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Should we pass the hat around to keep @haz from watching and @belaguttman from attending? looks like our best chance of winning the league.

I would have reacted like that if we had have played with the same attacking purpose the sauce bottles did and then posted a win like that. Good stuff from Okon's boys.

On their form of the past 2 seasons in the A League I'd have Hingert over Franjic, guessing Hingert doesn't fit JA's over 30 criteria.

Never stopped using mine. Second longest relationship I have ever had after alcohol and excluding parents/siblings. Been together 34 years. Never gave a toss.

By Simon Hill “IT’S up to football people to educate the rest of the country in all this. Not many other sports have to deal with these types of situations in Australia. If we get football people writing this stuff too, then others feed into it. There is nothing here to worry us, nothing different from the norm.”Those were the words of Ange Postecoglou when asked about the overused headlines in Australia of San Pedro Sula being the “murder capital of the world” – further fuelled by a rather tasteless joke by comedian Peter Helliar on “The Project.”Helliar’s throwaway line (which I’m not going to repeat here), was intended to be a light-hearted dig, but it’s easy to see why the Hondurans - who have been warm and generous hosts - failed to see the funny side. It’s a timely reminder that humour doesn’t always travel well.Postecoglou wasn’t about to get involved in the specifics of the row, but he is right on the money in his assessment of the bigger picture.There is still a cultural misunderstanding among certain elements in Australia, as to just how important these big qualifiers really are. Particularly for countries who showcase themselves through football – a sport which, in this part of the world, comes second only to Catholicism as the national religion.There remains too, a wilful, almost belligerent ignorance to the opportunities that games such as these present for the promotion of positive Australian values abroad, and how unique football is in providing the extraordinary type of atmosphere you’ll witness through your TV screens on Saturday morning.Sadly, that’s because the national narrative remains stuck in a parochial loop when it comes to the conversation around sport in general. Into the vacuum comes prejudice, intentional or not, dressed up as humour.If you’re looking for serious analysis, then the mainstream media finds it far easier to talk about the Ashes, discuss the latest AFL scandal, or examine (with faux earnestness), the made up entities that masquerade as nations at the Rugby League World Cup. These are things “we” can process and understand. The world on our terms.But qualification for the most loved, most watched (and most lucrative) sporting tournament in the world? Largely an afterthought. Squeezed into side bars in newspapers, relegated into the lower spots in the sports bulletins. A place for merriment at funny-sounding names from faraway places.Proper discussion? Nah. In the “too hard” basket. We’re no good at the game anyway see, so why bother? Just take the piss, and leave the serious stuff for the real sport. Hey, it’s only bloody “soccer”.Remember the fabled story of the late Johnny Warren, who was once told by a radio station to keep his report on the World Cup Final short because “it’s been a big day in sport”? Unfortunately, that mindset continues in many places. Yet still, the line that Australia is the world’s greatest sporting nation is peddled with alarming regularity.In what? Rugby League? AFL? If the competition is the world’s tallest pygmy, then yep, we’re smashing it.The little public discussion that does take place regarding the national team remains inward looking. Tim Cahill’s ankle, Ange Postecoglou’s future – and while both issues are certainly of interest and importance, there is nothing in Australia to rival the scrutiny the Hondurans have put the Socceroos under.For example, the local papers here – “Diez” and “El Pais” among many others – have kept a watching brief on the ‘Roos training, their every movement in and out of the hotel, their views on Honduras and yes, even Cahill’s ankle. They pay Australia the courtesy of intense interest. That’s proper respect from a sporting nation.Yet try to write an article on Australia’s opposition back home (as I, and others, do before every international), and the response is a deafening silence. Few in the media bother to turn up to the opposition press conferences. People simply have zero interest.Then, if and when the Socceroos struggle, the slant becomes all about national team failings, and/or (inevitably and predictably), the flaws of the sport as a whole - rather than any genuine attempt at understanding how, or why, the opposition might have stolen a march on us. It’s the same with the Olympics.This introspective thinking was put into even sharper focus by Sam Kerr’s recent elevation into the public consciousness.After her exploits at the Tournament of Nations, Kerr (and her Matilda’s teammates) became the hot ticket item for a period of time – yet the conversation soon reverted to type. She was continuously referenced as the “sister of Daniel Kerr”, and more than one reporter suggested her next logical move was into the AFLW.Er, no. It isn’t actually. Why on earth would Kerr give up shots at the Asian Cup, the Women’s World Cup, and the Olympics (all in the space of the next three years), to take part in a six-week hit and giggle-fest on the suburban fields of Melbourne? Or the international acclaim and money she earns playing professionally in the USA?International football is not, and should never be, a stepping stone to the AFLW.Yet this is the landscape which we inhabit.It is a landscape that, as Postecoglou rightly points out, we must try to change. Otherwise, the cheap stereotyping (and cheap shots) will continue, and we will spend our days on these tours answering questions about quips from comedians back home.https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/simon-hill-cultural-misunderstanding-in-australia-about-how-big-the-wc-playoffs-really-are/news-story/bc06cb3c07b230e00831432928a4ac60

