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.

Will the merch be in by round 1?

You better believe it. No new stuff for me this year, except perhaps for a scarf. And maybe bite the bullet and splash out for a team of the century poster, get it framed and all that.

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.

Radio Free South Melbourne

Before you criticise the mainstream press, and the FFV, and Neos Kosmos, and whoever we can point a stick at, we should be creating as much of our own content as possible. That's what I said back in 2008. And have been banging on intermittently ever since. So they made a better website. They made weekly email mailouts. They created a youtuibe channel. And now they've made SouthRadio. Download the first of hopefully many podcasts here.

I could give copious advice on what to fix up, what works, what doesn't. But what's better is that there are people in the club who seem to 'get it'. It may seem a bit highhorse from me to seemingly take the credit for this change in attitude, but if I was part of the philosophical push in this direction, then I am glad. And if I wasn't, then I'm still glad, because this so the right thing to do, a simultaneous reaching out to everyone, big up yours to the mainstream press, and another thing to show we don't have to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves all the time.

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.

I wish the tennis would just go away forever

A small group of mostly young local Croat fascist sympathisers acted like tools on the way to the Australian Open on Monday. They got rightly slammed in the press for their dickhead behaviour. But Linda Paric, spokesperson of sorts for the Australia Croatia Community Services committee, thinks they're being hard done by. Of course, the local press isn't always the most culturally sensitive institution in the land. But when the offending party drapes itself in Croatian insignias and performs obvious Nazi salutes... I'm not sure how you can defend that in the way that she does. But Linda has a stab at it anyway. And of course, the reason I mention Linda Paricand this incident is because she's found a link to... South Melbourne Hellas. Zeus bless her.

A couple of years ago soccer fans caused serious damage to shops and public infrastructure after their team, South Melbourne, lost a game. No, they were not Croatian because if they had been all the headlines would have identified them as such. They remained identified as soccer fans.

Now I don't know what games or groups she's talking about. Maybe the Hellas Fan Club? But as a collective and mostly even as individuals, they haven't been to South games for a fair while now, since mid 2007, and there were no reports of South fans running amok in the streets as South fans. Is she referring to the South - Preston idiocy of 2005? No running down the streets in that one. Is she referring to the water polo and/or tennis incidents of a couple of years or so back? If she is, that's not soccer and therefore nothing to do with us. Or is she referring to the late NSL era stupidty that was the smashing of several Clarendon Street shopfronts, which the now semi-apocryphal stories say were actually Melbourne Knights fans running from the police?

I don't think she actually knows which game she's talking about. Instead of trying to play the boys will be boys angle, or the you're making people hate Croatians angle, maybe she should have just said, these are a minority of thugs that don't represent the broader Australian Croatian community. But then you'd get other types of phone calls, and it might make you look within yourself, and ask the question, where did these people come from? For the sake of balance, I think the following passage quoted from the Geelong Advertiser (a much better article than some of the nonsense being peddled) by Paul Saric is far erudite and encouraging, and it's a message not just limited to Croatian youths

"My message to them would be to be proud of what you are, be proud of your heritage and yourself and family but by expressing yourself like that doesn't mean you're a bigger Croatian," Mr Saric said.

While trying to find tender information for Lakeside's redevelopment

I stumbled upon this passage from the Parks Victoria website.

The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park 18 Hole Public Golf Course and Driving Range, the Bob Jane Stadium (home of South Sydney FC) and several ovals are also located in the park.

Makes one weep, perhaps.

But anyway, I did find out some tender info, courtesy of the Major Projects Victoria website. These are some of the people who'll be working on the project.

• H2o Architects - architect
• Felicetti Pty Ltd - structural/civil engineering
• Irwinconsult - engineering and ecologically sustainable development services
• LandDesign Partnership Pty Ltd – landscaping
• Sports Turf Consultants - turf consultants
• Tiger Turf - synthetic turf contractor
• Ten Buuren Irrigation Design - irrigation consultants
• Traffix Group – traffic
• Wilsmore Nelson Group – certification
• Architecture & Access - disability access.

Of course, we already told you some time ago that H20 Architects were on board. Interesting, perhaps, that Tiger Turf got the job for the synthetic pitches, upon which work has already started, and are due to be completed early this year. Here's all I could readily find on the State Sport Centres Trust, our beckoning landlord of sorts. Enjoy.

North of the Border - The Sydney Olympic REVOLUTION

I've never been to Sydney. From the self-imposed seclusion of my study room, pretty much anything east of the West Gate Bridge and on the wrong side of Laverton Market's hot jam donut truck seems just plain weird, and the further out I go, the weirder it gets. Mildura; Morwell; Canberra; the Gold Coast, and every Forbes, Warwick, Narrandera and West Wyalong that you stop at along in the way. All bonkers.

Which brings us to Sydney Olympic. Before you say, 'well, who gives a toss', a little patience. They were not a nothing club. Sure, they were always pretty much in our shadow, but they had their successes, and like us, have found themselves out of the national league limelight and dealing with the fickleness of Greekdom, and hell, anyone else that may have been attached and now isn't, for all the excuses which have been done to death.

So while we've been going about our business of trying to find a sustainable direction, one that isn't dependent on the severely waning generosity of the local Greek community (who, to give them their due credit, bailed us out numerous times over the years), and it seems the brains trust have fixed their mast to carry the combined winds of the government placating us for 40 odd years and the youth cloning programme designed by Tom Kalas, other former clubs, too, have had to deal with the reality of what it's like to be just one step down from the top, with next to no prospect of return.

As stated in a previous edition, the Melbourne Knights have decided to build a Bob Dole like path to yesteryear - as is their right - but what of Olympic? Well apparently, they're having a REVOLUTION. It seems quite important for Olympic's fans, those publicising this REVOLUTION, to herald the REVOLUTION in capital letters (mostly in FourFourTwo's forums, the most stridently pro A-League forums I know of) to emphasise the (in a Jack Black voice) sheer awesomeness of the REVOLUTION, man!

Springer security > Kosta security

What exactly the revolution (with apologies to those who love upper case, bit there is only so much I can bear) entails, is a trickier beast. Now, I'm both lazy and a lousy researcher, a pretty winning combination for failing eight subjects in a row and dooming yourself to sitting in your pyjamas watching Ricki Lake for about 2 years in a row, a ritual broken only by the fact the they didn't show it and Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Hey you, yeah the tranny, give Steve a kiss, and Steve running away, and the crowd going Steve! Steve! Steve!, on weekends - where was I? Kinda lost my train of thought there - oh yeah, but there doesn't seem to be much more to it than some kind of bizarre and quite sudden burst of enthusiasm. So what is there?

Firstly. there's talk about sweeping changes in the board room. Now at South, if you asked, I could kinda tell you what that means, but nothing has emerged to tell me what it means at Olympic. Then you have the birth of their new ultras group (website not working at time of writing) which according to the group's Facebook page (where your admission is subject to approval) is simultaneously a new group and in their words 'the most dominant supporters group in the entire NSW Premier League'. Bravo lads. They, or he, also go on about how 'true passion can not be defined' but have a stab at it anyway.

Harder than Olympic's ultras? Probably.

But honestly, unless they're seeking to destroy your club by getting you docked points for brawling and fined for misuse of emergency flares, ultras groups are just another part of the income stream, albeit one that likes to oversell its importance more than others. And most of the crowd, in this country anyway, won't ever be ultras. So that means you have to find a way to get the plebs to your games. Or at least get them to buy season tickets which makes it less important for them to turn up every week because you have their cash already. In Victoria, South, Preston, the Knights, even the Bergers and the Georgies, make a pretty big deal about membership. The attention to detail varies, but it's a central platform of the revenue stream. In New South Wales, as far as I can gather by a quick perusal of several NSWPL sites, it's not so important. In fact, it's difficult to find any club that seems to give a toss about membership at all.

