Turning Chinese - I really think so??

Well. Its been a while but i just didn't really feel up to commenting on the grand final. Mathew Breeze is an idiot, has made terrible decisions all year and even though both his decisions were overruled, we will be subject to more of his shit next season.

ACL Opener. After an absolutely torrid opening 30 minutes in which Toper-Stanley conceded a goal, that's right, Toper-Stanley, not the Jets, the boys really did turn it around. They weren't great by any stretch of the imagination but they learnt from their mistakes and tightened up through midfield and started passing the ball around almost like our championship winning team that seems so long ago! Sasho was unlucky not to equalise, you can't help but think if he had of been playing against us he would've slotted both those chances. As his tendency was to do so often in the past!

I'm going to name drop and give a little shout out to Ryan Griffiths. I have some vague long forgotten connection with him (who could forget that great surf rock band The Grift Experience, i heard the bass player was amazing!). His goal was very well taken, he should of had another 10 minutes later which went a bee's penis wide of the back stick. Quite frankly he was a league above Joel. It was great to see him run around again, just a shame he had to inflict a defeat on my team!

Positives for the Jets. Ljubo (spelling?) was solid in central defence. De Groot and Vinegarette dressing were great and you can really see that technically they are well above the a-league standard. Passing in the last 10 minutes of the first half was spot on. There was enough out there to make us think that there is a good team somewhere in that squad.

Back to T-S i'd just like to point out it wasn't merely his poor decision making all night, his obvious lack of mental strength to put up with the heckling from the crowd, but his utter lack of heart once he had turn the ball over was horrible. He dawdled around the park like it was Sunday afternoon kicks with mates. It was a disgrace to the shirt.

So on to Tuesday. I'm going to make every attempt to make it up the road. GVE, bench or drop TS and put george costanza into central defence with Ljubo (something that nearly gives me an erection). I'd also like to see Jono get on the bench so i can admire his locks! There is definitely enough talent there to make a game of it and have a shot at progressing past the group stage. Good luck boys, despite the result you've definitely restored my faith in the shirt!

See you at Marathon on Tuesday!

A quickie for the week - blog that is

Just a quick one this time around. Firstly finally Jets management have delivered some signings. I'm going to hold on to my judgement to after i see them play but i think there is enough quality there for some real potential. Congrats also to Mitch Johnson, he's a friend and he deserves his chance, good luck and i hope your 6 months turns into many more.

I believe there will be enough quality to mount an ACL challenge or at least avoid embarrassment, De Groot is my pick for the stand out.

Despite the Jets season being over, the season is far from it! I managed to catch replays of the coast game and the second half of the Melbourne game. Qld and Melbourne were both deserved winners. As per my blog a few weeks back, Coast just aren't good enough, but i would also advise Frank Farina to check out when they clawed back a similar deficit against us last year! I'm going to agree with David Lowe in the Newy Herald today and say that a Melbourne Qld final is on the cards. I don't think Coast are good enough, did i mention that? I don't think Adelaide have the attacking prowess to get back the 2 goals from Melbourne, and i think they will struggle in attack against a free attacking qld side the week after. but good luck to all parties, except the mariners, i just can't bring myself to say it.

Bring on the GF, bring on the ACL!
Yours in Football,
B!

What a week - A win, A spat and a Sale... maybe

Firstly, welcome back to you all (all 3 of you). I've been a bit absent of late, with work, moving and lets be honest not much positive news to write about anyway. I must say it was a great feeling being able to talk about a Jets win on Monday morning. Whilst all of the people i work with don't follow the A league, they are aware of my passion and can't resist having a dig after another Jets loss. My project manager must of felt my buoyant attitude as he commented on the victory to me first thing despite more pressing matters at work.

A bit of comment on that game first up. I think it has been highly underrated by the media as a performance. Yes ok the result was a non event given the spoon is coming this way anyway but the performance was solid across the park, and the scoreline flattered Perth. The Jets five man mid field dominated and the back four were solid without being totally unbreakable (I can't help but think Rukivysta's pace would've changed things if he was in the country). The lone striker in Mooy (spelling?) did an ok job of holding the ball up and the movement (both in attack and defence) from Patafta, Song and Thompson was spot on. Credit to Kovacic (again with the spelling?) for his first goal for the club, given our defensive stocks going out the door there could be a big future for this man. Anyone else you would question for milking the penalty (contact was outside the box initially) but Matt Thompson just seems like the most honest player you'll come across and it seemed just reward for his efforts (he looks good in the captains armband as well which shouldn't be lost on anyone). Great work Jets, if you spank Sydney on Sunday whilst i can watch i will almost forgive the season, or at least resign it to the history books.

On to upsetting matters. I have been a staunch supporter of Con since day one, i defend him in every argument on the basis that if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have a club at all. This week i'm not so sure. As a businessman he should know better than to let his emotions take control like they did. Abusing the most public of the Jets fan base was never a good idea regardless of the situation. I can understand the 'protests' of the squadron and really upside down signs and a wooden spoon don't hurt anyone (i'm more appalled the occasions that the players themselves are boo'ed off the park). So Con, you have a lot of bridge building to do.

And a word of advice, don't try and build that bridge with the $1m you might get for selling Joel! I personally don't think it will go through, but will be devastated if it does. It doesn't make good business sense, its not going to put you back in the black on the books and it is only going to further negatively effect crowd numbers and hence tickets and gate revenue. I don't know what else i can say...

Hopefully the end of the (well our) A league season next week will allow all involved to concentrate on some late signings for the ACL and a re focus on what is important to the club. They need to do something to address crowd numbers before the ACL games, its going to be embarrassing enough fielding an understrength side and some potential punishment from opposition, but if you do that in front of 6000 people at home then you have permanently and i feel irreversibly damaged the Jets brand in Asia, not to mention the damage to all the hard work Adelaide have done this year!

I love you Jets, that won't change, but lets just say i'll think twice about ever defending Con again, and if he sells Joel, i won't... ever.