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Friday November 21, 2008

Irish eyes are smiling again on McFlynn

Terry McFlynn IN-FORM Sydney FC midfielder Terry McFlynn isn't taking anything for granted, but the signs are promising that his frustrating spell in the international wilderness could finally end when Northern Ireland resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in San Marino next February.

Wednesday November 19, 2008

Sharper Aloisi good to go against Reds - Kosmina

JOHN ALOISI is back in favour after a fortnight of hard graft on the training track, with Sydney FC coach John Kosmina confirming his star is a definite starter for Saturday night's match against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Tuesday November 18, 2008

First shot in fight to keep Nix

NEW ZEALAND Football is ready to hand control of the Wellington Phoenix licence over to owner Terry Serepisos if it helps to keep the club in the A-League beyond 2011.

Monday November 17, 2008

Mariners to take route one all the way to Asia

CALL it what you like - long ball, route one, direct. The purists may squirm, but that doesn't worry Lawrie McKinna one bit. Two pre-season cups, two grand-final appearances, and a minor premiership is a pretty impressive haul for a club that now wears the "unfashionable" tag as a badge of honour. The siege mentality is alive and well in Gosford, and continues to be a great source of motivation. As we reach the halfway point of another A-League season, where are the Central Coast Mariners? In second spot, hot on the heels of pacesetters Melbourne Victory, and challenging for honours again.

Coast clear on Blades brotherhood

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS executive chairman Lyall Gorman believes the club is finally starting to appreciate the "dimensions" of its partnership with Sheffield United, with the arrival of a senior Blades player on loan in the next few weeks providing the first real evidence of the benefits.

Saturday November 15, 2008

Adelaide eager to tie down Vidmar

Aurelio Vidmar HIGHLY-RATED Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar will sign a new long-term deal with the Reds - providing he doesn't get tapped up by a major overseas club at next month's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Friday November 14, 2008

Fearless Fury looking North in bid to go native

NORTH QUEENSLAND Fury intend to join the A-League next season with a point of difference by becoming a magnet for indigenous talent, with their inaugural marquee player, Socceroos defender Jade North, acting as the catalyst.

Reds heed Gamba's blueprint for glory

THE morning after the night before, Joe Mullen, Adelaide United's youth team coach, was walking through Adelaide airport, clipboard in hand. Bright-eyed, and wide-eyed, he had just emerged from a breakfast meeting with his Gamba Osaka counterpart.

Wednesday November 12, 2008

Diego's the one for me: Kosmina

SYDNEY FC coach John Kosmina admits his former charge, Adelaide United's Brazilian midfielder Diego, is exactly the type of foreigner he is searching for as he looks to add to the club's quota of imports next season.

Tuesday November 11, 2008

Coaches need that release from pressure-cooker

Analysis: WHAT exactly do we want from the modern-day football coach? Expertise, composure, man-management, media management, a good dress sense, a sense of humour, a sense of honour, writes Michael Cockerill.

Friday November 7, 2008

Reds left black and blue as night falls in land of rising sun

ADELAIDE United were handed a football lesson on a crisp autumn evening in Osaka on Wednesday, and it hurt.

Monday November 3, 2008

Deafening Roar bring down Jets on road

MATT SIMON could have celebrated the two-goal haul which capped a stunning fightback by Central Coast Mariners against Sydney FC with a night on the town. Instead, he honoured his pledge to attend the 40th birthday party of one of his former park football teammates.

Saturday November 1, 2008

A masterly defensive role fit for a Prentice

MITCHELL PRENTICE may be quiet off the field but again he's ready to do his talking on the pitch as Sydney FC's inexperienced back line prepares for a three-pronged assault from Central Coast Mariners tonight.

Kosmina to hold Aloisi back again

MARQUEE star John Aloisi will have to cool his heels on the bench for another week as Sydney FC coach John Kosmina prefers to take a "calculated risk" on Alex Brosque in tonight's derby match against the Central Coast Mariners at the SFS.

Friday October 31, 2008

Sydney FC turn sights to Asia

SYDNEY FC are set to dip into the Asian market next season for the first time, with chairman Andrew Kemeny admitting Newcastle Jets' lively South Korean midfielder, Song Jin-hyung, was "just the type of foreigner we're looking for".

Aurelio proving to be the real deal

Aurelio Vidmar On Wednesday night in Osaka, Aurelio Vidmar will settle into the dugout at the Expo '70 Stadium, take a sip of coffee, and allow himself a moment to absorb the occasion before the first whistle blows in the first leg of of the Asian Champions League final. He speaks with Michael Cockerill about the biggest game of his fledgling coaching career.

Thursday October 30, 2008

Hepatitis revelations won't put Kewell out

SOCCEROOS star Harry Kewell has been dealing with autoimmune hepatitis for years, and his manager, Bernie Mandic, has no doubts he can continue playing at the highest level for the rest of his career.

Wednesday October 29, 2008

FFA scotches talk it's soft on cap breaches

FOOTBALL Federation Australia has warned clubs against tempting fate by flouting the salary cap as the race for the country's best talent ramps up ahead of the introduction of North Queensland FC and Gold Coast United next season.

Monday October 27, 2008

Bossy Kossie rediscovers his inner ogre

NO ONE quite bosses a dressing room like John Kosmina, and the big, bad, bossy Kossie is back in business. Which means so, too, are Sydney FC.

Sunday October 26, 2008

No Beijing baggage for Sullivan

NOT once has Eamon Sullivan replayed his Beijing experience in his mind. Sure, he admits he would prefer to have a gold medal dangling around his neck than the silver he owns, but no amount of self-analysis or pondering the "what might have beens" will change its colour.

Saturday October 25, 2008

Budding scribe keen to show he's made of right stuff

Aaron Timms BEAU BUSCH has given up journalism to chase his dreams in football, but he still hopes to write a fairytale when he makes his Sydney FC debut in tonight's top of the table match against arch rivals Melbourne Victory at the Telstra Dome.

Kiwi amateurs ready to ambush Adelaide

WAITAKERE United chairman Rex Dawkins has warned Adelaide United against taking the part-time Oceania champions for granted should the two teams meet to decide the final berth in December's lucrative FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Thursday October 23, 2008

McFlynn's World Cup snub puzzles Kossie

Terry McFlynn SYDNEY FC coach John Kosmina has backed the international claims of midfielder Terry McFlynn, saying he's "surprised" Northern Ireland have yet to call him up to their World Cup squad.

Wednesday October 22, 2008

Sydney's McFlynn assured Irish eyes are watching as Jets give Milligan a home

COMBATIVE Sydney FC midfielder Terry McFlynn has been advised not to give up on his international career by Northern Ireland's director of coaching, Roy Millar.

Monday October 20, 2008

Jets discover perfect cure for hangover

WHO dares wins. Newcastle Jets are back in business. It's taken a while, but perhaps the defending champions can start pondering another title challenge.