The A-League With Ze Phibber
Football is a bloody good game, an exiting game and a fierce game. Sadly in New Zealand and Aussie when the word Football is mentioned the immediate response is "Oh you talking about Rugby?" No I'm not talking about rugby you meat head I'm talking about football, the world game. Sadly we live in a part of the world where football takes a back seat.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of most sports and I am definitely a fan of rugby, but I would love to see the game of football (soccer for any of you who are slightly slow and still think that I may be referring to rugby) get the respect and following that it does in parts of the world such as England or Spain. This years A-League may be a turning point for the beautiful game down under, we have managed to attract some pretty big players and the talent of the youth coming through is looking as tasty as that new J-Lo music vid.
The first week of the 2014/15 season of the A-League definitely did not disappoint. There were plenty of goals, plenty of cards and plenty of people, well to the first game anyway. The Melbournites (that's what I'm calling them) managed to muster up over 30,000 in attendance which isn't too shabby. If this league is going to grow into the league I hope it will then we need to be attracting crowds like this to all the games. I mean come on Wellingtonians, no wonder the Phoenix play like absolute trash, there is only 7,000 of you bothering to support the team, mind you with the performance they put out its probably a good thing there wasn't too many of you there to cringe in the awkwardness of the gumby touches and misplaced passes.
Anyway back to Melbourne, the team did not disappoint putting 4 past last years runner ups The Western Sydney Wanderers to win 4-1, with goals going to Matthieu Delpierre (Mel), the beady eyed Bersat Berisha (Mel), Leigh Broxham (Mel), Mark Bridge (Wes) and Archie Thompson (Mel). This was the perfect opener, great crowd, great play and great finishing, no one can complain when a game has 5 goals in it, unless you're a Wanderers supporter #riots.
The Central Coast picked up a win against rivals The Newcastle Jets in the local F3 Derby with a goal late into injury time going to Mitchell Duke (Cen). For a derby there was not much action in the way of goals, but where the game lacked goals it definitely made up for it in tough (some might say dirty) tackles with the Jets coming away with 4 yellow cards. I'm not sure if the game plan was if you can't beat them hurt them, but it did look as though they were out to cause some pain. Perth also came away from the weekend victorious after they managed to come out on top of my beloved Phoenix 2-1. Goals to Andy Keogh (Per), Michael McGlinchy (Wel) and MacLaren (Per). I touched on the poor performance of the Nix earlier, they did show some promising signs but they are gonna need to step the shit up and cut out cringe errors if they are gonna have any chance of taking down last years champions next week.
Sydney FC and Melbourne City fought in a close match for the first and only draw of the week. The match finished up at 1-1 with goals going to Corey Gameiro (Syd) and the Spanish legend David Villa (Mel). Both goals where class but Corey Gameiro definitely was awarded goal of the week from the Phibber. His goal was some serious R1 finesse shit, I almost laughed when I saw him lining up to shoot from the corner of the box and if I had he would have shut me right up, because oh lord jesus that was a cracker of a finish.
I had eagerly awaited the Melbourne City game as I was moist with anticipation at seeing the arrival of Spanish superstar David Villa and I really wanted to see what sort of damage he could do in this league. He did not disappoint either, although he was relatively quite for the first 15 minutes and did not see much ball at his feet, he still worked hard off the ball, looking to create opportunities, he was later rewarded for his efforts and managed to nab a goal with a classy finish from the 18 yard box. I think he is going to prove to be a lot to handle for teams over the next 9 games. Adelaide also where triumphant over Brisbane with a close fought 2-1 win. Goals to Thomas Broich (Bri), Bruce Djite (Ade) and James Donachie (Bri-OG). I have to touch on this own goal quickly cos it was hilarious. It's not the worst own goal I have seen, I mean I myself scored an absolute gem of an own goal back in my day however James' too was a gem and a gem that cost his team the match. I feel sorry for the guy because he knew that if he left it it was most likely going to be a tap in for Adelaide, but instead of clearing the ball James slides in and it almost looks like he aims to put the ball in the back of the net, match fixing? Maybe we need to check that the man had not placed any suspicious bets before the game.
Never the less, he will be buying the beers for the next week or so. Week 1 of the 2014/15 A League season is all finished up and it was a cracker. The competition is only getting stronger and stronger and the crowds are getting larger and larger. I think this will be the turning point for the A- League and if we can keep bringing down players of Villa's calibre we are going to see the league turn into something we can be proud of. It is about time the world game started getting the recognition it deserves down under.
Phibber out...