City in the headlines

[NewConvert]

36 minutes ago, jw1739 said:

If he's not going to play I'd rather he leave. We don't want another injury-riddled season do we?

I agree with this. So far the statements are that he is training but is not yet ready for any competitive matches. Given that we are almost half way through the season, not only would Zullo need to start playing within the next two rounds he would also have to kill it before the club thinks about giving him an extension contract. Let's not forget that he seems to be continually re-injuring his calf.

[belaguttman]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

Yeah i don't think there's any danger of zullo leaving 

He can't leave before he's even arrived

[Murfy1]

Matt Windley says Melbourne City’s win over Wanderers shows they’re now genuine title contender

 

January 9, 2016

Matt Windley

 

THERE’S something about Saturday nights and AAMI Park that agrees with Melbourne City at the moment as yet another of its home games produced an A-League cracker.

Last night’s clash with Western Sydney was always going to provide a yardstick as to just how much City has improved in the past couple of months.

Going in to the game the Wanderers hadn’t lost in nine games.

And indeed it was against the Wanderers at this ground on November 13 that City was humbled 3-0 in a performance labelled by coach John van’t Schip as the worst loss in his time at the club, a defeat that heaped pressure on both the Dutchman and the club as a whole.

Comparing the two performances alone — pure chalk and cheese — it’s clear City has come on in leaps and bounds.

Since the last Wanderers game City had compiled four wins, two draws and a loss and so went in to last night’s showdown with the ladder leaders looking to make a statement of intent.

And its first 35 minutes or so was just that.

If City can keep that pace, that intensity, that cutting edge for 90 minutes then there is no reason why it cannot take out this year’s A-League title.

Van’t Schip’s men were simply sublime, shredding the shell-shocked Wanderers to ribbons with their new-look 3-5-2 formation that served them so well in the final hour of last week’s 2-2 draw with Sydney FC.

There was more evidence that Harry Novillo can best serve his side playing centrally alongside golden boot leader Bruno Fornaroli up top, while we saw some more sublime class from the Uruguayan whose 24th minute finish was pure gold.

Erik Paartalu continues to go from strength-to-strength playing in a slightly more advanced midfield position, central defender Aaron Hughes looked far better for last week’s run and City also found that Aaron Mooy — while good, but not superb — does not have to be the instigator for all that is good for his side.

Interestingly too, we might also be able to infer that van’t Schip’s patience with Robert Koren is just about up.

The out of sorts international marquee was left out of the matchday squad, a 20-year-old dogged midfielder in Jacob Melling instead preferred to a man who once captained Slovenia in a World Cup.

As much as we learned about City’s title credentials, Western Sydney also reaffirmed its championship claims with a determined fightback that ensured last night’s match will go down as one of the season’s best.

Mitch Nichols continues to ooze class in midfield in combination with Spanish guns Dimas Delgado and Andreu and the Wanderers slowly but surely pegged City back.

When Romeo Castelen’s introduction was soon followed by an equaliser it seemed certain that the Wanderers would find the way to win.

But then came perhaps the biggest on-field statement that City has ever made.

With its back against the wall it found a way to win when so many times before it wilted.

There is no doubting that this team is now, finally, the real deal.

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league-2016-matt-windley-says-melbourne-citys-win-over-wanderers-shows-theyre-now-genuine-title-contender/news-story/5f31ad22f0a0229d7cd50a8b7bf21380

[possiblygeorge]

Just now, Murfy1 said:

Matt Windley says Melbourne City’s win over Wanderers shows they’re now genuine title contender

 

January 9, 2016

Matt Windley

 

THERE’S something about Saturday nights and AAMI Park that agrees with Melbourne City at the moment as yet another of its home games produced an A-League cracker.

Last night’s clash with Western Sydney was always going to provide a yardstick as to just how much City has improved in the past couple of months.

Going in to the game the Wanderers hadn’t lost in nine games.

And indeed it was against the Wanderers at this ground on November 13 that City was humbled 3-0 in a performance labelled by coach John van’t Schip as the worst loss in his time at the club, a defeat that heaped pressure on both the Dutchman and the club as a whole.

Comparing the two performances alone — pure chalk and cheese — it’s clear City has come on in leaps and bounds.

