Tottenham Transfers – Will a Di Maria & Coentrao Cause a Bale Out?

 

The continuing rumor mill in English Premier League circles is if the powerbrokers at Spurs will put pen to paper on a record transfer fee and see their star forward Gareth Bale move to the Bernabau and in the process high five Angel Di Maria and Fabio Coentrao on the way through the door.

The Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy’s position has always been to retain the services and talents of Bale at the club but the pressure from Real Madrid and the huge pay day on offer along with the services of Di Maria and Coentrao could be a carrot that is far too large to push aside.

For Spurs the dilemma facing the club is do they roll the dice and cash in their chips on what will be the biggest pay day for the Champions League starved club or stick with Bale who could deliver them a birth next season? Bale delivered an amazing 21 EPL goals last season that would fill a largest highlights reel. The possibility of Di Maria getting close to those numbers together with signing a striker equal to the class of Bale is rare as hen’s teeth. It has been reported that Tottenham may target Paris St-Germain’s midfielder Javier Pastore if the Bale transfer sees the light of day. Pastore scored four goals for PSG last season as an attacking midfielder but his style and ability to find strikers in space could strengthen the first eleven and sure up things in the middle.

Like any player from park football all the way to the biggest leagues in the world, they are not driven solely by the almighty dollar; they want team success and trophies. For Bale he has been starved of playing in the best club competition in the world that is the Champions League. He can only truly go to the next level if he is playing against the big European clubs and the playing talents on a regular basis. Playing in a team alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Xabi Alonso each and every week will help evolve the Bale game into one that will be feared by defensive lines from Spain all the way to the might of the Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

One thing is for certain all will be reveled by Levy after he has been forced to make an early return to White Hart Lane to begin the unenviable task of either retaining or succumbing to the almighty Euro. The longer the transfer speculation continues at Spurs the harder things will be for André Villas-Boas to prepare a squad for the upcoming season. AVB enjoyed a fairly successful year at Tottenham upon his arrival from Stamford Bridge but we all know how fickle the fan base at White Hart Lane can be. This year their sole aim will be to finish in the top four whether it be at the expense of their fierce London rivals Arsenal or not.

In recent years it seems that Arsenal’s first priority is always squarely focused on staying in the lucrative European competition in preference to trophies and perhaps that is a good thing for the balance sheet, but like Spurs their fans ultimately demand more and would love the feeling of being able to tweet from the treetops that their beloved has some silverware. The longer a club is out of the Champions League wilderness the tougher the path is to return and be a competitive force.

 The ultimate decision facing Spurs? Do they do the deal and profit from the rich talent that they have worked hard to develop or force Bale to stay at the club hoping that he will deliverer them more goals and success in 2013-14.

 The smart money is that come mid-August, Gareth Bale will continue to wear an all white kit, that’s a dead set certainty!

Article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of SoccerSouls.com

Check them out and follow their Twitter handle: @SoccerSouls

www.soccersouls.com

Peter Shilton – His Name Is Listed Under Longevity In The Oxford Dictionary

With 125 Three Lions appearances, Peter Shilton is England’s most capped footballer

(Image Via Talksport)

As a young lad growing up and playing Church soccer with my primary schoolmates, my fascination for the round ball and goalkeeping game grew along with my height.  When overseas sports coverage of football slowly grew in Australia, so did my passion to watch more keepers and how they plied their craft in the toughest and richest leagues in Europe. The first keeper that caught my eye and that of many other football fans was none other than the ageless Peter Shilton.

 His relatively small six foot one frame and dark curly locks dominated League and World football for a career spanning over 30 years and 1005 league games. Shilton still holds the record for the most caps for England with 125 unbeaten appearances for his country.

Shilton’s career commenced after the great Gordon Banks saw something in the young Leicester schoolboy as he trained with the local Foxes team. If only Banks knew that his keen eye for detail and a benefit of hindsight could have prevented his untimely end to his association with his club in preference for the young and promising Shilton. The irony of the careers of Banks and Shilton dissecting is a great one as they are arguably England’s two finest goalkeepers on record.

