It's structurally unbalanced and uses the sigma in the wrong places, possibly deliberately (it should be where the 's' is, not the 'e' in my honest opinion), but credit where it's due, this is pretty good considering it's come from a Victory fan, in my books not usually noted for their stunning use of humo(u)r.
For those wondering when I will start declaring my position on the whole Sexy FC bandwagon, the answer is, soon enough.
I've just found out that this week on my little counter's webpage, that I can view the source of search engine referrals. Admittedly, most of my traffic comes from direct hits (ie, loyal readers who have us bookmarked), but there are some weird ways that people have found their way here. I won't name names, but keep it up people, very entertaining hobby I've found myself.
FourFourTwo magazine continuing their recent South Melbourne obession by hooking up with one of the more controversial characters the club has seen in its 49 years. Myself, I don't hate the bloke as much as some others, but karma - if you believe in it - seemed to sort him out in the end. Apparently a really nice bloke though.
Disturbing news has come to hand recently, that the women's team will be relegated, despite not finishing in the bottom two. Earlier this year Eastern Lions withdrew, their results were withdrawn, with the natuiral assumption therefore that they and whoever finished 11th (whoich was alamost certain to be GSL, and it was) would also get relegated. Not so apparently. GSL will be joined in State League 1 next year by South, who were overtaken by Keilor squeezing out a win last week, and therefore seeing South slip to tenth. The club will apparently fight the decision, but people aren't holding out much hope for a reversal of the decision. It's an absolute disgrace in my opinion, especially since it was quite obvious that GSL and Eastern Lions were by the worst teams in the competition thsi year.
Admittedly I was never a huge magazine buyer of any type, and haven't given a stuff about the EPL for a while, but this piece on Bolosepako on the demise of the once great Shoot! Magazine left me feeling a little sad and nostalgic, taking me back to the days where I'd flick through my cousin's stack during the very early 1990s. Oh, and those wondeful cardboard league tables with the tiny club info cards which would slot into the various spots on the table... halcyon days.
SEN interview with Les Murray on the whole Southern Cross thingamabob. I haven't listened to it, have no intention of doing so, but you might enjoy it if you missed it. Thanks to our resident Mac-wielding friend for supplying the grab.
Meanwhile, Schwab's predecessor at Melbourne, Paul McNamee, has been appointed interim CEO of the Southern Cross FC consortium, which is bidding for the second Melbourne franchise in the A-League.
The group, which plans to base the club at the newly refurbished State Athletics Centre at Albert Park if it is successful, but play matches alongside Melbourne Victory at the new stadium at Olympic Park, has also engaged SBS broadcaster and soccer identity Les Murray as "football ambassador".
Meanwhile, the crew at Southern Cross, who have an address and phone number now by the way, are starting to come out of their turtle shells and make some noise. But what kind of noise does the hiring of Les Murray and Paul McNamee make? Les Murray does not command the respect he once did - indeed, he and SBS, in their simultaneous peddling of an anti-A-League and 'NSL, what was that?' party line over the last few years, have just about alienated most football supporters in some way or another. One local football philosopher made the comment that either he's been doing everything right, or charting the only course possible. Personally, I reckon Les didn't know what to do. SBS was no longer the centre of attention, their core 'wogball' audience was no longer being represented, and Foxtel had what the newbreeds wanted, and perhaps more importantly, how they wanted it. Spotlessly clean, and relentlessly upbeat.
And for all the praise that Murray gets from traditionalists, one can't but help remembering SBS's pro-Sydney, anti-everywhere else but especially Melbourne agenda. With Johnny Warren already being beatified by the newbreeds - and it not mattering one iota that the enormous complexity of the man has gone missing in the process - is Murray looking for something similar? To feel loved, or at least respected, as he once was? Because even SBS's centrepiece football show, The World Game, is on at a time when most people are going to or from VPL games, or are watching A-League contests either in person or on the idiot box. What is it exactly that the Southern Cross bid team think he will bring as an 'ambassador'?
As for Paul McNamee's involvement, while that has its more obvious and dare I say, more tangible benefits, in terms of his contacts and networks built over a large period of time, his experience in his other sports administration endeavours don't give me the same sense of peace of mind that others have seemed to have pounced on. For starters, while he did do a good job in managing the Australian Open - particularly in getting the big name players to come down here - it has to be said his job was helped by a resurgance in Australia's tennis playing stocks, which has disappeared now. Not forgetting that the Open is under the increasing threat of being shipped to the more lucrative Asian market, though what anyone would be able to do about that is debatable. And then he had a stint at the other Australian Open - the golf one - well, that was bound to end badly, with even most golfers figuring out that it's deadly broing game to watch, either in person or on tv. His Melbourne stint, all four months of it ended up with him doing not much at all, what with Jim Stynes always seeking to replace whoever was in there. Still, he's been around the block a few times, he must know something; and goodness, football knowledge is hardly an essential quality of the new regime, otherwise would Murray's standing as a icon/commentator/guardian be as low as its ever been?