Since the last Wanderers game City had compiled four wins, two draws and a loss and so went in to last night’s showdown with the ladder leaders looking to make a statement of intent.

And its first 35 minutes or so was just that.

If City can keep that pace, that intensity, that cutting edge for 90 minutes then there is no reason why it cannot take out this year’s A-League title.

Van’t Schip’s men were simply sublime, shredding the shell-shocked Wanderers to ribbons with their new-look 3-5-2 formation that served them so well in the final hour of last week’s 2-2 draw with Sydney FC.

There was more evidence that Harry Novillo can best serve his side playing centrally alongside golden boot leader Bruno Fornaroli up top, while we saw some more sublime class from the Uruguayan whose 24th minute finish was pure gold.

Erik Paartalu continues to go from strength-to-strength playing in a slightly more advanced midfield position, central defender Aaron Hughes looked far better for last week’s run and City also found that Aaron Mooy — while good, but not superb — does not have to be the instigator for all that is good for his side.

Interestingly too, we might also be able to infer that van’t Schip’s patience with Robert Koren is just about up.

The out of sorts international marquee was left out of the matchday squad, a 20-year-old dogged midfielder in Jacob Melling instead preferred to a man who once captained Slovenia in a World Cup.

As much as we learned about City’s title credentials, Western Sydney also reaffirmed its championship claims with a determined fightback that ensured last night’s match will go down as one of the season’s best.

Mitch Nichols continues to ooze class in midfield in combination with Spanish guns Dimas Delgado and Andreu and the Wanderers slowly but surely pegged City back.

When Romeo Castelen’s introduction was soon followed by an equaliser it seemed certain that the Wanderers would find the way to win.

But then came perhaps the biggest on-field statement that City has ever made.

With its back against the wall it found a way to win when so many times before it wilted.

There is no doubting that this team is now, finally, the real deal.

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league-2016-matt-windley-says-melbourne-citys-win-over-wanderers-shows-theyre-now-genuine-title-contender/news-story/5f31ad22f0a0229d7cd50a8b7bf21380

Is it too early to start thinking about a Grand Final berth?

[Tony999]

8 minutes ago, possiblygeorge said:

Is it too early to start thinking about a Grand Final berth?

Nope. In the bag. We're ganna win the league!

[n i k o]

5 hours ago, possiblygeorge said:

Is it too early to start thinking about a Grand Final berth?

The Melbourne Heart pissimist in me says yes it's too early. But looking at the individuals we have in the team and their determination and experience winning titles it's no doubt we are now in contention. 

[Murfy1]

Simon Hill runs the rule over City Football Group’s achievements two years after Melbourne Heart buyout

 

Simon Hill

January 13, 2016

 

IN January 2014, I attempted to write a synopsis of what life might be like for Melbourne Heart fans under their new Emirati owners.

It was two years ago this month the City Football Group took over the ailing expansion club, and, as a (Manchester) City supporter, I thought I could offer a bit of insight, as to what the new consortium might do. After all, the change of ownership promised to be a game-changer, not only for Heart, but for the A-League as a whole.

So, as we reach January 2016, how are the club faring? And how did I go with my predictions?

Let’s start with the playing side. This is what I wrote in January 2014.

“There will undoubtedly be benefits, if — as promised — Heart construct an academy, and play the sort of swashbuckling football that (Manchester) City play today.”

The club gets a big tick on this part of the equation. As promised, the City Football Academy was constructed at La Trobe, amazingly in just twelve months. Built at a cost of $15 million, and with facilities the envy of every A-League outfit, the academy will serve the club well for decades to come. It has already paid dividends with the National Youth League title win, and W-League Premiership.

A swashbuckling style? It took a while, but this season has seen City play an attacking brand of football that has seen them score 35 goals in just 14 games — a full thirteen more than any other club in the competition.

The final part of that paragraph in 2014 however, makes for interesting reading two years on.

“The potential downsides? (Manchester) City could “cherry-pick” the best local talents, or fill the squad with off-cuts from the parent club.”

There has been some disquiet at the transfer of Luke Brattan from Brisbane to Manchester City, and Anthony Caceres from Central Coast Mariners. Both players, it should be said, were keen to leave their respective clubs — but it is rumoured that one, or both, could end up playing for Melbourne City next year.