Shilton’s early career was filled with mixed fortunes as Leicester City was relegated from the First division in 1967, but in stark contrast to the current crop of players constantly chasing fame and fortune, Shilton showed faith and loyalty to his boyhood club that gave him opportunity. This loyalty was warmly repaid as Leicester were lucky enough to progress to the FA Cup final at Wembley and a very green Shilton proudly took part as one of its youngest participants. Sadly and surprisingly it was his only tilt at FA Cup final glory in such an illustrious career, but success certainly came his way over the countless seasons.

The endless statistical highlights litter Shilton’s career like hamburger wrappers floating in the atmosphere long after the stadium has emptied. The few that stand out for me is his fine record in 17 World Cup final appearances for England.  His record of 10 clean sheets in put in perspective as it has only ever been equaled and not eclipsed by the great French keeper Fabian Barthez. Another is when at Nottingham Forest in the First Division season of 1977-78, Shilton helped his club secure the League Championship, combining with a League Cup win at Wembley. Great achievements but what stood out was that he only conceded 18 goals in 37 league appearances in the seasons.

 You are always flirting with death when attempting to compare the players of the past to the here and now but to give a little perspective as to how impressive Shilton’s keeping prowess was that season I will compare the goals conceded to that of the four leading keepers in the EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga in season 2012-13.

League	Goalkeeper	Height	Games Played	Goals Conceded
First Div.	Peter Shilton	1.85m	37	18
EPL	Joe Hart	1.905 m	38	34
Bundesliga	Manuel Neuer	1.93 m	31	18
Serie A	Gianluigi Buffon	1.91m	32	19
La Liga	Thibaut Courtois	1.98 m	37	29

It will be argued that the quality and caliber of strikers in the First Division in 1977-78 don’t compare with the likes of the Lionel Messi; Robin van Persie, Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez but even so, food for thought considering that Shilton gives up 5 cm in height on his nearest rival, and also the advances in boots, quality of grounds, training methods.

Shilton’s career has marked by plenty of highlights that would make a healthy and entertaining YouTube package, but I still find the goal he saved on the end of a sharp header from Coventry City’s Mick Fergusson a no better example of reflex keeping. If not for the poor grainy standard definition TV days, this amazing feat of keeping would form the part of any cable network’s highlight reel to introduce the game of the week.

Here is a poor quality YouTube version of that wonderful effort:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1JDV7UuLAo#

Its certainly not surprising that Peter Shilton played his part in one of the most spoken contentious moments in football history…”The Hand of God” incident at the 1986 FIFA World Cup hosted by Mexico. Tension was abnormally high in the quarterfinal match up between England and Argentina only four years on from the Falkland Island conflict. Shilton played no other part on the controversy but to attempt a save by advancing out of the six yard box to greet Maradona who was running toward an awkwardly bouncing clearance from mid-fielder Stephen Hodge. Both players leapt, Shilton to punch the ball clear and Maradona seemingly to head the ball, but it was obvious from the many replays that he did in fact use his hand to score the goal that helped end England’s tournament.

The massive controversy otherwise soured a game where Diego Maradona’s brilliant and bamboozling individual effort to score Argentina’s second goal was ultimately judged years later to be the FIFA “Goal of the Century”.

Shilton will be long remembered as one of England’s finest keepers but it was his efforts despite his small stature for a keeper that inspired many young footballers of the day to choose the often thankless and much maligned position between the sticks in favor of the glamorous and predictable life of a goal driven striker.

Do yourself a favor a check out some of the vision of Peter Shilton at his best for England and his many club sides most notably Nottingham Forest and Leicester City. You wont be disappointed by what you find despite the unattractive quality and hazy television pictures of the 1960s and 70s through to the more recent 1980s.

