Gareth Thomas, the Rugby Union legend, has possibly taken the bravest step of his career.  He has “come out” that he is gay.  So what I hear people sigh!

This is a big issue for a number of reasons.

Gareth Thomas (Munster Vs Cardiff Blues) - Thanks to Clare Courier (flickr)

Firstly, Gareth is Wales most capped player, and perhaps more importantly he is still playing professional Rugby (for the Cardiff Blues). It is unprecedented for a Rugby Union star to come out whilst still a playing professional.  For a player of Gareth’s stature to come out it is incredible.  Players often shy away from this issue for fear of fans reactions, loss of sponsorship and lack of support from their clubs! For Gareth to face all this down and come out should be supported and acknowledged to be a truly brave act.  How the public reacts is incredibly important as it will set a precedent for all other gay sport stars who are thinking about coming out (at the moment in Rugby Union there is an openly gay referee but no player that I am aware of). 

Secondly, this is not just important for Rugby but sets a precedent for all other major sports.  At the moment, out of the 500 professional footballers in the UK  and there are no openly gay footballers.  It is highly unlikely that this reflects the reality of footballer’s actual sexuality.  Footballers are role models for millions of people around the world.  To show that sexuality has nothing to do with your professional capabilities (or your ability to lead an ordinary life) would be incredibly positive.  Whether we like it or not, footballers are elevated onto pedestals by fans.  The only problem is they know more than anyone how easy it is to fall off that pedestal. Footballing history has not been kind to those who have not followed the script.

Justin Fashanu, the first million pound black footballer, came out and was hounded by fans and the public to such an extent that the coroner said it contributed to him committing suicide. We all remember the taunts that Grahame Le Saux received …all these chants seemed to be based on nothing other than the fact he read the Guardian and has a university education.  Le Saux was married…but he did collect Antiques!  Sadly, it was not just fans who taunted Le Saux, do you remember Robbie Fowlers taunts? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2419068.ece

Then there was the whole incident that involved heterosexual left back Ashley Cole.  The News of the World, wrongly, accused a premiership footballer of taking part in a Gay orgy.  This was not the interesting bit of the story.  What was interesting for me was despite not being named in the story; Cole went to extraordinary lengths to dispute the accusations even taking the paper to court.  Check out – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-378786/Cole-sue-gay-footballer-orgy-claims.html. 

I have said before and I will say again.  There is no social force in this world more powerful than football.  If you want to change anything in this world, start with football.  Sadly, for improving the lives of millions of people around the world affected by homophobia this looks like a slow process.  The Football Association (FA) has introduced a ruling that puts homophobic chanting on a similar scale to racist chanting.  There has been scattered reinforcement of this ruling (especially at the Seagulls ground who suffer disproportionate abuse).  To say that the FA is a slow moving conservative body would be an understatement.  This ruling however, at least sets a target to aim. 

Hopefully, footballers will follow in Gareth’s brave example.  Having openly gay footballers will be one of the biggest steps towards a more equal society that we could take.  All secretly gay sports stars though will be looking on with great interest to see how fans, sponsors and club treat Gareth.  Let’s hope it is with respect.

Jag bad en nära vän lista de bästa Liverpoolbiografierna:

1. Carra (Jamie Carragher) - one of the best recent autobiographies from a top premier league player.  Carragher is a self-proclaimed football nerd and he uses his analysis and understanding of the game to give lots of great stories both on an off the pitch from LFC over the past 10 years.  Recommended food to be consumed whilst reading this book: definitely a Worcester Sauce Walkers crisps book, possibly with a Belgian Lager on the side.

2. Fowler (Robbie Fowler) – LFC’s prodigal son, and still cherished by fans the world over.  Fowler never quite lived up to what he could and should have been.  A local lad, brough up on football, Fowler’s story was something of a roller-coaster ride, never far away from scandal (punch ups, snorting the goal line, etc).  His open-feud with Houllier (LFC manager) gives voice to many revelations of behind the scenes dirty tactics and back stabbing.  Food: Monster Munch crisps (preferably cheese and onion flavour) and a kit kat. 

3. Dalglish (Kenny Dalglish) - not only a hugely talented player but also one of the most successful LFC managers of all time.  Dalgish’s story takes all in all the highs (‘the double’, league wins), and the lows (Hillsborough), and introduces the reader to the personalities behind stars such as Rush, Grobbelaar, Souness, Hansen and more.  Food: Prawn Cocktail Walkers crisps, the last remaining chocolates from a Quality Street box, and a wee tipple of Drambui (since Dalglish is Scottish).

