The Crossbar: Victory for Heart in more ways than one

We are just on a quarter of the way through this much anticipated season and what have we learned? Brisbane Roar are still the force to be reckoned with. Melbourne Victory's unbelievable array of attacking weapons are shooting more blanks than a starters pistol and Gold Coast United are bringing in the crowds.

The round kicked off with Gold Coast United hosting Adelaide United at Hindmarsh stadium in a game big Clive sold to Adelaide, it worked a treat as 6,368 fans turned up, the biggest home attendance for the Gold Coast this season. The game also created a nightmare for those on twitter already confused over the multitudes of 'official' hashtags. On the pitch, James Brown scored another goal and again it was from outside the box. But it wasn't enough for the glitter strip club as former GCU boy Zenon Caravella scored and Iain Ramsay got the winner, shushing the fans inside Hindmarsh like you would at an away game?!?

It was enough to confuse Ch7

Melbourne Heart kick started their account in the W column with a solid win against Newcastle at AAMI Park on Saturday in the late afternoon/early evening kickoff. Heart were led superbly by former Victory star Fred who scored, Former victory young gun and TFS favorite Mate Dugandzic also scored before the game was wrapped with a cracking goal from former Victory winger Aziz Behich. Heart climb off the bottom of the table for the first time this season and ease the pressure on John van't Schip. For now.

Melbourne Victory traveled to Gosford for the much anticipated clash with Central Coast not only missing international Harry Kewell and Carlos Hernandez but also suspended duo Ante Covic and Matt Foschini. The Mariners dominated proceedings and should have won but alas the game finished 0-0 meaning the Victory's goal tally still stands at a whopping four from six games when many predicted they would average that amount per game.

Sydney FC jumped to second on the table after stealing all three points over in Perth. The Glory were celebrating 15 years and were clearly the better side in attack but missed chance after chance with Liam Reddy pulling out one of his finest games to save the Bling. Mark Bridge finished off some nice work by 'the Slick' right on the half time whistle. Ian Ferguson finally gave former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski some decent playing time and he didn't disappoint (well....apart from his horrible efforts on goal). Oh and by the way no yellow cards were shown to Perth, you know what that means. Yep, Jacob Burns has now gone 231 minutes without being shown a yellow ticket, surely a record.

Wellington faced mission impossible on Sunday at Suncorp and did what they needed to do to take a point back across the ditch. They brought in a fleet of Greyhound buses and sat them 20 meters in front of the Pheonix goal, set up a couple of tents and a campfire and Occupied Suncorp for 90 minutes. Now we now that football managers are in the business of winning and why wouldn't they be when their job is on the line. Saying that I will give each Yellow Fever member a ten bucks for every time Ricky Herbert mentions the word 'entertain' in the press this week (its OK my money's safe no-one in NZ reads this anyway). The Roar were far from their best with some lazy passing by Issey and Murdocca. Berisha scored again for the Roar whilst Tim Brown scored for the Phoenix. 

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

1. Melbourne Heart getting a win. Long overdue, better still Melbourne Heart playing a home game with no rain. (@HeartBhoy23)

2. Brisbane Roar crowd over 15,000. Slowly slowly the people of Brisbane are realizing what they have in their own backyard every second week, hopefully they all start coming before it comes to an end. Maybe the dour style of play that travelling teams are putting up to take a point is driving people away? Bonus points required in the A-League?

3. James Brown scoring, can we squeeze one more pun out of him? If you 'get (the ball) on the good foot' he'll score, Thats it, no more. Done. Finito.

4. The Aussie Mags (Australia Newcastle United supporters group @AussieMags) getting along to the Melbourne Heart vs Newcastle Jets game to support the Jets because they were wearing the black and white striped away kit against the Heart's 'Mackem' themed gear. Closest thing to a Wear-Tyne derby in Australia.

5. Movember. Great cause and good to see the A-League players having a crack at it (see dislike no. 5)


What went over the Crossbar  (Dislikes)

1. The FFA's decision not to fund the brilliant 'No Apologies' documentary about Lydia William's and Kyah Simon's journey to making it into the Matildas.

2. Socceroos losing to Oman. We thought the days of losing to lesser nations were over. and please for the good of the sport, if games are going to be played in the middle of the night then Mr Osiek you need to make them entertaining. Long balls to Josh Kennedy is the total opposite of that.

3. Giant sauce bottles at the Mariners games. WTF, We're all for making a buck and keeping the A-League viable, but giant sauce bottles? Worse still one fell over, next they'll have giant palm trees...... (@lucifierrr)

4. 5:30 kick off times on a Saturday. Too late to be a day game, too early for a night game.

5. Movember. Some of the mo's out their are horrid - Ben Kennedy yours in top of the list. Any other month and questions would be asked. Andrew Durrante wouldn't look out of place in the cast of Underbelly (but seriously great cause and kudos).

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