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Melbourne magic?

2009-11-30T15:40:00.003+11:00

Great to see young Aussie Robbie Kruse replacing Danny Allsopp and keeping Brazilian Ney Fabiano out of the Victory side.

And great to see Archie and Carlos combining with the young wayward former Roar star to entertain, score and win the game. Even Nicky Ward looked back to his most effective best.

However would Central Coast Mariners have gone down so easy?

Is Miron, once again, showing signs of losing the plot. What must the right winger, Jason Culina think?

Great game, but I bet Melbourne wish more away sides would play three up front!

Sydney FC: Marquee is a farce

2009-11-30T13:45:00.003+11:00

When John Aloisi was at Coventry City he ran the forward line on his own in the old English First Division now called the EPL.

He was fast, direct and scored goals in an unfashionable team.

But the new Aloisi is a much slower version, and cannot run beyond the last player with any pace. And it was his pace that made him a star.

Robbie Fowler has similar problems, but Robbie was never as fast as Aloisi but he has greater goal awareness and can score goals, at 34 like at 19, from absolutely anywhere. Headers, shots, quick free kicks.

So it's not an age thing. But it is a pace thing for Aloisi. And it's gone.

Signing David Zdrillic, another slowing forward former Socceroo was a mistake in terms of goal return for Sydney FC although I would say Zdrillic contributed more to the team.

But Blind Freddy knew Aloisi would not add 10,000 to the crowd when he shifted from the Mariners to Sydney FC. Freddy also knew Aloisi as a crowd pleaser was pretty much gone.

And let's face it he only returned to Australia because no-one else in the whole world wanted him.

So why the hell did Sydney FC pay him a million plus when Archie Thompson, energetic, creative, inspirational and a fans favourite does so much more for less than half that.

Sydney clearly have too much bling. Always had always will.

What a waste!

Mary Whitehouse: Sydney are shit

2009-11-30T13:38:00.003+11:00

If Branko had said Sydney FC are shit...would he have got fined $3,000 by the FFA, or would the FFA have agreed.

Maybe that was his problem. He said all teams in the league were shit...he should have just Sydney are...or are you not allowed to speak the truth anymore.

Sydney are shit, Sydney are shit, Sydney are shit, and while you are at it so is Aloisi!

And does Branko's fine $3000 reflect his recent wage announcement...$50 a week or Aurelio Vidmar's $10,000 Saudi promotion suggest Viddy is on more or is bagging the AFC members so much worse than saying all A-League teams are not very good!

???Who is Mary Whitehouse. She was the keeper of TV morals in the UK when I was growing up. Basically no-one was able to swear on telly without Mary getting stuck into everyone and everything!

Do you know more than Miron Bleiberg.

2009-11-30T13:28:00.003+11:00

Stephen Lustica was plunged into centre midfield for Gold Coast United on Saturday against Melbourne Victory.

Stephen is 18 and playing his first start in the A-League. Away to Melbourne at the Dome.

Gold Coast lost the midfield and lost the game 4-0.

No-one could blame a young aspiring player, but one could wonder at the logic of Miron Bleiberg and former Lazio midfielder and Assistant Coach Paul Okon.

Gold Coast's depth was stretched, away to Melbourne so why play the best midfielder in the league, a proven International at World Cup level, out on the right wing.

Particularly when the Gold Coast were unable to get the ball to Jason Culina and indeed after the first goal is was quickly apparent that it would be Melbourne down the middle, Melbourne down the left and Melbourne down the right. It was.

Which makes you wonder when little old football observers like me can pick HUGE defects in Miron (One season wonder) Bleiberg...and Vitaslez (I'd like to water plants) Lavicka tactical genius what exactly do these guys bring to the table?

Laurie McKinna even had a chat with Fozzie on SBS yesterday...what is the World coming to? Anyone laugh when Fozzie asked Lozza, oh so gently, about the style of play from Season 1 to now?

Sydney so classy....

2009-11-30T13:12:00.004+11:00

The best PR in the A-League this season is that Sydney are playing with style. Every week they win Mike Cockerill and others are telling us they are flying....and when the lose it's always they are playing well at home....oh yeah like when?

Dream on Mike, and dream on Sydney..and for that matter dream on Fozzie oozing over the latest overseas coach earlier in the season. In fact is Vitaslez doing any better than Lozza from the Coast? Take a look at the league table, just a place between them, and the Coast don't have a million dollar flop in you know who.

