All abored!!!

I have moments at work when I crash. Just can't concentrate. Tends to happen for 1.5 hours immediately after lunch. So I tend to email people until I get back on track. This is yet another hijack.

=========================
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:22 PM
To: A
Subject: Bored.



*yawn*
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:23 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



Fo sure.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:31 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



I think I’m going to dig into my sugar stash.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:31 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



Where’s mine ?
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:32 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



Dunno.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:33 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



You’re hiding your stash from me ?
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:33 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



It’s in plain view.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:37 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



Beware of the raiding party of one.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:38 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



Why the warning? I could just put them away…
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:39 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



It’s the pirate way, we warn before attacking.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:40 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



Arrrgh.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:41 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



I should recruit you for my pirate ship, that is the perfect battle cry.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:41 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



I am unrecruitable!
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:42 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



Then you will be taken by force, muskets and cutlasses help convince many a naysayer.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:44 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



Haha – I’d like to see you try.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:47 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Bored.



Hot, you like a man with strong sword and a formidable musket ?
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Thursday, 27 December 2007 2:51 PM
To: A
Subject: RE: Bored.



Depends… is it a Muscat?
















=========================
(Posted on 14/01/08, but I'll choose to date it according to when it happened.)

Swooning recap.

Well, with Melbourne Victory's season effectively over, why not move onto swooning? I don't think I've written a post dedicated to swooning for a long time now, and perhaps a recap is overdue.

Last season's personal swoon Spase Dilevski left the A-League in search of playing in a better league. So far he's only participated in three matches over in Romania, playing with FC Universitatea Craiova. Perhaps things haven't turned out the way he expected. He also has bad hair. This was not something I expected.


And a need for sunglasses. Still quite swoony, though I'd love to see how his through-balls and passes with both feet are faring given his lack of game time.

Meanwhile, Danny Vukovic and Greg Owens (who were both deemed winners of the Best Looking Bloke Award due to my inability to decide on ONE method of analysing the vote data) now play in the same team. Unless I come up with yet another way of doing this only one of them will make the final poll. Or none if John Hutchinson or Alex Wilkinson come through the team stages instead. Oh, how I envy those who live in Gosford and can watch the Mariners on a regular basis!

With the departure of Marcus Wedau, Tom Willis and Dilevski Queensland is no longer as the swooniest team in the A-League. Clearly that mantle has been passed onto Central Coast.

As for new swoon-worthy players from this season, well, I suppose I'll deal with that later.

The catch up round of 22, err... 15.

Milo's mustache was unfortunate because the seperated halves never matched. They were like Milo's disunited eyes, which never looked at the same thing at the same time. Milo could see more things than most people, but he could see none of them too distinctly.

It's pouring in Melbourne, which is good for the catchments, but our stormwater system finds it difficult to cope with the storm at times. So it's a Friday evening and I'm curled up at home listening to Icehouse (actually, they were still Flowers at this point) and reading a book. I came across the above description for a character, and I instantly burst out laughing as at home we always thought that Vidmar was such a good defender because he could keep an eye on the ball and the other eye on the defender. I never thought he'd have a counterpart in modern literature! Except that I think Vidmar can see those things distinctly.

Quite fitting that I would have Vidmar in my thoughts, the irony is that I'm reading this book because it's pouring outside, and Central Coast vs. Sydney was originally postponed due to floods, and is the only match on this weekend. Conspiracy or something more sinister? I suspect that I am simply making leaps in my thoughts which don't quite connect. But that's hardly ever not normal for me anyway.

I didn't catch Sydney's match last week, and was in shock when my mum texted me the result. Shock followed by a very loud, "Oh no!" Simply because I don't want Perth to get any points! But when I got home and found out Celeski scored 3 and that Milligan stuffed up twice I was quite happy. Celeski should be on the swoon list... more on that some other time.

It was disappointing to see Milligan make such errors, and with Verbeek watching I am sure Mark was very disappointed in himself. I find myself in a strange position with Milligan, I don't really think much of him in a sky blue shirt but want him to be an excellent footballer when he puts on the national team kit. So seeing such amateur mistakes was disappointing, even if he was wearing sky blue at the time.