Article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of SoccerSouls.com

Check them out and follow their Twitter handle: @SoccerSouls

www.soccersouls.com

Clean Sheet 22

Cech 1….2? Chelsea F.C. A sound move for Schwarzer?

It is certainly a long way from the Colo Cougars in Richmond, New South Wales to Stamford Bridge for Australia’s goalkeeping guru Mark Schwarzer, but in his opinion he still feels he has the game to challenge current incumbent Petr Cech for the number one position at Chelsea F.C.  The one thing he may find difficult is re-wiring his brain from driving to The Bridge each day instead of the more familiar riverside Craven Cottage.

As we all know things at Chelsea are always about as static as a cheap nylon rug, so there are no certainties that Schwarzer will see much game time in the first team knowing Cech has been an instrumental figure in trophy success for “The Blues”. One of the huge variables in Chelsea’s ongoing football equation is their innate ability to throw reason and common sense thinking out the window along with mountains of European currency. The return of the “Special One” José Mourinho will obviously see the potential for a shake up of team lists as he looks to stamp his own unique mark back on the club he has had so much success with.  

The big question is will Mourinho tinker with things in the six-yard box? His time at Real Madrid saw a much-publicised fall out with arguably the best keeper in world football Iker Casillas and sparked the beginning of the end of his tenure at the Bernabeu. I’m sure he will be keen to avoid too much controversy and personality clashes, but as it is Jose Mourinho, headlines tend to follow him around like a bad smell. It will be no different as he returns to gold fish bowl world of the EPL.

Let us look at how last year’s stats measured up between the two glove men and see if any can assist Schwarzer in gaining any game time over his dressing room rival Cech.

Both keepers played 36 games in the EPL last season with Cech dominating in the wins department with comprehensive 22 to 10. Cech’s healthy clean sheet tally of 14 also out shadowed the fine efforts of the ever-consistent Schwarzer, who recorded eight for the Cottagers. Schwarzer was certainly the busier of the two at the coalface having to deal with more than a hundred more shots than Cech.  Even standing back to back, both men stand at the same height with only Cech gaining the slightest advantage courtesy of his easily recognisable protective headpiece. One stat that any keeper in the world would love to own is Cech’s EPL record for the fewest appearances required to reach 100 clean sheets. He brought up that little milestone in only 180 appearances. A stat guaranteed to make any keeper stand up and notice.

Stats always need to be put into perspective as the numbers don’t always indicate what the keeper is seeing n front of him. For Chelsea, Cech has the benefit of a defensive line that boasts the likes of Terry, Cahill, Luiz and Ivanovic. I wonder if Schwarzer had that sort of cattle ahead of him at Craven Cottage just how more balanced the stats would be.

For now Schwarzer will be in unfamiliar territory as the obvious second choice keeper, but it is widely known that Mourinho never talks in those terms and prefers to promote his cattle as equals in order to squeeze out as much competition for the every position as possible.  In the EPL it has never been about simply managing the first team but the entire squad and the ups and downs of form, failure, fatigue and fame. Something that is even more difficult to do at Chelsea given the enormous ego of their wealthy owner Roman Abramovich.

Back in Australia there are many who see Schwarzer’s move to Chelsea as a step backward in his preparations for Brazil and are also calling to now deliver the succession plan for his eventual replacement. For now his record speaks for itself at international level and there wouldn’t be many Australian keepers that would challenge his service as well as his results.  Personally I would like to see the FFA invest more dollars into finding out they can have Schwarz cryogenically frozen or at the very least pass on some of his goalkeeping DNA so that our goalkeeping stocks remain healthy for many more World Cup campaigns to come.

Article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of the following cracking football websites:

Check them out and follow their Twitter handles: @bpfootball  & @TheFootballSack






 http://backpagefootball.com

http://www.thefootballsack.com

Brisbane's second home of football

I love watching football anytime, whether in the very early morning or deep into the evening. As many of you know, being a football fan down-under requires a lot of stamina and all too often the passion for our game overpowers the need for a good night’s slumber.