John Aloisi is running David Zdrillic a close tie for the latest overpaid Sydney flop.

Hammered by the Jets yesterday, Stephan Kellar gets talked up every week in the SMH but is he really worth another season. After giving away the goal to Gold Coast United over hyped Socceroo wannabee Simon Colosimo gave the second and decisive goal away to the Jets yesterday...and in truth Colosimo has had a good season...just not that good.

And with Karol Kisel out, where the hell is boy-wonder, with pace, Kofi Danning. At least he must be worth a bench place.

And what with that pre-match watering. It hasn't helped Sydney once this season, in fact the players and their passing seem slower than ever particularly in the early wet moments.

Let's face it, Sydney had a ten minute purple patch against Melbourne, somehow hung on for a very dodgy win against the Roar and have lost most other games including home to The Fury and now the Jets.

Wonderful football at the SFS? Not from Sydney, not this seaon, not yet or am I missing something...again.

Aloisi to go, should save a million dollars, and get some pace into the team. Of course if Rhyan Grant have tucked the first minute sitter away it could have been so diferent....as it was he went on to concede the first goal and got whipped at half-time for Aloisi...God help us!

Sydney out thought by Branko....you couldn't make it up.

Nearpost talks football

2009-11-26T15:50:00.002+11:00

National show download

Local national show download here

Type rest of the post here

Henry is a cheat!

2009-11-21T17:22:00.002+11:00

Thierry Henry like many afore him says "it's up to the referee!"

But what about decency from himself and the French team. Not once but twice did the ball "hit@ more like he quided the ball with his hand...and what gaul, what cheek to celebrate and blame the referee!

Imagine a French side that wins the World Cup, Henry as captain would receive the trophy.

He should be banned from the tournament. How many kids will now be cheating and not owning up...if the ref doesn't see it.

The game should be replayed...but Henry should be booed across all the fields of Europe and banned from International football.

Sometime professional sport sickens me. Like the pre-meditated blood injury in Rugby Union, the stage in AFL, the false appeal in cricket...and now this in football.

Thierry Henry is a cheat. Boot him out now!

World Cup: Everyone is going!

2009-11-19T11:39:00.003+11:00

Ireland aren't going! Neither is Gus Hiddink.

Could we bring him back....too late I guess!

Ronaldo should be there..if fit...but not the Ukraine's or Egyptians.

Still in the modern world if your country doesn't make it (Ireland) you can support the country you grew up in (England) the country you live in and love (Socceroos) or the countries you have visited, (NZ, USA, Germany, Japan, France, Greece, Italy etc etc,) or countries you'd like to see do well..(basically African or Asian nations)....and countries you wish to see fail (Portugal)....make your own list here!

Nearpost Podcasts rock!

2009-11-18T07:15:00.002+11:00

Download National Show.

Go the Kiwi's! Peter Funnell, Lucy Zelic and Paddy Bordier talk Aussie football. All of it! Socceroos, Young Player Transfers and so much more than you ever get on Channel 9, 7, 10 or even the ABC. God Bless Australia!

Download local show
And locally Peter Funnell talks to Canberra United Coach Ray Junna and the three new Premier League Club Presidents.

half-time heroes...November edition

2009-11-17T19:45:00.001+11:00

Nearpost goes Kiwi

2009-11-10T19:34:00.004+11:00

Come on New Zealand.

It's their Nov 16th 2005 moment, on Saturday in Wellington. 35,000 fans dressed in All White as NZ take on Bahrain for one shot at glory and a place in the 2010 World Cup.

The Nearpost is pumped for what should be a great game, an historic event.

All the A-League news, Socceroos talk and more All White talk than you could ever hope for on an Aussie football show.

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Locally we've got an interview with Capital Football CEO Heather Reid and all the news on the local Regional Premier League for next season.

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Nearpost Podcast is here

2009-11-03T20:41:00.004+11:00

Well we're back. National show is here.

Just like the Gold Coast fans. We'll tell ya Tando's real name, who the most exciting player of the weekend was, why the Phoenix will get six points in four days and why we're all pumped, pumped I tell ya for NZ to get to the World Cup and of course....will Jason Culina be there and did he make a mistake coming home.

Locally Peter Funnell hears from Alfred Galustian the Coerver Tech Director and goes to Georgia, USA to find out what they are up to in the world of football.

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Podcast national fails!

