Sticks and stones
The quips about Hayden Foxe’s match day attire are as entertaining as they are unrelenting. But it’s like water off a pizza boy’s back for the Heart assistant coach unashamedly rocking the red threads. He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “I’m not changing for no one. I feel comfortable. Everyone’s got different taste and style. And for summer soccer I like my shirt tucked in and my socks pulled up and the cap protects me from the sun.” Indeed. But you know you’re in trouble when your five-year-old starts handing out fashion tips. Foxe added: “My little boy did ask, ‘Dad why do you pull your socks up so high?’”

Show me the money!
It seems not everyone was happy with the decision to play the first all-Sydney derby at Parramatta Stadium. With FFA footing the bill for Western Sydney Wanderers “what’s yours is ours” is the feeling at some A-League clubs. According to one unimpressed observer, launching the historic event at the 20,000+ capacity home ground effectively lost $300,000. But gee, it looked good.

Anyone for gorgonzola?
The Italian girlfriend of Sydney FC’s Blake Powell is helping the debut goal scoring hero master a few phrases to say to his celebrated teammate, Alessandro Del Piero. Powell shared with au.fourfourtwo.com one of his more unorthodox training pitch ice-breakers including - “Mi piace il formaggio” - which we think translates to “I like cheese”. The former Juventus great got the gist of the message but what he made of it is anybody’s guess.

Sunny side up
Graham Arnold a whinger - not a chance! Evidently the Central Coast Mariners tactician gave a stirring pre-season speech to his men urging them to look on the bright side of life. They needed doubled rose-tinted glasses thanks to a refereeing shocker in last weekend’s F3 derby. After the game left-back zen master Josh Rose said all was sweet: “Arnie sat us down at the start of the year and said to us we’re not going to make any excuses this year. Bad decisions, too hot, too much rain, whatever - if we lose the game, there’s no excuses.”

And then there were two
Melbourne Victory skipper Adrian Leijer said he didn’t see it coming (much like that 5-0 Mack truck). The sudden retirement of striker Danny Allsopp leaves Leijer and Archie Thompson as the club’s last remaining foundation members. The defender shared how it all unfolded: “I was quite surprised. It was a funny one – Danny rang me on the way to training and said can you get the boys together in the dressing room, I just want to have a chat and he told us of his announcement then. He’s been a great player for this club and he could have easily just gone through the motions and picked up a pay cheque but credit to Danny, he realised his heart wasn’t in it anymore. I think once that happens, it makes your decision pretty easy.” And so ends a stellar 17-year professional career.

Some days are gems
How tough is the women’s game? Just ask Melbourne Victory W-League coach Mike Mulvey. As au.fourfourtwo.com reported, the former Gold Coast United boss was appointed a week before kick-off and jetted in from Queensland to find the three imports hadn’t even been signed. Quick to the DVDs batboy! But there is good news with Matildas coach Tom Sermanni already tipped off about the young squad. Mulvey said: “I’ve told him there are a couple of gems here and if we can polish them a little bit and improve their quality of football the sky’s the limit for them really.” No names yet but he assured us “the gems will be revealed by the end of the season.”

Cross country catch-up
Still on Mulvey and it’s nice to see he keeps in contact with his former Gold Coast United boys. In Perth on Sunday for his team’s W-League clash, the coach caught up with Glory defenders Michael Thwaite and Bas van den Brink who once lined up for Clive Palmer’s mob. A relaxed Thwaite even had time to enjoy some Glory v Victory women’s action before running on the pitch and putting Melbourne Heart’s undefeated streak to the sword.

Tweet enough to eat
What the hell – if you can’t be a football star why not eat like one! The twittersphere is a good place to discover the food of champions. Heart’s Aziz Behich was talking up the delights of a big Turkish breakfast while Matilda’s icon and mum-to-be Melissa Barbieri has placed an order for post-delivery “antipasto platter w all the Brie and Blu cheese”. We don’t even want to know what’s going on between Glory’s Scott Jamieson and those Tiny Teddy’s! After much deliberation this one goes to Western Sydney Wanderers’ Catherine Cannuli and her nutella crepes and ice cream. Nice one.