The Hyundai A-League

[cronjnr28]

The Hyandai A-League version three has kicked of in great fashion this weekend with all eight teams in action.

For those of you who don't know much about it, the Hyundai A-League is the Australian top football division and consists of eight teams in it's third season. They include Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory, Wellington Pheonix, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory, Central Coast Mariners, Queensland Roar and Sydney FC.

In it's Inaugral season, Sydney FC were crowned champions, with the likes of Dwight Yorke and David Carney starring for the New South Wales based club. In the A-League's second season, Melbourne Victory were absolutely unstopabble, finishing as minor premiers and winning the grand final in emphatic fashion, 6-0 against a dismall Adelaide United side with Zippy striker Archie Thompson scoring five goals.

The A-League is obviously a new competition, replacing the old NSL. This was decided by the Australian Football Federation just over three years ago, as the NSL was a very ethnics based league which caused alot of unrest between supporters. The aim of this new and exciting A-League was to wipe this hotly debated issue out of the football in Australia and bring football fans of all backgrounds together, supporting the team from their given state.

It has been a great success in it's first two seasons, as we have seen some fantastic players grace the Australian pitches. The likes of Dwight Yorke, Romario and Juninho Paulista just to name a few. More excitingly for myself on a personal level, we have seen the emergance of some fantastic young Australian talent. Nathan Burns, Jason Spagnuolo, Ruben Zadkovic, Dario Vidisic and most of all, future Socceroos captain Mark Milligan have been extremely impressive.

I made this thread with every intention of trying to create interest in Australian football from football fans globally. It is held very close to my heart because Australia has never been a country that has embraced the sport whole heartedly or gained interest from overseas. As football followers down under we have finally solved the problems holding this nation back from being a powerhouse footballing nation and I am doing absolutely everything I can to give this underestimated league exposure. I hope that alot of you will take interest and ask me as many questions as you like about it.

For the Ronaldo fans of this forum, you might be interested to know that Newcastle Jets have signed Mario Jardel, former team mate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Sporting Lisbon and close friend. He is a very exciting talent and one I am looking forward to seeing alot of in the coming season.

The Round One Results were as follows:

Sydney FC 0 - 1 Central Coast Mariners.

Queensland Roar 2 - 2 Adelaide United

Wellington Pheonix 2 - 2 Melbourne Victory

Perth Glory 0 - 0 Newcastle Jets


The Round Two Fixtures are:

Central Coast Mariners vs Wellington Pheonix

Sydney FC vs Adelaide United

Melbourne Victory vs Perth Glory

Newcastle Jets vs Queensland Roar




If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask me. I would absolutely love all of your support to really get behind this league or at least just keep an eye on it. It would mean so much to me. Australian football has the potential to be absolutely fantastic and I promise you won't be let down. Thanks alot guys.

From Mike.

[mushi]

I would be interested in knowing how the A-League gets on over the course of the season.  Its disappointing that such an up and coming league with good players gets no coverage over here.  Theres coverage of so many European Leagues, its extremely unfortunate that there is no A-League especially if they are trying to get some people following it.  Hopefully if theres more interest over here in the coming years sports channels might start showing some games.  You are doing a great job drawing attention to the A-League and trying to get people interested, a true football fan. I wish your team the best of luck this season Mike. 

[evelinka]

In the A-League's second season, Melbourne Victory were absolutely unstopabble, finishing as minor premiers and winning the grand final in emphatic fashion, 6-0 against a dismall Adelaide United side with Zippy striker Archie Thompson scoring five goals.

What a sad, sad day that was. We'll never live that match down, Melbourne will never let that happen.

It is held very close to my heart because Australia has never been a country that has embraced the sport whole heartedly or gained interest from overseas.

Which I find completely ridiculous because during the FIFA World Cup soccer fever is EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE watches the soccer, despite it being on at the ridiculous hours of the morning. But apart from the occasional match on SBS, nothing is on free to air TV. I don't understand WHY we don't see more soccer on Australian TV and in Australia in general when so many people like it! So stupid.

I don't follow the A-League as closely as the EPL but if I knew more about it, I'd follow it more closely.

[Mims]

Evelina...we don't follow it because we're lazy...We'll get dad to come with us to home games this season tho. He said he wants to plus...HE CAN PAY! We'll see when the next home game is and go to that eh?

