Half Time Heroes Contents Page Page 4
Celebrity Interview with Aussie comedy legend Santo Cilauro
Page 8 Wayne Snowden Cartoon
Page 9
Mike “the Football Tragic” Salter and the A League’s Silly Six.
Page 10
Sunil Awasthi and the Salary Crap
Page 11 Fiona Crawford spots some moon-bakers.
Page 12
Cindy Tran reports from the SFS and says bye to Steve Corica
Page 14 Sarah D
Page 16 Con Stamocostas World Cup Group D Special
Page 24 Shane Davis looks at Ghana’s Black Stars
Page 25 Ben O’Neill looks @ Ze Germans
Page 26 What’s on Chippy’s shoulder this month?
Page 27 The adventures of Big D and Buckle up Ben continues.....
Page 28 EPL blogger Stuart Randall talks John Terry
Page 29 UK Sports & Comedy writer Ben Halls
Page 36
Page 30
Wayne Snowden Cartoon
Kieran Pender runs updates the happenings in La Liga
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Page 32
Page 37
Matt McGrath is in Seventh Heaven
Damien Davies and all the Aussies Abroad
Page 39
Page 34
Zero Against says more is not less
Glenn Sieiver says goodbye to Lawrie Mckinna
Page 41
Page 35
Russ Gibbs keeps you up to date with the Matilda’s news
Bill Skinner and Adelaide’s ACL Jaunt
The Editor makes a comment Some of you kids that are into Vampires and Emo music may not have heard of such Australian classic TV shows like The D Generation , The mighty Late show and Frontline. Not forgetting the Iconic Australian Films like the Castle and the Dish. I just had to quote some famous lines from his TV shows and movies. I felt like one of those Star Trek nerds that meets Spock at a convention and corners him with lines and questions from his movies.
This month we are also joined by some new writers Ben Halls from London. Local football writer Cindy Tran and the mystery man of the Australian football blogging comHello football fans and welcome to the Febru- munity Zero Against. Damian Davies also joins HTH this ary edition of Half Time Heroes. During an episode of month and he keep you up to date with all the action from Mad Men the man in the grey flannel suite Don Draper our Aussies Abroad. says: “there’s an old saying. When one is in Indian country, one needs a man who knows Indians. Mr Smith.” All the regulars are here as well and our Cartoonist So...... if one wants to know about the Socceroos group Wayne Snowden is on fire again! I hope you enjoy the D opponents he asks someone from Ghana, Serbia February Issue we all worked hard to bring you the most and Germany. And HTH did just that. Everything you entertaining and informative look at the world game both wanted know about the Socceroos group D opponents here in Australia and in the rest of the football cosmos. is covered in this month’s issue in a 10 page special. (Starts page 16) And lastly how much does football redeem? This month we have a bit of a special on Sydney FC, winners of Half Time Heroes also was lucky to score an interview the Premiers Plate. John Aloisi has 4 million new best with Australian comedy legend Santo Cilauro. A big friends!!! thanks to Santo and his assistant Michele Birch in giving their time for the interview especially since their offices Peace and Football got flooded recently. Con Stamocostas
Half Time Heroes Celebrity Interview With Santo Cilauro, By Con Stamocostas Do I really have to introduce Santo Cilauro? With creation and acting credits in TV shows like the D Generation, The Late Show, and Australian Iconic Films like the Castle and the Dish, Santo can claim to be part of Australian Comedy Royalty. Champagne Comedy dare I say........ ‘had the Socceroos beaten Italy, I’d personally have forced the Late Show team to reform, fly over and perform Half Time Heroes: One my favourite mo- every sketch live for Mark ments at the last World Cup in Germany was readand the boys.” ing about the meeting between you and Socceroos Captain Mark Viduka after Australia’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Croatia.
In Tony Wilson’s book Australia United he writes that when Viduka meets you he keeps asking for Late Show tapes oblivious to you and others congratulating him for getting the Socceroos into the next round. You then promise to get him some copies of the Late Show. You say: “So that’s the incentive, if they get past Italy, they’ll have Late Show tapes to watch”. So everyone knows what happened in that match against Italy. My question is because of your Italian heritage, would the Socceroos have really got the tapes if they had beaten Italy?
I’d dreamt about that match up since I was a kid. It really hurt to lose and just like the Iran qualifier in ’97, I still haven’t been able to watch a replay.
Sitting in the stadium at K-Town, seeing Lucas Neill sliding into (under?) Fabio Grosso was like watching a car crash in slow motion. Having said that, I think Italy had a great World Cup and ultimately deserved to win – I just wish I could have savoured it more. A very bittersweet moment. HTH: Speaking of the big Dukes how much are we going to miss him in South Africa?
SC: You’re assuming he won’t be playing.... I spoke with him just before Christmas and he still hasn’t ruled out the possibility. If he doesn’t play, I think we’ll miss his strength, that great ability to bustle and above all his presence.
Santo Cilauro: Forget about tapes- had the Socceroos beaten Italy, I’d personally have forced the Late Show team to reform, fly over and perform every sketch live for Mark and the boys. Despite my Italian blood, the veins pumped green and gold He’s a mighty leader – the guys love him and his in 2006. And boy did they pump that afternoon in experience in big games is invaluable. Kaiserslautern
HTH: What’s your feeling about the Socceroos making it out of the group stage? Should we be thinking like the patriarch Darryl Kerrigan from your film The Castle “tell em they’re dreaming” or do we have a chance? SC: Remember, he also said “Let’s tick it up ‘Em!’. I’m hopeful. And there’s one thing for sure, if we do win the World Cup, It’ll be goin’ straight to the poolroom.
HTH: I was at the airport when the Socceroos arrived from Qatar, fresh from qualifying for the World Cup for a second time. At the airport there was more media than fans waiting to greet the team. Were you surprised at the muted reaction after qualification this time round? SC: I love the fact we qualified quietly. I’ve had too much pain in my time – two heart-stoppers with Uruguay, Iran (‘nuff said), Argentina (one lousy goal), Israel, Scotland....the list goes on.
HTH: Tell us a couple of World Cup memories from your younger days and how do they compare to following the Socceroos adventures in Germany? SC: I’m the luckiest guy in the world - I’ve been blessed to go to the last three World Cups and I’ve loved every moment of each - I’ll never forget that night in 2002 when my dad and I couldn’t find any accommodation after the Spain v South Korea quarter final - we ended up top’n’tailing on a heart shaped bed in a Gwangju brothel (he still thinks it was just a quaint little motel with interesting mirrored ceilings and lots of free oil).
But when it comes to World Cup moments that really stick in my head, I’d have to go back to my very first memory of the tournament - Mexico 1970...I was eight. I remember clearly the night that July when I thought I heard someone talking in the kitchen. I walked in to see my dad hunched over the green speckled laminex table, I’ve seen the, all- those games took years off my back to me, in his blue and black checked dresslife, made me prematurely grey. To tell you the ing gown. I can still hear the scratchy sound of truth, a tame nil –all draw in Doha was a breath of our yellow plastic radio. fresh air and, for me, the most satisfying of all the qualifiers. It was a big moment for me - the first time I ever heard my father swear. But he wasn’t angry. It That’s the way the big sides do it- in a way, I feel was a bemused tirade. He was half-laughing, like we’re sitting at the grown-ups’ table. half-admiring. The sentence was long and flowing - only one word wasn’t an Italian expletive – “Pele”.
Santo’s dad watching TV through a mirror top’n’taling it in a Gwanju brothel @ the 02 WC in Korea
Santo Cilauro Interview Cont.....
About 12 weeks later, a whole lot of uncles* dragged me along to the Cinema Italia in Queens Pde Clifton Hill where we watched the film (not video!) of the Italy- West Germany semi-final. Despite the fact Italy won 4-3 a few months ago didn’t stop most of the audience from feeling nervous before it started. I’m sure I remember some old guy sucking on a Peter Stuyvesant cigarette mumbling something about how tough the Germans would be to crack.
A few years later, the lady who ran the cinema decided to sell up and go back to Naples - she told me I could take any films and posters I wanted. I walked right past all the Fellini and Pasolini shelves and headed straight for the three reels with the ‘Italia-Germania Semi Finale’ stickers. They’re still in my office right under the Leeds Utd No 9 shirt signed by Dooks. * not real uncles - in Italian, anyone who’s allowed to hit you with a belt is called ‘uncle’
HTH: What do you think of the A League and which team do you support? SC: I have a strange love – hate relationship with the A-League. Whilst I love the fact that the game has taken off in a major way, I somehow think the standard isn’t all that much better than when I watched state league football as a kid in the 70’s. In that sense I kind of resent all the hoopla that goes on around it. But before anyone starts accusing me of being a ‘traitor to the cause’, I still think it is an extraordinary feat that there’s been such a growth despite the fact that all our best players reside overseas. Imagine if any of the footy codes had to operate without their top 50 players!
Anyway, I’m so happy that the profile of Football has changed so much in my lifetime. I’m born and bred in Melbourne, so I guess I’m a Victory supporter- though. In my old age I’ve lost the ability to be partisan and wish the Heart all the best.
HTH: Italian football has gone through some changes in the last few years. Tell us your thoughts on the Seria A like which team you follow and the chances of the Italian national team at the World Cup in South Africa? SC: I used to follow Juve –but that was probably to do with the fact that Juventus was the only Italian team in Melbourne ( I played for their juniors down at Sumner Park- believe me my enthusiasm for the game is in inverse proportion to my ability to play it). As well as that, I followed Collingwood in the Aussie Rules.
I did follow Italian football religiously in the 80’s and 90’s and thought it was by far the best standard in the world. Over the past decade, though, I’ve really dropped off. Things started changing when the three Dutchmen left AC Milan (Ruud Gullit, Macro Van Basten and Frank Rijjckard. It all went downhill very quickly – too much money, no-one played with heart, players pretended to be loyal ( I still remember in 2000 when Gabriel Batistuta theatrically refused to celebrate a goal he scored for Roma against his old club Fiorentina – please, if he loved the Viola so much why didn’t he just say no to the 70 billion lire and stay in Florence?
The doping and betting scandals didn’t help. Now all the matches look the same- every time I watch it feels like Groundhog day. That said, I was in awe of Juventus when they played in Melbourne a couple of years ago – they were in Serie B yet their defence was unbelievable. I’d love to see them do well in South Africa but no-one has gone backto-back in almost 50 years (mind you, Italy did achieve that in 34’ and 38’). I just think that with Cannavaro and Buffon not at their peak, they might have a tough time of it. 1997 Classic Australian film the Castle embodies the spirit of the Socceroos. “Let’s tick it up ‘Em!’. says Darryl Kerrigan.