I suppose when you've got revenue streams from the pokies, it makes things different. Still, membership can help you see how many people are interested. And by that of course, I'm referring to real world interest, not 'look at me, I clicked on a Facebook button and now I'm all like, a soccer fan and stuff' kind of thing, of which there has recently a bit of internet brinkmanship between us and Olympic. So where's Olympic's membership drive located? Oh it's on their front page - but you have to call the office for more details. Why should they have to do that? Maybe because their membership forms are tucked away in a sub section on the far right of their web page, and which should probably be ignored, because they're from last year and all.


What I found most interesting about the new members form in particular, was that it required two already existing Olympic members to back a new member up, basically agreeing that the prospective member is suitable for the task. Since there were apparently, and this is probably way off but let's go with the only number I have been given, only 250 season pass holders/members last year, if they're using the same system, it really a very limited network of people to be giving out endorsements. Still, one bright spark from up Belmore way reckons they've already got 150 people signed up in one week, and thus (again, their words) crowds of 4,000 will become a regular sight at Olympic's home matches this season.
And let us not get started on this whole Stelios Giannakopoulos, $100k for 5 games nonsense, which now Oakleigh is either trying to emulate or steal. I'm not against the idea outright, because there are always extenuating circumstances. One of these is that Olympic itself won't pay for it, it'll come solely from sponsorships, and it'll be sponsorship money that, rightly or wrongly, wouldn't be made available for other purposes. If he came for a whole season, thereby boosting attendances at grounds year round, as well as being an actual part of the team; or to a lesser extent if it was a guest appearance attached to some sort of broader promotional programme, I'd be more sympathetic. But again, from an outsider's point of view, this isn't revolutionary, this is reactionary. This is the stuff that Australian soccer has been doing for years, and is still doing, because for some reason the game and the clubs on their own terms are not enough to consistently bring in the punters.
The whole operation seems desperate and strange. If it comes off, especially long term, all the naysayers, including me, will have egg on their face. But for the moment it seems to be, in the words of noted scholar Chopper Read, a case of no food in the fridge, so let's repaint the house.

South to be acknowleged as 20th century Oceania's greatest club

Apparently FIFA botched their Centenary celebrations by not having this casual soiree in 2004, so they're making up for it by acknowledging our awesomeness - and that of some other pissant no name clubs, I think one of them's called Royal Madrid or something - by inviting us to dinner and handing out some golden trinkets.

The other clubs to be invited are Penarol (Uruguay), Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and CD Saprissa (Costa Rica). The body which made up the criteria is the FIFA recognised, International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 

Full media release on the South website. They've been sitting on this one for a while, and they're all very excited, and rightly so. Of course, people from all angles are putting their own spin on this honour, but that's the way the game's been played. I'm going to try and enjoy it for what it is, on its own terms. 

And once more for good measure - South Melbourne 2 South Hobart 1

Much improved performance from the visitors from their 7-0 thrashing last year. The game was played in very windy conditions, and Hellas' best midfield players didn't play. Petrovic from way out and Gasparis with a nice angled finish in the first half, with South Hobart pulling one back in the 2nd. It wasn't a particularly pretty game to watch, and we didn't create too many chances, but we defended well enough I suppose. Confirmation during the brief post match speeches that we're going down to the Apple Isle next year, from South Hobart coach Ken Morton. Call me cynical, but we'll see what scuppers that plan within the next 12 months.

South Melbourne 4 South Hobart 1 beta

This was more a scratch match kind of deal. There were a small smattering of senior Hellas players in the ostensibly under 21 line up, and according to the report from Walter Pless' blog, South Hobart mostly fielded a youth line up as well, putting on some senior players on the 2nd half. The game itself wasn't too crash hot from Hellas. There were some nice touches, but there was also some fairly sloppy play. We lead 3-0 at half time, but it wasn't like the visitors didn't have some of their own chances, poor finishing letting them down. They were a bit more up for it in general, and they out in several borderline strong/rough tackles. They scored the final goal of the match. Goalscorers for us, Ahmet Turer, Gianni De Nittis, Joe Keenan, Yusef Yusef. Andy King was the man with the consolation goal for the visitors.

During the match, I asked someone with some responsibility if we could go down there next year. He said it's already been agreed to. So now we have twelve months of feverish anticipation; will it yield disappointment or the return of South on the road? Who knows. Of more immediate concern is tomorrow's ridgy didge game between the senior South Melbourne and South Hobart sides, kick off at 5pm.

Also, be like me, buy your membership. I bought me a South Gold, partly for extra cash that goes to the club, partly because there are elections scheduled for this year.

South Melbourne vs South Hobart, 2010 edition

Once more we play host to South Hobart in a pre-season friendly. The two men and a dog that were there last year may remember us destroying them 7-0. Game is on Saturday January 16th, at 5pm.

Memberships for 2010 are available, and...

Olympic Park has finally been nominated as our relocation venue once the bulldozers move in and reshape Lakeside. I'm going to get me a South Gold once more. It's pretty good value I reckon. And after many years absence, we get a South Melbourne pen. Head here and check out the packages and stuff.

Something to do with buying a membership in 2010

What we think learned yesterday

Not much really. Games at Lakeside this year? Not many. Location of the relocation? Not for public dissemination, yet. Memberships? Soon. Merchandise? Soon enough. Hooped shirt ala Jim Marinis' beloved Queens Park Rangers, just for something different (and with the right kind of sponsor logo, would look very good)? Maybe some day. Red V as an away strip? Not on your life. Hooped socks? I'm the only one who cares, it seems. Cocktail parties? All the rage apparently. The furrowed brows, darting between offices and internal wrangling that goes on about every minute detail? Limitless. Dense elaboration of private conversations? Never.

Pre-season kick and giggle against Richmond

Was on yesterday. Several drinks breaks. 4-1 to South. Couple of guys apparently can take corners in still conditions, Keenan and Vasilevski. Fernando's one corner wasn't good. Stefaan Sardelic had a stint in goals and mad some nice point blank saves. Ahmet Turer looked good, but also copped a heavy tackle. One wonders why such tackles are put in during pre-season games. There was also a little but of argle bargle at one stage, but nothing major. Pitch looked to be in good nick after the Pan-Hellenic games farce.

Spirit of Gentleman

Another article on Goran Zoric at Police United, in Thai of course. I reckon South should sign an interstate or international player just so we can the get the airport photos. Last time we were at an airport was when the busload of Canberra trip fans sleepily greeted a mostly confused squad at 9am on Sunday morning. Gotta love their motto on the scarf but. 2010 Thai Premier League season starts March 6th.

2010 VPL Fixture out

So,  the fixture for the upcoming season is finally out. It's got typos, and absurd clashes. It's also got the N.T.C. - the National Training Curriculum - in there as well; speculation has been simmering during the offseason that the Victory's youth would be included, and it appears that at least some of the players from that squad will be participating in this scheme. 

So what does that mean? Probably trips to Darebin. In midweek. Not sure about their 'away' matches, which are also scheduled for midweek. Not that anyone makes a mint in this competition, but it's probably going to be like the AIS farce all over again on so many levels. Being a development squad, like the AIS, they'll probably be fielding squads whose quality will differ wildly from week to week, compromising the integrity of the competition. Like the AIS, they'll bring no more fans than a few family members. And like the AIS, their players will probably be likely targets for the A-League, including the Melbourne Heart franchise.

The behind the scenes people at South are reportedly quite unhappy with the draw. Altona away round 1? Northcote City gets it's wish to have their 50th anniversary game against us in round 3, which we were apparently in favpur of, and to which I have no objection. .The big drawing games, Thunder, Knights, Bergers, don't get their late summer/early autumn run at Lakeside - instead we get Bentleigh and Green Gully.  No mention of where we'll play our remaining home games yet - though the Olympic Park solution has appeared to be a fait accompli for some time now. Not sure yet either how many games we'll get at Lakeside - the general reasoning was for 2-3 at the most. And Sunshine Georgies away to finish off - I'll give them credit for that one, but it really was a no brainer.