[ronnie#7]

That was a great read, thanks Mike.

I thought maybe I can contribute something useful to this thread too and do a short presentation of every club playing in A-League.

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History:

Perth Glory has enjoyed a long and successful history since its first season in the national competition in 1996/97. The club has set the benchmark for football in Australia with their innovative approach off the field and success on it. This culminated in back-to-back championships in 2002/03 & 2003/04.

The National Soccer League was disbanded after the club?s second championship and a new professional football competition was born ? the Hyundai A-League. Perth Glory has again featured prominently in this new competition and can look forward to a bright future on the Australian football landscape.


Stadium:



Members Equity Stadium has an 18,000 person capacity.


Players:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Petkovic [Aus] Born 1972 , Height 194cm
Aleks Vrteski    [Aus] Born 1988 , Height 194cm
Tommi Tomich

Defenders:

Dino Djulbic      [Aus] Born 1983
David Tarka      [Aus] Born 1983  "Perth?s 2006/07 ?Most Glorious Player? ?Best Young Player? ?Players? Player of the Year?
Hayden Foxe    [Aus] Born 1977
Jamie Coyne     [Aus] Born 1981
Nikolai Topor-Stanley [Aus] Born 1985

Midfielders:

Simon Colosimo [Aus] Born 1979
David Micevski  [Aus] Born 1986
Mitchel Prentice[Aus] Born 1983
James Downey  [Aus] Born 1987
Naum Sekulovski[Aus] Born 1982
Anthony Danzy  [Aus] Born 1984
Billy Celeski      [Aus] Born 1985

Wingers:

Leo Bertos       [Nzl]  Born 1981
Nick Rizzo        [Aus] Born 1979
Stan Lazaridis  [Aus] Born 1972

Strikers:

James Robinson    [Eng] Born 1982
Mate Dragicevic   [Cro] Born 1979
Nikita Rukavytsya [Aus] Born 1987
Jamie Harnwell     [Aus] Born 1977

Normal Line-up:

                                         
                                         Aleks Vrteski

                 
Jamie Coyne                Dino Djulbic             David Tarka               Nikolai Topor-Stanley

                       
Leo Bertos                  Simon Colosimo             Billy Celeski                Naum Sekulowski

                                   
                                Mate Dragicevic       Nikita Rukavytsya


Please correct me if something is wrong.


Coaches:

                               
Ron Smith - Head Coach

Heading into his second season in charge at Perth Glory Coach Ron Smith has dramatically reshaped his squad for the 2007/08 season in a bid to take the club into the finals. He will have the benefit this campaign of a full pre-season to assess and convey his plans to the Perth players, a luxury he didn?t enjoy last year when he joined Perth just weeks prior to the start of the 2006/07 season.
Smith is a coach who likes his teams to be well organised in defence but to play attacking football which should please the Glory faithful. Before taking the role of Head Coach at Perth Ron played an integral role in the Qantas Socceroos 2006 World Cup campaign as National Technical Manager in 2005/2006.


David Mitchell - Assistant Coach

Born in Glasgow, David Mitchell began his professional football career for Adelaide City in 1981 and in the same year, made his senior national team debut against Taiwan at Hindmarsh Stadium - the first of his 44 appearances in the national team where he scored 13 goals.

Mitchell was also one of the first Australians to play their trade internationally, with appearances in Scotland (Glasgow Rangers), England (Chelsea, Newcastle United, Millwall and Swindon Town), Germany (Eintracht, Frankfurt), Holland (Feyenoord), Turkey (Altay Izmir), Hong Kong (Seiko) and Malaysia (Selangor), before returning to Australia as Player / Coach for NSL clubs Sydney Olympic and Sydney United.

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History:

The Central Coast Mariners are one of eight clubs competing for the ultimate prize in Australian domestic football ? the Hyundai A-League.

Inaugurated in late 2004, the Mariners are the first team to represent the Central Coast region on a national and international sporting stage.

Home to over 300,000 people who reside along an idyllic 90 kilometre stretch just north of Sydney, the Central Coast is one of Australia?s most prominent tourist destinations and the Mariners are the flagship team of their community.