“There’s one thing for sure, if we do win the World Cup, It’ll be goin’ straight to the poolroom.” says Santo Cilauro
Santo and his family celebrating Italy’s world cup win in 1982.
HTH: Your favourite International footballer and why? SC: Throw these names in a hat and pull out any single one – Fabregas, Messi, Villa, Tevez, Pirlo, Lampard, Iniesta, and Milito HTH: Your favourite Australian footballer ? SC: Over the past five years I’ve loved watching Viduka, Culina Bresciano, Cahill, Kewell.... but right now I’m a big fan of Mark Schwarzer. If he plays like did last World Cup or even half as well as he played in England last season, we’ll get through the group stage. I also love the other tall guy up the opposite end, Josh Kennedy – he can really cause havoc with those big early leaps. Both can really change the outcome of the game.
Iconic sports duo Graham and The Colonel. Santo Cilauro as the Colonel(left) and) Rob Stitch as Graham (right). Regarding the Socceroos the Colonel’s says: ‘Despite qualifying they would not be happy. They’d lament the loss of that Frank Arok – inspired late 80’s spirit. In four simple words, ‘Verbeek Out, Yankos In’.
HTH: Do you think Australian television sporting coverage needs more Graham and the Colonel? SC: I can’t speak for Graham, but if you want the Colonel to make a comeback I can organize it easily – 15 years on, we won’t need that grey wig.
HTH: What would they have made of the Socceroos recent performances? SC: Despite qualifying they would not be happy. They’d lament the loss of that Frank Arok – inspired late 80’s spirit. In four simple words, ‘Verbeek Out, Yankos In’.
Valentines Day Massacre. Sunday february 14th, 2010, Sydney FC 2-0 Melbourne Victory, Sydney Football Stadium
Fiona Crawford looks @ a popular A League Pass time; moon-baking http://www.footballfix.com.au/ The commentators concentrate on crowd numbers to determine the success of a match, but I reckon it can be gauged by counting the number of moonbaking-white manboobs on display.
Festival of the Manboob.
Equally exciting is the fact that Wellington is in the top-six mix, with New Zealand’s chilly climes contributing to some extra pasty-ness
For most people Sunday’s Sydney v Melbourne match was a highly anticipated minor Bring on the Festival of the Manboob. premiership decider. For me it also signified the increased likelihood of some spectacular manboob sightings. Ah, Manboob Men. What’s a serious Spot any Cove manboobs? sporting event without them? The commentators concentrate on crowd numbers to determine the success of a match, but I reckon it can be gauged by counting the number of moonbaking-white manboobs on display. You know, the ones that only appear when the stakes are high enough and the owner is drunk enough to stand proudly in the crowd singing spittle-flecked football anthems, spilling beer, and jigglingly swinging the normally manboob-concealing team shirt over their head in passionate support. They’re my very own sporting arena version of Where’s Wally and words cannot describe the glee with which I spot and rate them on size, droop, hairiness, out-and-proudness, and degree of glowin-the-dark whiteness.
Ironically, players, who often have abs you could crack eggs on, are fined for removing their shirts briefly during goal-scoring celebrations. Somehow, though, Manboob Men, whose abs demonstrate that they eat rather than crack said eggs, are not only not fined, they’re allowed to spend entire matches shirtless. Sydney v Melbourne always yields the best Manboob Man sightings—it seems that fierce interstate rivalry results in competitions of all kinds, albeit partly through sheer volume of attendance—which is why I’m personally pretty pleased that Sydney and Melbourne finished in the
Mike Salter “the football Tragic” says the A League finals format is A bit silly. http://thefootballtragic.blogspot.com/
Silly Six The long grind of the A-League’s regular season has come to a close, and the finals are upon us. The crassly unbalanced six-team finals series, to be exact. Leaving aside the basic absurdity of a team from the bottom half of the table making the finals, what exactly is wrong with the format the FFA have adopted? Well, let’s take a look. Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and the new Gold Coast franchise were involved in a tit-for-tat battle for first spot throughout the season, with Sydney ultimately coming up trumps. Melbourne had to settle for second, while Miron Bleiberg’s side faltered towards the end. Still, they were well clear of the rest of the pack in third place. So what is their reward? A one-off elimination game against a team that finished a full ten points below them. Yes, if Gold Coast United lose their first game, they’re out. Sydney and Melbourne, meanwhile, can lose their first two games of the finals series and still win the competition. In fact, they would have the benefit of another game at home! In other words, there is a massive difference between finishing second and finishing third... but a miniscule difference between finishing third and finishing sixth. And it is not as if the state of the eventual table has caused the six-team system to look silly; its fatuity was plain to anyone with a grain of sense at the beginning of the season.
It simply beggars belief that the FFA declined to implement the completely logical five-team finals system which is used in the NSW Premier League, among many other competitions. All teams have a chance of winning, but each team on the “ladder” has a small advantage over the next team down. It takes four weeks to complete (just like the A-League’s system), and produces the requisite grand final climax. One to consider for 2010/11. It would be nice if the A-League could avoid descending into high farce at its conclusion.
Will the Joker defeat the Batman?
Sunil Awasthi looks @ one of the key pillars of the A-League- and says it needs amending. Look at some of the players A-League clubs have sold in recent times. Their clubs should be able to spend an amount on top of the cap equal to the transfer fee they received for that player(s). For instance, Gold Coast should be able to spend $650,000 above the Salary Crap? salary cap because of their selling to Al-Shabab of Adam Griffiths for said amount. Clubs being forced to sell their players, but not being able to spend the Ah, the salary cap. This is a concept that’s stirred cash they got for them on replacements other than up many a debate in sporting circles around the a marquee, is regressive and unfair. Why shouldn’t world in recent years, and still does so. Some see the Mariners be able to benefit from selling a quality it as a godsend, other an unnatural, even socialist, youngster like Mile Jedinak, or Melbourne one of the interference in the natural order of things. league’s top strikers in Danny Allsopp? It even punishes, in a way, a club that develops (or at least helps Salary caps have become a respected part of life develop) a good player(s). in many Australian sporting competitions. Probably because of this, the A-League has had a salary In this way, the A-League needs to be brought into line cap throughout its brief life. The salary cap for with the rest of the footballing world with this more season 2009/10 is $2.2 million. Coming separate merit-based system. Imagine if Lyon couldn’t really of this $2.2 million is one marquee player, whose spend on players the 30 million pounds they got from remuneration is basically exempt from the cap, Chelsea for Michael Essien, or Ajax the reported 20 and one junior marquee player, an under-23 for million Euros they received from Real Madrid for whom $150,000 of pay can be exempt from the Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, or Atletico Madrid the 20 million cap. pounds they squeezed out of Liverpool for Fernando There’s no doubt that the A-League needed a salary cap starting off in life. One of the main things the fledgling comp had to have was competitive balance. To a large extent, it’s worked, not only with the cap itself (witness early successes of the small-fry Central Coast Mariners), but also its exemptions (witness big-name guys, whether they be Socceroos like Craig Moore and Jason Culina or international stars like Dwight Yorke and Robbie Fowler, being able to be brought into the league). But things are a-changin’. And so too must the rules be a-changin’.
The cap shouldn’t be abolished. But in an environment where Australian clubs are becoming more and more involved in the global marketplace of player horse-trading, particularly with our growing enmeshment with Asian football, it needs to be tweaked to allow clubs to reap the rewards of their transfer market trading.
Torres? Ridiculous! Yet this is how we presently expect A-League clubs to operate. We talk about the importance of the Asian Champions League for A-League clubs, yet we put them at a competitive disadvantage when they actually do make it. Ludicrous! Importantly, a tweak like this would further encourage A-League clubs to invest in young Australian players, some of whom would be very attractive investments for bigger, overseas clubs after their stint in the A-League. And it would also allow, for when clubs do decide to bring in an overseas player, a better quality of import. Of course, the cap shouldn’t go away completely. This system wouldn’t see the Abramoviches of the world run riot at the expense of the battlers. But it would be a better mix of the free market and the fair spirit. And folks, isn’t balance something we should strive for? Because, after all, if we want the world game to further progress in Australia, we might have to- every now and then, at least- adopt some of the ways of the world.
Cindy Tran was @ the SFS on Valentine’s Day to witness the Sky Blues win the Premiers plate over Arch rivals Melbourne Victory Sydney FC 2 Melbourne Victory 0, February 14th 2010, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney.
He will be taking up a coaching role with Sydney FC next season.
Melbourne almost had a golden opportunity at the 10th minute, when Nick Ward fired a shot at the goal, but was too far wide from the net. IF the heavy rain, Valentines Day and Chinese New Fans watched as Sydney finished first on the Year didn’t stop fans from coming to the game to A-League ladder for the final time this season, support their side on Sunday evening, then I don’t beating one of the biggest threats to the comexactly know what would? petition, Melbourne Victory by just one point. Over 25, 000 spectators showed up to the game to witness Sydney FC wrap up the final round during a crucial match after a 2-0 triumph over Melbourne Victory. It was enough to clinch their first ever ALeague Premier’s Plate and a guarantee spot at the 2011 Asian Champions League. Sydney impressed in front of their biggest home crowd of the season, including Premier of NSW, Kristina Keneally who made an appearance at the game.
It was the former Central Coast Mariners’ striker, John Aloisi, who scored the second goal, just five minutes after half time. It was enough to seal the win and the premiers’ plates for Sydney and a spot at the ACL next year. and will hopefully continue his form into the semis. It was a very tight game as both teams were fighting for the three most important points to decide who takes home the premier’s plate. The defense of both sides was exceptionally strong and Melbourne fans thought they scored when Nik Mrdja’s fierce shot hit the post but bounced straight back out.
Man of the match Karol Kisel’s opening goal put the pressure off Sydney after they lost their captain, Steve Corica, due to a hamstring problem in the 18th minute and was subsequently replaced by Victory was hoping to slot at least one goal Brendan Gan. past Clint Bolton in the last dying minutes but the pressure from Sydney was enough to make Corica is expected to retire from Sydney FC at the it goal-less for Melbourne. end of the season. He has stuck by the team since season one and has played over 100 A League Sydney have stringed together two consecutive games for Sydney FC. He is the clubs top scorer wins and one draw, leaving Melbourne Victory with a total of 23 goals, one in which he scored goal-less in all three matches this season. Melagainst Central Coast Mariners in the grand final, bourne Victory did keep the game alive with their allowing Sydney to win the first A-League Chamstrong defensive performance despite not havpionship in 2005/2006. Just before you hold your ing Kevin Muscat and Matt Kemp, with Muscat breathe for the loss of a great player, Corica isn’t expected to return for Thursday’s semi-final after going anywhere. serving a two match suspension.