Apart from the midweek shenanigans, there's an extra Friday night game, with the return of Bentleigh, which will please the drunken lout element. Newcomers Northcote have opted for Saturday afternoons. There's Monday night games, courtesy of the Georgies who are playing at Knights Stadium this year after they farewell Chaplin Reserve last year by losing to Preston, but we miss out on that because we play them in the final round. A few teams are seemingly having a bet each with the fixture, different days and times being thrown in without a clear sense of direction, other than perhaps skimping on lighting bills against smaller teams. And all our home games, except for some reason the Heidelberg match, are at 5pm. Which will probably result in traffic jams outside the MCG if we are indeed playing out of Olympic Park - but otherwise provide convenience for those of our fans who like to double dip. 

Lastly, the breaks. Orthodox Easter falls on the same weekend as Catholic/Protestant Easter this year, allowing the FFV to avoid dealing with one of the more unique cultural fixture concerns to the Victorian soccer calendar. The Queen's Birthday long weekend has been left open. And we all get nearly a month off in late June, early July, maybe for catch up games, or maybe because we'll all be sleep deprived after watching night after night of world cup action.

Round 1  

24 February 8:30 PM, N.T.C. vs South Melbourne, To Be Confirmed 

28 February 3:00 PM, Altona Magic vs South Melbourne, Paisley Park 

Round 2  

7 March 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Bentleigh Greens, Bob Jane Stadium

Round 3  

13 March 3:00 PM, Northcote City vs South Melbourne, John Cain Memorial Reserve

Round 4  

21 March 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Green Gully Cavaliers, Bob Jane Stadium 

Round 5  

27 March 7:00 PM, Dandenong Thunder vs South Melbourne, George Andrews Reserve

Round 6  

11 April 3:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Heidelberg Utd, Bob Jane Stadium  
 
Round 7

18 April 3:00 PM, Melbourne Knights vs South Melbourne, Knights Stadium

Round 8  

25 April 3:00 PM, Hume City vs South Melbourne, Broadmeadows Valley Park

Round 9  

30 April 8:30 PM, Richmond vs South Melbourne, Kevin Bartlett Reserve

Round 10  

9 May 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Oakleigh Cannons, Bob Jane Stadium
 
Round 11

16 May 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Sunshine Georgies, Bob Jane Stadium

Round 12  

19 May 8:30 PM, N.T.C. vs South Melbourne, To Be Confirmed

23 May 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Altona Magic, Bob Jane Stadium

Round 13  

28 May 8:30 PM, Bentleigh Greens vs South Melbourne, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

Round 14  

6 June 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Northcote City, Bob Jane Stadium  

Round 15  

20 June 3:00 PM, Green Gully Cavaliers vs South Melbourne Green Gully Reserve View 

Round 16  

27 June 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Dandenong Thunder, Bob Jane Stadium
 
Round 18  

18 July 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Melbourne Knights, Bob Jane Stadium 

Round 19  

25 July 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Hume City, Bob Jane Stadium 

Round 20  
 
1 August 5:00 PM, South Melbourne vs Richmond, Bob Jane Stadium

Round 21  

6 August 8:30 PM, Oakleigh Cannons vs South Melbourne Jack, Edwards Reserve

Round 22  

15 August 3:00 PM, Sunshine Georgies vs South Melbourne, Knights Stadium

Let's see what's in the news today (flips page)

Canada stalls on trade pact. Ok, here's the 'real' news. Brought to you by me, a 'real' person.

Item! Some grumblebum has convinced Jesse Fink to write of how said grumblebum's painstaking anorak research has been ignored by the FFA. Cue people with no interest whatsoever in the actual details of the research itself using it to score smug political points.

Item! Patrick Kisnorbo's Leeds United has knocked off Manchester United in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Cue the disappearance of smfcboard's Manchester United demographic until someone remembered that one of our own plays for Leeds. Based on this one good performance, he's now being talked up for a certain ticket to South Africa.

Item! Will SBS show the VPL? Unchecked forum guff is suggesting that SBS is considering showing games from the NSWPL and VPL for some reason I can't quite figure out. Cue look out A-League scum mounia FFA this that and other and B-League guff in the wake of this story.

Item! Summer sucks.

Bouzouki Hero

Might as well start off the year with something less serious. Here is the famous Bouzouki Hero commercial.

Goran Zoric signs 2 year deal with Police United

Well there you go, it's official (in Thai). Thanks to Tony for keeping us up to speed with what's been going on over there, we'll try our best to keep up with Goran's Thai adventure. South of the Border wishes him all the best at his new club.

Forgot one thing, but no surprise really.

Two years of doing this thing. Just eight more years before it earns me a life membership, so I can then grumble like the rest of the life members about having to pay the $50 life membersip renewal fee. But like that will ever happen.
This is what happened this year. No value judgments.

• Less articles, in part because there were no interstate trips, no A-League bid, and the Eels' Hombre Lobo was actually a pretty crappy record.
• Talked to public service people about stuff.
• Pissed off some people intentionally.
• Pissed off some people unintentionally.
• Didn't change the layout a billion times.
  
• Lost Cliff to muzzadom.

Thankyou to CC White for another win, Ian for free books, Cuddles for telling me all the things I can't say, Psile for matching my cynicism stride for stride, Gains for providing a stupid sense of hope that this club's support base can be replenished, Tony for letting me be a quizmaster, Mildura Vasili for being a fan, Michal for being on msn a lot, Nick 'the other Polish South fan', the Offset no. 9 team for putting out a decent book, and the people who had my back went it counted - you know who you are.

You know, like, whatever

Last week we here at South of the Border deliberately ignored the Battle of La Trobe Street stoush where several Victory fans/keyboard warriors attacked the Duke of Kent Hotel because some Sydney FC fans were drinking there. But along came the winner for biggest genuine New Dawn comment of the year.

The rivalry goes back many years, when emotions between former National Soccer League clubs sometimes turned ugly. Many hardcore supporters of clubs such as Sydney Olympic, Marconi, Sydney United, South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights stuck with their clubs when the A-League began. Some were put off by what they saw as a ''manufactured'' league with no tradition. Many made the transition and the Victory and Sydney FC also drew in thousands of new supporters. However, a small number of agitators are unwilling to move with the times.

David Sygall, you're an idiot. But then again, he's only following the template set out years ago.

Four doors in an appointment

When posting the news about Goran 'Gozza' Zoric allegedly set to sign with Police United, I was unable to read nor provide any sort of usable translation of fellow member of the blogosphere Tony's piece on the matter. Fear not good reader, for we have been provided with a translation by our Polish correspondent via google's translation function. It still makes more sense the Ultimate Warrior's comic book from the mid 1990s though.

After news came to know some. But not that much interested in anything. Soccer is Aassie from Melbourne to test the foot with a friend, police team. I have been appropriate in the interests of this player today and treasured Eastern. It informed the press in Thailand that. Soccer this close to becoming one of the very police troops Soccer friends.

According to the data for the Global Hotel run by Eric web site and blog sites are different enough to make that this player. Same pace uncommon. And should make enough friends, fans, police teams have peace of mind initially. If he has to join the team. Try not believe he shot clips help Boasting a team of South Melbourne to 4 doors in a single appointment. Appointment of a war game in Victorian Premier League Seasons past. 

Goran Zoric trialling in Thailand

Here's how I figure it: if some random dude from Sydney knows about it, then chances are others do too. Goran Zoric had been rumoured amongst other places to be going to Green Gully and Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Both of those are not true. What Goran has been doing is trialling in Thailand, apparently at Chonburi. But this Thai student studying in Australia called Tony, who seems to be a real football nut, especially for all things Thai football - he writes a column for a local Thai newspaper - who knew we had one? - and also has his own blog on aussie soccer (it's in Thai, but there's an smfctv clip showcasing Zoric's four goal haul against Preston - that was a good day) - anyway, this bloke reckons, as posted in the comments section of a recent article, that he's now trialling at Police United, who have seemingly bounced between the top two tiers of Thai football.

