Interesting, thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
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Interesting, thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Jason’s goal actually made the main channel 10 news broadcast today…no mean feat……and the commentary was about him building up a cult following as he has scored 2 in three games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bridge hibs
I think Jason will score a few out here and probably lap up the lifestyle, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is here for the remainder of his career at least.
Jamie MacLaren’s Melbourne City v Adelaide United coming up.
Should be a routine win for City…only player who could stuff that up is Adelaide’s Craig Goodwin if he is on song
City 1 v Adelaide 2
2 goalkeeper errors and 1 poor back pass.
First half good, second, not so.
Jamie MacLaren got his usual goal
Cheers for that Fred, interesting stuff. Was there never any anger shown from lesser teams in lower leagues because of this or do none of them have ambition/resources to potentially play in the top league ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
The vast majority of ‘lower league’ teams ..and there are a few state leagues..do not have the resources to compete in the A League..or meet the entry criteria.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bridge hibs
One of the things that is lacking..is indeed a system of promotion/relegation…which incidentally,FIFA have said must be implemented and they are working towards.
‘New’ teams are not something that is a big deal here…and when the A League kicked off in 2005, the only teams that had been in existence before were Perth Glory and Adelaide United.
Something unique to the A League is that while some leagues DO have teams from other countries..eg Wrexham Cardiff in England and Berwick Rangers in Scotland, the A League has a team not only from a foreign country, but from a different FIFA confederation!
Wellington Phoenix are from New Zealand and while NZ are in the Oceania confederation and go through World Cup qualifiers in that confederation, Australia is in the Asian Confederation and go through the Asian World Cup qualifying route.
Add in probably the longest away match in any league in the world ..Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix and it all makes for an interesting mix!
Interesting stuff and thanks for explaining, will be interesting to see the league make up if the promotion/relegation goes ahead. With regards Wellington in the A league, I take it their main leagues are inferior and the reason Wellington are playing Australian teams or is it possibly because New Zealand is more rugby orientated ? I know Australia like their rugby too as well as many other sportsQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
NZ had a team in the Australian NSL which preceded the A League.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bridge hibs
There local leagues are nowhere near the standard of the A League and while I personally welcome them, not everybody feels that way…believing that fitba in Oz should be for the benefit of Australian teams in regard to development etc.
When I first arrived in the mid 70’s NZ were Australia’s biggest footballling rivals, but now there is a very large gap.
I think there are limits on the number of Kiwi players Wellington can play….to prevent them fielding a quasi international team…..I know that is the case with their recently introduced female team, and think it also applies to the men………personally I don’t agree with it and think we should help them grow as a footballing nation rather than put barriers in their way….
But While I don’t agree with the opposing view, I can understand it.
The NZ expansion also works in the NRL with the Warriors being in that competition. With both football and league being very much minority sports in NZ compared to Union, I guess it makes sense.
Yep, but fitba in Oz is in a similar position with AFL and Rugby League well above it in the pecking order.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Are there still crowd restrictions in place Fred? Last couple of games I've seen there is hardly anyone there.
Covid has severely hit the A League…because of state border restrictions, mainly.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Wellington, from New Zealand have lived in Wollongong and played all their ‘home’ games there…even giving up that ‘home’ advantage at times. Both Wellington men’s and Women’s team have been stuck there for months!
Perth Glory have operated out of Sydney and Brisbane…..and had to quarantine for two weeks when crossing the NSW/Qld border….., and the players have not been home for months, other than a special dispensation at Christmas.
Western Australia was basically shut to all other states, and travel between all of Oz and Enzed frozen.
Been hard on the players and the clubs…and particularly Wellington and Perth who are reported to be ‘hemorrhaging money’.
In effect, these two teams, if they play a ‘home’ game in Sydney or Wollongong, are playing only to the away supporters of the opposition……and due to the distances involved, there are only a handful of away supporters there…….it would be like Ross County playing Inverness at Easter Road.
Once the borders open up…and they are in the process of doing that, someone is going to have to press the ‘reset’ button on the A League.