Archie Thompson, one of the top scorers in A League, was also unavailable after being ruled out with an ankle injury and will miss out on the first semi-final this Thursday when they go head to head against Sydney. The result left both sides facing consequences, with uncertainties for Sydney captain, Corica to miss out on Thursday’s clash against Melbourne in the first leg while Victory are fearing the worse that Robbie Kruse is believed to have suffered a broken leg.
‘Aloisi has definitely improved since last season’s horrible performance, where he only scored twice and was injured most of the time. He has made a tremendous improvement this season, proving to all his fans that he was actually worth signing as Sydney’s marquee player’
The final score was Sydney FC 2 Melbourne Victory 0
Players come and go, but it’s not always easy to watch them go…
We are going to miss you Papa Smurf!!! (Pic by CAm W)
By Cindy Tran
SYDNEY FC fans have received possibly the two worse heartbreaking news in one day. Newly appointed A-League club, Melbourne Heart have sealed a multiyear deal with A-League’s top quality goalkeeper, Clint Bolton. Bolton,who is 34, will be expected to play in the upcoming team next season, alongside Newcastle Jets captain, Matt Thompson and Central Coast Mariners defender, Dean Heffernan. It’s devastating to watch Bolton walk out that door and start a fresh new team with the Heart when they make their debut next season. He has been in the ALeague since day one and has been one of the most outstanding goalkeepers in Australia. He has brought so many memories to the team, especially the defeat against the Mariners, allowing Sydney to win the first There have also been talks from Melbourne Heart, contemplating on whether or not they should sign A-League Championship in 2005/2006. John Aloisi as their marquee player? It is a huge It has only been a couple of days since Sydney’s cap- loss for Sydney to see both of their two key playtain, Steve Corica announced his retirement at the end ers go. Bolton and Corica will be missed and they should be proud for what they’ve done for Sydney of this season, but it looks like it has ended a bit too ever since the A-League inception.. soon. Corica, who is 36, has been forced to miss the Final Series due to a hamstring injury, which occurred They’re the most important players by far and on Sunday’s Premiership decider clash against MelSydney fans are hoping that the team undertakes bourne Victory. He has been one of the key players new quality players, who are worth signing for next for Sydney and it’s sad to see his 21-year career in season. football, has brought an immediate end.
Sarah D brings you the ups and downs of the Cove
The Melbourne fans involved didn’t hesitate to harm the girlfriends or chase after one of my friend’s mates when he tried to remove himself from the situation. It was highly unnecessary that resulted in a man being taken to hospital with a collapsed cheekbone.
Welcome to Heaven
I’m disappointed with the way the night ended for them and wish him all the best in his recovery, I’m sure the win will help this.
It may have been a very humid and overcrowded version but bay 23 was the only place for me to watch my boys to win the a-league race. It was by far the most anticipated match of the whole season and the boys did an amazing job at the tifo. It definitely outdid the Melbourne version of ‘welcome to hell’ and their Sunday night effort of the ‘M-V’ banner. Thank you to the Sky Blue Youth, even though sometimes I bag you, your energy is phenomenal. Also having all three Cove bays on their feet singing made me proud to be apart of it. Even though at some point everyone has whinged and criticised Aloisi he pulled through for us right when we needed him and Kisel’s goal was magic. Everyone was floating on air as the Melbourne away bays emptied and we celebrated in the rain with our team. Sadly, the elation came to a brief end at 11pm on Sunday night. A friend and a small group of mates, two of which were the only ones wearing Sydney gear were attacked by three Melbourne fans. We know they are Melbourne fans as they were specifically yelling anti Sydney FC sentiments. The group was about to go separate ways when they were targeted, they had tried to avoid Melbourne fans all evening even going to a pub out of the way from everyone.
‘the boys did an amazing job at the tifo. It definitely outdid the Melbourne version of ‘welcome to hell’ and their Sunday night effort of the ‘M-V’ banner’
More Action from the Valentines Day Massacre
Socceroos Group D Analysis Germany Interview By Con Stamocostas Basti Benz - is a German freelance football writer and like any native German his English is better than yours and mine. Basti gives us the German view of Group D
Half Time Heroes: After the World Cup draw was announced, some dubbed the Group with the Socceroos, Germany , Serbia and Ghana has the third group of death. But surely the Germans think it’s a done deal that they will move to the next stage easily? Basti Benz: Fans around the country are definitely confident we can progress from this group and have the right to be considering we came third at the last World Cup, were runners up at Euro 2008 and runners up in Korea and Japan. But I think everyone is aware of the threat that the Socceroos, Ghana and Serbia each pose on any given day. Joachim Low has noted that each side has talented players who we’ll have to be wary of the Socceroos, players like Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy can win matches...so we’ll have to be respectful to each side and play well to make sure we don’t make an early, disappointing exit. HTH: Some of the comments after the draw by Franz Beckenbauer seem to think the Socceroos will pose no threat, but surely players like Harry Kewell Tim Cahill and Brett Holman should strike fear in your tall and lanky and sometimes dopey defenders? BB: (Laughs)…To be honest, I think Franz does respect the Socceroos but given his history in German football he’s bound to be pretty one-eyed. So, while Franz’s opinion is one that everyone in Germany wants to hear, it’s more important that Low, Oliver Bierhoff and all the backroom staff are doing their homework on Kewell, Cahill, Holman and others so that our defence knows what the Socceroos will throw at them.
The man in the tighty whiteys - German boss Joachim Löw. (pic by Thomas Holbach)
HTH: Some of your key players are in their 30’s now. Players like Ballack, Frings and Klose but you also have some young players coming through like Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil. What do you think the starting line up will be like? BB: Well the starting side certainly won’t have Frings in it. Joachim Low publically announced recently he’s out of his plans. I would certainly expect Ozil to be in the starting side, while Kroos is still touch and go for a squad position. But, mainstays like Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Klose, Podolski and Lahm should all be in the first 11 and Rene Adler is likely be the ‘keeper. There is still a lot to work out and probably only six or seven of the 11 starting spots are known at this time. HTH: The last time Germany won the World Cup was in Italia 90. What’s the feeling for South Africa 2010? BB: Well like I said before we have reason to be confident given we’ve made the latter stages of Euros and World Cups of late. But, there are many top teams like Spain , England , Brazil , Italy …I can go on, who can win the tournament. So the feeling is one of hope but we can only have as much hope as any of those teams I just named because they are great sides too.
HTH: Any weaknesses that you care to quietly mention? A dodgy keeper or a suspect defender perhaps? BB:(Laughs)…We are strong all over the park and have some great young talent but the World Cup is the biggest stage of them all. It remains to be seen that if Low includes a lot of young and relatively experienced faces in the squad, whether they can stand up and perform at the highest level. This is probably a weakness but by the same token it can turn it to a huge positive if he gets it right.
HTH: What do you know about Australian football and are there any players you think your team should keep an eye on? BB: I am aware of the A-League although I don’t know too many clubs or players from your competition. We all know Kennedy from his time in the Bundesliga and Dario Vidosic and Matthew Spiranovic from their time here too. But it’s the famous ones like Kewell and Cahill who are the ones we need to be most careful of and Brett Emerton is dangerous as well.
HTH: Which teams do the Germans fear the most in South Africa ? BB: The big nations like Italy , Spain and Brazil are the ones to most fear. But in my opinion it’s Australia , Serbia then Ghana . Because if we can’t do the business against those three we won’t have to worry about the others, will we? So those three, and then it’s time to think about other sides.
HTH: How do you think your team will adapt to the conditions in South Africa where teams can expect high altitude, differing weather conditions and those ubiquitous vuvuzelas that will be blasting for the whole game? BB:They make a terrible racket the vuvuzelas, don’t they!? They are fun for a little while but get annoying. But, in saying this I think the team is professional and can adapt to the different conditions and sounds so long as they have the right preparation…which they will. The DFB is going to every length to make everything seamless for the players.
HTH: Tell us the most annoying German players in your team and why? BB: Well I am not sure about annoying but there’s rumours Podolski and Schweinsteiger love to surprise each other with the video camera when the other’s asleep. I find that a little…weird.
HTH: Are you happy with the coach and the way the team is playing leading in to the World HTH: The German player you like the most? Cup and is there anything you would change? BB: My favourite is Torsten Frings but unfortunately BB: I would bring back Frings! No, Low is a he won’t be there. Of the players who could go I am competent coach and is giving many players an a big fan of Ozil and Muller, two young guns with opportunity. Thomas Hitzlsperger from Lazio is tremendous futures. And the World will know who only on the fringes of the squad at the moment but Rene Adler is post South Africa , too. I would definitely be taking him for his experience and shot, and Stefan Keiβling, a great goal getter HTH: The perception of Joachim Löw was that from Leverkusen should also be taken and considhe was the coach at Germany 2006 and Klinsered for a start. Oh, and I wouldn’t be taking Tim man was the cheerleader? Are you happy with Weise even as the third choice keeper. the way Joachim has got the team playing? Is the tight white shirt with the fancy sleeves caught on HTH: Lastly please give me a prediction on anywhere else? Can you give me a hand in finding how your team will progress and also who will one? be the winner and loser of the World Cup? BB: I have been to Australia before…perhaps you BB:I think the team will progress through the could try, what’s it called…David Jones? They’d group in first place and can go on to win the tourprobably sell a Joachim Low style shirt. To the first nament. But, the World Cup is such an unpredictpart of your question you are 100% correct. Low was able beast and after the group stage one slip can the technician in 2006 and Klinsman the motivator. mean you’re eliminated. So for the winner I have He did a good job, but Low can inspire and pull the to say Germany , although it will be tough, and strings and he has had the team doing well so we are the loser…hmm…every team that’s not the winhappy and confident he can do a good job in South ner will be the loser of the World Cup! Africa .
Socceroos Group D Analysis Ghana Interview by Con Stamocostas Pic courtesy of http://www.theflagshop.co.uk)
Gary Al-Smith is an Accra-based sports journalist and writes for kicker Magazine, ESPN and is the Ghana blogger for www.worldcupblog.org/. Are you reading this Pim? Half Time Heroes: After the World Cup draw was announced, some dubbed Group D containing the Socceroos, Germany, Serbia and Ghana as the third group of death. What was your first reaction when you saw the draw? Gary Al-Smith: First reaction: damn! And it was that because I felt this to be a great chance for Ghana to show the world what we’ve got to offer once more after the Germany 2006 experience. Don’t forget that this was before most of our players started falling off injured like flies so my confidence was justified I think. HTH: What’s been the reaction by the management of your respective teams? Do they see the Socceroos as a threat? GAS: Since the World Cup was introduced 79 years ago, it has been dominated by Europe and South America. As South Africa 2010 nears, bold predictions of a first African win have already started. Leading the way is Abedi Ayew Pele, three-time African Footballer of the Year. “We definitely will have one African team that goes far and when I say goes far I mean as far as raising the trophy. When I make this prediction people laugh, but I believe it.”