So, to answer your question from that page Tony - here it basically is. I think Goran's a player of some potential. Despite having trials with Melbourne Victory's youth team, he's been overlooked for a full place in that squad. He's quick, he can dribble a little bit - more than a great deal of Aussie players anyway - has half decent control, and at South has been played as either a right winger or as a small forward playing off a bigger striker, such as Vaughan Coveny. His finishing is ultimately what lets him down, as sometimes he can be a little tentative or even cute with it. When his confidence is up though, that is not an issue. And as attested in the fact that he trialled with the Victory youth squad, he's still young - I'd tell you exactly how old he is, but the player details have been taken off the South website in preparation for next year.

Thanks for writing in Tony! And good luck to Goran if a club over there decides to pick him up! 

Melbourne Knights dig hole to 1987. Or something.

Preface

I'm bored. I don't like Christmas, the FFV didn't manage to get the 2010 VPL fixtures out before they went on their well deserved 18 month break, and I'm getting over some sort of short lived but kinda punchy flu thing. People also aren't sending me their Offset reports so I can make a pretty folder for next year's group, so it will likely appear that I am writing more nonsense than usual.


The Main Part

It's not often that it happens, but every now and again we at South of the Border like to take a look at what's happening at place that aren't South Melbourne. Because you know, we love to whinge about the board, the team, about losing our Greekness, and that most cardinal of sins, selling out to THE (Zionist) MAN, that sometimes we forget how good we have it compared to others.

We could talk about Preston sinking to State League 1, but there for the grace of Dawkins go I and all that. We could talk about Heidelberg's endless shenanigans, but that would necessitate a whole other blog - try out their HUFC-TV, if it's still working, for how not to do a vodcast. Or we could we like the remnants of the once mighty Brunswick Juventus, broken into a million pieces and scattered across this great brown land, one team with the trophies, one team with the grounds, one team with the colours, and several other clubs blended, decanted and spat out along the way. Or George Cross, who owned their own ground, seemingly never made an improvement to it in the 25 or so years they were there, sold it 15 times, boast that at least they had their own venue, but don't seem from an outsider's point of view to know where they're going, what they're doing, and are more akin to being the mule with the spinning wheel.

But instead we'll talk about the attempted regeneration of what was once a mighty foe, who like us was dumped from the top flight or humbly chose to withdraw from those aspirations, depending on whose version of events you go by. The glory days of the Melbourne Knights - or Melbourne Croatia as they were once known - are long gone, especially from the heady on field days of the mid 1990s, where their machine, by a probable combination of good management and fortune took all before it, before its best and brightest left to light up the world's football stage.

After a decade's worth of decline on the park and off it, as the local Croatian community, with a newly independent homeland secured and the relative flood of immigration drawing to a mere trickle - pretty much like every other European community - local crane entrepreneur and alleged underworld identity Matt Tomas took over with a plan. The plan was to take the Knights forward, into the boldness of tomorrow. There were tangible differences and speculative fairytale stuff that's harder to pin the compass of truth on. The more or less truth. More money was splashed around, and results, at least initially, seemed to improve. They got to a grand final, which they lost in the 120th minute. They got massive sponsors on board, including online gaming behemoth Mansion88 - who also sponsor the Tottenham Hotspur - and they even repainted the Mark Viduka Stand - hell, they even got Mansion88 as the ground's naming rights sponsor.

Off the field, the stories flew into FourFourTwo Australia's inbox thick and fast. They were going to move to Melton. They would be part of the 2nd Melbourne A-league licence bid. They'd become a feeder to Adelaide United, after Tomas and friends would take it over. Stuff like that. Stuff that seemingly never happened. And to do all that, the club would have to be de-Croatianised. A club which, even in the heady mainstreaming days of the NSL, barely made a tokenistic effort to open up - and it was their absolute right not do to so - was heading head first into the future. And the majority of its support base, those that were left anyway, were not impressed. Every club must have a reason for being. The reason doesn't always stay the same, but there must be something to underpin why anyone would bother to turn up and do what needs to be done to keep such an operation in motion. The reasons that Tomas and his board provided - a board that included former South board member Jim Marinis - didn't seem to wash with the majority of the diehards.

And so, at their recent AGM, Tomas and friends seemingly left, and the vacuum was filled by other people, with a new agenda. Well, perhaps not so much a new agenda, but rather a very old one. To go back to the past, and to do it unapologetically. An old logo, with the grb's checkerboard pattern replacing David Hill's mandated diamond scheme. A membership campaign highlighting the importance and centrality of the club to Australian Croatian identity, and the importance of Croatian identity to the club. A Croatian club for Croatians - pretty much everyone won't be excluded as a matter of practice, but the emphasis has been turned inward - while most of the old school wog clubs of any note have dithered on which direction to take - the vague promises of the future or the direction the Knights have chosen. Will it work? I have my doubts. It all seems too much like St George Budapest circa 1975, but with even less optimism and less opportunity to make something great out of it. It all seems rather reactionary than anything resembling a genuine plan.

What does this have to do with South? Well apart from them stealing entire passages from our own membership campaigns - see the 'Member get member section' of their 2010 membership brochure - it provides a chance for the two different reactions to the post-NSL landscape to be somewhat compared. Of course, the clubs come from different angles, have always had different reasons for being, and substantially different cultures - but it'll be interesting to see if either plan works. South's 'Need more Greeks' contingent is largely defeated, but as the events of the recent 2009 finals loss to Hume showed, sadly not entirely gone (Shane Nunes was racially abused by a couple of our so called fans, as well as hearing the catch cry of needing more Greeks who'd play with passion for the shirt, allegedly).

And it also shows two clubs who, in spite of the FFV's utter neglect in promoting or reforming the VPL, are at least taking matters into their own hands. It's not always entirely someone else's fault when things go wrong. Sometimes it can even be no one's fault at all. But at least taking a stance, following one direction, wherever it may lead, is a sign that these two clubs at least are seeking to take control of their own destiny. It's easier for some than others, of course. Cash, cultures, locations, history and demographic compatibility with the urgency of now, plus the question of how long committees with grand dreams can be held together. We'll see in time where it all ends up. And here I was thinking there wouldn't be anything to write about for the next couple of weeks.

South's new signings talk to smfctv

Not for the squeamish.

It was rather appropriate really...

...that the more time I spent off the field, the better the mighty Clarendon Corner Whites did against those dastardly Clarendon Corner Blues. In a remarkable game, the Whites came from 3-1 down (3-2 at the break) and 5-4 with eight minutes to play, and in the face of some disgraceful refereeing to seal a famous 7-5 win. Can you believe that not once in the four times this game has been played, has the side leading at half time won? HavingLeo Athanasakis and Tom Kalas helped immensely - having George Triantos not so much. But it was a team effort that got us over the line after all looked lost. I am so sore today. Oh, and nobody cares what happened in the main game. Ole!

Hellenic Cup 2010

A title to defend. We've been grouped in the North/West section, which this season is actually in the north and/or west. Yarraville to be more precise. Whose ground is actually in Spotswood. They have better souvs than Bentleigh at least, and their proximity to my place is a cause for celebration. As for the fixturing, you can head to the website for all the rest of the organisation's games - our women are apparently fielding two sides in opposite side of their draw. It does not appear to be the most difficult draw in the world - mind you, there is a paucity of Greek backed teams in state 1, and the VPL teams have been kept away from each other as you'd expect.

Sunday January 24th
South Melbourne FC vs Altona East
Kick Off - 5pm

Thursday January 28th
South Melbourne FC vs Essendon United
Kick Off - 7pm

Saturday January 30th
South Melbourne FC vs Lalor
Kick Off - 5pm

Tuesday February 2nd
South Melbourne FC vs Keon Park
Kick Off - 7pm

George Vasilopoulos gala ball speech

Better late the never. It loses something in its isolation from the rest of the night.

