TheStig

Question regarding today'derby game. As a member with a reserved seat, do I need to do any special reservations or anything, or do I just rock up at the gate with my membership card as usual?

Anybody care to conjecture why the APL would make such a rule change?

Wellington should be top, not Victory due to a secret APL rule change. Football news 2024: A-League changes ladder rule so wins are tiebreaker over goal difference, Wellington Phoenix, Melbourne Victory (foxsports.com.au)

So where goes this leave us now? Are we definitely out or what needs to happen for City to move to the next round?

Why couldn't the game be played at our pitch in Cranbourne East? Its brand new, rectangular and suited to the crowd size.

Agree 100% on the back passing. Why not try a long pass to a player further up field? At least the ball can be contested upfield. Back passing, as has been shown time and time again is lazy play, puts pressure on the backline and is highly risky.

Pleased with the result. However still concerned about Perth's goal. To me it looked like our backline were deliberately playing the ball back and forth in the backline in order to give Perth an opportunity to pounce and score. At the time of Lopane's backpass he would have had Taggart in his peripheral vision so playing the ball slowly back to Young makes no sense. I seriously wonder whether there isn't some corruption involved here. Thoughts?

No. the traditional method is to sack the manager in order to scare the plyers into playing well. but I think we are at the stage where the manager needs to be sacked along with a couple of players. Not good enough. Bring out the guillotine!

Remember that Melbourne City has a 2 week rule for Managers. The new manager has 2 weeks to show that he can make the team play Angeball or else it's time for a new manager. Rado learnt this the hard way.

Hmm Just looking at Vidmar's record with Melbourne City so far. We haven't won a game under him so far which is very, very poor. I expect a significant improvement from the team or 2 weeks from now the knives will be out again. The Stig

Just starting the obligatory "Sack<insert manager's name here>" thread. Vidosic's sacking is a reminder that results are expected. The Stig

This comment aged well given the antics at the Melb derby.

Fiji should be the next expansion side as it has the population to support a side.

Hi. The title says it all but the show will go on somewhere in about 56 days. Do you think we could/should host it? I reckon it would be well supported. Stig

Hi everyone Have Melbourne City qualified for the forthcoming ACL season? If so, when will the matches be played in Melbourne and who will our opponents be? cheers The Stig

Will be good to see Arzani play, even if against us.

Re Poppa going to J2 Actually its from a parody account.

It would be ideal if they both went to Troyes.

After tonight's result I think Aloisi is also on the chopping block.

After the loss to Brisbane is Poppa's job in danger? We all know how ruthless clubs can be. Just ask Aloisi...

Merry Christmas to all from the Football Stig

I note that FA have just handed down their interim restrictions arising out the derby debarcle. https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/football-news-2022-melbourne-victory-sanctions-for-derby-riot-vs-melbourne-city-no-tickets-allowed-to-be-sold-members-allowed-entry/news-story/6c0e2fe7f41e0f270c2c93d854f9506b One of these is I applaud FA's effort to try and protect the active supporters however Glover can throw further than that.

I hope they replay the game at some point.

If someone who is banned from the footbll turns up and gets into the ground, what punishment is there that can be handed down currently? The FFA is not a court. To be effective such sanctions as life bans need judicial backing and jail sentences as a deterrent. That can only be put in place by Government. Essentially at the end of the day this is a law and order matter.

So much has been talked about the ramifications of the derby violence but the worst thing for me personally was the fact that I didn't get to see the derby played out. Every year I look forward to the christmas derby as it has traditionally been a great contest at a time when everyone is starting to wind down after a hard year. What is concerning is the discussion about Victory having to play all it's games behind closed doors which is not a solution in my books. It just punishes the innocent fans who want to see a competitive game. As a City supporter I want to be able to attend the next derby and as a member why shouldn't I be allowed to? I'm clearly not a Victory supporter therefore I represent no risk. However here's my comprehensive solution. 1. State Government to pass legislation providing for an automatic six month jail term (minimum) for any banned supporter who attends at an a-league match. If you are where you are not supposed to me then you should get a jail term. Same for smuggling flares. This must be rigourously policed by Victoria Police. 2. Victory games and crowds to proceed as normal. 3. For the next 3 years the active area of Victory to be made dry. 4. Derbies to proceeds as normal at AAMI but the only people allowed to attend to be full Melbourne City members. I think these measures would be effective at changing the culture.