John Aloisi missed a penalty. Fowler scored a fantastic lobbed goal.
NQ are going to cause teams real troubles later in the year when it gets hot up north.
Only 16,000 to a much hyped game that expected 20,000.
Come on FFA let's see better analysis and planning for all games, particularly block busters.
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Les Rosbifs 14 August @ 09:25 AM EST
Robbie Fowler got off the mark on his A-League debut last weekend, although his North Queensland
Fury fell to a 3-2 home defeat against Sydney FC. Fowler, formerly of Liverpool and made club
captain, converted a penalty after an hour to level the scores at 2-2. However, former Portsmouth
man John Aloisi scored a winner [.
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Many of you guys who ardently follow the Coca Cola Football League Championship, might have taken
in the 08-09 Texaco Fantasy Football Competition last season ( eventually won by Wolves fan Steven
Brittle). This year, the competition is back again, bigger and better. The winner of the
competition gets a free £500 fuel voucher ( courtesy [.
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"Time for changing things has finished," said Sydney FC's new coach Vitezslav Lavicka after his
side's distinctly unimpressive 1-0 win over Sydney Olympic last night. "It was the worst
performance of the whole pre-season."
An honest assessment, and the remark about changing things is pertinent.
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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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These days, the A-League average (salary) is more than $100,000 — a marked increase
in a few short years on the sort of wages that were offered (and often not paid by bankrupt clubs)
in the old National Soccer League.
Michael Lynch writing in The Age looks at where the A-League can source their next players from.
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The move into the Asian confederation has created so many possibilities for the World Cup-bound
Socceroos, but it has unexpectedly robbed them of something - a proper climax to qualifying.
Few punters will forget that November night in 2005 when a bare-chested John Aloisi wheeled away
after scoring the decisive penalty in Australia's shootout victory over Uruguay, a goal, which
combined with Mark Schwarzer's heroics, confirming only the country's second appearance in a World
Cup finals.
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AFL, Rugby Union and the relatively poor Rugby League stars can only dream of the sort of reward
footballers get for playing their game.
Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer, can expect up to $2 million in
sponsorships prior to the World Cup, according to the World Game website today.
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We've made it!
With a fairly colourless draw against Qatar early this morning, enlivened at times by Tim Cahill
and Harry Kewell, the Socceroos have qualified for their third World Cup. Congratulations to Pim
Verbeek and the squad.
Of course, as many have already pointed out, there wasn't quite the sense of occasion this time; no
penalty from John Aloisi or rocketing shot from Jim Mackay to stir the blood.
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The A-League is shaping up for it's best season yet. There's still a way to go and expect a few
more twists and turns but new teams, new players added to an established old guard seem to be
getting the fans excited like never before.
The new teams: Gold Coast and North Queensland Fury, the bank and the paupers, top v bottom maybe.
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Well Coach Mitchell went over and asked him to play for Glory and Mark Viduka or 'Varduka' as some
Newcastle fanzine writer calls him in this months Four Four Two, said no. Why? Well apparently he
is worried about ending up like John Aloisi at Sydney. You'd be alright Dukes.
My guess is that he would come home for Victory.
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Sydney drew with Queensland Roar last night 1-1. A good game and with the Roar leading 1-0,
Australia's fattest import Charlie Miller heading towards goal with a minute to play....there could
be only one winner.
Charlie, okay I'm a Celtic fan, and the wee Ger is scoring goals galore despite his girth, was sure
to score to make it 2-0 at the death.
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Wellington won, honest the beat the leaders Sydney FC. I kid you not. And Victory had another
sent-off, for what I don't know.
Central Coast thumped Perth, will Dave Mitchell be sacked after Pim Verbeek's vote of confidence,
and the youngsters shine for the Kruse less Roar.
Queensland Roar are better away.
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Sydney drew 0-0 with a rejuvenated Newscastle Jets in Newcastle. Pity the same couldn't be said
about the Ref. Million dollar Aloisi disappoints, Kossie gets it wrong and Van Egmond outsmarts us
all.
