Ange takes no positives from Victory loss

Updated October 06, 2012 13:35:36

Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou says there are no excuses for his side's poor execution in Friday night's 2-1 derby defeat to Heart.

In front of more than 42,000 fans, Victory crumbled under the Heart's heavy press as first-half goals to David Williams and Dylan Macallister were enough to trump Marco Rojas' lone strike.

An angry and blunt Postecoglou said the Victory's performance in the A-League opener had no positives.

"I'm not happy about anything. I'm happy about absolutely zero tonight. Absolutely zero," he said.

"Forty-two thousand people turned up and we let them down so I've got nothing to be happy about, absolutely zero.

"We can sit here and find a thousand reasons. I don't care. I really don't. All I know is that we missed a hell of an opportunity tonight.

"I'm not interested in trying to find reasons or excuses as to why we didn't perform.

"We were ready to perform, we were prepared to perform, there was absolutely no reason for us to dish up what we did tonight."

Victory struggled to employ Postecoglou's much-vaunted possession-based game, particularly building attacks from deep in defence.

"The execution should've been there tonight. I don't think we played out of the back well at all tonight. We were very, very poor," Postecoglou said.

"We weren't as positive as we wanted to be playing out from the back and we second guessed ourselves a little bit and there was no reason to.

"Again, this is straight after the game, but from where I was sitting I thought there were options out there for us to find solutions.

"Players were in the right areas they just didn't play it."

Part of that was down to Heart's fantastic forward pressure, which captain Simon Colosimo said his team and assistant coach Hayden Foxe worked on in preparation for the Victory's style.

"In the past we've had one particular game plan and gone in with that," Colosimo told Grandstand.

"But as you've seen... defensively with Foxey we've worked on a few things, trying to nullify what Victory do really well.

"I think we probably did that for an hour and then we started to get a little deep."

Colosimo conceded the Heart started to tire in the second half but still executed their game plan to deliver the three points.

"Foxey actually said during the week 'you are going to feel buggered, it's the most work you are going to do as a centre half all season'," Colosimo added.

"Just the way Victory setup with their front guys going really deep, you have to stay really high and you can't sit off.

"We had a game plan, we stuck to it and it proved right in the end."

Postecoglou's side now face a daunting visit to his former club and champions Brisbane Roar, who have mastered both the ability to keep the ball and win it back in recent seasons.

The two-time A-League championship coach was adamant he could develop the same winning tactics with his current crop at Victory.

"We've been building towards playing this game for a while and we were certainly ready to do that and we certainly had the players out there to do that," he said.

"I've got no doubt about that. Anything less than that, it's a cop out as far as I'm concerned.

"We were good enough to play our style of football. We had a team good enough to play our style of football tonight - absolutely no doubt about that."

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 06, 2012 12:46:46

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Boogard takes blame for Reds' collapse

Updated September 20, 2012 16:10:53

Adelaide United defender Nigel Boogaard says he felt he let his team down by being sent off in the first leg of its Asian Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday night.

Uzbek club Bunyodkor came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Reds at Hindmarsh Stadium, after Boogaard received a straight red card just before half-time.

Boogaard pulled back forward Murzoev Kamoliddin as they chased a dangerous long ball, causing the Bunyodkor attacker to fall as he neared the box.

The visitors scored from the resulting free-kick and bundled home an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining.

Boogaard says he apologised to his team-mates after the match.

"Obviously I'm disappointed in myself. It was probably at a crucial stage of the game when we were dominating and probably looking quite comfortable to get a result out of the game," he said.

"It was a spur of the moment decision that I took and it's always easy to look back in hindsight and say you'd change your mind, but obviously it's a decision that I'll look back on have to learn from."

"Hopefully it wont affect us going forward and, hopefully we can go over there and get the result."

The return clash is in Tashkent on October 3.

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted September 20, 2012 16:09:30

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Axed Coolen takes Adelaide United to court

Updated May 22, 2012 16:49:16

Dutch soccer coach Rini Coolen fears deportation from Australia while pursuing court action against the A-League club which replaced him, Adelaide United.

Lawyers for Coolen claim United misled the Dutchman, who was dumped as Adelaide's head coach last December - 18 months into a four-year contract worth $1.1 million.

Coolen's lawyers appeared in the South Australian District Court on Tuesday, arguing Adelaide United breached the Dutchman's contract.

But the club says Coolen was not sacked but merely redeployed to a junior development role, which he opted not to perform.

Coolen's lawyer, Andrew Short, said the redeployment was untenable and Coolen was seeking damages over his contract.

