http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/trimbole-and-slater-in-rare-form-as-season-kicks-off/2009/10/11/1255195701760.html
Trimboli and Slater in rare form as season kicks off
Leaping Larry
October 12, 2009
"Presuming it does end in defeat for Melbourne " was how Fox Sports' Simon Hill launched a sentence during the Victory-Sydney FC match on Friday night. At the time, it was 88 minutes into the match, and Melbourne was down 0-3. You get the impression Hill is not someone who will be drawn into rash predictions, or perhaps any predictions.
Expert analyst Paul Trimboli was somewhat more committed. In reference to Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton, Trimboli noted that he'd registered four clean sheets this season and was "staring down the barrel of a fifth". Unless sheets now come in a barrel, or are routinely fired out of artillery in the absence of more suitable ammunition, this comment may qualify as a key late entry for sporting mixed metaphor of the year. Perhaps best to follow Hill's example and keep our options open. One never knows what may be waiting in the wings, particularly if those wings are flapping around like, well, sheets fired out of a cannon.
Robbie Slater got off to a flying start in the following night's Australia-Netherlands international, referring to the "big challenge" awaiting the Socceroos against Oman during the week, and adding, "What better way to prepare than against the No. 3 in the world, the Netherlands."
In the entire storied history of Dutch soccer, one feels strangely sure that its national team has never previously been categorised as the ideal warm-up for an Asian Cup game against Oman. Another feather in its cap there, to be sure.
Hill was next to extend our world knowledge, declaring that, at the Etihad Stadium clash with Oman, stadium management would be, "Bringing the stands in, as well, to make it a rectangle in Melbourne". Considerable technological marvel though the Docklands stadium may be, it doesn't exactly change shape like one of the Transformers, or Inspector Gadget. It's the bays of seats at ground level that are transportable via hydraulic means, not the stands. The stadium itself seems highly likely to maintain the same shape, at least until AC/DC performs there at full amplification in February.
However, quote of the night undoubtedly belonged to Paul Trimboli, with his perceptive observation, re Socceroo Lucas Neill. "He's looked a little bit like he's lacking match conditioning, and that's obviously because he hasn't played." Flawless reasoning, really.
