We want it all

Cockerill:

The football community in this country now wants everything, and it wants it now. The legacy of the World Cup is that expectations have been raised to unrealistic levels. Verbeek will satisfy the cultural cringe which demands a foreign coach for the Socceroos, but the honeymoon won't last long. Australia is not a major football power, at least not yet. But plenty of people think it is, as Verbeek is about to find out.

Sad but true.

Pim Verbeek lands the job.

After much heartache, and heartbreak, courtesy of 'dirty' Dick Advocaat, Ben 'Mr. Invisible' Buckley has announced Pim Verbeek as the new Australian Senior National Team Coach - and the good news is he has signed until 2010 and he will live in Australia.

Pim - let me be the first to call him 'Pimmo' - sports a poor track record at club level but did help Aussie Gus with the sensational Koreans in 2002.

Wikipedia says

Pim Verbeek (born March 12, 1956 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) is a Dutch football manager who was the head coach of the South Korea national football team until July 2007. Verbeek was also an assistant under predecessors Guus Hiddink in 2002 and Dick Advocaat in 2006.

The Korea Football Association signed him to a coaching contract on June 26, 2006 until 2008. His brother Robert Verbeek is also a football coach. Pim led Korea to a third-place finish at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, guaranteeing them an automatic berth in the 2011 tournament. He resigned after the third-place game, however, saying he needs a break from coaching for approximately five months.

Note: Don't make the mistake of comparing his CV to Hiddink, Advocaat, Houllier et al. Instead compare him to a Troussier, Viera, Klinsmann, et al, or better still Frank Farina or Arnie.

We just do not have the $$ to do any better. So for the money I think Buckley did OK.

'Avago Pimmo!!!!!!

David Beckham and the Galaxy

What a gamble by the FFA. Anything could have happened, and almost did, with sprained ankles, punches and play acting all possibilities that never really materialised.

Now every paper you pickup is splashed with the success of the night. People in the streets are discussing how Beckham 'Bends it'.

Worth the bucks to bring him out here? - no doubt. Worth the risk of it flopping? Could have been soccer bashing fodder for many, but even the bashers will find it hard to deliver drivel in the face of the theatre of the curling free kick, the ankle scare, the good ol' aussie blue, the red card, the embraces with Juninho and Middleby, and the pictures of the crazy fans. And Beckhams media magnetism.

Kudo's to FFA. And to Channel Ten, thanks for commercial free broadcasting.

And to the Cove boys.."70000 people, we play every week" - a great banner for the occasion!

ABC Offsiders

I dont know why I put myself through it every week...why I even bother watching a show I know is full of afl and rugby league cronies. But I do, and every single time i feel like vomiting on my tv.

It's just as much what they do not say as what they do. I expect to only get a few minutes of A-League coverage - I am used to that - but to not even acknowledge the Olyroos achievements this week, nor give a breath of information about the socceroos kicking ass overseas, let alone preview some freakin HAL matches just beggars belief.

With Barry Cassidy no longer hosting this show to provide even a mild temper to the moronic droning of the afl inbred journos and the tokenistic presence of a nsw old guard rugby league man Roy 'slap me in the face in the dressing room while I am butt naked' Masters, the only reason I would continue to watch the show is to see them keep bickering amongst themselves as to which code is the greatest, whilst the true football grabs a larger and larger foothold in this country.

The only highlights they did show this morning were of Kevin Muscat kicking an ad board whilst the skinny AFL journo (Whattley, or whatever his name is, who, I am told, makes his living pushing the horse racing barrow in Victoria) made some comment about how the crowds have been segregated, then went on to with a sarcastic commentary on the Beckham money spinner as if to infer that his beloved code would never stoop so low.

Problem is they can't reach that high buddy.....Demetriou can only dream about doing what the FFA can do regularly; set up a full house international 'friendly' match that draws over 80k a pop and generates instant $$..........oh wait a minute, thats right, AFL do play the 'test' against the irish...thats no sports marketing gimmick is it? But it is international - pity it's not even the same GAME.

Why in Isaac Newtons name they call the show offsiders is beyond me as, seeing as there is no offside in afl, and as afl is all they seem to talk about they may as well change the name to something a bit more representative of the insular codes that pay their wages. Or at the very least call it the Melbourne Sports Show, so I can turn off on a Sunday morning and go for a walk outside or something.

Guus, you f***** us.

Russia slides through the final round of Euro qualifying under the blessed wing of Guus Hiddink.