Coolen remained in Australia on a visa sponsored by Adelaide United and his living situation was endangered by losing his job, Mr Short told the court.

"It places at risk his ability to stay in the country," he said.

After being removed as coach, Coolen lodged a claim against United under Football Federation Australia's grievance resolution regulations.

But the FFA's appeal committee ruled the case can't go through the grievance process.

The ruling prompted Coolen to go to the district court's civil jurisdiction, seeking damages.

Lawyers for Coolen and United on Tuesday agreed to mediation meetings, with the court setting a settlement conference for July.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted May 22, 2012 16:49:16

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Popovic takes reins in western Sydney

Updated May 17, 2012 13:59:30

Former Socceroo Tony Popovic has been confirmed as coach of the new western Sydney A-League franchise.

Popovic, who has served as an assistant at Sydney FC and then Crystal Palace in England, will lead the club as it prepares to enter the 2012/13 competition.

He has agreed to a four-year deal.

The 38-year-old's career took him from Sydney United to Japan, England and the Middle East.

His 61 appearances in 12 years for the Socceroos included the 2006 World Cup.

Popovic, who grew up in western Sydney, said he looks forward to the challenge and knows it is a role he can be successful in.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to coach the new club in western Sydney and I'm really excited about the mission ahead of us," Popovic said.

"I grew up in west Sydney and learned my football there, but it's the challenge of a start up club in football's heartland that has brought me home.

"I know the region has a great passion for the game, fantastic junior ranks and thousands of life-long fans. These are ingredients that can help make our club a success."

Lyall Gorman was named full-time executive chairman of the new A-League club, leaving his position as A-League chief.

"Everyone in the game knows and respects Tony's leadership qualities as a player in the Socceroos and in 400 games of club football," Gorman said.

"There's no doubt Tony will bring those qualities to the new club. He has the coaching skills and the character to be successful in the A-League and his heritage in western Sydney makes him a fine ambassador for the region.

"I'm delighted to have a man of the stature of Tony Popovic as one of the pioneers of the new club in western Sydney."

Popovic is set to begin player recruitment as soon as possible, with preseason training to start June 25 ahead of the 2012/13 season commencement in October.

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, fairfield-2165, nsw, australia

First posted May 17, 2012 12:25:11

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Crook takes the helm at Sydney FC

Updated May 14, 2012 17:39:07

Ian Crook has become the sixth head coach of A-League club Sydney FC, signing a contract for the next two seasons.

The club confirmed the appointment in a statement ahead of a press conference in Sydney to introduce the new coach.

Crook takes the job after two years as Sydney's National Youth League coach and A-League Assistant Coach, following the return to Europe of Vitezslav Lavicka.

Crook, 49, was the assistant coach to former German international star Pierre Littbarski when the Sky Blues won the first A-league title back in 2005-06.

The former English professional footballer racked up 457 combined appearances for Tottenham and Norwich City, including 15 seasons in the English Premier League.

He was named 2001-02 NSL Coach of the Year with Newcastle United, and also had coaching success at his old club Norwich, helping the Canaries to win promotion to the Premier League as title winners in the Championship in 2009-10.

In the club statement Crook said he was eager to return to the competitive environment of the A-League.

"I'm thrilled and honoured to be named as head coach of Sydney FC," Crook said.

"This club is very special to me after being part of its birth and early success and since returning to Australia I have enjoyed working with the younger players.

"To get this opportunity at Sydney FC is fantastic and I can't wait to start working on the pitch with the players, Steve Corica, Zeljko Kalac (assistants) and the football staff to make sure we get Sydney FC back where it belongs."

Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said the club was pleased with the appointment.

"His passion for Sydney FC runs deep, he has an impressive coaching and football knowledge and he is familiar with the Club and what we are trying to achieve," Barlow said.

"Ian already has an important place in Sydney FC history as a member of the coaching staff in our foundation season and he knows what it takes to help steer Sydney FC to success in the A-League.

"He has since picked up valuable coaching experience in Asia and England, as well as immersing himself in the Sydney football community while coaching the Sydney FC National Youth League and NSWIS squads."

Since Littbarski's departure, successive coaches Terry Butcher, Branko Culina and John Kosmina failed to win a title before Lavicka led the Sky Blues to win the A-League against Melbourne Victory in 2009-10.

A disappointing ninth place followed in 2010-11, before a recovery to finish fifth in the league and a loss in the first week of the finals to the Wellington Phoenix.