Fans across the country all have different habits; some meet together at houses, others in pubs while many supporters sit in front of their television set or laptop alone in bed.

Yet in one special place in Queensland, one man has established a tradition that has now passed on to a new generation. A tradition established thanks only to pure footballing passion.

Tucked away in the inner-city Brisbane suburb of Milton, the football-loving Euro café precinct of Park Road acts as a warm blanket to nurture fans desperate to reproduce the stadium atmosphere on a similar but smaller scale. 

I didn’t know what to expect after reserving a table at the authentic Italian Restaurant Arrivederci but the smell of pizza and roasting coffee beans emanating from behind the bar certainly helped awaken those hazy senses.

As I made my way to my table and ordered a piping hot long black and slice of the Arrivederci special, I felt an enormous sense of belonging sitting amongst the many customers of wide and diverse cultures. For me it isn’t just about the football but being surrounded by other likeminded and passionate supporters of the game.

Sport is often described as the social concrete that binds people together. Whether it be barista, boilermaker, barber or builder; we all enjoy participating or watching the round ball being skillfully dribbled and passed from one end of the pitch to the other.

Current owner David Silvestri’s deep passion for football and the hospitality industry was inherited from his parents Franco and Rita who migrated to Australia from Italy in 1969. Whilst living in Italy Franco would travel to every A.S. Roma home match at the Stadio Olimpico and sit in the Curva Sud (south end of the stadium) with the other fanatics.

The link with the Roma club was unbreakable and his deep passion supporting the game extended as far as coaching promising junior players aiming at a chance of football stardom.

When Franco eventually moved to Australia the love of his club never waned and he was always found listening to the Roma games delivered live on SBS radio every Sunday night in his native language. This was in the simple age of no internet or wi-fi cafes and next to no television coverage. 

Franco opened Arrivederci Pizzeria on Park Road in 1992. It quickly became the ‘luogo di incontro’, or meeting place, for he and a small group of his loyal football-loving friends to gather and listen to the Italian matches on the wireless.

While the numbers were small initially, this was the start of something special.

In 1994 when Italy played Brazil in the World Cup final, he opened the pizzeria at the request of customers as there was nowhere for fans to watch the action. What happened next was astonishing. To Franco’s surprise hundreds of fans turned up wanting to watch the game on a hired screen. Sadly Italy lost that final on penalties but the seed was planted. 

After Australia qualified for the 2006 World Cup, this is when the need for a football venue snowballed and got a little out of control. Franco spoke with Brisbane City Council and police to arrange a full street closure with two massive street TV screens for the round of sixteen clash between his home and adopted nation.

That night 20,000 fans gathered to watch Italy beat Australia 1-0. My mates and I remember the night vividly as do the majority of Australian football fans. After the match, as the downtrodden but proud Socceroos faithful made their way home along the crowded Park Road, Franco stood proudly by his Pizza oven with a wry smile.

From humble beginnings with a few friends crowded around a tiny transistor radio, football in Brisbane had come of age and Franco from his own humble beginnings is responsible for that. 

Franco’s deep love of football is evident as you walk in to find yourself surrounded by vast splashes of colorful sporting memorabilia with autographed jerseys and national flags engulfing the walls and ceilings. Of the many artifacts and football treasures on display, those that will always take pride of place are the signed jerseys and photos of A.S. Roma and Italian great Francesco Totti holding aloft the 2006 World Cup trophy. 

After many years dedicated to his team, Franco eventually became the proud president of the Roma Australia club before passing away in 2007. He often travelled with the team to watch matches as seen in the photo of Franco on a plane with the Roma team after winning the Copa Italia with Totti looking on in the background.

Rita and Franco passed the business to David who has continued his parents’ Italian traditions in the same spirit. David works as hard as his father and brings his own second-generation flavour by promoting the restaurant as a place for patrons to share their love of Italian food with all sports.

