Player of the round - Round 21

The biggest thing we picked up from the weekend of A - League fixtures is that the West Sydney Wanderers are genuine contenderes to win the A - League, if not the favourites. They have the best defence in the league highlighted by right back Jerome Polenz. The German born defender has been a unsung hereo for the new boys and after his performance last night it looks like he is finally getting noticed. Being originally a centre back there is no question regarding his ability to defend his goal but in our opinion the highlight of his game is work rate up and down the right flank. Not only did he own Victory young-gun Marco Rojas throughout the match but he performed many goal saving tackles highlighted by the crunch tackle on Rojas outside the box late in the second half. Scoring goals wins you games but defence wins you championships. Jerome Polenz congratulations on winning insidetheboxFC's player of the round for round 21.

Victory vs West Sydney 3,2,1.

Well what fantastic advertisement for the A - League  in tonight's match at AAMI park. The fans were just as fun to watch as the match itself but in our opinion the Wanderers controlled the game all bar the opening 5 minutes. After that performance the new boys of the competition are the favourites for the toilet seat.

Take a look at our 3,2,1 man of the match awards from tonights game.


3. Jerome Polenz

The man from Berlin just keeps getting better and better for the Wanderers. What is most impressive about Polenz is his work rate, his ability to defend is obvious but he always gives 110% till the final whistle, which is credit to the fitness programme of the Wanderers. In our opinion Jerome is the best right back in the league.

2.  Lacopo La Rocca

Lacopo La Rocca has been a unsung hero for the Wanderers in their charge this season, even his opponents tonight the Victory tried to lure him south for next season. Lacopo controlled the midfield until he was substituted and of course scored the opening goal which started the Wanderers domination.


1. Scott Galloway

At 17 years old Scott Galloway has been one for the best young debutants this A - League season. Marking one of the form players of the competition in Youssouf Hersi would be a challenge for most right backs but young Galloway rose to the occasion and had a great game. He will no doubt have a big future in our game.

THE DEATH PENALTY IN THAILAND.

     
Uninspired is probably the best word to describe last night's clash between the Brisbane Roar and Thai outfit Buriram United. Playing in a Foreign land for the chance to compete in the 2013 AFC Champions League would be enough to motivate any player, though this was not the case for the Brisbane Roar. Thomas Broich was out of form and Besart Berisha's final touch seemed to allude him the whole game. It's hard to say who was the deserved winner of this clash, as there was no outright favourite on the park that night. As the game rolled on, and extra time seemed inevitable, it seemed only a matter of time before Buriram would get the better of the Australian side. One thing about this current Brisbane Roar side, the more prolonged the match, the more painful and slower they die. The only glimmer of hope came in the 115th minute when Roar Coach Mike Mulvey substitued Dutch Import Stefan Nijland after a woeful free kick, which could have won the game, which further proves why PSV Eindhoven don't want the young Dutchman. So as the 120 minute mark approached and the whistle sounded, It was now do or die for both sides as the game was headed for a Penalty Shootout.

Before Thomas Broich even took his kick, It was obvious this penalty shootout would be over after only half a dozen kicks (from both sides). Thomas Broich left little to the imagination of Buriram United Goalkeeper Tedsungnoen, as his short run up (a rookie error) and body language suggested which way the German Midfielder would go before he even kicked it. After that, came the avalanche of converted penalties from Buriram and the woeful misses from the Roar. Short run up after Short Run up, The Roar sank deeper and deeper until Buriram were gifted the win after only 6 spot kicks. The Penalty Shootout (or the dreaded Death Penalty) came to a swift end in Thailand last night and ensured the Roar would leave Thailand without registering a single goal in the game, despite going to a Penalty Shootout. 

Written by Alex Stilianos.

The football journey of Mario Karlovic

The football journey of Mario Karlovic is a fascinating story, born in Adelaide Mario started his career with local NSL side Adelaide City Force back in 2000. After representing his country in the u/17 Joey's team a move to Europe was immanent for young Mario. Karlovic moved to Italy with then serie B side AS Cittadella, after a positive start in Italy Mario caught the eye of giants AC Milan. Although no move eventuated the rest of his career is very interesting, after a quick spell back home with the Brisbane Roar Mario then moved to Indonesia. The move turned out to be a successful one and Mario is enjoying every minute of it.

1. Your professional career started in Italy with AS Citadela how did that move exactly come about?.

I was playing for Adelaide City Force in the old NSL, during this time was invited to train with AS Cittadella in Italy who were playing in Serie B at the time.  I flew over to Italy to attend a 2 week trial, which was very successful.  Following the trial they made an offer for me, however this was rejected by Adelaide City.  Further offers were made and a deal was eventually agreed a year later and then I made the move to AS Cittadella.