Manchester City have done nothing illegal by signing the pair, but with no transfer system (for monetary reward) in place between Australian clubs, it could be argued City Football Group have acquired two promising talents for nothing for their Australian team, by circumventing the rules.

Unless CFG has met Caceres’s contract buyout clause (rumoured to be around $300,000), then sooner or later, FFA will have to address the domestic transfer system and act, in order to protect the smaller clubs.

As for “filling the squad with off-cuts” — well, that has simply never eventuated. Not one (male) player has left Manchester for Melbourne, even on loan. Given the abundance of talent at the English Premier League club, it’s almost disappointing that part of my prediction didn’t come true.

In 2014 I also wrote the following:

“The loss of the Heart name — if it happens — is a shame, and hopefully, the owners can find a way to include it in some way, even if it’s only as a nickname. No-one likes seeing history destroyed, however short. The same goes for the colours.”

We know now, that the Heart name WAS quickly consigned to history, although the red & white colours have been kept on as the clubs second strip. The CFG’s continuing desire to have a sky blue jersey (in keeping with the rest of their clubs), leads onto the next point.

Whatever the clubs colours were, are, or could become, have they found a firm identity to match their A-League rivals such as Victory or Wanderers?

The answer here has to be no. Crowds have remained relatively static, while memberships have actually dropped this year. The clubs unlimited spending power has also been poorly utilised in the one area they were expected to dominate — marquees. The David Villa experiment was a catastrophic PR exercise, while the continued perseverance with the underperforming Robert Koren is mystifying.

In the same vein, some also believe that John Van’t Schip is fortunate to have survived as coach, especially after fielding a weakened team for the FFA Cup Semi Final loss to Perth, when a Melbourne derby loomed as the prize in the Final.

On the flip side, Melbourne City have retained Aaron Mooy — for now at least — turning down a big-money move from a club in Saudi Arabia. Not every A-League club would, or even could, have resisted. This season, City have also got their imports right, with Thomas Sorensen and Bruno Fornaroli in particular, outstanding recruits. They may yet add to them, if they can get the right guest player this month.

Using the Manchester City model (since the arrival of CFG at Etihad Stadium in 2008), it’s possible to see a similar pattern emerging between the two clubs.

In 2008/09 (the first EPL season under the CFG), Manchester City finished in 10th position — exactly halfway. In 2014/15 (the first full A-League season under CFG), Melbourne City finished 5th — exactly halfway.

In 2009/10 (year two), Manchester City finished 5th in the EPL. In the current 2015/16 A-League season, Melbourne City currently sit in 3rd spot. The rates of progress are roughly the same.

So, using the basic metrics of team performance, players, coaches, facilities and crowds — has the CFG move into football in Australia been a success?

The jury is probably still out. Some plusses, some minuses. Not quite the explosion of interest, nor investment in star players that many had hoped for. Slow, if steady progress on the park, with plenty being put in place behind the scenes — which, at the very least, suggests the owners are in it for the long haul.

The next year of the project will no doubt tell us a whole lot more.

 

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/simon-hill-runs-the-rule-over-city-football-groups-achievements-two-years-after-melbourne-heart-buyout/story-e6frf4gl-1227707499837

[haz]

Quality article as usual from Simon Hill, nailed most points

[jw1739]

Agree with the assessment. Would have been better, though, if he had publicised FFA's introduction of the "Lampard Rule" to deliberately prevent the "off-cuts."

[n i k o]

Stats analysis: City on track for 67-goal season

image: http://www.a-league.com.au/di/library/A-League/8/1e/bruno-fornaroli_ush7v6g1roxp14h0o2per2obz.jpg?t=1632983746

1/1

Melbourne City players celebrate one of their 37 goals scored this season up to Round 15.

Thursday, 21 January 2016  - 

Andrew Howe @AndyHowe_statto

 Comments

Stats guru @AndyHowe_statto looks at Melbourne City’s goal rush and compares it to some of the most prolific teams in Aussie club history.

After Round 15 of the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League season, Melbourne City are on a goal-scoring run that could lead to one of the most prolific seasons for a club in Australian national league history.

