Ultimate A-League - Latest Comments

Re: Adelaide down Wanderers, crowned A-League Champions

britesparke — Mon, 02 May 2016 18:16:21 -0000

Congratulations to Adelaide United. Deserved champions who were simply the best team on the day! For the Wanderers or should I now refer to them as the "squanderers" it was a case of profligacy again in the front third. Maintaining pressure and domination is one thing but if this is not converted to goals then a positive result cannot be the outcome. Profligacy in front of goal is now matched by profligacy in championship attempts. How many chances do the Wanderers need to convert? Who knows.

Re: Wanderers edge Roar in nine goal finals thriller

britesparke — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:31:27 -0000

Well, well....WHAT a game! At 0-3 down I had a feeling of deja-vu and that Phoenix nightmare where the WSW were roundly beaten but just as I was reaching for the sedatives Castalen scored a cracker of a free kick! They were back in the game. This game had it all => defensive clangers, end to end forays, cracking finishes, lead changes and.....uncertainty. No one knew which team would take this one....until the last seconds of extra time. Thankyou Roar and Wanderers for providing one of the best games one could ever hope to see and highlight the beautiful game!

Re: 2015/16 Player of the Season

britesparke — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 02:15:20 -0000

Absolutely no argument! By far and away one of the best imports that have graced the A-League. A worthy runner-up in Castro as well!

Re: Nichols, Santalab fire in convincing Wanderers win

britesparke — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:01:41 -0000

Whilst a scoreline of 4-1 might be a convincing victory to some, the Wanderers continual profligacy in the front third is of real concern coupled with the noticeable fragility at the back. I cannot see the Wanderers taking out a premiership or grand final against more clinical sides like Melbourne City and the Roar if they persist with consistent squandering of chances in the front third. The scoreline should read 8-1!

Re: Reds cruise past Central Coast

britesparke — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 15:40:45 -0000

The reason I enjoy the A League so much can be summed up in Roy O' Donovan's second goal for the losing side, the Mariners. Superb skill saw a chest and volley spin, all in one fluid action, for a brilliant shot into the net! Shout out to all the Eurosnobs to start appreciating what is in your own backyard!

Re: Bozanic strikes twice to lift Victory

britesparke — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 04:33:37 -0000

Against a quality side like the Victory the Wanderers really need to do better in the front third instead of squandering chance after chance. Depending upon other results they could now slip all the way down to four on the table! Simply not good enough! Credit to the Victory for showing what a champion side they are.

Re: Mariners claw back Sydney in Gosford

britesparke — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:31:55 -0000

Sydney managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. Credit to the Mariners for not giving up hope and showing their fans that they are made of sterner stuff. Pity that only a small crowd of 6000+ were on hand to witness a great comeback by the Mariners.

Re: Reds secure point in Wanderers stalemate

britesparke — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:18:41 -0000

Adelaide knew that they were going to face an onslaught from the Wanderers at Pirtek and employed an effective defensive strategy. The Wanderers continue to be plagued by front third profligacy, squandering chance after chance, something they simply cannot afford to do against quality sides if they want to take silverware.

The Reds will be satisfied with a draw after surviving countless raids.

Re: Wanderers edge past Jets

britesparke — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:30:19 -0000

Wanderers were lucky to walk away with the three points, although they dominated for periods in the match, the Jets were always dangerous on the counter attack and nearly forced a draw. Such profligacy in the front third (15 shots on goal with only one of these converted) is a real concern going in to the business end of the season. Need more "efficient" attacking weapons up front to support Bridge. The Roar, Adelaide and Melbourne City are huge threats.

Re: Roar edge out Wanderers in see-sawing contest

britesparke — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:16:17 -0000

The Wanderers are still hampered by a lack of finishing quality in the front third. Clearly they missed the quality that Mark Bridge brings to the table and relied upon both Castelen and Nichols to provide scoring options. Sadly Golgol does not have an eye for Goalgoal! Credit to the Roar for returning to their sparkling form.

Re: Powell’s prime performance powers Phoenix in Parramatta

DT — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 17:12:10 -0000

Finally some match recognition for Manny Muscat.

Re: Smeltz steals Derby win for Sydney

Brodey Sheppard — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 17:06:00 -0000

and what a goal it was!

Re: Big name marquees are not a cure-all

Ross Krahe — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 21:39:38 -0000

In season 2013-14 Alessandro Del Piero and Shinji Ono among others joined the A League as overseas Marquee players. Both attracted massive media attention. Rock-star airport receptions greeted both players as they arrived in Australia. Both contributed to their teams on the field with public interest in the A League at an all time high. Bums on seats and TV ratings were up. Although of the two Del Piero was the bigger name, I believe Ono was more the type of Marquee the A League should be looking for. Younger by a couple of years and more mobile, Ono seemed a perfect fit for the Wanderers, whereas Del Piero was more of an addition to Sydney FC. If the A League wants to be a respected, professional league, I believe it needs players that fit into a team rather than a star addition.