2. Looking back was it the right move for you?.

Definitely, 100%! This move formed my playing career.  The move to Italy where the standard of football is much better, came at a perfect time to improve my ability and knowledge of the game against stronger and better players. AS Cittadella was also known as a family club and they welcomed me in like son and i settled in straight away which was great for me especially as i had just moved so far from home.

3. There were rumours floating about that AC Milan were interested in you are those rumours accurate?.

This is correct.  Franco Baresi saw a DVD of me and invited me to join AC Milan in the US for a tournament.  However the timing was all wrong as I had recently sustained a broken foot whilst playing and was out injured.  To my disappointment this chance came and went and they looked elsewhere and found someone else.  This was me learning the harsh realities of football so early in my career, but it gave me great confidence that teams of this stature were looking at me.

4. You then moved onto Torino and other Italian clubs for more game time, Italy seems a tough country crack for Aussies?.

The style of football in Italy is very different to most other nations where tactics and defence is sometimes seen as the basis of their game.  Whereas us Australians like to play an open, expansive game creating chances and excitement for the fans watching.

5. In the wake of all the match fixing scandals in world sport not just in football, Italy has often been accused of match fixing did you encounter any of that whilst you were there?.

Sadly enough yes.  This was the ugly side of football and made me feel sick that some of my fellow professionals would agree to this just to earn some extra cash.  I used to think where was the love of the game we all grew up on!

6. You then moved back home to play for the Roar and looked good but didn't earn a permanent deal, was that a disappointment or was it always going to be a short stay in Brisbane?.

I moved back and was unfit as I hadn't trained for a while due to an injury.  I knew I had knuckle down and work hard to get my fitness  levels back up.  I was brought in by Frank Farina who offered me a short term deal with a view to a longer contract.  unfortunately things didn't work out and he was replaced during my initial period and the new coach didn't see me in his plans so then i needed to look again at other options.  Not one of my best times during my career at that point.

7. What were your impressions of the A - League then and what are your views on the competition now?.

My first impressions of the A-League was it was a lot more physical than the old NSL.  Looking at the league now as an outsider I feel it's developed so much, offering young players great opportunities to move overseas and fulfil their dreams that I once had.  If you look at the league now it's crazy to think we can attract world class players such as Alessandro Del Piero and Emile Heskey on full time time contracts, and not just exhibition contracts.

8. If the right offer came up would you consider returning home?.

Of course why not.  As much as I love playing here in Indonesia for Persebaya, Australia is my home and the opportunity to play there again and showcase my abilities is something I still have ambitions for.

9. Onto your time in Indonesia you've been there for 2 years now you must be enjoying life there?.

Initially it was tough, however during my second year I was signed by the champions of the LPI, Persebaya FC.  I got the opportunity to move to the wonderful city of Surabaya with my wife and newly born son at the time.  I was signed on a three year deal which is rare here in Indonesia, but showed that the club thought very highly of me to commit to such a contract.  So far during my time here I've been fortunate to play against teams like Inter Milan (Italy) and Queens Park Rangers (England). I have also be invited to play alongside Cesc Fabregas of Spain during a Fabregas and friends exhibition game.  

10. Describe what Indonesian football is like?.

Very quick, there are many players who like to run with the ball.  Tactically they are still developing their skills but in the two years I have been here I have seen a massive improvement in this area.  Their passion for the game is unreal, it rivals the best leagues in the world.

11. There has been stories of players not getting paid what is agreed by their contracts have you had any cases of this or heard of any?.

I have read these stories like everyone else.  If I was to talk about one case where it did shock me was when a player from South America was not being paid and was living in poor conditions.  Unfortunately he passed away and I think this could have perhaps resulted in him not being paid as per his agreed contract.  How many other cases like this or not so serious, not only just here in Indonesia but around the world has happened to, that no one gets to hear about.  For us footballers this is our job just like someone working in an office or any other industry, if we do our job we should get paid for it.

12. Would you recommend Indonesia as a place for fellow Aussies footballers to ply their trade?.

It would depend on where they are in their careers.  Maybe at the end looking to prolong their careers.  It could also be a place to get regular football if your not back home.

13. Lets talk about life outside of football, whats it like to live in Indonesia ?. I bet you've seen some interesting things.

Living in Surabaya where I am is beautiful.  It's the second largest city in Indonesia behind Jakarta and is developing day by day attracting many new faces from all over the world.  Driving is very interesting here, you've got to be looking left, right, in front and behind all at the same time.  You could have around 20 scooters surrounding you which have literally come out of no where.

