I've been working. And I mean properly. This is annoying, now that I no longer get paid by the hour, but it has to get done. Realising that it doesn't matter how much I work, it still ain't gonna get done is not going to help.
So you've missed out on the Marist tournament and the Homeric journey to return for the Phoenix match.
19 September, 2008
24 August, 2008
Phoenix 2-4 Melbourne
Well, that was annoying. A promising start, a decent 4-4-2 formation (although Kwasnik was dropping a little deeper than I like), Daniel looking keen and Johnson getting a start. The same back 4 retained should have been a good thing, as consistency of selection should lead to consistency of form.
But Allsopp for Melbourne is really good. Far too strong and experienced for poor Manny Muscat, and so was Ney Fabiano. With the referee seeming to miss much of the action, they physically dominated the Phoenix defence. Johnson started sharp but faded quickly (although, interestingly, he re-asserted himself impressively in the late stages). Daniel stopped playing wide and did his usual, nearly useful, tricks. Hearfield looked excellent with good pace and sharp skills. But they did us proper, like. Defensive muddles and stupid decisions left us vulnerable to the savvy of the forwards, and they made us pay in spades. The opening goal was soft, with Manny poorly positioned, allowing Allsopp to attack and then cut inside with Moss failing to make the save. Blame the slippery surface if you like. I don't. Crikey - that might even have been the second! I can't remember.
We got back into it with a Smeltz goal - he looks so sharp and motivated. But he always looks unhappy later, as his efforts look to have been wasted by other players.
The Victory went ahead again (possibly with the goal described earlier) and the Phoenix were awarded a penalty which wasn't especially controversial from my angle. But then the same thing happened for Victory.
I have no idea where it went wrong (although Ricki's tactics and Ferrante's presence rather swing my blame allocation) but this was not good enough. So many encouraging signs, wasted by the fact that the Victory strikers got so much joy out of our defenders. Maybe we just don't play niggly enough? The ref doesn't give the fouls, so they pay off.
Hearfield, Smeltz, Coveny and even Christie come out okay, but the others need seriously to look at what happened today.
But Allsopp for Melbourne is really good. Far too strong and experienced for poor Manny Muscat, and so was Ney Fabiano. With the referee seeming to miss much of the action, they physically dominated the Phoenix defence. Johnson started sharp but faded quickly (although, interestingly, he re-asserted himself impressively in the late stages). Daniel stopped playing wide and did his usual, nearly useful, tricks. Hearfield looked excellent with good pace and sharp skills. But they did us proper, like. Defensive muddles and stupid decisions left us vulnerable to the savvy of the forwards, and they made us pay in spades. The opening goal was soft, with Manny poorly positioned, allowing Allsopp to attack and then cut inside with Moss failing to make the save. Blame the slippery surface if you like. I don't. Crikey - that might even have been the second! I can't remember.
We got back into it with a Smeltz goal - he looks so sharp and motivated. But he always looks unhappy later, as his efforts look to have been wasted by other players.
The Victory went ahead again (possibly with the goal described earlier) and the Phoenix were awarded a penalty which wasn't especially controversial from my angle. But then the same thing happened for Victory.
I have no idea where it went wrong (although Ricki's tactics and Ferrante's presence rather swing my blame allocation) but this was not good enough. So many encouraging signs, wasted by the fact that the Victory strikers got so much joy out of our defenders. Maybe we just don't play niggly enough? The ref doesn't give the fouls, so they pay off.
Hearfield, Smeltz, Coveny and even Christie come out okay, but the others need seriously to look at what happened today.
23 August, 2008
Well, that was no fun
A draw in a football game against decent opposition is not really disappointing, but my role in it is of immense frustration. I have many failings, but a lack of honesty is not there. The second half of the game I refereed. It was all fine until there was a controversial offside decision. I called it as I saw it and there followed a lot of abuse and confrontation. No fun at all. And I didn't play the second half at all, even though my first half performance was just fine.
Horrible game in a poor day.
Horrible game in a poor day.
18 August, 2008
Spot the difference
Can you guess which one of these medal counts is taken from Fox News, and which from the BBC? As a clue, the BBC is in Britain, and Fox News in the US...
But, to give balance (and to my surprise) here's the ABC in Australia...
But, to give balance (and to my surprise) here's the ABC in Australia...