Be you a fan of Brisbane Roar, Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds or Brisbane Lions you are welcome to show your passion with fans of a similar ilk. David can lay claim to be a more enthusiastic sports fan than I. No matter what code of football is being played, the odds are that it is being shown on the big screen as he weaves around the red and white checked table cloths ensuring his patrons are happy whilst keeping one eye firmly focused on the game himself.

David will be opening for the various Socceroos qualifiers being played this year.

Australia v Iraq

Stadium Australia, Sydney

Tuesday 18 June, 2013

Kick off 6.30pm (local time)

http://www.thefootballsack.com

Clean Sheet 21

Grand Final Countdown

Welcome to ‘Clean Sheet’, an inside look at the ‘Number 1’ position in world football… “Goalkeeper”

Well it is down to the last weekend of the A-League and the two best teams have made it through. The Western Sydney Wanderers will host the Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon and it’s also not surprising that the two best keepers in the league go head to head. When you throw the stats out there you will notice just how close these two glove men are in ability and performance on the pitch.

Ryan earned his inaugural “Clean Sheet” linen Manchester package this season although it is obvious that Covic’s gloves were more worn with almost double the amount of saves required. Both teams are deserving of their place in the final after viewing their respective for and against records. A very healthy 41-21 for the WSW compared to 48-22 for the Mariners. A record any manager would be proud of.

Here’s how the two keepers measured up.

Goalkeeper	Team	Minutes Played	YTD Saves	Goals Conceded	Clean Sheets
Ante Covic	WSW	2520	90	21	11
Matthew Ryan	CCM	2160	48	20	11

There has been nothing more than a tally-ho paper between both keepers and their respective teams all season and the Grand Final may ultimately be decided by some brilliance from either Ryan or Covic to claim the coveted “Golden Toilet Seat” trophy. Good luck to both teams and I’m sure it will be a wonderful spectacle with plenty of red and black on show for the Western Sydney Wanderers debut appearance.

The season has showcased just how talented the goalkeeping stocks are in this country and it wont be too long a wait before we see more Aussie flags embroided on gloves throughout Europe and beyond. The likes of Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Adam Federici and Dean Bouzanis must be looking over their shoulders proudly at the healthy pool of talent emerging from our local leagues and competition. Much of the praise should be squarely directed at the many specialist-keeping coaches continuing their great work in lifting the crossbar and widening the goal posts so our talent is always striving to improve their game.

To the EPL and this week I witnessed one of the most clinical performances from a keepers for many seasons. Alex McCarthy was lucky enough to get his first start since an early 1-1 result against relegation rivals QPR back in November.  Liverpool had 13 shots on target and dominated possession with 61% of the ball, but even with the likes of Suarez the Reds were unable to breach McCarthy’s line. His save from a sharp chance from Daniel Sturridge was the highlight of his clean sheet. In a game that showcased the awesomeness of the boys at the back, Pepe Reina was not to be outdone by his opposite number down the other end.  If you can catch the highlight reel of the match you wont see a match dominated more by a keeper than this one. Who says a nil all draw is dull and boring? For me it’s the almost the mecca for a keeper. Even Brendan Rodgers though disappointed with the result was honest in his assessment of the match. “That’s arguably the best goalkeeping performance I’ve ever seen, watching many games and being involved in many games,” Rodgers told Sky Sports. “Not just tipping it around the corner but actually holding onto the ball.”

Very fine praise indeed, and an effort that may draw some interest from other clubs coming into the warmth of an English summer. Although we’re not used to hearing anything negative from Rodgers in his first year at the Reds. Watch this space.

The misery continued for QPR against Everton but it was Tim Howard that shone like a beacon in the Toffees’ 2-0 win over a Championship destined Hoops outfit. Julio Cesar was brave in defeat at the back just couldn’t compete against Everton’s tall timber. Howard’s sharp stop from a Loic Remy bullet was one of my saves of the week.  It was Howard’s sixth clean sheet this season, but it has been Everton’s inability to close out games this season that has let them down. A positive run home could see them challenge for a top four spot but it could come down to the last round where they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs look to have the April/May wobbles again but can enjoy a small break after their Europa League woes to refocus on their clash with Manchester City at White Heart Lane this weekend. Their London rivals Arsenal have nudged ahead of them on the ladder in the all important Champions League qualification race but can City do the Gunners some favours in providing Arsenal with some mental ammunition for the final rounds.

