The Crossbar: A hard act to follow

The sequels are more often than not inferior to the original and whilst Round Two is not the sequel of Round One, you get where I'm coming from don't you. Don't you?

We think the fixture makers got it right and tried to have a 'blockbuster game' in each of the first few rounds, which is great but when you get games like Newcastle vs Perth it kinda brings it down a peg.

One of our guys (Quigs) made mention that there should be no points given for a 0-0 draw. We think it’s a great idea.

This week they were playing for
Send in your most obscure ones and we'll try and go the whole season without doubling up

The Spase Dilevski dinner plate
The Dylan Macallister Maccas voucher
The Matthew Jurman jug
The Ljubo Milicevic lightsaber
The Recce Cairi crystal cabinet


Next week they will be playing for

The Julius Doe (Davies) Dihatsu
The Nigel Boogaard box set
The Mitchell Oxborrow Ox
The Brendon Santalab shocking hair style
The Tando Velaphi travel award


Our big observation

Friday night football on free to air TV is going to be HUGE if the games have the quality and drama that Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory did on Friday night.


These snuck under the Crossbar (likes)

•    Carlos Hernandez - amazing. Maybe now all those who disliked him because he was at Melbourne Victory can admire him for the player he actually is. Easily top five we've seen in the Hyundai A-League
•    Jeremy Brockie, how is he not playing at a higher level? Scored more than half of Phoenix's last 35 goals
•    The good David Williams. His best and worst are poles apart; his best is national team standard. We got that on Saturday
•    Gui Finkler, the best of him is not far away
•    The Wanderers crowd, we won't make a deal out of them all year as the major bandwagon outlets already do that, but they are great and loud and large and red and just what the A-League needed (another big club)
•    Brisbane on-song, they looked dangerous and all title contenderish* didn't they


What went over the crossbar (dislikes)

•    The landing strip down the middle of Pirtek Stadium and the sand spots at Newcastle didn't look great
•    Players going down and getting free kicks, no emphasis at all on keeping your feet in the A-League
•    Sydney FC defence. Non existent. @barcaraiders
•    Newcastle vs Perth. Maybe the most boring game we've had in the nine seasons of the comp
•    ADP injured. What ARE the Sydney media going to talk about this week?
•    Aaron Mooy getting knocked, wasn't good at all. @Ryans_Rovers
•    5:30pm Saturday afternoon kick-off, they just suck, why not try Monday night football?

Okay, so 99% of your dislikes last year were referee related even when we said NO REFS, so we are going to add 'Ref Watch' this year and try to be completely balanced in our appraisal.

 
Ref Watch: Round One

Grade: D+

•    Friday night really set the tone for the weekend, two horrible decisions that cost Victory the three points
•    If there isn't a penalty a game from here on in for interference in the box then Melbourne Heart have every right to feel aggrieved (even though the decision was correct - ed)
•    Nathan Burns' trip in the box was a clear penalty, wasn't given
•    On the plus side, the Wanderers vs Phoenix game was refereed very well, earning that + on the D


Our Tweet of the Week

Well done to Josh Bennett for this little gem:

Berisha and ADP off the park. It's like when D12 toured Australia without Eminem #letsgohome #BRIvSYD
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) October 19, 2013

Your Tweet of the Week

Yeah it was me from my personal account but it got a heap of RT's and I think it was hilarious. On Friday night after the second terrible referee call that robbed Melbourne Victory:

Usually @sbs2 slap an MA rating on if they are showing someone getting fucked.
— Scott (@TheCONDO) October 18, 2013

Last week's predictions

•    The Socceroos will beat Canada 4-0 leading to David Gallop to announce Aurelio Vidmar as a great candidate to take the Socceroos to the World Cup and beyond - We'll take this one
•    Melbourne vs Adelaide breaks more SBS audience records leading to Channel 7 inquiring about the rights for the A-League Monday night slot - We're yet to see the figures but we are led to believe this is 100% correct
•    The Football Sack run into trouble with their game naming cups after two rounds and drop the concept all together - Not yet, thanks to you guys out there


Next week's predictions

•    The Socceroos coaching announcement is made on Thursday leaving Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar two full days to promote the "Thanks Ange" night at Etihad Stadium in front of over 35,000 fans
•    Wanderers beat Sydney FC comfortably fueling calls for ADP to take a player/manager position