The domino effect on world class football managers is set in motion as England bomb out, sack their Manager Steve MacLaren.

All of a sudden any remote (and I do stress *remote*) chance of the FFA signing a Mourinho or a Fabio Capello go out the door as they immediately declare their interest in the England job.

Which leaves us with a chance of snagging manager by email......Jurgen Klinsmann....or whatever his name is.

Newcastle's Favourite Code

Despite what Jets owner Con Constantine has been telling people, it feels like the Coal City will always be a Rugby League Town.

However, to it's credit, the Joey Johns daily, aka the Newcastle Herald, ran an interesting article comparing crowds for the Jets and the Knights.

Although some of the logic is flawed - comparing the last 5 home matches for each team in a way that presents as if they were played at the same time, the bottom line result is very interesting....

Jets past 5 home crowds-----------Knights past 5 home crowds
v mariners 14026---------------------v Raiders 11349
v Sydney 20980-----------------------v Rabbitohs 16320
v Mariners 14828---------------------v Roosters 15171
v Victory 19601------------------------v Dragons 12573
v Sydney 24338-----------------------v Panthers 14351

Total: 93773----------------------------Total: 69764
Average: 18754-----------------------Average: 13952

Before we get all hot and bothered though, it's worth remembering that the Jets last 5 home games were in a run up to trying to get a spot in the semi's (including the last game that was a semi). whilst the last 5 from the Knights have have seen them wrestling to avoid the wooden spoon - not exactly the type of run to the end of the season that makes you want to go out on a cold winters night and watch rugby league.

Speaking of not going anywhere, the new rugby comp is not doing well.......despite the spin.

Drop-ins from around the Football Galaxy

Michael Enfield, USA International and former member of team Galaxy, aka known as the team that David Beckham plays for now, may have had a few regrets when he joined Sydney FC right before David Beckham rolled into LA and put the entire LA Galaxy in the world spotlight, and potentially, in the world football shopwindow.

Doesn't sound like he is too worried though.

Enfield is a great example of a phenomenon that is starting to emerge as a feature of the A-League, and is a sign of a healthy future - the comp is a haven for those about to be great, or those who were great and want to be great again. The football is quality, there is exposure around the world and the crowds are decent. In fact when Dwight came here in year 1 A-League the talk was of 'retirement village', sunny weather and nightclubs - a great place to wind down the career.

All of a sudden of he goes to the north of England again - so much for the retirement village theory. The real story was he was struggling for form, came to Sydney, picked up some cash and enough confidence to captain his country in World Cup 2006 and is now back in the top flight EPL as part of Roy Keanes Sunderland.

Other examples of career resurrections are also there to behold - Alex came to Melbourne Victory, stayed a season despite the weather, and has now grabbed a nice little earner state side for FC Dallas.

This year we have Juninho - out of sorts with clubs in Brazil, and Super Mario Jardel, who so far seems on song and here to do the business. Even youngsters who left our shores are coming back to cut their teeth - I would've tipped Kaz Patafta to come back to Australia in twenty years, not just two, even on a loan out.

So what is Enfield thinking? He probably would have been surprised to find out that his new club was all of a sudden lined up to play his old club half way around the world, in November, when Sydney FC take on the Galaxy in a soon to be sell out fixture.

He'll get his exposure all through the A-League season, get to see the bright lights of LA in November, and maybe even learn a thing or two from a Samba King. Don't expect him to be here next year if he goes well though...

90 Minutes, 90 Emotions

The new Hyundai A-League ad for the 07/08 season was launched last night, although it won't hit the TV until August 19th.

You can breath a sigh of relief - no robots - although it's a shame two of the ads stars, David Carney and Nicky Carle, have already left the league!!

Oh well, thats the world game.



Music is 'Reign' by someone called UNKLE...

Will Sydney watch Sydney now?

Before yesterday there are some pretty good reasons to go out and watch Sydney FC in Hyundai A League Season 3. A new coach that demands a more tasteful approach to football in Branko Culina. World class defenders in Tony Popovic, young up and comers like Mark Milligan and Alex Brosque, and war horses like Steve Corica.

But yesterday, Sydney was gifted Juninho Paulista by Frank Lowy (to be recouped in part by a Carney transfer fee no doubt). To most of us he is a name on the roll of players that got rattled out as Brazil slowly geared up into the World Cup 2002 and, right under everyones noses pulled off yet another World Champions trophy.

