The Big Match- A-league Grand Final Melbourne v Adelaide

At the start of the finals series I predicted a Adelaide v Queensland preliminary final.  With the Roar wining 1-0 which would of meant a Melbourne v Queensland grand final.  However in reality Adelaide beat Queensland so the fourth A-league championship is victory v the reds. 

Melbourne have played Adelaide 17 times wining 9 times and drawing 3 times,  Adelaide have won 5 times.  Melbourne have won all 5 of their matches against Adelaide this season (3 home games, 2 away games), in these 5 matches victory have scored 11 goals to the reds 2 goals.  

The last time Adelaide beat Melbourne was in round 8 of the 2007/08 when they won 4-1 at Hindmarsh stadium.  The last time Adelaide defeated Melbourne in Melbourne was in round 8 of the 2006/07 season when they won 1-0.

In Melbourne the victory and the reds have met 8 times, with Adelaide winning twice, losing 6 times and drawing once.  The 4-0 and 6-0 famous final victories in Melbourne's favour are the only times a match against Melbourne and Adelaide played in Melbourne has been decided by more than the one goal.

This season Adelaide have played 11 away matches, winning 3, losing 5 and drawing 3. Adelaide didn't score more than 1 goal in an away match.  Adelaide only scored 6 goals in their away matches.  

          

This season Melbourne have played 12 home matches, winning 10 and losing twice (the two home matches victory lost they didn't score in).  Melbourne have won their last 7 home matches.  At home this season Melbourne have scored 27 goals and conceded only 8 goals.

In 2006/07 season grand final Melbourne played Adelaide at the Telstra dome.  Melbourne won that match 6-0.

Probable Melbourne Victory line up.

GK  M. Theoklitos, 20 games, 48 saves, 9 clean sheets.  Played in victory's winning grand final team two years ago.

RB S. Ryall, 9 games.  Only 19 years old likely to be victory's youngest player in the grand final team.

CB K. Muscat, 23 games, 5 goals, 1 assist.  Captain and also played in the grand final two years ago.

CB R. Vargas, 23 games, 2 goals, 1 assist.  Another player who played in the grand final two years ago.

LB M. Kemp, 22 games (18 started, 4 off the bench) 1 assist.  Was suspended for the grand final two years ago when he was an Adelaide player.

Mid B. Celeski, 23 games (22 started,  1 off the bench) 1 goal, 4 assists.  Playing his first season with the victory.

Mid T. Pondeljak, 21 games (17 started, 4 off the bench) 2 goals, 3 assists.  Also playing in his first season with the victory.

Mid N. Ward, 17 games (7 started, 10 off the bench) 2 goals, 1 assist.

AM C. Hernandez 20 games (16 started, 4 off the bench) 4 goals, 1 assist. Equal third in the 

A-league for this season.

FOW A. Thompson 18 games (17 started, 1 off the bench) 9 goals, 6 assists.  Scored 5 goals in the grand final two years ago.

FOW D. Allsopp 23 games, 13 goals, 4 assists.  Another victory play to have played in the grand final two years ago.

Subs

Gk M. Langerak 4 games (3 started, 1 off the bench) 9 saves, 1 clean sheet. 

LWB/LW E. Berger 14 games (12 started, 2 off the bench) 1 assist.

CDM G. Brebner 19 games (9 started,  10 off the bench) 2 goals, 1 assist.  Started in the grand final two years ago.

CDM J. Luis Lopez 17 games (10 started, 7 off the bench) 1 assist.

FOW N. Fabiano 16 games (9 started, 7 off the bench) 5 goals, 3 assists.

Possible Adelaide Reds line up.

E. Galekovic 21 games, 79 saves, 10 clean sheets.  Was on the Melbourne victory bench for the grand final two years ago.

RB D. Mullen  12 games  (10 started, 2 off the bench).  His farther played 2 games for the socceroos in the late 80's.

CB R. Cornthwaite 19 games (17 started, 2 off the bench), 2 goals.    

CB S. Ognenovski 23 games, 3 games, 1 assist.  The grand final will be his last match for the reds.

LB S. Jamieson 24 games (23 started, 1 off the bench), 1 assist.  Voted by the fans and his follow players as left back of the season.

CDM P. Reid 21 games, 1 goals, 5 assists.  Play in his first season with the Reds.

CDM J. Salley 16 games (9 started, 7 off the bench).  Also leaving the reds after the grand final.

RM T. Dodd 23 games (22 started, 1 off the bench), 7 goals, 1 assist.  Captain and was part of the team that lost the grand final two years ago.

