Asian Champion's League

[CUTTERMAN]

Hopefully Leckie can get a few Socceroo games under his belt before the world cup as he looks like he would be able to take the next step pretty easily and could be a good dark horse for Australia that other teams will take for granted. His never give in attitude is fantastic and is what led to his goal last night.
Flores was excellent, good ball control and work ethic, something that is refreshing after watching "Fatty" Cristiano have one touch and then waddle around a bit. It looked like United were using Van Dyke alot to take the long high ball forward of the midfield with a header with players milling around him.
How we didn't win 2-0 is a shame, however we started of very shakey and our defence looked a shambles so it was a good turn around.
2 disappointing issues, the Pohang players diving and acting was a disgrace and would've thought a yellow early on may have nipped it in the bud but it just got worse and worse through the game. #24 shook about 3 United players' hands at the end of the game and then walked away, total lack of character and one of the main perpetrators of the acting for the night. Cornthwaite made an issue of it and walked 20m to shake his hand, thought maybe he was going to introduce him to some of his bouncer mates in Hindley st.
The second issue of the night was the crowd or lack of it, wouldn't have thought there were any more than 8000, pretty poor outcome for a good game of soccer and alot of new players.

[Swooper16]

What is Leckie's contract situation...? Being a Melbourne lad Melbourne Heart would be doing everything they can to lure him home?? No doubt Leckie has the talent to head to Europe in the coming years just hope he stays with us until then.

A good result for the reds last night and gives us a great chance of getting thru the group stage. After the first 25 mins i thought we might get pantsed 4-0. Still we miss the big O in defence. We always look like conceeding from a defensive mistake or not clearing our lines properly.

[Il Duce]

Leckie has a new 2 year contract that he signed during the A-league season, but I dont think he will go to the Heart if he leaves Adelaide he will just head overseas.

[devilsadvocate]

Lets not get carried away. Leckie is great, but playing for the Soccerroo's in South Africa? Dunno about that.

He's got excellent pace, he tracks back well and harries the crap out of opposition defenders, but his skills are not up to scratch for international level. Some of his first touches and ball control are poor.

But you can't fault his endeavour and enthusiasm. He and Eugene have been our lone shining lights this season.

I'd actually love to see both Galekovic and Leckie head OS. They'd learn their trade with far better players around them and far better coaches. IMO, Galekovic could be good enough to made the Aussie squad one day and Leckie looks like he could too. Both just need to take the next step and unfortunately, that wont be with AU.

[Swooper16]

I dunno about that. Its pretty obvious when watching that Leckie has that bit of class that stands out amongst his A-League peers. That turn and flick he did in the first half in his defensive end was all class. Obviously not the finished product but he could be the future of Australian soccer. For that reason alone i would take him to South Africa. What is it a squad of 23?? Generally only 19 or 20 players ever get used over the tournament so instead of giving a place to a Jacob Burns, or David Carney or someone else that is never really going to have much impact at international level why not give one of the last places to someone like Leckie. The type of experience training with Cahill, Kewell etc would do him the world of good IMO.

[on the rails]

My only comment watching the game on Foxtel was that for all the various different sports I have listened to on radio or watched on TV (free to air or pay) Ross Aloisi has to be the worst commentator I have ever heard. He "butchered" the Queens English, he would make a statement on many occasions (based on what he saw and also via a replay) that was wrong then 5 minutes later contradict himself or soon after have to be corrected by the other commentator. Made some startling claims and rambled on and on!

The other commentator (sorry missed who it was) was at least trying to balance out the rubbish coming from Aloisi and you could tell he was getting frustrated the longer the telecast went on!

I can only assume that the regular 4 Commentators (Harper, Cockerill, Hill and Slater) were unavailable due to the funeral etc of Ian Gray?

FFS Fox Sports - get a big hook and dump Aloisi out of the box for good. Bad enough when he was "special touchline comments" but as a regular caller he was atrocious!

