CRAP Football Journalism Hall of Fame

[stewed_screwed_n_marinated]

Did any1 read Sebastian hassett in the smh today? Lovely preview about tonight match. A total of 14 paragraphs dedicated to the tards and 1 paragraph to us, oh, and finishes on a paragraph bout the filth to our north. Maybe not crap journalism, definately cockeyed.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

We can link just about every single, lazy preview of this season in here.

It almost borders on disbelief doesn't it...

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Did any1 read Sebastian hassett in the smh today? Lovely preview about tonight match. A total of 14 paragraphs dedicated to the tards and 1 paragraph to us, oh, and finishes on a paragraph bout the filth to our north. Maybe not crap journalism, definately cockeyed.

No, just like everything else, from tipping to previews, to the commentary... What about at tehn end of the game post mortem tonight when they went to the sidelines for Ange and co's view of the game. HOLY SHIT! They spoke for five minutes and literally didn't mention the Mariners once. Hey guys they were the other team, you know, the ones who just beat the champions at home ffs. Might be worth at least a mention? Usually its just stupendously slanted, but not even a mention is just down right comical. At least Slater and Hill are good natured enough to admit their crap assed tipping etc...  Foster will find a way to use the game as a shining example of why the a leagues crap. Looking forward to posting his article here 

 

[Forum Phoenix]

The Adjudicator takes an early look at round one of the A-League
By The Adjudicator
foxsports.com.au
August 05, 2009 The Adjudicator has been picking winners like Biff Tannen clutching his sporting almanac so far this AFL and NRL season. But now it's time to don the A-League cap.

The opening round is always going to throw up a few surprises. New buys need to be measured, new franchises need to be tested, and pre-season form needs to be gauged.

Luckily your trusty Adjudicator has hit the road in recent weeks, scrutinising closely each of the 10 teams as they ran through their pre-season paces. More than a few players seemed panicked when the safari suit-wearing Adjudicator went for the red and not the blue pen to mark down a name during the form catalouging.

So here is the early mail ahead of the opening round of the 2009-2010 A-League season.



Victory v Mariners Reds v Glory
Fury v Blues Roar v Gold Coast
Jets v Phoenix

Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners, Thursday 8pm (EST), Etihad Stadium
The Adjudicator says: "How could you even think of backing the Mariners here. The poor little fellas have not had a win since New Years Eve 2008. That's a longer drought than The Adjudicator was forced to endure after calling Mrs A Mrs B late one 10-schooner evening. You don't beat the champs on their own turf unless you are very good. The Mariners ain't. Victory 2-0."

LATEST COMMENTS FROM FANS
Victory fan Sonny of Mulgrave says: "The Adjudicator, I disagree. If history repeats itself, MVFC vs Mariners in Melbourne will always involve some dramas. I reckon MVFC will be reduced to 9 men with Musc**t and another MV player sent off. MV will then go on to win the game 3-0, unlike the cracking draw in season 2."

Victory fan Scott of Seaford says: "I cannot agree more. The Victory should win this easily. Its midfield is looking hot and with the best strikingand central defensive pairings in the league a win seems a foregone conclusion."

Victory fan Phil of Melbourne: "Think you are being way too soft on the mariners who I hate to say it are looking at tanking this game to get the priority draft picks for next year. Oh, sorry, wrong sport but same result as Victory will thump the 2009/2010 wooden spooners with a 3-0 home win with a goal each to Archie, Carlos and the under appreciated Danny Allsop!!"
________

I am separating the below section out from the above dung, poetry that the only piece of decent journalism comes from a mariners fan. How do we know its decent? Because he was the only one proven to be completely right as opposed to utterly wrong!

Mariners fan Ben says: "How do you know the Mariners are no good??? Have you seen them train?? Have you seen them play?? They are undefeated in pre season & have made some very sneaky signings. Don't right these boys off just yet!! (like most of the sporting media do every year to their own embarrassment)."

 

[Forum Phoenix]

ox Sports commentator Simon Hill gives his preview for A-League season
By Simon Hill
Fox Sports football commentator
August 05, 2009
With the new A-League season upon us, Fox Sports commentator Simon Hill takes a look at how the 10 teams are shaping up and gives us his tips for the season.

Central Coast Mariners
Strengths: Chris Doigs arrival should sort out a leaky defence. Matt Simons goal output was excellent last year and should continue, particularly if Ahmad Elrich is 100% fithis speed can cause any defence problems. In Michael McGlinchey, Doig and Nick Travis, they have finally gone overseas to recruit - their experience could help put the faltering Mariners back on the rails.

Weaknesses: No disrespect to him intended, but Shane Huke doesnt look a patch on Mile Jedinak. Danny Vukovic needs to re-discover his confidence, and generally the Mariners have a bit of a samey look about them. Lawrie McKinna is under pressure - he needs to deliver - but in fairness, he normally does, despite everyone predicting otherwiseincluding me.

