (Jets) LM:Henrique(Bris) CM:Fabio Vignaroli(Jets), Jason Culina(GCU) RM: Song (Jets) FW: Shane Smeltz(GCU), Robbie Fowler(Fury), HTH Coach of the Month: Miron Bleiberg (GCU) HTH Quotes of the Month:"If someone came to play against me in a private jet I'd hate them too. "We are the Manchester United or Real Madrid of the A-League. There will be a lot of happy people if we lose.� Gold Coast United Coach Miron Bleiberg, who else! HTH Goal Of the Month: Kofi Danning (Syd) First Round screamer against the Fury. HTH Save of the Month: Eugene Galekovic double save against the Fury in round three, the second was while he was on the ground. HTH Hoofer of the Month: Stephan Kellar went long ball crazy against the Mariners but credit to the cool Swiss with the 70’s haircut as he made up for it the next round.
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Hyundai A-League Monthly Review. Half Time Heroes: Con Stamocostas
no.2 Sept 2009
HTH Banner of the Month: Sydney FC. HTH Miss of the Month: Michael Ferrante missed when it easier to score against Brisbane Roar in round three. HTH Import of the Month: The award goes to Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. HTH Socceroo of the Month: Jason Culina by miles and doesn’t he like to rack them up during a game! HTH Young Player of the Month: Kofi Danning is a firm HTH favourite. HTH Media Award: Fox Sports FC first episode of the year had more talking heads and black suits than Reservoir Dogs. HTH Commentator of the Month: Simon Hill is still the best in the business. HTH: Goal Celebration of the Month: Lloyd Owusu (Adl) scored against the Fury and there must have been three different dance moves in one. The man who played for Ghana twice finished the move by the holding up the roof. HTH Game of the Month: The 3-3 draw between Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar has to be the winner purely for the amount of quality goals. Half Time Hero of the Month: Shane Smeltz (Gcu) with 8 goals! Like Russell Crowe, Phar Lap and everything else that is good from New Zealand we should really be claiming him as an Aussie. HTH Chant of the Month: Sydney FC Away Cove: “Clive Palmer ate all your fans"
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A-League: The Scottish Play From Round One. Half Time Heroes: Wayne Snowden
no.2 Sept 2009
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Melbourne Victory: It’s a crisis Half Time Heroes: NUFCMVFC
no.2 Sept 2009
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NUFCMVFC seeks answers for the Champions sluggish start on and off the field. Once again it has been a slow start to Melbourne’s and the A League title holders Championship defence, only one win and two draws and there is a sense of lethargy around the club. Billy Celeski is out for the season, Carlos Hernandez on World Cup duty and an injured Kevin Muscat has left the club reeling for points. On the other side of the coin, Adrian Leijers return is fantastic news, he is held in positive esteem from two seasons back and there wasn’t any ill feeling involved in his move to Fulham. Melbourne fans can at least console themselves to the fact that the season is several rounds longer this season, so they have a good timeframe with which to turn the season around, not to mention the top six out of a league of ten make the finals. Of concern of course is the crowd numbers at Melbourne matches, hovering at only 17,000 after 3 games, a significant drop on our customary 25,000 average. In season 4 when Melbourne slipped to a 17,000 home crowd versus Perth, it raised eyebrows and Melbourne chairman Geoff Lord felt compelled to go on radio to plead people to come and to reassure disaffected fans that the club (apparently) did everything they could to resist the arbitrary implementation of the highly questionable and controversial ‘Home End Membership’ initiative of the FFA. A compromise system was arranged but the HEM issue continues to have a festering impact behind the scenes – not just between fans and officials but also amongst the fans themselves, all of which does not make for a good climate and atmosphere generally. Not to mention all the behind closed door matches in preseason, the fans are losing touch and some suggest they are being pushed away. Melbourne have secured just under 18,000 memberships/season tickets. So why the sub-par crowds? Obviously the “AFL season is still going” excuse is being rolled out and has some truth but there is also an issue of the novelty factor of the A League having gone (no more 50,000 regular season crowds. Melbourne pulled 22,000 crowds for ill advertised midweek fixtures during the last ACL campaign so the “Thursday night” fixturing excuse only holds so much weight even if it does have an impact. Lastly, “unrest” in the dressing room doesn’t help either, in this case Danny Allsopp. Despite a horrid first season, Danny has generally served the club very well, for him a move to Qatar presents the opportunity to develop a retirement fund. For the club a good way to generate some handy revenue. Ney Fabiano is a ready made capable replacement. 47/58
Newcastle Jets: Labinot is back...to score. Half Time Heroes: Ben O’Neill no.2 Sept 2009
Ben O’Neill tells Labinot Haliti now is the time to settle. News that Newcastle Jets had re-signed Pristina-born Labinot Haliti from Polish club ŁKS Łódź was greeted with delight amongst Hunter football fans far and wide. Best goal scored so far: Sean Rooney v Gold Coast United in Round 4 Best crowd moment: Full time, Round 4 v Gold Coast United. Knocking off top-of-the-table Gold Coast at home…you beauty!
