IS IT time to gloat now? No? Well, sorry, but after months of uninformed nonsense from the nay-sayers, I just can't resist.

I kept my euphoria in check after the Roar derby because that game was - despite some glorious football - a rather peculiar affair. But there can no longer be any excuse for doubt. As I've been saying for months, Miron Bleiberg has assembled a brilliant squad that will transform professional football in Australia.

For those who were paying attention, the writing was on the wall way back in November last year. As I wrote then: "One touch, maybe two. Bang! Bleiberg wants every player in his squad to have that same first-touch control, that same vision, that same instinct for beautiful football. Even the defenders will need to have superb passing skills and a good feel for 'the transition game'."

It's no coincidence that many of our eight goals to date have started with deft intercepts at the back and moved upfield with just a few quick flicks. It's a tempo the A-League has rarely experienced before.

Melbourne and Adelaide fans must be wondering if Michael Thwaite and Kristian Rees are the same players they let go last season. And what did I tell you about Adama Traore? He leaps through the air to cut off a pass, knocks it straight to a midfielder, and races up the other end to finish off the movement. Exactly the kind of player Miron was looking for.

Which brings me to another sore point. Miron Bleiberg is just a brilliant coach. End. Of. Story.

For those who say he can't recruit: Culina. Smeltz. Porter. Van Den Brink. Oh, and $1.4 million for Adam Griffiths after ONE GAME. Enough!

(PS: Memo to big European clubs - those Shane Smeltz goals were all flukes. You don't want him, really! Matt Osman's your boy...)

Of course, the naysayers would now rather focus on crowds. Well, crowds, shmouds. Why don't you let Clive Palmer worry about the crowds? He's the guy paying for the spectacle. By the time we play Sydney in Round Five we should be hitting 10,000. By the end of the season we'll be filling stadiums. A legend has been born.

And I cannot believe that these same critics are still asking what Jason Culina is doing in Australia. I'll tell you what he's doing. He's doing back-heels and flick-ons, he's toying with defenders like a cat with mice. He's scoring goals and setting them up. He's entertaining crowds and having fun! And he's lifting the A-League's standard single-handedly while doing it.

You wanna beat us? Go find your own Jason Culina!

Enough! We've earned some respect! And it's not just because of Clive Palmer's money. It's all thanks to the power of positive thinking!

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Meanwhile, the Furious Fisters have a new nickname - Robbie Fowler and the Foulers. Fury committed 17 fouls to Gold Coast's three, including five yellow cards to one, and Robbie Fowler himself was very lucky not to have a red card for that disgraceful kick off the ground at Anderson's head.

NQ Fury now have a big target on their backs. Everyone saw what happened out there and will be keen to repeat the dose. Ferguson's game plan for the season is obvious: get a bunch of big, burly lads and serve up some Scottish-style "well hard" contact sport. Oh dear...

Unfortunately, Gold Coast United might have to get used to facing the same physical tactics from other teams in the league. Five yellows from Farina's boys, another five from the Foulers. Who's next? Will Viddie or Branco have the courage to take Miron on at his own beautiful game?

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Yes, sorry, the Skilled Park pitch was a disgrace. Not our fault. Let's hope the Titans get knocked out of the NRL finals ASAP. We might be lucky we don't have too many home games early in the season (thanks FFA!).

But how good is that stadium eh? I was with my family in our new members seats, and I am not letting them go! We were surrounded by friends from the local footballing community. All Clive has to do now is reach out to the non-footballing bogans...

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For our terrified opponents, the bright side is that our first 20 minutes at Robina showed it can take us a while to hit our stride. Traore and Fitzy in particular looked a bit nervous on debut, but not for long. We probably do have one bad game in us, somewhere. Everybody does, even Barcelona.

We now face road trips against Adelaide and then Newcastle. Excuse me for pencilling them in as easy wins. Hindmarsh could perhaps pose a problem if they don't let us get into our stride. But Branco's boys are surely in for a beating.

My concern is that we won't have Socceroo Jason Culina (on duty in Korea) for the Round Five Sydney FC game. He's clearly the heart and soul of this team right now. But he's not irreplaceable. In fact, the team was playing some great football before he came along, with Caravella and Fitzy both looking solid in midfield right through pre-season. And then there's "Hobson".

In fact, we still have a whole gang of Brazilian midfielders to turn to - I'd love to see all our boys from Brazil out on the pitch dancing rings around Sydney's "new look" team next time we grace the turf at Skilled Park.

Bling 1.0 v. Bling 2.0! Bring it on! My seat at Skilled Park will be waiting.

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Last thing: "The Beach"! Well done, lads. We heard you all the way up the other end. And congrats to the gallant F-troopers who made the journey too. Maybe next time, eh?