Points gained % from points available

With the unusual fixturing in the A-league season causing the clubs to have played different amounts of matches I thought creating a table where the points gained percentage from points available (PGPA%) determined the club's position in the leader, rather then using the traditional points statistic would provide a clearer indication of how each team is performing.

PGPA% is worked out by dividing the amount of point's gained by a club by the amount of points a club could of gained if they had won all the matches they have played and then multiplying that by 100.

An example would be the Gold Coast have played 12 matches (12 matches x 3 points available for a win = 36) and gained 21 points. The equation would be 21 / 36 = 0.5833, 0.5833 x 100 = 58.33.  The Gold Coast have a PGPA% of 58.33     

Leader

                             P        Pts     PGPA%

Brisbane               15      32      71.11

Central Coast       12       24      66.66

Adelaide              15       28      62.22

Gold Coast          13       24      61.53

Melb Heart          15       20      44.44

Melb Victory       15      17       37.77

Wellington          14       15      35.71

Perth                    16      15      31.25

Newcastle           12       11      30.55

Sydney                14       11     26.19

North Qld            13      10      25.64

leader correct as of the 16th November 2010.

I don't know how to make the table look any better at the moment but at least it's readable.

Rating each A-league's club starting 11

This is how I rate the A-league teams going into the 2010/11 season based on the strength and quality of each teams strongest starting eleven.


I believe the best three teams are Sydney FC, Adelaide Untied and Melbourne Heart.  Their is very little between the the quality of the the three teams starting eleven.  With Sydney just being marginally better then the other two.


1st.  Sydney's strength's are their front two of Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque and the quality Nicky Carle and Stuart Musialik bring in midfield.  They also have a fairly decent defence.  Sydney's biggest weakness is in goals were it appears Liam Reddy has won the race to be first choice.


2nd.  Adelaide's best player is goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic who looks to be staying at Adelaide after  transfer speculation linked him with a move to Europe.  When it comes to Adelaide's ten outfield players, the main strength would be the apparent lack of weakness anywhere across the field, with Sergio van Dijk, Matthew Leckie and Marcos Flores set to be the stars.  


3rd.  Melbourne Heart's main strength is their goalkeeper Clint Bolton and a possible back four of Michael Marrone, Simon Colosimo, Michael Beauchamp and Dean Heffermen.  Heart's main weakness appears to be the lack of A-league experience of their first choice front three of Alex Terra, Gerald Sibon and Rutger Worn.          


Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix are not quite as good as the top three but are comfortably the best of the rest.          


4th.  Perth have a good goalkeeper, a good defence, a good midfield and a good forward line.  This is what makes Perth better then most of the teams in the league but also prevents them matching the top three.  Perth's best players are Andy Todd, Mile Sterjovski and Robbie Fowler.   


5th.  Wellington are very similar to Perth however Perth are just a bit more even across the field. In Paul Ifill Wellington have one of the best players in the A-league and the Jade North, Andrew Durante partnership in the center of defence will be key for them.   


Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast Untied are to teams that as well as having strengths in their best starting eleven also have considerable weaknesses. 


6th.  Melbourne Victory are strong in their midfield with Billy Celski and Carlos Hernandez.  The problem is up front with Robbie Kruse currently being their only fit and although he's talented leading the line is not Robbie Kruse's best position.  (Rumours have recently linked a Brazilian striker to Melbourne Victory). 


7th.  The Gold Coast are reasonably strong in midfield, strong upfront especially is last seasons A-league's top scorer Shane Smeltz remains at the club.  However their defence has a few holes and goalkeeper Glen Moss needs to be in better form then he was last season whilst playing for the Melbourne Victory.       


Bringing up the rear in terms of the quality of their strongest starting eleven for the 2010/11 season are. 


8th.  Central Coast Mariners have an even squad with Argentinian attacking midfielder Patricio Perez potentially starring in the A-league.  Youngster Oliver Bozanic could also shine on the left side of midfield.   


9th.  Newcastle Jets look weak in the goal keeping relying on the inexperienced Ben Kennedy.  Newcastle also look to be weak upfront with most of the burden falling to skillful but injury prone Michael Bridges.  Newcastle's defence and midfield is more good then great.     


10th.  Brisbane Roar are strong in goals with one the A-leagues best goalkeepers in Michael Thoklitos joining the club in the off season.  Up front Brisbane look a little short, relying on Jean Carlos Solorzano who is unproven in the A-league to score most of their goals.  Brisbane's defence and midfield are solid and workmanlike.         


11th.  North Queensland Fury have a lot of new players, with Simon Story a good signing and Mark Hughes, Andre Kilian and Gareth Edds having the potential to be good signings.  The front two of Dyron Daal and David Williams should cause problems for most teams.


This shouldn't necessarily be viewed as my predictions for how the table will look at the end of the A-league season, more so how i rate each team strongest starting eleven going into the 2010/11 season.    

21 reasons I'm excited about the 2010/11 A-league season

These are some things I'm looking forward to in this seasons A-league (in no particular order).

