The Crossbar: Back on the air

After taking the last year off to get the body right after one too many injuries, heading back to the UK to be with an ill family member, a brief stint in rehab, a multi-million dollar underwear modeling contract, and not to mention the time spent in France after a certain photo of the ‘bubbling’ type surfaced, The Crossbar is back and ready to get back out on the pitch.

There are some weird happenings going on in the world of the A-League right now: the ladder looks upside down with Western Sydney buried to the bottom and Perth Glory having a party on top of the table, the Phoenix won a game in a country that wasn’t New Zealand and Brisbane Roar looking more like the Queensland Roar right now - things are a little loopy.

It’s a good thing we can always rely on old mate Kevin Muscat to verbally abuse and berate an Adelaide United coach just to keep things on the regular.

Our big observation
Something really smells right now at the national team level. Recent failures by the junior and seniors boys doesn’t bode well for the future and the now. Good thing we are going to win the Asian Cup in a few months, right?

These snuck under The Crossbar (likes)
- Not only breaking the round attendance record but absolutely smashing it. Nothing beats the sight of a full stand.
- Sydney Derby. Finally a game that lives up to the crowd.
- David Villa. More goals please.
- Perth winning two a row. A good Perth team is good for the league.
- Wellington winning on the road. Might not get another chance to put this in the likes ever again.

What went over The Crossbar (dislikes)
- Adelaide v Victory. A game that didn’t live up to the crowd.
- Socceroos goalless run. They know what the whole point of the game is don’t they?
- 3pm kick-offs. Just ask me and David Carney how it was on Sunday, that is of course we aren’t too busy healing our sunburns. I know I am.
- Vitor Saba. Tackle much?
- Vedran Janjetovic. Catch a ball that is directly over your head much?

Ref watch
Keeping the bastards honest with our weekly rating of the brave men and women of the referring fraternity. This week, a B+.

Despite Tony Popovic’s opinion, KGJ wasn’t that bad in the derby. Saba’s tackle was a clear red and it would have been harsh to disallow Sydney’s second; did manage to handle a fiery game well. The refs do lose marks thanks to Peter Green turning Friday’s match into a 90 minute demonstration of his brand new whistle.

Good form/bad form
Good Form
Michael McGlinchy’s non-celebration after his goal on Saturday. Classy

Bad Form
Mariners fans booing McGlinchy post-game. Not so much.

These player have played for both teams
Dimi Petratos in Roar v Sydney
Best known for: having the most immaculate goatee in Australian sport.

Harry Kewell in the Melbourne Derby
Best known for: married to somebody that’s on Neighbours, and other football-related stuff.

Jeremy Brockie in Wellington v Jets
Best known for: being one of the few New Zealand Knights players that weren’t totally shit.

Travis Dodd in Adelaide v Perth
Best known for: getting punted out of United despite being club captain.

Next week’s predictions
- The “Our derby is heaps sick, your derby is heaps shit” debate will rage on between those in Sydney and Melbourne for another week.
- Besart Berisha to do something insanely insane. For some reason, a derby will bring out the crazies in him.
- Brisbane to end its winless start to the year. They can’t lose three in a row, can they?
- Western Sydney to keep its proud history in Grand Finals intact and lose the ACL Final first leg.
- Andy Keogh to continue his goalscoring run. Banging them in for fun.