And still no place for Canberra's Patafta..not even on the bench!
Mitchell Prentice came on as a sub late on, returning from suspension, and got sent-off.
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Can't wait to see Melbourne and Sydney playing at home this weekend. Both of the big city clubs
have shown they have enough talent and money to keep me awake this year...
Melbourne might have the luxury of leaving Archie Thompson on the bench. Wow!
And Sydney still have John Aloisi to come in.
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but this time he's Scottish and he's playing for Queensland Roar.
Charlie Miller is doing his best to impersonate Mario Jardel. He's got the whole belly thing off
pat.
Even wears the shirt the same.
He looks like he's come from a Scottish pub just before the game, but he did play in the 3 degree
Summer A-League kick-off game for the Roar in Wellington.
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MVFC Blog 18 August @ 05:17 AM EST
Sydney FC's Chris Bolton stopped shots from Ney Fabiano, Danny Allsopp and Jose Luis Lopez to give
Sydney a 0-0 scoreline against the Melbourne Victory. Melbourne were favourites to win the clash,
with Sydney missing a host of players including John Aloisi and Alex Brosque. Young Chris Payne
made his debút as a lone striker, but [.
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Great great news about the Women but what about our boys!
I'm expecting a Canberra National Women's team on Monday, an A-League team in Canberra in 2010, but
why can't we have a Youth team now. NOW, I said very loudly. Did anyone hear?
Here's how it works.
You advertise for a Coach.
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Brett Emerton, 29, has signed for Blackburn for four more years. And Josip Skoko, 32, has gone back
to play in Croatia for Hadjuk Split.
Fair enough. But don't come back to the A-League Emo and Josip after these contracts run out.
You'll be too old, too slow.
Emo has talked about playing in Sydney while he still has something left.
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17 year old Chris Payne proved the difference between two sides weakened by injury and suspension.
Tiattto and Kruse both missed the trip.
If Payne continues in this vain, scoring one and forcing saves with several other shots - including
an over-head kick - Sydney will not need John Aloisi.
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I read Jesse Fink's piece about John Aloisi on the world game site and laughed, it's an in joke for
long term bloggers - 'Where is Mike'. Anyone get it. Without losing my subtlety it involves one of
the longest A-League blob exchanges ever and dates from the Terry Butcher days.
Anyway, Jesse thinks this is a do or die year for Sydney and, given his foot injury, our John
doesn't look like a good investment.
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If there was a sense of inevitability ahead of the draw for the final round of World Cup qualifying
in Asia, neither Japan coach Takeshi Okada, nor Australia coach Pim Verbeek let it show.
Both reacted casually when Japan and Australia were drawn together in Group A, along with
Middle-Eastern sides Qatar and Bahrain and potential dark horses Uzbekistan.
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Release of the draw this week, and other announcements concerning season four. The most significant
of which was the resigning of Hyundai for another four year years as the naming rights sponsor for
the A-League (apparently on much improved terms). This will take the partnership between the FFA
and Hyundai to the end of the 2011-2012 season and it is no coincidence that this will coincide
with the new TV rights deal at around that time as well.
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Full squad from the FFA below for the Singapore game on Saturday night is below. Watch Canberra's
Nikolai Topor-Stanley make his debut.
Is Sydney FC's John Aloisi finished with the Socceroos?
If so $1.4 mill is a massive amount of dosh for an Australian non-Socceroo!
QANTAS SOCCEROOS SQUAD FINALISED FOR SINGAPORE MATCH
Qantas Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has finalised his squad for the friendly international match
against Singapore to be played at their National Stadium on Saturday.
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Who is the highest paid footballer, in any code, in Australia?
It used to be Union's Matt Giteau (Western Force) some thought maybe Chris Judd (AFL) or maybe
Willie Mason (Rugby League).
Well, it's an A-League player, an Australian. As of this morning it's John Aloisi who has just
signed with Sydney FC.
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