It has also resulted in games being scheduled for strange days to fit everything in…..last week there was a game on nearly every day, and Melbourne City will have played their 4th game in 10 days on Friday.
So, limping along on life support at the moment, spectator wise.
Credit to all involved for keeping the beast alive through it all so far though.
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners tonight.
Will our 2016 cup winning legend get on the scoresheet again?
Earlier on Western United 2 Newcastle 1
Now Jason Cummings Central Coast Mariners are playing Brisbane Roar with a Sydney derby to follow.
1-0 CCM. Cummings assist.
Quality bit of 'fan banter' captured on camera following Adelaide's 2nd goal. Fan gives the scorer the finger before spraying (what I assume) was beer from a can in his direction.
Melbourne City v Macarthur FC
Just started on BT Sports
Jamie MAC starts
Melbourne City 0 v 1 Macarthur FC
Giannou
Melbourne City 1 v 1 Macarthur FC
Own goal
Jamie Mac assist
Melbourne City 2 v 1 Macarthur FC
Berenguer
Melbourne City 3 v 1 Macarthur FC
Maclaren
Melbourne City 0 v 1 Melbourne Victory
Rojas
BT Sports
In the early game Central Coast Mariners defeated Macarthur 4-2
Jason Cummings didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, but played well and was credited with an assist in 3 of the 4 goals
Are the Mariners playing at a different stadium?
Australia v Japan crunch World Cup qualifier kicks off in Sydney in about an hour.
Oz must win their last two games to avoid the play off route.
Can’t say I’m confident as injuries and Covid have severely depleted the Oz squad.
Ex Hibees Martin Boyle definite starter and Jamie MacLaren a probable one.
No Jackson Irvine…he’s one of the Covid victims.
Boyle starts…MacLaren on benchQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Kick off 9.10 am
Minamino starts for Japan
Hatate on the bench
Australia 0 v 1 Japan
2-0
Super sub
Link stopped working as they were reviewing the 1st for offside and came back on right at full time 2-0.
Think Australia were denied a perfectly good goal in the 1st half. Think it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper, which looked to me like an okay challenge and don't think the keeper was reaching it anyway.
Amazed at the lack of crowd. So many empty seats
There were…but keep in mind it’s a big stadium..83,500 capacity and the rain was absolutely pissing down….meaning those who could had scurried up the back for shelter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenio
Oz were crap, and have zero depth, with some of the debutantes contributing zilch.
Will be an experimental side in Saudi on Wednesday I reckon as it is now meaningless, and the calls for Arnie the coach to be replaced will only grow louder.
Central Coast v Adelaide about to kick off, and a lot of media attention on Jason Cummings.
He maybe hasn’t been on the scoresheet as often as he’d like, but he has about 5 assists in his last 5 games….he tends to drop back a bit further due to lack of service and has supplied some wonderful passes that have led to goals.
Judging by his interview he seems to be enjoying it out here…and has bought himself a Kombi van!
Central Coast Mariiners 3 v 0 Adelaide United FT
Urena
J Cummings
Hatch
Macarthur FC 0 v 1 Melbourne City FT
J MacLaren
Jason missed a couple he probably expected to score from, but got one in the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Good to see his name on the scoresheet again.
Wellington Phoenix 0 v 1 Melbourne City
Own goal
Wellington Phoenix 0 v 2 Melbourne City
Leckie
Wellington Phoenix 0 v 6 Melbourne City FT
Surman og
Leckie
Nabbout
Good
Tilio 2
I see that Cummings scored two but missed a last minute penalty to win the game and get a hat-trick.
Yep, he played extremely well….does a lot more work than when at Hibs.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesHFC
He admitted his penalty was a shocker (his word) and was widely praised for his honesty in the after match interview.
As expected, the media out here are quite taken with him
Could he still do a job Fred ? 😃Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Might be asked to do a job for the Socceroos Billy - honestly .Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
He’s being touted for a call up for WC play offs. In June He’s a realistic shout tbh.
Much better than other A league options apart from J Mac.
As Fred says the Aus media love him unsurprisingly although think his interviews all need subtitles .Great to see him so doing well .