14. In a dominant Muslism country does that provide any challenges for you?.

Yeah, i really miss the good old Aussie bacon and egg breaky! As it's very hard to come by here.  Seriously though I don't find it too challenging as the local people don't pressurise me about their beliefs and respect me just as I respect them about their beliefs. 

15. Indonesians are said to have negative view on Australians have you had any negative experiences?.

No I've never had any issues since I've lived here.  They have welcomed me into their country and cultures with no problems.

16. What does the future hold for Mario Karlovic?. 

Who knows, onwards and upwards, maybe we could do this again in 12 months and see where I am then ;) ...........

insdietheboxFC would like thank Mario for taking the time to answer our questions.

Player of the round - Round 20

What another great weekend of A - League action with a few upsets along the way. Depending on who you speak to perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend came on Friday night when Adelaide United defeated competition hot shots Melbourne Victory. Our star and player of the round goes to returning red Johnathan Mckain. In may be a controversial choice, but we havent seen the former Socceroo play as well as he did on Friday night in years. He certainly looked at home in defensive midfield and completely owned the Victory midfield including Marcos Flores. Adelaide look a different side under Valkanis and if they continue to play as they did against Victory, then they will be certain title contenders.

Adelaide vs Victory 3,2,1.

Well, what a dominant display from Adelaide United tonight at Hindmarsh Stadium. The Melbourne Victory were terrible tonight, it was the worst they have played all season but taking nothing away from the Reds they certainly deserved to win tonight. No surprises that all our elected 3,2,1 man of the match awards go to the boys in red.

3. Jonathan Mckain

Mckain has been a bit part player so far this season and its hard to see why with his performance tonight. He completely bossed the midfield and totally outplayed Flores. Another string to his bow is his ability to work the referee and on a couple of occasions he worked his magic tonight. Makes you wonder Kosmina had a personal agenda against Mckain whilst at the helm.

2. Dario Vidosic

It looked like a lot of Reds players were glad to see the back of Kosmina, and Vidosic looked like one of those players tonight. He was outstanding and his work on the left flank to set up the only goal of the match was simply world class.

1. Jeronimo Neumann

Jeronimo has been a fantastic buy this season, he works hard and scores goals. Great finish to score the opening goal but he could've had a hatrick tonight if it wasn't for Coe or some of his finishing.

FOR LOVE OF THE GAME?

The latest scandal, which has rocked the Football world and will continue to do so for a long time to come, is nothing short of expected. Football corruption has been going on for many years and will continue to do so, but what makes this latest scandal so universal is the sheer magnitude of it. Already we've heard that 15 countries in Europe are guilty of such shady dealings and, in due time, many more players and clubs will get caught or found out. So is it the question of "Has the game changed?" or "Has society change"?. In the last 3 years, our screens are littered with advertising by such gambling companies as TAB and Sportsbet. We can barely go 30 minutes without having some wanker or wankeress (usually a buxom young Blonde) telling us that before it reaches half time (or full time), we can win a nice lump sum of cash. The truth is, Gambling is Gambling. You can't Bet responsibly and you can't do it and still have moral swagger about you. It is what it is. Another cold hard truth is, Gambling destroys lives and families. When we were all young, we watched Sports for Love of the Game, whatever code it may have been. Now, Kids are conditioned to think that Sport is nothing more than a numbers/money game, where huge amounts of money is there for the taking. We now have people who regularly check there iPhones for Live Updates on the game. For a second, you could be fooled in to thinking they're following there favourite team, but in reality they usually put away there phone and say something like "Oh man, I''ve $150 on that team".

As tragic as it may be (this latest corruption scandal), It's nothing new as we've seen countries like Italy fall victim to these dirty deeds time and time again. And with the old turtle (Sepp Blatter) still at the helm of FIFA, this problem of match fixing will continue to go unresolved. Mr Blatter should have been out of a job after he had a hand (a big one at that) in the 2011 scandal, which saw Qatar bribe FIFA officials in to hosting the 2022 World Cup. Yet even though he and FIFA officials were found guilty, nothing was ever done about it. Qatar will still host the World Cup in 2022 and Sepp Blatter is still FIFA President. It seems as though FIFA is a law unto themselves, not having to answer to anyone or any higher authority. Can Sepp Blatter even spell the word "Accountability"? So in summing up, corruption is everywhere. From the guy putting down $50 at the Local Keno, to the FIFA officials presiding over our game of Football to the constant ads we saw in between Half time on TV. Is this the legacy we want to leave our kids?

Written by Alex Stilianos.
                                