LM Cassio 15 games (13 started, 2 off the bench), 4 goals.  Was sent off the last time these two teams played.

AM F. Barbiero 18 games (14 started, 4 off the bench), 2 goals, 1 assist.  Scored the goal that took the reds to this grand final.

FOW Cristiano 24 games (18 started, 6 off the bench), 8 goals, 3 assists.  Adelaide's leading goal scorer this season.                

Subs

GK M. Birighitti 3 games, 9 saves, 1 clean sheet.  At the age of 16 will be the youngest player in either teams squad on match day.

RB M. Marrone 2 games.                   

CM R. Griffiths 2 games(twice off the bench).  Was signed by Adelaide just in time for the finals.        

LM L. Pantelis 13 games, 2 goals, 1 assist.

FOW P. Agostino 9 games (6 started, 3 off the bench).  Is retiring after the grand final.  

The Predication.

Comfortable 3 goal victory for Melbourne, scorers C. Hernandez, A Thompson and D. Allsopp.

 

Idiocy annoys me witless.

The other day while looking at the Adelaide Advertiser i saw this article.  This is another one of those articles written but journalists who don't know much about football (soccer) but still decide to write a negative article.

To start off with the journalist wrote "In just about every sport you can name, the ultimate object of the team or individual is to win.  Not so in soccer"  This comment is so stupid I'm literally sitting at the computer screen thinking how to respond.  Of course the objective of football is to win the match and just because a match finishes as a draw doesn't mean the teams didn't try to win the game.  

The journalist then claimed"A premiership points system which was devised, or revised, to reward scoring but which, instead, has inflicted a desultory defensive mindset on nine out of 10 encounters."  This claim is simply wrong since the numbers of draws in English football has not been affected by the three points for a win system which was introduced in 1981.  The first country the system was used in.

This article was also the first time I had ever heard of a football player who plays in a forward position described as a demented wood duck " leaving some poor hapless forward to roam ahead like a demented wood duck hoping to spot a worm".  I wonder how much footballing forwards like Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto and Archie Thompson like being referred to as demented wood duck's.

Next in the article wasn't an error about football but a racial stereotype "little Japanese".  Obviously the journalist doesn't know about the two Japanese centre-backs who played against Australia in the world cup qualifying match, Yugi Nakazawa (187 cm) and Marcus Tulio Tanaka (185 cm).  Simply that is two tall Japanese men.  The Japanese squad named for the match also featured six other players who are at least 180 cm tall.  Not really "little Japanese".

This ignorance of the height of the Japanese centre backs also raises an interesting point.  In the article 5 of the paragraphs are about the Japan v Australia match.  You would think the journalist would of watched the match and noticed that a couple of the Japanese defenders were quiet tall.  Yet it would appear from the afore mentioned ignorance of the height of the Japanese centre backs that the journalist didn't watch the match.  Hopefully the journalist didn't comment about a match he had never seen. 

The journalist then wrote "in Tim Cahill, they have one of the most potent goalscorers in the the game".  Now I know in Australia we all love Tim Cahill, his 2 goals he scored against Japan which were our first goals at a World Cup and although he's got a great record for scoring as a midfielder, he is no where near being one of the most potent goalscorers in world football.

Next the journalist claimed "that even one away goal would have guaranteed their sought-after ticket to South Africa".  Firstly one away goal would have absolutely nothing for Australia if we had lost the match to Japan in a score line 2-1 or 3-1.  We'll just assume the journalist meant if Australia had won the match 1-0.  With the draw between Australia and Japan the table for World Cup qualifying is Australia top with 10 points, then Japan on 8, Bahrain and Qatar both have for points and bottom is Uzbekistan.  If Australia had beaten Japan, Australia would now have 12 points and Japan would be on 7 points.  This would have put Australia 8 points ahead of Bahrain and Qatar.  However with four matches to go in qualifying Bahrain and Qatar still would of had the possibility of overtaking Australia on the table.  Although a win against Japan would of got as closer to qualifying for the World Cup unlike the journalist claimed it would not of guaranteed qualification to South Africa 2010.

The journalist then wrote "Ultimately, poor Cahill .......... was accorded just one meaningful touch".  A shot at goal is different to a touch, in the match Tim Cahill did only have one shot at goal, he also had a lot more meaningful touches of the ball which weren't shots.  What the journalist wrote here could indicate a lack of knowledge about football, which leads to the question why is he writing about it?  Or it can indicate the journalist didn't watch the match found the stats for the game which would told him Tim Cahill had only one shot, which leads to the question why are five paragraphs of his article about an match he didn't watch?  

