Western Sydney Wanderers Fans Burn Sydney FC Tifo Ahead of Derby Clash
Jan 13, 2016
(Warning: Video Contains NSFW Language)
The Sydney Derby is yet to enter its fourth year, but emotions are running higher with each iteration.
Before October's derby, New South Wales Police launched an investigation into a break-and-enter that occurred at an Ingleburn warehouse, where the banner had been stored.
Now, it seems that Sydney FC's missing tifo has been found.
A Notorious Western Sydney Wanderers fan group, Red and Black Bloc, published the above video overnight in which they apparently burn the Sky Blues' beloved flag.
That should certainly help improve the image of A-League fans.
How William Gallas Weirdly Ended His Career at Perth Glory
Oct 17, 2014
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: William Gallas of the Glory signals to his team mates during the round 21 A-League match between Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium on February 28, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Unless you live in Australia or chair the Gallas fan club, you probably have an abstract view of his last hurrah.
Once the surrealism of Gallas playing for Glory wore thin, watching him was alike to Roy Jones Jr. eking out his boxing career fighting for an alphabet title.
Glory owner Tony Sage, a mining entrepreneur, reluctantly sanctioned the deal amid hassling from then Glory manager Alistair Edwards.
"I personally didn't want him [Gallas], but Alistair at the time said it would be great for the club," Sage said in an interview with SBS' Les Murray [1]. "He [Gallas] was good for the club in one way [mentoring young players], but not good in another way [filling up nib Stadium; Glory's home ground]. You need a creative or attacking player for that marquee [contract]."
Perth Glory new boy William Gallas made friends upon his arrival in Australia pic.twitter.com/XTbVXBI4Ng
"Yeah. I'm 36 [years old]. I think I can play more. Some players play until 40," Gallas said, per Brad Elborough at the Sydney Morning Herald. "I hope I could play until 40. I'm ready for that challenge."
Gallas arrived in Perth on November 9, 2013, five games into the A-League season.
Of the next 22 games, Gallas participated in 15, playing out 90 minutes nine times. He was being paid a full-time salary, but in reality, he was a part-time player.
Obviously Gallas was not going to say: "Yeah. I'm 36. My legs are shot and I was shocked Glory offered me a contract."
It wasn't just any contract.
It was a marquee contract (outside the salary cap) for one season worth $600,000 (€411,813/£327,070), per Shayne Hope at The West Australian.
That unfortunate incident was his mind desperately fighting father time as his body began to wave the white flag.
The tragic irony about Gallas' Perth sojourn was he cared about the club.
In scorching hot conditions against Adelaide United, Gallas could have used his high profile status and leveraged Edwards telling him: "I'm the marquee player and I'm not coming on."
But Gallas didn't.
He soldiered on, made his debut and showed professionalism sticking around for a post-match interview despite being drenched in sweat.
Doesn't take a genius to know it was too hot to play today. Any doubts about that, just have a look at Gallas' post match interview #rooted
Gallas attempted to instil leadership among a fractured playing group still reeling from a player revolt against Edwards amid allegations of nepotism (he gave contracts to both his sons).
"The best thing that happened for me witnessing some of it at the end was Gallas fuming," Sage said, per Shayne Hope at The West Australian. "But it shows it means a lot to him and his professional pride, and the fact that he really loves Perth, that he actually did step up and say a few things."
Despite his body breaking down, Gallas played through injury, as attested by Glory manager Kenny Lowe, who succeeded Edwards.
"William had a knock and should have come off the pitch," Lowe said, per Shayne Hope at The West Australian. "He actually went back on because he didn't want to let the guys down."
Another nice anecdote in Perth was Gallas giving back to the community when he nominated Forrestfield United for a $1,000 grant, per the Gazette.
Thank you so much William Gallas, Perth Glory and ME bank for your generous contribution to our Juniors programme. pic.twitter.com/onxMGbSFRE
You may view Gallas' ending his career in Perth as an anticlimax, but it was fitting if you take into account how he struggled mightily at Stade Malherbe Caen.
