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Q. Why don't you want Melbourne Heart walking your dog. A. Because they can't hold onto a lead.
Boom tish. Now we have that little belter out of the way, what a win it was from Sydney FC who for 80 minutes were rubbish and for 10 minutes were less rubbish than the previous 80.
Speaking of rubbish, the Phoenix couldn't have been much worse at home. The two clubs meet this weekend. Can't wait for that...
At the other end of the table and the bottom end of the world, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast played out a pulsating 1-1 draw which saw Graham Arnold removed from the pitch.
It was a crazy time last week for player movements - players were getting the axe, switching clubs and going on trial all over the place. Good for the league, you bet. Are players leaving too early? Probably but they now have the safety net of coming home. Just ask Michael Theo who lasted one game in England, Nek minute double championship winning 'keeper at the Roar.
These snuck under the Crossbar and into The Sack (Likes)
1. If having Heart and Gol Gol puns weren't bad enough, Melbourne give a debut to Stephen Mauk (pronounced Mork). Gold for any child born in the 70's.
2. Away fans. RBB in NZ were good. Heart rassled up a few in Sydney. Victory for plenty in Tassie as always. Surely someone at FFA HQ can strike up a deal with major sponsor QANTAS to get cheap flights for fans?
3. Marcos Flores. Since we sprayed him two weeks ago he has scored in both games. We're claiming it.
4. Jeronimo Neumann. When he's not diving, he's scoring. And to think he was only subbed on when Djite got injured five minutes in.
5. Archie Thompson's 150th game for Melbourne Victory. Love him or hate him (not sure you could though) you have to admit he's been tremendous for the A-League.
6. ADP vs Ali Abbas. There can only be one winner. Mr Abbas it would probably be the wise thing to sit down and shut up.
What went over the Crossbar (Dislikes)
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| Stop reporting. Heskeytime. |
2. ADP whining. ALL THE TIME. Mr Del Piero, we are so thankful you chose to come here, and you are extremely good at football, but please stop being so petulant. You are not entitled to a free kick every time you are touched. Even if the player touching you is as bad as Simon Colosimo.
3. Under 7,000 in Tassie for the Victory vs Mariners game. A-League team for Tassie, maybe in ten years time.
4. Crowds were down. Plenty of reasons why but it's not a great look. Are we getting bored of our club playing the same nine teams over and over and over again??
5. The Crossbar failing to mention any of the Newcastle vs Brisbane game. #poor. To our defence, was it worth mentioning? We didn't watch it because our reps were sipping Crown Lagers with Emile Heskey.
Too early to call:
The last two finals spots. With four points separating 5th and 10th.
Something we learned:
Jason Culina still has it. The guy can play and is only a match or two away from being back to his very best
Something we already knew:
The A-League is a very good league, And I prove this thusly. Grab a list of a few Aussies that have come back from playing in the lower levels overseas and ask yourself how they are going in the - League now.
Something we would change:
Where's our 'Footy Show'? Time to get some light hearted, funny entertainment happening for football, there's plenty of review, preview, news and views. But no so much fun.
Hero of the Week:
A-League chief. Damien de Bohun for his #AskDamien session on Twitter during the week. Great initiative.
Villain of the Week:
Marco Rojas. He missed a penalty, bench him. Yeah we turn real quick here at The Football Sack.
Player to watch:
Richard Garcia is playing some good football. One of the ones that has made the transition from lower league to A-League.
Last week's prediction:
1. 10,000 to the Victory vs Mariners game in Tassie, with no hint of 'you all came in on a family ticket' chant.
Wrong and wrong
2. Six goals will be scored in the second half of the Sydney vs Heart game.
Wrong figure, but the idea was there
3. Every Perth fan that chants that stupid goal kick chant will be kicked out of the Adelaide game under their new no swearing policy. Which would actually means the policy works #ThatChantIsShitAhhh
Wrong. Unfortunately.
This week's prediction:
1. Joel Griffiths and Jade North to star on debut for their new A-League sides
2. Perth Glory will beat Melbourne Victory in Perth. Victory can't win out west.
3. The loser of the Sydney vs Wellington game will miss the finals, a genuine six pointer.
P.S. Sorry Marco, we're only kidding, we still love you