[Il Duce]

I believe it was Micheal Zappone, Personaly Ross is a Shite commentator. He isnt to bad at touchline comments or studio comments (you know like on Fox Sports FC) but yeah his play by play is terriable. Also yes all the other commentators where at Ian Grays funeral.

[Columbo]

Aloisi seemed to be struggling early on with the Pohang players names....most seemed to be reffered to as "the Pohang Steelers player"

[devilsadvocate]

I dunno about that. Its pretty obvious when watching that Leckie has that bit of class that stands out amongst his A-League peers. That turn and flick he did in the first half in his defensive end was all class. Obviously not the finished product but he could be the future of Australian soccer. For that reason alone i would take him to South Africa. What is it a squad of 23?? Generally only 19 or 20 players ever get used over the tournament so instead of giving a place to a Jacob Burns, or David Carney or someone else that is never really going to have much impact at international level why not give one of the last places to someone like Leckie. The type of experience training with Cahill, Kewell etc would do him the world of good IMO.

David Carney will definitely play a role for Aus in SA. He's got bite in midfield and can produce a bit of quality going forward.

I do agree that having Lecki train with Kewell, Cahill, Neill, Emmerton etc would be great for his development.

I think Djite would be a better option as the 23rd squad member though. He's probably 1-2 years ahead of Leckie.

[Pidge]

I dunno about that. Its pretty obvious when watching that Leckie has that bit of class that stands out amongst his A-League peers. That turn and flick he did in the first half in his defensive end was all class. Obviously not the finished product but he could be the future of Australian soccer. For that reason alone i would take him to South Africa. What is it a squad of 23?? Generally only 19 or 20 players ever get used over the tournament so instead of giving a place to a Jacob Burns, or David Carney or someone else that is never really going to have much impact at international level why not give one of the last places to someone like Leckie. The type of experience training with Cahill, Kewell etc would do him the world of good IMO.

David Carney will definitely play a role for Aus in SA. He's got bite in midfield and can produce a bit of quality going forward.

I do agree that having Lecki train with Kewell, Cahill, Neill, Emmerton etc would be great for his development.

I think Djite would be a better option as the 23rd squad member though. He's probably 1-2 years ahead of Leckie.

Couldn't agree more DA

[Il Duce]

Champions League 2010 Group Stage - results after Game 1


Group A
Al Jazira (UAE) 1-2 Al Gharafa (QAT)
0-1 17' O. El Assas
0-2 53' Y. Mahmoud
1-2 56' Rafael Sobis
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2747

Al Ahli (KSA) 1-2 Esteghlal (IRN)
0-1 11' F. Majidi
0-2 75' F. Majidi
1-2 85' H. Al Raheb
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2748

Current Standings:
Al Gharafa
Esteghlal
Al Ahli
Al Jazira


Group B
Bunyodkor (UZB) 3-0 Al Ittihad (KSA)
1-0 3' Rivaldo
2-0 21' J. Hasanov
3-0 66' Denilson
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2735

Zobahan (IRN) 1-0 Al Wahda (UAE)
1-0 60' Igor Castro
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2736

Current Standings
Bunyodkor
Zobahan
Al Wahda
Al Ittihad


Group C
Al Ain (UAE) 0-1 Pakhtakor (UZB)
0-1 60' A. Gevorkyan
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2724

Al Shabab (KSA) 1-1 Foolad Mobarekeh Sepahan (IRN)
0-1 14' J. Hosseini
1-1 69' F. Al-Sultan
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2723

Current Standings
Pakhtakor
Al Shabab
Sepahan
Al Ain


Group D
Al-Sadd (QAT) 0-3 Al-Hilal (KSA)
0-1 9' Y. Al Qahtani
0-2 66' Y. Al Qahtani
0-3 90+3' Thiago Neves
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2712

Mes Kerman (IRN) 4-2 Al Ahli (UAE)
1-0 20' M. Seyfi
1-1 45+2' S. Faraj
1-2 57' M. Madanchi
2-2 75' M. Rajabzadeh
3-2 85' M. Rajabzadeh
4-2 90+3' A. Samereh
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2711