Key man: Chris Doig

Prediction: 10th

Melbourne Victory
Strengths: Stability. In terms of recruitment, its been evolution rather than revolution - the way the Liverpool title-winning teams used to do it. In Carlos Hernandez they have - perhaps - THE top playmaker in the competition, and in Allsopp and Thompson, the best combination up front. Also, have the best crowds in the country behind them, and off the park everything is set up for success. Its amazing to think that in 2005, FFA was most worried about the Melbourne market.

Weaknesses: Kevin Musc**t - so influential - is another year older, and with Michael Theoklitos, Seb Ryall and Michael Thwaite gone, there is a question mark over the defence. Occasionally they can play too narrow - Ward and Pondeljak arent the most natural of widemen. Champions have never been able to repeat the trick the year after - can they break the mould?

Key man: Kevin Musc**t

Prediction: 2nd
_____________________

10th, draws with his Pick for 1st (GCU) one week ago and should have beaten them. Now they do the 2nd place getter at home, 2 nil!

 

[Forum Phoenix]

f**k I hate you Fossie. You will never progress the game in this country with your negativity. You are a blight on football in this country and Johnny Warren would turn in his grave at your relentless assault on passionate players, clubs and coaches giving their all to the growth of our beloved game. You petty, elitist, small minded man.

The long-ball game lets everyone down
Craig Foster
August 9, 2009
DAVE MITCHELL was spot-on in his criticism last week of the A-League being victim to long-ball football, but the Perth Glory coach should have targeted his spray at Melbourne and the Central Coast, who played arguably the poorest season-opener in A-League history.

In the build-up to his side's 1-0 loss to Adelaide United on Friday, Mitchell accused Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar of playing old-style English long-ball football based on his side's previous encounters with Vidmar's men.

In essence, he was right in the accusation that teams were resorting to such dull tactics, but the criticism was levelled at the wrong teams.

If anything, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners were guilty of playing limited-passing football, with most ball contested in the air.

It was the opening match of season five, and had Mitchell levelled the accusation at Ernie Merrick or Laurie McKinna it would have been a fair comment.

The truth is, in the past four seasons, this predictable and safe style of football has too often been the case. And with four months of pre-season work to create the ideal football recipe, the end result was barely fit for consumption.

Thursday's Mariners v Melbourne match was really a shocking game of football, and both of those coaches were deserved of such criticism - not Adelaide.

Thankfully, United and Glory came out on Friday and played fantastic football at times.

The net effect of Mitchell's comments was to provide extra motivation for an Adelaide side who needed little incentive after coming up short in both the Asian Cup and A-League finals last year.

They played fast, intense football, predominantly on the ground.

Scott Jamieson, the buccaneering left fullback who was brilliant on the night, said after the match that the Adelaide players were inspired by the comments.

Since season one, Adelaide could be characterised as a direct and often defensive team, but there are early signs that Vidmar and his team are evolving quickly.

If they carry that new mentality for the rest of the season, we're in for some quality football. There was fast movement, fast passing of the ball and lightning counter-attack.

Alemao, the Brazilian right midfielder, was brilliant after a difficult debut season and should have had a penalty in the first minute. The central defensive partnership of Robbie Cornthwaite and Iain Fyfe had an impressive understanding and will give great hope to United fans that their centre of defence may have been strengthened despite the loss of some experienced campaigners.

Central Coast are renowned for direct football that often assaults the senses but they could be forgiven for a defensive display away from home. McKinna's post-match comments, however, were hardly inspiring.

Quizzed on what part of the Mariners' game was a concern, he ignored such options as passing, combinations, speed and general attack, falling back on fitness and mental strength. It's an indication we can expect more of the same, only for a longer period.

Melbourne were unimpressive, with only substitute Nicky Ward giving a measure of incisiveness.

At this point, the conclusion must be that it is Adelaide United and Perth Glory that have moved ahead.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

 

[clarence]

Fark me, Foster criticises McKinna for praising the defensive effort of the Mariners, which was something that was lacking in the latter part of last season and the ACL campaign!

As a manager Lawrie had every right to comment favourably about the defense that performed well.

You can have the most brilliant footballer in the attack scoring goals left, right and centre but that all amounts to zero if you leak twice as many goals in reply.

It is also worthy of Lawrie to comment about the team's resolve, tougher fitness and better game for a while. Obviously, Foster has seen the video grabs from the match and not much else before hand.

He hasn't seen the team give up against Kawasaki and get thrashed 5-0, or fall victim to Tianjin's fouling game and lose the plot.

Part of those ACL losses was due to team not playing well, and not having mental resolve to dig in and fight for the game, not having the shape in defense to hold out attackers & not JUST playing a team of technically superior players as the likes of Foster would have us believe.

