The Crossbar: From sacked to third

It's a strange game we follow when a man's job is on the line and then within a blink of the eye his under fire team is sitting third on the table, but more of that later.

This round started with a 0-0 stalemate on Friday night between Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh. There is really nothing much to report from the game. The most I took away from it was maybe its time we pick the best parts from the other football codes, in this instance the AFL's Marquee Night, and put it on Friday. Create a fixture that isn't compromised, but ensures there is at least one derby or large rivalry game every Friday night for every week of the season. 0-0 in front of just over 8,000 fans isn't really selling the product we have is it?


It wasn't all doom and gloom, on Saturday the Central Coast Mariners were gifted a 3-1 win over the luckless Melbourne Heart. Seriously, John Van't Schip and co must have thrown rocks at mirrors all preseason because every home game it rains and every away game they seem to get the rough end of the pineapple.
Matt Simon scored on the stroke of half time when it looked like Clint Bolton was being held. Eli Babalj headed home the equaliser on 77 mins but then referee Gerard Parson stamped his mark on the game, awarding the Mariners a penalty for a handball that busted Germano's pectoral muscle (McBreen scored). Patty Z finished the game off in the 86th minute to leave the Heart fans seething.

Saturday night was all about Brisbane and the Roar record. 36 undefeated games was on the line and Perth Glory were being treated as a sideshow similar to the Washington Generals. The Glory were expected to turn up, provide token competition and the Roar were to walk away with the three points. Only thing was that Perth didn't even provide token competition until after half time. Brisbane put four past the shell-shocked Glory, two each to Berisha and Issey and my money at $1.07 on the Roar to win or draw was as safe as nerds at a Star Trek convention. For those playing at home Jacob Burns lasted 65 minutes on a yellow which for him is a feat second only to being undefeated in 36 games of football.

Wellington hosted Sydney FC back at the Cake Tin in front of a tad over 6,000 Phoenix faithful and the place was rocking seven minutes in when Paul Ifill put one through Liam Reddy's legs. Tim Brown then put his nomination in for goal of the season with his long range effort that left Reddy stranded. Bruno Cazarine got one back for the Sky Blues which made for an interesting last twenty minutes but the Phoenix held on to halt the Bling's run towards the top of the table.

Mehmet....you're.........oh wait, Carlos scored

With 15 minutes to go on Sunday evening Mehemt Durakovic was gone, sacked, fired, released of duties. All that was missing was Donald Trump as Victory watched an early two goal lead vanish for the second week running, this time against Gold Coast United at AAMI Park. The fans in the south end were chanting 'sacked in the morning' and Melbourne were down to 10 men after Vargas' horrid tackle was rightfully punished. Early penalties to Harry and Carlos were cancelled out by a penalty to Macallister and a goal to Junschlager. King Carlos headed a goal, (you read right) earned Victory their first home win of the season leaving them now third on the table. Weird.

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These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)

1. Tim Brown's screamer, what a cracking goal. It's going to take some beating for goal of the season this season. also liked Paul Ifill's return, much needed he is. @Patrick478

2. Brisbane Roar's record. We poked a little fun at them last week but they genuinely are a great football team and the wider footballing community getting behind them is quite heart warming. Now let's just hope they lose soon so this season doesn't become a one horse race. @HeartBhoy23

3. Kris Griffith Jones. We bag the refs a bit so we also need to applaud when they get it right. KGJ did just that on Sunday at AAMI Park. Three penalties, a straight red and eight yellows - all spot on. @PeterFlea

4. Jonh van't Schip on referee Gerard Parsons.  "I don't know, maybe his hair got in his eyes" - which is even funnier when you realise that Parsons is BALD!

5. The four Central Coast fans who turned up at the Melbourne Heart vs Mariners Youth League game IN MELBOURNE! That's dedication for you. @Kingawesomness


What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes)

1. Victory fans chanting 'sacked in the morning' to Mehmet Durakovic. The team won and is now third on the table.

2.  Overly biased tweets. @PeteNowakowski's tweeting of Victory games will be looked at internally at The Football Sack headquaters this week. He's our number one tweeter so perhaps we'll only give him a warning this time. I'll make sure to call him out when he makes his way down to AAMI Park next time.

3. Friday Night snooze fests.

4. Matt Smith abusing players whilst on the ground then being zombie like in Press conferences. apparently we have evidence that he sleeps in said press conferences. Come on Matty. Give us something @MelanieDinjaski

5.  Nigel Boogaard, getting a second yellow for dissent is just stupid, especially when you abuse a ref that has a tendance to flash a red at any given moment.