Next the journalist wrote "Nonetheless, the result - a nil-nil draw .... later was lauded by all the experts as precisely what Australia wanted from the encounter"  Experts are experts for a reason they know what their talking about.  Simply a draw for Australia against Japan is what we wanted.  Especially when your playing away in front of nearly 70,000 hostile fans (Japanese football fans are regarded as some of the best and loudest fans in world sport) against the toughest opponent in your group, missing 3 of your best players (M. Viduka, H. Kewell, 

B. Emerton), with most of the squad arrive 48 or less before the match meaning they don't train together properly before the match and with the whole squad either have been on a long flight from Australia or Japan.  For some reason the journalist forgot to mention all these factors.

Finally the journalist wrote "So, no doubt, will it be replicated tonight in Melbourne ...... a Melbourne outfit spotted yesterday installing a battery of Exocet missiles in front of goal".  The journalist might want to take whoever told him this information to the hospital because their obviously delusional.  Now i know i have the benefit of hindsight, and that Melbourne won.  But it wasn't like Melbourne defended for 90 minutes and got a lucky goal.  Melbourne won the match 4-o, scoring three of their goals in the first half.  That's what the experts call attacking football.        

The Big Match- Japan v Australia

On the 11th of February, at 7.20pm Yokohama the whistle will blow for which in all likely hood will be the most important match in the AFC 4th round group A qualifying round, Japan v Australia.  

The match will be played at International Stadium Yokohama, which was opened on the 1st March 1998.  It is the largest stadium in Japan with a capacity of 72,327 seats.  The stadium hosted the 2002 World Cup Final between Germany and Brazil.  Since 2003 International Stadium Yokohama has also hosted the Club World Cup.

Japan, nickname Blue Samurai played it's first international on the 9th of May 1917 against the Republic of China losing 5-0.  Japan's biggest ever defeat was a 2 goals to 15 against the Philippines on the 10th May 1917.  Don't worry because Japan's biggest ever win was 15-0 against the Philippines on the 27th of September 1967.  

Japan have played in the last three World Cups, these are the only times Japan have qualified. Their best result was in the 2002 Korea Japan world cup when they made it to the second round losing 1-0 to Turkey, who eventually finished third.  Japan have made 6 appearances at the Asian Cup, the first in 1988, winning the cup 3 times in 1992, 2000 and 2004.  Japan have played at 4 Confederations Cups.  Their first appearance was in 1995, their best result coming in 2001 when they lost the final to France 1-0.  Japan have played in the Olympic football tournament eight times.  Their best result was at the Mexico 1968 games where they finished 3rd.  

Masami Ihara with 123 caps is Japan's most capped player.  Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan's highest goal scorer with 75 international goals.  Japan's current FIFA ranking is 34th, their highest ranking was 9th which occurred February 1998.  Japan's lowest ranking was 62nd which occurred February 2000.   

Japan are coached by Takeshi Okada, he has previously been the Japanese national coach at the 1998 World Cup.  During his playing career he played 24 games for Japan and scored one goal. At club level he has coached Consadole Sapporo (1999-2001) and Yokohama F Marinos (2003-2006) both are Japanese clubs.   

Japan have named a 25 man squad for the Australia match.  20 members of the squad play in the J-league.

GK Ryota Tsuzuki 4 caps Urawa Reds

GK Eiji Kawashima 3 caps Kawasaki Frontale             

GK Takanori Sugeno Uncapped Kashiwa Reysol

For the match Japan will be missing their their first two choice goalkeepers Seigo Narazaki and Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

CB Shuhei Terada 6 caps Kawasaki Fontale

CB Yuji Nakazawa captain 84 caps, 16 goals Yokohama F. Marinos 

DF Kazumichi Takagi 5 caps Gamba Osaka

CB Marcus Tulio Tanaka 20 caps, 4 goals Urawa Red Diamonds

FB Yuichi Komano 42 caps Jubilo Iwata

RB Yuto Nagatomo 9 caps, 1 goal F.C. Tokyo  

LB Michihiro Yasuda 6 caps, 1 goal Gamba Osaka

RB Atsuto Uchida 17 caps, 1 goal Kashima Antlers

CDM Hideo Hashimoto 7 caps Gamba Osaka

CDM Yasuhito Endo 73 caps, 7 goals Gamba Osaka

CM Kengo Nakamura 32 caps, 3 goals Kawasaki Frontale

MF Yasuyuki Konno 27 caps F.C. Tokyo

MF Shinji Kagawa 9 caps, 2 goals Cerezo Osaka

FW Keiji Tamada 55 caps, 13 goals Nagoya Grampus 

FW Seiichiro Maki 38 caps, 8 goals Jef United Ichihara Chiba

FW Tatsuya Tanaka 14 caps, 3 goals Urawa Red Diamonds 

FW Shinji Okazaki 7 caps, 3 goals Shimizu S-Pulse

The other 5 are based in Europe.