I’ll watch him playing again tonight from my isolation cell .
Mariners v Wellington Nix - 10am ko Scottish time
Might give that a watchQuote:
Originally Posted by Sproule Three
Check him out for myself
Live on BT Sports 10.05 am
Cheers
CCM 1 v 0 Wellington Phoenix
Urena pen
JC off penalty duty this week after miss at weekendQuote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
CCM 2 v 0 Wellington Phoenix
N’Kololo
CCM 3 v 0 Wellington Phoenix
Jase pen
Jase hooked
CCM 4 v 0 Wellington Phoenix
Kuol
CCM 5 v 0 Wellington Phoenix FT
Hatch
Jason laid off a few great balls tonight.
Good to see him score his penalty.
I just caught the second half, CCM played some good football. I’ve found myself enjoying A league games. Good to see the “Cumdog” nickname has followed Jason to Oz :greengrin
Melbourne City v Sydney FC
Kick Off 10.05 am
BT Sports
He's streets ahead of MacLarenQuote:
Originally Posted by Sproule Three
Melbourne City 1 v 0 Sydney FC
Bos
Aye so he is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Winston Ingram
[QUOTE=Winston Ingram;6911521]He's streets ahead of MacLaren[/
There’s a reason why MacLaren is the highest paid
Aussie player in A league .
Jason has a wee bit to go to match his achievements here
Melbourne City 2 v 0 Sydney FC
Leckie
Melbourne City 3 v 0 Sydney FC
Maclaren
All he does is score goals 😂
Melbourne City 4 v 0 Sydney FC
Leckie
Apart from the sitter he missed 2 minutes before .Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
This might be a few more . Sydney is my team . Not great
4-0
Sydney could be on the end of a coach sacking thumping!
Central Coast v Sydney on Saturday which apart from pitching two ex Hibs strikers against each other, will have a big say on making the top six.
4 nil City- Leckie
How many more ?
Let it go :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Winston Ingram
60 minutes in and the Mariners have collapsed.
Sydney scored 3 goals in a few minutes and the score stands ar 4-0
WSW v CCM
Can Jase continue his recent good form ?
BT Sports 10.05am
WSW 2 v 1 CCM
NKololo
CCM down to 10 men Jase hooked
WSW 2 v 2 CCM. FT
Hall
Thought Jason played ok though.Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Lively around a well defended box and instrumental in the move that resulted in the penalty.
Noticed when he played for t Hun that his work rate and overall play seemed to have improved after his spell down SouthQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Not so much when he played for Dundee but seemed to be out of favour
His goals reel playing for HIBS is impressive but against mostly second tier sides
Wish him nothing but the best for the future
Scottish Cup winning legend
:cup:
Wellington Phoenix 0 v 4 CCM
Jase scores in an easy away win
It was actually Wellington’s first home game in NZ in about 2 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Due to the pandemic and travel restrictions they had been based in Sydney,and played most of their ‘home’ games in Wollongong….a city about an hour south of Sydney.
Perhaps the emotional homecoming affected the Pheoenix.
I am sure they will rise againQuote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
:duck:
Half time in the F3 derby
Newcastle 0 v Central Coast 3
Cummings 2
Sorry for the thread hijack however I was wondering who the top up and coming managers were in Australia? Anybody Hibs could be looking at as another Postecoglu?
2-3 after 50 mins.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
If Cummings knuckles down and works hard he can make a decent career for himself because he’s got the talent. Australia call up be soon with his current form.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Yep he’s cleaned the slate coming here and is a bit of a cult hero already.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesHFC
Man of the Match tonight.
Media lap him up, but I think I’m the only one in Australia who goes close to understanding him in his after match interviews!
Can just imagine him and Boyler having a conversation in the Socceroos dressing room😂
Delighted to see him do well there. I’d be stunned if he didn’t make the Oz squad for the play off v UAE.
9 goals and 6 assists in 17 games.
The guy is a natural goal scorer could never understand the stick he took here, how we could do with him now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Winston Ingram
Good luck to him down under he will have a great career in Oz of that I am sure, and unlikely to be back this way.
