Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
What an amazing few days. On Tuesday, Troy Palmer CEO of the Hunter Sports Group announced that the Newcastle Jets would be handing back their A-League licence, the 10th owner to do so in seven seasons. I was shattered. We are again talking about football administration in this country when we should be focused on the marvellous football that is being played on the pitch. Last weekend's A-league finals were up there with the best matches I have seen in any league this season. In some ways I don't even care who is right or wrong anymore. I love football and at the moment money, stubbornness and big egos are tearing it apart. But to paraphrase Mark Bosnich on Foxsports FC, 'it is not these type of problems that define you as a person and as a code, it is how you come back from them'. Truer words have never been spoken (slight exaggeration for more impact). I have faith OUR game can not only bounce back from this crisis but become the dominant football code in Australia, bar none. Why? Anyone who has experienced the last two bleary eyed mornings could not help but get on board. The SBS shootout provided a good discussion.
Football at this time of year is exciting, teams and players fighting for titles, promotion, relegation and contracts. It is desperate, passionate and theatrical, an emotional roller coaster of sorts. Liverpool v Blackburn on Wednesday morn (EST +10 GMT) is but one example. Doni, starting his first match in over 40 games brought down Hoilett in the penalty area and was subsequently sent off. After warming the bench for so long behind Pepe Reina you couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Cue Brad Jones, who not only missed a WC for Australia due to his son's illness but has now seen his son pass away in recent months. Making his first Premier League start for Liverpool Jones saved Yakubu's penalty and pointed to the sky to honour his son. If you didn't get wet eyes at that moment you never will. Unfortunately, moments later he fumbled what was a straightforward catch which gifted Blackburn an equaliser. Nevertheless, he should still line up versus Everton in the F.A. Cup semi at Wembley on Saturday, no less than he deserves.
It was hard to imagine it getting better, but it did. Thursday morning (EST +10 GMT) saw Dortmund take on Bayern Munich in a top of the table Bundesliga clash. What a game, Dortmund triumphing 1-0 in a thriller and extending their lead over Munich to 6 points. I have rarely heard a stadium so loud, Dortmund Manager Jurgen Klopp celebrating like the title was already his. Sir Alex Ferguson might have a word in his ear though after United's lead at the top was cut back to 5 points. United went down to relegation threatened Wigan Athletic while City thrashed West-Brom 4-0. I may have spoke to soon when I suggested the title race was all but over, but I don't think so. Wigan have put in a number of good performances of late and on current form could be with the big boys again next year. They out-enthused United all over the park and deserved the win. Mention must also be made of Ronald's hat-trick in Real's 4-1 victory in the Madrid derby. He single-handedly won the game for Real and also possibly the La Liga title. I don't know about you but I can't wait for the weekend!
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Like the blog, Wigan still shouldn't have rolled ManU regardless, City are still in it and now have momentum. The problem with the A League is we have to have millionaires to fund clubs because football clubs are unprofitable, this applies across the board, look at the Premier League.
ReplyDeleteThis is the bane of football clubs, without merchandising and A cut of the TV rights money they would all have closed long ago. There needs to be a better structure that recognizes the sport and it's contribution to the community
Like the Blog, Wigan shouldn't have rolled ManU regardless, City now have momentum and could snatch the title. All the turmoil around the A League only highlights the situation where we need millionaires to fund professional football.
ReplyDeleteThis is not only true for Australia but around the world, maybe we need to look at government funding where clubs actively contribute to there community or vice versa.
@inside left Thanks! Yes, unfortunately many football clubs have suffered from the same sort of blind speculation and crippling debt that has seen many European countries on the brink of collapse. For instance, not in my wildest dreams would I ever have thought Rangers would fall into administration. Even Man United's financial woes have been well documented.
DeleteI agree there needs to be a better structure, the private ownership model pits club against club with each club acting in their own interest instead of the interest of the game or league. Unfortunately, at the present time that is what we have....The government funding idea is interesting, a sort of reciprocal responsibility agreement...It is those sorts of ideas that are worth mooting, if only the FFA and owners appeared keen to listen.
Man United will pick themselves back up, not even Rooney etc. can play great every match.Scholes's return has been fantastic. I do think Hernandez has 'come back to the pack' so to speak this season though. Personally I expected to see a bit more. The next couple of weeks is certainly going to be interesting right across the European leagues.