Sunday, 29 April 2007

Down to the wire in the Eredivisie (NED)


Holy crap! I've been watching the dramas of the Dutch league unfold in front of my eyes and I can't believe what I'm seeing! Now I don't have the privilege of watching it on TV or Internet TV for that matter, so I've been getting the updates through FootieFox on my web browser. Anyway, I'm going to quickly try and sum up whats going on.

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA Pts

1  AZ  33  21  9  3  81  28  72
2  Ajax  33  22  6  5  82  35  72
3  PSV  33  22  6  5  70  24  72

I knew that the title race was really close and while i was sitting here browsing the net, FootieFox started going nuts so i did the maths and it turns out that 1 goal could decide who takes home the Championship. PSV squandered a massive lead on the ladder and really should have wrapped things up weeks ago, so credit to Ajax and AZ for closing the gap. Anyway, before tonight's matches, AZ were on +53 goal diff. Ajax on +47 and PSV on +46. Personally i want PSV to win it. First cause they have a few Aussies playing there and two cause Ajax beat Panathinaikos in the semi finals of the '96 UCL and i can't forgive them for it! So PSV have to win and they have to score something like 7 goals to make up the difference, or hope that AZ and Ajax concede a couple.

Currently AZ are 2-2 against Excelsior so if it stays like this, they can't win. Ajax are up 2-0 against Willem II so their goal diff. is +49 and will be on 75pts. Here's where it gets interesting. PSV are up 5-1 against Vitesse so their goal diff is +50 and will be on 75pts. If it stays like this for at least the next 5min, then PSV will take out the title... WOW!! What a way to win the league!

Thursday, 26 April 2007

Asian Champions League


Sydney have put their campaign back on track after inspiring performances by attacking midfielder Steve Corica (2 goals) and striker David Zdrilic (2 assists).

For those of you who didn't see the match, you probably won't be surprised to know that Sydney dominated possession (67%) and had 21 shots at goal. In the second half they stepped up the tempo and took the game to Persik, who couldn't cope with the pace and movement of the Sydney players.

So things are looking bright for new coach Branco Culina and given that Uwara drew against Shanghai last night, there's now a very good chance that Sydney can pinch top spot. This competition isn't like the UCL, in that only the winner of the group stage progresses, so next weeks match in Japan will be the decider.
Regardless of the outcome though, Sydney will be content with their progress thus far and given the type of football that they're playing, there's a very good possibility that they'll be challenging for the title in version 3 of the A-League.

The team is starting to gel and is working as a unit and i predict, (as much as it hates me to say this) that Sydney will finish in the top two next year.

Adelaide on the other hand, played a lack-lustre match in front of a solid 700 spectators in South Korea. They needed a win, they didn't get it and now they're out. Their next two matches will be meer formalities and an opportunity to play some of their younger players.

I think that Vidmar has taken on a massive role as care-taker coach. Full credit to him for doing so, cause he's done an ok-ish job with the team, i just think he got in at a bad time and that Adelaide should be looking else where for a full-time coach. The players look like they're lacking confidence and probably need a change in tactics/coaching... heck i don't know, something!

Friday, 20 April 2007

Messi goal, not scrappy at all!


This is the kind of individual brilliance that demands respect! In his first of two goals, Lionel Messi absolutely tore the Getafe defense apart.
His goal is being likened to that of Maradonna’s in the Mexico ’86 World Cup against England, in which he pickup the ball at almost the exact same spot, and beat the same amount of defenders (5 if you’re wondering) and then beat the keeper the same way to slot the ball home!

People claim that Maradonna’s goal is the best in history, and often refer to it as “The Goal of the Century”, what they don’t mention is that he was 26 years old at the time and that Lionel Messi is still only 19 years old! …Yes 19 years old!!
They say that players hit their peak in their mid 20’s, which means that we have at least 5-6 years of mind-blowing skill from this lad before he peaks!... in the words of the ever wise Borat… “Wah, wah weee-wah!”

The goal by Messi:


Could easily be mistaken with that of Maradonna:


And here's a compilation of the two...Messi, Messi, Messi...: