BohemianDublin

Sligo Rovers ehh? A very respectful alternative. And a good place to go for a game. Great pubs in Sligo. You should be able to watch the game on youtube. I did. As obviously Dublin isn't part of the UK. In Dublin, avoid at all costs entering the Temple Bar area. But you probably know this.

A lucky omen? I was in Dublin, when we won 0-4. And obviously, you'll be going to Bohemian FC? The team in red and black from the wrong side of town. Been around since 1890, without winning a lot. But heart, spirit and good northside vibes. Not to mention a great range of shirts and merchandise.

The issue, Policing at the Derby game, has been positioned as 'Policing the Active RBB section'. It isn't this. It's a much bigger issue ... ongoing bad policing, wasting tax-payer (&spectator) at a sporting venue. Bad policing is bad policing. I've been going to games since the 70s. Seen a lot of high-tension games in eras where police were necessary. High presence, antagonistic policing is not necessary at WSW games. And thankfully it never has been. At the last Derby, we had a magical festival of culture and football ruined, by police. It was a wonderful party, snapped away in a moment. Police should make us all feel safer. We just need to call the events of the last Derby for what they are. Totally unacceptable policing.

Last night was the nadir to beat all nadirs. [and I've seen a few as a Bohemian FC supporter over 50 years]. Sydney are not very good. But they are well organised with a simple directive - Press High. Everyone knew this before the game. Margush is not great with the ball at his feet. (we did miss Thomas). Clisby is a likeable, honest defender, but he simply doesn't have a right foot. Marcelo is still good, but getting on a bit. So it's pretty easy to predict what was going to happen. Simmons, time and time again, received the ball with 2or3 players pressing him and no out. Hendrix just wanted to go out on the piss. Badolato isnt ready for DM. Priestman not starting is criminal. Poljak was interviewed at HT, I was left wondering if he'd brought his boots. In the first half we just couldn't get the ball out of our defensive quarter. If this happened in an U14s game, what ya reckon the coach would do? Up front... Brook needs to play on the right and cut inside. Pierias is probably a lovely guy, but he's not an A-League footballer. Borello is half the player he was last season, but why is fitness an issue? Kittel, for all his faults, takes the best corners we've ever had... ... but we didn't get any corners in the first half. Sapsford and the younger players are the best we have. Off the field, before the game was electric. I had a nice refreshments in The Royal Oak (why the hell was that moved?) The walk up to the ground felt like the old days. The Tifo and streamers thing was great (and I'm an old grumpy man). The first minute of the game was The Perfect Derby Occasion. WSW need to ask the NSW Police to show cause. It is despicable and not acceptable that fans were not allowed into a section that they had tickets for. Yep, the ultimate nadir.

"ok lads, we've changed the plan, instead of playing the first game of the season, we're going to have a training run... ... where we try to get as many sideways passes as possible... ... when you get into attacking positions, under no circumstances cross the ball... ... simply pass backwards, let the opposition settle and start the sideways passes again"... ...and with corners, just don't bother, with anything... ... especially you Marcelo, just make that slow walk to the near post and no need to attack the ball..." I'm assuming that was the gist of the instruction last week. Hoping for a bit better tonight, otherwise it's gonna be a long long season.

ok I hate saying this. I appreciate the a-league referees are a bit suss... ... however yer man on Saturday played an advantage, many wouldn't have played, in the run up to our brilliant second goal. just saying like.

I reckon we're looking really good. First time since S4, we actually look like we're going to win home games. There's a bit of steel and togetherness and it looks like a proper team. Marcelo was an idiot going for a completely unnecessary tackle. It's the two feet in that's the problem. If it's R1 Serious Foul Play, he may only receive a one week suspension. But if we want to win the league, we can't do dumb stuff like that. Barrello has become brilliant over the last 8 weeks. He's exceptionally fit with great acceleration. Layouni looks the biz and with Ninko, Boz and Amalfatino, we look great up front. Milanovic on the bench is handy too. Nothing less than an overdue Grand Final appearance is the goal from here.

Time to make two statements... ON the field: We just have to bloody play. Imagine we're playing Easts. Where are those glimpses of togetherness we saw earlier in the season? (first for about 6 seasons). We can't let Macarthur settle. Press; press; press. Play the game in their half. Macarthur represent everything that is wrong with modern football. We simply have to win. OFF the field: We need to be loud and proud of our team. Football will overcome, because it must. We represent the best retort football has to the Melbourne Shenanigans. YES, we need to protest the insane GF decison. But we need to do it our way. Football is for the fans and we have the best fans. Lets start the new year with a 3-0 win.