• Robbie Fowler playing for Perth Glory
• With Robbie Fowler playing up front hopefully this will also mean seeing Mile Sterjovski playing in his preferred position on the right of midfield.
• Young gun Matthew Leckie
• Seeing how Adelaide play under Dutch manager Rini Coolen
• Nicky Carle combining with Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque in Sydney FC's attacking third 
• Brisbane Roar's new look team under Ange Postecoglou.
• Seeing if Billy Celeski can rediscover his form from the season before last.
• If Billy Celeski and Carlos Hernandez are in form watching them play together in Melbourne Victory's midfield.
• Seeing how North Queensland and Gold Coast perform in their second seasons.
• Miron Bleiberg's press conferences and interviews. 
• Seeing what style of football North Queensland play under Czech Republic coach Franz Straka.
• Graham Arnold coaching in the A-league and seeing how the Central Coast play under him.
• All 5 foot 6 of Central Coast's Argentine play maker Patricio Perez.
• Melbourne Heart.  
• Watching the Melbourne Heart play under John van't Schip.  
• As a whole seeing what the foreign managers add to the A-league.
• Josip Skoko playing in the A-league.
• Melbourne Hearts youngsters Brendan Hammil, Kamal Ibrahim, Eli Babalj and Kliment Taseski.
• Football at Aami Park.
• The ability to watch live football every weekend in Melbourne if I so choose.
• The first Melbourne derby.

And one thing I'm not looking forward to, Robbie Slater's commentary and punditry. 

My World Cup dream team.

Better late then never, this is my World Cup dream team.

4-1-3-2

GK. Iker Casillas

RB. Philipp Lahm

CB. Juan

CB. Gerard Pique

LB. Jorge Fucile

CDM. Bastian Schweinsteiger

RM. Thomas Muller

CAM. Wesley Sneijder

LM. Arjen Robben

ST. David Villa

ST. Diego Forlan

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Switzerland

Switzerland are in Group H at the World Cup and will play Spain, Chile and Honduras. This is the Switzerland squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Diego Benaglio, Club- Wolfsburg, Age at the World Cup (AWC) 26.

RB. Stephan Lichtsteiner, Club- Lazio, (AWC) 26.

CB. Stephane Grichting, Club- Auxerre, (AWC) 31.

CB. Steve von Bergen, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 27.

LB. Reto Ziegler, Club- Sampdoria, (AWC) 24.

CDM. Gelson Fernandes, Club- AS Saint-Etienne, (AWC) 23.

RM. Valon Behrami, Club- West Ham, (AWC) 25.

CM. Gokhan Inler, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 25.

LW. Tranquillo Barnetta, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 25.

ST. Blaise Nkufo, Club- FC Twente, (AWC) 35.

ST. Eren Derdiyok, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 21.

Subs

GK. Fabio Coltorti, Club- Racing Santander, (AWC) 29.

GK. Marco Wolfli, Club- Young Boys (Switzerland), (AWC) 27.

RB. Kim Jaggy, Club- Skoda Xanthi (Greece), (AWC) 27.

CB. Mario Eggimann, Club- Hannover 96, (AWC) 29.

CB. Bruno Berner, Club- Leicester City (Championship), (AWC) 32.

LB. Christoph Spycher, Club- Eintracht Frankfurt, (AWC) 32.

CDM. Fabian Lustenberger, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 22.

RW. Valentin Stocker, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 21.

CM. Pirmin Schwegler, Club- Entracht Frankfurt, (AWC) 23.

LM. Xherdan Shaqiri, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 18.

ST. Albert Bunjaku, Club- FC Nuremberg, (AWC) 26.

ST. Marco Streller, Club- FC Basel, (AWC) 28.

The Coach

Switzerland are coached by German Ottmar Hitzfeld. Hitzfeld was appointed coach of the Swiss national team during the 2008 European summer and had never previously been coach of a ntional team. At club level Hitzfeld has been successful in Switzerland and Germany. In Switzerland Hitzfeld managed FC Aarau and then Grasshopper winning a total of 2 Swiss Super League titles and 3 Swiss Cups. In Germany he managed Borussia Dortmund for six years between 1991 and 1997, and won 2 Bundesliga titles and the 1997 Champions League. Hitzfeld has also managed Bayern Munich and during his two stints with the club he won 5 Bundesliga titles 3 German Cups and the 2001 Champions League.

Hitzfeld is only one of three managers to win the European Cup with two different clubs, has been twice been decreed "World Coach of the Year" (1997,2001) and voted by the Bayern Munch fans as their clubs greatest ever coach.

Switzerland's Strengths

Switzerland have a very even squad, with all their players playing in some of the best leagues in Europe.

Switzerland's weakness

What Switzerland lack the most is a few top quality players with the ability to change a match by themselves, this will prevent Switzerland from going far in the World Cup.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Slovenia

Slovenia are in Group C at the World Cup and will play Algeria, the USA and England. This is the Slovenia squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Samir Handanovic, Club- Udinese, Age at the World Cup (AWC) 25.

RB. Aleksander Rajcevic, Club- FC Koper (Slovenia), (AWC) 23.

CB. Marko Suler, Club- Gent (Belgium), (AWC) 27.