So is this me just trying to talk down the whole operation? After all, why are we - oops, Freudian slip there - I mean why are Southern Cross resorting to such tactics, especially the heightened public relations campaign, while the other mob, which allegedly includes former South president Greg 'Chaos' Kaias, keeping their cards so close to their chests? As usual, what do they know that Southern Cross don't? Time will be the great judge on all that they do, and time is a harsh and lousy judge most of the time, kinda like those ancient Athenian war veterans who were required to be on juries so they could get their injured veterans money and who mostly fell asleep during the trial of Socrates.
Since mid-February of this year, South of the Border has been providing daily doses of news, views, scandal and random bits of as it happened nostalgia. Not one day missed (ok, maybe one, but that was more a screw up with the post-dating-publshing system). But now the season is over, and so the main source of mirth and content - the games, duh - are no longer around to nourish the blog.
So after a few mandatory episodes where we clean up after ourselves - hand out the South of the Border awards, look ahead to next season, etc. - the blog will be slowing down. That's not to say however that we'll be stopping altogether. There's the wonderfully wonderful Southern Cross bid which will rear its head in the press again until it gets knocked back and we can all go back to not having hope once more. There's the Lakeside redevelopment saga, which is kinda interesting in that it's probably the only thing that can save the club. There'll be, eventually, pre-season trials and friendlies, news about players leaving (but not necessarily coming -that gets made official in January 2009). Hell, even the Socceroos will be starting their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, which may or may not rate a mention. Oh, and there's also my Hattrick team, Juniper Hill, currently in their first season, but hopefully on the way to bigger and better things sooner rather than later.
So, like I said, not going away on holiday, just slowing down, so hope to see you guys around, especially when we celebrate the blog's 1st birthday in December. If anyone would like to contribute anything in the mean time, be my guest, especially season reviews and 2009 wishlists, serious or not, it's all cool. And I bet you all missed The Autumns reference in there. Typical.
Deano farewell vid, as done by Doc. Some good stuff in there, some good stuff left out, but Deano seemed to like it, as did everyone who's seen it, and that's the important thing. He won't be keeping today by the way, I think Sardelic will be in that role.
It'd been a while, but I recently had a nice little email exchange with Eamonn of Football In The Capital, all starting off from my request to have my own, unedited copy of my radio interview for the Nearpost show... and of course what's a chat between two A-League outsiders without asking about how each other's bids are going. Not too bad from each side is the answer, but both have strong opposition and people still to impress. The Southern Cross bid doesn't have a website yet (possibly coming soon), but the Canberrans not only have a web site, but this quite smartly produced youtube clip.
Now, websites aren't as good as cash and paid up supporters, but they do create a focal point in this modern age for people to connect to ideas and then use that as a starting point to act in the physical world. All in good time people. At least now we have a fighting chance.
... against the Bendigo Vipers at Field 13, 1:00 start I think. I'm going to try and make it down there, and not only because I don't mind a bit of the old women's football, but also because I've got this strange feeling. The feeling that, as good as open forum's are, and gutsy or foolish as Leo is being in this situation, I've got the feeling that some numpty or numpties are going to unleash a tidal wave of stupid. So being a couple of kilometres down the road seems like a good idea, in the wide open spaces, cold wind coming across the lake, picturesque pit lane behind me... anyway, the last time I had this feeling was in early 2007, before the Richmond away game, where there was a analogous level of tension for different and yet, oddly, somewhat related reasons. So therefore I won't be in a position to relate directly the events of what will transpire in that meeting. Maybe someone else will do it for me, maybe Ill just relate 2nd hand facts, but either way, I'm choosing not be there, just as a happy coincidence prevented my being at the Richmond game last year. In that case, I was at the Prince of Wales seeing Elbow for the 2nd time, and having a blast. This time Elbow are busy touring overseas - hopefully they come by next year - and therefore other arrangements need to be made. At least this time they'll be South related.
Last Time They Met
Round 12, 2008, at Epping Stadium
Whittlesea Zebras 0 South Melbourne 1
Tony La Verde scored towards the end of the game, sending the visiting fans into a frenzy. Kinda.
Preview
Last home game of the season. Leo's Open Forum Extravanganza. The Vague Possibility of Getting Relegated. Deano's last game for the mighty Blue and White. Why wouldn;t you go? Well actually... nah, I should be there. And so should you. Really. Should be a fairly laidback atmosphere in the outer too. Can you tell that I'm desperate for this season to end? Oh by the way, I've already selecte my senior and under 21 players of the year. Only thing left is for someone to impress me with a wonder goal to surpass the current frontrunner.
