Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory - GRAND FINAL

[johntheclaret]

Good pressure from AU in the final few minutes.

Long throw in, last chance saloon.

Vargas off the filed Blood rule.

Final whistle. Melb win.

[Brad]

Yep the FFA would be happy, Melb won they got there 50,000 at Telstra Dome.

Load of shit.

INjury time was a complete joke.

[Brad]

Id like punch out Muscat, what a wanker.

[Strawb]

i predicted 1-0 either way pissed off with the ref. FFA will love this F*** I hate the VICTORY and i am a Victorian

[devilsadvocate]

Well done Utd. Soooo close, but put up a great fight.

Great season, but just came up short at the finish. I'm looking forward to getting back and going to a few games next season - and most importantly, hopefully beating those Tards from over the border.

[johntheclaret]

Unlucky Reds.

Ref killed the game after only 10 mins with a shite sending off.

Too many stoppages, and Muscat imo is a tosser. Tried (and probably succeeded) to boss the game and the ref.

Two great chances in the 2nd half to go one up, and a great run and shot from Dodds.

As for quality, I have no idea whether that was a good game by A league standards or not but both sides seem to lack a stand out player. Thought Jamieson had a pretty decent game and was maybe bog for AU. Keeper was unsighted for the goal but maybe could have done better.

Didn't think either were red cards.

Allsopp sent off for headbutting was as bigger joke as the AU sending off. I think the AU keeper made a bit of a scene that didn't help. 4 more yellows to AU and something like 40 free kicks made sure the game was never going to flow.

Maybe next year for the Reds

[Columbo]

Have never been a great follower of the round ball game and after some of the stuff i saw tonight i dont see that changing. Great effort by the Reds to keep fighting on after the early red card farce..seemed like a fair contest to me, the victory guy screamed like a banshee and then bled then common sense went out the door...then when there was still a chance in the last minute the bleeder is back and wasted a good 30 - 40 seconds of the injury time then the whistle goes, makes me think those of us who complain about the SANFL umps may not have a leg to stand on!!

[csbowes]

I don't think we should be patting Adelaide on the back too much. In the end the game finished with yet another finals defeat. To win just one final in 10 attempts is poor by any standard. While its tempting to congratulate Adelaide on not being thrashed 6-0, we should step back and really think about why we're even thinking that in the first place. After such an incredible run in the ACL where they reached the final, they unfortunately capitulated early to Gamba Osaka in the home leg, then followed on from that with ordinary domestic form, throwing away the Premiers Cup on the last day of the season, then backing that up again with two woeful efforts in the finals. Certainly, kudos for digging themselves out of a grave against Queensland, but in the end that gallant effort and tonights effort have resulted in Adelaide walking away from 2008/9 with no silverware. The season wasn't an abject failure, that we should be cognisant of, however the club shouldn't move forward thinking that this is as good as it gets.

[devilsadvocate]

As for quality, I have no idea whether that was a good game by A league standards or not but both sides seem to lack a stand out player. Thought Jamieson had a pretty decent game and was maybe bog for AU. Keeper was unsighted for the goal but maybe could have done better.

Judging by tonight, how do you think it compares to the standard in the UK?

I'll admit I haven't seen a lot of A League over the last 2 seasons, but I'd say AU, the Tards, QLD and CCM would be somewhere around the middle to lower reaches of League 2 maybe?

Just based on the speed of the game and the quality of the players. Having said that, I've only seen down to League 1 in the UK, but I'd say a Leeds, Millwall, **** even the O's or Crewe would give AU or the Tards a fair hiding?

Thoughts?

[devilsadvocate]

however the club shouldn't move forward thinking that this is as good as it gets.

Totally agree, however, the club should walk away with the attitude that we can match it with anyone in Aus when we have a crack and play positive football and move forward into 09/10 knowing that we are a bloody good shot at winning the lot.

