Round 17 - Away to the Scum

[Razorback]

Thought I better add that some will argue financial reasons for these clubs being so successful, which I accept could be a reason, however I would also argue that when Roman Abramovich took over Chelski one of his first signings from Man U was their CEO Peter Kenyon.

Newcastle Utd are also an example of why $$$ isn't the be all and end all... They are one of the richest sides in Europe (comparable with Liverpool and Gunners) and have been unable to compete with the top 4 clubs since Kevin Keegan was in charge in the early 90's. I was over there recently and was talking to a few fans and they have stated the the club is run by "complete imbiciles"

Only two example I know, but I'm sure there are more. I think we need to look at what Man City do in the future as well with all the money that they have just run into recently. Should be an interesting Tranfer window.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Perth are slowly starting to get their shit together as a club IMHO

 

[David Votoupal]

Razorback's right- money is only of use if you know how to use it. Spurs and Liverpool threw money around for years to no avail, the likes of Man City and Nottingham Forest made big-money signings years ago that flopped badly. And so on.

Sydney FC's current problems can be traced all the way back to before V1 even started, when they not only proclaimed themselves the "glamour club" of the league, but also made some extremely poor decisions with player recruitment. The board of the club are the root of much of the problems, as is the poor culture that's existed among the players partly as a result. Their squad is and never has been *that* good to start with, but they believe their own h ype.

 

[FFC Mariner]

It seems from the outside that there are players in their squad who believe they are bigger than the club. It gets alluded to on their MB from time to time.

Maybe the new owners need to put the cleaners through the place (starting in the front office) and write the last 4 years off to experience.

It is likely that they will have a W Syd side for V6 and that will mean they have pissed away their 1st mover advantage in Australias biggest city unless they can engineer a massive turnaround in V5

Their NYL recruitment has been superb and that is a basis for the future. Their squad is easily good enough to perform better and as it takes 2 or 3 seasons to build a new side, Kosmina will presumably be given at least another season to fix it.

Sadly for them, their marquee spot is taken for next year by Aloisi (unless he decides to retire or someone takes him off their hands)

 

[MrCelery]

One day, Australians will realise the GF's are held NOWHERE and are just a sop to pay tv and an inferiority complex we seem to have that makes us think we need to match the lesser codes

Grand Finals are Cup Finals you have when you don't have a Cup Final.

I'm a 'first past the post' fan myself, but I live in my adopted country of Oz, so acknowledge that GF's have an important space in out football calendar. Maybe in future years when the importance of qualifying for the Asian Cup is more fully recognised, the GF will be seen as a bit of a novelty match only.

I thought qualification for the ACL is via top two in premiership, but reading elsewhere it is Champions and Premiers. Which is it?

This year's entry was confusing as the Mariners and Scum finished 1-2 in both comps.

The Asian League qualification criteria states that for "Two representatives: winner of the top domestic league championship and winner of the domestic knock-out competition"

As we don't have a true knock-out comp, I assume the Final Series is counted, which means that until we do have an FA Cup style comp, the Grand Final will always have major importance.

 

[brett]

Mr Celery - it is the Premiers and Champions (or other grand finalists if champions = premiers) who progress, not the 1 & 2 in the league. In every season so far, the 1 & 2 in the league have gone on to Asia anyway, so that's an interesting piece of trivia actually.

Lawrie McKinna: not a brilliant tactician, but only just behind the best of the other A-League managers in that department (not miles behind as some would believe), and way ahead of most in terms of recruitment, planning, motivating and man management. In a small league with a limited talent pool and a salary cap, those attributes are extremely important. GVE is a wily young coach who can extract nice football out of a good enough squad, but would you trade for him based on his off-field performance and media comments this season? Lawrie and the players will also benefit from the Asian experience, as Aurelio and Adelaide did.

