He dodged the two-goal Phoenix-Roar snorefest and focused on three of the best games served up this season, rewarding him with 13 goals and a few standout performances.

The matches would have given him plenty of food for thought. Thoughts such as...

"That will be why I got the job and not Ernie Merrick, I shupposhe? Why HAVE the Marinersh and Perth Glory got the two shmallesht crowdsh in Aushtralia?

"Did Melbourne REALLY run away with the title and the championship last sheashon or ish my reshearch wrong? Thish Mark Milligan, I thought he wash shupposhed to be good, no?

"Who ish the 'Big Blue Man'? Why are Shydney allowing him to go? Why doesh Joel Griffithsh only have two capsh for hish country? And why doesh David Zdrilic have 30??

"And thish Perth hat-trick guy really ISH called Billy Sheleshki, yah? You're not jusht taking the pish out of my acshent, yesh?"

It was a weekend where the strikers stepped up to impress the new Socceroos coach in pursuit of a call-up, with none more so than Griffiths. Verbeek must be a bit worried about who he plays in defence though.

Griffiths's freekick against Melbourne was a match for any of Beckham's and he kept his head to slot home his second as the Jets applied the coup de grace to Victory's season.

Super Mario Jardel now appears to be part of Newcastle history - and the decision to leave him behind seemed to finally gel the Jets as a side once more.

Victory have virtually no hope of making the finals - and worse still they are teetering on the verge of the wooden spoon. Their plummet from the dizzy heights of last season has been staggering.

Merrick's odd substitutions didn't help his cause in winning over angry fans...and he must be delighted he signed that three year contract earlier this year.

John Aloisi as good as guaranteed his starting spot in an A-League Socceroo squad with an impressive performance against Adelaide. United have yet to rediscover their earlier form despite Paul Agostino's efforts and the Mariners were quick to punish them.

Sydney had the chance to rob United of a potential finals' place this weekend but took their eye off the ball and lost their unbeaten record under coach John Kosmina.

The farewell to Mark Rudan, Christmas coming up, and a date with the apparent A-League easybeats in an under-strength Perth Glory distracted the side and lulled them into a false sense of security and overconfidence.

Throw in an injured Clint Bolton insisting he was fit and Milligan's worst performance in a long time, plus Kossie's dubious use of his bench, and Sydney were put to shame by the visitors.

Apart from a short spell after the third goal, Perth played the home side off the pitch and it was only Corica - now returned to form - who saved their blushes with his lovely volley.

By the way, memo to Sydney fans tempted to throw stuff at rival players: Ask yourself if you will be a hero for doing it or a dickhead? Guess which one is the correct answer... Or just wait for the NRL/AFL-leaning press to run a pic of you doing it and see which one they call you in the caption.

Roar are cruising into the finals and they know it, despite a few lacklustre performances. A dull draw with Phoenix was enough to keep them second but for Phoenix it meant they climbed above Victory on goal difference.

If Wellington can finish sixth, they'll be happy with their debut season.

Just one point behind them is Perth Glory who stand every chance of moving up to seventh if they can just nail back-to-back wins for once. After their tumultuous season, dodging the wooden spoon will also be seen as a success for them.

But that would leave Victory propping up the ladder. From second bottom in V1, to the very top in V2 then straight back down to the bottom is woeful.

Ernie Merrick probably can't wait for the A-League to expand to ten clubs next season...


versus
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Shane Smeltz 25’)
Queensland Roar 1 (Reinaldo 5’)

Friday, 14 December 2007
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referees: Paul Dunham & Nick Waldron
Fourth Official: Michael Hester

Crowd: 9,384


Wellington Phoenix
20.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Tony LOCHHEAD, 5.Karl DODD, 8.Vaughan COVENY (Captain), 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Michael FERRANTE, 13.Steven OLD, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ahmad ELRICH (12. Richard JOHNSON 86’), 21.FELIPE (11.DANIEL 79’).

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE.

Yellow Cards: Vaughan Coveny 15’, Ahmad Elrich 72’, Daniel 90+3’.

Red Cards: Nil

Queensland Roar:
1.Liam REDDY (gk), 2.Andrew PACKER, 4.Craig MOORE (Captain) (5.Josh McLOUGHAN 74’), 6.Stuart McLAREN, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 11.REINALDO, 15.Matt McKAY, 16.Hyuk-Su SEO, 19.Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 22.Robbie KRUSE (9.Simon LYNCH 64’), 23.MARCINHO (21.Chris GROSSMAN 74’).

Substitutes Not Used: 30.Griffin McMASTER (gk).

Yellow Cards: Robbie Kruse 47’, Hyuk-Su Seo 72’.

Red Cards: Nil


versus
Adelaide United 1 (Paul Agostino 71’)
Central Coast Mariners 2 (John Aloisi 22’, Sasho Petrovski 48’)

Friday, 14 December 2007
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Peter Green
Assistant Referees: Paul Cetrangolo & Peter Chapman
Fourth Official: Matthew Cream

Crowd: 11,123


Adelaide United:
50.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Richie ALAGICH, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (23.Dez GIRALDI 83’), 8.Kristian SARKIES, 9.Paul AGOSTINO (Captain), 13.Travis DODD, 15.Jonas SALLEY (11.Bruce DJITE 58’), 17.Isyan ERDOGAN, 18 Robert CORNTHWAITE, 24.Tomi MILARDOVIC.

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Robert BAJIC (gk).

Yellow Cards: Paul Agostino 32’, Dez Giraldi 83’.