Instantaneously many - including this pundit - reminisced over Haliti’s wonder strike that broke New Zealand Knights hearts in round 18 of season one. Certainly, there is a strong argument for the recapture of the “Kosovokid”. Labinot enjoys a strong working relationship with Jets mentor Branko Čulina, of whom he played under for Sydney Olympic. Moreover, Haliti is not an unknown quantity. He knows Novocastria and Novocastria knows him, meaning there’s no settling in period compared with the signing of a foreign import. And lastly, two and a half years in the political cut and thrust world of Eastern European football should have him well and truly hardened for a strong second crack at life in the A-League. Indeed, it’s terribly hard to criticise a guy who came off the bench to snare a point for your club against the champions on their home patch, but there’s aspects of Labi’s game that need to be scrutinised.
Player of the first five rounds:
Looking at his stats, just seven goals in 61 professional appearances doesn’t seem good enough. As an attacking midfielder-cum-striker, Haliti needs to score more regularly, or at least be a consistent creative force.
Jin-Hyung Song. The crafty Korean has started every game in the current season, scoring one goal – integral to our chances this campaign.
Further, I’d like to see him add a bit of beef to his build. His tenacity is apparent, even engrained, but the A-League is a physical platform and some extra muscle would go some way to aiding stick thin Labi’s ability to compete with burly backlines. Finally, I’d suggest Labinot needs to look to settle down in order to have his abilities respected. Five clubs (Newcastle twice) in four years is journey man type stuff. Whilst his talent is undoubted, consistent moves make him look like a New Zealand Knights recruit from season one. And we all know what Labinot did to those pretenders.
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Sydney FC: Let’s pretend we’re still top!! Half Time Heroes: Sarah D.
no.2 Sept 2009
Sarah D takes us inside the Cove. First off, I’m going to pretend we’re still top of the ladder (please let me have my happy thought for a little while longer).
Sarah D on Sydney FC
Player of the Month: Simon Colosimo Goal of the Month- Mark Bridge Round 2 v Adelaide Utd Crowd MomentCove Tifo Round 2
My first article didn’t show much faith in Sydney FC, but it’s a relief to see them finally remembering how to play football. So far we have only had two home games, but I’m starting to enjoy the Cove more than I have in previous seasons. Last year was rather turbulent as ‘Deadpool’ handed the megaphone to ‘The General’ and we had the Sin City Crew (SCC) causing (in my opinion) problems rather than supporting the team. We appear to all be pulling in the same direction this time around. At the first home game, I looked around to see that Deadpool had reclaimed his megaphone and has been joined by the former SCC capo ‘Poledancer’. Some people have moved on, or moved around the Cove, but it’s really refreshing to see fresh meat around the bays joining in the chants. I was also informed (to my disappointment) that there would be less shirts stripping in the Cove this season–although the last home game proved otherwise. The ‘Away Cove’ is shaping up nicely; well done to those who travelled to the Gold Coast over the weekend. I hope I haven’t tempted ‘The Mozz’, and we can keep it our early season form. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the club on its efforts over the past two home games with putting on a free barbeque for Cove members at the back of Bay 23. It shows good initiative from the club, and keeping the Cove well fed goes a little ways to keeping a harmonious relationship both with the club and within the Cove itself. Who ever said there’s no such thing as a free lunch? In closing: To a certain individual currently serving an FFA ban, who believes “The Cove can’t do anything without me (him) knowing about it”- I would like to tell you my last article was hardly a secret, and I hope this one provides you with more insight.