Sydney FC: They've still been one of the most successful A-League clubs. Everyone knows their problems, but perhaps the biggest problem is the ridiculous expectation they put on themselves in the first place? Other clubs have had worse form, worse coaches, worse marquee signings, worse crowds, worse off-field management, yet no one has gone on and on about it like they have about Sydney after half a bad season (they were coming first when they were full strength/the players respected Kossie or whatever). They'll come back strong as soon as next year and all this fuss will seem even sillier.

This forum: It has been heading in the direction of what is worst about Sydney's for a while now in that you see a lot of posts that exist just to 'score points' or put people down to elevate one's status. I'd much rather read Serious's or someone else's rants if they at least share an opinion and give a viewpoint and contribute something, as opposed to smart-arse or sarcastic posts or in-jokes that contribute absolutely zero.

 

[Part_Timer]

+1.....

 

[David Votoupal]

Mr Celery - it is the Premiers and Champions (or other grand finalists if champions = premiers) who progress, not the 1 & 2 in the league. In every season so far, the 1 & 2 in the league have gone on to Asia anyway, so that's an interesting piece of trivia actually.

Lawrie McKinna: not a brilliant tactician, but only just behind the best of the other A-League managers in that department (not miles behind as some would believe), and way ahead of most in terms of recruitment, planning, motivating and man management. In a small league with a limited talent pool and a salary cap, those attributes are extremely important. GVE is a wily young coach who can extract nice football out of a good enough squad, but would you trade for him based on his off-field performance and media comments this season? Lawrie and the players will also benefit from the Asian experience, as Aurelio and Adelaide did.

Won't disagree with that. I'm sure McKinna's been guilty of poor tactics and selections at one time or another, but Vidmar, Merrick and Farina have been guilty of that too... and others have been far worse.

Sydney FC: They've still been one of the most successful A-League clubs. Everyone knows their problems, but perhaps the biggest problem is the ridiculous expectation they put on themselves in the first place? Other clubs have had worse form, worse coaches, worse marquee signings, worse crowds, worse off-field management, yet no one has gone on and on about it like they have about Sydney after half a bad season (they were coming first when they were full strength/the players respected Kossie or whatever). They'll come back strong as soon as next year and all this fuss will seem even sillier.

All they have won is one Grand Final, and were lucky to do that. Since then their performances on the field, and conditions off the field, have progressively worsened while other clubs have remained steady or improved. Same can be said for Newcastle, who were simply the best of a bad bunch last season.

It's the way Sydney FC have carried themselves and the way they have been hyped since before the league started, that has left them open to scrutiny, resulting in scorn from their own support and ridicule from other teams' fans and neutrals, and well-deserved at that. It's not half a bad season, if you look at the bigger picture they have not played particularly well at all since Aloisi came into the team.

Newcastle's potential on the other hand is merely being squandered by Con Constantine.

This forum: It has been heading in the direction of what is worst about Sydney's for a while now in that you see a lot of posts that exist just to 'score points' or put people down to elevate one's status. I'd much rather read Serious's or someone else's rants if they at least share an opinion and give a viewpoint and contribute something, as opposed to smart-arse or sarcastic posts or in-jokes that contribute absolutely zero.

Actually, this place is very mild compared to other football forums out there.

 

[serious14]

This forum: It has been heading in the direction of what is worst about Sydney's for a while now in that you see a lot of posts that exist just to 'score points' or put people down to elevate one's status. I'd much rather read Serious's or someone else's rants if they at least share an opinion and give a viewpoint and contribute something, as opposed to smart-arse or sarcastic posts or in-jokes that contribute absolutely zero.

Better tell the team to start playing as bad as they did in the 1-0 loss to Wellington again...... I'm coming up short of material lately. 

 

[BAD BULLZ]

You wernt short of pro hutcho material on nye when is that being posted. or did you eat all the evidence.

 

[Redline]

As long is it was made of KFC chips, he probably ate the evidence

 

[serious14]

Oh how cute, you figured out how to use the Internet.