Lowe in box seat for Glory post

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YOUTH guru Kenny Lowe remains favourite to replace sacked Alistair Edwards, with an appointment expected as early as Thursday.

In more positive news, the club have re-signed Brazilian winger Sidnei for a further two A-League seasons.

Sidnei has starred for the Glory this season, and his re-signing is a welcome piece of good news during a tumultuous time at the club.

Former coach Edwards was sensationally dumped just nine months after signing a permanent deal after Glory owner Tony Sage refused his request to remove Jacob Burns as captain after he led a heated team meeting in the bowels of AAMI Park last Friday after the 2-0 loss to Melbourne Victory.

The main issue focused on the selections of Edwards' sons Ryan and former Melbourne Heart youth player Cameron, both midfielders like Burns.

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Chief executive Jason Brewer said Edwards would have remained as coach if he had accepted a series of conditions on his future coaching practices, which are believed to have included Edwards having to front the board every week to justify his team selections.

Brewer said there would be no issues for the Edwards boys going forward.

"Ryan and Cameron are fully supported by the club. They are young professionals that have come in and are looking to make a career in football. I don't see the awkwardness in that," Brewer said.

"They were treated just as much the same as any other player in that club. And they're certainly in contention to play against Adelaide on Sunday.

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"They know how to behave in these situations and they'll continue to compete for spots in the team."

Lowe, who was Glory assistant under Dave Mitchell, has coached all of the talented young WA players in Glory's squad, including the Edwards brothers, through the NTC program.

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22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Back niggle may ground Del Piero

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ALESSANDRO Del Piero is no guarantee to fly to Wellington on Saturday with his Sydney FC teammates, as he continues to manage issues with his back and hamstring.

Though Del Piero Wednesday downplayed concerns over the tightness in his lower back that ended his involvement in last weekend's win over Melbourne Heart at halftime, there are concerns that travelling to New Zealand could be counterproductive given the run of four games in 21 days - including the Boxing Day showdown with leaders Brisbane Roar.

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"It's nothing serious, we're training this week and then we'll see what is the best thing for Sunday," Del Piero said of his back issue. "We don't want to think too much about too far beyond Sunday's game.

"We have to analyse what's best for me and other players, a lot of us play a lot of games - this is a problem for Frank [Farina], not me."

Del Piero warned against resting on the laurels of five wins in six matches, and said any consideration of his future beyond this season would have to wait.

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"We're in a good moment but we don't forget our target," he said. "It doesn't end here, it's day by day we have to improve and think about the next game. For us that's Wellington away, and for sure it will be tough.

"At the moment I'm focused on our season. This is what I wanted to change from last season, the results on the field for the team. I don't want to think anything beyond this for the moment."

Del Piero also wants to be fit for the second derby of the season having missed Western Sydney's 2-0 win at Allianz Stadium in Round 3 through a previous injury.

"It was an amazing atmosphere - I was outside the stadium before the match and at the top of the stands for the second half and it was wonderful," he said.

"We had a great game - unfortunately they beat us but we have two opportunities to take revenge. But the crowd, the atmosphere, everything was perfect."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ashes euphoria perfect for BBL

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IN cricket as in life, nothing succeeds like success.

And so, riding a tidal wave of national euphoria generated by the Ashes triumph - not much gets the Australian sporting juices flowing quite like beating England at cricket - the return of the Twenty20 Big Bash League has been timed to perfection.

"Cricket is in a good place now," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said yesterday.

If he sounded just a touch smug, that was entirely forgivable.

It is a few short months since uncomfortable questions were starting to surface about his tenure in charge of a sport seen to be struggling on the field and not necessarily making much progress of it.

Suddenly all is well with the world again, with the national team dominating the media in the most positive way yesterday and the Boxing Day Test expected to go close to breaking the MCG's cricket crowd world record of 90,800 regardless of the series having been decided.