Mellas, Patitsas, gone

Usually when the AGM rolls around and resignations happen at around the same time, the announcement is made in front of the members. Not so yesterday for some reason. Indeed, they didn't even sit with the rest of the board. What does it all mean? Who knows, and perhaps it doesn't matter anyway, I'm probably reading too much into it. Still, it would have been nice to know what heir future plans were, why they gave up their spot on the board etc.

It's done

The AGM passed the motion giving permission to the board to continue negotiating with the government on the Lakeside redevelopment.

And it was great, after several flat AGMs, to see a passionate response on several issues from the membership - and the board - when it counted.

One shouldn't count their chickens before they hatch - but this may genuinely be the real deal, this time, after several false new dawns.

And another thing

This is the last word I'll have anywhere online about this. From here on in, just look it up yourselves.

The so called $3000 rule, as it stands, is a myth.

It does not relate to transfers. It relates to development fees, the regulations and gradings of which are implemented by FIFA.

Depending on whether a player signs their first or second professional contract, $3000 or $5000 is split between the clubs they were at between the ages of something like 12 and 21.

Transfers in Australia are capped at 50% of what's remaining on the player's contract. So hypothetically if Carl Recchia (for demonstration purposes only, snigger) signed with us on a 1 year contract at $1000 a game, and an A-League club wanted to snare him 4 weeks before the end of our season, the maximum we could ask for is $1000 - half of what is left due to him.

In reality, it really is just an update of what Paul Wade did back in the day - he'd demand 1 year contracts with a maximum transfer clause - with the added assistance of the Bosman ruling and an over supply of dumb clubs overspending on over the hill park footballers and their counterpart greenhorns who are rightly milking the cash cow for as much and as long as they can.

And just how stupid can these clubs get? Well apart from board member and pleb fan alike still running an incorrect line 5 long years after it all went to shit, there are clubs who still insist on paying their players under the table payments, which in the event that a player is picked up by an A-League club, they can't sell him for what they're actaully paying him! It's fucking genius stuff.

Could it be that one small voice, doesn't count in the room?

So sang Michael Stipe nearly 30 years ago, with a poignant yearning, or something. Anyway, before I lose my train of thought, this has nothing to do with South Melbourne Hellas, the game of futebol, or anything else that would interest 99.9% of my readership.

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way home from an outing with my youngest brother. Waiting at the bus shelter, I get this call from an unrecognisable number. Straining to hear over the Mason Street traffic, I eventually agree to attend a session where I would be a part of a student panel being surveyed about our experiences at Victoria University. I've been recommended by one of the higher ups. I get the email detailing the when and where the next day, and my elation is slightly dampened, because apparently it'll be one 45 minute session. But there's be lunch. Neat.

So the day finally comes, when I can unload all my praise and loathing. But no. The couple of Arts students that have bothered to turn up are lumped in with the Education students. Again. I say again, because this is what happens a lot in my course - education students are required to take some electives, and a lot of them end up in literature and writing classes. And the problems with that are multidimensional. Education students are required to take weeks off to perform their placements at schools - so either everyone who stays behind keeps going, disadvantaging those doing their placements, or we collectively miss weeks every time they go, meaning we lose a ton of momentum, as well as force a 12 week semester's worth of work into 10 weeks. Not good for anybody. Couple that with the fact that a fair proportion of the education students have little passion or interest for what they're learning and are only there because they have to be, and it gets even messier.

So, the point being, once again, the needs of education and arts students are lumped together. So while there were similar threads running through the discussion - about staff, facilities, course structures - overall, it just didn't fit. And it only went for a half hour. There was not a single comment made by the students in that room that I felt was a waste of time. But it had barely scratched the surface of what could have been covered - certainly some of the other students when speaking later thought I could have gone for a couple of hours at a bare minimum. So no, not a complete waste of time, but this is why time-share accommodation sucks. Just a little taste, but never the whole pie.

I really like Victoria University. Academically, its emphasis on class contact and partipation suits me very well. But at the St Albans campus, socially it's a desert. There's no union presence. There's no common lunch hour to even begin thinking about orgainsing a club or society. There's no pub. The food's shit. And they're going to stuff another few hundred or thousand people there when they shut down Melton and Sunbury. The sessionals, who are sometimes teaching courses they've created themselves, have one small common computer lab. I could've gone on and on. And I felt I was robbed of that chance today. Or maybe it's the fact that they, the questioning panel of academics and university admin, know exactly what's wrong, and it was more of a perfunctory exercise. That's harsh to say, but half an hour, being grouped together with the students of a different stream - why?

Let's be honest for a moment

Because this blog is full of heinous lies most of the time.

Isn't AGM time the happiest time of the year? I certainly think so. All the fun of hearing bigmouth motherfuckers, even people I more or less like, become weak as kittens when they come face to face with a bloke armed with a Powerpoint presentation and a microphone set to a dodgy level.

It's not an election year, that's next year if they get enough candidates, and there was thing called the Global Financial Crisis - which for so many people is just the continuation of their relative poverty, and nothing particularly special - so a few people anecdotely at least, didn't buy a social club membership. And the funny thing about that is? This year the club has made a pledge to check names at the door so that only voting rights members can get in. Brilliant, just the way it should be. And there will not be the allowance of proxy voting.

If you are unsure if this includes you, ask yourself these simple questions:

1. Did you get a letter in the mail about the AGM
2. Are you a Heritage Club member?
3. Part of the Southern Cross Corporate Coterie?
4. A South Gold member, like me?
5. Paid up Life Member?
   
6. A holder of a Family membership, which allows one vote?

If you couldn't answer yes to any of these questions, you probably won't be allowed in. If you're not sure, and hell, why trust the info on a random poorly spellchecked blog, contact Nicki up at the club. Or even pop in and say hi, and leave your name in the guest book.

So what are going to be the big issues this year? The redevelopment of course and the juniors. That's no secret. And to be fair, most of my questions have been answered by the board and government public service types, and I've parlayed most of the info that I've been able to towards you, the loyal readers of this blog. So this year I reckon I'll take a backseat, leave the clipboard at home, and just enjoy the ride, and the power that comes with getting a vote on the most crucial matter since the club sank down to peepee soaked heckhole that is the VPL. I can sense one board member in particular breathing a sigh of relief at that.

For those concerned at about any pent up aggression I might have, I'll be getting my organisational performance review angry question and answer jollies off at a tailor made session today for Victoria University's Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development. And I also get lunch at the end of that.

Part 2 of Gala Ball interview compilation

More signings

Joe Keenan onboard to 'enhance' our attacking stocks. We'll see about that.

Part 1 of Gala Ball interview compilation

What does South Melbourne Mean To You? Gala Ball Edition

South of the Border tried to get its head on this, but was not able too. Pity. Too many names to list in the labels section.

And another thing

Fuck you Blogger and your fucking 200 character limit in the labels section.

Daniel Vasilevski joins South too

Yep, the drip feed of press releases keeps coming. Should be over soon though.

And speaking of righteous indignation

A portion of Les Murray's speech at the gala ball has been approved for released to the masses. And hey, there's a couple of interesting cameos too.

Stella to Siena

The Prince of Stepovers, Francesco Stella, has signed with Serie A side Siena - who have apparently promptly loaned to some random chips and mayonnaise outfit in Belgium's second division. Good luck to the kid, at least he entertained. By the way, he was on an amateur contract, so all we get is a slice of the development fee.

Carl Recchia signed up

Cynicism prevails somewhat. South's a great club. Hell, any club's a great club when all is new and you've just joined up, and the sun is shining in the summer time.

The week that was

Peter Zois signed up. So did Marinos Gasparis and James Stefanou. Is that enough Greeks now? Joe Montemurro is back 21s coach. I helped pack away some chairs and had a club sandwich. We got the low down about how the children are our future. And Laura and Amelia Spiranovic got a feature article done about them in the Geelong Advertiser. I didn't realise they were both so young.

