A-League Season 2008/2009

[mypaddock]

Saw this in the press today. Wasn't sure wherfe to post it, but I thought here was as good as any place.

CULINA HEADING HOME

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jason Culina is to return home to Australia and join Gold Coast United.

I just hope its not another case like poor John Aloisi. Return to Australia in your prime and now he is the laughing stock of the A-League.
I honestly think if Agostino is going to retire Adelaide should have a crack at trying to secure the services of John. Has a lot more to offer in terms of scoring goals than Agostino ever did. And should be able to get him at a reduced price also.

[Dirko]

Saw this in the press today. Wasn't sure wherfe to post it, but I thought here was as good as any place.

CULINA HEADING HOME

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Jason Culina is to return home to Australia and join Gold Coast United.

I just hope its not another case like poor John Aloisi. Return to Australia in your prime and now he is the laughing stock of the A-League.
I honestly think if Agostino is going to retire Adelaide should have a crack at trying to secure the services of John. Has a lot more to offer in terms of scoring goals than Agostino ever did. And should be able to get him at a reduced price also.

Fair crack ! Prime ! ha ha ! No offence mate, but Aloisi hardly returned in his prime. When he left Osasuna, his career was slowing down a tad. At the age of 32 I hope United don't go near him. He has been injured a fair bit of this season, and has lost that predatory goal sense. He'll never come to Adelaide due to what happened with Ross, but as he was meant to sign with the Mariners but then signed with Sydney going against his word, probably sums it up.

Good player. I have his shirt hanging in my Pool Room, but his career is on the last legs........

Culina on the other hand is only 28. In his prime, what a great signing for the Gold Coast. He'll be a star. At last we'll have a first teamer Socceroo based in Australia....

[Dirko]

Getting down to the business end now. United have 3 games as well as Queensland. The rest have 2.

THE LADDER

1 Adelaide United FC on 33 points
2 Melbourne Victory FC on 32
3 Queensland FC on 29
4 Central Coast Mariners FC on 28
5 Wellington Phoenix FC on 25
6 Sydney FC on 23
7 Perth Glory FC on 22
8 Newcastle Jets FC on 15

BOTTOM 4
Newcastle - SEASON OVER.
Perth - SEASON OVER.
Sydney - 1 chance in a hundred to make it. Need an absolute miracle. Play Queensland & Newcastle.
Wellington. Need to win BOTH games and hope either Queensland or CCM stumble. Play Adelaide & Melbourne. Tough ask.

TOP 4
Adelaide are a point clear with 3 games to play. Huge chance to finish as Premiers. Destiny in own hands.
Melbourne are a point adrift of Adelaide and have 2 games in hand. Should snare second, maybe top.
Queensland have 3 games to go and are sitting a 4 points adrift of Adelaide also. Likely to finish 3/4th.
Central Coast round out the 4 sitting 5 points behind. Have 2 games to play and they are 2 big ones against Melbourne & Adelaide.
Will finish 3/4th....

The remaining games are;

ROUND 20
Adelaide United v Queensland * MAKE UP GAME *
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Queensland Roar v Sydney FC
Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory

ROUND 21
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Queensland Roar v Perth Glory
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United

[RoosterMarty]

Nice wrap Jabski.

HUGE game against Queensland, we win that and we are so so close to sealing the league title. A draw will make things interesting as we have two tough away games to come vs the Nix and Mariners. A loss will be a disaster.

[Thiele]

Mullen out for the rest of the year for United

[JK]

Mullen out for the rest of the year for United

Ahh you're kidding!! I reckon thats a pretty big blow for United, really liek the doggedness he provides for someone so young.

[Dirko]

Yeah didn't look good when he went down...played out the first half which says something about his character....

Good depth with Mick V & Ang sitting there waiting....

[Thiele]

Mullen out for the rest of the year for United

Ahh you're kidding!! I reckon thats a pretty big blow for United, really liek the doggedness he provides for someone so young.

Sorry Mullen to miss a month http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/defaul ... y&id=26040

[LaughingKookaburra]

Agree, I doubt we will keep him for too long either. Can certainly see Europe calling. May be a mass exodus during the off season of United players going to do bigger things, one things for sure for Adelaide United if that's going to be the case $$$$$$$$$$$. Good to see aswell is that Adelaide Utd is probably the strongest club in the A-League for developing players atm, tells you alot of the club and the structure it has developed over the past 4-5 years.....

[RoosterMarty]

I think Mullen will stay for a little bit longer still... he's only 18 or so. He is a very, very impressive young defender though so he will be a big loss.

[JK]

Im going to feel a lot less comfortable if Mickey V becomes a regular for a few weeks, nothing against him personally, but I've never been a fan.