After making their first competitive appearance on 7 May, 2005, the Mariners went on to qualify for four consecutive domestic finals, the second of which earned the Mariners their first ever silverware ? the 2005 Pre-Season Cup.

The Mariners staged an enthralling late season reprise to earn a history making place in the inaugural Hyundai A-League showpiece at Aussie Stadium, where they were denied the Hyundai A-League title by southern rivals Sydney FC in front of 41,689 spectators at Aussie Stadium.

The Mariners began their second campaign as they had their first ? by qualifying for the final of the 2006 Pre-Season Cup.

There was to be no joy on this occasion for the yellow and navy, who had just weeks previously added their first ever marquee player to their playing roster ? iconic Socceroo legend Tony Vidmar.

Although the Mariners? second Hyundai A-League campaign failed to emulate the on-field achievements of their previous season, the yellow and navy continued to make significant strides away from the pitch.

With attendances at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium boosted by 24% and a cast of major partners backing the club, the Mariners continued to write their story, a story that has seen them provide the people of the Central Coast with an ever increasing sense of unity, identity and belonging.


Stadium:



The Central Coast Mariners play their Hyundai A-League home matches at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, one of Australia?s most picturesque sporting arenas.

With a total capacity of 20,059, Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium has played host to many major events, including International Rugby Union, NRL, boxing, motorcross and open-air rock concerts as well as a multitude of local sporting and community events.


Players:

Goalkeepers:

Dany Vukovic    [Aus] Born 1985
Matthew Trott  [Aus] Born 1985

Defenders:

Paul O'Gready    [Aus] Born 1978
Tony Vidmar      [Aus] Born 1970
Alex Wilkinson    [Aus] Born 1984 (C)
Nigel Boogard    [Aus] Born 1986
Andrew Clark     [Aus] Born 1974
Dean Heffernan  [Aus] Born 1980

Midfielders:

Bradley Porter     [Aus] Born 1987
Andre Gumprecht [Ger] Born 1974
Mile Jedinak        [Aus] Born 1984
Ian McAndrew     [Aus] Born 1989
Adam Kwasnik     [Aus] Born 1983
Matthew Osman  [Aus] Born 1983
Damien Brown      [Aus] Born 1975
John Hutchinson   [Aus] Born 1979
Tom Pondeljak     [Aus] Born 1976
Greg Owens        [Aus] Born 1981

Strikers:

Matt Simon         [Aus] Born 1986
Sasho Petrovski   [Aus] Born 1975
Nik Mrdja            [Aus] Born 1978

Usual line-up:

                                                   
                                                        Vukovic


                      
      Clark                     Boogaard                      Wilkinson                    Heffernan

                      
       Osman                 Gumprecht                    Jedinak                     Hutchinson

                                
                                Petrovski                      Mrdja


Coach:

   Ian Ferguson

Mariners Head Coach Ferguson is one of the absolute icons of the world game and, like fellow coaching staff member Lawrie McKinna, has been integral to the Mariners? successes from their very beginnings. Ferguson was first brought to Australian shores by McKinna in time for the 2002/03 National Soccer League season, with McKinna coaching the Northern Spirit at the time. Ferguson arrived after a long and decorated career in his Scottish homeland, where, in over a decade at the top level, Ferguson established himself as one of the immortals of famous Glaswegian giants Rangers. Ferguson was one of only three players to have stayed with the Ibrox club throughout their historic nine-in-a-row league championships period, where Ferguson accumulated over a dozen trophies. Ferguson?s legend also includes netting the goal which delivered Scottish central lowlands club St. Mirren their most recent major triumph ? the 1987 Scottish FA Cup.

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The other teams will follow as soon as possible.

[~CaRoLyN~]

theres highlights from the A- league on sky sports right now for anyone whos interested

[cronjnr28]

The Central Coast Mariners were victorious over the Wellington Pheonix tonight by a score of three goals to nil. Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium rose as one, as former Perth Glory striker Nick Mrdja, was the star of the show, scoring two fantastic goals in the first half. That along with a goal from tricky midfielder Adam Kwasnik, saw the Mariners have the game under wraps as they went into the half time break 3-0 ahead.

This performance by an in form Central Coast outfit has grounded the flying start from the Pheonix, who drew 2-2 in their first round match against defending champions Melbourne Victory, and were perhaps unlucky not to get the three points.