Children - Children - Future - Future

It was a not particularly well attended event. Which was a pity, because while yes, on a weeknight it may be difficult for some people to attend, a lot of the forum grumble bums weren't in attendance. But meh. I didn't take any notes last night - for some reason I didn't feel that it was necessary - but here's the gist.

For those who've kept up with the redevelopment stuff, there was nothing particularly new. The financial repercussions will be discussed at the AGM - where only eligible members will be allowed entry, with names checked against the door. That should be fun.

The new FFV constitutional requirements were gone over very briefly - they will apparently have no great bearing in how we run our operations. New board member Tom Kalas gave a summary of his 90 minute version of his youth development/academy plan. Considering the very small attendance, it managed to receive a rousing reception.

I will say this though. I don't know if I should be taking any personal credit for it, because really, it's probably just a natural and long overdue cultural change, but the calibre of questions seems to be improving. I'm looking forward to the AGM next week.

The Future of Our Club info night

It's on Thursday 3rd December, 7pm. In the Social Club. What will we learn?

Seagulls searching for worms in the mud

Waiting at the corner across from Lakeside as the rain was coming down at the lights which take forever to change to a favourable condition, Rhodri Payne let me shelter under his umbrella. Thank you.

Ok, so we lost a shortened halves game against the West Sydney Berries. It was a god awful boring match.

The Pan-Hellenic men's final was on before, Victoria vs South Australia. The rain pissed down for most of this game, the field was already in a mess, and it was only worse afterwards. Some terrible tavkles in that game, lots of niggly crap. Vics won 3-1, all heir goals having some sort of deflection apparently - I only saw their two last goals.

What terrible organisation this event had also. The winning team got their photos taken and such, then the girls winners had their medals and presentation, and then the men had another go. There were numerous renditions of the Australian and Greek national anthems. Some kids choir got to sing in front of the 50 people that were left at the end of the day. Not inspiring stuff.

It's blue!

There was an article in the Herald Sun today about the pending redevelopment. Nothing new really, except what was once a traditionally coloured running track - as presented in the initial plans released by the relevant government departments - is now being presented in an unmistakeably blue hue. Really, when it comes down to it, it's not the most important part of the project - but it appears that the gentle nagging via board, via in person at information meetings, and via web, has been sorta heard.

I'll tell you one awesome thing that happened on the weekend

I didn't have to marshal at the Corporate Games. Had a half-arsed kickaround instead. Awesome.

To verb the adjective noun!

Just posting some random and not so random crap, some off smfcboardm which most of you can't see - and it is nearing to AGM time after all - more on that on a later issue.


Item! Already received one private message, from my good buddy Gains, wishing that my review of the Tony Squires book had come out earlier so he wouldn't have bought the abomination. Ah well.

Item! At last year's AGM, I brought along a printed list of questions, some spare paper and a clipboard (and a training jersey from 2001 that I bought off ebay for some guy, but that's not really relevant) and for my efforts received this question on the forum

PS Does anyone know who was the dude near the front with the glasses who asked many questions????

12 months on, and one senile poster has forgotten my awesomeness, so much so that I had to sorta ask someone to mention it. We'll see how this turns out.

Item! It was fucking funny last year when the old bloke known to me only as Karantoni walked out of the meeting and everyone thought it was because he was pissed off, when he actually just went for a smoke.

Item! First it was the 1980 championship. Now the Bergers have moved another step closer to booking a bed in Ward 7. With thanks to Psile, as this is verbatim off his post.

On the bergers facebook page they have the neos kosmos article of the 1-2 at middle park when MM got the double for them, anyhow underneath it says:

ΕΛΛΑΣ/ΜΕΓΑΣ 1-2 93-94,SEASON LAST GAME AT THE PARK FOR HELLAS BEFORE IT CAME DOWN WHAT A DAY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS IS FOR THE OLD MEGA FANS WHAT CAN I SAY NEOS KOSMOS SAYS IT ALL

No you clowns...we thumped you 4-1 and it was round 1 of 94/95.

Naffness personified

I was been recently comissioned I guess to write two pieces for the official South site. I don't like the first one, on the gala ball, very much at all, but the second one, a season review, is a little better I guess. But then again, what do I know about these things?

Overdue and out of date Tony Squires book review

This review was originally commissioned by Ian Syson to appear in Das Libero 2. It took me far too long to get around to writing it, but after I'd finished it Ian said he liked it, and that he'd put it up soon. He didn't, and it's been sitting on my USB stick for months now. I shudder to think how many people have gone out and bought this book without first reading the genius that is this review.

There are many things wrong with Tony Squires' Cracking The Footy Codes: A Beginner's Guide To AFL, League, Union and Football. First of all, it's written by Tony Squires. The reasons for his longstanding and continuing popularity of any sort elude me. So, if you happen to be a Tony Squires fan, you can skip the rest of this review. You're probably already enamoured with near everything he does, and likely already have a signed copy of this tome.

Cracking The Footy Codes seeks to take a general look at the four major football codes in Australia, in an attempt to provide a useful primer to those wishing to brush up on unfamiliar sports and possibly become some sort of convert. It contains relatively thorough overviews of the rules of soccer, league, union and Australian rules. It also throws in some trivia and cultural observations which are intended to prepare the neophyte follower for their early experiences, done with what I presume is Squires' trademark humour.

What works well in this book are the clear rules and regulations, together with diagrams. The problem with this is that all this information is also available, for free, online and has been for quite some time. Therefore the book’s strongest characteristic – and perhaps its only one – is technologically defunct. There is no real point acquiring this book if all you want to do is read up on the rules. The book in that sense is fundamentally a 19th century product. It ignores the existence of video games, the internet, television – especially Pay TV which lets us watch so many sports. I learnt most of what I know about American football through these means, often by osmosis rather than careful study.

Which leaves us with what remains. The humour was lost on me. I found it lazy, generic and outdated. AFL – not the name of the sport, but hey, he's from New South Wales and that's what they call it up there for some reason - gets some of its club theme songs mulled over. Rugby League has some of its teams mentioned – Manly are rich, no one can remember South Sydney’s last flag even though they've won so many, haha. Soccer though misses this. We get the 'Hand of God', diving, references to Posh and Becks and that mysterious gap between 1974 and 2005 that no one can penetrate. The skirting of local soccer issues is obviously because Squires is not fluent in that language – or he does not want to impose new and strange knowledge on soccer noobs of the alternate reality that was Australian soccer before it began its Cultural Revolution a few years back.

The presumption of sports generality – the ability to become a fan of multiple sports – also left me feeling cold. Who are these people that have so much time that they can become experts or dedicated to more than 1-2 sports simultaneously? I, and I assume most sports fans, have the time and emotional capacity to dedicate themselves to only that many sports. So what kind of person who is already interested in one or two of these sports with any sort of dedication, would have the time and inclination to pick two or three more? This book is therefore firmly directed towards the sports generalist. The one for whom sport is a pastime and not a duty, for whom the spectacle and the occasion is just as important if not more so than the result. An oversimplification? Perhaps, but I think the point is valid.

But seeing as this is a soccer/football publication, we should take some time out to review that particular section in a little more depth. It doesn't start well. In the opening pitch for the game, Squires refers somewhat obliquely to the difficulty of choosing a team in Australia until recently, and how many Australian fans have fallen for English clubs. There are also elementary factual errors. The A-League choosing to play in summer is a furphy. It merely followed on from the NSL's practice since 1989. Johnny Warren was not the captain of the Socceroos in the 1974 World Cup – that was Peter Wilson. Craig Johnston was not the first Australian to play in the FA Cup Final – that was Joe Marston. Someone using this book as a reference for a trivia night is going to get a nasty surprise.