17 August, 2008
The draw that feels like a loss
Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Queensland Roar
The names have been changed (largely) but the performance was so similar to early last season that it was again immensely frustrating. McKain and Durante had less understanding than Dodd and McKain last week; Muscat looked less assured at right back than left; Leilei Gao was replaced by Daniel whose every stupid, wasteful decision was cheered by the crowd; Smeltz was offside; Kwasnik played deep and lacked influence; Dodd in midfield was ponderous (taking over the 'lummox' role from Aloisi). And then there is Ferrante. Appropriately-initialled MF, he offers little going forward, his sideways play blocks his partner at defensive midfield, his limited control drops him in trouble and his unambitious decision-making perpetually frustrates.
Maybe more blame needs to attach to the coach. The lack of width must come as a strategic instruction and the pairing of poor distributors must be a selection he makes (with Wriggler's hero Richard Johnson on the bench).
But. We didn't lose, and Smeltz scored with a superb finish (after a lovely pass from Daniel).
The names have been changed (largely) but the performance was so similar to early last season that it was again immensely frustrating. McKain and Durante had less understanding than Dodd and McKain last week; Muscat looked less assured at right back than left; Leilei Gao was replaced by Daniel whose every stupid, wasteful decision was cheered by the crowd; Smeltz was offside; Kwasnik played deep and lacked influence; Dodd in midfield was ponderous (taking over the 'lummox' role from Aloisi). And then there is Ferrante. Appropriately-initialled MF, he offers little going forward, his sideways play blocks his partner at defensive midfield, his limited control drops him in trouble and his unambitious decision-making perpetually frustrates.
Maybe more blame needs to attach to the coach. The lack of width must come as a strategic instruction and the pairing of poor distributors must be a selection he makes (with Wriggler's hero Richard Johnson on the bench).
But. We didn't lose, and Smeltz scored with a superb finish (after a lovely pass from Daniel).
I should be working
But I'm not. Procrastination should be my middle name, but I can't be bothered to change it. Strange Days.
I need to get a load of work done (and will try for a while this afternoon) but I don't want to overtax again this week. I have a horrible feeling that I must have looked a right slacker at the tail-end of the week. Tired => Booze => Bad food => Bad sleep => More tired. Thankfully, playing loads of football. However, due to a much-needed training course (there is so much I have to know to do my job properly), I will miss the final match for each of my midweek teams. Diet will need careful watching then...
And if anyone in Wellington is reading this, get to Fumi's Juice franchise under the BNZ centre and try the salads: they are an absolute treat!
I need to get a load of work done (and will try for a while this afternoon) but I don't want to overtax again this week. I have a horrible feeling that I must have looked a right slacker at the tail-end of the week. Tired => Booze => Bad food => Bad sleep => More tired. Thankfully, playing loads of football. However, due to a much-needed training course (there is so much I have to know to do my job properly), I will miss the final match for each of my midweek teams. Diet will need careful watching then...
And if anyone in Wellington is reading this, get to Fumi's Juice franchise under the BNZ centre and try the salads: they are an absolute treat!
14 August, 2008
Phoenix Update
Season tickets arrived today, which is kind of nice. Except that the rest of the 'welcome pack' has to be collected from the club shop in town after the 16th. i.e. Saturday at the earliest. The first match is Sunday. So they are artificially stimulating demand at the club shop on the day that it should least need it.
I'm mildly peeved that I won't have my new wristband, lanyard and other assorted gubbins, but I'm sure you can sense my relief that I can use last year's. Because surely I can't be bothered to go into town before my own football game on Saturday (unless the weather continues its awful run), and I am plenty busy on Sunday too.
Last year, they sent the whole pack out en masse. This struck me then as nice of them, but a bit wasteful. It would seem reasonable to me that once the decision to send out vouchers for collection was taken, that they could the do this as soon as they liked, rather than waiting until the last moment.
On the bright side (for the fans), Tony Lochhead's trial at Middlesboro (highlighting some hypocrisy from Rocki Herbert) came to nothing. From what I saw last year, the Premier League is at least one step too far. If he'd had a go at a slightly lower level, then I don't think he'd be coming back.
I'm mildly peeved that I won't have my new wristband, lanyard and other assorted gubbins, but I'm sure you can sense my relief that I can use last year's. Because surely I can't be bothered to go into town before my own football game on Saturday (unless the weather continues its awful run), and I am plenty busy on Sunday too.
Last year, they sent the whole pack out en masse. This struck me then as nice of them, but a bit wasteful. It would seem reasonable to me that once the decision to send out vouchers for collection was taken, that they could the do this as soon as they liked, rather than waiting until the last moment.
On the bright side (for the fans), Tony Lochhead's trial at Middlesboro (highlighting some hypocrisy from Rocki Herbert) came to nothing. From what I saw last year, the Premier League is at least one step too far. If he'd had a go at a slightly lower level, then I don't think he'd be coming back.
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