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CCM: Beware Athletico Mariners Half Time Heroes: By – Midfielder
no2 Sept 2009
Glen Siever writes Wee Mac is the Mariners Juninho According to the critics especially SBS, the Mariners have little technical skill and have only signed a dogged brawler defender from the English first division.. Somewhere along the way we signed Michael McGlinchey or Wee Mac as he is affectionately known. Best goal Arsey but Alex Wilkinson's first ever goal was sweet.
Best player so far: Michael McGlinchey or Wee Mac has won two out of four Hal rounds fans pick on the Marinators forum.
Wee Mac is a typical stereotype Mariner player, small nay diminutive in size, great balance, delicate and a soft touch, speed with a deft passing game. A comment from the Celtic forum about his move to Australia; a gifted technical player, but maybe not physical enough for the Australian league. He is re building his stalled career after an injury. At 22 he is out to prove he is back to his best. His passing at times has been sublime, to date often players have not read him and the passes have been wasted. But as the team gels and Elrich returns from injury Wee Mac is going to make a huge impression on the league. Man U wanted him at 18 he chose to stay at Celtic. His background. Signed by Celtic in Jan 2003, the youngest player ever to play in Celtic first team, played in Celtic’s under 19s side when they won 2 Scottish Cups and 1 league title, played for Scotland 35 times in U17 to U20, in the final of the U19s European Championship. One of his most memorable games was when Scotland U19 knocked out France in the EC, the French team included, Real’s Madrid Benzima and Arsenal’s Sammy Nazari. The closest player in style I can recall is Juninho, he is that good BTW, and will take us to the finals. Remember you read it here first.
Most significant moment: The "Doig" effect. Chris Doig has been missed due to injury. He has a key role in organising our defence.
We now have our own baby assassin in the top third of the park. He has skill, guile, touch and a brain, wanting to prove he is ready to return to Man U … watch for the wee man! Fans’ goal of the month: Glenn Siever describes that winning goal for Matt Simon and the Mariners on a greasy Canberra surface. Perth keeper Tando Velapi misses a simple bouncing ball and then then slips on the turf as he turns to gather. “A well weighted bounce to Dylan… a sublime pass from Dylan to Matty … Dylan sliding behind the defence to a forward pushing Matty … Matty used delicate touch and silky skills to guide the ball into the net.
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Perth Glory: Is the hoof back already? Half-Time Heroes: Usman Azad
no.2 Sept 2009
Usman Azad, (footballperth.blogspot.com)
David Mitchell with Andy Todd.
WHEN writing about Perth Glory's first five rounds of A-League 'version five', it would be hard to restrict it down to a readable length. But perhaps the well-used phrase 'a mixed bag' would be apt for a synopsis. Perth had two good wins – both within the confines of ME Bank Stadium – against the Newcastle Jets and, as new striker Branko Jelic dubbed them, the 'champions of Australia' Melbourne Victory.
Player of the Month. Tando Velaphi
Goal of the Month Mile Sterjoski’s penalty.
Crowd moment. The Shed still shouting: Your shit waaaaaaaaa!