“We definitely will have one African team that goes far and when I say goes far I mean as far as raising the trophy. When I make this prediction people laugh, but I believe it.”- Abidi Pele. Generally, the football populace now has even more trust in this side especially after surprising even Ghanaians with the runner-up slot at the recently ended African Nations Cup in Angola. HTH: Who do you consider to be your key players and what are your teams main strengths? GAS: Michael Essien, obviously. Currently our most popular player around the world by a mile. Then we’ve got the so-called ‘core of the Germany 2006 team’ who are still around: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), John Mensah (Sunderland) and John Painstil (Fulham). At the time of writing this Q&A, all three are injured but they’ll surely be back and ready for the mundial. Yet, we cant help but notice the growing wave of (justified?) views that Appiah and Mensah should not be added. They cannot seem to put together seven or eight straight games without injuries – just check the records. The strength of the team has for years been the midfield, yet the Nations Cup has shown a collective defensibility in the side that we haven’t seen in about ten years. That said, this Ghana team is in transition and there are some great players coming through who may explode in South Africa.
HTH: Australian fans have bought tickets in large numbers. What kind of support can your team expect in South Africa? GAS: We’ve got Supporters Unions that have been planning meticulously for the event. They went to the Nations’ Cup also to have a feel of the terrain. As HTH: Any weaknesses that you care to quietly to the ordinary man, South Africa 2010 has engenmention? A dodgy keeper or a suspect defender dered many businesses here to spring up and travel perhaps? GAS: Straight up. It’s the left back. It has been our packages are already available. Come the start of the World Cup, Ghana would have a good representaproblem for ages. The coach said in December: “We have always had problems with the left back tion, no doubt especially as the country has a decent population in South Africa. slot so this is a chance to try other players in that position,” he said. HTH: Are you happy with the coach and the way the team is playing leading in to the world cup and is About four players have been used in that role in there anything you would change? the last few months and many teams find that as GAS: Personally, except for one or two issues, Ghana’s Achilles heel. However, certain players the way he led the team to Angola pleased me. He in the local premier league are mounting a strong challenge for that slot and fingers-crossed, we may played to our strengths and everyone agreed that the tactical discipline in this side was a new sight, to be get a natural left-back soon. honest. Let me say here, that the team that is playStriking is also a headache. We rely heavily on the ing now would not be the same as what will be seen this summer. Key players are injured and when they midfield for goals. Strikers usually don’t bang in much however Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth) come, they’ll take their spots because we need the would soon be given the okay to represent Ghana. experience. And Mario Balottelli of Inter is being persuaded to HTH: Tell us the player in your team that annoys feature for us. Now that would be some attack! you the most and why? GAS: That should be Haminu Draman. He runs with HTH: What do you know about Australian football and are there any players you think your team the ball for miles and gives it away and his shooting is disastrous. Yet, he has proved very useful. should keep an eye on? You may see him in South Africa because though he GAS: Australian football has been introduced to blows hot and cold, he runs at defenders a lot and is us in the last few years with a few games we’ve able to create spaces for others. played together recently: drew 1-1 in November 2006 and Australia beat Ghana 1-0 in May 2008. HTH: The player you like the most? However you’ll agree that times have changed GAS: Now that’s hard. I can’t say, though I can tell since then and June 2010 will be a different ball you I have a very high regard for Michael Essien game. and Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese) at the moment. Samuel Inkoom gets a mention and of course AnthoHTH: How do you think your team will adapt to ny Annan and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu. Those the conditions in South Africa where teams can expect high altitude, differing weather conditions last two are all Essien-lite! and those ubiquitous vuvuzelas that will be blasting HTH: Lastly please give me a prediction on how for the whole game? your team will progress and also who will be the GAS: Ghana camped for two weeks in the northeastern town of Nelspruit in South Africa to accli- winner and loser of the World Cup? matize with regional conditions before the Nations’ GAS: Let’s begin with winner: I’m seeing Brazil or Cup. Our FA has also booked the place in advance Argentina. Ghana should go into the second round for the World Cup so it should be a familiar place by the scruff of our neck and maybe then, the dream for most of the team – that is if the bulk of them are ends. Yet, I said the same thing before they went to Angola and see where they got to? The final! Maychosen from the team that went to Angola. be, a repeat is in order…you never know. Eight of the team that won the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt were in Angola and some of them are really giving the coach headaches because he is suddenly spoilt for choice in certain areas.
Socceroos Group D Analysis, Serbia Interview By Con Stamocostas The Beli Orlovi (White Eagles) of Serbia are a new football country. Disbanding from Montengro the former Yugolsav republic makes it World Cup debut in South Africa. Serbian blogger for www.worldcupblog.org/ Nikola Burazer spoke to Half Time Heroes direct from Belgrade and gave some valuable insights and information about the Socceroos Group D final opponents. Still reading this Pim? Half Time Heroes: After the World Cup draw was announced, some dubbed Group D containing the Socceroos, Germany, Serbia and Ghana has the third group of death. What was your first reaction when you saw the draw? NB: To be honest, the first thing I felt was relief. In the 2006 World Cup we were placed in a group with Argentina, Netherlands and Ivory Coast, a “Group of Death” by all standards, to it was nice to be in a group not labelled as such. But, I have some real respect for all of our opponents in the forthcoming World Cup and I don’t think Serbia has an open road for qualification to the next round.
HTH: What’s been the reaction by the management of your respective teams? Do they see the Socceroos as a threat? NB: The management’s reaction was reasonably optimistic. Germany is of course, labelled as a main threat, with Ghana being our direct rival to qualify from the group. Australia isn’t mentioned as much, the focus was on our chances to battle it out with Germany for the top spot with qualification itself being a pretty achievable feat. This might smell of arrogance to some, but this Serbian team currently has a great degree of self-belief and high hopes for this tournament, so any other reaction would’ve been false modesty from the management. HTH: Who do you consider to be your key players and what are your teams main strengths? NB: I think that we actually have two pairs of key players. The first is a defensive pairing of Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidić and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović, while the second are our regular wingers, Standard Liege’s Milan Jovanović and CSKA Moskva’s Miloš Krasić. The first two are the backbone of our defense, while our winger duo represents the source of our offensive power. Jovanović is a “Player of the year” in Belgium and has recently signed a pre-contract with Liverpool, while Krasić also represents a highly sought-after commodity.
If I had to chose one key player, it would be him. Miloš Krasić is probably our best player on the pitch for the last few years, so yes, he could be considered to be THE key player for Serbia at the World Cup.
HTH: Any weaknesses that you care to quietly mention? A dodgy keeper or a suspect defender perhaps? NB: An excellent keeper with a tendency to make horrific mistakes. Vladimir Stojković has proven himself lots of times in the national team, but I doubt there are any Serbian fans out there not worrying about Although both Ghana and Australia are weaker teams whether he will make a blunder or not. In a game on paper, they are both capable of making a misery out that could’ve destroyed our World Cup dreams, his of our World Cup dreams, I even dare to say that footmistake gave France a goal in Belgrade. I don’t want ball style difference make our clashes against Ghana to bash a player that has played so well for the team and Australia virtually unpredictable. That’s why I felt with some magnificent saves, but Stojković really is pretty uncomfortable, and to be totally honest, I still a goalkeeper that does make blunders from time to do. time, so he could be considered as a potential weak link in our team.
HTH: What do you know about Australian football and are there any players you think your team should keep an eye on? NB: Regrettably, I don’t know much about Australian football except for their feats in the last World Cup, and of course, some of Australian key players currently playing in Europe. Players like Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill ring a lot of bells, but I haven’t watched the Australian team play recently to be able to see where the main threat comes from. Australia has a team to be respected, that’s for sure.
But, if I needed to make one single remark on his management of the team, I would point out at the lack of concentration our defense seems to having from time to time, unacceptable when the quality of our defensive players is taken into account. Antić needs to solidify our defenses if he wants our team to compete with the best.
HTH: Australian fans have bought tickets in large numbers. What kind of support can your team expect in South Africa? NB: I highly doubt there are going to be many fans travelling all the way from Serbia to South Africa in order to support our team, but we do expect quite a large number of our supporters to be there. South Africa is a home to many Serbians and people of Serbian descent who are delighted to have the chance to see our national team play over there. It may not be as if we are playing at home, but it will probably be close as it can get to this.
HTH: Lastly please give me a prediction on how your team will progress and also who will be the winner and loser of the World Cup? NB: Well, a part of me fears the worst, a repeat of Germany 2006, while the other part dreams of us fighting for the title. But let’s be realistic: I think we will qualify from the group as a second placed team and then bow out after clashing with England. I think we could go a step further if we manage to claim the top spot in the group, but we have too many issues with playing with the top sides for me to dare to predict anything more than that.
HTH: Tell us the player in your team that annoys you the most and why? NB: A tough question. Sincerely, there aren’t such players in the team, most of the players capable of making me really angry are also capable of doing some great things. I’m trying really hard, but I can’t name a single player that plays in the first team and annoys me on a regular basis. Marko Pantelić seems to get close, but he’s also one of my favourite players, so he doesn’t really deserve such a negative label.
HTH: How do you think your team will adapt to the conditions in South Africa where teams can expect high altitude, differing weather conditions and those ubiquitous vuvuzelas that will be blasting for the whole game? NB: As long as the pitch is in perfect shape, there are no excuses. There are some difficulties with the weather, altitude and those omni-present vuvuzelas, but all the teams have the same conditions to play in and I HTH: The player you like the most? wouldn’t like to see any whining in the media by our NB: This is an even tougher question. I guess it’s team if things go wrong. a three-horse race between Miloš Krasić, Milan Jovanović and Branislav Ivanović. I’ve already laSerbia will have their final preparations in the mounbelled those three as key players, and I can’t really detains of Austria, probably to adjust to similar weather cide between them. But if I had to chose one, I’d name conditions. Our team has already had the privilege to the most underrated of the three, Milan Jovanović. The play in South Africa last August, defeating the hosts in world is yet to see his capabilities when he starts playa friendly and having their first taste of South African ing for Liverpool after the World Cup, but I hope he winter. I think it should be alright. will shine even more at the tournament proper.
HTH: Are you happy with the coach and the way the team is playing leading in to the world cup and is there anything you would change? NB: Radomir Antić has been a wonder-maker for Serbia since he took over the team at the start of the qualifiers, overly criticising both him and the team would be highly unfair. He created the team spirit we have desperately lacked, built a highly functional offensive unit with lots of goal-scoring capabilities and returned the cult of the National team to the entire nation. His results and achievements have been so impressive that, regardless of some bad decisions and tactics in some individual games, there isn’t anything I would change in his general approach and tactics that he tries to employ.
