Analysis - FTBL | The home of football in Australia

Football Analysis

If the cap fits

If the cap fits

That rambunctious mining magnate, Clive Palmer, is at it again. Here's a bloke who doesn't bat an eye at losing $8 million a day but gets a bad case of tourettes when confronted by a pizzling crowd. A common affliction among the Gold Coast United management evidently - blurting ... 20 Aug 2010

Heartbreak for Heart

Heartbreak for Heart

Even before last week's game, I was already writing the headlines because the opportunity for puns was just too high. But to hell with it, I'm going to ignore it for the rest of the blog. First up this week we'll discuss haircuts, then we'll talk controversy for reader walnuts and last we'll ... 20 Aug 2010

The Fine Art of Sleazery

The Fine Art of Sleazery

Some people will tell you: "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game that matters." For such people, heady victory or dire defeat are irrelevant details and subordinate to the higher principles of fair play and encouraging decency. Such people are idiots. Football is ... 19 Aug 2010

Oh Danny Boy

Oh Danny Boy

So one of the Mariners favourite sons has found himself in a really sticky situation, so I thought I would add my two cents worth. I considered who out of this whole situation is the real victim and how they are being affected. Danny So Danny Vukovic is an obvious choice as a victim in the ... 19 Aug 2010

Hungry, Hungry Holger

Hungry, Hungry Holger

Managed at international level? Check. Coaching success in Asia? Yep. Experienced but in-touch with the modern game? Definitely. Enough pedigree to command immediate respect from the squad? Sure. Willing to meaningfully contribute to the progression of Australian football at all levels? A fair ... 19 Aug 2010

Kewell Off, Guys!

Kewell Off, Guys!

Tuesday night's televised confrontation between Harry Kewell and Robbie Slater reached rather dizzy heights. "I don't know why you're creating this kind of thing." "What have I ever done to you?" To be honest, it wasn't unlike the sort of stuff I witnessed in my junior all-girls high school ... 18 Aug 2010

Franz Straka for PM

Franz Straka for PM

If you pick up any form of media at the moment, chances are you are going to be bombarded by Abbot or Gillard, telling you they can run the country better than the other, our country needs good economic management, we need better policy blah blah blah... After a beverage or two at the sensationa... 17 Aug 2010

Slip slidin' away ... at home

Slip slidin' away ... at home

Wind? Check. Rain? Check. Phoenix. Yep. Game one of the new A-League season was certainly an experience. Despite some pretty wild weather patterns in New Zealand's capital, this was the first time a game had come close to not being completed. The referee offered to call ... 17 Aug 2010

Come Play! (Quietly)

Come Play! (Quietly)

It's been a long time since Bluetongue has generated an atmosphere as electric as the last 30 minutes of our match against Adelaide last Sunday. Although we had to fight long and hard for a draw (and in fact deserved a late penalty to win) there was a sense of excitement in the air that has not ... 17 Aug 2010

The game that never was...

The game that never was...

What a magical night in Wellington as two of the A-League's best water-polo specialists showed us how those years flapping about in the pool were worth the pain and tears. It was a night where every proud New Zealander who had recently caught World Cup fever could come out to support the ... 16 Aug 2010

What's the point?

What's the point?

Two draws is hardly a jet-propelled start to the latest season, but two points from two games is probably a better start than many had predicted for Adelaide United. What's the point? It's hope. Every point is hope. Wooden spooners last season and severely depleted by injury at the beginning ... 16 Aug 2010

Less pain in the LARS

Less pain in the LARS

It feels like it was only a few months ago that I was wincing at the stats that women are eight times more likely to rupture their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) than men. It feels like even fewer months ago that I was chatting to Roar Women player Jenna Tristram after she'd just endured ... 16 Aug 2010

The long wait is over

The long wait is over

All in all I had been waiting approximately 32 months for what occurred on Saturday night. And no, I don't mean seeing Melbourne Victory lose to Perth Glory at home (pretty sure that was a much longer period of time) but instead seeing my team in their first competitive hit-out at AAMI Park. It ... 15 Aug 2010

What a Difference a Change Makes

What a Difference a Change Makes

I was determined to avoid another discussion of Perth Glory's tactics this week. Having complained for so long about David Mitchell's strict adherence to a 4-4-2 formation, I figured it was time to move on and talk about something else. Unfortunately, Mitch made it impossible to avoid the ... 15 Aug 2010

Busy times

Busy times

We've barely drawn breath and yet we are already on the path towards Brazil 2014. A new coach and a loss to Slovenia made for a busy week in Socceroo-land. But dare I ask - are we being exposed to too much green and gold too soon after our South African foray? Before you ... 13 Aug 2010

Random Rambling

Random Rambling

So given the early start to the season and the lack of major issues for the Mariners so far, I thought I would just discuss a few random thoughts that went through my mind (which is a really quick trip). Graham Arnold's tenure so far So public reaction to the naming of our new national coach ... 13 Aug 2010

Little Jan

Little Jan

For a while now I, like many other suffering Victory fans, have been crying out for a striker to at least cover over the deficiencies that we have in that area, despite the sterling effort by Dugandzic on the weekend suggesting that he could have a role to play in reclaiming the title. However, ... 13 Aug 2010

On hating Kevin Muscat

On hating Kevin Muscat

It sounds blasphemous to even suggest it, but Sydney FC may just need Kevin Muscat more than Melbourne Victory does - and I don't mean for the comic value. After all, in the boiling cauldron of the game day stoush, what's the point of heroics without a villain to overcome? Pe... 13 Aug 2010

New Season, New Blog

New Season, New Blog

Welcome to this Newcastle Jets football blog - I hope this will be a place where Newcastle fans and others can pull apart issues about the Jets including performances, playing style, formations and the ins and outs of the players and the playing roster. Share your opinions in the comments ... 12 Aug 2010

Beware: The Underdog Bites

Beware: The Underdog Bites

I love reading the FourFourTwo forums. I especially loved reading them in the days leading up to the Glory v Fury match in Perth, where most (possibly) crack-smoking Glory fans were insisting that this was three points in the bag. Some predictions doing the rounds even had them winning by ... 12 Aug 2010

Ready when you are

Ready when you are

The Phoenix players are champing at the bit to get involved in the A-League V6. After watching from the sidelines as the other 10 franchises kicked off their campaigns last weekend, the players freely admitted they were envious. A bye is an attractive prospect mid-season after a run ... 11 Aug 2010

Latest News

Preview: The PNG Open

Preview: The PNG Open

Make that three 2025 titles - Steve Allan strikes again

Make that three 2025 titles - Steve Allan strikes again

Burmester claims LIV Golf Chicago in three-way playoff

Burmester claims LIV Golf Chicago in three-way playoff

Most Read

Aloisi leans on AFL, cricket counterparts ahead of A-League semi

Aloisi leans on AFL, cricket counterparts ahead of A-League semi

Rudan raises CommBank Stadium concerns

Rudan raises CommBank Stadium concerns

TESTED: ASICS SWIFT STRIKE

TESTED: ASICS SWIFT STRIKE

Re-live the trailblazing ParaMatildas' World Cup final

Re-live the trailblazing ParaMatildas' World Cup final