Yes, it's a very strange anti football decison. If you were to chose a city to host a final... you wouldn't chose Sydney. The best grand final (and I know we lost, and it was a very long drive) was Adelaide. There was just a sense of occasion about it. We were only talking on the way home from the Gong, where, IF, we made it, we'd like it to be. Melbourne (Square), or Brisbane would be best. But to be honest anywhere EXCEPT THAT BLOODY CRIME AGAINST ARCHITECTURE, would be ok. I will PI55 myself laughing if the GF is between Western Utd and Perth.

Ok, I'm in for this. First trip to Wollongong. What tips do I need to know, lets start with pre-game pub? I think we'll win.

I went to the Celtic game at the new stadium. I know a few Glaswegians from the old days, so it was nice to catch-up. A few young (15 year old) lads were sitting above the Cove. One of them must of said 'c'mon Wanderers' or some such as a wind up. The 'capo' of the Cove, through the megaphone thing, sends 15-20 blokes rushing up to 'sort them out'. The Cove lads were all in their 20s, thinking they were Billy Big Bollox. Pinched a Celtic scarf from one of the young Wanderers boys. The young lads didn't run and held their ground. Not that I needed another reason to despise them, however, it just shows how much lower their lot are. Utter utter act of low chuntdom.

All in all it was a great night. Back to where we all want to be. The new stadium is nice, but Geez, it cost a lot. Entry through that SCG gate was still much more painful than it needed to be. And the Police Officers on duty truly have no idea what is going on. [at any other level of work, you'd want to brief the team on what's happening?] Had a few nice late afternoon beers at The Shakespeare, with a nice bit of food. Took a lad to his second A-League game (his first was Mariners last week) and he loved it. The tram thing was a handy way to get up the hill to the ground. The game was predictable. We are simply much better as underdogs. Ninko and Nieuban were great. I'm just pissed I'd didn't put more on the $3.90 win offer. Our tickets were in the block to the left of the RBB. Obviously it was well overcrowded and that's ok. [but I couldn't really work out where all these extra folk came from]. I asked a few of the pimply idiots (in our seats) to move up a bit. It's the indignation of how they reply with 'this is active' (and then all that modern passive aggressive stuff) that's odd. Listen youngsters, I'm not asking you to pi55 off, although maybe I should, all I'm saying is move up a bit so as we can all see the game. And do not talk to me about 'active' like its some sort of new thing, I've been going to games since the early 1970s, so I've seen a bit. Utter little chunts. Yep it was a great night. We're back. The first signs of our heart and soul are reappearing. PS: we really should send that CH9 report to Media Watch.

I've forgotten how long it is since I've looked forward to a trip east. Heading in shortly for a few pre-match refreshments in The Shakespeare I think we'll be ok. Mainly because they're not much chop anymore. And we're just always better when we're the underdog. [had a few quid on the $3.90 win] I really like the cut of Nieuwenhof and am predicting he will have a stormer. Ninko to score. It will happen. And the support to be reminiscent of the old days. C'mon Wanderers. Who do we sing for?

We are really poor. I've watched many football teams since the 1970s and we are really poor. I got invited to the posh seats for the Newcastle game, with a view, pretty much, from the bench and we were poor. It's not that we don't have some talented players, we do. We also have some talented youngsters/home grown players which is good. But we are not a team. It's as if, the players don't know each other. There is absolutely no cohesion, no togetherness, nothing. Some of them are trying, but even 11 good players, trying, doesn't necessarily win a football game. They have to be working together. There has to be a plan. We don't have one. We don't know what we're doing. We don't even know our formation, or where we're playing. We look like a bunch of random blokes who've just met up down the park for a kickabout. All this is terms of contrast to both Newcastle and Macarthur. [it doesn't surprise me that Rodwell and Hemed have gone awol already] Robinson? I watched him closely at the Newcastle game. He looks like he's just come from a modeling job for the Zara catalogue. Hands in pockets. Very poor body language. No communication from the bench, because I fear he doesn't know what to communicate. I love the RBB. Great bunch of folks, always had good times when I'm in there. But this unbridled applause for a really poor performance really has to stop. That was embarrassing on Saturday. And has got to be one of our lowest crowds?

We're poor. Newcastle were much better, esp, #10, #17 on the wing and #32 (thin hair on the top). They look like a team. They are organised. They worked hard. It's Robinson's body language that is telling. Hands in pockets, not saying much. He just doesn't motivate. He doesn't look like he has a plan (and I fear he doesn't). At a few points in the game, there were monumental gaps in the middle of the park. As already mentioned, Antonis and Ibini need to be squad players. Petracos just needs to pass the bloody ball. How many crazy, just not on, shots does he try? End product?? There are some bright signs, but not enough. And we're very luck not to lose that game.