Current Standings
Al-Hilal
Mes Kerman
Al Ahli
Al-Sadd


Group E
Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR) 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
1-0 35' Molina
2-0 78' D. Radoncic
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2700

Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1-0 Melbourne Victory (AUS)
1-0 52' J. Griffiths
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2699

Current Standings
Seongnam Ilhwa
Beijing Guoan
Melbourne Victory
Kawasaki Frontale


Group F
Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 1-4 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
0-1 17' S.Y. Kim (PK)
0-2 26' K. Lovrek
0-3 67' K. Lovrek
1-3 68' P. Yustinus
1-4 82' K. Lovrek
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2687

Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1-0 Changchun Yatai (CHN)
1-0 42' K. Nakata
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2688

Current Standings
Jeonbuk Motors
Kashima Antlers
Changchun Yatai
Persipura Jayapura


Group G
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 0-0 Gamba Osaka (JPN)
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2675

Henan Jianye (CHN) 0-0 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN)
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2676

Current Standings
Gamba Osaka
Henan Jianye
Singapore Armed Forces
Suwon Samsung Bluewings


Group H
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 0-1 Shandong Luneng (CHN)
0-1 77' Han Peng
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2663

Adelaide United (AUS) 1-0 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
1-0 45+1' M. Leckie
http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joo ... tchId=2664

Current Standings
Adelaide United
Shandong Luneng
Pohang Steelers
Sanfrecce Hiroshima

[Il Duce]

Melbourne Victory - 0

Seongnam Ilhwa - 2

Sasa scored....awesome

The Adelaide United Football Club would like to thank Sasa Oganovski for all his services to club and services he has provided since leaving the club, like tonight, scoring against Melbourne, ruffing up Robbie Kruise and Captianing his side to Victory over Melbourne, so for all you services Sasa thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasa-Ogne ... =nf&v=wall

[on the rails]

Melbourne Victory - 0

Seongnam Ilhwa - 2

Sasa scored....awesome

The Adelaide United Football Club would like to thank Sasa Oganovski for all his services to club and services he has provided since leaving the club, like tonight, scoring against Melbourne, ruffing up Robbie Kruise and Captianing his side to Victory over Melbourne, so for all you services Sasa thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasa-Ogne ... =nf&v=wall

LOL - GOLD!

P.S. - What he said!

[whufc]

mickey mouse comp where aussie sides are handicapped from the being by the ffa with salary cap restrictions, international player restrictions, scheduling issues (teams play in it the season after they qualify), add to that your club doesn't even get to keep all their prize money despite having to travel all around bloody asia.

Ill be more than happy if the Victory stick to winning the A-League and build a dynasty much like Central.

[devilsadvocate]

mickey mouse comp where aussie sides are handicapped from the being by the ffa with salary cap restrictions, international player restrictions, scheduling issues (teams play in it the season after they qualify), add to that your club doesn't even get to keep all their prize money despite having to travel all around bloody asia.

Ill be more than happy if the Victory stick to winning the A-League and build a dynasty much like Central.

IMO - the salary cap in Australia is a good thing. If it was lifted, we'd see 2-3 dominate year in year out and the rest would be a revolving door of new entrants IMO, as weaker teams would fold.

I don't think the support is strong enough for clubs like Adelaide, Perth, NQ, Newcastle, CCM etc to allow them to compete with the likes of Melbourne, Synde and GC if there was no salary cap. Some of these sides would fold and Australian Football would return to the shambles it was in the NSL days.

I think we need a salary cap for at least another 10 years, but I have no problem with it being increased steadily over that period.

[devilsadvocate]

Was great to see the big Sasa score last night.

What I'd give to see him back in a Reds strip!

[RoosterMarty]

Should be playing for Australia! Sasa is a legend, good to see him doing well in Asia.

[blackcat]

United up 1-0

[bazzw]

Van Dijk first goal for the Reds - great to see him out there after an injury cloud

[Thiele]

Half time

Adelaide 1
Shandong 0