La goleada del Tottenham al Wigan (9-1) y los cinco goles de Jermain Defoe sirven para recuperar algunas de marcas históricas en el fútbol inglés

El Tottenham humilló al Wigan en White Hart Lane en la que ya es una de las mayores goleadas en la historia de la Premier League. Entre todos los goleadores, Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar y Jermain Defoe, este último pasará a la historia con sus cinco tantos, incluido un hat-trick en siete minutos.

El delantero de los ‘Spurs’ ha sido el jugador que más se ha acercado al histórico registro de Robbie Fowler que en 1994, con la camiseta del Liverpool, le marcó tres goles al Arsenal en cuatro minutos y 33 segundos. El hat-trick  más rápido de la historia de la Premier League. El pasado mes de agosto de 2008, Gabriel Agbonlahor se acercó a la marca del delantero ‘Red’, con tres goles al Manchester City en ocho minutos.

Antes de la fundación de la Premier, en la antigua First Division, Nigel Clough, el hijo del mítico Brian Clough, marcó con el Nottingham Forest tres goles al Crystal Palace, en cuatro minutos, en la temporada 8t-89. Por su parte,  James Hayter, del Bournemouth, anotó el ‘hat-trick’más rápido en la Football League en febrero de 2004. Entrando como suplente en el minuto 84 le marcó tres goles al Wrexham en 140 segundos. Este mismo año. Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield) fue más allá y logró tres goles de cabeza ante el Exeter en ocho minutos.

Sin embargo, el ‘hat-trick’ documentado más rápido de la historia del fútbol fue obra de Tommy Ross, que en 1964 marcó tres goles en 90 segundos al Naim County.

Al igual que Jermain Defoe, dos jugadores más han logrado marcar cinco goles en un partido de la Premier League. Andy Cole lo hizo con el Manchester United ante el Ipswich Town en 1995 y Alan Shearer con el Newcastle ante el Sheffield Wednesday en 1999. Otro histórico, del United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, logró cuatro entrando desde el banquillo en 1999 ante el Nottingham Forest.

Defoe se convirtió, además, en el cuarto jugador del Tottenham en marcar cinco goles en un partido, y el tercero en lograrlo en Liga. Antes lo hicieron Ted Harper, en 1930 ante el Reading, en un encuentro de Segunda División, Alf Stokes, en 1957 contra el Birmingham City y Les Allen en 1960 ante Crewe Alexandra en la FA Cup.

Now that the furore surrounding Thierry Henry’s handball against Ireland has calmed down I thought that my thoughts could be finally be heard.

Firstly, I don’t blame Henry. Whether he meant it or not it doesn’t matter. The only moment when Henry would have had the clarity of thought to admit to what he had done, intentionally or not, was after Gallas had peeled off in celebration.

Can we blame Henry for not admitting it? No, of course not. If Ireland had gone on to win (they weren’t winning at the time) then Henry would be hated by his country and teammates alike. The French public forgave Zidane, they wouldn’t forgive Henry.

Henry can regret not speaking up at the time but he had approximately 5 seconds to make the decision. Furthermore, if he does own up it is not a guarantee that the correct decision would be made (see Robbie Fowler penalty versus Arsenal).

Thierry Henry has been called a cheater by a lot of people. I would extend this list to almost every footballer, professional or not. We have all gained a free kick or throw in which we know should have gone the other way. I would immediately throw Roy Carroll into this bracket (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4130167.stm). Note the poll on the right of the screen.

Let’s categorise Slaven Bilic in that list (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/croatian-rocker-who-wants-to-roll-over-rooney-419478.html)

It could go on.

For this whole shambles I blame FIFA and the referees. How the linesman missed the handball I’ll never know. They should be banned from going to the World Cup as punishment for a calamitous error.

FIFA should have long introduced video technology for the fourth official. The rule in using it should be as follows: “If the fourth official recognises an incident which is conclusive beyond all doubt which the referee and his team have not seen then it is his duty to inform them of the incident in question.”

This denies the fourth official the license to rule on penalty decisions, all of which have an element of doubt, off-sides, unless obviously wrong, or general fouls. However, the Henry incident, the Bilic incident, the Carroll incident, the Rivaldo incident and the Zidane incident would be irradiated without any controversy.