An elimination from the first knockout round remains the outcome with the highest possibility. And if I had to predict the winner, I’d chose Brazil. There’s a tradition in the last few decades that says European teams don’t win World Cups outside Europe, so that leaves us with Brazil and Argentina as realistic candidates. But, as this is a special World Cup by all standards, I believe miracles can happen. Maybe the football world is getting near to some great surprises like the one when Greece won Euro 2004. To be honest, I have a feeling this is going to be a World Cup to remember.
Fans celebrating the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa (Camps Bay, Cape Town) pic by Audrey & Patrick Scales
Ghana football fan in Germany 06 pic by Dario Sarmadi. Pic by Dario Sarmadi
Nemanja Vidic Man Utd and Serbia pic by Austin Osuide
Micheal Ballack Chelsea and Germany pic by John Dobbo
Sulley Muntari (Ghana and Inter Milan) pic by Steindy
Shane Davis casts his eye on the Socceroos Group D opponent, Ghana’s Black Stars. http://hiraldo.wordpress.com/ One of Angola 2010’s best performers, his exceptional through ball from out of nowhere and deep in his own half for Ghana’s winning goal against the hosts was a particular highlight.
Ghana’s New Black Stars
The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations concluded with Egypt and their third consecutive title hogging the headlines but another significant development in Angola last month was the success of a considerably depleted and youthful Ghanaian team. Their passage to the final put them ahead of the rest of Africa’s World Cup teams, including the highly fancied Ivory Coast. Before taking it as another highly inauspicious sign for the Socceroos after a World Cup draw that already seemed tough enough, some perspective is firstly needed.
Ghana’s route to the final was both abridged after Togo’s withdrawal and generous in the knockout stage. After a 3-1 opening loss to the Ivorians, all Milovan Rajevac’s team needed to overcome to meet Egypt in the final were Burkino Faso, the spirited but limited hosts Angola and Nigeria’s lacklustre and decreasingly Super Eagles. All three opponents were dispatched with cautious, methodical 1-0 wins. The likes of the Ivory Coast and Cameroon still probably deserve to be given a greater or equal chance as the Ghanaians of progressing from their group in June. Angola 2010 exposed some horrid weak spots defensively for both teams, but could also crucially result in such areas being improved.
Vince Grella et al. will thus likely have more than the returning Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari (if he’s recalled) and Stephen Appiah to keep quiet in midfield. Much of the focus in Australia prior to the Socceroos’ June 19th clash with Ghana is likely to focus on those three big midfield names in addition to John Mensah and John Painstil in defence, but along with Asamoah there were other young players central to Ghana’s 2010 ACN campaign worth mentioning. Up front as a lone striker, Asamoah Gyan supplied three of Ghana’s four goals in a somewhat redemptive campaign. The Rennes striker endured a miserable experience at home in the 2008 ACN, struggling in front of goal and feeling the wrath of Ghana’s expectant fans, but at 24 years of age he looks to be maturing and his speed and finishing ability could cause Australia problems. In midfield, André Ayew - Abedi Pelé’s son - scored Ghana’s other goal and his energy from the wing could come into good effect. At the back, Hoffenheim’s Isaac Vorsah did a commendable job replacing the absent Mensah and steadied the defence impressively enough to possibly be the Sunderland centre-back’s partner in South Africa. It’s hard to say whether Rajevac will still deploy a 4-4-1-1 formation and cautious style in June. Ghana should be back to full-strength but they will also face tougher opposition than in Angola. In any case, they can now go to South Africa with added confidence in their organisation and depth, as well as
Ghana’s possible World Cup starting line-up: There should also be much more cohesion in South Af- GK: Richard Kingson (Wigan Athletic, 31-years-old) rica with superior preparation and players not quickly RB: John Painstil (Fulham, 28) going from an extreme European winter to playing CB: John Mensah (Sunderland, 27) in 30-degree temperatures and high humidity. What CB: Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, 21) they’re unlikely to enjoy the benefit of however is the presence in midfield of much genuine craft and imaginaLB: Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, 33) tion. Defensive midfielders at club level, Yaya Touré and RM: Laryea Kingston (Hearts, 29) / André Ayew Alex Song - as well as Mikel John Obi for Nigeria - are (Arles, 20) deployed as makeshift playmakers. CM: Michael Essien (Chelsea, 26) CM: Stephen Appiah (Bologna, 29) This is where Ghana appear to stand out from the rest of LM: Sulley Muntari (Internazionale, 25) their fellow 2010 Sub-Saharan World Cup qualifiers. In Udinese’s 20-year-old Kwadwo Asamoah, the Black Stars AM: Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, 20) possess an attacking midfielder of significant promise, ST: Asamoah Gyan (Rennes, 24) technique and intelligence.
Ben O’Neill counts down the the Socceroos DURBAN DATE against ZE Germans in South Africa. http://www.durbandate. blogspot.com/
Löw has also announced that barring injury, the fight for the three gloveman spots is over. Even With less than 120 days to the Socceroos with almost half the Bundesliga season still to Durban Date with the Deutsche, time is well and truly play, Rene Adler, Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese ticking down to our first South African test. have been assured that if fit, they’ll be the trio with a ticket to showpiece. “The situation is Like at the Fritz Walter Stadion in Kaiserslautern crystal clear,” Löw told German magazine Sport against Japan , our match up with Germany at the Mo- Bild. ses Mabhida Stadium will either make or break our hopes to advance to the second round of the tourna- “We have three goalkeepers who have absolute ment. A win and a solitary point against the Black priority and will travel to the World Cup, beStars or Serbia can see us through. Draw and it’s a cause for one or two years they have put in top positive start. Lose and the Ghana game becomes a class performances. knockout situation. “There is no occasion, I can see, where we favour another goalkeeper as anything other than So, with the 90 minutes fast approaching I figured it fourth choice, unless one of them gets injured.” was time we checked back in with where the Germans Unlucky everyone else. were up to in their preparations. In future editions of HTH, I’ll revert to their lead up and explore the hap- Finally, between January 24 and 27 Löw and penings surrounding both the Ghanaian and Serbian the crew brought 30 of their finest together for camps. testing in the German town of Sindelfingen . A mixture of youth and experience was on hand But, in the meantime… with Robert Huth of Premier League club Stoke City and Hitzlsperger of Seria A side Lazio the Germany coach Joachim Löw has declared one of only two players called up who ply their trade Germany ’s best players at the 2006 World Cup, Tor- outside the German top flight. sten Frings, will not be heading to the African continent. “I just have to accept it even if I have a com- Young guns Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), pletely different view of things than Joachim Löw,” Mesut Özil, Marko Marin, Aaron Hunt (all Frings told reporters after learning of his fate. Frings Werder Bremen), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen is 33 now and while he’s earned 79 caps in a long [on loan from Bayern Munich) and Sami Khedira National Team career, will be replaced in favour of (Stuttgart) were just some of the baby-faced younger legs alongside Michael Ballack in the centre players present among a side that has an averof midfield age age of 25. Those legs may come from Bastian Schweinsteiger, The future – both in South Africa and beyond who football fans would be well aware of. Only 25, – is bright. Socceroos scouts, you are watching, ‘Schweiny’ is better known in a wide role, but has right? recently been playing in the engine room for club Bayern Munich. Lazio’s Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes of Bayer Leverkusen are other possibilities.
Chippy B has a large chip on his shoulder. It chose football, a picture of John Aloisi and the words “Ticket to Asia.”
The A-League lives, long live the
A-League!
Over 25,000 turned up to watch Sydney FC take on Melbourne Victory and again the A-League roared to its finale, well one of its finale’s!
If the North Queensland Fury or Central Coast Mariners had won would the countries major market given it such a prime spot? Of course not.
And now Sydney will head to Asia.
And this St Kilda fan couldn’t help noticing the scenes when the Sainters finished their regular seaFan passion poured down from the stands. Who said son compared to the SFS on Sunday. Our AFL/NRL Australian sporting crowds don’t sing? Minor Premiers get a couple of chances to get to the Grand Final. In the A-League Sydney FC got that The Cove and their Melbourne counterparts were fanand the additional possibly bigger prize of Asian tastic. Even the stands were rocking as the normally football. It felt more important than our rival codes more sedate spectators got dragged into the whole oclast game of the season. casion. This was Australian sporting passion to match the best in the World. The Sydney Melbourne rivalry continues to build. Positively, mostly, although the edge is already Colour and passion in abundance; and Melbourne there. I guess you have to live in Glasgow, Sydney, fans cheered until the end despite the fact a defeat Melbourne, Liverpool or Manchester to really unseemed inevitable almost the moment Nicky Ward derstand this tension. I don’t, particularly not when missed an easy chance in the first minute. it threatens to boil over, although with European style policing there was little prospect of that at the And for this football fan Sydney FC’s win was cruSFS yesterday I was pleased to see. cial. For all the blue noses, for the FFA and I’d argue for every football fan in the country, yes even those When Melbourne Heart and Sydney Rovers entravelling supporters from Melbourne; although they ter the league there will be more clashes, big city may not know it yet! clashes and increased derbies. Yesterday gave us a taste of what is to come as the A-League builds. Every league across the World is dominated by teams from its biggest cities. Think Glasgow, London, ManGames every week in the two major cities in the chester, Buenos Aires, and Madrid. country. More noise, and more stories. In Australia, particularly in Australia with our crowded sports market, for our league to grow, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth need to succeed, and often. Only Melbourne have obliged to date.
The A-League despite its crowd figures (still a healthy 10,000 average) and financial issues continues to build. It may take another five years, even ten, to get the Sydney derbies and Melbourne derbies rivalling yesterday’s passion and tension on a regular basis, but on yesterday’s showing football in Australia continues to be on the rise.
On Sunday Sydney won. On Monday The Sydney Morning Herald Sport’s section could have lead with the Waratahs opening Super 14 win over their rivals from Queensland, or With more games to come next season the Aa huge splash on the Black v White Rugby League League continues to grow, and dare I say excite. match, or even the Australian cricket teams con25,000 at the SFS on Sunday on the wettest weekvincing destruction of the West Indies. end for ten years made a noisy statement.
Buckle Up
The Big D
Buckle up Ben is an idea’s man. Buckle-Up is having his usual monthly coffee with his best mate, AFL Chief the Big D. This month they are joined by that other sporting leader NRL Chief Shortofa. Big D: Buckles, you know Shortofa. Thought I’d ask him to join us for a briefing. The Big D shook Shortofa’s hand. The NRL Chief, a thin man, who looked even thinner in AFL country alongside the Big D, grimaced.