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

First posted May 14, 2012 14:05:57

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Blackpool takes slender play-off lead

Updated May 07, 2012 09:29:34

A Curtis Davies own goal has given Blackpool a 1-0 lead to take into the play-off semi-final, second leg in Birmingham, as both sides look to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Thomas Ince's deflected first-half strike gave Blackpool the win at Bloomfield Road ahead of the second leg at St Andrews next Wednesday.

Blackpool could have taken a greater lead into the second leg as Stephen Dobbie missed a clear chance to double Ian Holloway's side's lead.

The Blues offered little other than a Marlon King effort that clipped the bar.

The Seasiders' substitute and former Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips seemed to have bagged the crucial second 14 minutes from time but his header was ruled out for offside.

On Thursday West Ham beat play-off opponents Cardiff 2-0 away in the Welsh capital to take a major stride towards securing a place in the play-off final at Wembley on May 19.

The clubs will meet for the second leg at West Ham's Upton Park on May 7.

Championship winners Reading and runners-up Southampton claimed the two automatic promotion places on offer and are assured of playing in the lucrative English top flight next season.

But the four clubs immediately below the Saints must battle it for the one remaining spot in the top flight via the playoffs, which culminate with the Wembley final.

AFP/ABC

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted May 05, 2012 08:47:52

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Canberra takes top spot with Adelaide thumping

Updated January 08, 2012 22:44:39

Canberra United sealed top spot on the W-League ladder with a 5-0 drubbing of Adelaide United at McKellar Park.

Taryn Hemmings and Michelle Heyman each found the back of the net twice for Canberra, while Ashleigh Sykes iced the win with a goal during time added on.

In other results, Sydney FC defeated the Glory 3-0 in Perth and Brisbane Roar downed Newcastle Jets 3-1 at Adamstown Oval.

Tags: sport, soccer, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 07, 2012 21:03:50

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Magilton takes first Victory session

Updated January 08, 2012 13:58:27

New Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton admits he spent much of his professional career in England trying to avoid confronting Kevin Muscat.

Now he looks forward to working alongside the former hard man after assuming the reins of the side for the remainder of the A-League season.

While the pair played against each other many times in England, where Magilton spent time at Southampton, Oxford, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday, the pair had not met until the Northern Irishman's appointment as Victory coach on Saturday.

Muscat will remain an assistant under Magilton, as will his offsider Steve Mautone.

Magilton took his first official Victory training session on Sunday morning - albeit a low-key recovery session after the side's 2-1 home win over Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.

He will get down to serious business on Monday as the Victory prepare for his first match at the helm - a home clash with John Kosmina's resurgent Adelaide United on Friday night.

Muscat, who guided the win over the Jets as Magilton watched from the stand, is convinced the Victory have the cattle to turn around what has been an underwhelming season.

Previous coach Mehmet Durakovic's sacking on Friday followed three successive losses and just three wins from their previous 14 matches.

"(Magilton) seems to be very professional. As soon as he got off the plane, he wanted certain things ready for him - he's hit the ground running," Muscat said.

"He'll see there is a good football squad here. It's just a matter of getting that consistency from week to week and winning actual games."

Muscat said he had spoken to Durakovic since his sacking, but would not divulge what was said or how his former South Melbourne and Socceroos team-mate felt about what had transpired.

"My last thoughts before the game were with Mehm and so were my thoughts at the final whistle," Muscat said.

"It's been a difficult time ... but the football club's got to move on. That certainly was evident against Newcastle."

Striker Danny Allsopp said the quick turnaround from Wednesday night's loss to Central Coast to their next game had forced the players to quickly turn their attention to on-field performance rather than brood about Durakovic's sacking.

"We didn't have time to dwell on it really because we went to training yesterday after the last match on Wednesday," Allsopp said.

"Obviously, everybody's disappointed with how things have gone and it's not a good thing when anyone loses their job.

"We knew we had to put out a good performance and try to get a good result for the club."

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 08, 2012 13:41:15

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De Vanna takes on the Swedish defence

Source:Friedemann Vogel, Getty ImagesPublished:Monday, July 11, 2011 6:58 AEST

Caroline Seger of Sweden and Lisa de Vanna of Australia battle for the ball during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Quarter Final match between Sweden and Australia at the FIFA Women's World Cup Stadium Augsburg on July 10, 2011 in Augsburg, Germany.

Tags: sport, football, world-cup, australia, germany, sweden

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Maradona takes aim at FIFA, Blatter

Posted June 5, 2011 11:02:00

Diego Maradona took aim at FIFA and its president Sepp Blatter, saying football was corrupt and had to put its house in order.