When the Glory have played well this season – they have played really well. At times the Glory put together some excellent one-touch attacking football, something which Perth fans have really seen in the past few years, and controlled the game from start to finish. Most pleasing would be the defensive pairing of Chris Coyne and Andy Todd. Todd has been the stand-out player for the Glory. He has looked rock solid, composed and rarely makes a bad decision in the backline. But unfortunately the Glory have also suffered three losses – all on the road - which coach Dave Mitchell succinctly describes: “When you look at the scenarios, we've had a deflected free kick from 35 metres that's beaten us (against Wellington), the Adelaide game was a penalty and against Central Coast was just a bad mistake.” While this is all true, it covers up the real problem for the Glory. Ignoring for a second the obvious problem of not being able to win on the road, it seems like the team cannot play at a high level consistently. Worryingly, in some games the Glory have looked totally lost on the pitch and they fall back to the old standard long-ball 'hoofing' tactic. However, the Perth management have been quick to point out the team will need time to … umm … come together (don't mention the three-lettered 'g' word). Hopefully this is the case and the Glory can find some consistency in the coming weeks.
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Quiz Time: Answers Half Time Heroes: How much football do you know?
no.2 Sept 2009
HTH QUIZ 1 correct answer gains you 1 point or 6 if that makes it more exciting. 0-3 4-8 9-13 14-16
goals goals goals goals
New to this? R U from Townsville, or the Gold Coast? You’ve got News Ltd worried. You clearly spend too much time on the web. Can you write the next one!
Warm up 1. Which Country is Danny Allsopp now playing? 2. Former team-mate of Tim Cahill now with Wellington 3. Former NSL player now coaching Perth Glory W-League side First half 4. Which Aston Villa players is in the Young Socceroos Squad. 5. Captain of Gold Coast United Youth side is? 6. Name the Former Celtic player now playing with the Central Coast Mariners? 7. Michael Twaite, Thwaite, or Twhaite. What is his name and can you tell the shirt manufactures for the Gold Coast? 8. Who scored for the Socceroos against South Korea recently? 9. Our next Asian Cup opponents in Melbourne in October are? Second half: 10. How many former Rangers players play with Brisbane Roar. 11. Perth Glory’s Branko Jelic scored two goals against which giants of German football earlier this year in the Bundesliga. 12. Scott Jamieson’s previous club in England was who? 13. Amy Chapman’s twin sister is back in Australia. Which W-League club will she play for? 14. Name the Socceroos Assistant Dutch Coach. Injury Time: 15. .Chris Greenacre arrived in Wellington from which English Club? 16. Name two of the two Sydney players with Craig Foster and the Australian Homeless World Cup team.
2009 street socceroos photo credit andrew davis.
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Quiz Time: Answers Half Time Heroes: How much football do you know?
no.2 Sept 2009
Quiz Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Qatar Paul Ifill John Gibson Chris Herd ,Steven Lustica Michael McGlinchey Michael Thwaite Paddy Kisnorbo Oman Three, Craig Moore, Big Bob Malcolm and Charlie Miller Bayern Munich Bolton Wanderers Georgia Chapman Henk Duut Tranmere Rovers Terry McFlynn and Simon Colosimo
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W-League: Do women and football mix? Half Time Heroes: Eamonn Flanagan
no.2 Sept 2009
Sally Shipard, remember her? Shipard spend ten months of intense rehabilitation to make the FIFA 2007 World Cup. She made it, but picked up further injuries in the Matildas record run in China. At just 22 she has quit the game. In fact she was last seen walking into the Nou Camp, not to play but to watch on her backpacker tour of Europe. Returning from America in early 2008 Shipard sat next to Australian football legend Cheryl Salisbury on the flight. “Cheryl could not get comfortable the whole flight. Her body was wrecked from playing football, and I thought I didn’t want to be like that when I’m her age.” Sal was gone. Caitlin Munoz is a Matildas’ star, but she won’t be playing for Canberra United this year. She’s done her knee, again and has just had her third knee operation, she’s just 25. So now as the ten game W-League season kicks-off spare a thought for the players. Most are training like professionals, six times a week, on top of school, university or full-time jobs. And it might be a professional league in the FFA’s eyes, but there’s no pay, not a jot. Physio appointments, massages sure there’s a level of support but for the players it’s love not money. And it seems the women have a different challenge: their bodies. Female hip alignments cause many many knee problems for our female players at the elite level. And unlike a Harry Kewell who’s personal wealth has enabled him to employ a full-time trainer/medico in Les Gelis there is no such possibility for our females. If Harry succeeds in getting another contract, and he did with Galatasaray then Gelis comes cheap. For our women, an injury means time off work, costly private rehabilitation and no incentive of monetary gain when they get back to play if indeed they do. Most of the Matildas retire young by footballer standards. Only Cheryl Salisbury has played into her mid-30 and at what cost? Entering the Nou Camp may have been Sally Shipard’s best decision of her life. Nice one Sal!