There will be two very interesting matches taking place tomorrow. First up we have Sydney FC vs Adelaide United at Sydney Football Stadium, followed directly after by the Melbourne Victory vs Perth Glory from the Telstra Dome. This double header kicks off at 5pm EST.

Round 2 of the Hyandai A-League is then concluded as we head East to see the Jets take on the Roar. This game begins at 5pm EST.

Lets hope this is another enthrauling round of football, as was the first. Good luck to the Perth Glory tomorrow !

[cronjnr28]

ROUND 2 Results:

Friday 31 August 2007

Central Coast Mariners FC Wellington Phoenix FC 3-0 Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium

Saturday September 1 2007

Sydney FC Adelaide United FC 2-2 Aussie Stadium
Melbourne Victory FC Perth Glory FC 0-0 Telstra Dome

Sunday 2 September 2007

Newcastle Jets FC Queensland Roar FC 1-1 EnergyAustralia Stadium

ROUND 3 Fixtures:

Thursday 6 September 2007

Queensland Roar FC Central Coast Mariners FC 8.00 PM Suncorp Stadium  

Friday 7 September 2007

Adelaide United FC Melbourne Victory FC 7.30 PM Hindmarsh Stadium  

Sunday 9 September 2007

Perth Glory FC Sydney FC 3.00 PM Members Equity Stadium 
Wellington Phoenix FC Newcastle Jets FC 5.00 PM Westpac Stadium 

[Mims]

awwww sucky...As if Adelaide only drew. They suck!!

[evelinka]

WE DREW?! Not bad, not bad. Just about all the teams in round two drew.
Karol, we must go to a game.

[Mims]

Tickets...I'll get tickets when there's a home game on Sunday...YOU check it out...I'll pay....................or convince dad to.

[evelinka]

Done deal. Just remind me tomorrow. Remind me to get cricket tickets too. We can't forget. I don't wanna miss out. Anywho. Sleep now. See you.

[Mims]

Yes. Cricket and Home game tickets! Right got it! I'll give the places a call tomorrow and get them all paid for too. Remind me to get dad's credit card off him so I can pay for them.

[13]

Sunday 9 September 2007
Wellington Phoenix FC Newcastle Jets FC 5.00 PM Westpac Stadium 

I'm a season pass holder for the mighty (well they will be) Wellington Phoenix so I am going to this game this weekend, just as I went to the Victory game two weeks ago and the Pre-Season games against Sydney (whom we beat 3-0) and Newcastle (a 0-0 draw that we lost on penalties). Not a half bad start for us I think considering some of our team members were only just arriving in NZ when the pre-season cup was going on (Spose that what we get for raiding Brazil haha).

But yeah I'm so glad that we have the Phoenix now and not the embarassment that was the New Zealand Knights, and the Kingz before that (They deserved to be ass for spelling Kings with a z). Auckland never really got behind those teams, whereas Wellington gets thouroughly behind all their sports teams whether they play rugby, cricket, football or whatever. The atmosphere at the Melbourne game was incredible, and the game set an attendance record for a club football game in New Zealand. Steven Old and Shane Smeltz had a cracker game.

[cronjnr28]

Thanks for your post 13. It is fantastic to see you getting behind the A-League and the Pheonix !

Wellington have a great squad this year. It was unfortunate to see the New Zealand teams of the past not really have the success that they desired, however as you stated, this Wellington team has the aura of genuine title contenders in the near future.

I was very excited when the Perth Glory signed Jeremy Christie last season, and was dissapointed to see Ron Smith give him hardly any game time. I think he will be a big recruit for you guys this season, along ofcourse with the likes of Ross Aloisi and Michael Ferrante.

The player that excites me the most out of your squad is obviously the Brazilian maestro Daniel. We have so far seen glimpses of what will surely come from the talented Selecao star but he is yet to really find a consistant level and produce that throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Good luck against the Jets tomorrow and I hope you enjoy yourself at the match. I'll be at the Perth Glory vs Sydney United game because I am a member of the Glory. Really dissapointed to see the likes of Mark Milligan, Ruben Zadkovic and Juninho not making the trip over to the west. I wish Mark and Ruben all the best for the Olyroos this weekend.