I'm no fan of Trump, but it's a real stretch to compare him to a mass-murdering totalitarian dictator

Well I'm quite happy with our defending, rarely gave them any opportunity at all. 2 huge chances for us but I'm hoping the team would be fired up as fuck to go and get an away goal advantage in the 2nd half as it looks very achievable

I don't understand why people use them. They're basically a counter to any atmosphere.

We beat three winless and bottom teams of the season. Adelaide is 4th bottom. Time to show where we are at.

You're right, the first game I attended was the Sydney game. Luckily we aren't going this week (or to any Sunday games). IT'S ALL MY FAULT

It was a game that CCM really went at Shitney, countering quickly out wide and catching the smurfs flatfooted. In one respect the smurfs looked like they never turned up but then again CCM didn't let themselves be bossed around. Okon doing wonders. That Tom Hiariej is a good player IMO.

Sydney just couldn't back up after a tough game against us. Suck it Arnie

And here I was trying to work out why we have had our best start to the season ever. Thanks Bela it was good while it lasted.

Ultimately I'd recommend a few things; reading articles reading books buying a few shares study and start considering property make sure you're up to date with the financial news (& how it might affect your investments) I guess back before I had a family and had all my money sucked into the vortex, a few things I learnt was: 1. shares never go up just because you bought them 2. Find out about a company BEFORE you buy, not after 3. If you have knowledge that gives you an edge (like you understand a particular market or industry well) use it 4. Debt is a good friend but a bad enemy, so gearing can be a good move but you need to be able to manage it

I imagine this is what it would be like if Yoda smoked crack then posted on forums.

Mariners aren't half bad to watch and fuck Sydney are boring

Lol. No fucks is the way to go. I had to swap to a back pack not to long ago to be able to carry everything. At first I felt ashamed now I am in the mindset of "what of it".

Read. Jack Schwager not a bad start (trading),

say's me on the train with my back pack at age 55 !

TTIM getting a sweaty back from wearing a backpack in the heat. TTIM realising I'm probably getting to an age where backpacks are no longer acceptable

This is the Fitzgerald thread, isn't it? He's rated the top City player in both articles. Which seems to support those on here who thought he had a good match. That was the point of my post. https://www.a-league.com.au/video/top-player-focus-nick-fitzgerald

Lets just ignore the concentration camps.

Gotten China to agree with extremely tough sanctions which will basically cripple North Korea.

Rookie error. Do not cross fingers while holding said phone.

I think we all know who the real hero is here

John Howard had two stints as opposition leader, so not sure about the concept of taint.

I'm no lawyer, but I think that if you read the case our club badge ("logo") has been accepted as a trade mark. IIRC, at that time it was deemed that both clubs could use the same name, or similar names, because the words were so general that no organization could claim them as unique. This case was about the phrase "Melbourne City Football Club" being registered as a trade mark in its own right. The relevant extract from the article being: "The Delegate found that the fact that the trade mark appeared in close conjunction to the logo diluted the effect of such use, meaning that the phrase MELBOURNE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB alone was not performing the function of distinguishing the goods on which it appeared from those of other traders." TBH, like Phantom I'm astonished that this is still going on. I don't know who is being vindictive or bloody-minded, but I would have thought that the two clubs could have sat down and resolved this - and any other issues - a long time ago.

Worth watching the highlights of NYC vs. Columbus on the NYC web-site http://www.nycfc.com/ Our old boy David Villa in sensational form.