Scenes from the class struggle

How much does a souvlaki cost at Doxa Yarraville? Well, if memory serves me correctly, about $6. Add in a drink, and you're probably close to the $10 mark, with change to spare to buy a raffle ticket. So why was Heidelberg president Nick Katsakis handing out $100 dollar notes to one of his new English recruits during the Hellenic Cup? Especially considering that it's not general practice to pay players during the pre-season? And what would those players from previous years who have allegedly not been paid - such as diehard Alexandrino Tony Ouliaris, who went on what seemed like a heartfelt and justified rant on Facebook late last year - have to say about the matter. I'm guessing they wouldn't be too happy. Thanks to the person with the camera and quick reflexes to take the photo. Of course, this is a warning that there by the grace of Zeus go I - or as one of the Beastie Boys put it, be careful what you mock, because one day you might become it.

And sometimes you lose - Bentleigh win Hellenic Cup on penalties

We certainly had lour chances in this game, but it ultimately came down to the lottery of the penalty shootout - and despite having two shots to win it, we couldn't put either of those shots away, and thus had to settle for the runners up cheque. Pity. Some good sign though - Eddie Cetkin surprised many with a very good game in defense in particular.

Hellenic Cup finals on tomorrow

At Kingston City's ground, The Grange. Our Under 21s are involved, playing against Heidelberg, at 10am, if you can be bothered going. Our women (can we still call them that?) are not involved - they've lost some key players, though the main team pushed Heidelberg in the semis last week. The senior men are playing against Bentleigh at 6pm. It's our fourth final in 5 years - a then state league 1 Bentleigh knocked us out in the quarter finals at The Grange in 2008. Bentleigh were the last team to win back to back Hellenic Cups. Four teams have won the tournament in successive attempts - Northcote (1984-85), Oakleigh (1987 and 1990), Port Melbourne (1994-95), and Bentleigh (1996-97 and 2002-03). In the great scheme of things, this tarted up pre-season guff isn't worth much. But we're here now, the prizemoney's good, and it's a very nice trophy.

Ahmet Turer gone to Northcote

A real shame, because I liked the look of this kid - listen to me use the word kid on a 19 year old when I'm only twenty six and one half. For those new to the scene, Turer was a striker who was a key cog in the under 21s runner up team last year - he also scored a sub or two for the seniors during the season, and scored in the Football Superstar game as well. 

Phil Taverna Testimonial Game - South Melbourne 2 Heidelberg 0

Good enough I guess, efficient enough when we needed to be, and they gave up after the second goal, mostly, after putting in a decent effort before that. On to the final next week against either Oakleigh or Bentleigh.

Brunswick City 1 South Melbourne 7

They had creaming soda. Their only goal came after our keeper let a regulation catch bounce straight through his hands for a goal. The squad mostly made up oif under 21s acquitted themselves fairly well. It was pretty dark by the end.

Another friendly

South Melbourne FC vs Brunswick City, Friday, February 12th, 7pm. Their ground is, Dunstan Reserve, 22c Peacock Street, West Brunswick. Easily amongst the best souvlaki I've had at a suburban ground. Apparently this game is to celebrate Brunswick City's 40th anniversary, as worthy as cause as any I suppose. by the way, Brunswick City should not be confused with 1960s Greek club Brunswick Athena, which seemingly fell off the face of the earth in 1972 (there has to be a good story there, but what it is I do not know). Brunswick City Leonidas were known as Thornbury from 1970-79, moving to Brunswick and taking the Leonidas name in 1980.

South Melbourne 3 Northcote 0

Reasonably comfortable victory - our better finishing was my major factor in the scoreline taking that shape, but we generally also controlled the midfield in a rather messy game. Next up is the semi final on Saturday, 4:30, against either Heidelberg or Lalor.

Hellenic Cup update

We'll be playing Northcote in the quarter finals on Wednesday at Yarraville. Winner of that plays the winner of the Heidelberg vs Lalor match. In less relevant news, having nothing better to do,  I was at Yarraville today and ended up having a chat with former South youth player and cult favourite Lester Abalos' mum. She has heaps of pride and passion, I'll give her that.

South Melbourne 10 Keon Park 0

Pretty much as you'd expect considering the massive gulf in divisions. We'll probably finish top of the group now, meaning we'll very likely play Northcote next Wednesday. Or in the very unlikely event that we finish second in our group, we'll probably play Heidelberg next Thursday. But I'd recommend keeping the evening of Wednesday 10th open.

Please do noit ask me how South in the Suburbs went today...

...though one person said it was enjoyable. I was at home, playing Gauntlet on my xbox 360 in order to get 'the reach level 100' achievement. I'm not sure I should be publicising this fact. But then again, Gauntlet is awesome.

South Melbourne 5 Lalor Florina 0

Better. Much better. A little bit more intensity, and a lot more polish and class. Most if not all of the goals were tap ins, but that doesn't matter, because the foundation play was better. Our final group game is on Tuesday, against provisional league outfit Keon Park

Fernando makes Futsalroos preliminary squad

It's been a long time between drinks for the Futsalroos, since their failure to make the world cup a couple of years back. They have a new coach now, for starters. And he's picked two whole Victorians in a squad notorious for its dominance by players from New South Wales and the ACT. One of those players is our very own Fernando De Moraes, who has been selected as part of the preliminary squad to take part in the AFC Futsal Championship ASEAN Zone qualifiers at the end of February. If they do well enough there, they qualify for the AFC Futsal championships in Uzebkistan in late May. If they can make it out of there in the top four, probably, they'll go the next world cup. I think.