I do not subscribe to the view that it will delay the game due to the melee which always ensues after an ‘incident’; there will always be sufficient time for the odd replay. Also, the argument that the beauty of football is that the same game can be played anywhere and introducing video at the highest level would distort that does not sit well either. Cricket and Rugby have not been harmed by the introduction at the highest level only. Also, the games which have extensive enough video coverage tend to be the ones that matter the most, including play-off games for all leagues and any Cup final.

Now is the time to use the technology at our disposal to remove things which referees can’t see or fail to see.

The head of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) says the Government should put out a welcome mat for the Sri Lankan asylum seekers docked in west Java. So far the Labor movement has been broadly uncritical of the Prime Minister’s approach to the 255 asylum seekers intercepted by the Indonesian Navy. But Paul Howes, who is also the vice-president of the ACTU, has now broken ranks. He has urged the Government to seize the moral high ground and ensure there is no return to the divisive debate of 2001.

Hear hear!

IMMIGRATION has held a special place in the fears of many Australians but the figures tell a different story to that told by Liberal MP Kevin Andrews. We’re hardly over-stuffed. The data on asylum seekers and refugees in particular provides some much-needed perspective on the current national debate. It was clearly Mr Andrews’ intent in discussing Labour’s immigration policy to play on the fears of many Australians who have been led to believe there is a flood of asylum seekers waiting to hop a boat to Australia. However, I think we would do well, as a nation to consider that developing countries host 80 per cent of the world’s refugees.

About time, too many white Australia attitudes rearing their head…..

The gap between Australia’s regional jobless rates is at its widest in almost 20 years. FAR north Queensland may be beautiful one day, perfect the next, but the economic climate in the tropical north has taken on a definite wintry chill.

Also includes info on Melbourne suburbs etc.

HUNDREDS of new high-rise apartments on the upper north shore have stood empty for months due to a lack of demand, casting doubt on the State Government’s strategy of opening up the region for high-density development. Developers have resorted to offering thousands of dollars worth of free furniture in an effort to sell apartments in the shiny new five-storey blocks that have sprung up from Wahroonga to Roseville.

Housing shortage?

A re-emergence of a skills shortage is expected within 12 months despite business doing all it can to hold on to staff during the economic downturn, a survey finds. The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) and consultant Deloitte warn that the skills shortage will re-emerge when trading conditions improve because of a drop in training and number of apprentices.

Surprise, surprise…..?

Rules skew student choice. THERE is frequent criticism in the media about education agents and about students seeking permanent residence via the study-immigration route. Demographers have theories, trade unions have political positions and newspapers publish half-informative, half-inflammatory articles. This gets us nowhere; we need people for the coming economic boom.

Agree.


Robbie Fowler Northern Fury Townsville REVENGE and redemption are two words that seem to have been bandied about in the days leading to tonight’s game against Gold Coast United. But from my perspective that just isn’t a motivator heading to Skilled Park. Sure, they gave us a bit of a hiding last time we met, and we do want to beat them, but if you go into a match thinking about revenge, there’s a real chance you’ll come unstuck.

Robbie Fowler living the dream in Far North Queensland, and getting a goal or two also

AIEC

Liverpool – Manchester United 25/10/09: La final de la FA Cup de 1996 regaló a los aficionados un apasionante duelo entre un joven Liverpool que soñaba recuperar las épocas gloriosas del pasado y el primer gran United de Sir Alex Ferguson y ‘King Eric’

La final de la FA Cup es el partido más especial del año en Inglaterra. La competición futbolística más vieja del mundo depara una atmósfera única, con grandes dosis de nostalgia cuando se contemplan las grandas del viejo Wembley abarrotadas de aficionados desplazados de todos los puntos de las Islas para desvivirse por el sueño de un título valorado igual, o incluso más, que la propia Liga. Y entre partidos y partidos, siempre hay alguno con connotaciones superlativas.

En 1996, el mítico escenario londinense recibió a los dos equipos más laureados del país bajo circunstancias muy dispares, en un duelo que pudo cambiar la historia contemporánea de Liverpool y Manchester United. Los ‘Reds’, con uno de plantillas más jóvenes y talentosas que se le recuerdan, buscaban hincar el codo ante unos ‘Red Devils’ con un papel casi hegemónico en el fútbol inglés de mediados de los 90.

