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The Melbourne Victory Thread (pg. 15)
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| Dean Millson |
Ernie Strikes back...
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Idiots won't halt our progress
Ernie Merrick
LUCKILY I managed to survive that riot at the soccer two nights ago, writes Ernie Merrick, coach of A-League champions Melbourne Victory,
That was probably because I took the usual precautions of wearing a flak jacket and bovver boots and arming myself with a canister of teargas and a jousting shield.
I jest, of course -- or I would be if this was any laughing matter. But the lingering perception that the game remains mired in old tensions and negatives is far from funny. It's disappointing, frustrating and just plain wrong.
There was no riot at Bob Jane Stadium on Wednesday night - nothing remotely of the sort - when Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne pulled more than 7000 people to a trial match, in itself just another positive indicator of how the football success story is here to stay.
What those people did witness was an unofficial and immensely enjoyable celebration of how far the game has come in the two short years of the A-League revolution.
It was an intriguing meeting of what some people -- although not me, might I say -- are calling "old soccer" and "new football". It had something for everybody.
But that wasn't what we were hearing about yesterday as reports started circulating, as they all too often do, of trouble on a scale that just wasn't the case.
Yes, a few illegal flares were thrown -- which is unacceptable -- and a dozen or so troublemakers were ejected. But most of the crowd wouldn't have even noticed, let alone be alarmed by it.
Mostly they were engrossed by an entertaining match played amid a genuine sense of occasion, even if it was just a practice match.
South Melbourne can take full credit for that because this respected, traditional club did everything right.
It presented the ground in perfect nick, the corporate scene was up and running, a women's game was played as a curtain-raiser and a kids' match filled the halftime break.
Victory brought plenty to the table, too. Coming off our championship year, we have announced several exciting signings: former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic, ex-Chelsea player Joe Keenan, Costa Rican World Cup player Carlos Hernandez and Benfica player Kaz Patafta, to name a few.
Socceroos striker Archie Thompson contributed a stunning goal that showed everybody precisely why he is acknowledged as one of the most exciting players in the A-League.
And towards the end we brought on five teenagers from the Victorian Institute of Sport for the experience of a taste of the big time. One of them, Alex Tabor, promptly scored a goal, and he's just 15.
In other words, there were talking points galore. And yet, it all somehow seems to get overshadowed by a handful of idiots more intent on drawing attention to themselves than participating in a terrific sporting experience.
At Victory, indeed throughout the football family in general, we'd like to think we were past this rubbish.
We try hard to create a family-friendly atmosphere and put on a first-class show in every respect, and the unprecedented crowds that came to watch us last season suggest we are succeeding.
We have all come a very long way, so it is soul-destroying to watch a tiny element spoil it for the vast majority.
Victory is taking every possible step to eliminate it. The police have identified the culprits from this episode and I understand they will be charged. They certainly will be banned from our games.
We'll continue to come down hard, but we're not going to lose sight of the most important fact -- namely that we have a very good product now and it's only going to get better when we become an international entity through the Asian Champions League next year.
The positives are so plentiful, the game will surely have the last laugh.
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http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/st...73-2883,00.html |
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| stipsy |
i saw most of the incident..
the funniest moment was when one of the goons made a run for it with security in tow..he ran straight into the social club from teh scoreboard end to escape through the front doors of the social club (which were locked for this game!) he tried to take the glass doors on and bounced straight off them and shattered them. i think he shattered or severely cut his leg aswell as the ambulance came to pick him up. |
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| AnitA |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fledz
You do your mother country proud :D
Unless you're a Dinamo fan, in which case you suck :whip:
EDIT - Haha, I read that as "I was actually..." lmao :stongue: |
LOUD and PROUD indeed :D
Nahhh the Purgeri do my head in haha
Torcida all the way :D :D |
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| Fledz |
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| stipsy |
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| Fledz |
Everton's allright though  |
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| stipsy |
| i dream of the day that a greek-cro club euro game of significance occurs again ;) |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by stipsy
i dream of the day that a greek-cro club euro game of significance occurs again ;) |
you'll be waiting one long ing time :haha: |
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| charlee |
| Why is soccer/football always associated with race? |
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| Fledz |
| quote: | Originally posted by stipsy
i dream of the day that a greek-cro club euro game of significance occurs again ;) |
Same here but sadly we don't generate enough money for that. It's all about the top few nations with their million spots and money to burn.
Luckily the new UEFA boss wants to change all that :) |
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| Fledz |
| quote: | Originally posted by charlee
Why is soccer/football always associated with race? |
I don't know. I'll go ask Charlee in her appropriate thread. |
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| stipsy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fledz
Same here but sadly we don't generate enough money for that. It's all about the top few nations with their million spots and money to burn.
Luckily the new UEFA boss wants to change all that :) |
oh well..we'll just have to hope for a hadjuk chelsea vs sth melbourne game some day. haha.. |
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