City has scored 37 goals in its first 15 games - the highest scoring first 15 games in an Australian season for almost two decades.

Team Ranking — Australian A-League

League TableGoals ScoredGoals ConcededGoals ConversionTotal Shots (including blocked shots)Clean SheetsAverage AgeDisciplinary

Melbourne City FC	37
Melbourne Victory	24
Western Sydney Wanderers FC	23
Brisbane Roar FC	22
Sydney FC	21
Adelaide United	19
Central Coast Mariners	19
Wellington Phoenix	18
Perth Glory	17
Newcastle Jets	12

In 1996/97 Sydney United scored an equal record 43 goals in its first 15 games, a season which started with three-goal hauls in each of their first four games, and a 7-0 shellacking of one-season-wonder Collingwood Warriors in round 9.

David Zdrilic and Ante Milicic were Sydney United's top scorers at the time.

Back in 1984 John Kosmina led a Sydney City strike force that also netted 43 goals in its first 15 games; albeit it was a season where the experienced Sydney City came up against several newly-promoted clubs, as Australia's national league expanded from 16 to 24 teams after the 1983 season.

City's run of 37 goals in its first 15 games in 2015/16 puts the Melbourne club on track to having one of the most dominant goal-scoring regular seasons on record.

At its current rate of 2.47 goals per game, Van 't Schip's side would reach 67 goals by the end of the home and away season.

On only three occasions since 1977 has a team scored more than 67 goals over a full home and away season.

In 2000/01 Wollongong Wolves went berserk scoring 73 goals in its 28-match season, with Sasho Petrovski (18 goals) and Scott Chipperfield (17) inflicting the most damage on the Wolves' opponents.

Its season included a 9-0 drubbing of Newcastle, a 6-2 final round win over Adelaide City, and five goal hauls against Parramatta Power and the Melbourne Knights.

Wollongong also rampaged through the 1999/2000 home and away season, scoring 72 goals in the process - Petrovski, Chipperfield and English signing Stuart Young netting 43 goals between them.

 

image: http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/A-League/45/20/wollongong-celebrate-their-grand-final-win-over-perth_e39j8mwacslj17dxv26401i82.jpg?t=1256368253

 

The Wolves also took out the national title in 1999/2000, sensationally coming from 0-3 down at half time in the grand final against Perth to draw 3-3 and win the match on penalties.

Wollongong's stunning exploits in 1999/2000 and 2000/01 disproved the theory that the best defence rather than the best attack wins titles.

It was no coincidence that following the departures of both Chipperfield and Petrovski in 2001, Wollongong dropped to fourth last in 2001/02 after taking out two consecutive Championships,

Back in 1982 a star-studded Sydney City team scored 68 goals in the 30-round NSL season, with John Kosmina in outstanding form collecting 23 goals over the season, well ahead of next highest scorers Jim Patikas (9 goals) and David Mitchell (6).

The forward trio, who helped Sydney City win their third consecutive NSL Championship that year, were significant Australian players of the 1980s - Kosmina with his scoring feats in the NSL and for the Socceroos, while Mitchell and Patikas went on to forge big careers overseas in an era when not many Aussies were playing abroad.

In terms of average goals per game, Melbourne City scored at a rate of 2.47 goals per game in the first 15 rounds this season.

 

image: http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/A-League/fb/68/city-players-celebrate-erik-paartalus-opening-against-adelaide-united_u1c4wars9h7e1le60c54c570p.jpg?t=-1382763383

 

Only two teams in the history of the national league maintained a higher goals per game ratio for a complete home and away season.

Wollongong Wolves' team of 2000/01 averaged a record 2.61 goals per game over the season.

The only other side to score more than 2.5 goals per game over a full season was Sydney United's 1996/97 outfit, where David Zdrilic (21 goals) and Ante Milicic (19) tore opposition defences apart on their way to the grand final.

Unfortunately for the club neither Zdrilic, Milicic or any other Sydney United player were able to find the net on grand final day as the Brisbane Strikers got up 2-0 in the 1997 decider.

And so just after the half way mark of the 2015/16 A-League season it remains to be seen whether the rampaging Melbourne City can maintain their remarkable goalscoring form for the rest of the campaign.