Per former Caen player and France international Jerome Rothen's autobiography "You're Not Going To Believe Me" (h/t Steve Wilson at The Telegraph):
I don't think William Gallas will mind me talking about how he used to be a no-hoper.
[...]
One evening, Eric Sitruk [trainee] burst into my room and shouted, 'Someone has stolen my bank card and taken out 1,500 francs ($275/€189/£150).'
[...]
Next evening, Eric said he had gone to the bank and a surveillance camera had filmed the person using the card.
He said, 'I know who is guilty.' It was a bluff.
But an hour later, William knocked on his door and admitted his mistake.
William, enjoy retirement: $600,000 is a whole lot better than $275.
Emile Heskey's Goal Blitz Continues for Newcastle Jets
Oct 26, 2012
Emile Heskey is a figure of fun for the majority of English football fans.
It's got nothing to do with one of his middle names being "Ivanhoe" and everything to do with the fact he's a career striker who never quite mastered the art of scoring goals.
During the twilight of his career in England, things got so bad a website sprung up inviting people to write about the things they could have achieved since he last bulged the onion bag—sinceheskeyscored.com
What do you get if you cross a ball and Emile Heskey? A goal kick.
Now that's just cruel—as is the FIFA 12 tribute video that mocks Heskey's penchant for bad misses and is getting on for a million views on YouTube.
All of which makes the news Heskey is scoring goals for fun in Australia the most life-affirming football story of the week.
The 34-year-old joined Newcastle Jets in September—having been deemed surplus to requirements at Aston Villa—and is emphatically living up to his star billing as their marquee player this season.
Heskey has scored four goals in his first four games in the A-League, and become an instant cult hero with the Jets' fans. "You are Heskey's b****," is their new chant, in reference to his uncompromising forward play in their colors.
Heskey is riding high. And after spending most of career as the butt of a joke, it's hard to begrudge him every moment of adulation.
Heskey's no David Beckham, and he's a long way from L.A., but a Hollywood ending is there for the taking.
View from the Victory, Volume 23: Defeat to Perth Glory a Microcosm of Season
Mar 24, 2012
Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory were hopeful that they would wrap up the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League Season on a winning note against the Perth Glory at nib Stadium.
However, they were massacred, 4-2. Carlos Hernandez scored in the 22nd minute, and Mark Milligan added a second in the third injury time, but Perth's attack—more specifically, Shane Smeltz—was too much. Smeltz scored all four goals against the porous Melbourne defense.
With this, the Melbourne Victory finish the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League season 5-10-11 (26 points).
Carlos Hernandez, who had a sensational year in what has been an otherwise sorry season for the Victory, is a player the club would love to have back.
"That will be discussed at board level in the next week and will see what lies ahead."
Meanwhile, the Victory's offseason schedule is being put together. Olympiacos will grace Etihad Stadium on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30pm (closed roof) following the completion of the Greek Superleague in April.
A huge crowd is expected at Etihad Stadium, with Olympiacos’ first visit to Australia since 1978 sure to raise excitement levels among Melbourne’s enormous Greek community.
Olympiacos has committed to bringing a full strength squad that will include five current Greek internationals who will feature in the national team during the upcoming Euros in June.
Among the Greek internationals to feature in the Olympiacos line up will be exciting right back Vasilios Torosidis, left back Jose Holebas, central defender Avram Papadopulos, defensive midfielder Yiannis Maniatis and Greek attacking prodigy Yiannis Fetfatzidis.
The View from the Victory adjourns for the season and will resume near the beginning of the 2012-13 Hyundai A-League season.
View from the Victory, Volume 22: Building a Foundation for Next Season
Mar 16, 2012
With all hopes for the playoffs already done and dusted, Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory looked to finish the year strong as they hosted the Wellington Phoenix on Friday at AAMI Park.
One of the new signings for the Victory was Adama Traore, who signed a two-year deal with the club after a spell with Gold Coast United.
“I’m excited to be moving to Melbourne Victory and look forward to taking the next step in my football career,” Traore said. “I’m very grateful to everyone at Gold Coast United and have made some good friends through some tough times, but I felt this opportunity was the right move for me.”