RW Shunsuke Nakamura 82 caps, 22 goals Celtic F.C.  Nakamura has played in Europe since the 2002/03 season firstly three seasons with Reggina, and now in his fourth season in Scotland with Celtic.  This season he's played in 17 matches scoring 6 goals.  

MF Junichi Inamoto 71 caps, 4 goals Eintracht Frankfurt.  Inamoto has played in Europe since the 2001/02 season.  He had played for five different clubs across Europe before joining German side Eintracht Frankfurt in May 2007, he has played 34 games for his current side. 

MF Daisuke Matsui 13 caps, 1 goal Saint-Etienne.  Matsui has played in France since the 2004/05 season firstly four seasons with Le Mans, and this season with Saint-Etienne.  So far this season he's played in 19 matches.

      

MF Makoto Hasebe 16 caps Vfl Wolfsburg.  Hasebe has been playing for Wolfsburg since 2008. Playing 32 games scoring 1 goal. 

FW Yoshito Okubo 33 caps, 5 goals Vfl Wolfsburg.  Okubo first played in Europe in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons with Spanish side Mallorca.  This year he has gone back to Europe with German side Wolfsburg playing 1 match so far.

Australian Squad     

Gk Mark Schwarzer 62 caps

GK Brad Jones 1 cap

GK Eugene Galekovic 1 cap

CB Lucas Neil 46 caps

LB Scott Chipperfield 52 caps, 12 goals 

CB Chris Coyne 5 caps     

CB Craig Moore 41 caps, 3 goals

CB Jade North 23 caps

LB Shane Stefanutto 1 cap

RB Luke Wilkshire 31 caps

LB David Carney 17 caps, 1 goal

CAM Tim Cahill 30 caps, 14 goals

CAM Mark Bresciano 46 caps, 11 goals

CM Jason Culina 36 caps, 1 goal

RM Richard Garcia 2 caps

CDM Vincenzo Grella 36 caps

CAM Brett Holman 21 caps, 1 goal

CDM Mile Jedinak 3 caps

RW Mile Sterjovski 39 caps, 7 goal

CDM Carl Valeri 14 caps

CF Josh Kennedy 10 caps, 5 goals

FOW Scott McDonald 10 caps

Australia could possibly start like this:

4-2-3-1

....................................M. Schwarzer

L. Wilkshire.......C. Moore........L. Neil....S. Chipperfield

..............................V. Grella........C. Valeri

.................J. Culina.......M. Bresciano....B. Holman

........................................T. Cahill

Past Matches

Australia has played Japan 16 times.  The first time in 1956 at the Olympics when Australia won 2-0 in Melbourne. Australia have won six matches, 3-0 in 1996 in Melbourne is the biggest winning margin against Japan.  Japan have won six times as well, their 4-1 win in Wollongong in 1996, and their 3-0 win in 2001 in Shizuoka being Japan's biggest winning margin. Australia have never beaten Japan in Japan.   

A-league finals preview

On Friday the finals for the fourth A-league season begin with Central Coast at home to the Queensland Roar in the minor semi final.

For the match the mariners will probably play a 4-3-3 formation.  Danny Vukovic will start as GK.  With Andrew Clark at RB, Alex Wilkinson at one of the CB positions, Pedj Bojic will have to move out to LB because of Dean Heffernan's suspension and for the other CB Central Coast have already indicated they will play Paul O'Grady (193cm, 92kg) because they believe he can match up physically with Roar centre-forward Sergio van Dijk (185cm, 88kg).

The Central Coast have lost their last three games coming into the finals one of the main reasons for this is CDM Mile Jedinak's transfer to Turkish side Genclerbirligi.  Last game the mariners used Nigel Boogaard at CDM and he probably start there again against the roar, Andre Gumprecht will play on the right of midfield and John Hutchinson on the left.  

Up front will be Matt Simon, Nik Mrdja and Dylan Macallister even those he's been in poor form for the last few matches.

On the bench will be GK Andrew Redmayne, and most likely midfielder Bradley Porter, midfielder Matt Osman, attacking midfielder Adrian Caceres and forward Sasho Petrovski.

If the Central Coast don't play in a 4-3-3 formation the will most likely play in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation with Adrian Caceres coming in for either Dylan Macallister or Nik Mrdja.          