Yes, I understand that this book is meant to be light-hearted, though it failed to raise chuckles at this end. And yes I understand it's not meant to be a hard hitting sociological piece on the where, why, how etc of football fandom in Australia – though if it does contribute to that debate, it doesn't paint a very positive picture of Australian sports fans and their supposed loyalty. But most of all, it doesn't perform any of its purported instructional functions any better than a quick web search would. One day some of these people who are still insisting on top down modes of communicating to the masses will come to realise that the masses just aren't listening. One for the Squires fans, people with a pathological fear of computers – who won’t see this review anyway – and no one else.

We Eat Our Own

It has probably been this way since day one.

Brinkmanship.

Ta polla that gelia telionon sta klamata - Too much laughter ends up in tears.

Surviving what outsiders dish out.

And then showing them how it's done.

Les Murray on South Melbourne and its Gala Ball

From the The World Game Website - if you clik through to there you can add comments as well. Or just leave them here. Whatever makes you happy.


Fifty years of love and its lessons

By Les Murray

The late 1950s have a lot to answer for. Like giving rise to a poppy field of new football clubs that have recently been celebrating their 50th anniversary, despite now lingering somewhat in the shadow of ‘new football’.

I’ve been to a few of these in recent times, the latest being the celebration of South Melbourne FC’s half a century as a club.

Held at the Crown Palladium, it was a glittering night in which emotion and nostalgia overbore the shimmer, the champagne and the long dresses.

There were over 600 guests, most of them paying $220 for a seat. Former players, coaches, officials and undying fans came from everywhere, many from Greece and others from other corners of the world. One fan diverted his holiday voyage to Florida to be there.

John Margaritis, an iconic former player and coach, flew in from Athens (and then was forced to speak on stage in Greek because he had forgotten most of his English, or so he claimed).

Con Nestorides, whom you would now call a ‘marquee player’ if he came here as a 37-year old superstar, as he did in 1966, was hunted down in Athens and thrust in front of the video camera to send a goodwill message. Now 80, he looked sprightly, smiling and fit.

Others not so youthful. One old timer, a source of vibrant spectacle when he played for the club in the early 1960s, was unable to negotiate the stairs to the stage to receive his award. He could have stayed at home but he chose to come, despite the cane and the debilitations, and many in the room were thrilled to see him again.

Leo Anezakis, president of the club when it won its first national league title in 1984, a lovely and decent man, spoke to me about those times, how his sense of dedication to the club taxed him to the point where it nearly destroyed his business.

More easily recognised men of a more modern era mingled in the room, embracing and exchanging regrets about not seeing each other more often: Peter Tsolakis, Ange Postecoglou, Mickey Petersen, Kimon Taliadoros, Paul Trimboli, Mehmet Durakovic, Con Boutsianis.

Emotion filled the air and the night was thick with the powerful sense of bonding that football, and only the sense of belonging to a football club, can provide.

The passion and loyalty for football, and for a football club, was everywhere in the room, so much so that one felt a wish to be able to bottle it and somehow transfuse it into ‘new football’.

But of course that’s easier said than done. The A-League clubs don’t have this because for a start they don’t have 50 years of history but more importantly because, as one colleague put it to me, they are franchises not clubs.

Still, there are lessons to be drawn for the franchises which, so far, have appeared to exist more for the directors and the investors than the fans, the complete reverse to what has been the case at South Melbourne FC for half a century.

George Vassilopoulos, club president through the 1990s, made a stirring speech about loyalty, sacrifice, love and untiring dedication to a club and about giving something back to the fans.

A modern chairman, one suspects, would only orate about money, the bottom line and the need to win trophies.

Football clubs are primarily about people, something South Melbourne has not forgotten over 50 years but which the A-League, five years into its life, is yet to learn.

Someone beat me to it

Thank to SouthPole for finding this - South of the Border blog.

Notes on the 50th anniversary gala ball

I don't think I will ever have an original thought, much less put down words that will inspire them. But here goes anyway.

The Casino

It's the final day of horse racing's spring carnival, which means that my rented tuxedo doesn't stand out as much it normally would. That's a good thing. Much as it may surprise some people, I'm not fond of seeking attention.

I've probably only been to Crown Casino five times, and never in the gaming room. After asking for directions to the Palladium, I'm instructed to walk through there until I get to the Atrium and then take the stairs up.

Walking through the gaming room is dispiriting and otherworldly experience. There is no day, no night. The casino must also be the most democratic institution there is. Its clientele, if we can call it that, crosses so many more borders of ethnicity, language, gender, age, class, sobriety and wearing of shoes than Athenian democracy could have ever dreamed of. Security and venue staff in dark clothing circle and hover. While there is the occasional cheer, the most common expression is blankness. The Casino calls itself a place of entertainment, but I've never seen so many people so bored.

Up stairs upon trying enter the function area, I was asked for which function I was entering. Turned out the room wasn't ready when I got there. I guess I should have said I was there for Trent and Tenille's wedding. Eventually we got let into the foyer, where I caught up with a few familiar faces, and Ted Smith, who I'd done the interview with Ian with some time ago.

Les Murray

Les Murray seemed to be in good spirits throughout the event, posing for photos, and chatting to pleb and household name alike. He suprisingly stumbled over many of the Greek names, especially those of the pre-NSL era, but he soldiered on, and generally did a good job. The man knew the crowd he was playing to; he referred to the importance of clubs like ours, and even cheekily mentioned the score from the Victory game - 4-0 to Central Coast - which got a polite cheer from sections of the crowd.

Players and Coaches
Several players got their chance to speak on the podium. Paul Fortomanos, who spoke on behalf of his late father Stefanos, was perhaps my favourite speaker. Concise, passionate, measured and efficient in the right way. Mike Mandalis was beaming. John Margaritis was to the point. Jimmy Armstrong was his usual amusing self. Ange Postecoglou recounted his trip to Brazil with George Vasilopoulos for the World Club Championship draw. Paul Trimboli talked of his 17 years at the club. Peter Laumets spoke on the 1984 title; Peter Tsolakis for 1991. The 2006 grand final side got a teensy bit of short shrift in my opinion, but John Anastasiadis got to speak about that era as well as the world club championship stuff.

Video interviews and photo montages peppered the evening. Amongst those on tape, who did not speak on stage, were Ulysses Kokkinos, Con Boutsianis, Takis Mantarakis, and even Kostas Nestoridis, hunted down by a fan on his travels in Greece. Also within those montages were board and fan interviews, including one with the notorious fan called Banger - even credited as such.

Presidents

Tribute was of course paid to those who have come and gone; those who were absent due to being deceased were represented by family, such as Marmaras and Papasavas. George Donikian sent a rather newsreaderly message via video Leo Athanasakis was surprisingly well spoken - the man is known more for his enthusiasm than public speaking.

The most dreaded, or perhaps most anticipated speeches of the evening though naturally came from George Vasilopoulos and Peter Mitrakas. George Vasilopoulos almost singlehandedly changed the tone of the evening with his speech. Everyone before had been relatively humble and brief, promoting the club above themselves, being lighthearted about the whole thing.

Vasilopoulos turned it into something altogether more solipsist. On one level, you can't blame him; so much of his life was spent around and dedicated to the club, and so much of the club's greatest successes were under his reign. But there was an anger that was fascinating and disappointing to see. What it was that he was railing against I'm not exactly sure; one would could probably safely guess though that he was sending out a message to all his detractors. This went on for some time, much longer than pretty much any other speaker. He did manage to inject some levity into it though, which is more than be said for the next speaker.

Peter Mitrakas outdid Vasilopoulos for most despised. Another self-serving speech, from another person who has vanished in the hard times, but who seemed to take little responsibility for where the club had ended up under his administration - rather crediting his time with actually saving the club. He was the only person to be heckled on the night, being accused of 'going to the Victory'. He denied it, and then the response came from the same source, 'bullshit'. He soldiered on though.

Within all these speeches, there were interesting anecdotes and insights into the culture of the club; some things have changed, some things have stayed the same. They'll all be on the DVD.

Ephemera

It's a good thing that the videos managed to work eventually, after the initial couple of attempts saw them freeze.