CB. Bostjan Cesar, Club- Grenoble (Ligue 1), (AWC) 27.

LB. Miso Brecko, Club- Koln (Bundesliga), (AWC) 26.

CM. Dalibor Stevanovic, Club- Vitesse, (AWC) 25.

RM. Robert Koren, Club- West Bromwich Albion (Championship), (AWC) 29.

LW. Valter Birsa, Club- Auxerre, (AWC) 23.

CAM. Nejc Pecnik, Club- Nacional (Portugal), (AWC) 24.

ST. Milivoje Novakovic, Club- Koln (Bundesliga), (AWC) 31.

ST. Zlatko Dedic, Club- Bochum, (AWC) 26.

Subs

GK. Aleksander Seliga, Club- Sparta Rotterdam, (AWC) 30.

GK. Jasmin Handanovic, Club- Mantova (Serie B), (AWC) 32.

RB. Branko Ilic, Club- Lokomotiv Moscow, (AWC) 27.

CB. Dejan Kelhar, Club- Cercle Brugge, (AWC) 26.

CB. Matej Mavric, Club- Tus Koblenz (Bundesliga), (AWC) 31.

LB. Elvedin Dzinic, Club- NK Maribor (Slovenia), (AWC) 24.

CDM. Darijan Matic, Club- Rapid Bucharest (Romania), (AWC) 27.

RW. Klemen Lavric, Club- SK Sturm Graz (Austria), (AWC) 28.

LM. Andraz Kim, Club- Wisla Krakow (Poland), (AWC) 25.

CAM. Milenko Acimovic, Club- FK Austria Wien (Austria), (AWC) 33.

ST. Tim Matavz, Club- Groningen, (AWC) 21.

ST. Dejan Kelhar, Club- Cercle Brugge, (AWC) 26.

The Coach

Slovenia are coached by compatriot Matjak Kek. Kek was appointed coach of the Slovenian national team at the beginning of 2007. Previously Kek has coached Slovenian club side Maribor and the Slovenian under 15 and 16 national teams.

Slovenia's strengths

Their strikers, up front Slovenia can between a group of players playing in some of Europe's best leagues. They also have a nice mix of youth and experience.

Slovenia's weakness

Slovenia are at their weakest in defence where they have to use a couple of players still playing in the Slovenian PrvaLiga.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Greece

Greece are in Group B at the World Cup and will play South Korea, Nigeria and Argentina. This is the Greek squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Kostas Chalkis, Club- PAOK, (AWC) 36.

RB. Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Club- Genoa, (AWC) 22.

CB. Vangelis Moras, Club- Bologna, (AWC) 28.

CB. Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 30.

LB. Nikos Spiropoulos, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 26.

CDM. Kostas Katsouranis, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 30.

RM. Sotris Ninis, Club- Panathinakos, (AWC) 20.

LW. Vasilios Koutsianikoulis, Club- PAOK, (AWC) 21.

CAM. Nikos Liberopoulos, Club- Entracht Franfurt, (AWC) 34.

ST. Georgios Samaras, Club- Celtic, (AWC) 25.

ST. Theofanis Gekas, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 30.

Subs

GK. Alexandros Tzorvas, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 27.

GK. Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Club- Coventry City (Championship), (AWC) 31.

RB. Giannis Maniatis, Club- Panionios (Greece), (AWC) 23.

CB. Dimitrios Pappas, Club- Rot Weiss Oberhauen (2nd Bundesliga), (AWC) 30.

CB. Avraam Papadopoulos, Club- Olympiacos, (AWC) 26.

LB. Vasilis Torosidis, Club- Olympiacos, (AWC) 25.

CDM. Grigoris Makos, Club- AEK Athens, (AWC) 23.

CM. Giorgos Karagounis, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 33.

RW. Dimitris Salpigidis, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 28.

LW. Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Club- Panathinaikos, (AWC) 23.

ST. Angelos Charisteas, Club- Nuremberg, (AWC) 30.

ST. Kostas Mitroglou, Club- Olympiacos, (AWC) 22.

The Coach

Greece are coached by German Otto Rehhagel, who has been in charge since 2001. Under Rehhagel's guidance Greece have qualified for the 2004 and 08 European Championships, the 2010 World Cup and won the 2004 European Championship. Before becoming coach of the Greek national team Rehhagel also had a successful career coaching at club level in Germany. He spent fourteen seasons at Werder Bremen winning two German Championships, two German Cups and one Cup Winners Cup with them. In total during his coaching career in Germany he won a total of three German Championships and three German Cups.

Rehhagel is known as being a good motivator and instilling into his players a lot of team spirit. He likes the spine of his team to consist of older more experienced players. In defense Rehhagel likes to use a dominant libero, he also prefers to use defenders with physical prowess rather then with footballing ability. He likes his teams to attack down the wings and will try to start with at least one striker who is strong in the air and a good header of the ball.

Greece's strengths

Greece is at it's strongest up front where it call upon players currently playing in the SPL and the Bundesliga.

Greece's weakness

Greece's weakest position is in the goalkeeping department with all options currently playing in the Greek Super League.