And Juninho Paulista was integral. You don't just play 50 times for Brazil's national team and play 5 out of 7 games in a World Cup finals campaign because there is no one else around to take your spot. Brazilians demand blood. This guy was good.

That alone is a reason to pack the stadium at the first home game. The fans deserve better than what they were given last season, and the club now deserves the fans to come back, because they have delivered on a true marquee player. Other clubs may boast a marquee who is a name in Australian football and perhaps known to a a few overseas - Stan Lazaridis for Perth, Craig Moore for Queensland and....Ante Covic for Newcastle(?). But Sydney have taken the notion of what a marquee player is meant to be and stepped it up a notch. As frustrating a wait as it has been, they have got their million dollar man.

Whether he will perform on the field is another matter. The signs are good . He looks fit and trim, and he has a distinctive lack of ego about him.

The chance to see a truly world class player, to swing to the samba rhythms provided by the Sydney Brazilians who will undoubtedly show up with their drums, whistles, and dancing girls and boys, and the promise of an attractive passing style of football encouraged by Culina should be reason enough to get off the couch and get to the games.

Attendance Stats for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-league

2005/06 Sydney FC Average Crowd 19,647
2006/07 Sydney FC Average Crowd 17,449
2007/08 Sydney FC Average Crowd ?????

Ole!

Silver Lining

The Australia v Japan match on Saturday created a new Australian pay TV record audience with an average of 419,000 people watching the game on Fox Sports.

A-League of their own

Stand up Mark Milligan, David Carney and Michael Beauchamp.

This is what its all about. 1-0 would have been a satisfactory result. 2-0 a better one, but 4-0 is emphatic. Against the run of play, yes. But for once the Australians played like a mature football outfit, kept their heads and just marked up (most of the time). Ironically it was the young guns who led the way.

There are few better ways to silence your critics, and it's the way we all hoped it would have been from the start.

The analysis will sober us up, and the hangover will reveal that we now have to sleep with an in-form Japan on Saturday night, and that at the end of the day we beat a minnow of world football and it felt like beating Brazil.

But as I noted here, days like these are where we steel ourselves for our Asian qualification path, World Cup 2010 and beyond. And the Socceroos of the future led the way.

Leaps of logic

How do you turn a good news football story into a negative anti-soccer one?

Here is a piece from, where else, the Melbourne Herald Sun, in the 'Soccer' sports section:

Fans switch on for switched-off Socceroos

July 10, 2007 12:00am
AUSTRALIA'S wobbly draw against Oman in its first group game of the Asian Cup attracted an average audience of 345,000, making it one of the biggest sporting events in subscription television history.

The figures don't include those who watched it at pubs and clubs.

......OK thats a great story - a huge TV audience for a game against a relative unknown football nation, and an acknowledgment that many more are watching in clubs and pubs or at Conaldo's place.

This came on top of Seven's coverage of the Essendon-Geelong game which was the highest-rating Friday night home-and-away match in Melbourne (500,000) since Collingwood played Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome in Round 14, 2005 (572,000).

Ummm, what do you mean 'came on top of'...? That game was on free to air, accessible to every Aussie with a TV set...

Watching the soccer got us wondering

here we go.....

about those flares you sometimes see at games.

Noooo? really what a surprise - I wouldnt have expected such a train of thought from you!

Did you know the basic flare costs about $60 and prices can soar to as much as $120 for the rocket variety?

Did you have to look that up on google or ring around a few places to make this story take up an extra few cms on the web page?

So where do kids get the money to let them off at soccer matches? They don't. Most are stolen from boats.

Oh touche, touche - of course they are, and that means that the Pay TV television audience was so big (remember that train of thought?) because....ummmm......the kids who go to football matches steal flares from boats...

RIGHT!

But thats not enough to fill the 'soccer' story quota for our Herald Sun reporter.

A VIETNAMESE man was killed in an accident as he drove his motorbike through Hanoi to celebrate his country's Asian Cup victory against the United Arab Emirates.

The man died yesterday when he crashed into a traffic sign.

Be warned..watching 'soccer' and celebrating a victory can be hazardous to your health, and may cause you to swim in frigid Melbourne waters to steal fireworks out of boats, then drive erratically through the streets of Hanoi without a helmet on.

Welcome to Asia, Australian Football.

Welcome to Asia, Australian Football.

