Football Analysis

The Ronaldo Show

The Ronaldo Show

When you travel to the other side of the world to see someone play football you're left hoping they'll do something special for you - Ronaldo's hat-trick last night certainly fitted the bill in that respect! In the wake of Barcelona's 8-0 thumping of Almeria, Real showed they're every bit as ... 22 Nov 2010
Ferguson - On The Right Track?

Ferguson - On The Right Track?

Perth Glory, how low can we go?  We might not be bottom of the table, but with games in hand Sydney and North Queensland could leave us dead last with just 15 points from 17 games.  Perhaps even more disturbingly, we've conceded very near to two goals for every one scored this season ... 21 Nov 2010
Simply the Best.

Simply the Best.

Ah, that famous line: "To be the best, you must beat the best!" Playing first and second in consecutive matches is an excellent opportunity to prove yourself, unfortunately, we were outplayed and humbled by two more deserving and well polished outfits. Our first half against Brisbane was a joy ... 21 Nov 2010
The Good, the Bad and the Entertaining...

The Good, the Bad and the Entertaining...

In truth, it was never going to be pretty. Two teams in third and fourth position only separated by a point. Both teams with 3 games in hand on the ladder leading Roar (who's lead after this game would be less than the 9 points these games in hand have on offer). Two teams who in recent games ... 21 Nov 2010
A-League Awards - Week 15

A-League Awards - Week 15

FROM good goals to sound saves and incredible individual misses, week 16 of A-League action was jam packed with entertainment for devotees of the competition. Here's the best (and the worst) of the play... Goal of the Week While there were no 30-yard stunners this week, what's certain is ... 21 Nov 2010
Meeting Ronaldo...

Meeting Ronaldo...

It was a fairly surreal experience concentrating on taking my penalty while a certain Real Madrid superstar sat next to the goal critiquing my efforts. However, that was the reality as my Castrol trip to meet Cristiano Ronaldo kicked-off yesterday. After a day's grace to blow some of those ... 19 Nov 2010
Playing His Paart Perfectly

Playing His Paart Perfectly

All great ensembles have their unsung heroes. I can think of Major Gowen from Fawlty Towers, Peter Criss of Kiss fame and, perhaps a little selfishly, the unpaid bloggers that contribute to a certain award winning football website. Add to that list Erik Paartalu - the lynchpin of the Brisbane ... 19 Nov 2010
Planning For The Future

Planning For The Future

With the current season not going very well, it's comforting to know that the club has taken measures to ensure the team can be competitive in years to come. This has a lot to do with the clever contract negotiations taken by club management. With new recruits in Carle, Jamieson, Reddy and ... 19 Nov 2010
Under Pressure?

Under Pressure?

With three losses in the last four games, is Adelaide United manager Rini Coolen under a little bit of pressure to revive his side's flagging fortunes?  In my humble opinion, not just yet. Sure, the current state of play is not good reading but the circumstances surrounding the recent ... 18 Nov 2010
You need fine grit to polish a season

You need fine grit to polish a season

So ‘they' say in order to have a successful season teams must come away with something out of the games where they do not play well. So if the game between the Mariners and Victory is any indication then the Mariners may just be building toward a great season. Last night the Mariners ... 18 Nov 2010
4 points from 6 against the top two teams eh?

4 points from 6 against the top two teams eh?

Not a bad team then? The Jets crushed Adelaide (can I say 'crushed'? Is 3-1 a crushing?), and then dominated Brisalona / Brasalona for over an hour (wink & nod to Reinaldo's man-bra - what's with that? Are his pecs sagging?). What does that say about the Jets? Are they Sydney-like in their ... 18 Nov 2010
Where Have All The Ex-Fans Gone?

Where Have All The Ex-Fans Gone?

Recently, I had the fortune to have one of my good mates from Perth come visit me in England. With my regular streaming of Glory games and his history of being a Glory supporter back in the NSL days, it was inevitable that we’d discuss the decline of the club in recent ... 18 Nov 2010
Different class

Different class

When things aren't really going your way the true character of people really shows through. With Victory losing two matches in a row and three out of the last four, the various types of fans have all come out of the woodwork and I'm here to help you identify them when you are next at a Melbourne ... 17 Nov 2010
Where were you before?

Where were you before?

If there's one thing that increases media interest around a sports team, it's off-field controversy.  Nothing gets the general news media salivating more than trouble at HQ, and the well-documented financial issues facing Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos brought the circling vultures to ... 17 Nov 2010
From Zurich with strings

From Zurich with strings

Regrets, I've had a few - here's hoping December 2 isn't one of them. In about a fortnight the host for the 2022 World Cup will be named. Ratcheting up the pressure a few media hysterics have put the whole box and dice on the outcome of the Australian bid. A cold-shoulder from Zurich and ... 17 Nov 2010
Squad selected. Now the planning begins.

Squad selected. Now the planning begins.

Okay...the trials have been run and the squads selected. Last night I spent an hour getting 30 odd very enthusiastic 10 year olds measured up for their kits. It was also our first interaction with the parents so I expressed the need for punctuality and an understanding from them that we are ... 16 Nov 2010
The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!

The sky is falling! Armageddon is upon us! Fire shall rain down and smite us all....!!! Yes! The unthinkable has happened. Clive Palmer has made a visible and tangible move showing his intent to have a Gold Coast team in the A-league for the foreseeable future. The club has made public the ... 15 Nov 2010
A-League Awards - Week 14

A-League Awards - Week 14

The A-League has many a critic. Read the letters section of The Herald (Newcastle) on any given day and you're guaranteed to see any number of League fans having a swipe at the code (and, usually, the Jets). But surely, surely, what cannot be contested is that for all the competitions ... 15 Nov 2010
'Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale'

'Flattery is all right so long as you don't inhale'

Ever get the feeling that someone is building you up only so they can watch you fall from a great height? That's what I have been dealing with in the last couple of weeks. The unabashed admiration for Brisbane Roar and their style of play has come thick and fast, marauding and swarming like the ... 15 Nov 2010
Don't Curb Your Enthusiasm

Don't Curb Your Enthusiasm

Defeating Phoenix 3-0 at the Cake Tin AND a FourFourTwo picture special of Pedj at the gym....now that's what I call fantasy football. (By the way Aidan, didn't you promise I could carry your tripod ?) Yes, it's been another fantastic week for the Mariners : a memorable result and yet ... 15 Nov 2010
Sydney and Perth Both Score Four

Sydney and Perth Both Score Four

W-LEAGUE WRAP: Sydney slotted in four goals for the second time in two weeks to continue their championship-winning form, while Perth notched up four goals of their own to record their first and confidence-boosting season three win. Sydney proved that their red-hot round one form, which saw ... 14 Nov 2010

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