I’d love to keep rambling on about football and my love of the goalkeeper but the quote of the week awaits. Good luck and fair play to your team’s chances this week.

Football Quote of the Week

"We must have had 99 percent of the game. It was the other three percent that cost us the match."

Ruud Gullit – Dutch Legend and mathematics honours student

Yours in football and “KEEPING it real”.

This article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of backpagefootball.com

Check them out and follow their Twitter handle: @bpfootball

 http://backpagefootball.com

Clean Sheet: Eugene Galekovic interview

Eugene Galekovic is the goalkeeper and Captain at Adelaide United FC. He recently notched up his 150^th A-League game and a highlight reel of his saves would easily fill up the largest of external hard drives. His “Red” hot form this season for Adelaide earned him selection in the Socceroos squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Oman in Sydney.

It is a wonderful reward for Galekovic, who continues to work hard at the back while possessing arguably the sharpest reflexes of the current keepers in the A-League. There is certainly no better-equipped keeper to face the daunting task of staring down the barrel of a spot kick with a nervous trigger-happy striker. I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Eugene after learning of his call up to learn a little more about the man behind the gloves.



Firstly a big congratulations on your recent selection in the Socceroos squad! I know it wasn’t the result the team was looking for, but how was the mood in the camp? Do you tend to learn anything new that you can bring to your game by being with the likes of Schwarzer and Ryan?

Thanks! The result was disappointing for the team on the night but given that we were down 2-0, the team showed plenty of fight and courage to come away with a very important point towards qualifying for Brazil. The experience of being part of a Socceroos is tremendous and it certainly improves your focus. The increased intensity of every session is what you notice the most as you’re amongst the finest Aussie footballers playing both here and abroad) and their professionalism and experience just rubs off on you.

Not many Aussies know of or are aware of Ali Al Habsi, captain and goalkeeper for Oman, but he’s had fine year for Wigan in the EPL. The Socceroos weren’t at their best on the night but I felt he was the difference between a draw and getting the much-needed three points. Do you agree?

He’s certainly a fine keeper and pulled off some wonderful saves throughout the game. It’s certainly not surprising given that if you’re playing in the first team in the EPL you definitely need the talent and skills he possesses. He and Schwarzer had a good yarn after the match in the middle also which always builds the union between keepers.

What’s your first memory of playing football as a young lad?

It was my young junior playing days and is something that you never forget as the mates you made then are your mates forever. I certainly have very fond memories of playing in the park in many positions but the game was all about fun and spending time with your mates.

Was it always football or did you experiment with other codes?

I played most sports growing up in Victoria, but my parents were against me playing AFL as they felt it was a little rough. When I was 14 I had to make the decision between football and cricket…thankfully I chose the later! 

Who has been the most influential person/s in your football career?

Definitely I would say my parents. They have been my biggest supporters and never grizzled or complained when I had to be driven to training or games all around the state. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

When standing alone in front of a striker taking a spot kick, do you have any strategy? Or is it pick a side and hope for the best?

I don’t really have a strategy as such, but before the striker steams in towards the spot I try and stand as tall as I can for a long as I can. Then as soon as the ball is struck I throw myself as hard as I can to the side I choose. I also try and watch the video of the dedicated spot kickers in League to gauge their process. Unfortunately it simply comes down to luck, but you always have to give yourself the best chance possible.

Apparently rumor has it that Mark Schwarzer still wears his old favorite shin pads from his early days at Marconi? Do you still hang on to treasures from the past?

