SBS Chief football analyst Craig Foster must think that all his Christmas' have come at once.
In the space of one week, Terry Butcher is sent home packing, Ange Postecoglu is told his services are no longer required and Branko Culina is installed as Sydney FC coach for the ACL matches coming up in March.
All we need now is a Barcelona - Lyon Champions League final, a Futsal-a-thon on SBS, jogo bonito at the A-League final and the discovery of another Ronaldinho playing out of Edensor Park.
We can dream!
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Monday, 5 February 2007
Butcher, Wrap Him Up in Yesterday's Newspaper
Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher has to go.
The unflinching Englishman has brought nothing to the game of football in Australia. He has taken a championship winning side and turned them into a counter-attack side that plays a boring and outdated style of football.
Many will argue that he did well considering the off-field dramas (losing Dwight Yorke, board 'issues', resignations of support staff etc.) and that he did the best with what he had left over. If you look at the game of football in terms of pure results, then perhaps that may be true.
But football is not the world game by relying on statistics alone. The real beauty of football is the artistry, the technique and style of play a winning side should display. Craig Foster is correct in saying that Terry is more like the old soccer of years ago and not in line with the new football of now.
One simply fact that the statisticians should consider is match attendance. Last week's odd 22,000 to a major football final in the biggest football market (in terms of population and registration numbers) in the land is simply not good enough. The diehard fans continue to go, whilst the othe football aficionados continue to stay at home or do something else. This is surely a reflection on the overall team style of play rather than results alone.
Considering that Sydney FC made the finals series with a 3 point deduction and still get a pretty low crowd for a finals match speaks volumes.
This indicates that Sydneysiders want to see a winning side, as well as an attractive side.
Unfortunately, under Terry Butcher this cannot be achieved.
Let's hope of A-League season 3 we not only return to winning ways, but also play some decent football from the side that should be the benchmark for the league.
The unflinching Englishman has brought nothing to the game of football in Australia. He has taken a championship winning side and turned them into a counter-attack side that plays a boring and outdated style of football.
Many will argue that he did well considering the off-field dramas (losing Dwight Yorke, board 'issues', resignations of support staff etc.) and that he did the best with what he had left over. If you look at the game of football in terms of pure results, then perhaps that may be true.
But football is not the world game by relying on statistics alone. The real beauty of football is the artistry, the technique and style of play a winning side should display. Craig Foster is correct in saying that Terry is more like the old soccer of years ago and not in line with the new football of now.
One simply fact that the statisticians should consider is match attendance. Last week's odd 22,000 to a major football final in the biggest football market (in terms of population and registration numbers) in the land is simply not good enough. The diehard fans continue to go, whilst the othe football aficionados continue to stay at home or do something else. This is surely a reflection on the overall team style of play rather than results alone.
Considering that Sydney FC made the finals series with a 3 point deduction and still get a pretty low crowd for a finals match speaks volumes.
This indicates that Sydneysiders want to see a winning side, as well as an attractive side.
Unfortunately, under Terry Butcher this cannot be achieved.
Let's hope of A-League season 3 we not only return to winning ways, but also play some decent football from the side that should be the benchmark for the league.
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
Zola, The Final Word
The Apia Marconi Zola Challenge was played on the 29th December, 2006 at Marconi Stadium in front of an estimated 5,000 fans.Gianfranco Zola truly showed his class (especially in the first half for Marconi) and displayed touches, passing and fitness that belies his age (40).
An immediate distinction was noticable between Zola and the players of both sides, as he showed glimpses of his former self - not bad for a man retired from professional football for over a year.
It needs to be said that Marconi surprisingly displayed some pretty decent football, with the final scoreline suggesting this (4-0). Having said that, Apia were disastrous in most aspects of the park, especially the non-existent midfield. A long season awaits them in the NSW Premier League this year i'm afraid.
What we all came to see didn't eventuate. Zola failed to score but truly impressed.
Kudos to the under 20s Marconi side who also played some nice football in the preliminary game.
Monday, 8 January 2007
A Good 2006 For Colo Colo
They won the Chilean apertura tournament and clausura tournament making them ultimate champions of Chile for the season 2005/2006. It was their 25th Championship star making them the undisputed best team in Chile.
They reached the final of the Copa Sudamericana.
They were the best team in the world for October (IFFHS).
Matías Fernández voted the best player in South American football.
Claudio Borghi voted the best coach in South America.
Humberto Suazo is the highest goalscorer in the world for 2006.
Well done and I hope that 2007 brings greater joy!
Friday, 15 December 2006
Black Night in Chile, Blue Sky In Sydney
It had to happen.The purely unbelievable event of Pachuca winning the Copa Sudamericana was a reality.
Colo Colo took the early lead in the 35' with a goal by Humberto Suazo. The pre-planned party was getting into full swing (remembering that Colo Colo only needed a 0-0 draw to become champions).
This lead lasted until the break. Early in the second half, Pachuca not only equalise but also took the lead 2-1 to silence a parochial 60,000 crowd that left Chile silenced, South America shocked and Mexico in raptures.
Better days were had at the Sydney FC match against Perth Glory.As expected, Sydney took out the match 1-0. This result was even after Mark Rudan was sent from the field and the Sydney players looked like they were having a light session.
Nevertheless, Alex Brosque was the highlight of the night by not only scoring the winner (his first this season), but also by being the best player on the field - something acknowledged by the 11,816 fans there at Aussie Stadium.
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Colo Colo Must Win Copa Sudamericana!
Colo Colo should make history on Wednesday by taking out the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana final.
After the 1-1 away draw, the Chilean outfit are hot favourites to finally clinch some international silverware since 1991 /1992 (Copa Libertadores/Recopa).
Los Albos (The Whites) will be close to full strength and have all of Chile united, some may say all of South America united.
Colo Colo's rivals Pachuca, are from Mexico and represent the CONCACAF Federation. The Copa Sudamericana is an official CONMEBOL tournament. They have allowed teams from Mexico and the U.S. participate since the 1990s, however no side from this confederation has been able to clinch a South American title and if Pachuca achieve the impossible, they will surely create history of their own.
It has been 15 years since the last major victory for the Chilean side (or any Chilean side), so let's hope that the best football wins on the day, and clearly that football is the one displayed by the great Colo Colo.
¡Dale Albo!
After the 1-1 away draw, the Chilean outfit are hot favourites to finally clinch some international silverware since 1991 /1992 (Copa Libertadores/Recopa).
Los Albos (The Whites) will be close to full strength and have all of Chile united, some may say all of South America united.
Colo Colo's rivals Pachuca, are from Mexico and represent the CONCACAF Federation. The Copa Sudamericana is an official CONMEBOL tournament. They have allowed teams from Mexico and the U.S. participate since the 1990s, however no side from this confederation has been able to clinch a South American title and if Pachuca achieve the impossible, they will surely create history of their own.
It has been 15 years since the last major victory for the Chilean side (or any Chilean side), so let's hope that the best football wins on the day, and clearly that football is the one displayed by the great Colo Colo.
¡Dale Albo!
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