Of the club's 37 goals in its first 15 games, it has been 2015/16 season recruit Bruno Fornaroli who has been the form scorer of the form-scoring team, with a dozen goals so far.

 

image: http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/A-League/55/3f/melbourne-city-striker-bruno-fornaroli-celebrates-adding-to-his-a-league-goal-tally_1skfwcx599j311r5yd76uqjary.jpg?t=648389650

 

Fornaroli's name is already in the all-time record listing, having scored his first 12 Australian national league goals in the equal least amount of games.

It took just 14 games for the Uruguayan to score his first 12 goals, a feat that matched Sydney Olympic player Billy Pirie's record of 12 goals in his first 14 appearances back in 1978.

Coming in next is one Mark Viduka, who at age 18 scored his first 12 national league goals in just 15 games for the Melbourne Knights in 1993.

It has been a history-making goal-scoring season so far for Melbourne City, with a team that is already being compared to some of the best-scoring Australian national league teams and players from the past.

Will they continue to serve up the goals at such an impressive rate?

Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/article/stats-analysis-melbourne-city-on-track-for-67-goal-a-league-season/52cl7n4u0xvi198atp9yt7rmn#XLLwi5ld5hTVIOfb.99

[jw1739]

It's really difficult to take 37 goals in 15 matches and project that to 67 goals in 27 matches, isn't it...must be a slow news day for the A-League.

[HEARTinator]

I don't care about this article. I only want to see El Tuna win the Golden Boot ahead of that Albanian Tard.

[thisphantomfortress]

CFG making headlines for all the right reasons. As a member of the club my long term sense of disappointment is fading and pride is rising.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/why-melbourne-city's-victory-will-change-women's-football/7131366

[HEARTinator]

2 hours ago, thisphantomfortress said:

CFG making headlines for all the right reasons. As a member of the club my long term sense of disappointment is fading and pride is rising.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/why-melbourne-city's-victory-will-change-women's-football/7131366

Agree. We all remember the Heartache surrounding the change of colours and name (maybe less so) and hoped that maybe the pain would be offset by CFG investing in the club and bringing success in a way that the previous owners were not able (or willing) to. Well I must say that the $15M facilities at La Trobe, investment in the women's team and now their outstanding success, the bringing to the club of players like Fornaroli and Novillo and the men's team own success this year is starting to send out a new vibe about the club IMO. I reckon we're slowly emerging as a genuine force in the HAL. Just need to capitalise on the improvements we've made.

 

FFA and Lowy have been critical of CFG for not bringing out a big marquee name this season. However we've just delivered a stunning result in the W-league that many pundits are saying has set a new benchmark for the women's game in Australia. That's a pretty big tick for us I'd say and we've earned a lot of bragging rights as a result.

[Murfy1]

JVS with a pretty good Tweet:

 

 

[drewmelbcity]

3 hours ago, Murfy1 said:

JVS with a pretty good Tweet:

 

 

Oh god whatever happened to proof reading?

[KSK_47]

10 hours ago, drewmelbcity said:

Oh god whatever happened to proof reading?

Ask whoever posted "see the reaction from Sunday's #melbderby..." on the City Facebook page. Posted 17 hours ago and still not fixed lol

[Murfy1]

Freewheeling City celebrate 50 goals, eye top of table with win in Wellington
 

February 21, 2016

Michael Lynch

 

Melbourne City 4-1 Central Coast Mariners

Melbourne City can go top of the A-League table for the first time ever on Friday night if they can see off struggling Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand.

John van 't Schip's freewheeling side shrugged off the absence of the suspended Harry Novillo and Anthony Caceres and an uncharacteristically inaccurate performance by Bruno Fornaroli to see off Central Coast Mariners 4-1 with a second-half goal blitz, having gone to the interval in arrears.

Aaron Mooy's last-gasp free kick was City's 50th goal of the season and the Melbourne team is on track to set a new A-League record.

It has seven games to go to score the nine needed to eclipse Brisbane's 58, set in 2010-11, although the Queenslanders amassed that total when there were 11 teams in the league and 30 games in the regular season compared to the 27 in the 10-team A-League now.

