358 days and counting.....
Hopefully if my timing is right, as you read this it will have been 358 days and counting that Gold Coast has remained undefeated by the arch enemy Brisbane. It is a derby with a short history with only four games played but a healthy goal difference of 9-2 in the Coast's favour.
This is OUR local derby so it would be remiss of me not to point out any and all facts that paint my team in a superior light. It must be said though that it was with a significant slice of luck that this run remains intact. Keeping in the vein of spin I would like to think it was because GCU played poorly but I know better.
The weekend also left two questions still un-answered, are Gold Coast capable of backing up their impressive first season and is Ange's new look Roar for real?
The answer is a solid maybe on both counts.
Maybe GCU can repeat their success but not by leaving players of the calibre of Zenon Carevella on the bench. Why was he there? I suspect a move before the transfer period is on his mind and in turn his 'replacements' are getting game time.
Maybe new Roar are the real deal after an undermanned bench and an almost victory, although in reality the answers will only be learned in the coming weeks.
It was also great to see the local leagues of the respective teams support the national game with such vigour. Kudos goes to Gold Coast soccer and Brisbane football for scheduling a raft of games around the same 3pm time slot. I would also imagine the FFA, United and Roar are also guilty of a lack of communication.
This is PRECISELY the situation when a united front needs to be presented and I'm all for it to be a forced one. FFA really needs to identify this as a potential problem. I think what the state and local leagues do is great, but what is the point in giving their gifted players a "pathway" if you then undermine it in such a way.
So for those who got off the couch and came to the stadium I thank you and I will see you again on Boxing Day when we extend the streak beyond 496 days.