Roy Evans, heredero de las directrices del extinguido “Boot Room”, manejaba las riendas de una plantilla talentosa y descarada, con Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, David James, Jamie Redknapp, Stan Collymore y Jason McAteer. Los conocidos como ‘The Spice Boys’ tras aquella final. La muchachada ‘Red’ había logrado la Copa de la Liga la temporada anterior y hacía soñar a la afición en recuperar las viejas tardes de gloria de no hacía tantos años. El Liverpool había ganado la FA Cup ante el Sunderland (2-0) en 1992, dirigido por Graeme Souness, pero la Liga se le resistía desde 1990. Y es que aquellos dos títulos fueron un espejismo en una de las décadas más lúgubres de su historia. Las esperanzas depositadas en aquel equipo se desvanecieron con el paso de los años y hubo que esperar hasta 2001 para ganar de nuevo un título, aunque éste llegó en forma de Triplete: UEFA, Cup y Carling. La Premier todavía se le resiste.

El primer gran Manchester United de Sir Alex Ferguson acababa de conquistar su tercer título de Premier League en cuatro años (1993, 94 y 96) y llegaba a la final copera, también, por tercera vez en otros tantos años. Antes habían derrotado al Chelsea (4-0) en 1994 y caído ante el Everton (1-0) un año más tarde. El líder sobre el terreno de juego de aquellos grandes ‘Red Devils’, Eric Cantona, decidió la final para los mancunianos con un gran disparo en el minuto 86, tras una mala salida de David James. Con Steve Bruce fuera de la convocatoria por problemas físicos, ‘King Eric’ se convirtió en al primer capitán extranjero (no británico o irlandés) en la historia de las finales de la Cup. El Jugador del Año ya había marcado ante el Liverpool aquella temporada tras la suspensión de siete meses por agredir a un supporter del Crystal Palace.

El Manchester United de Sir Alex Ferguson y Eric Cantona lograba de esta forma el segundo Doblete de la historia del club, sólo dos temporadas después del primero, y el legendario técnico escribía una nueva página de su idílica historia con la Cup. Con cinco títulos (1990, 94, 96, 99 y 2004), el escocés es el técnico más laureado de la competición.

Liverpool 0 – Manchester United 1

0-1 Cantona (86’)

Wembley (Londres): 11 – 5 – 1996

Liverpool FC: 1-David JAMES; 12-John SCALES, 5-Mark WRIGHT, 6-Phil BABB, 4-Jason McATEER, 2- Rob JONES; 15-Jamie REDKNAPP, 10-John BARNES, 17-Steve McMANAMAN; 23-Robbie FOWLER y 8-Stan COLLYMORE.

Ian RUSH > Stan COLLYMORE (74′)

Michael THOMAS > Jason McATEER (86′)

Ent: Roy Evans

Manchester United FC: 1-Peter SCHMEICHEL; 3-Denis IRWIN, 6-Gary PALLISTER, 12-David MAY, 23-Phil NEVILLE; 24-David BECKHAM, 16-Roy KEANE, 19-Nicky BUTT, 11-Ryan GIGGS; 7- Eric CANTONA y 17-Andy COLE.

Paul SCHOLES > Andy COLE (64′)

Gary NEVILLE > David BECKHAM (90′)

Ent: Sir Alex Ferguson

Jogando fora de casa, o Wellington Phoenix tentava acabar com a série de empates consecutivos contra o lanterna North Queensland Fury de Robbie Fowler e em início avassalador, abriu o placar logo aos 5 minutos de jogo.

Em jogada pela lateral, Paul Ifill cruzou na cabeça de Tim Brown que teve apenas o trabalho de colocar para dentro. 

Parecia que a série de empates enfim chegaria ao fim. A pressão dos visitantes continuou durante todo o primeiro tempo e o placar poderia ter sido ampliado em várias oportunidades.

Polêmica – Em jogada no segundo tempo, Tim Brown do Phoenix recebeu atendimento médico no campo e a bola foi parada com a posse do Fury, para o jogador ser retirado do gramado. Ao contrário do que os jogadores do Wellington esperavam, o time adversário não devolveu a posse de bola e tentou marcar após bola ao chão, mesmo com toda a defesa parada aguardando o retorno da posse de bola. O lance quase gerou confusão generalizada, em erro grotesco do árbitro australiano (diga-se de passagem) que não soube conduzir o lance de forma correta.