The following is lifted from the Albany Athletics forum, which I posted a link to some time back. There's a information there I have not heard or read before; perhaps that is because I'm coming from the South point of view; perhaps it's because I'm being sold the South point of view, which may not necessarily resemble the truth. Maybe it's time to engage properly with the athletics people on some level, try and perhaps co-operatively figure out where the truth may be, if we're being played against one another, all that kind of hunkered down in the forum bunker conspiracy stuff which once started gets wickedly out of control. Maybe. Anyway, read what you will and enjoy.
Matthew Webster wrote:
I was at the AGM of Athletics Victoria the other night and during the General Discussion part of the evening, the move to Bob Jane Stadium was a hot topic. The move is one that has been instigated by the "Olympic Park Trust", the powers that control the sporting area, not apparantly from "Eddie McEverywhere". The main reason is that athletics does not attract enough interest through the year and does not generate enough money for the "Trust".
There has been $50,000 allocated in the State Budget to re furbish Olympic Park and to fix up the old South Melbourne Oval to a IAAF standard track. All of this is to be done by the start of the 2010 track season. I personally do not think that there is anywhere near enough money set aside to do it all and the time frame is a bit short to do it all in. "I supose, I will believe it when I see it!"
The old stand will be made into offices (the VAL I believe will be a co tenant)and somewhere there will be a 150m warm up track put down. The facilities will still have to be shared with the Soccer club for a short while but the athletics will have first choice of dates for any event. That is all that I can tell you at the moment from what I heard the other night, so if any of you have any better conpiracy theorys about the move, please share them with us, I could do with a good laugh :)
Guest :
very interesting Matthew - any talk about access and impact of the F1 GP given that the melbourne race has been extended for a cpl more yrs and it happens during the business end of the track and field season? going to make using the track in feb and march pretty difficult i would have thought
Matthew Webster
Dear Guest ( I wish that you people would use your real names)
There was talk of the interuptions from the Grand Prix event and we were told that it would have have minimal effect on the operations of the new stadium, although there will be a short period of time (two weeks I think) that the new stadium would be closed for the GP.
The timing of future GP events I think are for the latter part of March at this stage. This will not have much effect on the amateur side of things as their season should be over by that stage or nearly finished.
As for the guys & gals that use Olympic Park as their training base currently, they may have to move to another venue whilst this is going on and there are plenty of new surfaced tracks around Melbourne now. We have more "red" tracks in Victoria than a few of the other states combined.
If there are any more genuine questions that you wish to ask and I hope that I can answer them, let me know (hopefully with your real name).
South Melbourne FC, which will remain independent of the new entity and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, will continue its participation in Victorian Football and its ongoing development and expansion of football in Australia.
Ya gotta laugh sometimes. This 'bid' should have been organised ages ago, not now that Sidwell's been basically given the nod, and that we've lost any and all momentum we had when we found ourselves back in the VPL in the first place. But what the hell, let's put on a good show anyway. Can you imagine what will be said at this meeting with the FFA? "Ok, we've got no fans and no money, a potted history of being fiefdom and only seeking to dip our toes into the waters of progress, but c'mon, we're Australia's mopst successful club, and we did this and that and if you let us in everyone would come flooding back and then some".
Excuse the cynicism, because I think the majority of people - and yes I do hate using an appeal to the common sense of the masses as an argumentative device - know exactly where we stand. We're a former national league club stuck in the state leagues with no prospect of getting out and yet still somewhere somehow entertaining the idea and possibility that we will, even thouigh we have far more pressing concerns at our door relating to our very survival. So to the delegates going Buckley and friends, have fin, send us some photos, and tell us all about your magnificent adventures. Because as forgiving I am of the need for trade and negotiating confidentiality, it's starting to get out of hand. Like a moron I've sat quiet at previous AGMs, as have most people. This time, later in the year when it;s time for the board to face us fans once more, hopefully more people, inclduing myself, will have the courage to blurt out any question no matter stupid so we can get some sort of answers.
Last Time They Met
Round 11, 2008, at Lakeside
South Melbourne 1 Richmond 0
The visitors were missing some key players, and it showed. South only managed one goal, but thoroughly deserved to win the game.
Preview
With people becoming less delusional about our finals chances and more delusional about everything else, here comes a game which puts everything in its proper perspective. Or is meant to. Concerns have been raised by some sources about the quality of the desserts of late, and others have criticised a German beer they had there. The little wooden ramp that serves as an entry way to the venue has also apparently disappeared. I'm seeing a score draw here.
Our Mildura correspondant couldn't make it down to confront Wadey in person over the weekend, but he did send us here for more pics of man's visit to Mildura, and personally selected this photo for display on the blog. All I'll say is that Wadey hasn't aged too well, but hey, if the folks in Mildura had fun with the Canberra Cosmos legend, that's all tha maters isn't it?
Very odd some of these other people making bids... they even have their own websites... it's like they're trying to engage people in the pursuit of cause. I don't get it at all.