2009-10-27T20:11:00.003+11:00

Apologies to fans of the Nearpost..no National show this week due to..er I pressed the wrong record button...you'd think after two years I'd get it right....and the Station is having a few issues!!!!

Locally we have another great show. Peter Funnell wonders if Vikings wouldn't be better off running Futsal in Canberra. (How is it possible that we have no Futsal facilities of our own?)

Alfred Galustian, Head of Coerver and new Tech Advisor to the FFA, Ray Junna Canberra United update us on the latest in Coerver development and of course Ray talks us theough United's first win.

Download here

Nearpost Podcast is here! Rejoice!

2009-10-20T21:04:00.003+11:00

Download National Show

We got all the issues from Jesse Fink to Fozzie, Socceroos to Dan Silkman, Greg Baum, to Ange Postecoglou, Ben Kennedy replaces Tando Velaphi, where should Harry play, should Dario play, why Aussies are sick of the Socceroos...well the Aussie media, is the A_League boring..it's all here, quiz questions and more football info and news than a FTA Commercial station...ever!

Local show talks to John Mitchell. What is his program for the ANU, why are they training like they are, do they even match your club, and what is their summer football program. How many games are they playing against A-League clubs?????

Peter Funnell gives an initial assessment of the High Performance program in Canberra

Download here

Canberra Primary School goes High Performance

2009-10-20T16:49:00.003+11:00

A girls only High Performance football program was offered by Players FC at Turner Primary School here in Canberra. It started yesterday.

16 places available, 19 girls signed up for the seven week course, ($70 per child), with minimal promotion. Didn't even make the school newsletter.

On the Turner Oval, Yr 3-6 girls come out of school at 3pm, ate, drank and then in time played football, did their drills, exercises and games under licensed coaches. A curriculum on display, leadership goals, and improved outcomes for all involved.

Parents pick them up at 5pm...tired, but safe. No driving to and fro, no distance, and no hassle for kids and perhaps more importantly for the parents.

I like this model. Version 1.

Half-Time Heroes better than ever!

2009-10-20T16:46:00.003+11:00

www.halftimeheroes.com.au

There is a new website, a new look to the Aussie football emag and you can get it from the above link.

I've dropped out but don't let that stop you taking a look at the new, smaller and im my view improved HTH.

Easier to read, and more football than you could ever want...and it's free. Con Stamocostas is the man driving this baby now and I reckon he's come up with a great format for version 3. Check it out for yourself.

Nearpost Radio Podcasts: John Mitchell Canberra Visionary

2009-10-14T09:23:00.006+11:00

Nationally download Who are the last seven teams to qualify for the last SIX world Cups (not England) and we tell you why Paddy Bordier thinks Nicky over Holman and Eamonn says no way.

Russ Gibbs W-League wrap, did they count the Gold Coast Ambo's who attended to Clive Palmer in the crowd numbers at the Roar game on the weekend.

We dedicate the show to former SBS and 2Ky commentator Paul Williams. Farewell Paul

Locally we're all action!
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Peter Funnell talks to John Mitchell. One of Canberra football's leading football thinkers and Coaches, and like all visionaries he has his knockers....(who else is ahead of him though and which club....can't see anyone myself). John is not just talking the talk he's doing it. If you have a young player serious about his football, post 16,...I mean serious....ANU...is the only program worth consdering in my view and the other "big" clubs need to match the intensity.

As Belco and Canberrra FC Under 20's head to Hawker to play Woden and Tuggies this summer, have a listen to the ANU program and why indeed this isn't being promoted and supported much more strongly by Capital Fooball as the Premier Development program for our young boys particularly if as rumours suggest there will be no HP program for our 17 and 20 boys.....do we say good bye to future Luke Pilkington's at just 16 or 17 or say hello to ANU....anyone got a better plan going in Canberra?????

Anyone even got a plan to develop our boys post 16 in Canberra?

Nearpost Podcasts: A-League crowds up, and who gets your Futsal money

2009-10-06T19:48:00.007+11:00

download national show

Nationally we cover Fozzie on the Young Socceroos, A-League, crowds, Danny Tiatto, Robbie Kruse,how did that Ref miss the Perf goal, Alex Brosque, Chris Grossman, why the Celtic crowd are louder thanBordeaux, even Liverpool but it was The Cove who took Paddy's breadth away, W-League, quiz questions and more and Lucy Zelic thinks Melbourne will beat Sydney FC.

What does she know?..oh and why we love SMH's Adele Horin...it's all here..