Com as mudanças no segundo tempo, o Phoenix piorou, perdeu a posse de bola e o domínio do meio-campo.

E foi exatamente nessa queda de rendimento que o pior aconteceu.

Aos 38 do Segundo tempo, em contra-ataque, Robbie Folwer aproveitou erro de marcação de Michael Ferrante e fez sozinho de cabeça, selando o sexto empate consecutivo do Phoenix.

Veja os melhores momentos:

In another super sunday, Chelsea take on Liverpool at home on Sunday. Rafa and Ancelotti have had some great Champions League clashes, but this is their first meeting in the premier league. Both teams are coming under some kind of disappointment in the League or from their European journey.

Chelsea vs Liverpool is the tie of the weekend. Liverpool lost their last match, which was played in Italy against Fiorentina in the Champions League and Chelsea though beat the Cyprus club in the Champions League by a goal, it made heavy weather in getting there. Coming on the back of a loss to Wigan, Ancelotti had a lot to say about the team and how he expects them to play. This has a draw written all over it with both clubs most probably looking at not letting the 0ther team score. Liverpool’s defence has been a cause for concern, Chelsea has Hilario under the bars, Lampard has had a barren run so far this season, Torres is the league’s top scorer. Well a loss will not be the end to their Championship hopes, as this year there could be a few losses to the contenders.

Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea

Manchester United vs Sunderland has 3 points written all over it for United. It would be a surprise if Sunderland even manage to salvage a point. But having said that Kwenyone Jones and Darren Bent will look to trouble the United back four.

Prediction: 2-1 to United

Arsenal play Blackburn Rovers at home in a match which should again be 3 easy point for the Gunners. Blackburn and Bolton were the thorns of physical play whenever they played against the Gunners and now the ex-Bolton boss is the current Blackburn boss, so expect more physical clash. These kind of matches require an early goal for Arsenal to ease the pressure and open up play for some wonderful flow from the home side. Wenger supervises the first match after becoming the longest serving manager of Arsenal, thats 13 years and counting for you!!! Lets hope the team wins the match in style as a tribute for this man.

Prediction: 3-0 to Arsenal

Other tibits

Tottenham are trailing by a goal against Bolton, after 10 mins of play as I type this. I would love to see Spurs start losing form now on. Can’t see them sitting above Arsenal after 7 matches.

Torres has scored 46 league goals in 64 games(!!!, wishe he played for Arsenal, that would have been 128!!!) for Liverpool and would most probably be the fastest to reach 50 goals. To give you an idea of how the others fared for Liverpool;

Roger Hunt – 50 in 78 league games (current fastest), Ian Rush – 84 games, Robbie Fowler – 88 games,  Owen – 98 games

De laatste jaren doen voetballers er alles aan om maar goed in beeld te komen. De roze muiltjes van Ribery, de parels in de oren van Ronaldo. Alles voor het uiterlijk vertoon. Dat hierdoor het individu meer belang krijgt dan het collectief is allang geen noviteit meer. Terwijl er nog steeds sprake is van een teamsport. Maar dienen deze verfraaiingen van de outfit er echt alleen maar toe om mooi zijn? Of is er ook een sportief motief?

Wie terugdenkt aan het EK van 1996, denkt aan het hoofd van Guus Hiddink en de pingel van Seedorf. De Mike de Boer-types zullen dit toernooi echter vooral herinneren omdat de neuspleister dat jaar zijn intrede deed. Stoere voetballers liepen met een pleister tegen het snurken op hun gok. Zogenaamd om beter adem te halen. Onzin! Of hebben spelers nu minder zuurstof nodig? Want de pleister is verdwenen. Of wat dacht u van het plakkaat Vicks op Patrick Viera’s borstkas? Allemaal hulpmiddelen uit de wetenschap om prestaties te bevorderen?

Het is te prijzen dat nieuwe medische technieken worden toegepast in de sport. Je wilt er als speler immers alles aan doen om beter te worden. Dat dit er dan af en toe idioot uitziet, neem je maar op de koop toe. Helaas zijn er ook zeer veel ”vindingen” waarvoor enige medische verklaring ontbreekt. Want waarom de kousen over de knie? Bang voor kou? Of de paradoxale thermohemden met lange mouwen onder een mouwloos shirt? De invloed van de commercie of  zijn er wetenschappelijke motieven? Wij vrezen het eerste. Kortom, we worden bij de neus genomen!