"Things are neither clear nor clean in the world of football right now and many people recognise this reality," asserted the Argentinian World Cup winner during a press conference in Dubai, where he has taken on a two-year coaching contract with local outfit Al-Wasl.

FIFA has been mired in months of corruption allegations but Blatter has managed to rise above the storm and on Wednesday won a landslide vote to be re-elected unopposed as the head of world football's governing body following the withdrawal of Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam, suspended amid claims of bribery.

Maradona, who has enjoyed his own share of negative headlines owing to past drug-related suspensions, says he is unimpressed with the game's rulers.

"Every day we see more corruption and manipulation of matches," charged the 50-year-old who helped Argentina to the 1986 World Cup on a day which saw reports emerge of alleged matchfixing on a friendly international between his own country and Nigeria amid claims of unusual betting patterns.

Asked if he backed Blatter's campaign to reform FIFA and its decision-making processes Maradona, sacked last year as Argentina coach, said: "I do not support anybody but I love football. I do not like those who are corrupt and who engage in corruption and I do not support them."

He added that in the past he had turned down offers to play some role in the FIFA "family".

Maradona asked: "What is this family that they speak of? None of them has ever played football. And when they are at the helm they make a multitude of wrong and stupid mistakes. They don't ask our opinion or advice to promote football," Maradona added.

And he insisted that "we will carry on our fight to get these people to quit FIFA. I ask them to leave.

"(But) Blatter is not going to resign. Let us not be under any illusions, nothing is going to change. Unfortunately, we have a big museum to FIFA - dinosaurs who do not want to leave power," Maradona summed up.

On his new challenge to bring success to 2010 Gulf Champions League winners Al-Wasl, currently fourth in the table and 16 points adrift of champions-elect Al-Jazira, Maradona insisted that reports of a 10 million dollar contract were exaggerated.

"We're a long way off that figure - these days the big contracts go to the players, not the coaches."

Match-fixing probe

Meanwhile, FIFA has confirmed Argentina's 4-1 friendly defeat to Nigeria is being investigated for possible match-fixing.

"FIFA can confirm that this match between Nigeria and Argentina was one that we had an active interest in, and forms part of a wider ongoing FIFA investigation," FIFA said in a statement.

"In particular, FIFA will be working closely with colleagues at the FIFA early warning system."

The match, played in Abuja on Wednesday, is by far the highest profile to come under suspicion. Argentina's goal came from a soft penalty awarded in the seventh minute of injury-time.

- AFP/Reuters

Tags: sport, football, argentina, nigeria, switzerland

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Kroenke takes controlling stake in Arsenal

Updated April 11, 2011 18:40:00

US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke has taken a controlling stake in Arsenal and has agreed terms to buy the remaining shares in the English Premier League club, both sides announced Monday.

The deal values Arsenal at about 731 million pounds ($1.13 billion), according to a statement issued to the London Stock Exchange.

If Kroenke gains complete control of the club, it will mean the top four English clubs are foreign-owned, reflecting the hugely lucrative status of the Premier League.

Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) has boosted its stake from 29.99 per cent to 62.89 per cent, and terms have also been agreed for KSE to buy up the remaining share capital at the cost of 11,750 pounds ($18,200) a share.

"We are excited about the opportunity to increase our involvement with and commitment to Arsenal," Kroenke, 63, said in the statement.

"Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger. We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success."

Wenger also welcomed the deal, saying: "I have worked with Stan Kroenke at board meetings over the past couple of years and I believe he has the best interests of Arsenal at heart.

"He understands the club's heritage and traditions and our ambition to run the club in a way which protects our long-term future."

Last month Kroenke increased his stake in Arsenal to within 10 shares of the threshold that forces him to make a takeover bid, when he acquired seven more shares at a cost of 8,500 pounds each.

Kroenke, who first bought a stake of almost 10 per cent in Arsenal in April 2007, also owns US Major League Soccer franchise Colorado Rapids, the NBA's Denver Nuggets and the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.

Foreign owners have flocked to the Premier League since television deals with Sky Sports helped make it the world's most lucrative domestic football championship and increased its global appeal.

Its most recent television deal for British and international broadcast rights, running from 2010-2013, has been valued at around 3.2 billion pounds.

The deal represented 1.8 billion pounds for domestic rights and 1.4 billion for international rights.

And the 2010-2013 terms increased sharply despite the global recession, showing a sharp rise on the previous deal which was worth 2.7 billion.

Arsenal are second in the Premier League table, seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who are owned by US tycoon Malcolm Glazer.

Chelsea are owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and fourth-placed Manchester City were taken over by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour.

- AFP

First posted April 11, 2011 18:26:00

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