Shortofa: It’s good already; we’re moving it to Brisbane next year. It’s a winner. Thought of it myself but let the boy Preston Campbell take the glory. We needed to bring it in to try and take some of the focus off the A-League final series. Think it’s working too. Big D: Indigenous huh. We do that already in the AFL, but we don’t have a game we have a whole round of it. Buckle-up: Never heard an Aboriginal call themselves Indigenous, have you? Seems like a white man word. Didn’t John Howard invent it because he couldn’t handle the term Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and couldn’t tell one from the other?
Big D: Dunno Ben, thought Kevin Sheedy started the word he’s got all the great ideas in this country. He’s even taking over Shortofa’s heartland, Western Sydney. He’s a Buckle-up Ben smirked: The names Buckle-up ac- deadset. tually. I don’t think we’ve met. Unless you’ve been Buckles laughed: Think you’ll find that NRL heartland has 260,000 kids playing football. Maybe we should call overseas recently I wouldn’t have caught you. it our heartland but you call it what you want.” Shortofa: Well I’ve been in the North of England, a little place called Widnes and popped into PNG on Shortofa: You got any ideas for big games Buckle-up. Buckle-up: We’re gonna get the Indigenous boys and the way back. play them against the rest of the World who play in the A-League. You know the Costa Ricans, Brazilians and Buckle-up Ben: Don’t get to those sort of places the like against the Aussies, Indigenous and non-Indigevery often...nor does the Big D. nous together. Little bit more integrated don’t you think? Shortofa groaned. Big D: Yeah yeah yeah whatever, not this again. Anyway thought I’d throw a few ideas round that you guys might want to toy with. Any ideas for new Big D: Interesting. We were thinking of that, but we only had three players in our World team! games, new expansion rounds anything like that? Shortofa: Well I’m off. Big D: When will we see you in Melbourne again ShortShortofa piped up: Well we had an idea. Indigenous NRL boys v the Aussies...I mean the best of ofa? the rest. Shortofa: You won’t. We’re closing up down here in Buckle-up: Black v White! How’s that gonna look a year of two. The Victory, then the Heart and now the Rebels, Storm can’t sustain the losses so that’s it. when the teams have a bit of biffo? Nice one for race relations that one. Buckle-up: Oh well maybe we’ll meet in Western Sydney one day! Shortofa: Glad to be here. And good to meet you Buckles.
The World Game English Premier League blogger Stuart Randall takes aim at John Terry http://stuartrandallandthecrowdgoeswild. blogspot.com/ ‘Terry’s replacement as England captain was narrowed down to Skipper of Sleaze Departs Frank Lampard, who starred in a sex tape romp a few years back & Wayne Let’s re-cap. John Terry, serial adulterer, public urinator, lucre- Rooney, who likes “Grannies of the fixated England captain, had a fling with the mother Night”; of his mate’s kids. That’s Wayne Bridge, England’s number two left back, behind Ashley Cole, who sends naked pictures of himself to topless models.
Terry’s replacement as England captain was narrowed down to Frank Lampard, who starred in a sex tape romp a few years back; Wayne Rooney, who likes “Grannies of the Night”; Steven Gerrard, who was in court recently after a fight in a club, and has been linked with Merseyside gangsters; and Rio Ferdinand, who co-starred with Lamps in “that” video, and recently did a naughty thing on a bucks weekend. Naturally Rio was made captain of the Naughty Boys XI.
What a fine mess Fabio Capello received, but how well he dealt with it. Twelve minutes with the defiant JT were enough to put the matter to bed (hopefully Terry’s own). His position, in the view of the Italian was untenable Terry had to go after the latest chapter in his seedy autobiography. It’s well documented so I won’t waste words here, but ultimately away from the pitch, he is morally bankrupt. And now has paid the price. Initially it seemed that the scandal galvanised Terry as he produced stand out displays for Chelsea at the top of the EPL, but a disastrous showing against Louis Saha at Goodison put paid to that. Terry was soon on a plane to Dubai for “Crisis Talks” with his long suffering wife.
So what now? Well Terry has to play in South Africa; Capello has precious few options. His new skipper has struggled with injury all year, and of the back-up options, Upson is in shocking form, Brown is nothing but a make-shift player, Gary Cahill is long term injured, and Ledley King still only has one knee. And now it seems that Bridge may be in the starting line-up as well. Initially it was thought that he might just melt away from the England scene, but with Ashley Cole now touch and go, the City full back may be lining up alongside his one time best mate in the Rustenburg tunnel. That presents Capello with a problem, and the friendly with Egypt and March will be as much about, pardon the pun if you will, bridge-building, as it will be about tinkering with his World Cup plans.
England can hardly afford to have their core strength, team unity, disrupted in this way. There are already too many question marks over the goalkeeper, right back, and centre forward positions. If the collective will of the three lions is compromised, then a traditional last eight exit beckons and the last chance for a “Golden Generation” will be gone. Whatever happens, no-one has emerged from this tawdry episode with much credit. The cult of the Premiership superstar has been shown for what it is; a vacuous shallow world where money and fame rules. These are troubled times for football’s spiritual home.
Ben Halls is a London based comedy and sports writer. You can catch his London Chronicles articles on the internationally renowned sports web site Elevation Radio http://elevationradio.com/. You can also read him @ http://thebenhallsblog.blogspot.com/
The Ballad Of John Terry’s P Oh John Terry, how we love to marvel at your hijinks. How we love to shout in ecstasy when you score a goal and how we groan in defeat when you get caught up the pitch, giving an opposing striker a three step advantage over your slow ass frame.
The second part is that Miss Perroncel is the mother of Terry’s ex Chelsea team mate and current England team mate Wayne Bridge.
Yup – John Terry broke not only his own marriage but the most holy rules in the world, you do NOT get with a friend’s ex, especially if she is the mother of his child.
To say the fallout from Terry’s extra curricular activities was large is an understatement – he has lost the England captaincy job to Rio Ferdinand, and become No matter what you think of John Terry, you have one of the most hated men in Britain to all but the most to admit that the guy is a pretty charismatic sod. He faithful of Chelsea fans and potentially thrown squad may or may not know the intricacies of the game harmony out the window in a World Cup year. Even and may or may not know the ins and outs of an though the acts were meant in innocent friendship, it in depth plan put towards him by any manager, sums up the feeling in English football that some playbut give him a locker room and a few moments of ers have been wearing Team Bridge and Team Terry talking and no doubt he could make you want to t-shirts. wrestle a bear. And I’m not talking some wimpy cub here, I think that it is a reasonable thing to say that More worryingly for Terry, though, is the fact that the John Terry could make you want to take on a griz- whole shebang with Vanessa seems to be the start of zly. a ‘Tiger Woods’ style fall from grace. In the few weeks This time, however, it appears that Terry’s everyman charm and appeal has gone and done him a nasty. You see, John Terry has been a very naughty boy indeed. It all started when young Mr. Terry asked the British courts for an injunction to stop a newspaper publishing something about his private life. That, of course, got everyone REALLY interested in it and a very nice judge decided that seeing as everyone in football knew where Terry had been sticking his sausage, everyone else should get to find out too.
Well, it turned out he had been doing something entirely un-metaphorical with it with an underwear model called Vanessa Perroncel. Two major problems existed with this. For the first part is John Terry is married. The second part is that Miss Perroncel is the mother of Terry’s ex Chelsea team mate and current England team mate Wayne Bridge. Two major problems existed with this. For the first
since the affair was made public, tabloids have been abound with rumours that Terry has paid umpteen girls to keep firmly quiet and that, well, he just doesn’t have any money left after handing it all out to women and casinos.
The next few months will be massive for John Terry both personally and professionally. On a personal level, he has to fix his marriage, it’s that simple. I may not always like the guy, but I hope he does for his wife and kids’ sakes. On a professional level, though, he has perhaps an even bigger task. Not only does John Terry have to win back over the British public, a herculean task at best, but he has to win back over his England team mates. There is no doubt that Terry will go to South Africa this summer, but he will have to make sure everyone knows he is a sorry little boy. How’s it going so far? Not well. Bizarrely writing in British paper The Sun – the same paper who broke the story of his affair – he has only moved to say he hopes to win back the England captaincy in time for the World Cup and to thank the Chelsea fans. Always a good move when you are seeking forgiveness......
Matt McGrath’s Fury won the Fickle Cup & say’s God is Seven! http://nqfuryfcthejournal.blogspot.com/
‘Seventh Heaven’
Well if that’s what this A-League malarkey is all about then it’s safe to say you can sign up this North Queensland mob for another go around next season. The 8,500 or so who bounced out of Dairy Farmers Stadium absolutely buzzing last Saturday evening will definitely be back, and you know what, they will probably bring along a few more mates as well. Inattentive bystanders or the great unwashed (namely that rugby league lot), could have mistaken the celebrations surrounding the culmination of Fury’s inaugural A-League season to have been caused by the lifting of a trophy, or that every man, woman and child in attendance had stood as one to will their exhausted heroes over the line, was in response to greater heights being achieved than finishing errm well… SEVENTH actually! If one is to be pedantic Fury did actually lift a trophy even though it was only the Mr. Fickle QLD Nickel Cup, (pictured next page with God holding it aloft) or whatever Clive Palmer who donated the rather impressive mug thinking his boys would be taking it straight back home called the thing.
The real motivation driving those supporter celebrations was an impromptu response to a plucky team of universally acclaimed no hopers, with a washed up has been marquee, finishing their inaugural season in a pretty respectable just shy of the celebrated finals places and without the predicted ‘wooden spoon’ that had been addressed C/o NQ Fury FC Townsville before a ball had even been kicked.
Things did go right down to the wire and it took until the final moments of Fury’s last match to decide the eventual league placing and hand that wooden spoon to Adelaide. Nobody up top has anything against Adelaide United; it was just a case of rather them than us!
There were many ups and downs, some of course better documented than others, but at the end of the day Fury were competitive and that was the ambition. The supporter base held firm (averaging around 8,000) and has much potential to grow, while the marquee player, derided at seasons start in regards to fitness and a perceived lack of longevity, played more minutes than any other player at the club and besides goalkeepers, likely bettered most game time stats recorded across the league. Influenced no doubt by said marquee, attracting strong crowds when playing away from home, further confirmed this new club was an asset to the A-League and by seasons end the hallowed home turf had become the fortress they had so desired.
The home game experience at times incongruous and trying for visitors was always embodied by an energy and atmosphere that constantly contradicted any true head count, while the partisan interaction of the final fixtures home crowd was that of a passionate audience, who have taken parochial ownership of their local club. So, A-League football and Queensland’s north wound down its first season of association and all in all it has to be hailed a raging success and that knifes edge season finale could not have been scripted any better, as in a local sense the campaign ended with a real buzz and feeling of warmth encompassing all associated with the first year club. There is a long way to go but the foundations have been laid and the footings are strong.