The torrid encounter against Oman, and, no doubt, the pain that is yet to come against Iraq and co, is the reason we will probably equal or better our performance at the next World Cup in South Africa.

Most of us, including this two-bobber, celebrated when we were accepted into Asia. The exposure, the tougher but fairer qualifying route, and the increased quality of the opposition would mean Australian Football would no longer be spinning it's wheels on the world and domestic scene.

I believe the Asian Cup will show us what that really means. Hard slog, reality checks, reputations and millionaire players count for nothing. Just performance on the park. And what that really means is that the National Team will get better. What we may just see at this Asian Cup, though, is that performances may get worse in the short term, until we make the shift in mindset.

Until earlier this year we didn't see the other side of the coin - stifling heat and humidity, stretcher bearers as 12th and 13th men, intolerant refereeing and monsoon showers.

Come qualifying time for the World Cup next year and into 2009, however, and there will be no more surprises, and no more naiveté to trip us up against teams like Iran, as has happened in the painful past.

The lads may have the bottle to do well in this tournament, but our opener has shown that there are many elements besides pure football to overcome. Hard games against wily opposition will make us stronger, and gutsy efforts to overcome these tough obstacles build the legend and draw the fans.

The Asian Cup looks set to be all it promised to be - an excellent proving ground for the Australian game and the 2010 Socceroos.

Sydney FC match goes free to air

...for a day on 27th November 2007.

Ben Buckley(a.k.a. Mr Invisible) on the FFA website: “I am also very pleased to announce that Network Ten will broadcast this major event live nationally in a three hour special presentation."

He was, of course, talking about the upcoming visit by 'the team that David Beckham plays for now' (a.k.a. LA Galaxy).

Well, its a start. From lil things big things grow.

Leeding the Way

Ahhh......the good old days...



Thanks to the Age


Thats what I was reminded of as I watched the Socceroos v Singapore highlights on SBS this afternoon.

Kewell takes on and skins a player on the left flank, and crosses in for Mark Viduka to nod it into the back of the net.

Not since those heady days back at Leeds Utd have we had the chance to enjoy a match when both Harry and Dukes have hit the score-sheet in the most convincing of fashion.

I'm an optimist, and whilst many have criticised the performance as being a lack lustre one, I put it down to a stiff week of intense physical training in stifling conditions. For me its more important to see the big man Viduka putting some goals away for country as per his club form, Schwarzer making some great saves and the side recovering after a dodgy first half effort.

And when you look at the quality that was sitting on the bench or not even named in the starting squad. you have to look forward to the coming month with many positive thoughts.

I will be watching some of the games live, thank goodness, thanks to Conaldo's generosity, or the local Newcastle pub. But kudo's go th the Australian FourFourTwo website - your text commentary was fantastic for us non Fox viewers.

Kewell and Viduka, thanks for bringing back the memories...

Carle's Turkey Shoot 2

Well, I can't read Turkish....but rumour's are rife around the web that Nicky Carle has signed for Turkish side Gençlerbirliği (pronounced 'a-turkish-side') for a cool 1M Euros transfer fee. Now that's unconfirmed news, but if true thats the largest A-League transfer fee to date.






Looks like a signing pose to me.


See the links here:

The round ball in Ankara

Gençlerbirliği clubs website. Looks like they finished up 6th last year.

A Turkish sports channel

It appears he has signed for 3 years. Not a bad little earner for the Newcastle Jets FC.

Carle's Turkey shoot

The Newcastle Jets are on the verge of losing A-League player of the year and recent Socceroo Nick Carle to Turkish champion Fenerbahce (gaffered by Brazilian legend and former Japan coach Zico). In fact, latest reports have him in Turkey as we type.

What a loss to the A-League. I don't know how much money the Jets will get for the transfer, and I am sure that for the player it's a smart career move, and for the club there will be a reasonable financial outcome. But for the Hyundai A-league it's a crying shame to lose one of the competitions entertainers.

It was probably only a matter of time for Carle, who even this week in the midst of Rugby's flagship representative battle, managed to get a full page spread in the Coal City Herald. He has been hungry for more games in a bigger comp to give himself a better shot at regular NT duties, and has been saying so for a while now. A little more exposure playing in Europe as opposed to playing in Sydney for Olympic methinks.

Message to the FFA - WE NEED A LONGER COMP.

All is not lost however, Jets fans.....the Jets can look forward to Roderiguez and Carle type flair and entertainment from the likes of recent signings Livio Prieto (who is a former Argie under 20 Rep), Jorge Drovandi (another Argie), and possibly a Brazilian striker by the name of Flavio Barros.