Now we are well aware that the advertising for the A league is handled centrally but that is no excuse, for the poor promotion, if anything it should be better.

This weekend the Perth Glory place host to North Queensland Fury, a team that includes ex Liverpool and England star Robbie Fowler. So the FFA’s advertising agency have produced the following headline “Glory Tackles God in Heavenly Match.” Surely this would be a more appropriate message outside a church than promoting a game of football?

There are several key flaws with this advertisement, as there have been with many other produced this year in the Hyundai A League.

First of all only avid football fans would know that Robbie Fowler was known as “God” during his time at Liverpool, and those that did know that would probably be attending the game anyway. So if you will excuse me here, you are preaching to the converted.

The second problem is the religious connotations. One of the first lessons that you learn when you start out in advertising is never use religion or politics as they tend to alienate your product rather than assist in its promotion.

The third issue I have with this advertisement, is once again the Perth Glory, the home team, are promoting an opposition player. Why? Perth Glory have three Socceroos, Jacob Burns, Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne, a Dutch international in Victor Sikora, a Brazilian international and Olympic medal winner in Amaral, and an Ivory Coast international in Eugene Dadi. Surely the club would get far more mileage promoting their own players, their home-town heroes rather than the oppositions?

Is it therefore any wonder that the crowds around the A League are dropping? The marketing may be deemed clever, but it is too clever for the average punter and does not produce a call to action, which is come and support Perth Glory or whoever, and be part of the action and the experience.

Unless we see a change in approach and more money invested in promoting the games with a more local feel, crowds will continue to disappoint around Australia. This campaign has obviously been pitched well to the key decision makers at the FFA, but is failing miserably with the consumer.

Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The harbour city is a busy place.  Entertainment and value seem to be intrinsically linked amidst the current economic climate; the A-League better take note.

The two new Queensland teams – the North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United – have got plenty of promise but poor gate numbers after just seven rounds.  For all Clive Palmer’s billions, the Gold Coast can barely muster 7,000 paying fans.  However, the league needed a kicker and the two new teams have certainly provided a boost for competitive balance.

But for Sydney FC the connection with the broader community has always been a challenge.  The fickle Sydney fanbase has left the club with much work to do.

The inaugural champions have brought in a foreign coach for a start – a Czech tactician by the name of Vítězslav Lavička – to mastermind a plan to reclaim some silverware.

Some impressive pre-season form and a respectable start to the 2009/10 competition have some talking about the title already.  An unimaginative 2-1 loss away to Gold Coast put that objective in perspective.  Another dose of reality hit when former Liverpool legend, Robbie Fowler, scored a belter for the Fury to leave with all three points last week.

The club’s administrators have tried various promotions to attract a crowd to the SFS.  The Beatnix (a bloody good Beatles cover band) and a red double-decker bus matched with a Saturday night kick-off made the Fury fixture fun; an Aloisi v ‘God’ billing not so.

It didn’t turn out well for the Sky Blues.  Fowler made Sydney look very ordinary and the crowd went from 16,699 to 10,357 in one week.

Admittedly, the Newcastle Jets are no big deal these days but today’s turnout was a major disappointment for a team that could and would be equal first with a victory.

Sydney looked more dynamic with a younger squad taking the field.  Some forced changes due to injuries and international duty gave some of the less experienced but evidently hungrier players a run.

An early penalty-save by Clint Bolton provided some excitement.  Italian import, Fabio Vignaroli, looked to have dived or at the very least gone down after the slightest pull on his shirt by the returning Stuart Musialik.

Hot-and-cold, Sydney striker Mark Bridge, unleashed a pigeon to put the home side into the lead only for Matt Thompson to level minutes later, redemption for his earlier penalty indiscretion.

Steve Corica would also get an opportunity to score from the penalty-spot in the second-half after Alex Brosque won his third penalty of the season from an oncoming goalkeeper.  Corica didn’t miss securing all three points for Sydney and an equal first standing on the ladder with Gold Coast.

There was even time for a red card to be awarded to Newcastle wing-back, Tarek Elrich, which looked a bit harsh to be fair and left the player bemused.  All-in-all it was a decent performance by both teams.  It was great to see Seb Ryall play his way back to full fitness after his off-season troubles.  He played a simple yet effective game.

Hopefully with another victory – and the end of the AFL and NRL seasons – the crowds will return.  But one thing’s for sure: Sydney has to do something inspirational to attract more support and fast.