Locally we hear from Canberra United Coach Ray Junna.

And with the ACT Futsal season about to start...yes it's another short season of futsal just 16 weeks, Peter Funnell talks to the CEO of Viking Futsal.

Recently someone pointed out to me that local Futsal is exploding with over 1500 kids northside alone, bringing in $240,000 in revenue.

Does that money stay in the game or head perhaps to ....netball through it's centre.

Vikings Futsal keeps every cent in the game, build resources and send all Futsal teams to championships FREE, send Refs abroad, but keep every cent in the game for the game, it's players and the kids AND they pay their staff/administrators.

Surely Vikings is a model for Futsal ACT and indeed every outdoor club over about 600 kids.

Think of the future. Will we ever have our own courts, resources for our kids??????
Will we ever pay those who do the hard yards in organising these huge and growing tournaments?

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Aussie Technical Revolution: Starts at Full-Back

2009-10-04T19:49:00.002+11:00

Gabriel Heinze, Roberta Carlos, Patrice Evra, Danny McGrain, Ashley Cole, Daniel Mullen and Matthew Jurman.

The first five are tecnically adept full-backs playing with some style in their teams, the last are centre-backs placed into the Australian national team to play full-back in a World Cup. Ouch!

Now you know this, and I know this, but any Coach who puts these two players into this role means you can't attack, you can't control the game and you can't get a forward cross or interchange with skill and pace from wide.

In essence you shouldn't be at the World Cup if that is the beat pair of modern full-backs we can produce.

Surely there are a couple of young wingers across Australia with a heap of skill who we could have converted, a la Lucas Neill, into technically sound attacking full-backs.

Danny Tiatto: Same back to you mate!

2009-10-04T19:40:00.002+11:00

I saw you Danny putting your finger up to me on the big screen.

Well i did it back louder and longer.

Robbie Kruse v Tiatto and co, great stuff. Fozzie might not have liked it, but Bozzo loved it...me to.

Great game, particularly that first half, and great to see Danny Allsopp out of the Victory side.

Archie, Ney Fabiano, Carlos Hernandez and Robbie Kruse back to his best...well almost as good as the Gold Coast this mob.

Great crowds in Perth and Melbourne, Wellington outclassing the Gold Coast. This round of A-League is half over but it's been great to watch

With Canberra United getting flogged in the W-League and Brazil beating our young guns this morning..too much Aussie football is never enough.

Thank God for the Rugby League Grand Final...a chance to turn off the telly for a day, although it seems like the Brazil game was yesterday..only this morning apparently.. with over 10,000 expected in Adelaide and Sydney maybe this game is going to survive without Canberra after all!

With the Socceroos to come next week and Canberra's number 1 New Zealand fan desperate to see them at the World Cup...should be a great week for football.

FFA: What is your strategic plan for Canberra?

2009-10-04T19:04:00.000+11:00

FFA: Show us your plan for elite football in the capital region.....

you do have a plan don't you and what part of the strategic plan covers the Capital Region...do tell!

Canberra: FFA not welcome in this Capital

2009-10-04T18:52:00.003+11:00

Canberra Times journo David Jean has told the FFA to "get stuffed," in his Saturday article re;further A-League games in Canberra; although I don't recall David being front and centre as a Canberra A-League football supporter, perhaps not as anti as his mate Peter (I hate Canberra Football) Fitzgerald....but good article David...you have hit the mood of the Canberra sporting public...

and I've had more than a few people telling me that is exactly how they feel.

Also a mother and daughter told me they not only recognise FFA Chief Ben Buckley on the telly but they boo when he comes on! Well done Ben!

And so the anecdotes and feeling continues from the FFA's appalling 12th Bid Licence process.

Face it, FFA you stuffed it big time. You might never have wanted Canberra, but it will take some smoozing to get the locals behind your business it seems. And you do want your business to grow don't you?

I'll take a Youth team in 2010, and two places in the NSW Premier League Comp and a provisional licence to the A-League at any date of your choice.

Crumbs, Canberra has won?

2009-09-30T07:53:00.006+10:00

So we didn't get the 12th licence purely it seems because we weren't called Western Sydney.

And the FFA has certainly angered many Canberrans with their process of selection. If indeed there was ever a process.

But when the dust settles many will agree, the Canberra Bid Committee although failing in their aim to get the 12th licence has moved Canberra back into the world of professional football...at least in intent.