And Joey Johns, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Brett Emerton - Superman

Ok he couldn't take a free kick to save his life. And I do cringe when he takes a pot at goal from 30 m out.

But as news.com.au points out, Emo may just be the fittest man in one of the fittest teams in Australian sport.

Running an average of 12 km in a match is one thing, but doing it up to 3 times a week (as per the EPL and associated comps) is phenomenal. For the 55 games, including Socceroos performances, that he played last season, that's 660km over 11 months...equivalent to running more than 1 marathon every month.

So when the guy plays 50+ games a year at club level, and then backs up for every game the National Team plays, you know for sure where his massive Phar Lap heart is.......did I just make a horse racing analogy?

Asian Cup Squad Announced

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Michael Petkovic

Defenders: Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Michael Beauchamp, Michael Thwaite, Mark Milligan, Patrick Kisnorbo

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski, Luke Wilkshire, Jason Culina, Carl Valeri, Nick Carle, David Carney

Forwards: Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson, Brett Holman

V-Bomber Transfer News

Looks like Mark Viduka is set to join the Geordies.

Meanwhile Arnie seems worried that he may not show for the Asian Cup, even though he is talking it up in the positive.

Quick Top Fives

The 5 best and worst of Australia v Uruguay

The best

1. A terrific passing game with few long balls into the channels.
2. Nicky Carle's 'Emerson' maneuver on the ball.
3. Lucas Neil and Jason Culina stepping up with a flawless performance.
4. 62 000 people turning up to a 'friendly' vs 40 000 at a 'test match' in the ruggers.
5. Promise for a bit of depth in the National Team for Asia and beyond.

The worst
1. Two Brad Jones blunders that we all want to forget.
2. Nicky Carle's attempted scissor cross.
3. Aussie dead ball specialists or lack thereof.
4. The attempted 'tifo' at the home end as the teams ran out.
5. Diego Forlan's hairstyle.

Honorary mentions go to:

Best: The city rail worker on the microphone who told commuters making their way into the stadium that he has got a hot VL Commodore for sale.

Worst: Scott MacDonald as a lone striker up front - in fact....... anyone as a lone striker up front.

Zeljko Kalac - AC Milan Cheerleader

You've gotta love Spider.

Every time there is a picture of the Milan players celebrating a goal or their latest victory, an inevitable 7 foot figure looms large in the camera lens, patting people on the head in celebration. Tracksuit clad. Keeper gloves always on, strapped and fixed, ready for action. Jumping up and down, a million dollar smile on his face, celebrating with his team mates.

In fact in a recent May 6 interview with SBS he confessed he was the team clown, relaxing some of the other players who were taking things a bit too seriously.

I can just see it now - Spider standing over a scowling Gattuso in the dressing room - 'relax mate, its just a Champions League quarter final'

He has even taught them Aussie slang. Cue Jesus loving Kaka....'Hang on mate, I just gotta go choke a brown dog....'' (That works on so many levels).

And I'll never forget his laconic description of life as a professional footballer on the SBS's fantastic program, The Away Game.

Monday sleep, eat. train. sleep. train. eat
Tuesday eat. train. sleep. free time. eat. train.
Wed train. eat. train. sleep. train

etc etc

You have to admire him - he maintains a positive attitude at Milan, despite his perpetual presence on the bench - he has only played 3 UCL games for Milan. Yet he is the quintessential optimist and always comes across as being someone who is happy to bide his time.

I guess when you think about it he has a lot to be happy about.

Zeljko joins Harry Kewell and Craig Johnston as the only Australians to own a European Champions League medal. And he has re-signed with Milan for another 2 years. Maybe he knows his time will come. Dida won't be there forever.

And, take note all you parents sending your kiddies off to AFL camp over summer, maybe he is just OK with getting the $350 000 winners bonus, just for being there in Athens and just playing his small part this season.

Onya Spider, I'd be laughing too.

Cocu Cola, the real thing.

As I type this it looks like SFC is going to miss out on what would have been the most significant signing for the A-league since its inception. SBS news have just reported that talks with the 36 year old Dutchman have all but reached a stalemate, and their focus has turned to to Jay Jay or Benito - and there is even a rumour that the right Aloisi may be in talks with the club.