The Roar.com’s blogger (midfielder) aka
Glenn Sievier says goodbye to Mariners boss Lawrie mckinna
From this Lawrie built not a team, not a club, but an institution on the Coast. Every where you go on the Coast people talk about the Mariners, from all backgrounds, RL, Rugby Union, it does not matter, all want the Mariners to succeed and all identify with the club.
Lawrie won over many people, including the local media. Nothing was too much trouble for Lawrie he went on air at the whim of the radio announcers. Arguably the person Midfielders Tribute to he won over that helped the Mariners the most was John Lawrie McKinna. Singleton (JS) who is a RL man through and through. Singleton said he got to know Lawrie and realised he was I must write a book one day about people in Foot- a decent man and was working for good things on the ball that made a mark, their influence on the game Coast and JS handed over $ 500, 000 a year for a number was wide spread and good for the game. My short of years, and it was JS who paid for John Aloisi to come list includes Johnny Warren, Nick Tanna, David to the Mariners. Hill, Harry Kwell, SBS the good the bad and the Ugly, Ian Knobb, Frank Lowy, Terry Venerables, His no nonsense style of coaching did not appeal to and some others ... To my list I need a sub list that many football journalists. Lawrie never got the credit he is people who may not have achieved national deserved for his good coaching. Often when we played greatness (if that is a word), but regional influence. more fancied teams off the park, it was because they had With this in mind I wish to write abut the contribution made by Lawrie McKinna. If ever a person had an influence in an area it was Lawrie in the Central Coast.
Lawrie has without doubt established the Mariners as a team for the Central Coast (CC). This was no mean feat. From the disaster of the old NSL he took what he could of the Northern Spirit team and convinced backers at the Central Coast to put a bid in for a CC franchise. The task was made all the more difficult with Mrs Football campaigning for a team from the old NSL (South Melbourne, Sydney United) to be allocated a spot. Con also not wanting competition so close to Newcastle was also opposing a CC spot. Lawrie and his backers against all odds were accepted as a franchise in the A-League by John O’Neil.
About the time the CC Mariners A-League Franchise was announced the CC Bears a RL team was withdrawn from the NRL competition. The Mariners faced opposition on all fronts, the established football media, an established Newcastle team, and the local media and community who saw the Mariners as claim jumpers on the CC Bears.
The Central Coast has a proud Rugby League(RL) tradition and boosts the highest number of juniors as a percentage of local population in NSW. There is a high quality RL competition on the CC supported by some mega RL clubs CCLC & Wyong spring to mind.
an off day not because we had a good day. I sight the four nil thrashing of the Gold Coast this year as an example of this. Lawrie did deliver a preseason cup, a premiership and two grand finals. The Mariners only missed the finals twice but have always given their all on the field.
Lawrie’s influence when beyond the CC. New teams when putting in their applications for new franchises said they say will use the CC model. News reports in Sydney used the Mariners as the model for new football clubs and that RL should beware. Lawrie is very popular on the CC and you do not earn the respect he has without a huge effort. Lawrie built the Mariners on the smell of an oily rag against vested and influential rivals. He won over the local media/ people and created a new market for football. He has shown better than any other person in Australia how the A-League can connect with the broader football family. Arguably the biggest accolade I can offer is the “Lawrie Out” thread on the Mariners site. As always when a team does not perform the “coach out” thread is raised. This happened on the Mariners forum as well but even his biggest critics said move him up into club management, nobody wanted Lawrie to leave. For me I will now be part of Annie’s Army, but no one will ever fill Lawrie’s shoes in the hearts of Mariner supporters because whatever he did on the field which was not half bad was over shadowed by the way he took an unpopular idea to a regional institution.
Bill Skinner looks forward to the Red’s Asian Champions League Campaign http://www.pissanttown.com/
A-League? Who cares. Adelaide United are all about Asia . The Champions League is where we really shine. At least, that’s what we’re all hoping after the stillborn season that’s just ended...
Our other Group H opponents are China ’s Shandong Luneng, whose rather ominous nickname (according to Wikipedia) is Big Scorers, and Japan ’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who count a certain A. Vidmar among their playing alumni. It’ll be a tough ask getting through the group, but hey, that’s how it is when you’re mixing it with Asia ’s elite.
SVD seems to be inflicted with the A
The signs are good that the team is turning things League identity crisis that has hit a numaround. We have players like Travis Dodd and Matthew Leckie, whose pace and dribbling abil- ber of players late in the season. ity can cause all sorts of psychological trauma to Asian defences, we have a classy new midfielder in Marcos Flores - one of those ball-playing South American types that you hear so much about – and, most importantly, we seem to be playing ourselves in to a bit of form. Add to that a couple of very good signings fresh for the ACL – proven A-League performers Adam Griffiths and Serginho van Dijk (Pictured right by Cam W) – and I’m starting to actually get excited about going to the football again.
First course on the menu as the Reds look to munch their way through Asia again are Korean big boys Pohang Steelers. Korean teams have traditionally done very well in the Champions League, but Adelaide did away with them in their previous campaign and will be reasonably confident that they can do it again. Sources close to Pohang (well, a Korean guy I spoke to at Hindmarsh the other day) suggest that the team is a weaker side than they were last time around. Admittedly, Adelaide relied more on grit and a healthy slice of fortune than joga bonito to triumph in 2008, but having sat through an A-League season full of cruddy losses I’d happily take a few scrappy
La Happenings Kieran Pender looks over the recent action in Spain’s La Liga http://an-aussies-view.blogspot.com/ Sevilla’s place is also in jeopardy, and the Rojiblancos have spent the last few weeks yo-yoing up and down with Real Mallorca (who sit on 37 points, two points behind Sevilla).
The race shapes up!
After twenty two rounds of Spanish La Liga football the competition is shaping up, from the fight for first to the battle for mid table mediocrity. At the top of the table lies the mighty Football Club Barcelona sitting on 55 points. But a loss to Atlético Madrid last weekend has seen their lead over the Galacticos of Real Madrid slip to only two points. Recent wins over Espanyol and Xerez, not the most difficult of opponents, has seen the mighty Merengues rise to 53 points, but a combination of difficult fixtures (home to Villarreal, away to Tenerife and the Madrid derby) and their return to Champions League football, could see them slip up.
Just behind Mallorca is Deportivo La Coruña (on 35), and realistically any of these sides could find themselves playing in the major European competition next year. The two points separating Sevilla and Mallorca makes this weekends clash between the sides (in Mallorca) all the more important. An away win for Sevilla (and a home win for Valencia against Getafe) would see fourth place slip away from the challengers, but a win for Mallorca would propel them up into fourth.
The fight for survival is also starting to look interesting. Sat rock bottom is Xerez, on 11 points, with a mere two wins. While their survival is Barcelona however is the title chasing team that have unlikely, above them things get interesting, with the biggest worries. A long injury list, especially everyone up to 10th placed Osasuna in trouble. among their defensive stock, threatens to cripple their In 19th is Real Valladolid (19 points) and above title hopes. Injuries to Xavi, Seydou Keita, Eric Abithem Tenerife (on 20 points) but Tenerife are only dal, Dani Alves, Dmitro Chygrynskiy and Yaya Toure a few good results from rocketing up to twelfth or leaves a thread bare Barcelona squad. thirteenth. However they do face relatively easy league fixtures (against Racing Santander, Malaga and Almeria) in the next three weeks, so if their make-shift defence can hold on they could still find themselves top in three weeks time. Just down the table from Madrid and Barcelona is the battle for the remaining Champions League spots. As I have mentioned in previous articles, the battle for third and fourth promises to be intriguing and so far it isn’t disappointing. Valencia, currently in third, seemed to be cruising into next year’s CL, but losses to Sevilla and Sporting Gijón have seen their lead over Sevilla slip to just four points.
Unfortunately for the team from the Canary Island, they can’t seem to play away from home. A quick glance at the home/away ladders sees them in 13th for home form, a comfortable place for mid table mediocrity, but rock bottom for away form, with only two points secured away from home. Zaragoza, Almeria, Malaga, Racing and Sporting Gijón are all in serious danger, but unless Tenerife start scoring away from home (like John Terry…) the only team I can see going down is Zaragoza (replacing Valladolid down the bottom). The boys from La Romareda have the worst defence in the league and really need to get their act together if they’re going to stay up.
Patriotic Aussie football fan Damian Davies tracks the progress of our Socceroos and Aussies Abroad at club level. He lives in Melbourne, making him a Victory fan!!
Aussies Abroad Review
Club level:- Many European league remain on mid-season breaks while the poor weather has been causing the postponement of many games in the UK. In the EPL, a strong month has seen Everton climb back into mid table security. Conversely, a string of losses to Fulham now means a spot in Europe seems to be wishful thinking. In the Championship, a 10 point deduction to Palace has seen the promotion dream turn into a relegation nightmare.
FC Twente have seen their lead in Holland dissolve as PSV has caught them up. Our boys at Galatasaray have helped them climb to second in Turkey. While in Scotland, looks like several Aussies will be involved in relegation battles over the closing months in the SPL. Unfortunately we continue to chalk up niggling injuries to our Socceroos. Harry Kewell, Scott McDonald and Rhys Williams all in the treatment room, but on the flip side, Emerton is back for Blackburn. Socceroos Player of the Month: Tim Cahill. A return to form and some vital goals as Cahill led Everton to a very strong month in their domestic competition. January - Cahill, December - Kewell, November Kewell, October - Schwarzer, September - Kennedy
Youth Player of the Month: Rocky Visconte. A very rapid climb through the ranks. Made the subs bench, made a debut, made a full debut at Hearts, and then sent out on loan to bolster his playing experience. An interesting month, but his loan period could be defining in the short term. Watch this space. January - Visconte, December - Bouzanis, November - McGrath, October - McGrath, September - Ucchino
Under the radar: Nathan Burns. The step down a level in Greece seems to be working for Nathan with a successful league run for his team, plenty of game time and quite a few goals. May have left his run late, but South Africa is not out of the question. January - Burns, December - Kilkenny, November - Kilkenny, October - R. Griffiths, September - Santalab
Transfers :- At the risk of overstating this, per-
haps the most important transfer window for Australian football players in history. A mad scramble to find first team football as lots of Socceroos and fringe players moved clubs, predominately on loan, to improve their prospects for WC2010.