Top 5 A-League Exports

With Robbie Kruse recently getting rave reviews for his performances in the German Bundesliga, we have decided to gather together our Top 5 Exports of the Hyundai A - League. This was certainly not an easy decision with the calibre of what our league has produced but we are confident that what we have come up with is spot on the money. Recent departures such as Tom Rogic and Aziz Behich were not considered because it has been to soon for them to make an impact for their respective new clubs.


5. Adam Sarota

After being a bit part player with the Brisbane Roar in his 2 year tenure with the club, it is fair to say it came as a massive surprise when he was signed by Dutch giants FC Utrecht along with Tommy Oar and Michael Zullo in 2010. Since his arrival in Holland he has made 29 appearances for Utrecht, played in the Europa League and featured for the Socceroos.

4. Mitch Langerak

Many doubted that Mitch would make it as a professional footballer in his younger years, but boy has he made them eat their words. After signing with Melbourne Victory in 2007 he was sent out on - loan to Victorian Premier League club South Melbourne. With some great luck Galekovic and Michael Theo both moved on paving the way for Langerak to be Victory's no.1. After impressing German giants Borussia Dortmund, they decided to make three bids for him before both parties could come to an agreement for him to join Dortmund in 2010. He has since made six appearances for the club including a debut against Bayern Munich, Langerak is so important to Dortmund that they have never allowed him to go out on loan.


3. Sasa Ognenovski

Asian Player of the Year, named in the K -League best XI and Asian Champions League winning captain, not bad for a former Victorian Premier Player / part time Carpenter. After stellar spells with the Roar and Adelaide K - League giants Seongnam came calling signing him in 2009. Not only has he received the accolades in Asia he is now a permanent feature with the Socceroos, a perfect example that you should never give up on your dreams.

2. Tommy Oar

The "Next Harry Kewell" whilst the comparison with our best ever player is unfair and inaccurate, Tommy Oar is certainly one of our brightest young prospects. Tommy Oar joined FC Utrecht the same time as Zullo and Sarota but it is Oar who has excelled the most in Holland. 41 appearances for Utrecht is a solid amount of game time for a 21 year old in a top side in Europe. Also a regular Socceroo the world is certainly at the feet of young Tommy Oar.

1. Robbie Kruse

If you had told Robbie Kruse back in 2009 that he would be a Socceroo playing his club football in the German Bundesliga he would've laughed at you and walked away. Party boy antics and poor attitude meant the Brisbane Roar parted ways with him at seasons end in 2009 leaving his career in limbo. No clubs wanted him and he looked set to disappear into the Queensland state league, but Ernie Merrick decided to take a punt on him and boy did it pay off. Two brillant seasons with Melbourne Victory sparked interest from Fortuna Dusseldorf and he moved to Germany in 2011. Due to his change of mentality Robbie has saved his career and will no doubt have a long and successful career in Europe and with our National team.

Congratulations Robbie on being our best A-League export.

Player 's of the round - Round 19

This week's player of the round is not one player but three. In probably a first and last in the A -League and world football the crew here at insidetheboxFC have decided to give the Player of the round to Nathan Coe , Andrew Redmayne and Besart Berisha. Redmayne and Coe stole the show in the match of the round the Melbourne derby with a number of world class saves, in particular Coe's save of Golgol Mebrahtu's free kick. It is beyond us how Redmayne hasn't got a start in the A-League until now and although we are big fans of him Clint Bolton deserves to get a last hurrah if he is to retire at the end of this season.

Besart Berisha showed his deadly form of the past two seasons on Friday night with his brace in the
2-2 draw with Central Coast. Although he should've had a hatrick and won the game for the Roar, it seems that Mike Mulvey could bring back the Berisha of old.

Goal of the Round goes to Alessandro Del Piero for his opening goal in the Jets - Sydney match.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

                                                       
 Brisbane Roar's 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners was just what the Brisbane sided needed at this stage of the season. Although some may argue it is only 1 point, they still managed to hold there own and play some dazzling Football in front of a modest 11,000 fans. I was talking with a friend of mine this week about the upcoming match and, while I was expectant and quite positive, my friend Steve seemed to be unpersuaded. I can understand his point of view, as the Roar have been a bit lacklustre at times. My feelings of expectancy was due to the Roar's spirted victories against teams like Perth Glory and Adelaide United. These were matches which showed the Roar team of old, is still alive and well. Last night's match against the Mariners was the catalyst, no doubt about it. This was make or break time for the Roar, as the race for the Top 6 spot is heating up and time is running out. It was also make or break for the fans I believe, as crowd attendance has waned in the last 5 weeks due to patchy performances. So with only 8 weeks left of the regular season, I believe the Brisbane Roar can stake a claim in the Top 6 on March 31. Infact, I believe 4th spot would be well and truly achievable at this stage of the competition. Only time will tell.

Written by Alex Stilianos.