As for Magilton, he has elected to start Tando Velaphi in goal for Melbourne in place of the embattle Ante Covic.
"It's the law of the jungle and any club that wants to remain successful, there has to be an underbelly of ability coming through or talent coming through or quality coming through," Magilton told melbournevictory.com.au.
Wellington had already qualified for the postseason and were looking to build some momentum heading into the finals series.
However, the Phoenix would be reduced to ashes as Melbourne played the type of football that was lacking from them all year in a 3-0 pasting on Wellington.
Carlos Hernandez scored in the 11th minute for Melbourne, Isaka Cernak made it 2-0 in the 58th minute and James Jeggo sealed the deal in the 89th minute of play.
The Melbourne Victory end the 2011-12 season next weekend when they take on Perth Glory at nib Stadium in Perth, WA. Kickoff is scheduled for Mar. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.
View from the Victory, Volume 21: Sydney FC Punches Melbourne out of Postseason
Mar 11, 2012
View from the Victory, Volume 21: Sydney FC punches Melbourne out of postseason
For Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory, it was clear that this season was not going to be one for the fans to remember. With rival Melbourne Heart closing in on punching their ticket to the postseason, Victory needed a result against Sydney FC in order to have a puncher's chance at remaining in the hunt.
"It's important that we send out the right signals, it's important for our fans, it's important for everyone connected with the football club that we're focused on our jobs and we go out there and we're fully committed."
James Jeggo is a rookie with a huge upside to him. He believed that the club still had plenty to play for in spite of what has obviously developed into a rebuilding year.
"As far as we are concerned the season isn't over as yet," Jeggo told Jonathan Healy of melbournevictory.com.au." Everyone has still got something to play for, so we are back here today working hard and looking forward to the weekend."
"We have had two draws against them (Sydney FC) this season so it is a big chance to go out and get on top."
Unfortunately, the hopes for Melbourne died at the hands of their rival, as Sydney won 1-0 thanks to Karol Kisel's penalty conversion in the 33rd minute.
With the result, Melbourne fall to 5-9-11 (26 points) and will definitely be playing for pride in the closing weeks of the season.
Up next for the Victory is a match with Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park. Kickoff is scheduled for Mar. 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.
View from the Victory, Volume 20: Victory in Turmoil After Latest Setback
Mar 3, 2012
It has been a rough year for football in Australia. Despite the continuing success of the Socceroos, the domestic league has been lagging and with it, the Melbourne Victory, who continue to struggle to find results.
That is not to say Melbourne Victory, who compete in the A-League under the auspices of the Football Federation Australia (FFA), have issues of their own. This is a club that is one bad result away from disaster, and it could have averted such a fate this past weekend against the Newcastle Jets.
"I'm absolutely confident that we can still get there, obviously we've got to win games and it's important that we go into the game knowing we can the game."
Harry Kewell continued his hot streak with a 24th-minute penalty conversion, but Melbourne is all but eliminated from the A-League finals picture with three matches left to go.
Turmoil in the club. Turmoil outside the club. The turmoil between the competing football bodies in Australia parallels the misery in the Melbourne Victory camp: dubious management and decision-making and an inability to significantly reach out to the grassroots game in the manner of the suddenly more successful rival known as Melbourne Heart.
The Victory will need to play for pride from now on as the plans for next year need to be put into play. This has been a disappointing campaign, to say the least.
Up next for the Victory is a match with Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 at 7:45 p.m. AEST and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.
View from the Victory, Volume 19: Melbourne Only Playing for Pride
Feb 25, 2012
Barring divine intervention of the highest order, Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory are essentially playing for pride. That was especially the case when Melbourne took on Gold Coast United Saturday at Skilled Park.
"I think I'm going to have to put a bit of pressure on our lads but we've got to start winning games. On the back of a pretty good second half performance at Brisbane, albeit we didn't get the result we went there, but build on that and hopefully take the game to what is a pretty confident Gold Coast side judging from the other night," Magilton told the press.