By commenting about a tougher, fitter and disciplined game style, Lawrie was making the point that it was not going to be a walk in the park playing the Mariners this season and the result proved it.

In other words, Foster saw the comments by Lawrie and not the history behind the team to that point. Sloppy journalism.

 

[Jazzie]

Fark me, Foster criticises McKinna for praising the defensive effort of the Mariners, which was something that was lacking in the latter part of last season and the ACL campaign!

As a manager Lawrie had every right to comment favourably about the defense that performed well.

You can have the most brilliant footballer in the attack scoring goals left, right and centre but that all amounts to zero if you leak twice as many goals in reply.

It is also worthy of Lawrie to comment about the team's resolve, tougher fitness and better game for a while. Obviously, Foster has seen the video grabs from the match and not much else before hand.

He hasn't seen the team give up against Kawasaki and get thrashed 5-0, or fall victim to Tianjin's fouling game and lose the plot.

By commenting about a tougher, fitter and disciplined game style, Lawrie was making the point that it was not going to be a walk in the park playing the Mariners this season and the result proved it.

In other words, Foster saw the comments by Lawrie and not the history behind the team to that point. Sloppy journalism.

Yep, Fozzie can't see the wood for the trees ... he has tunnel vision. 

 

[clarence]

Yep, Fozzie can't see the wood for the trees ... he has tunnel vision. 

Funny irony too Jazzie, is that the game vs. Victory on Thursday night, had the Victory team quite frustrated trying to breach the Mariners defense and they resorted to taking wild shots outside the penalty box. The main offender was Hernandez, a Costa Rican International (*Cough* South American  : ).

So Fozzie's advocacy of anything South American is faulty, as they (South American style of Football that is) cannot crack a stock trade 4 in a line ENGLISH styled defense, and their only remedy is to try the 1 in 1000 type of shot at goal!  ;D

I also remember Brazil getting quite flustered against Australia in WC 2006, when Guus set up a similar brick wall and put the wind up the Brazilians until finally they got a breakthrough.

 

[clarence]

This link is something that should rankle the professional integrity of the journos ... Terrorgraph has compromised itself. I know the Editor reckons he will still publish on the front page if it is warranted, but really, how many of those bad NRL stories were really Front page stories in the past?

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailyTerrorgraph/andrewwebster/index.php/dailyTerrorgraph/comments/you_beauty_a_scandal_free_zone/

Late edit: Well, the link IS there, but the Forum's warped dictionary censor keeps changing the letters around because it mentions TELEGRAPH.

 

[Jazzie]

Clarence, you are quite correct. Fozzie is a fool, he can't be objective in his "journalism" (LOL), has no interviewing technique .... just a tosser. Does anyone really give credence to his views? ... NOOOOOOOOOO. ... certainly not the likes of LM, or any other coach for that matter. The sooner he climbs back into the black hole from whence he came, the better I say! Can't understand why the SMH publish his stuff.

Of course our defense has beefed up, and so it should ... been pretty woeful in the last couple of seasons. And it worked against all the stuff MV threw at us!! I am no Master of the Universe when it comes to football, but CCM have 3 points on the board and MV have none. Yet still he criticizes, and moans and groans like a spoilt child. I feel like poking him in the eye with a blunt stick, and giving it a good turn. Then he would be "no-eyed" instead of "one-eyed" ... phew, ... got that off my chest!

 

[TiredLLegs]

If Les & Johnny were Mr & Mrs Football, then foz must be the evil mother in law.

or bitter & twisted old spinster.

 

[Jazzie]

If Les & Johnny were Mr & Mrs Football, then foz must be the evil mother in law.

or bitter & twisted old spinster.

lol, yep. And I actually met Les at the Sydney Olympics at a football match, nothing grand ... both out for a quiet ciggie .... he is so short!

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Couldn't get your link to work Clarence 

Yeah there are so many examples of South American ironies and short comings it's hilarious.

What Foster doesn't realise is that by the time our youth have finally come through and now posses the technical ability to begin to try to play like Brazil or Arsenal, it will be with absolutely no thanks at all to him, and everything to do with the A league and Fox. And I hope it cuts him to the bone. It's highly likely that he will have been brushed aside by then, a sour old man, hated by all but the other sour old men, renowned only for his constant lack of doing anything to help build the game and constant endeavour to tear it down in the name of appeasing his own taste. What an ego. Even when he actually does say the odd positive, its almost palpable that he's sucking up to someone and try to con you that he's even remotely objective. Or trying to dig himself out of a hole he has made, like praising Dave Mitchell (A scottish coach) for Perths performance?
What the f**k? Perth were god awful. They knew they were awful. They said they were awful! What planet is Fossie from?