City had taken only one point from their previous nine, so this was an important victory over the league's bottom team.

"The win was more than deserved. I am happy with the result and now we move on," said van 't Schip, who changed things around at half-time after telling his forwards, particularly wide men Nick Fitzgerald and Ben Garuccio, to be more direct in the second half.

"We created some opportunities [in the first half] but in the final third we were a bit rusty and our last pass was not on. Nicky and Benny improved a lot in the second half. I wanted them to first of all be more determined and more threatening on the wings. We also asked for [defensive midfielder] Osama [Malik] to try to play a bit higher up the pitch and be more involved."

While Fornaroli drew a blank, van 't Schip was pleased that he was still presenting and proving a threat in the final third. He was also delighted with the contribution of star midfielder Aaron Mooy from a deeper position.

"Bruno got in those positions again, he got a lot of opportunities. Aaron is now playing in a role that is a bit deeper but he gets us more into the play and scored two goals," he said. "Aaron is showing he is not only a good player when he has the ball, he is getting more complete, a midfielder who wins balls back and leads the team by example."

Van 't Schip was not, however, pleased with the defending of his team for the breakaway goal it conceded. City lost possession from an attacking corner and were undone by the pace of Mitch Austin.

For Central Coast coach Tony Walmsley the biggest concern was defender Storm Roux, whose second-half injury caused a 10-minute delay before he was carried away on a stretcher.

"He is not in a good way. The physios took him to the hospital a short time ago. It doesn't look good ... it's lower leg and possibly shoulder as well."

 

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/aleague-freewheeling-city-celebrate-50-goals-eye-top-of-table-with-win-in-wellington-20160221-gmzrfy.html

[Red or Dead]

What a load of shite!

Quote

ANY derby playoff in next month’s A-League finals would be played at Etihad Stadium, regardless of whether Melbourne City finishes above Melbourne Victory.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/etihad-stadium-to-get-nod-for-any-melbourne-derby-in-aleague-finals/news-story/c8c6eadeff7bf562d57a4a677636da5d

[hakz7]

32 minutes ago, Red or Dead said:

What a load of shite!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/etihad-stadium-to-get-nod-for-any-melbourne-derby-in-aleague-finals/news-story/c8c6eadeff7bf562d57a4a677636da5d

WTF!! Fuck right off. 

[Nate]

Etihad derbies are so hopeless lol 

if we somehow get to host the GF, is it guaranteed it'll be at AAMI?

[hakz7]

"City may be allowed to host finals against other clubs at AAMI Park, but if it was to host the grand final it would be at Etihad on Sunday, May 1."

Not that we'll make the grand final but this would be horrendous.

[n i k o]

It's ridiculous that we have to play at Etihad against victree but I understand why they want that. What I don't understand is why we have to play there against any other team in the final. Instead of having the best atmosphere and garunteed packed stadium at AAMI the greedy cunts want it at Etihad played in front of, at best, a 60-70% filled stadium just for the sake of more profit. 

[jw1739]

9 hours ago, n i k o said:

It's ridiculous that we have to play at Etihad against victree but I understand why they want that. What I don't understand is why we have to play there against any other team in the final. Instead of having the best atmosphere and garunteed packed stadium at AAMI the greedy cunts want it at Etihad played in front of, at best, a 60-70% filled stadium just for the sake of more profit. 

You do understand, Niko. As you say, they are greedy *****. But also because experience tells me that if FFA can possible f*ck something up and alienate fans then they will.

[Torn Asunder]

I can only imagine the honchos at CFG / Melbourne City shaking their heads in disbelief and cursing the consistent stupidity of the FFA.  

It's utter rubbish that we'd not get exercise the advantage earned by finishing higher than the tards, by being made to play away from our own home stadium, at our direct opposition's home base, no less.  But let's face it, when have the FFA ever made the right call on these types of matters ... they only deal with the here and now and they are reactive and their focus is on money grabbing and appeasing the masses / Foxtel.  They will take this course every day of the week, rather than seeing the long term big picture benefit and allowing for a situation that would no doubt continue to grow the support base for City (which in the end means a stronger comp and bigger market in Melbourne).  