Anything could have transpired tonight, it was a good performance, we could easily have forced extra time or won it. We didn't, but we gave it a bloody good shake until the last whistle.

[Brad]

Yeah the reasons that make me hate soccer were on show tonight, well bring on the AFL season.....

[McAlmanac]

As for quality, I have no idea whether that was a good game by A league standards or not but both sides seem to lack a stand out player. Thought Jamieson had a pretty decent game and was maybe bog for AU. Keeper was unsighted for the goal but maybe could have done better.

Judging by tonight, how do you think it compares to the standard in the UK?

I'll admit I haven't seen a lot of A League over the last 2 seasons, but I'd say AU, the Tards, QLD and CCM would be somewhere around the middle to lower reaches of League 2 maybe?

Just based on the speed of the game and the quality of the players. Having said that, I've only seen down to League 1 in the UK, but I'd say a Leeds, Millwall, **** even the O's or Crewe would give AU or the Tards a fair hiding?

Thoughts?

I heard a quote in the media recently of someone saying that the A League standard compares to the Championship. Can't think who said it.

[goraw]

i really enjoyed the game from a non soccer supporter supporter.united gives there all and seriously thinking of joining their cheersquad next season.(hope no weslo to spoil it,perhaps if i drink ouzo i might be fine:)) . but geez what a game.didnt deserve to be red carded, but the boys rallied to look like atleast winning the bout.then yep they ******* scored but the boys never gave in till the 95th minute.i thought we were a tad hard done by but we had 95 mins to score and had our chances and missed.yep we are their bitches for now but itll change, and we will be there to enjoy it. (hopefully against scumsville).good effort boys ,lets getem next time.

also was very impressed at the turnout of the united supporters in melb. sdk ur a legend!!

[Dirko]

Just got back in. Having a vodka 'n' lime.

Absolutely gutted.

Proud of what the lads did after the bullshit send off of Cristiano. I will see him next week no doubt and ask of his version of events.

Feel so, so empty......

[Thiele]

Well done To Melbourne Victory they deserve it

Adelaide United did us proud

Ref was a joke

[Jase]

Well that was a bit disappointing...the result that is... the performance by the team against the odds, in a hostile environment and with the added effort needed going against the Breeze was IMHO brilliant...

Excellent start, showed some great attacking ideas, and looked really up for it, then 10 minutes in we go down to 10 men...sure I could see it being a yellow card, Christiano got him with the elbow, it wasn't swinging...sure Yellow. Muscat charges the Ref and then the Ref's Assist and bingo bongo lets change our mind to a Red card...I hate it, let the ref do his job and don't ahve the players in his ear all game, b*tching and moaning...it is garbage...and needs to be stamped out...That also goes for Eugene charging the Ref's assistant himself...we don't need it...I hated it when I played and it needs to stop.... It is cheating...

Anyway after that I thought Adelaide were awesome...defended brilliantly (if a touch to deep) but we had as many close attempts as they did and we certainly weren't outplayed. Half time came and we were well and truly still in it...

With a bit of luck we could have been 1-0 up and then they go down the other end and score...I think the problem for us with their goal was we were sitting to deep, but still a well placed goal and at least Thompson, Allsop or Muscat didn't score...

We continued to defend well, made some good breaks and how there were only 3 minutes of injurty time at the end I will never understand...

Anyway here are my ratings for the boys...