Transfers Name Daniel Allsop Michael Baird Eddy Bosnar Bruce Djite
From Al-Rayyan Universitatea JEF United Chiba Genclerbirligi
Harris Gaitatzis Tony Hatzis Dean Heffernan
To DC United, USA released Jan 10 Shimizu Pulse, Japan loan to Diyarbakirspor, Turkey Panserraikos, Greece
Niki Volou Mariners
Naoussa FFS, Greece loan to Huddersfield Town, England
Shane Lowry Aston Villa Scott McDonald Celtic Mark Milligan Shanghai Shenhua
loan to Leeds United, England Middlesborough, England JEF United, Japan
Josh Mitchell
released Jan 10
Universitatea,
Craig Moore Brisbane Lucas Neill Everton Chris O’Connor Bray Wanderers Jamie Pitt Balestier Khalsa, Singapore Joshua Rose Universitatea Nikita Rukavyt- Fc Twente saya Matthew Spira- Nuremberg novic Carl Valeri Grosseto Dario Vidosic Nurmeberg
AO Kavala, Greece Galatasaray, Turkey Bohemians, Ireland released Dec 09 released Jan 10 loan to KSV Roeselare, Belgium loan to Urawa Reds, Japan Sassuolo, Italy MSV Duisburg, Germany
Kasey Wehrman Fredrikstad, released Dec 09 Norway Rocky Visconte
Hearts
loan Ayr United, Scotland
Ruben Zadkovich
Derby
(released Jan 10)
Socceroos Watch January/February Player
Club Happenings
Country
Games/ Goals
M. Bresciano
Italy
1/0
T. Cahill
Palermo: Spent most of the month in the treatment room Everton: Great month!!
England
6/3
N. Carle
Crystal Palace: Back in the fold at Palace
England
3/0
S. Chipperfield Basle:
Switzerland
Injured-ankle
A. Covic
IF Elfsborg
Sweden
Off Season
J. Culina
Gold Coast: Very solid
Australia
5/1
B. Djite
Diyarbakirspor: Started loan deal to get game time
Turkey
2/0
B. Emerton
Blackburn: Returned from injury, prominent
England
6/1
A. Federici
Reading: Consistent, good cup run
England
R. Garcia
Hull: Needs to move up a gear
England
6/2 clean sheet 4/0
V. Grella
Blackburn
England
Injured/thigh
D. Heffernan
England
2/0
B. Holman
Huddersfield Town: Recent transfer to England, played in the A League earlier in the month. AZ Alkmar:
Holland
Injured calf
M. Jedinak
Antalyaspor: Solid but not spectacular
Turkey
3/0
J. Kennedy H. Kewell P. Kisnorbo
Nagoya Grampus Galatasaray Leeds: Impressive but injured late in the month
Japan Turkey England
Off-Season Injured-groin 5/0
S. McDonald
Middlesbrough
England
M. Milligan
JEF United
Japan
Injuredhernia Off-season
Greece
3/0
Turkey
4/0
Turkey
1
Belgium
4/2
London Japan
6/1 clean sheet Off-season
Italy
3/0
Germany
2/0
C. Moore
Kavala: Transferred to Greece. A few cards early in his new career L. Neill Galatasaray: Transferred to Turkey mid month so played in English Premier League as well. M. Petkovic Sivasspor: Struggling to get game time, not sure if injury or form N. Rukavytsya KSV Roeselare: Transferred to Belgium. Instant success M. Schwarzer Fulham: A little uncharacteristic of his season, let in a few goals M. Spiranovic Urawa Red Diamonds: Off season after transfer to Japan C. Valeri Sassuolo: Transferred within Italy. Yet to cement a spot D. Vidosic MSV Duisburg: Dropped a level in Germany, needs to start scoring
Zeroagainst believes anything is possible for Football in Australia. He writes about why, when, where and how it is going to happen. http://www.zeroagainst.com/
son Six
Lessons for the A-League Sea-
With some exceptions and a few surprises aside, crowds at the A-League this season have been disappointing to say the least. A couple of weeks ago, however, Robbie Fowler and the Fury pulled an extra 7000 fans on the Melbourne Victory average for the year. 27,000 fans came along to see Robbie Fowler, aka God, play against the Victory in the Melbourne Capital.
In a season where a 12,000 gate is seen as a successful attendance, that crowd was a highlight for the year. It was clear that the fans came to see the Fury marquee, and it highlights an important lesson for clubs going into season six - we need strong marquee brands to keep building interest in the clubs and the competition. What makes a marquee truly Marquee? I think clubs have lost their way on this a little. Marquee doesn’t mean a player who was a star in the A-League last year, or a player with outstanding ability, or even a fringe Socceroo who has been playing 2nd division in Nepal and wants to come home to pasture.
Marquee means Marquee with a capital M. Charisma, pulling power, a cult status with fans - and it’s not just about talent. A Marquee player needs to tick some pretty special boxes. Has he played for a huge team overseas? Did they sing songs about him at his old club?
‘the A-League needs to leverage the vast market of player talent that football offers from around the world, to snare the occasional superstar that adds an exotic flavour to the round ball game. ‘ Has your son or daughter got a poster of him up on the bedroom wall right now? Has he got a personal line of Nike/Adidas/Puma clothing? Will Les Murray blush like a schoolgirl when interviewing him? You get the picture.
Of course he still needs to be able to play the game I am not calling for Romario or Jardel re-runs here. But if many of these boxes can’t be ticked, then clubs are probably better off taking their money and paying for a guest player that can, even if it is for a handful of games.
No John Aloisi Marquee is going to get the average Premier League loving punter to the stadiums (despite this last fortnight’s spectacular resurgence). Not even a Serginho van Dijk or a Carlos Hernandez, no matter how electric they have been this year, is going to stir my Olympiakos loving uncle back to the game he once frequented weekly. David Beckham’s visit with the Galaxy in 2007 against Sydney uncovered a hidden glut of sport’s consumers looking for that Marquee factor. The Cove banner said it all on that day- “70000 people, we play EVERY week”. In a sport’s market saturated with competition, and lets face it, often ignored by the mainstream media, clubs need to keep thinking big.
“The Cove banner said it all on that day- 70000 people, we play EVERY week”. In a sport’s market saturated with competition, and lets face it, often ignored by the mainstream media, clubs need to keep thinking big.’ If there is one thing that Season Five crowd figures have shown us all, it is that the A-League needs to leverage the vast market of player talent that football offers from around the world, to snare the occasional superstar that adds an exotic flavour to the round ball game. Real marquee players provide the hook, and the atmosphere of a decent crowd this generates brings the buzz that will attract the curious and the old heads alike. Then its up to the football itself to keep them there. That’s a lesson for another day.
Ask me how to make 4,284,379 new best friends?
Russ Gibbs keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings of the Matilda’s
MATILDAS PREPARATIONS ARE WELL UNDERWAY
Westfield Matildas Squad List Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Training Camp, AIS Football Fields 14-17 January 2010
Teigen ALLEN (Sydney FC), Laura ALLEWAY (Melbourne Victory), Melissa BARBIERI (Melbourne Victory), Leah BLAYNEY (Central Connecticut State University, USA), Ellie BRUSH (Canberra United), Joanne BURGESS (Brisbane Roar), Tameka BUTT (Brisbane Roar), Lauren COLTHORPE (Brisbane Roar), Casey DUMONT Sermanni used the first camp of the year as an important part of the team’s preparations for the (Brisbane Roar), Heather GARRIOCK (Sydney FC), Kathryn GILL (Perth Glory), Michelle AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 which will be held in Chengdu, China between 19-30 May. The West- HEYMAN (Central Coast Mariners), Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (Brisbane Roar), Samantha field Matildas have been drawn in Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 along with host na- KERR (Perth Glory), Leena KHAMIS (Sydney FC), Kylie LEDBROOK (Sydney FC), Aivi LUIK tion China, Vietnam and Korea Republic. (Brisbane Roar), Collette McCALLUM (Perth The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010 also serves as a Glory), Sian McLAREN (Adelaide United), Kate qualifying competition for the 2011 FIFA Women’s McSHEA (Brisbane Roar), Ellyse PERRY (Canberra United), Clare POLKINGHORNE (BrisWorld Cup which will be held in Germany. Only the top three Asian teams from the AFC Women’s bane Roar), Karla REUTER (Brisbane Roar), Kyah SIMON (Sydney FC), Thea SLATYER (CanAsian Cup 2010 will progress to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Australia is currently ranked berra United), Emily VAN EGMOND (Canberra United), Sarah WALSH (Sydney FC), Lydia WIL14 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and LIAMS (Canberra United) and Emma WIRKUS fourth within the AFC. (Perth Glory). Westfield Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni named a strong squad of 29 for a Matildas training camp held at the AIS from January 14-17 in preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be held in China.
W-League Champions Sydney FC saw six of their Grand Final winning squad selected including leading strike duo Sarah Walsh and Leena Khamis. Their vanquished opponents, Brisbane Roar, meanwhile have nine representatives with Canberra United providing five. Joint W-League ‘Young Player of the Year’ winners Elise KellondKnight and Ellyse Perry were at the camp, as was ‘Rising Star’ Sam Kerr. Central Coast Mariners hot-shot, Michelle Heyman, continued her meteoric rise to prominence with selection, coming on the back of her ‘Player of the Year’ award and ‘Golden Boot’ in season two.
Ellie BRUSH (Canberra United)
Meanwhile it was announced recently that the Matildas will receive match payments for the first time under a new contract agreement. The FFA reported that selected players will earn between $500 and $1,000 per match at this year’s Asian Cup as well as six-month retainers of up to $17,000. A minimum of 23 players will be contracted under the three-tier system when they are offered six month deals to take them through to the Asian Cup in Chengdu, China from May 19 to 30.
“The new agreement reflects the importance FFA places on women’s football and the national team,” said Head of Women’s Football Leeanne Grantham. “Under the retainers the new Westfield Matildas contracts have increased substantially, providing for regular monthly income and match payments relating to the AFC Asian Cup, which is great news for the players.”
PFA chief executive Brendan Schwab welcomed the new deal. “We are determined to work with FFA to make football the sport of choice for elite athletes of both genders,” he said.
CLAIRE POLKINGHORNE (Brisbane Roar)
Kate McSHEA (Brisbane Roar)
“This agreement is a significant step towards the development of a professional career path for our best women footballers. The new arrangements are a significant improvement on the previous agreement and are a result of constructive negotiations between all parties. As well as an increase in payments there are some other new conditions that will make being a Westfield Matilda much more beneficial.” Matildas defender Kate McShea, who was part of a players’ committee which negotiated the deal, said it was a big step forward for the woman’s game in Australia.
“It’s guaranteed income which will hopefully help us focus more on football,” McShea said. “We’ll still have financial worries but they’ll be a bit less of a burden. Our entire budget is probably what one Socceroo gets but in terms of female sports we’re sitting pretty good. We’ve definitely come a long way.”
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