Adelaide dominated this game and yet pulled it out of the fire in injury time. GC went down to 10
mid way through the 1st half and should have been 9 by half time. Adelaide had perhaps the highest
possession of any team this season 70% plus, huge numbers of corners, many free kicks but couldn't
get anywhere near goal.
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The Supporters Club is organising a Sportsman's Lunch. We have been able to organise with the club
to supply at least 6 players including Jason Culina. Here is the flier, so if it interests you,
drop us a line and make arrangements to pay up.
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Hmmm. At the start of the season this was supposed to be the blockbuster that Gold Coast would
steal from the Roar. But with only 5,400 watching and quite a few of those in Sydney colours you
would have to say Gold Coast have a long, long way to go build a fan base.
Shame really as this game was won by Jason Culina who was at his best.
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I was genuinely excited when the FFA announced that one of the new clubs to join the A-league this
year was to be Gold Coast United. Here was a team to be based in the fastest growing area of
Australia, was backed by one of Australia's richest men and would have one of the more interesting
(if slightly insane) characters of the game here in Australia guiding them in Miron Beilberg.
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Given all the glowing publicity surrounding the new Gold Coast United franchise early in the
season, including a cloying puff piece on Channel 9's
60 Minutes, this makes particularly
depressing reading.
Yes, stadium deals are tricky things. Sydney FC, for one, suffered from an onerous deal with the
SFS (Aussie Stadium, as it then was) in the first A-League season, one which was largely
responsible for the loss the club made in 2005/06.
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IT's a pretty quiet Thursday in terms of Perth Glory news.
The club decided, wisely, not to challenge Andy Todd's suspension, but since then it's been a bit
of a lull.
However, there's a bit going on here and there, so let's get into it:
- SO most people who follow football regularly will already know this - Gold Coast United Miron
Bleiberg is a media man.
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And so, once again, it was a case of Tim Cahill to the rescue.
The Socceroo performance wasn't quite as bad as their last outing against Oman, but there were long
periods of the game where Australia were dreadfully uninspired. And, let us remember, Oman were
denied what looked like a plain penalty a few minutes from the close.
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That is according to today's 'Gold Coast Weekend Bulletin' where the 'glamor' club is back page
news. But not promoting tomorrow's game. It is Jason Culina complaining about his club's poor job
at attracting crowds.
Funny that, some of Brisbane's leading journalists praised Miron's non-attendance and refusal to
promote the opening game of the season as an act of marketing genius - by attracting interest to
the game(?
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Miron says they are Monaco. Monaco? Monaco?
Why do we need this in the A-League? Only 4,000 fans now - friends and family of the players. What
is Jason Culina thinking playing for this rabble? What if they had opened the A-League season?
And Wellington dominated the game. Should have won if Leo Bertos could shoot as well as he can run
with the ball.
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Socceroo Jason Culina would love the opportunity to defeat the Netherlands in front of a sold-out
home crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday, October 10. Having spent the last ten years
playing his club football in Holland, making 160 appearances with Dutch clubs Ajax Amsterdam, De
Graafschap, FC Twente
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The Gold Coast Blue Rinse Set were hardly in this match. They appear to be suffering from taking
victories for granted. Although the real message is about their lack of tactical wisdom. CCM were
not great, the Blue Rinses were poor.
At last Shane Smeltz's on-field behaviour was called and he received a deserved 2 yellow red.
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Although the majority of the plaudits after last night's Gold Coast v. Sydney encounter will
naturally go to Shane Smeltz, there was another Gold Coast player whose reputation will have been
considerably enhanced. I refer to Zenon Caravella.
It's a pleasure to see such a positive, resourceful player back in the A-League, and Miron Bleiberg
deserves credit for his canny recruitment of the former Sydney Olympic and New Zealand Knights
midfielder.
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EPL Talk 05 September @ 09:15 AM EST
Australia's remarkable run of results has come crashing to a halt at the Seoul World Cup Stadium
as Korea downed the Socceroos 3-1  tonight in an International Friendly. With both teams safely
through to the World Cup Finals as top of their Asian qualifying groups, this was a chance for both
managers to test some new players, and Aussie coach Pim Verbeek rang in the changes in what was a
homecoming for him, as he coached South Korea before taking the Australian job.
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Round Three saw the top six in the A-League now decided.
Yes I know we've got a few weeks to go but it looks sorted to me.
Well is Branko really going to sort that talented mob out, will Frankie survive the season, and
Perth despite their win are too slow in the forward line to threaten aren't they, unless they can
nick an improved Wellington's place, which leaves the Fury.
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It will be interesting to see how the FFA reacts. Clearly the A-League governance structure is now
under attack from within. The FFA are likely to pay the price of their lack of attention to detail
in fostering the growth of the A-League, womens' league, youth competitions and general game and
entertainment development.
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Adelaide v Gold Coast United, Friday night.
Should be a cracker and a great test for both teams.
I'm expecting a fast-paced game with the Gold Coast forced onto the back foot in front of the
Hindmarsh faithful.
But will Jason Culina, Shane Smeltz and Joel Porter pounce again.
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Now we all know Pim Verbeek is worried about his Aussie boys returning home to the A-League, and
probably no-one concerns him more than ever-present Socceroo Jason Culina.
Great player, who Robbie Slater praises before he even plays a pass, but are Culina's standards
already slipping?