As if things were not bad enough, it was announced this past week that team captain Adrian Leijer would have to go through arthroscopic left hip surgery and would be out for the remainder of the season.
Archie Thompson, who has done all he can to help Melbourne's cause, believes Melbourne still have a puncher's chance to qualify for the Finals Series in the A-League.
"You find that when players are up against it, they find something special. We are not going to Gold Coast thinking it is going to be an easy game. They gave it to Heart last week. It's going to be difficult still, I think we are confident we can go and get three points," Thompson told Bren O'Brien of melbournevictory.com.au.
In the end, Thompson proved to be overconfident. Despite a 57th-minute goal from Carlos Hernandez, Melbourne Victory settled for yet another draw, 1-1 with Gold Coast United.
Up next for the Victory is a match with Newcastle Jets on March 3 at AAMI Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. AEST and will be televised locally by Fox Sports 1.
View from the Victory, Volume 18: Melbourne Regain Normalcy, Drop Another Match
Feb 18, 2012
In the eyes of the Melbourne Victory, normalcy is dropping matches left and right. Of course, the Blue and White Brigade do not like this level of normalcy, but what can those supporters really do?
The fact of the matter is, Melbourne is simply playing terrible football and may not make the Finals Series in the A-League without godly intervention of the highest order. Indeed, any hopes for intervention ahead of Saturday's contest with the Brisbane Roar were shot down post-haste.
"I'd heard the bits and pieces being thrown about regarding Harry, but I've been very comfortable with the hype (surrounding Kewell)."
As for the rest of the team, they came to Suncorp Stadium with a time-to-put-up mentality.
"We beat the league leaders so if it was good enough to beat them, I'd like to think that if we can replicate it we can give ourselves every chance,'' Magilton told Paul Purcell of The Age. ''There are very few games left so we need to know the importance of each game. This is the most important one because it's the next one.''
A back-and-forth encounter at Suncorp saw the Roar win a 3-2 slugfest over the Victory. Kewell recorded a brace in the ninth and 50th minutes of play, but the penalty issues regarding Melbourne came to bite them in the rear. Henrique's conversion in the 39th minute became the eventual winner.
Besart Berisha also recorded braces for Brisbane in the first and 32nd minutes.
Melbourne is now 5-7-10 (25 points) and will need to win out to have a shot at making the postseason.
Up next for the Melbourne Victory is a match with Gold Coast United at Skilled Park. Kickoff is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 6:45 p.m. AEST.
View from the Victory, Volume 17: Sense of Urgency for Magilton's Men
Feb 10, 2012
There was a sense of urgency this past week from Jim Magilton, heading into the weekend match with the league-leading Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.
Sitting outside of the playoffs, Melbourne needed to get a win, or else their hopes at finals football were all but extinguished. Midfielder Grant Brebner was sidelined due to a groin injury. Nagging issues with the groin made the possibility of a return to action doubtful.
Still, the manager was hopeful of a recovery.
"[Brebner]'s done excellently to get himself through that and get himself to play," Magilton told The Australian. "So, we'll see him tomorrow and then we'll make that assessment."
One new face in the crowd was Spanish international Ubay Luzardo, who signed on a loan deal. Combined with youth product Jimmy Jeggo, Luzardo made an impact on the pitch almost immediately, as Melbourne upset the Mariners, 2-1.
Carlos Hernandez opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but it was international marquee player Harry Kewell that delivered the game-winner in the 51st minute to give the Victory a rare victory. Magilton discussed the win with James Ranson of MelbourneVictory.com.au.
It's the way I want to play. Ubay (Luzardo) came in and was very solid, it was a good debut for him. Jimmy (Jeggo) is someone I've always liked since I've been at the club, we were composed tonight. A lot of it is how I want to play.
We went a goal behind and we showed great character. Again building on last week, we needed a lift, we passed the ball well, the ball lands at Carlos at the end of the box, and it's a magnificent strike.
Melbourne remain seventh in the A-League standings, however, and will need to win out a majority of their remaining matches to remain in contention for a playoff spot.
Up next for Melbourne Victory is a match with Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. ET.