[belaguttman]

Its easy to please Foxtel, play it at AAMI and blue screen in the Maracena or Nou Camp

[Shahanga]

So I assume WSW will not be allowed home finals either?

[Shahanga]

The FFA are so full of shit. The same day that comes out they announce they want to "improve fan engagement". Only if it doesn't cost a cent on day one.

[raw10]

3 hours ago, jw1739 said:

You do understand, Niko. As you say, they are greedy *****. But also because experience tells me that if FFA can possible f*ck something up and alienate fans then they will.

This. Hopefully it will give some food for thought for Sheik Mansour to build a stadium for us.. FFA can then go f*** themselves.

[jw1739]

2 hours ago, raw10 said:

This. Hopefully it will give some food for thought for Sheik Mansour to build a stadium for us.. FFA can then go f*** themselves.

I think it will. But...why build a stadium and risk FFA saying you can't play matches there? 

Edited March 8, 2016 by jw1739

[raw10]

21 minutes ago, jw1739 said:

I think it will. But...why build a stadium and risk FFA saying you can't play matches there? 

Well, it will be our home ground and CFG can negotiate that with FFA. After all, if FFA want this sport to grow and for once, FFA is not footing the bill, then CFG can have a final say in this.

[Cityamatic]

'Higher-ranked sides get finals hosting rights, but Football Federation Australia says sides earn home state advantage, not necessarily home ground advantage.'

Unbelievable, good ole FFA and the 'make the rules up as you go' we have come to know and love. Greedy, money grubbing sods - would almost contemplate boycotting any match there (should it happen) just on principle.

[KSK_47]

5 minutes ago, Cityamatic said:

'Higher-ranked sides get finals hosting rights, but Football Federation Australia says sides earn home state advantage, not necessarily home ground advantage.'

Unbelievable, good ole FFA and the 'make the rules up as you go' we have come to know and love. Greedy, money grubbing sods - would almost contemplate boycotting any match there (should it happen) just on principle.

Just ask the Mariners about home ground advantage 

[heart_fan10]

Would rather pay more for a ticket at aami than pay less to see us in a final at a half filled Etihad 

[jw1739]

1 hour ago, Cityamatic said:

'Higher-ranked sides get finals hosting rights, but Football Federation Australia says sides earn home state advantage, not necessarily home ground advantage.'

Unbelievable, good ole FFA and the 'make the rules up as you go' we have come to know and love. Greedy, money grubbing sods - would almost contemplate boycotting any match there (should it happen) just on principle.

I found this (undated):  "The selection of Venues for all Finals Series Matches, including the Grand Final, is at the absolute discretion of FFA and will be made based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, venue availability, broadcast, security, commercial, marketing and financial considerations.
Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/about/competition-rules/1aw1ybfl0o1uo1k3rz9suqvqbb#3rF7AVZ816VJLool.99 "

 

[raw10]

1 hour ago, heart_fan10 said:

Would rather pay more for a ticket at aami than pay less to see us in a final at a half filled Etihad 

F*** .. I hate that stadium... The sooner Etihad disassociate itself from that stadium the better

Edited March 8, 2016 by raw10

[mattyh001]

More importantly what about the sausage stand for quality fan engagement during finals - do they even have that at Etihad?

I'm not sure I (nor many others) could stomach (yes, pun intended) a City game without quality sausage 👍

Talk about shit fan engagement if there is no sausage stand !!

[HEARTinator]

PFA team of the year 2015/2016

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFA_Footballer_of_the_Year_Awards#2015.E2.80.9316

GK	Thomas Sørensen	Melbourne City
RB	Josh Risdon	Perth Glory
CB	Jade North	Brisbane Roar
CB	Matthieu Delpierre	Melbourne Victory
LB	Scott Jamieson	Western Sydney Wanderers
MF	Corona	Brisbane Roar
MF	Aaron Mooy	Melbourne City
MF	Diego Castro	Perth Glory
FW	Jamie Maclaren	Brisbane Roar
FW	Bruno Fornaroli	Melbourne City
FW	Harry Novillo	Melbourne City

 

No Adelaide players in PFA's team of the year dominated by Melbourne City

Michael Lynch

They might have won the A League premiership and head into Sunday's grand final as favourites, but Adelaide United's players are clearly not rated all that highly by their peers.