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W-League: Will the Roar go back to back? Half Time Heroes: Russ Gibbs Radio W-League Russ Gibbs, Lucy Zelic and Merryn Sherwood call all Canberra home games at www.2xx.fm.org
About Russ Gibbs. Russ is the second best commentator in Australia after Simon Hill. He calls all the W-League games in Canberra and is tipped by Canberra listeners to make it. Streamed at 2xx.fm.org He’s a Man United tragic.
no.2 Sept 2009
Russ Gibbs calls all W-League Canberra United home games live and streamed on www.2xxfm.org.au Russ keeps us up-to-date with the W-League. With just over four weeks to go until kick off of season two of the Westfield W-League clubs have been busy building their rosters for the forthcoming campaign and it’s not just on the field that we will see some major changes this term. On the management side Perth Glory Football Club and Football West have appointed experienced football mentor John Gibson as the Perth Glory Women’s Head Coach for the Westfield W-League 2009/10 season. Gibson is a former Westfield Young Matildas, Qantas Young Socceroos and Australian Institute of Sport coach and is the current Women’s Head Coach at the West Australian Institute of Sport.
Lauren Colthorpe out with a broken leg
He has scored on twelve consecutive weeks in Canberra State League 5. And he’ll tell you every goal so don’t ask! He loves Shane Smeltz and Charlie Tim-Tam Miller. .
Elsewhere, Canberra United have replaced former Socceroo Robbie Hooker with Ray Junna and Junna will have a hard task replicating the achievements of Hooker who guided the team to the inaugural Grand Final last season. Junna will be assisted by Matilda international Caitlin Munoz.
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W-League: Will the Roar go back to back? (cont) Half Time Heroes: Russ Gibbs
no.2 Sept 2009
Munoz has accepted a position as Scholarship Coach for the 2009 season after being ruled out through injury. Champions Brisbane Roar have enticed Matildas midfielder Jo Burgess north from Sydney FC to bolster their squad which was rocked by the recent broken leg sustained by key midfielder Lauren Colthorpe
The midfielder, who scored four goals in eight matches last term, has been advised against playing in 2009 as she recuperates from her third knee reconstruction. United face a re-match of the Grand Final showdown with Brisbane Roar in the opening match of the new season and it should be a blockbuster way to start season 2009. Ballymore also hosts the season opener with Melbourne Victory facing Perth Glory in the days other match on Saturday 3rd October. The round is completed on Monday 5th October when Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners line up at the SFS and Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets lock horns at Hindmarsh Stadium. Over the next month we can expect to see clubs announcing major signings as they finalise their line-ups for the highly anticipated Round One clashes.
Sticking on the theme of midfielders Emily Van Egmond has also switched clubs with the 16-year old Young Matildas star signing for Canberra United from Newcastle Jets.
Champions Brisbane Roar enticed Matildas midfielder Jo Burgess north from Sydney FC to bolster their squad which was rocked by the recent broken leg sustained by key midfielder Lauren Colthorpe. The prognosis for Colthorpe looks good though and, because the break was clean, the combative stopper could apparently still make a miraculous recovery to feature in Round One. Sticking on the theme of midfielders, Emily Van Egmond has also switched clubs with the 16-year old Young Matildas star signing for Canberra United from Newcastle Jets. And Adelaide United have bolstered their squad by signing five new faces including the promising pair of Ruth Wallace and Ashlee Faul from the South Australian Institute of Sport. With more to come, season two is shaping up nicely and hopes are high for decent crowd support and excellent football as the league continues to grow.
