THE emergence of Gold Coast United has been a bit of a laugh for Sydney fans. Oooh they so want to be us.
They have even changed the name of their supporter group (such as it is) from the White Shoe Brigade to "the Beach" - a Milli Vanilli of The Cove if ever there was one (rumours that "the smelly canals" is now being considered in reference to the club's Robina home have yet to be confirmed).
Acres of very serious type have been dedicated to both Sydney FC's reinvention and Gold Coast United's full frontal approach to the A-league, and frankly it's become a tad boring. What people really want know is who pwns who in the battle of the bling.
So let's bring it, bitches. It's time for the bling-off.
Round 1: The Sugar Daddies
GCU: Clive Palmer - property developer (but of course) and lately mining magnate. Estimated worth $1.5 billion according to the BRW.
SFC: David Traktovenko - St Petersberg banker and football club magnate. Estimated worth: A mystery. A 2005 Russian newspaper article had him at $US370 million. There's been both a massive boom and a massive collapse since then so it's hard to know, but a safe bet would be somewhere between $500m and $1 billion. Paul Ramsay - media and healthcare magnate. Estimated worth $1.1 billion according to the BRW. Frank Lowy - if there wasn't already a multi-story concrete and terrazzo tribute to his brilliance in every third suburb of Australia, we would be building statues to commemorate what this man has done for Australian football. We probably still will. Has $6.3 billion lying around according to the BRW. Anthony La Paglia - Crime investigator extraordinaire and former NSL goalie. Worth $13 million according to 442 earlier this year. That seems light on given the length, depth and popularity of his TV career. He is the president of Hollywood FC, which scores heavily on the blingometer.
Verdict: There are plenty of Champions League teams that would happily trade in their owners for the team behind Sydney FC, both in terms of net worth and footballing connections. Sydney FC by two helicopters, a private jet and any number of Clive's draglines.
Round 2: The Management
GCU: Miron Blieberg & Paul Okon. Miron sure talks the talk, but does he walk the walk? A youth player at Maccibi Haifa, who was by his own admission surrounded by too many good players to take it seriously. Moved from Israel to Australia and quickly was appointed coach of the Melbourne Knights when the coach they really wanted didn't turn up to work. He bounced around the NSL but never really managed to win anything - has had consistent success at state league level though. He was a flop at the Queensland Roar and must be considered unproven at this level, notwithstanding his many chances. Still win or lose, "Miron still drives a Mercedes". Miron told Foxsports last week that he really wants to coach Sydney FC. Very GC, Miron. Paul Okon is one of the greats of Australian football and is serving an apprenticeship on the way to what could be an excellent coaching career. Having played in Italy, when it was the place to play, as well as Belgium and England, Okon has experienced just about every coaching style and strategy developed over the last 20 years. It's a handy bank of knowledge to draw upon.
SFC: Viteslav Lavicka and Michel Zach. Lavicka is the anti-Miron. Quietly spoken, calm and not one to brag - in fact has shown a propensity to talk his prospects down a bit to manage expectations. He had a 16 year playing career at the top clubs of the Czech republic, followed by a very useful coaching career, in which he won the Czech League and was named coach of the year. He also coached the Czech under 21 team. I have previously described Michel Zach as a coaching wunderkind - he served an apprenticeship that started when he was 21 and progress to be given the reins at big clubs like Bohemians and Slovan Liberic while still in his 30s. Both are UEFA pro level coaches. Poppa and John Filan are pretty handy too!
Verdict: No contest - Miron is a nutter and even the Melbourne Victory fans I know admit that Sydney have the best qualified coaching team ever to grace the A-league. Maybe Miron should get the pro-license after all. Sydney FC by a couple of pimped black Mercedes.
Round 3: The Bling
GCU: Jason Culina. The legendary engine room of the Socceroos. Culina has done everything there is to do in Dutch football and played regularly in the Champions League against the world's best players. He could get a multi-year contract in any league in the world if he wanted one. His return to the A-league doesn't seem to have dampened his skills yet. A proper bit of bling and easily the best player in the A-league.
SFC: John Aloisi. Three years ago, John's marquee status would have been beyond reproach. He scored that goal. He is a legend. Last year was horrible for everyone concerned, and you still get the impression that John is playing within himself a bit. When he's fit, he's still a great player at A-league level, as his 3 goals this year have confirmed. The days of him commanding a spot in the national team have passed, but I expect he will be playing in the Asian Cup qualifiers later this year. A good season could see him crack the WC2010 squad, but it will be a well earned last hurrah. That said, I hope John stays with Sydney FC as a salary cap player next season.
Verdict: Culina was just a great get for the Gold Coast. Happily he's not playing on Saturday. Gold Coast United by a few Eredivisie champions medals on shiny gold chains.
Round 4: the Imported Goods:
GCU: Brazilians by the bucketload. It's like Miron's got a private store of them under his house. When one gets injured - just wheel out another one, just like the other one. Milson, Anderson, Jefferson, Robson. Collect the set. Plenty of flair and intent, but they have not really set the A-league on fire. Adama Traore has impressed in his runs out and could be a real surprise. Bas Van Den Brink has been United's most consistent import to date, plucked by Miron from the Dutch second division.
SFC: Terry McFlynn has been one of the most consistent performers for Sydney FC over 5 years. Hopefully will get his chance for Northern Ireland before too long. Byun Sung-Hwan has slotted into the left back position nicely and combines pace and an attacking instinct with good positional play in defense. Karol Kisel is a classy European international, with 25 appearances for Slovakia - a team on track to win its World Cup qualifying group. Rapidly becoming the driving force behind Sydney. Stefan Kellar will be huge in this league. A Swiss international, who has played extensively at the top level in Switzerland and Holland, he is a quality defender that can play rough or smooth. He would make the current Socceroos team without a doubt.
Verdict: The Gold Coast have some nice players and their Brazilians could set the league on fire when the settle in, but the European internationals at Sydney are just that bit of class. It's close but Kellar's pedigree gives it to Sydney FC by a Rolex.
Round 5: The Squad
GCU: There are some great players on the Gold Coast team - Smeltz, daylight, Porter, Thwaite and Minnecon are all class. Behind that, the quality drops away though and injuries to any of these guys or the imports could have the Gold Coast scrambling.
SFC: Sydney run long and deep. The older players are top class - Corica, Colosimo and Bolton have all represented Australia and have been counted amongst the best players in the A-league. Behind them are guys approaching the peak of their careers that really have a lot to prove over the next 18 months- Brosque, Bridge, Musilaik, and Cole have all been on the fringes of the Socceroos but never have really broken through. Danning, Gan, Grant, Jurman, Golec and Payne are among the best young players going around the A-league and will all be a force in the future.
Verdit: The Gold Coast have some great front line players, but the depth of the Sydney squad and its young players are its real bling this year.
Result:
In the post bling era, Sydney FC are a little more discrete about the size of their schizzle. But Sydney FC are clear winners of the bling-off 4:1. Given that we are due for a blow-out I reckon that will be the score tomorrow too.
Bling it on.