I'm expecting Central Coast to get this one. They've got some key players back and of course they're the swooniest team in the A-League, so why not go for them? Sydney are probably licking their wounds, and I don't think they'll be as mentally tough without their true captain in Mark Rudan who played his last game in a sky blue shirt (for the moment anyway) last week.

I'm hoping that the grand final is Queensland vs. Central Coast, simply because I have a fear that if Central Coast get the hosting honours the match will be shipped away to Sydney. Which would be no good, but then you need the larger stadium... I wonder what would happen...

Hmmm... with the storms currently in Melbourne looking to go towards Sydney, what's the chance of Bluetongue getting waterlogged again?

A summary of the past few weeks...

I've been neglecting this blog, a combination of the Melbourne blues and sitting in front of a PC all day means I don't really feel up for more sitting when I get home.

Anyway, here's an email conversation that I had this morning for your reading pleasure. Bear with it, and you may find it mildly amusing. As a bit of background, 'A' knows that I've been angry and neglecting my blog.

=========================
From: M
Sent: Friday, 14 December 2007 4:31 PM
To: Cecilia
Subject: Stickers

Cecilia,

I’ve located the signage selection guide with company logo.

blah blah blah

Cheers,

M
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 9:16 AM
To: Team
Subject: FW: Stickers

Good morning all,

There has been a lack of sticker with customer logo selection guide ...

Blah blah blah

Enjoy.

Cecilia.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 9:41 AM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

Score.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 9:53 AM
To: A
Subject: RE: Stickers

What’s with your one word answers to my general emails to all?
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 9:56 AM\
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

Just feeling the love.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:10 AM
To: A
Subject: RE: Stickers

Alright then…
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:12 AM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

:P
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:15 AM
To: A
Subject: RE: Stickers

Now you’re avoiding words altogether!

S-)
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:15 AM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

Words are overated.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:16 AM
To: A
Subject: RE: Stickers

Oh the irony of that response being worded. So deep.
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:17 AM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

Like I said, feel the love.
------------------------------------
From: Cecilia
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:21 AM
To: A
Subject: RE: Stickers

There’s a Melbourne Victory player with the surname Love. He is highly overrated in my opinion. But ‘catchy’ phrases like “Feel the Love” or “Show us some Love” are particularly annoying. Given MV’s woeful performance on the weekend, any references that may remind me of MV are likely to send me into a deeper state of depression. Not cool. Please refrain from any MV-related commentary too.

On a positive note, there are no more MV matches at home for the rest of the year. Unfortunately there’s still one next year
------------------------------------
From: A
Sent: Monday, 17 December 2007 10:23 AM
To: Cecilia
Subject: RE: Stickers

LOL.

You should post this on your blog
=========================

And so I did.

Some notes from the past couple of games:

• Disappointed with Muscat last week, awful defending and lack of enthusiasm results in him losing Agostino, not once but twice! This results in goals for Adelaide. AWFUL.
• The fact that we drew 2-2 without being abel to score from open plane depresses me.
• From last night, our boys really don't want to be there... or at least, that's how it looks.
• That was a nice free kick from Griffiths. Beats the wall, so theoretically the keeper can't get it. Excellent. Even though it was difficult to watch.

Introducing the new Melbourne team...

... Telstra Dome FC. Or SC. I'm sure they'd much prefer to be called a sokkah club than football club.

In case you live under a rock or refuse to watch free to air commercial news, the last Victory home game was marred by the antics of some Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory fans. I'm not really aware of all the details, so that's as far as I'll go.

As a result, Telstra Dome have implemented new plans to segregate the supporters of different clubs. Melbourne Victory appear to be happy to adjust to the demands of the 'landlord', and are more than happy to adjust to the Telstra Dome demands.

"Melbourne Victory has supported plans introduced by Telstra Dome to provide a new seating plan for visiting supporters for future matches to ensure that any potential confrontation between fans can be avoided."

So, who's running the club? The Melbourne Victory board or Telstra Dome? Who would have thought that the issues currently faced by renters in the housing area would have an parallel of sorts in the A-League...

A complete lack of vision.

I have consistently enjoyed watching Queensland Roar play, so much that I really have adopted them as my second team - after Melbourne of course! Not that I have much of a choice.