Professional Footballers Australia has revealed its team of the year – voted on by the members of the players' union – and not a single member of the Reds squad is in the starting XI or on the five-man bench.

Only coach Guillermo Amor gets a tick of approval, the former Barcelona midfielder being named as the PFA's coach of the year for masterminding Adelaide's remarkable recovery and leading them to their first ever home grand final this Sunday at the Adelaide Oval.

Melbourne City midfielder Aaron Mooy is one of four players from his club featured in the Professional Footballers Australia team of the year. Photo: Getty Images

In contrast their rivals, Western Sydney Wanderers, have one player in the all-star starting line-up – left back Scott Jamieson – and two others, centre back Nikolai Topor-Stanley and midfielder Mitch Nichols, on the bench.

The PFA's team of the year is heavily laden with players from the two teams who were beaten in the semi-finals, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar.

The former have a club-high four players in the starting XI – goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, midfielder Aaron Mooy and strikers Bruno Fornaroli and Harry Novillo.

Brisbane have three men in the starting line up: Spanish midfielder Corona, young striker Jamie Maclaren and centre back and the PFA's choice as captain, Jade North.

Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor got the nod as coach of the Team of the Year but none of his players were in the squad. Photo: Getty Images

Melbourne Victory might not have been able to defend their title, but their two-man contingent is headed by starting choice centre half Matthieu Delpierre with forward Kosta Barbarouses on the bench.

City's array of high-performing stars took them deep into the finals, but they had no answer to Adelaide's consistency in the semi-final at Hindmarsh last Friday night when the Reds dominated the game, shut down Mooy and Fornaroli and ran out 4-1 winners.

Delpierre has been a tower of strength in his two seasons at Victory and is without doubt the classiest defender in the league, but even his talents could not paper over the cracks which saw the defending champions slip to sixth at the end of the season and crash out, in heartbreaking fashion, in the first week of the finals.

Perth Glory's strong season – they, along with Adelaide, were the most improved team in the competition in the second half of the year – is reflected by the presence of two of their men in the starting line up.

Full back Josh Risdon earned a Socceroo call up this season and merits his place due to his consistency and drive down the flanks, while the skills of midfielder Diego Castro, who took out the coveted Johnny Warren Medal earlier this week, are well known.

The last two remaining bench spots were taken by Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and Wellington's Dutch midfielder Roly Bonevacia.

North was delighted to be selected as skipper by his friends and rivals.

"It's a tremendous privilege to be named in the players' team and to be selected as captain just tops it off. The recognition of your fellow professionals is the highest honour you can receive as a player.

"The standard across the league has never been higher and this is reflected in what is truly an outstanding PFA A-League Team of the Season."

PFA Chairman Craig Foster said: "The team highlights the incredible playing talent that calls the A-League home and once again demonstrates the ever improving standard on the pitch".

"I would also like to make special mention of the retiring Strebre Delovski who has been selected as the referee for a remarkable sixth time in seven seasons and I congratulate him on a fantastic career."

Melbourne Victory's Matthieu Delpierre was rewarded for another brilliant season by being named first choice centre half. Photo: Getty Images

The playing surface at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium was voted by the players as the best pitch in the A-League while Delovski got the nod as best referee.

For the second season running the Melbourne Victory fans were voted by the players as creating the best atmosphere in the A-League, narrowly edging out the Wanderers fans.

PFA executive member Alex Wilkinson, who will move from Melbourne City to Sydney next season, paid tribute to the Victory fans and the surface at Etihad Stadium.

"The atmosphere created by the Victory fans at every home game is truly electric and they are deserving of the players' recognition," said the Socceroos defender.

"The quality of the pitch has a significant impact on the quality of play on the pitch and Etihad Stadium allows players to be at their very best."

Edited April 28, 2016 by HEARTinator

[NewConvert]

I wonder what Amor would have done with the team we had...

[HeartOfCity]

So today i heard Ian Robson on SEN. WHY THE HELL CANT SOMEONE FROM CITY DO A HALF HOUR FUCKING SEGMENT ONCE A WEEK AT LEAST. City are so shit at this it makes my blood boil.