Eugene - made a couple of great stops, commanded his area well, maybe unsighted for their goal, maybe could have done better but another great game - 7/10
Mullen - Brilliant, this kid is going to be a star and I would say our BOG, gave Thompson a bath and made a beautiful break leaving Muscat look the old carthorse that he is - 8.5/10
Cornthwaite - didn't see much of him, did his job well, got Allsapp sent off, solid game - 7/10
Sasa - solid as usual, will be sorely missed next year, damn shame he is leaving our player of the year, and again excellent tonight 8/10
Jammo - got forward really well in the first part of the game, worked tirelessly, hit a good free kick but lacking power and had the keeper make a good save with his legs, not bad for a kid on one leg 7/10
Evans - didn't see much of him, gave the ball away a bit but was again solid [/b]6/10[/b]
Salley - blanketed Hernandez for most of the night, did well, only got lost a couple of occasions and I am praying that we might somehow be able to keep him for that bit of steel in the midfield, we have looked so much better with both him and Evans sitting in front of the defense 6.5/10
Pantelis - didn't do a lot, subbed off for Ago...still a good little player but not one of his better games 5.5/10
Barbiero - again solid, but not outstanding, defended well, worked hard and put himself about a fair bit, loved the hip and shoulder to Bergers head in the penalty area...6.5/10
Dodd - played pretty well, not up to his best but didn't go missing like he has in the past in big games...still not as imposing a Captain as Muscat but played well.6.5/10
Christiano - not on long enough to really get a rating, but will give him 4/10 for drawing blood and would have got 8/10 if it had been on Muscat...

Subs

Ago - Sigh, at least it is over, completely missed a cross that if he had got anything on it would have gone in but couldn't even do that...not sad to see him hang up the boots, I'm sure he has been good with the kids and was a gun in his day but that day is done...

Cassio - Ran around a lot...erm that's pretty much it...

So all in all, a disappointing result, a great team performance, a much better effort than 3 weeks ago and with a Marquee player who can put the bl00dy ball in the back of the bl00dy net we will do well next year...Jammo, Mullen (and I hate to say it) Cornthwaite have shown on the big occasion that they are ready...Mullen is going to be an absolute star, as is Jammo...Barbiero and Pantelis are growing into their roles as midfielders and as they get a bit older and more experienced they will just get better and better, probably need an older head in their to help them out...If we can't keep Salley then we need a similar player with experience who can help the young uns in the middle of the park...Doddy needs to be able to run at defenders and we need someone who can actually score...

A good year...a history making year...let's make some more history next year...with our first A-league Championship...

(Again sorry for the length)

[goraw]

Well that was a bit disappointing...the result that is... the performance by the team against the odds, in a hostile environment and with the added effort needed going against the Breeze was IMHO brilliant...

Excellent start, showed some great attacking ideas, and looked really up for it, then 10 minutes in we go down to 10 men...sure I could see it being a yellow card, Christiano got him with the elbow, it wasn't swinging...sure Yellow. Muscat charges the Ref and then the Ref's Assist and bingo bongo lets change our mind to a Red card...I hate it, let the ref do his job and don't ahve the players in his ear all game, b*tching and moaning...it is garbage...and needs to be stamped out...That also goes for Eugene charging the Ref's assistant himself...we don't need it...I hated it when I played and it needs to stop.... It is cheating...

Anyway after that I thought Adelaide were awesome...defended brilliantly (if a touch to deep) but we had as many close attempts as they did and we certainly weren't outplayed. Half time came and we were well and truly still in it...

With a bit of luck we could have been 1-0 up and then they go down the other end and score...I think the problem for us with their goal was we were sitting to deep, but still a well placed goal and at least Thompson, Allsop or Muscat didn't score...

We continued to defend well, made some good breaks and how there were only 3 minutes of injurty time at the end I will never understand...

Anyway here are my ratings for the boys...