What is it with this club and people speaking over the top of speakers? Poor Nick Galatas in particular, who fought to be heard over the top of the chattering classes.

The pasta entree was very small. The chicken was delicious. The dessert was also delicious, but also very slight.

The staff were seemingly on a mission to get everyone ploughed. I would have preferred more food to be honest.

I pretty much skipped watching Cirque Mystique. They seemed boring so I left the room when they were on.

There are numerous things which occur and which are said at these events - especially by certain patrons who've had a little too much to drink - of which you can ethically say nothing on a public medium, as they were conducted in private discussions, not for public consumption. I feel a little bit sorry for Mehmet Durakovic though.

Well done to the organising team. A fantastic event. Even I enjoyed myself, and that's saying something.

Gala Ball Tonight - Redux

Or,

I specifically requested no romantic music!


If you're confused by the redux reference, let me explain.

Originally, this entry was one line long. Basically saying, should be great, got my ticket, gonna have a good time. As much of a good time as I usually have. I'm not renowned for smiling.

And then something happened. Something massive.

Somehow, the biggest issue of the night will not be the club itself.

Not 50 years. Not great players, not great coaches, or goals, or memories, or stories or paying dues to those who made this club what it is, the five decades of blood, sweat, tears and corruption.

No.

The biggest issue will be the soundtrack. That's right, the biggest thing to get in a head spin about is the music that will be played on tonight.

Fuck. Me. Dead.

Will there be Greek music? Will there be the right type of Greek music? The right amount?

Oh my god we are this close to selling out the Greek community again! How could the organisers do this!

Whenever I rock up to one of these things - that is, a formal or semi-formal or just plain 'event' with music - I know pretty much from the get go that I won't like any of the music played. I remember my Year 12 Valedictory Dinner, where the only thing played that I remotely enjoyed was the intro to Start Me Up (they didn't play anything more than that - praise to Apollo for Taylors Lakes reception centres). Anyway, here are some solutions I conjured up real quick.

• Play Harry Lookofksy's Stringsville record on continuous loop.
• Play the entire Manic Street Preachers catalogue from beginning to end.
• Get a Lemnian band to play. Because, let's be serious, they made South. Every other Greek should bow to them.
• Get Frozen Tears to play. A Greek-Australian or Australian Greek singer. He loves the club. May have even played at South in the 1980s in the junior system. Commentated a grand final win for us. The band have a song about the club. That song is available in English and Greek. It's got a naff 80's Van Halen vibe. What's not to like?
  

Nah, fuck it. Let's be petty and mean. It's so much easier, and it suits our nature.

I weep for Dr. George Triantos and the team who have worked their arse off to provide an experience the likes of which every other pissant club in this state, nay, country, could even dream of. But to conclude on a more positive note. Hope to see some of my loyal fans - and the fans of the club too, I guess - tonight, where we can reminisce and celebrate in the company of our club's greatness. It may be the last chance we'll get with some of these blokes.

Vaughan Coveny talks about All Whites qualification chances

A nice interview with Vaughan Coveny by Daniel Phan on Goal.com yesterday, talking about the All Whites' world cup qualification campaign, his coaching ambitions and New Zealand football and the AFC. Needed to be proofread though. I ain't doing it. Here it is in its entirety, but click on the link anyway, there might be other good articles on there too.



New Zealand is in pole position to defeat Bahrain in the second leg of their 2010 World Cup play-off on November 14 in Wellington, claims former All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny.

Speaking exclusively with Goal.com, the Kiwis’ all-time record scorer expressed cautious confidence ahead of his nation’s clash with Bahrain in the return leg.

The first leg ended goalless last month.

“The guys did really well to get a great result to take back to New Zealand. As long as everybody involved stays fit. I believe we are in pole position to qualify,” Coveny told Goal.com.

“Firstly, we are playing at home in what will be a packed stadium and we’ve got the players capable of scoring a goal at home.”

“However, I don’t want to say we have one foot in the door already.”

The first leg in Manama ended 0-0 – with Bahrain enjoying the bulk of possession in front of their rapturous home crowd, however, the South Melbourne player-turned-manager expects the tide to turn come next month’s reverse fixture.

“It was always going to be tough. These games played over 180 minutes – your just two games away from the World Cup with not many scoring chances,” he began. “The home team will always have the crowd behind them and it was tough for our boys given the hostile environment.

He added, “We did well not to concede – and even had a couple of half-chances ourselves.

“I’m looking forward to our home leg as I believe we got the players in Rory Fallon [of Plymouth Argyle], Chris Wood [of West Bromwich Albion], Shane Smeltz [of Gold Coast United] and Chris Killen [of Celtic] – all goal scorers that are in form.”

Long-Term Asian Test?

With Australia defecting to the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), much has been said about New Zealand potentially following its trans-Tasman rivals into FIFA’s largest confederation.

Coveny is in favour of a potential link-up with Australia in the AFC, although concedes the unlikelihood of such a move eventuating.

“New Zealand would love to move into Asia if they gave us the chance to do so.”

“It will improve us as a nation and football side. “We’re in Oceania and that is the way it is at the moment so have to do everything by the rules.

“I agree it’s not a strong federation but others can come up with suggestions to make it more make it more difficult.”

But with New Zealand 90 minutes away from a place in the World Cup finals, Coveny has no complaints of the qualification pathway handed by FIFA.

“At the moment Asia is where we have to go qualify through, and it’s an easier pathway we must admit rather than playing the fifth placed South American team.”

Wellington Phoenix

Before returning to South Melbourne, Coveny spent two years at A-league club Wellington Phoenix.

There are lingering doubts surrounding the club’s long term future – with less than two years remaining on its A-league licence, and Coveny insists that the FFA (Football Federation Australia) should continue with the New Zealand franchise beyond the two years remaining on its license.

“I would love to see Wellington [Phoenix] continue [in the A-league],” he started.

“It’s good for the game in New Zealand. I know there’s a little bit of rivalry where I don’t think a lot of Aussies like them being in the A-league.”

Despite competing in an AFC registered competition, Wellington are unable to qualify for the Asian Champions League given its geographic representation being outside of AFC territory.

However, the All Whites legend wants the AFC to compromise its stance against Wellington Phoenix due to the fact it is New Zealand’s sole professional club.

“In terms of the Asian Champions League issue – that’s a tough one. I accept that we’re not part of Asia,” admits Coveny.

“But it’s the only professional team in New Zealand so why not give them a little bit of flexibility and allow them to compete in the ACL?

“I just hope people can sit down and sort it out. It’s a funny one because we’re part of Oceania and they are part of Asia – it’s a real sticky point.”

Coaching ambitions

When asked if coaching in the A-league or international arena with New Zealand was on his radar, Coveny nodded in affirmation.

“Definitely,” he said. “I do have ambitions to coach at the highest level.

“I’ve always been involved in the professional environment working with elite athletes and I’d love to give back something back to New Zealand – even if it was at the youth level; get involved in some capacity,” he continued.

“We’ll see what happens after this World Cup game [against Bahrain] – some doors may open.”

Daniel Phan, Goal.com

No Berry Puns Here

In case you didn't read the latest Neos Kosmos English Weekly - or the one before that maybe, I don't know for sure - the Pan-Hellenic games are coming to Melbourne! Yay! No, wait. More like, meh!

Anyway you can read the full article here. The interesting part for South fans is though.

The two major Greek football teams, South Melbourne FC and West Sydney Berries will also play a friendly match on Sunday November 29.

In case you were thrown off by the 'major Greek football teams' bit and were wondering who the hell the West Sydney Berries are, I'm here to help. They were formerly known as Canterbury Marrickville Olympic, and before that some time in the past just Canterbury, one of the more prominent pre-wog clubs of NSW football from what I can gather anyway.

It doesn't say what time or where we'll be playing - Lakeside's surface is apparently 'fucked' at the moment to use a technical term - and ne wonder what kind of team we'll have out there so early in pre-season but it will nice to see the boys play some more interstate competition, I guess.