Re: Risking livelihoods is a step too far for journalism

Craigo — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 02:12:49 -0000

Old bourbon Becky is an poor excuse for a journo, no ethics at all. But if you think she "loves" Rugby League, think again! Every chance she gets she slips the boot in, trust me. If anything, she is on the AFL bandwagon, and is a huge supporter of the Swans. How she got this information on the football supporters smells funny too. I hope she gets taken to the cleaners over this one!

Re: Podcast 91: Somewhat tactical leaks

Carly Wood — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:55:35 -0000

Aucklander-now Melbournite & Victory supporter here (& gutted I can't make it home for the match) ... North Shore stadium isn't just on the north shore, it's on the north of the north shore. Fortunately though it's directly off the motorway so as long as you have a car it's actually not too bad and there's plenty of parking. Public transport just isn't an Auckland thing ;)

Re: FFA grossly overestimate Cup’s perception

Ultimate A-League — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 05:55:18 -0000

(Justin) The hosting of the game is another issue altogether, and one that is certainly up for discussion. I don't agree that Victory should've automatically got hosting rights this year, in the same way that no team should just be given the hosting rights to the Cup final. How the FFA can sort this out though, I don't know. A neutral venue would kill crowds, so maybe they just draw the venue out of a hat and leave it up to chance?

In terms of the semi finals, the difference there was that the Victory semi was a Hume City home game, meaning Victory members received no entry rights or discount ticket prices for the game - hence the big crowd to membership differential.

Re: FFA grossly overestimate Cup’s perception

Michael Jepson — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 05:48:55 -0000

Well said Justin. But i notice you avoid discussing the game automatically being played in Melbourne. Surely this crowd number throws the FFAs arguement well and truly out the window. Looking at the semis attendance Perth with a membership of 5000 got 4500 to their game. Melbourne with a 25000 strong membership got only 6500 so i don't believe Melbourne automatically deserved the game at all. But I'm sure we won't see these kind of decisions changed until the FFA drop their sponsorship deal of the victory

Re: Season Preview 2015/16: Perth Glory

Ben — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 00:29:54 -0000

The Monday home game against Newcastle is a public holiday in WA.

Re: Podcast 85: Knives and Pitchforks

Brendan Kilpatrick — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 19:24:26 -0000

even worse.. actualloy it was 'Jims Plumbing'

Re: Podcast 85: Knives and Pitchforks

Ultimate A-League — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 19:19:17 -0000

Oh, wow, can't believe we forgot about those ones! Great suggestion, Brendan.

Re: Podcast 85: Knives and Pitchforks

Brendan Kilpatrick — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 19:11:02 -0000

Reckon the Adelaide United 'Jims Mowing' shirts give the Central Coast one a run..

Re: Triple treat for Victory in dominant Grand Final display

britesparke — Sun, 17 May 2015 06:30:37 -0000

Arnold huffed and puffed and tried to blow Victory's house down.....but couldn't. In a great exhibition of applying pressure and shutting all of Sydney's weapons down -Ibini,Brosque,Janko,Dimitrevic- Victory were emphatic in claiming the A League Grand Final as theirs. Nothing highlighted this more than when, down to ten men, "all the way with FBK" swept upfield and put on a brilliant pass for Broxham to finish. As a neutral I thoroughly enjoyed Arnold shooting himself in the foot and the Victory triumph!

Re: Brosque brace seals Sydney a Grand Final berth

britesparke — Mon, 11 May 2015 04:01:59 -0000

It is a case of opportunity lost for the Reds- inconsistency has again proved their downfall and almost mirrors the season of Melbourne City. Two sides full of promise fail to deliver at the final hurdle. Now we are faced with two teams headed by two mouthy showmen as the grand finale progresses to the FFA's masterpiece of scheduling -AAMI Park!

Re: Victory march on to fourth Grand Final

britesparke — Sun, 10 May 2015 20:54:06 -0000

Did you watch the game? Need to get your facts straight if you want a long career in journalism! The Barbarouses volley was a sublime first touch with his body angled having to take it with his right foot, and the provider with the precision cross was Ben Khalfallah NOT Georgievski as you state! The mind games have started with Arnie stating that his side is the *best in the A League (* since January this year) which is true BUT (and a very big one at that!) Victory have been the best team ALL season -a fact conveniently overlooked by Arnold. He has to take his team to AAMI Park which will be a cauldron of 25,000 + Victory supporters all spurring their team on. Congrats to the FFA for having the A League showpiece scheduled for the smallest venue in Melbourne-start counting the revenue lost from this scheduling debacle.

Re: Adelaide advance through late Mabil winner

britesparke — Fri, 01 May 2015 20:40:01 -0000

Adelaide have won when it mattered and, my player of the season (even if he did not play a full season), Carrusca, played a big hand in what unfolded prior to fatigue setting in and his eventual replacement. Cirio continued to do damage whenever he handled the ball. This form is impressive and takes them to their next meeting with Sydney FC. As a neutral, I would love to see the Reds go on to the grand final and take it out.