[Thiele]

Praying for a Central Coast win on Friday

[Dirko]

The final week coming up Guys & Dolls....

THE LADDER

1 Adelaide United FC on 35 points
2 Melbourne Victory FC on 35 - behind by 1 goal
3 Queensland FC on 33
4 Central Coast Mariners FC on 28
5 Wellington Phoenix FC on 26
6 Sydney FC on 23
7 Perth Glory FC on 22
8 Newcastle Jets FC on 18

BOTTOM 4
Newcastle - SEASON OVER. Wooden Spoon all yours. What a fall from grace. Have fun in Asia...
Perth - SEASON OVER. Underachievers yet again.
Sydney - SEASON OVER. Money for nothing and chicks for free.....Hey I ain't talking that Kossie, he ain't half dumb....
Wellington. minus 6 goal difference and two points adrift MUST BEAT MELBOURNE but IMO Smeltz has more chance of being picked up by Spurs then the Kiwi's have of making the finals....

TOP 4
Adelaide are equal top. 1 goal ahead of the Victory. Will know Friday night what is required. No Sash Ogo for this game !!
Melbourne are equal with Adelaide. Play the sheep shaggers. A point puts all the pressure on Adelaide....
Queensland are an outside chance of finishing top but need BOTH Adelaide & Melbourne to lose. Will beat the Gory but will settle for third as I can see BOTH United & Victory picking up a point or three....
Central Coast will finish 4th, unless United beat them and Wellington win over Melbourne....Should be safe....

FINAL ROUND 21
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Queensland Roar v Perth Glory
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United

My predictions.
Melbourne 2 def Wellington 1
Queensland 4 def Perth 0
Sydney 0 draw Newcastle 0
Central Coast 1 lose Adelaide 2 (Agostino to play and score * disclaimer he may not but I bloody hope so*)

[JK]

Hey Jabber, according to the points you have listed above, a Wellington win and Mariners loss would see the Phoenix through regardless of point difference wouldn't it?

(Not that I'd expect both of those scenario's to occur)

[Dirko]

Ohh yeah...Dumb Shite I am

Will modify my original post !!

[johntheclaret]

Found this story. don't know if you have already heard this news.

Thanks to the sporting Life

FOWLER EDGING CLOSER TO AUSSIE SWITCH

Robbie Fowler is mulling over a decision to join A-League side North Queensland Fury after meeting with club officials in Australia.
The 33-year-old former England international is currently without a club after his three-month deal with Blackburn was not renewed last month.

Fowler has been in Townsville this past week to meet officials of the Fury who are looking to finalise their squad list ahead of their first ever season in the A-League.

Fury coach, the former Scotland and Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson, said Fowler had been impressed by the club's facilities and that he would make a decision after speaking to his family.

"He just came over for five days. He wanted to see lifestyle and I think he liked it," Ferguson told Radio Five Live. It's down to if he wants to move and live this lifestyle. On the football side of things he is reasonably happy, he likes what we have to offer. But it is down to his family and whether they want to settle. It's whether they want to live in sunshine and tropical conditions 300 days a year because we can offer that."

Ferguson said that should Fowler accept an offer from the Queensland club he will be the franchise's marquee player when the next season kicks off in August.

A-League clubs are bound by a salary cap, but they are allowed one marquee player who falls outside that restriction.

"I've got a budget and the budget is very small, but Robbie can fit outside the salary cap," Ferguson added. Marquee players have to be an international and a big name and Robbie is certainly that."

Ferguson also believes the less hectic A-League schedule will benefit Fowler.

Currently the season consists of just 21 regular-season games, plus play-offs, although the addition of two new teams next season will increase the regular season to 28 games.

"We play just one game a week so given that Robbie is in his 30s that will benefit him a bit more," Ferguson added.

[Dirko]

End of Season Awards

Player of the Year - Smeltz (is delighted that Spurs didn't sign him as otherwise he wouldn't of got the award)
- runners up Miller & Doddy
Golden Boot - Smeltz
Foreign Player of the Year - Charlie Miller - Queensland
Rising Star - Scotty Jamieson
Goalkeeper - Eugene Galekovich
Coach - Aurelio Vidmar
Ref - Breeze.

Well done to the United lads.....

[RoosterMarty]

They must have taken the ACL into account when giving out awards.

[Footy Smart]

They must have taken the ACL into account when giving out awards.

I think the ACL came in to consideration with Vidmar as coach as he managed his squad through a tough run of games and still had us top of the table.

Eugene and Jammo were brilliant in both ACL and A league and deserved their awards....

[Thiele]

Well done to Viddi, Eugene and Jamison on there awards