It's kind of ironic that in a week where my Gold Coast counterpart derided Central Coast Mariners for being a bunch of butchers that one of his own pulled off a hit that would have had the person on the grassy knoll clapping his hands in appreciation.
Despite the fact that it occurred within a few metres of the Gold Coast bench and the fourth official, not a single sanction was issued. Many will argue that Pantelidis will get his due punishment from the Match Review Panel for his cowardly attack and in all likelihood not play again this season.
However my argument is that the lack of a decision by any of the four officials cost Melbourne the chance of playing against 10 men for the best part of 70 minutes. A fact that could have very well benefited a team that was playing its third game in six days.
It is very rare that you wish Matthew Breeze was officiating one of your matches, but Friday night was one of those cases. At least the man can make a decision, even it's the wrong one more often than not.
But then the three or four Gold Coast fans that visit this site will get on their little soapboxes and bleat, "What about Muscat's elbow to Culina's face?" And I'll say, "Very lucky not to pick up a card of either colour." Unlike others I can admit to the foibles of the team that I support. But to be honest we all know that Kevin Muscat runs the league, so nothing will come off the incident.
You have to worry a little about the amount of sunshine they are getting up there on the Gold Coast when Miron Bleiberg accuses Melbourne of targeting Pantelidis. Targeting what? His elbow with their heads? His studs with their ankles? Come off it Miron. Pantelidis is not a target, he brings it all on himself.
The whole incident got me thinking. What is it about Robbie Kruse that makes him a target? First it was Charlie Miller, then Pantelidis and before this season it was all those guys in Fortitude Valley. It fascinates me that one player/person appears to cop more attention than others. Having never met the fellow it appears that he naturally (or unnaturally) get under the skin of his opponents and those around him. If I could find a stat on the most fouled player in the league, I reckon he would be pretty high up on the list.
The injury to Kruse highlighted how light on we are on for strikers at the moment, particularly with the injury to Thompson. It's all well and good to be getting goals from midfield, but when your one and only striker (and I use that term loosely) goes down (literally) you can't really expect your midfielders to automatically become strikers. We aren't Roma from a few seasons ago.
Why is someone like Elasi, who is a proven goalscorer at Youth League level not getting an opportunity? And yes I understand that he won't be part of the club for next year but surely you must use the resources at your disposal whilst you have them? It seems to be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
So after a relative feast of football when I managed to watch Victory play three times in short succession it is somewhat pleasing to have a week where I can concentrate on something else apart from football - like work, for instance. And I'm sure the players are appreciative of a lighter workload as well.
Neil is trying to think of a name for his weekly blogs (rants?). Any suggestions would be most welcome.