As a football fan who lives in Victoria, my only "option" is to go for the Victory. But the (approximately) fortnightly foray to Telstra Dome has become a chore. We are a bore to watch. So it's a disappointment to read that Merrick thinks otherwise.

"I think it's amazing to produce fantastic crowds without getting any wins, so obviously we are doing something right and they enjoy the type of football we are playing."

Merrick - you have got to be kidding me. I can't think of anyone that enjoys watching the Victory play. In fact, I can only think of a few people who actually attend MV matches for the football. South End is too pissed to notice* that there's even a match going on at times. North End are chanting, not-chanting, sitting, standing or whatever they are up to, and I honestly think that only a few of the Gold members really follow the sport outside of what's served to them via the television.

If Merrick and the Victory board think that their figures are due to the football offered by the club, then they seriously need to reconsider what they want to be - a business or a sports club.

Theoretically, it should be both. But if the club is happy with the current gate and happy with the takings from each home match, then it makes sense for them not to sack Merrick, paying whatever's due and hiring a new coach.

A second Melbourne club would offer football fans a choice. It would give supporters, who are currently not in a happy relationship with both Telstra Dome and its tenant Melbourne Victory, a choice. No wonder Miles is adamant that it is not sustainable for Melbourne to have two clubs. Victory wouldn't be sustainable! Its business model seems to depend on it being the only club!

Imagine if there was a second club with a boards who had the balls to clear out the team - coaches AND players. Imagine if they actually took the supporters seriously. And wouldn't Victory hate it if this second team - perhaps the people's team - performed on the park. I would love it - I'd go to the football and actually watch some football. Not what Melbourne Victory are putting out each day.

If Merrick (and I assume the board too) really believes that we like what we see, and that this is why we have such numbers at each home match, well I'd say that he is incredibly ignorant, short sighted and completely out of touch.

*Edit (18/11/07, 6.15pm): It has come to my attention that some members of South End get pissed so they do not become frustrated with what's happening on the field. I suppose ignorance truly is bliss!

Melbourne vs. Sydney

Sorry to those who have been waiting for an update - and with my assignments submitted and exams done for the year I should be writing a little more regularly!

Last night we had "the big one" - Melbourne vs. Sydney. Although I had tipped Melbourne to win (because I always do) I was not confident going into the match. We were undermanned and Sydney were on a bit of a roll. On the day I had deluded myself into thinking we were going to smash Sydney, but once I arrived at the ground and was watching the players warm up my mood changed to worry again.

I think that either team could have won last night's match Melbourne should have won if we consider how they more or less dominated the game, and Sydney had a brilliant 10-15 minute period in the second half when they were bombarding the goal!

Despite the dominance, Melbourne really did finish with nothing to show for it. Thompson had a number of chances and most annoyingly he would cut the ball in to shoot with his left, but he doesn't really have much of a left foot! It's particularly frustrating to watch when the whole team seems to play for Thompson too.

With the injury to Corica, Sydney suddenly looked less threatening. Milligan was pushed a little further up the field (where I think he plays best, making use of his decent passing) and so Allsopp was on him for the rest of the match. It put both of them out of the game, which was perhaps a good thing since Danny hasn't been 100% this season.

Muscat was helping out the defence for the day, so Melbourne had to rely on Brebner and Broxham to work for the ball. I think that if Allsopp had not have kept Milligan quiet, Sydney may have had more opportunities. In the end, Thompson was left to work on his own - something that I really don't think he can do! It's a waste of effort on the team's behalf to get the ball up to him because he's not great at holding on to it or getting the goal! Merrick never plans on taking him off either, look at the bench! Last night we had the mandatory goalkeeper (Langerak), on defender (Berger) and two midfielders (Caceres and Patafta).

It was great to see Muscat in defence. Much like I love to watch Moore play, Muscat is so cool under pressure. I don't think I ever saw Muscat aimlessly boot the ball out of defence. There were a few classy points too, where he'd take on a player. New boy Pace has been great for Melbourne, and last night was awesome with Bridges not being able to do a thing!

Juninho made a huge difference to Sydney when he came on, it was scary to see from the Melbourne perspective. And while Caceres finally got more than 10 minutes, if only he'd use his right occasionally! He's done it before!