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W-League: Will the Roar go back to back? (Cont) Half Time Heroes: Russ Gibbs
no.2 Sept 2009
W-League Rumour Mill: Where in the World is Canberrra United star Thea Slatyer? Canberra United have tried to make contact but Thea was last heard of following the sun around Europe with Rhian Davies, another Canberra United star. Will they play this season? Cricket and Matildas Star Elyse Perry is expected to join Canberra United.
Amy Chapman: Matildas Star “Chappo,” had a second knee operation since last years Grand Final; year when Amy left the field early. She’s working hard on recovery and, despite media reports to the contrary, may play this season. Aiming at a possible week 5/6 comeback, she has not yet signed for any club. With the Asian Cup next year she’s keen to make a compete recovery and not rush back. Georgia Chapman: Georgia is back from Sweden has been training hard in Queensland and has signed for Adelaide United with a number of Queensland player. Queensland to take Melbourne? Victory have secured signings of a number of Queensland player to supplement their meagre female playing numbers in the Sporting Capital of the World. Hayley Crawford leaves Canberra for the Newcastle Jets. Still to find clubs former Australian Under 20 World Cup striker Sasha McDonnell has left Canberra United and is still in the hunt for a club. Surely the hard working striker won’t be clubless for too long. And Perth Glory have ditched the only female coach in the league last season and FFA Scholarship holder Nicola Williams, for former Australian Institute of Sport Coach John Gibson. And the news from the West, with their new signings from the East and Gibbo on board the Glory could make a dash for the title this year. Early days but everyone is tipping the Roar under new captain Claire Polkinhorne to go back to back. What do you say to that Sydney FC?
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About Us Half Time Heroes
no.2 Sept 2009
Find more from our writers: Thanks to everyone who contributed and The Daily Telegraph, Phil Gould, Peter FitzSimons, John Birmingham and the usual suspects for inspiring. Editors: Eamonn Flanagan, Con Stamocostas Cartoonist/Logo Designer Wayne Snowden Writers/Photographs: Mike Salter, Tony Tannous, Fiona Crawford Terry Henry, Russ Gibbs, Lucy Zelic, Sarah D, Andrew Donald, Sunil Awasthi, Adam Brown, Usman Azad, Shane Logan, Shane Davis, Ben Somerford Stephen Smith, Glenn Siever, Ben O’Neill, Neil Zimmerman, Paul Mestoy, Bryan Crawford, Stephen Smith, Chris Paraskevas, Brendan McMillan Special thanks to: Zoe Vaughan Claxton International Speakers.
Ben O’Neill, http://au.fourfourtwo.com/ Ben Somerford, www.theroar.com.au, www.euroo.blogspot.com Bill Skinner, See Pissants below Brendan McMillan, www.offthecrossbar.blogspot.com Chris Pareskevas, www.goal.com Con Stamacostas, www.goalweekly.com, http://au.fourfourtwo.com/, www.afootballstory.blogspot.com, http://elevationradio.com/author/globalcorrespondent/ Fiona Crawford http://au.fourfourtwo.com/, http://www.agirlcalledfred.com/, www.goal.com, http://www.agirlcalledfred.com/ Mike Salter, www.footballtragic.blogspot.com Neil Zimmerman www.victoryinmelbourne..com Shane Davis, www.hiraldo.wordpress.com Tony Tannous, www.theroar.com.au and www.roundballanalyst.blogspot.com Usman Azad, www.footballperth.blogspot.com
More Football talk: Nearpost radio: www.2xxfm.org Streamed Tuesday 6.30pm Podcast at www.nearpost.blogspot.com and on itunes. Vlog: www.coastfm.org
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