Eugene - made a couple of great stops, commanded his area well, maybe unsighted for their goal, maybe could have done better but another great game - 7/10
Mullen - Brilliant, this kid is going to be a star and I would say our BOG, gave Thompson a bath and made a beautiful break leaving Muscat look the old carthorse that he is - 8.5/10
Cornthwaite - didn't see much of him, did his job well, got Allsapp sent off, solid game - 7/10
Sasa - solid as usual, will be sorely missed next year, damn shame he is leaving our player of the year, and again excellent tonight 8/10
Jammo - got forward really well in the first part of the game, worked tirelessly, hit a good free kick but lacking power and had the keeper make a good save with his legs, not bad for a kid on one leg 7/10
Evans - didn't see much of him, gave the ball away a bit but was again solid [/b]6/10[/b]
Salley - blanketed Hernandez for most of the night, did well, only got lost a couple of occasions and I am praying that we might somehow be able to keep him for that bit of steel in the midfield, we have looked so much better with both him and Evans sitting in front of the defense 6.5/10
Pantelis - didn't do a lot, subbed off for Ago...still a good little player but not one of his better games 5.5/10
Barbiero - again solid, but not outstanding, defended well, worked hard and put himself about a fair bit, loved the hip and shoulder to Bergers head in the penalty area...6.5/10
Dodd - played pretty well, not up to his best but didn't go missing like he has in the past in big games...still not as imposing a Captain as Muscat but played well.6.5/10
Christiano - not on long enough to really get a rating, but will give him 4/10 for drawing blood and would have got 8/10 if it had been on Muscat...

Subs

Ago - Sigh, at least it is over, completely missed a cross that if he had got anything on it would have gone in but couldn't even do that...not sad to see him hang up the boots, I'm sure he has been good with the kids and was a gun in his day but that day is done...

Cassio - Ran around a lot...erm that's pretty much it...

So all in all, a disappointing result, a great team performance, a much better effort than 3 weeks ago and with a Marquee player who can put the bl00dy ball in the back of the bl00dy net we will do well next year...Jammo, Mullen (and I hate to say it) Cornthwaite have shown on the big occasion that they are ready...Mullen is going to be an absolute star, as is Jammo...Barbiero and Pantelis are growing into their roles as midfielders and as they get a bit older and more experienced they will just get better and better, probably need an older head in their to help them out...If we can't keep Salley then we need a similar player with experience who can help the young uns in the middle of the park...Doddy needs to be able to run at defenders and we need someone who can actually score...

A good year...a history making year...let's make some more history next year...with our first A-league Championship...

(Again sorry for the length)

excellent write up jase, i thought pantelis looked like he was carring an injury,not sure.
i thought cassio could have started, he is all class? dunno the thought structure there?

mullen was awesome.

[smithy]

My observations and replies to our friendly chappies in the UK.

Red care was very harsh and I think the officials were influenced by the amount of claret coming out of Vargas' head. HE even came off laughing when realising that a red card had been issued.

Muscat is a ******* dirty pr*ck

The following yellow card to Ognenovski was sh*t as well.

Allsop was red carded not for anything against the keeper but a headbutt towards Cornthwaite which wasn't captured by cameras.

The melee' brought on by what Allsop did, brought Muscat and Ognenovski together and it's fair to say that Big Og doesnt rate Muscat at all as a footballer.
Sasa wanted to snap the thug in half but couldn't because of the occasion, an occasion lost on the ref and his assistants sadly.
Muscat plays the tough thug on the pitch but I'd like to see them 2 in a dark alley cause the thug would get his just desserts.

As for the standard of play for the UK lads, DA and JTC I assume watched some NSL pre 1995 ???
I'd safely say that the Adelaide City, Melbourne Knights, South Melb and Sydney sides would easily defeat any A League side going around at the moment, mainly because the aussie talent wasn't being poached back then.

There is no way at all that the A league is up to top championship standard,,, probably lowr level championship/downwards standard.
I'd say that the defending and keeping is of a very good standard but the final 3rd is just a killer as far as I am concerned.
Lack of creativity, finishing, polish and an ability to find space in the box.
Another of my irks of the A league is the habit of clubs signing Brazilians for no apparent reason other than they are Brazilian.
It won't take long before agents of really bad players are gonna take wind of this and send their crap players to the A league for easy money.

[Pidge]

A League standard is similar to League 1 Standard.

[smithy]

A League standard is similar to League 1 Standard.