JC never took any stick at Hibs, unless you mean here as in the UK in general? Then I get where you're coming from.Quote:
Originally Posted by A Hi-Bee
Hibs fans loved him and many still do.
He took a lot of stick in general, to say all Hibs "fans" loved him is a slight exaggeration, but lets not let facts get in the way of a good opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnM1875
:greengrin
Ange has been the stand out manager of the 17 years I've lived here. The next 2 most highly regarded would probably be Graham Arnold (the national team manager - looks like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle) and Tony Popovic. I've often said that if an Arnold team was playing in my garden I'd close the curtains. Popovic was manager at my team, Perth Glory, for a couple of seasons - we finished top of the table in his first season, but I think things were happening behind the scenes in his second one and it didn't go well - he kept playing his teenage sons, who were pretty limited footballers, and left with few at the club seemingly upset about it. In his good season he was able to attract better quality players than we were used to and had us really well organised and hard to beat, but it was a very defensive set up. 3 centre halves, 2 wing backs, 2 holding midfielders, then a talented attacking 3. I don't think we'd take to him at Hibs.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
How do the fixtures work in the A league? I’ve just realised there are 12 teams but the season is 26 games long - so all teams play each other twice, then is it random which 4 teams there is a third game against?
Already covered Graham Arnold on another thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by bingo70
Basically, he ticks all Ron's boxes and I would be surprised if he hasn't thrown his name into the ring.
He has had close dealings with HIbs in the past ..it was him who took Martin Boyle into the Socceroo squad and has visited the training centre so is no stranger to us.
.His contract is due to expire when the Socceroos are eliminated from the WC and that is likely to happen in early/mid June.
He's no Ange though and like any manager has his detractors, but as I say I think his CV would already have arrived at Easter road.
Top 6 play a play-off / knockout format.Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Man
That’s after 26 games though is it not? By the end of the season, all 12 teams will have played 26 games, then there’s the knockout championship bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by the_ginger_hibee
Covered earlier in the thread....not a normal season by any means.Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Man
Covid resulted in many state borders being closed, at varying times in varying states, which meant teams from some states couldn't get in..
The A League had to set fixtures where the teams could actually get to play each other...resulting in a strange fixture list that seen lots of derbies and a lopsided one off fixture list!
Some relocated....Wellington for example relocated from NZ to Sydney and have basically been away for close to two years...they just started playing back in NZ two weeks ago.
Given all the constraints, I think they did well to keep the A League functioning at all this season.
Ah gotcha, thanks. I do remember previous mentions of Wellington relocating. I agree it’s been a result getting the league played under the circumstances.Quote:
Originally Posted by Forza Fred
Perth Glory 1 v 0 Melbourne City
bottom lead top 25 minutes gone
BT Sports
Perth Glory 2 v 0 Melbourne City. FT
It’s back
Melbourne City v Western United
Kick Off 9.45 am
BT Sports
Melbourne City 1 v 0 Western United
Lacroix Own goal
Melbourne City 2 v 0 Western United
Jamie Maaacccclaaarrrrreeeennnnnnnnnnn!!!!!
Melbourne City 2 v 1 Western United
Good game last night, in parts.
La Croix had a mare, when usually he strolls it.
Looking forward to watching Jason in the F3 local derby at 5pm Saturday my time.
Think Central Coast could struggle a bit this season though, they have lost one quarter of last season’s side to the SPFL, and come January, their teenage ‘wonder kid’ is off to the EPL with Newcastle too.
Fingers crossed for JC..he’s got a foot in the World Cup door, and needs to grab the goals in the next few weeks to see him on the plane.
CCM v Newcastle Jets
Kick off 7.00 am
BT Sports
Jase on the bench
Cheers Billy, as an early bird I like to catch up with my aussie footie fix 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by BILLYHIBS
Brisbane Roar v Macarthur FC
7.00 am Kick Off
BT Sport
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
9.45 am
BT Sport
It’s delayed half an hour at the minute because of a storm. Brisbane game kicking off at 7am though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bridge hibs