Better football pundits (than I will ever be) have said in the past that what the Sydney FC and indeed, the A-league, is missing is quality world clarsh players pulling the strings on the pitch.

This is what football culture in Australia will eventually be built upon - a classy build up to a goal, a superb through ball, an intelligent switch of play. Football is its own best advertisement when the ball is moved around the park from player to player with effortless finesse, and players like Cocu can deliver this sort of game. This is what most Europeans know, and what the typical Aussie sports fan does not yet know he or she loves to see.

If the story is indeed true and the Sydney FC have missed out on Cocu then the whole HAL, and indeed we, the footballistas who read obscure blogs like these, have missed out on a leap forward in football entertainment in this country.

Kewell makes a solid return: Update

Click here to watch highlights of the reserves match between Liverpool and Everton.

As I half wished for in the previous post, the stage is set for a magical moment as Milan and Liverpool face off once again in the UCL Final in Athens, thanks to a masterful performance by Ancelottis men.

Now for Harry to make the bench......

Kewell makes a solid return

Another post about our 'Arry.

I don't want to come over all sort of Harry Kewell fan boy, but hey, he is one of our best, and the way he travels he may get injured again, so we may as well get in as many blogs as we can aye?

Liverpool TV reports that H is back with a sprinkling of form. To quote the report on the Liverpool Reserves match vs Everton:

Kewell made an instant impact. He was only on the field for five minutes when he beat two defenders down the left and set up Craig Lindfield for a tap-in from close range.....

Lindfield added the third goal on the hour mark after some magical wing play from Kewell......

The Aussie then nearly set up another goal but Anderson's effort was superbly saved by Ruddy.

Reds Reserves won the game 3-1.

Sounds like he is in form and although probably not at all match fit, and too late for the bench against Chelsea in the upcoming UCL Semi unfortunately. If the Reds can get to the Final in Athens, he'll definitely have the away to Fulham FC and the home against Charlton to get in a run and show his stuff.

I am sure we would all like to see him run on to the ground for the UCL final and actually finish the match. It'll be a huge boost to his confidence, and a fairy tale to boot if they end up playing Milan again. They have to get past Chelski first though - far from impossible at Anfield.

I'd love to see him run up against Uruguay again in Sydney too. Hopefully he will. .

Where have all the good times gone?

Or should I say, where have all the band-wagoners gone?

Watching the Australia vs China game in the pub the other day, I was a lone viewer squinting at a tiny, volumeless screen, surrounded by a sea of rugby watchers playing pool and barely glancing at the three big screen plasmas that were up in the main bar of the local establishment, showing back to back rugby type games.

But before long, I had curious on-lookers joining me in my little corner, checking the score, and asking if this was live or a replay. In fact a common theme for the night was - 'Oh I didnt know this was on'

I have noticed a similar phenomenon for Syd FC and Adelaide U ACL games - no one talking about it much over the water cooler, and general dis-interest across the board.

The theme continues with the fare of our favourite Socceroo World Cup heroes.

Harry's back - no interest. Cahill injured, Craig Moore's hammy, Viduka's form, Brett Holman's hair band, where has Guus gone to? - no one seems to be bothered.

Let alone Olympic Qualifiers for the Olyroos and Matildas (anyone catch Mel and Kochy praising Katie Gill for her hat-trick in the 10 - 0 drubbing of Chinese Taipei by the Matildas the other morning? Nuh).

I have to say, though, when you bring it up with general sports fans, you can see a gleam in their eye - I think there is a chink in the psychic armour of traditional resistance to the game which has been worn down by the efforts of Lowy and Co. No amount of effort by the axis of evil is going to drag that down too quickly.

But I guess this post is just a clarion call to all the band-wagoners - the Asia cup is coming, and the Aussies are going to win it - and we are going to beat the pants offa the Argies and the Uruguayans in front of sellout Aussie crowds, to boot.

If you know any of these guys, spread the word cause they probably won't know its coming.....get your seats on the wagon now...it leaves town around the end of May......

Its a Kewell, Kewell World

The troubled one, Harry Kewell. is set to make his return next month, after 9 months of rehabilitation.

We all know the cliche line: The man they apparently call 'sick note' has never been able to consistently reproduce the mesmeric form he had at Leeds, form that opened doors to Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and his boyhood fantasy club, Liverpool FC.

