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Victory in the North End - by Eddie Vukovic

 
An opinionated fan's take on the wonders of the A-League and Melbourne Victory.

A Gamble that Didn't Pay Off

Ok, so it's been ages since I've posted. It happens. Christmas came and went. New Years came and went. John Aloisi came and well...should go. Anyway, I've had a bunch of stuff happening and haven't been able to get online. So, what have I got to talk about? A couple of things. But one in particular.

The betting scandal. I don't mind a flutter, never have, and I don't care if the players go down to the betting shop either. It's their right as much as anyone's. And I know that it's wrong, ethically, morally, whatever to be betting on another fixture in the league you play in. But, to be fair, this doesn't bother me that much. So when Kevin Muscat and Craig Moore got busted for having a flutter on other fixtures, I wasn't angry. No, disappointed is a more apt description. But, like I said, I can get over this. The thing that doesn't sit well with me and I'm guessing the rest of the Victory boys, is Grant Brebner betting against them.


I mean...come on. I can understand wanting to have a bet, especially on something you reckon you have a fair idea about. The odds are in your favour. When I think of Brebner's folly, I am reminded of this Ween song. In my view though, Brebner has broken more than the FFA's policy on gambling. He's broken the trust and respect that his teammates had for him. How can the other players walk onto the training pitch with him and still have that camaraderie when they know he doesn't think they're good enough? Whether he thinks that is the case or not, I don't know for sure, but I reckon the rest of the Victory squad might. I would. So Grant...you've lost me my friend. This may be the biggest mistake of your life, but if the Melbourne Victory don't cut their losses and fold where you're concerned, then it may very well be theirs.


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Response to Rebecca Wilson

Rebecca Wilson =


'Nuff Said.
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Congratulations

Well sir, it's good to be back. Sorry to all of my devoted readers (*cough*) who have been desperately waiting for an update...but I've been having some technical difficulties.


Anyway, these "issues" have since been rectified and it's time to get back into it. As you may have noticed with my posting history, I'm a Melbourne Victory supporter, kind of obvious given nearly every post is about them. And as a Victory supporter and member, it's fair to say that Adelaide United is not a team I favour. So this makes what I am about to say, even harder.

Congratulations Adelaide.

I have to admit, I never thought they'd progress as far as they have in the ACL. Maybe second round, given they'd been there before and scoped out some of the issues. But to make the final...

Credit needs to be given when it's due. They've performed brilliantly throughout the competition, from putting sides away when at home to grinding out results on the road. And while I may be chastised by other Victory supporters for this, I hope they win it. And yes, I realise that they will have bragging rights for the next fifty years for being the first Australian club to win it. But here is my reasoning.

If Adelaide can do the unthinkable and beat Gamba Osaka and claim the ultimate prize in Asian football, it will be a massive boost to Australian football. The FFA must be furiously rubbing their hands together, just waiting for the riches to flow in. Vidmar is right in saying that Adelaide making the final is as big as the Socceroos efforts in the World Cup.

Even if they don't though, the achievement is massive and one that will hopefully grab more media coverage from an industry that fawns over the AFL and the Spring Racign Carnival.

So...I say it again. Congratulations Adelaide.
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No Spoils for the Victory

All props to the Roar. They know how to win away from home. Sadly, for their pseudo Oranje fans, they seldom have anything to cheer about at home. I was thinking about this the other day, after trudging home despondently from the Telstra Dome. Melbourne's home record isn't really that much better than the Roar's is it?

Well, of course it is...no one loses as much at home as Queensland does, but still, the Telstra Dome is far from a fortress. On Sunday night, the day after the AFL grand final, more than 22 thousand people witnessed two very different performances. A thoroughly lacklustre and creatively turgid one from Melbourne, and a tactically superior and beguiling one from the Roar


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Joel Griffiths is a Spoiled Brat

Yes he's a good player.

Yes he's charismatic


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What a Cracker!

Cracker
A Cracker of a Match
Look back at my preview of the Mariners vs Victory match and read the last sentence. I'm sure the words cracking match or cracker are in there somewhere. Sure, I got the result wrong, but I daresay the fluttering of a card somehow may have affected that outcome. The game was definitely a cracker though, full of drama and controversy.

Central Coast had the better of the opening exchanges, culminating in Matt Simon's well taken opener. While Petrovski was buzzing around the Victory penalty box all afternoon, it was Simon who was causing the most panic, getting into good positions and generally harrassing the defence


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Central Cost Mariners vs Melbourne Victory Round Five Preview

So now that Loogeygate is over with, we can all get on with the real business of A-League football. I was supposed to do a preview of last night's game between the Roar and the Jets, but due family comittments (the wife started screeching and screeching at me about not mowing the lawns) I couldn't. I guess it doesn't matter much now, what with Queensland doing their best to be the most frustratingly ineffectual home team in the world. Seriously, why do they even bother with playing at Suncorp anymore? It's be easier if they just gave the points to travelling sides and then went down the pub for a couple of quiet ones, a counter meal and some games of pool. But they'd probably be there all night as none of them could put the little balls into the holes.

But I digress. Let's talk about tonight's clash at the Bluetongue Stadium. Central Coast, much like last season's other grandfinalists, have had an indifferent start to the season, winning only once. Goals have been flowing reasonably regularly, but unfortunately for them, at both ends. The Mariners welcome back Nik Mrdija and Dylan McAllister from illness, but are still without a raft of players on the long term injury list, including Ahmad Elrich, Dean Heffernan and Andre Gumprecht, who I'm sure used to play guitar for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Andre Gumprecht
Andre Gumprecht

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9 1/2 Weeks?

Sydney Swans full forward Barry Hall, would have been laughing in his pint when he read that Victory's Ney Fabiano was suspended for 9, count them, 9 matches for allegedly spitting at Adelaide United's Robbie Cornthwaite. 9 weeks! It beggars belief. Hall copped a 7 match ban from the AFL tribunal for king hitting West Coast Eagles Brent Staker earlier this year. Imagine what would have happened if he spat on him? Life time ban?

I've already harped on this before and my feelings are known. I don't believe Fabiano was guilty of intentionally spitting. From the video footage I saw, it appeared to be a case of some spittle flying from his lips as he unleashed a verbal tirade at Cornthwaite. It will be interesting to see what Victory does now. How will they appeal the decision? It is known that Travis Dodd was very close to the action, when Spittlegate occured, and sources within the Victory camp believe that his version of events corroborates theirs. Wonder if he'll say anything though, being that he's the captain of Victory's main rivals for the title


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Spitting More than Chips

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A-League Round 4 Preview - Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United

As I gaze out through my office window and soak up the view of Ye Olde Melbourne town, bathed in sunshine for once, I realise that spring is finally here and so is round 4 of the Hyundai A-League. So I figure it's time to forgo my work and do a little preview of this week's festival of football.

Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United
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