Perhaps, the good people of the city need to show the game some more respect and understand that the bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup will be judged on how much we love the game.  If we want the rest of the world to come play in our backyard, we better start moving our feet.

Robbie Fowler is an English footballer and is one of the Anfield club’s biggest heroes having smashed 183 goals in just 369 games. He has been capped for England twenty-six times, scoring eight goals.

In 2008 he splashed some of his rental and football income on this – a stunning Audi R8.

Robbie’s Audi R8 on sale on Auto Trader. Search for Used Audi cars on Auto Trader’s Audi cars hub.

Fowler’s black R8 has a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, four exhausts and is an R Tronic model which means drivers can change gear with paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Other features inside the R8 include leather seats, sat-nav and climate control.

Read Used Audi R8 car review

Όσο και να αγαπάμε τον Ρόμπι, κάτι τέτοια το μόνο που κάνουν είναι να χαλάνε μία καλή καριέρα…

On this day in 1994 Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler scored the Premier League’s fastest hat-trick when he netted three goals against Arsenal in 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Liverpool won the game at Anfield 3-0 thanks to Fowler’s three first half goals. This was Liverpool’s first home match of the 1994-5 season and the game was played in front of a crowd of 30,017.

Fowler finished the season as Liverpool’s top scorer with 25 goals in 42 games. Robbie Fowler remains the fourth highest goal scorer in the history of the Premier League with 163 goals. Alan Shearer tops the list with 260 goals, Andy Cole has 187 and Thierry Henry 174.

Sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Premier_League#Top_scorers

…What do you do Robbie, what do you do?

La ex estrella del Liverpool respondió con una espectacular y acrobática patada la agresión de un rival en la A-League australiana

En Austrialia ya conocen a Robbie Fowler en todo su esplendor. Ya se ha estrenado como goleador con la camiseta del North Queensland Fury de la Hyundai A-League, pero también ha dejado surgir su faceta más controvertida. La leyenda del Liverpool respondió con una espectacular patada al más puro estilo kung-fu a la agresión de un jugador del Gold Coast United. El 5-0 con el que acabó el partido en contra de los intereses del ex internacional inglés seguro que tuvo mucho que ver en su reacción. A los 34 años, Fowler sigue demostrando que es todo un carácter…

North Queensland Fury captain Robbie Fowler has escaped disciplinary action after he kicked out at Gold Coast United midfielder Anderson during his side’s 5-0 thrashing on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred when Fowler, already with his back on the ground, appeared to kick out at Anderson’s chest area with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Fortunately for Fowler, referee Chris Beath was lenient in dealing with the incident, appearing to sympathize with the frustrated strike by not even issuing him a card.

It is for that reason that Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) Match Review Panel cannot intervene and issue a punishment of their own to Fowler – despite the presence of video evidence – as the incident did not escape the attention of the referee.

There is to be no escape however for Gold Coast United player Steve Pantelidis, who in the same match struck out at the Fury’s Robbie Middleby in an off the ball incident.

As the incident escaped the attention of the referee at the time, the Match Review Panel have been able to issue a two-match ban on the player, who will need to respond by either accepting the proposed sanction or referring it to a hearing.

Goal

 Aos poucos o torcedor neozelandês vai aprendendo como o futebol é cruel. Os pouco mais de dez mil torcedores não mereciam o resultado final, o Phoenix sim.

Dezenas de gols perdidos durante todo o jogo e um castigo indigesto no último lance culminou em mais um empate para o Wellington Phoenix contra o North Queensland Fury.

O jogo foi marcado por grande pressão ofensiva do Phoenix contra um fraco oponente e a incompetência dos atacantes do time de Ricki Herbert.

O Phoenix abriu o placar logo aos seis minutos com Leo Bertos. Mesmo com o gol, o Phoenix seguiu pressionando durante todo o jogo, porém , sem sucesso.

Pelo lado do North Queensland, todas as atenções ficaram em Robbie Fowler, que pouco fez durante o jogo, mas foi decisivo no lance final, no gol de empate aos 49 do segundo tempo.

Em cobrança de falta de Fowler, a bola foi cruzada na área e sobrou para Shane Stefanutto que marcou o gol de empate para os australianos.

Com o resultado, o Phoenix soma o terceiro empate consecutivo e enfrenta na próxima semana o Central Coast, também em casa.