Even those Queensland Roar is playing the first leg away the have already stated through the media they will still play in their usual attacking manner.

Although the roar also play in a 4-4-3 formation Michael Zullo and Tahj Minniecon are a lot quicker and more mobile than the Central Coast's Matt Simon and Nik Mrdja. 

Even though Liam Reddy is fit again Queensland Coach Frank Farina has already indicated number 2 goalkeeper Griffin McMaster will keep his place in the starting 11 after replacing Reddy for the last three games. 

With Hyuk-Su Seo just coming back from injury Andrew Packer is likely to switch from LB to RB, with Luke DeVere out injured Craig Moore will be partnered in the centre of defence with the more than adequate replacement of Josh McCloughan.  Danny Tiatto will likely play once again at LB after staring in that position in the final game of the season.  

Recently Matt Mckay has been playing in the most defense midfield position for roar and is likely to do so for the Central Coast games, Massimo Murdocca will join him in midfield and either Mitch Nichols or Charlie Miller who's been starting on the bench in the last few matches after coming back from injury, will play in the attacking midfield position.          

Michael Zullo will play on the left wing, with Tahj Minniecon on the right and red hot Sergio van Dijk who's scored 10 goals in the last 10 games at CF. 

On the Queensland bench will be GK Liam Reddy, RB Hyuk-Su Seo, left winger Tommy Oar, the unlucky attacking midfielder out of Mitch Nichols or Charlie Miller who isn't chosen for the starting 11 and right winger Robbie Kruse.   

Predication: The Central Coast have never beaten Queensland Roar at Bluetongue stadium and this wont change.  The mariners will continue to miss departed CDM Mile Jedinak and Sergio van Djik will continue his goal scoring form.  Roar to win the first leg 2-1.  The Central Coast goal will come from a mistake in the Queensland defence.  For the second leg even those Central Coast may be chasing the tie, in football you can't make a formation with three forwards any more attacking.  The match in Brisbane will be a 1-0 win to the roar with the goal being scored on a Queensland counter attack.

On Saturday night Adelaide play Melbourne in the major semi final.  

Adelaide will probably start with a 4-2-3-1 formation.  Former victory player and recently announced GK of the year Eugene Galekovic will start between the sticks.  Daniel Mullen should play at RB after returning from injury.  With Robert Cornthwaite suspended for the first leg, Sasa Ognenovski who himself has just come back from suspension will be partnered in the centre of defence with veteran Michael Valkanis who is going to retire at the end of the season. At LB recently announced young player of the year Scoot Jamieson will start.  

Paul Reid and Fabien Barbriero will start as the two holding midfielders.  Lucas Pantelis will play on the left of midfield and Travis Dodd will start on the opposite side.  Former victory player Kristian Sarkies is likely to start as the CAM.  

Up front Cristiano is likely to be recalled to the starting line up to play as the lone striker up front as he has done for most of the season.

On the Adelaide bench will be GK Mark Birighitti, Alemao who can play either at RW or RB, CDM Jonas Salley, controversial new signing midfielder Rostyn Griffiths and CF Robert Younis.

Even those Melbourne play the first leg away coach Ernie Merrick has indicated the victory will play attacking football in the first leg.  Melbourne will probably play in a 4-4-2 formation.  

In goal will be Michael Theokiltos.  At RB Sebastian Ryall should start, it will be victory usual CB pairing of Kevin Muscat and Rodrigo Vargas in the middle and former Adeaide player Matthew Kemp will start at LB.

It's likely Nick Ward will start at LM with Tom Pondeljak at RM.  Billy Celeski will start in the centre of midfield and be given the most defensive responsibilities.  Carlos Hernandez will play in front of Celeski and be a lot more attacking, for the second leg Hernandez won't be arriving in Melbourne until the day before the match because of his call up into the Costa Rican national side.

Up forward the most successful striking pair in A-league history will start Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp.

On the victory bench will be GK Mitchell Langerak, LWB Evan Berger, CDM Grant Brebner, CDM Jose Luis Lopez and Brazilian striker Ney Fabiano.

Predication.  The first leg will end in a 1-1 draw, Melbourne will score either by Danny Allsopp, or by a Kevin Muscat penalty.  If Melbourne lose the first leg look to Ney Fabiano coming in for a midfielder in the starting 11.  In Melbourne the score will be 1-0 to Melbourne Archie Thompson will score the goal.

            

If my predications are right it will be an Adelaide v Queensland Roar preliminary final. Queensland will win this match 1-0 in extra time most likely with Charlie Miller scoring.