Red Cards: Nil

Central Coast Mariners:
20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 7.John HUTCHINSON, 8.Dean HEFFERNAN, 10.Tom PONDELJAK (19.Adam KWASNIK 72’), 12.Greg OWENS, 13.Tony VIDMAR, 15.Andrew CLARK, 18.Alex WILKINSON (Captain), 22.Sasho PETROVSKI (3.Paul O’GRADY 88’), 23.Mile JEDINAK, 25.John ALOISI (2.Matt SIMON 90+3’).

Substitutes Not Used: 1.Matthew TROTT (gk).

Yellow Cards: Andrew Clark 18’, Dean Heffernan 60’, john Hutchinson 76’, Tony Vidmar 76’, Sasho Petrovski 81’, John Aloisi 86’.

Red Cards: Nil


versus
Sydney FC 2 (Steve Corica 50’, Michael Bridges 90’)
Perth Glory 4 (Billy Celeski 34’/36’/77’, Leo Bertos 49’)

Saturday, 15 December 2007
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Michael Hester
Assistant Referees: Gavin Martin & Sarah Ho
Fourth Official: Streb Delovski

Crowd: 12,402


Sydney FC:
1.Clint BOLTON (gk), 2.Iain FYFE, 4.Mark RUDAN (Captain), 6.Tony POPOVIC, 7.Robbie MIDDLEBY (9.David ZDRILIC 23’(21.Adam BIDDLE 65’)), 10.Steve CORICA, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 15.Terry McFLYNN, 16.Mark MILLIGAN (29.Mark ROBERTSON 82’), 23.Ufuk TALAY, 28.Michael BRIDGES.

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk).

Yellow Cards: Mark Milligan 64’, Michael Bridges 90+2’.

Red Cards: Nil

Perth Glory:
50.Tommi TOMICH (gk), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 10.Billy CELESKI, 12.Leo BERTOS, 14.Jamie COYNE (8.David MICEVSKI 90+1’), 16.Nick RIZZO (19.Naum SEKULOVSKI 75’), 17.Jimmy DOWNEY, 18.Hayden FOXE, 21.James ROBINSON, 22.Jerry KARPEH (13.Nikita RUKAVYTSYA 65’), 25.Tyler SIMPSON.

Substitutes Not Used: 30.Tando VELAPHI (gk).

Yellow Cards: Dino Djulbic 61’, James Downey 90’.

Red Cards: Nil


versus
Melbourne Victory 1 (Carlos Hernandez 11’)
Newcastle Jets 3 (Denni 41’, Joel Griffiths 54’/76’)

Sunday, 16 December 2007
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Assistant Referees: Jim Ouliaris & Luke Brennan
Fourth Official: Kevin Docherty

Crowd: 22,626


Melbourne Victory:
1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (Captain), 7.Matthew KEMP, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13.Kaz PATAFTA (22.Nick WARD 46’), 14.Adrian CACERES (9.Daniel ALLSOPP 56’), 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ (15.Leandro LOVE 87’), 17.Daniel VASILEVSKI, 18.Leigh BROXHAM, 21.Sebastian RYALL.

Substitutes Not Used: 30.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk).

Yellow Cards: Adrian Caceres 27’, Carlos Hernandez 80’.

Red Cards: Nil

Newcastle Jets:
1.Ante COVIC (gk), 2.Adam GRIFFITHS (18.Noel SPENCER 88’), 3.Jade NORTH (Captain), 5.Stuart MUSIALIK, 6.Andrew DURANTE (27.Stephen LAYBUTT 79’), 8.Matt THOMPSON, 9.Joel GRIFFITHS, 10.Denni (23.Jason HOFFMAN 68’), 11.Tarek ELRICH, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 25.James HOLLAND.


Substitutes Not Used: 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk).

Yellow Cards: Joel Griffiths 31’, Andrew Durante 71’.

Red Cards: Nil


Hyundai A-League 2007/08 – Leading Goalscorers To Round 17

9- Joel Griffiths (NJ)
8 - Shane Smeltz (WP)
6 - Alex Brosque (SFC), Jamie Harnwell (PG), Sasho Petrovski (CCM)
5 - Reinaldo (QR)
4 - Archie Thompson (MV), Billy Celeski (PG), Bruce Djite (AU), Daniel (WP), John Aloisi (CCM), Lucas Pantelis (AU), Nikita Rukavytsa (PG), Travis Dodd (AU)
3 - Carlos Hernandez (MV), Danny Allsopp (MV), Felipe (WP), Kevin Muscat (MV), Matt McKay (QR), Nathan Burns (AU), Paul Agostino (AU), Robbie Kruse (QR)
2 - Adam Kwasnik (CCM), Adam Griffiths (NJ), John Hutchinson (CCM), Josh McCloughan (QR Marcinho (QR), Mark Bridge (NJ), Michael Bridges (SFC), Nik Mrdja (CCM), Patrick (SFC), Richie Alagich (AU), Ross Aloisi (WP), Simon Lynch (QR), Steve Corica (SFC), Tom Pondeljak (CCM), Ufuk Talay (SFC)
1 - Adam Casey (SFC), Adrian Caceres (MV), Ahmad Elrich (WP), Dean Heffernan (CCM), Denni (NJ), Dez Giraldi (AU), Diego (AU), Greg Owens (CCM), James Robinson (PG), Jamie Coyne (PG), Jason Spagnuolo (AU), Jordan Simpson (PG), Leo Bertos (MV), Matt Thompson (NJ), Michael Zullo (QR), Mitchell Prentice (PG), Rodrigo Vargas (MV), Sasa Ognenovski (QR), Steven Old (WP), Stuart Musialik (NJ), Tony Lochhead (WP), Tony Popovic (SFC), Vaughan Coveny (WP), Vince Lia (WP).

A-League Ladder After Round 17


A-League Crowds After Round 17