Anyway before those massive dreams of a South player that isn't Patrick Kisnorbo being on the world stage can come about, firstly Nando has to make the team that plays in the zone qualifiers and you can follow the trail from there. Of course, we wish him all the best in his endeavours, and we'll try and keep you updated. 

By the way, this news was sourced from the good people of whatever this awesome website is. I think I used it heaps for some of my Futsalroos OzFootball research back in the day.

South in the Suburbs on Sunday

1pm-4pm at Vanilla, Eaton Mall, Oakleigh. Was reasonable fun last year, and I expect it to be so again this year. Not sure if South of the Border will be present, yet.

Some people think I may be overreacting

Of course our season, the main part of it, is not over. It hasn't begun yet. The point being though, that performance was shithouse. And what's more, we've embarrassed ourselves on a global scale. One of the recent hits to this blog has been from some French betting blog.  Some of the translated comments from that site. 

There may be had too paris before this match live on the taste of the book. I know they have safeguards to prevent the abnormal things.

Result: 2-2 apparently.

Absolutely, however you found that teddy?

c good thing we did not have live so if the result says is correct teddy

indeed, thank you teddy. Huge section

Other matches for today?

 

Absolute Fucking Disgrace! South Melbourne 2 Essendon United 2

Firstly, well done to Essendon United. They certainly deserved the draw; hell, I wouldn't have begrudged them the win. They ran and hustled and put their bodies on the line. They showed no fear and played clever football. Simple stuff, but effective. It makes you think what Altona East could have done if they'd given a shit last week.

Now, in about a month's time, I'm going to be put to sleep for an hour or two, and have my wisdom teeth taken out. I'll wake up groggy, I won't be able to nuts, seeds and fried rice, I'll be doped up on whatever pills they give me, it'll cost me a mint, I'm going to have to have to miss the South season launch, but I can guarantee it'll be a far more pleasant experience than having to endure that crap.

I don't care if half our boys were reserves. My anger would not be abated even if it was the full reserves. The 2nd best reserves outfit in the state should still be able to comfortably beat a just promoted state 3 team playing their first game for the year. But did we go in for 50/50s? Were we at the fall of the ball? Could we complete five metre passes with any sort of consistency? Could we shoot even half decently from the 6 yard box? No. Did we attempt ridiculously ambitious passes through a clogged up midfield and over a bumpy field? Did we cponstantly give the ball to small players with their backs to goal? Does this sound so much of the past three seasons? Yes.

For fuck's sake, I even offered their keeper $50 and whatever credit's left on my myki card. Fine, it's a cup game, upsets happen, I get that. It happened to Oakleigh last year vs Lalor in the 3rd place playoff last year. And that's who we play on Saturday. But that was criminal. To barely create any chances? To give up goals so easily? To play with the ball like smartarses when we were still at 2-2? Fuck that shit.

Team of the Century coach, Manny Poulakakis, has passed away

There are few bigger names in the South family. As already mentioned on smfcboard by others, it was great to have him at the 50th anniversary gala ball. I'm just going to use the official site's spiel, because it gives you the gist pretty well. My condolences to the family.

The entire South Melbourne FC family wishes to extend its deep condolences to the Poulakakis family on the passing of club legend and Team of the Century coach Mr. Manny Poulakakis, who passed away late on Monday night.

Mr. Poulakakis was an icon of South Melbourne FC, coaching the club in four separate stints, from 1961-64, 1969, 1972-73 and 1976. In a remarkable coaching career at Middle Park, Mr. Poulakakis managed South Melbourne FC in 126 league games with a 55% winning rate. He will forever be remembered for being at the helm of South's Victorian State League championships of 1962, 1964, 1972 and 1976, whilst also capturing the AMPOL Cup in 1976.

Regarded as one of Australia’s greatest coaches, Mr. Poulakakis was conferred the prestigious award of coach of the South Melbourne FC Team of the Century in 2002, and will always be celebrated as one of the major individuals in shaping South Melbourne into such a dominant playing force in Victorian and Australian football. He was also recently inducted into the South Melbourne FC Hall of Fame at the 50th Anniversary Gala Ball.

South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis, speaking to smfc.com.au, remarked that “the passing of Mr. Poulakakis represented the passing of a true Club legend, and his smile and presence will be severely missed by the SMFC family. I wish to pass on my condolences on behalf of everyone at SMFC to the Poulakakis family. We will miss him dearly."

South Melbourne 2 Altona East 0

Pretty poor first half, though to be fair, the opposition created nothing of note. Second half much improved despite some atrocious finishing. We were gifted our opening goal, an opposition keeper stuff up early in the second half, and from there on we were squarely in control of the game. I also saw bits and pieces of some other games, some guy semi-randomly try and punch out another bloke, and ended up directing some lost souls towards the venue - what they were doing out at the Western Oval is anyone's guess. Souvlakia not great, hamburgers not too bad. Next up Essendon United on Thursday night.

South's Hellenic Cup defence begins tomorrow

At Yarraville, against Altona East, 5pm.

South 0 Greens 2

Bentleigh played quite well and should have won by more. Overall, it was a rather lacklustre performance from us, with several starters not out there. Didn't create much and when we did we once more lacked the killer touch.