And in time it will be this bid, this committee that will have done the ground work for a future professional team, one in my view that still needs a way better model if a team is ever to survive and flourish in Canberra...as I believe it can.

The momentum of the bid, resulted in 20,000 turning up to watch the Socceroos, the community actually realising what "the A-League" was, and perhaps the biggest achievement was to look to the future and away from the "we've failed with the Cosmos" era. No mean acheivements in Canberra!

Many have criticised the Committee, myself included, for failing to maintain the momentum of the Socceroos crowd, for failing to get the money needed, and for failing to attract the right people on to the committee in the first place, and maybe for not going hard enough to the FFA after that Socceroos game when we were at our strongest point, in terms of community and financial support.

Now is the time for Ivan Slavich to review those on the Committee and those who can or will take the bid forward. Will Ivan remain? He should. And in today's Canberra Times he says he will. A bid without Ivan would seem unlikely to succeed in my view.

I can attest to the hours upon hours he has put into to make this thing happen. Ivan's drive and energy has been an eye-opener although I had some disagreements along the way; that is normal I guess.

And if the FFA are to be believed, and I don't believe them, Canberra will be the 13th team in the league.

Hmmmm nice thought, but if we are to be that team, why not give us a date for entry no matter how far away.

The sop from the FFA that we are to get more A-League games and Internationals is just that a meaningless sop to a region the FFA has treated appallingly in my view. They certainly haven't assisted the game to grow in this region by their sham of a licence process.

Indeed right now the thought of more A-League games in Canberra seems like a waste of time. And the link with the Mariners seems to distract us from the main game: A team of our own and as a subsidiary a pathway for our young players.

Is it time for the Bid Committee to disband or do they have the ability to take and build on the momentum; a momentum which in most people's view has died. There is the answer for the Committee members I guess, although I'm in favour of new energy around Ivan should he remain.

The way ahead?

A Youth team in the A-League would be a better sop from the FFA. And the Canberra Times is reporting that the FFA want to go this way.

Well why would we believe the FFA, but to start with a Youth team next year would placate many of us and build some real momentum alongside Canberra United in my view.

It would enable us a pathway for our players so when our team comes in, if it ever does, we have a pool of players ready to go, an administration in place and a community able to get behind a team, a brand and keep some of the A-League4Canberra momentum.

Further the Youth Team, Boomerangs Futsal and Canberra United W-League should all be branded as one, formed into one club, to promote the elite football from the region not just Canberra.

The Bid Committee if they remain needs to reenergise and force some answers from the FFA. Are they up to the task? Were they ever able to galvanise the community?

When will the FFA give us our start date.
What will they do to assist us. A youth team is a bigger priority than more Mariners A-League games. We don't want A-League games and will not support them in the numbers required to build a successful brand in Canberra.

Any volunteer A-League committee do not have the energy to promote of finance A-League Mariner games. They are a distraction to the main cause of our own A-League team. Capital Football clearly dont have the communication abilities or resources to be throwing behind the Mariners games to ensure 10,000 people turn-up..so drop the games!

International games: We'll take them; if we get them because they FFA spend money to promote those.

And my final thought:
Who will the develop a business model that is really sustainable, reveal it to the community and take this Bid to a new level?

We have the time now, no pressure of Bid races etc, so let's go to stage two once the dust has settled and build on the Memberships, the 13400 pledges, the regional support, the 100 Ambassadors, the clubs of the ACT and the goodwill of many many volunteers who gave up their time to promote this thing.

We have a large database of emails, paid-up members, volunteers etc etc, there needs to be some thought given to how best to bring this community along and of course more importantly the business acumen and finances required for a team to succeed.

In the long-term view: Did the Canberra Committee succeed or fail?

Nearpost: Radio Local

2009-09-29T19:52:00.004+10:00

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Nationally we talk Expansion and why the FFA love Canberra. Ben Buckley did you take your national capital for a little ride? Are you continuing to take the city for a ride?

And all the A-League, W-League and football talk you could ever dream of.

Locally: Download

Peter Funnell talks to one of Canberra star footballers, Ned Zelic.
And Pat McCann gives the lowdown on High Performance Futsal program progress.

Nearpost Podcasts

2009-09-23T09:02:00.003+10:00

download here

Quiz questions, dedications and the best wrap in the world of the A-League!

And locally with the best coverage of local football in the Australian Capital Peter Funnell talks to Cap Football CEO Heather Reid on that A-League bid, High Performance, ACT Premier League and all things local football.

Download the local show here