 

[priorpeter]

http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/crowds-up-despite-etihad-horror-show-222417

This:

I am more worried about what was on view at the Etihad, where the Victory and the Mariners dished up what Jorge Valdano would freely call a shit on a stick. It was a physical agony to watch, as it must have been to play, and, if repeated, the patrons of Etihad, which means united in Arabic, will surely act as one in boycotting the stadium.

 

 

[FFC Mariner]

They really are very bitter arent they?

I doubt any Mariners fans are complaining and the MV fans I know were just furious that they werent good enough on the night to break us down.

Fans are only concerned with results.

The theologians/keepers of the flame/ideologues are distanced from real life and just theorise.

Rather like academics being unable to cope with real life commerce lol

 

[Bex]

Where is the vitriol surrounding the Jest vs Nix game? Long ball hoofing at its best/worst for mine. Seems the reports are not only wrong, but they're also biased against the Mariners.

 

[midfielder]

Where is the vitriol surrounding the Jest vs Nix game? Long ball hoofing at its best/worst for mine. Seems the reports are not only wrong, but they're also biased against the Mariners.

It is no accident ... it is specifically targeted

Very interesting Simon Hill article today the Empire Strikes Back or is that to hard .. follow my logic the evil Sith ie the enemy within wanting to take back control of the newly established order set up and run by the Jedi But as long as Obie Wan is there the balance will remain but still the evil Sith hope to over throw the Jedi and return to power the Dark Side of the force

Drunk posting MF ? 

No Abstract a touch of cultural..She Who must be Obeyed .. or Obey Wan.. as someone suggested the other night on the forum well She takes me to all those movies and we must watch Dr Who, Tourchwood all of em .. so to explain..

Simon Hill a young and new training Jedi Knight is fighting an evil Sith apprentice The evil Sith apprentice is under the guidance of the evil emperor (Mrs Football)  who wants to return things to the Dark side back to old Soccer but as long as Obie Wan is their (Frank Lowy) we are safe

Arab and you dare say this is drunk posting insulted is I  ???

Arab after reading .... the latest from the Old Soccer Media ... do you still think it was drunk ... Les as the Old Sith Emperor and Fozzie his young Apprentice ......... The enemy within there is no doubt.. just as Bozza said ....

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Where is the vitriol surrounding the Jest vs Nix game? Long ball hoofing at its best/worst for mine. Seems the reports are not only wrong, but they're also biased against the Mariners.

It is no accident ... it is specifically targeted

Very interesting Simon Hill article today the Empire Strikes Back or is that to hard .. follow my logic the evil Sith ie the enemy within wanting to take back control of the newly established order set up and run by the Jedi But as long as Obie Wan is there the balance will remain but still the evil Sith hope to over throw the Jedi and return to power the Dark Side of the force

Drunk posting MF ? 

No Abstract a touch of cultural..She Who must be Obeyed .. or Obey Wan.. as someone suggested the other night on the forum well She takes me to all those movies and we must watch Dr Who, Tourchwood all of em .. so to explain..

Simon Hill a young and new training Jedi Knight is fighting an evil Sith apprentice The evil Sith apprentice is under the guidance of the evil emperor (Mrs Football)  who wants to return things to the Dark side back to old Soccer but as long as Obie Wan is their (Frank Lowy) we are safe

Arab and you dare say this is drunk posting insulted is I  ???

Arab after reading .... the latest from the Old Soccer Media ... do you still think it was drunk ... Les as the Old Sith Emperor and Fozzie his young Apprentice ......... The enemy within there is no doubt.. just as Bozza said ....

In terms of the thread, terrific post priorpeter.

Midfielder is on the money. The consistent and quite amazing level of negativity shown towards the mariners with any other conclusion just makes no sense.

Do you remember when Fossie did his style guide and it wasn't long after we had just played one of those thrillers against SFC? Even though I already disliked him immensely for his many other transgressions, I still at the time thought he was just a bigoted asshole journo, but since then the hatred dished out by this pair keeps running deeper and deeper... Until suddenly with Midfielders info on Les and the failed franchise bid it finally all made sense. Hey maybe he was lied to, but unless their mothers were raped on the central coast and then murdered by Scotsman... not much else fits the bill. Lawrie is just such a nice guy, our team has been the proverbial under dog story, and yet they have never managed anything less than total derision? Fox pundits may write us off in the tipping or sometimes ignore us in the interests of serving the "bigger teams" : But the TWG twats just continually attack us. Now our football is so bad that we pose the threat of driving away the best supporter base in the league? Get real. Everyone knows that just such total BS> And though the masquerade continues, the style debate is proving now to be a worse disguise than supermans spectacles. Thank heavens for Simon Hill.

 

[clarence]

Maybe it could turn out to be a case of the first person to see Fozzie at an A-League game decks the c**t! Lord knows it's tempting........