But the glimpses have always been there since those times - wonder goals for the Reds, ripping Uruguay apart in Sydney and just being on the spot vs. Croatia to send us hurtling into our quarter final frenzy. There have also been the heartbreaks - coming off injured in the Champions League Final, or hobbling onto the bench straight from the dressing room before the Italy QF.

He'll run out in a reserve grade team for Liverpool, and once again we'll all hold our collective breath and hope he won't tweak, pull, tear or break anything in the leadup to the Asian Cup. So it was for the lead up to the World Cup in Germany, so it is again this year for I-M-T-V.

The buzz around the football web used to be that without Harry, we were always behind the eight-ball. Since his enforced absence, however, the National Team has thrown aside the need for the 'one saviour' crutch. The total football approach of the Hiddink era re-inforced the fact that no individual is greater than the whole team. Sure, Australia is a far better side with him in it, but now I think its more that Harry adds a new dimension to our attack, rather than being a crucial linch-pin that keeps the wheels on the wagon. I would worry more if a Vinnie Grella or Jason Culina were unavailable for the AFC Finals because that type of player has a larger impact on our overall system.

Now the talk is of Harry moving on from Liverpool, and I imagine the Asian Cup Finals and his return this year will outline his destiny for the years to come. For a guy who has had so many troubled weeks of injury, he is still the best player we have ever produced. Hopefully this won't be yet another heartbreak return, and we'll see him in Sydney and Melbourne again in June.

Best of luck H, break a leg....

Aus v China - Post Match Thoughts

What a surprising first half - I certainly didn't expect China to capitulate so easily in midfield where the Aussie's were running rampant.

The second half showed some cracks in team discipline that, for me, need to ironed out by Arnold or his successor. There was no need to change the simple passing game and switch to floating long balls just because the Chinese turned it up a notch. Put it down to fatigue and lack of interest, perhaps - I hope.

Key points of note:

- Viduka was on fire - As a serial 'off the ball' and out of the limelight front-man when he dons the gold jersey, he finally brought over some of his club form on the ball and produced a few moments of magic.

- Brett Holman - More to prove against tougher opposition but at least he was there when he needed to be, and a scuffed goal is better than no goal at all.

- Carl Valeri - If this guy gets regular time with Inter or a similar club then our midfield future is secure.

- We still can't take a spot-kick to save our life. A dimension of the game that we are really lacking in, which I believe is costing us goals.

- Why bring on Nick Carle with only 10 minutes to go? Give the guy half an hour at least. Showed flashes of confidence on the ball, albeit against a defence that had probably given up the ghost by the 88th minute.

- Did Lucas Neil play?

- Marco - flashes of form, and I hear at Club level he is ripping it. Obviously a solid performance but I guess I still expect more.

- Shane Steffanuto - What is with that haircut man? Depeche Mode or Norties 'Emo' ?

All in all I think we caught China at a bad time for them, with obvious off field issues affecting their motivation. A contrast to a relatively stable ship for the Aussies. We are now really starting to see the rewards of regular internationals against real opposition.

More opportunity to see our real quality with the Argies and Uruguay to come, and more opportunities to groom a squad for Asia, 2010 and beyond.

Digging to China

I have been pondering this week, how big a television audience the Australia vs China friendly match will draw. I am not talking about Foxtel Subscribers. I am thinking more about how many Asian viewers there will be. According to this guy's figures, it could be a bucket-load.

So lets start here....8.28 billion Asians watched the world cup. Now of course thats cumulative, over the course of the largest single sporting event in the world.

After about 10 minutes of hunting around on this interwebby thing, I found this page, which floored me...

There are 250 million regular football fans in China.

In fact, this is such a nugget, its worth a copy and paste:

China has more television sets than any other country in the world, which means that it represents a huge and growing audience for football.





These television sets are being well and truly used. 400 million Chinese watched the China versus Brazil match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™. In total, China delivered a cumulative viewing audience of almost six billion to this event, representing 20% of the global audience.



Over 50% of the population in major Chinese cities chooses football as its favourite sport. Team China matches have an average TV rating of at least 30%. With at least six leading Chinese players now playing for European clubs, the standard of play is rising sharply and audience interest is keeping pace.

Okay thats good. Its time to get the old calculator out...

Lets see, if the football viewing population of China is potentially 250 million, and team China Matches average a TV rating of at least 30% , then thats 75 million people.

No that cant be right.....

250 000 000 x 0.30 = 75 000 000

That is right.

So nearly four times the entire population of Australia will tune in to watch the game on Saturday night in China.

Thats ridiculous.