A few showpony touches with the score at 1-0 in the Fury game on the weekend suggests this whole
A-League thing has finally attracted a professional player who finds the games too easy.
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Well what does Shane Smeltz have to do to be man-of-the-match?
Scores 4 and Porter gets the award!!
And was it a goal for every thousand fans!
The Fury got 8,900 on debut, Gold Coast with Jason Culina and all the hype for 7,000 on home
debut.
Oh dear oh dear.
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Aussie Agents up to their neck in it?
You can almost smell the greed of the Aussie Agent. An Agent who seals the deal for the likes of
Brendan Santalab to get a gig in the A-League only to work his socks off to move him and any of his
other players as quickly as possible to North Asia, the Middle East or even Europe.
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Gold Coast United has lifted the bar for domestic football in Australia.
Jason Culina, Joel Porter, Shane Smeltz, Robson, Bas Van Den Brink all lit up the Brisbane night
with intelligent, skilful football. 3-1 to United. Great for the A-League, great for football fans
everywhere.
Joel Porter particularly caught my eye.
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The A-League is all about entertainment. Miron said this all through his Roar tenure.
Miron and Frank embraced after the game last night. Miron would have known exactly the pressures
the game would have put on the Roar coach.
Miron has proved himself to have bouncebackability. He has looked at the confinements and
limitations of the A-League rules and acquired the best team in the competition - by a wide margin.
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We're only an hour or so away from the first match of A-League ver. 5 and already it's promising to
be a cracker of a year!
Two new teams in Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury, new and "unique" kit designs, a host
of new faces from local and abroad, ex-socceroos and marquee talent the likes of Robbie Fowler,
Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns etc.
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We're only an hour or so away from the first match of A-League ver. 5 and already it's promising to
be a cracker of a year!
Two new teams in Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury, new and "unique" kit designs, a host
of new faces from local and abroad, ex-socceroos and marquee talent the likes of Robbie Fowler,
Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns etc.
Click to continue reading...
Moving on with the brisk TFT preview for 2009/10:
Can Wellington survive the departure of Shane Smeltz? Their history with British journeymen has not
been a happy one (Messrs. Devine, Bazeley and Gemmill spring to mind, among others), so one wonders
how much faith they can afford to put in their new Anglophone brigade, although I've seen Paul
Ifill perform well in the past.
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I admit I laughed when I saw the cardboard cut out. But Frank made it very clear it was not his
idea.
After some 'interviewed questions' - a lot seemed to be about how long the preseason was - the
journalists were invited up front to ask questions. All the questions seemed to be about Miron and
Clive's stand.
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It is like an old western. Be there at noon unless ya too chicken.
We'll see. Miron says he isn't promoting the game. Because of his principles. Is there any
principle but maximising interest in the sport?
Anyway, Brisbane RFC say he'll be there with Jason Culina to face off with Frank and Craig.
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I wonder what Jason Culina is thinking. I think is getting a little concerned.
He gave up a spot at a very professional club with a great reputation and a guaranteed spot in the
Socceroos for the World Cup 2010. He was even warned not to do it by the coach of the Socceroos.
But I understand he spoke to a wide range of people involved in the A-League and they reassured
him.
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Jason Culina could be a playmaker for the Gold Coast, and he's Australian. But we need more and
when you look around the A-League there is a dearth, particularly from the Aussies
Each club needs a Carlos Hernandez, or someone heading that way, and from that group of ten
playmakers only then can we push one or two overseas and only then will we get one good enough to
play internationally for the Socceroos.
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Whatever level of sport you play at stepping down at the peak of your career to play at a lower
level is practically unheard of. These guys are born winners and focus on winning and everything
that goes with it.
Craig Johnston stopped completely at 28, but can you imagine Ronaldo stepping down to division 2
anytime soon, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, or Roger Federer at their peak stepping down to local
tournaments only.
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Too young, too quick, too slow, too fragile, whatever the reason, whatever your code I'm sure
you've heard the criticism of the A-League.
But with the Socceroos heading to the FIFA 2010 World Cup few fans would expect to see the squad
without a pack of A-League players.
Yes that's right the A-League will be sending a host of players to the World Cup,to one if not the
greatest stage in World Sport.
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With the addition of our Socceroo trio the Perth Glory are starting to look like a Fantasy Team.
Fancy adding Jason Culina or Craig Moore into the mix? The Gory Days will be hosting its own
A-League fantasy competition where you pick the team and battle it out for Perth's bragging rights.
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When Mark Viduka, Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Josip Skoko and many others took Australia to the
last World Cup their Croatian heritage did not go unnoticed. Indeed Croatia themselves had three of
our boys in their squad.
Many wondered if this was the end of the Aussie Croatian production line.
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Australia beat Japan 2-1 with Tim Cahill scoring two scruffy goals for a come from behind win.
Once again, despite playing ugly, Aussie spirit and the game goes for 90 minutes.
Lots of concerns, but we know we aren't the best looking team in the World. But we beat Japan and I
for one loved it.
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Socceroos win 2-0 with a comfortable victory over the ninety minutes.
David Carney scored, and the old faithful Mile Sterjovski popped one in.
We have maybe 50 plus players fighting to get on that plane, over the next twelve months, and
Australian players will be doing their utmost to get in the 23.
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