I didn’t know that about Mark! But it is really funny because I still wear the same shin pads I had from my early playing days. They are that worn and old that there is no more foam padding left and just two bits of plastic. Still I’d feel strangely uncomfortable if I didn’t wear them on every match day.

Your nickname and how and when did you get it?

Sadly I don’t have a nickname that too much thought went into, but all the boys call me “Euge” as in short for Eugene.

Any strange superstitions pre game routines? Have you ever noticed how Buffon always marks out the box before each half? Very meticulous and professional?

A lot of keepers used to do it back in the day like [Gianluigi] Buffon, but as you can receive a yellow card from the officials it’s generally frowned upon so I don’t do it. I used to always have a shave the night before game day but on one occasion I didn’t and we had a good win, so I don’t really stick to the routine anymore. It’s a strange thing but most superstitions exist from either coming off a win or a heavy loss.

Many pundits say you end up a keeper because you couldn’t make it out on the pitch. Did you start as a keeper or fall into by chance by a desperate manager?

As a kid I tried playing in all the positions from up front, mid field, defense to keeper but always gravitated ended up in the goals. My teammates always thought I was the best choice and that it was I should be. I always enjoyed it so it wasn’t a case of being lumped with the role but rather being the best man for the job.

Who was/is the keeper you looked to learn from when you were learning your craft?

I guess growing up I always enjoyed watching Peter Schmeichel and Mark Bosnich. They were incredibly gifted but hard working keepers, but in saying that they also possessed that flamboyance and confidence on the pitch that makes them very attractive to watch.

The proud thing about football is the many links with so many diverse cultures and backgrounds. How important is your cultural background to you and the game of football in general?

I am extremely proud of my Croatian background. In Croatia football is number one! The friends I made when I was younger playing football for Chelsea Hajduk and even before then are still my friends today. Football is one of those games that brings people together and is the great leveler and a common ground that everyone can relate to and talk about in any social situation.

What’s the worst football blunder you’ve made in your career to date?

It would have to be the goal I let in last season in our Asian Champions League game. It was a real howler, but it’s important to always shut it out quickly, refocus and move on.  You will always have a bad day from time to time but the more work you put in off the pitch reduces the chances of that happening.

Who is the best former defender you’ve played behind?

It would have to be Sasa Ogenovski. He’s very imposing and physical player who never lets the ball through to the back without a fight. Sasa is an extremely tough customer and was wonderful defender to play alongside when he was at United.

Who do you rate as the best keeper in world football today?

Gianluigi Buffon. He’s been at the top of his game for so long. Also you cannot go past Iker Casillas from Real Madrid and Spain. He’s just about done it all Captained Spain to win their first World Cup; two European Championships and five La Liga titles. Both are sheer class in keeping.

Who has/had the toughest shot to stop at Adelaide United?

Sergio van Dijk (when he was with Adelaide), Bruce Djite, Tomi Juric.

Who do you usually room with on the road?

I room on my own. Captaincy certainly has its benefits sometimes.

What was the last movie you saw?

“The Next Three Days”

The best and worst pitch you have played on?

Best: Toyota Stadium Toyota City in the Club World Cup in 2009.

Worst: Probably Newcastle…the surface can make it tough for keepers.

Your three ultimate dinner guests?

My lovely partner; Michael Jordan; Lionel Messi.

Shootout from the Spot

Pre-game meal

Fruit Toast with butter

Favorite overseas team?

Leeds United

Favorite TV show?

My Kitchen Rules (MKR)

Best holiday destination?

Croatia

Follow Adelaide United Football Club on Twitter: @adelutd_FC

This article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of backpagefootball.com

Check them out and follow their Twitter handle: @bpfootball

 http://backpagefootball.com

Clean Sheet 20

Clean Sheet – Covic a mainstay as Wanderers finish top

With the International duties done and dusted for the time being, it was back to the A-League final round, EPL and a FA Cup replay. As good as the battle for World Cup qualification is on the football calendar, the week in week out battle for the top four or avoiding relegation is far more entertaining in my humble opinion.