Look out Joey Johns

Before I moved into the Newcastle area I knew that Andrew Johns was a popular figure on the local scene. I knew that he was a local boy done good and that the Novacastrians were proud of him.

What I didn't realise was HOW proud of him they are. He does ads for just about everything under the sun, is always being talked about and there is a news story on Joey Johns every single day. 'Our Andrew' is everywhere.

I am not exaggerating. Every single day there is a story on Andrew Johns in the paper, on NBN (home of RL) and on every radio station north of Gosford.

Every little trivial detail about his life is big news. Yesterday it was 'Joey goes surfing before the big match'. They love the guy - I got no problems with that.

But lately there has been a new face that has been appearing in the papers and on the tele more than is normal.

I keep hearing the unmistakable voice of a bloke who has grown up playing the wog ball game around us effniks. Nicky Carle. Last week it was on the back of the Newcastle Herald showing Nicky in a local climbing Gym. Nicky Carle. A fortnight ago, he had just won the HAL Player of the year and Newcastle couldn't get enough of him. Nicky Carle.

And the big news this week, Nick Carle has been selected to play for the Socceroo's against China on March 24 in Guangzhou. There he was again, in the papers.

The town that has the Greatest Player in the WORLD in Joey (Ray Warren, 2005), now has a new face to pin its hopes on.

Lets hope he does us proud.

Somebody Pinch Me

Somebody pinch me,

It's late on a Wednesday night and I'm clicking furiously on my mouse trying to refresh the world game website live match commentary. It's the first night of foray into the AFC Asian Champions League by Australian teams - the much heralded and anticipated entry into Asian club football that would ice the cake that was baked by the Crawford Report just 4 short years ago.

Sydney FC lead 2 goals to 1 against a team of Chinese I had not heard of until a couple of months ago. The goals have been sensational.

I see the highlights on a commercial free to air sports show that night (I don't have Fox), preceding rugby league, afl and even the cricket. Names like Ufuk Talay and Stevie Corica roll off the presenters tongue, and 'do it again for Sydney.....'.

Wait a minute this is Australia - How the hell did we get to Asian Champions League highlights on Channel 10, home of Neighbours, AFL and The Simpsons???

When the Pratten Park 'riot' happened in the mid 80's, who was involved? - Sydney Olympic, obviously but who else? (Was it Sydney City?) Although I can honestly say I can't remember, I could Google it and find it in an instant.

But I do remember the important bit. I remember the sinking sinking feeling of shame and embarrassment as my sport was dragged through the mud by anyone who could put hooligan and soccer in the same sentence. Blown out of all proportion ala White Eagles bus windows.... but mum and dad Australia said soccer is for thugs, so lets go watch rugby league (!).

I admit it, as a kid growing up I would play in 2 comps of 'soccer' during the week with a passion - get to training early, get dressed 5 hrs before the game on Saturday (some things don't change even in o35's), kick the ball around the house incessantly....but my heroes were Slippery Steve Morris, Rocket Reddy, and Dougie Walters, not Gary Phillips, Peter Katholas or Marshall Soper....

Soccer as a mainstream entertainment sport was off the radar, except for those FA Cup nights or late Saturday nights EPL on ABC where we cheered for teams we sort of knew about, like Liverpool, Everton, Notts Forest - as an alternative most of us at best followed the premiership and that was that. The hard core read Australian Soccer Weekly and knew about Greek teams or Serie A. The Wold Cup disappointments would come and go, which would spark some interest. But at Aussie club level?

Not to say there was not some quality football on offer in the old NSL. But it was not in the mainstream psyche.

Of course, I know that there is an obvious reason to the focus on football these days - much has been written about the launch of the A League, Dwight Yorke, Foxtel deals, THAT night in November, the World Cup and THOSE mornings in June with the Socceroos, the 50k crowds at the Dome, Dutch football directors and Weetbix Kids.

And I know there is a damn long way to go.

But I have a feeling that at last the game is on the mainstream radar.

Now let me just Google Uruwa Red Diamonds.......

Welcome to the Jogo Bonito blog.

Welcome to the Jogo Bonito blog.

We don't know what this blog will be or what it will contain just yet....

In fact don't bet there will be anything here at all...but please check back here again soon to read our latest splutterings on the game of football.

>>that's the world game mate.

>>the roundball game.

>>football, you know....

>>yeah, soccer, football......Jogo Bonito

**The Beautiful Game**