Turning to the A-League for a moment, and the sun has set on the regular season. Despite the tabloid papers continuing with negative stories on crowd behaviour and the like, the game has grown in popularity with the marque signings Alessandro Del Perio, Shinji Ono, Lucas Neil and Emile Heskey arriving on our shores from abroad. What has really impressed me is the number of young local players who have cut their teeth and are becoming household names both here and abroad in a market dominated by rugby league, union and AFL. All codes strive to claim the crown of the “greatest game in the world”, but to be honest they can all happily co-exist by working alongside each other to schedule games to ensure each sport grows or even cross pollinates every summer or winter.

Here are the interesting statistics for the lovers/admirers of the men in the six-yard box. Being in the unashamedly former category, I marvel at the talents of the often lonely and much maligned keeper so the figures don’t tend to surprise as much as raise my admiration after the hours of work put in plying their craft. A total of 20 keepers took to the pitch for over 24,208 minutes, making a combined 866 saves, conceding 369 goals while 14 of them managed 65 clean sheets between them. Most impressive stats, however if you asked most keepers they would tell you that it can always be improved on.

Ante Covic has been one of the standout keepers this season after heading back to the Western suburbs of Sydney to play his part in history with the Wanderers winning the Premiers’ Plate in their inaugural year. Covic has played every minute of every match this season and finished equal on top with 10 clean sheets with the Central Coast Mariners Matthew Ryan. As mentioned in an earlier edition of 'Clean Sheet' if the tally was tied at the end of the regular season, the prize will be awarded to the goalkeeper who has had the fewest goals conceded for the year. In retrospect given that Covic played four more games than Ryan I will be awarding him a consolation prize for his service to the #keepersunion. Congratulations to both keepers and I look forward to getting in contact to award your prizes. The winner Mathew Ryan will proudly receive a quality set of Manchester with the highest of thread counts. Look forward to posting a happy snap with Maty in receipt of one of the highest goal keeping honours in world football!

Good luck to the teams competing in the first week of the finals with the Melbourne Victory hosting the Perth Glory in the first of the elimination finals at Etihad Stadium. Perth’s momentum has been steady of late and their recent win over the Victory only a fortnight ago will give them plenty of confidence in causing an upset.

In the other clash Adelaide United takes on Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh Stadium. The two teams met back in early March and it was the Roar who ran away with the points after a late Ben Halloran strike. The worrying sign for the Reds is that they have only won one of their last five matches while the Roar have only lost once. I know I’m little biased but momentum is a big card to carry into the finals and the experience of the Roar is well documented and could be the difference. The Wanderers and Mariners both earn a week off but both sides will be keen spectators to analyse their potential opponents for the following weekend.

A quick look at the EPL and I managed to get up early to watch one of Australia’s living legends, Mark Schwarzer play a massive role in putting the sword to relegation favourites QPR. His penalty save off Loic Remy was vintage Schwarzer as well as his “Inspector Gadget” grab later in the match.  Chelsea keeper Petr Cech’s amazing form continued in the FA Cup reply with one of the saves of the year. His giant hand helped his side to move one match closer from a return to Wembley.  David De Gea recorded his ninth clean sheet in Manchester United’s win over Sunderland, while City’s Joe Hart streaked ahead of the competition with his 14th clean sheet in 30 games.

That’s it for this week. Next week I’ll will take a look at the Champions League keepers and how the cream is rising to the top, A-League finals action and then round it out with all the keeping news in the English Premier League.

Football Quote of the Week

"I couldn’t settle in Italy – it was like living in a foreign country."

 Ian Rush, (ex-Liverpool) when asked how he enjoyed his time at Juventus

Poor Ian could really have used Google Maps back then!

Yours in football and “KEEPING it real”.

This article appears courtesy of the ongoing support and encouragement of backpagefootball.com

Check them out and follow their Twitter handle: @bpfootball

 http://backpagefootball.com