MGlenn Maxwell and Clint McKay of the Melbourne Stars along with Aaron Finch and Fawad Ahmed of the Melbourne Renegades pose for photos during the BBL Launch Breakfast. Source: Getty Images

Indeed, the prospect of seeing the Poms given another shellacking - a chance to join in the blood sport - might even tempt a few more. Call it the Colloseum effect.

But first things first. The Big Bash's third season which begins at the G on Friday night with about 35,000 expected to watch the Melbourne derby between the Stars and the Renegades has immediately become the focal point of all CA's considerable marketing and promotional clout.

At breakfast-time yesterday, Sutherland and a good few other men in suits and smartly-dressed women - some his staff, some sponsors - were at Middle Park beach, mingling with a handful of high-profile players, cartoon mascots playing beach cricket with kids and, of course, media.

It was only a few hours after the Renegades had "launched" their season at a swish South Yarra hotel the night before and a few before the Stars did the same at their former captain Shane Warne's even more up-market nightspot at the casino last night.

Even as the Perth Test was still proceeding to its inevitable conclusion, the Twenty20 sales job was in full swing with practice matches, press conferences and photo opportunities" taking place all over Melbourne and in Ballarat and Cranbourne. It has been relentless.

That's because CA are totally committed to the strategic imperative for which the BBL was conceived.

Life's a beach for James Sutherland right now. Source: Getty Images

"The BBL is our investment in cricket's future and it is very important for us," Sutherland told the breakfast guests.

"Our vision is for cricket to be Australia's favourite sport and a sport for all Australians. We are passionate about it.

"The BBL is an absolutely critical plank in that strategy.

"It's about bringing new people to the game, families and females _ 50 per cent who attended last year were families and 13 per cent were attending cricket for the first time.

"We're proud of that. If the BBL isn't doing that, it isn't doing what it is meant to do.

"So far the investment has been fantastic and we're expecting bigger and better things this summer."

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The heightened expectations are based on two major changes. One, the timeslot has changed with the competition starting later. More importantly, it is on free-to-air TV for the first time, with Channel 10 making an enthusiastic entry into the sport.

Ten are having a fair-dinkum crack, too. General manager Russel Howcroft said they will have 33 cameras, a helicopter, more than 40 staff and some gee-whiz technology at the MCG, with a commentary team that includes Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Sir Vivian Richards, Ian Botham, Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming.

If they had a time machine they would win the competition themselves - by some margin - with that lot. And presumably there will be no need to resort to cheerleading as Channel 9 has been guilty of rather too much lately.

With only three little-noticed Sheffield Shield matches so far, the cricket season has been a long time arriving in Melbourne.

But it is now here with all guns blazing.

Twitter: @Reedrw

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Top marks for Boof

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CRICKET Australia boss James Sutherland lauded national coach Darren Lehmann yesterday, praising his belief during the country's darkest cricketing hour.

The day after Australia regained the Ashes in Perth, Sutherland admitted surprise at how quickly Lehmann had turned the ship around after the disastrous start to the winter series in England.

He said the coach's steadfast trust in his team and methods after a humiliating 347-run loss at Lord's in July's second Test had pleasantly caught him by surprise.

"We were pretty low at Lord's - it was a pretty ordinary performance, to be kind," Sutherland said.

"But I can remember the day after the Test match spending a couple of hours with Darren Lehmann and being reassured by his confidence.

"He said, 'We'll be right, boss. We're on the right track'.

"And I thought, 'Wow'.

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"We've had a game like that, yet his belief and confidence in his process but also in knowing the players and knowing he could get the best from them is something I'll never forget - his knowledge or belief that success would come.

"It was comforting, at the time, because Lord's was terrible.

"And it was not even two weeks later we played in Manchester and could have, should have, won. But we certainly played with great resolve and that's when it turned.

"Maybe you need a loss like that, I don't know. But between Lord's and Manchester, something happened.

"Since then, we're 3-1 in six Test matches. We could have won more, but the performances and endeavour have been brilliant since Lord's."

Sutherland also praised skipper Michael Clarke's resolve to return the team to its halcyon days.

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"Some of the things he's done, his career has been called into question, but one of the things people haven't understood is just how hungry he has been for team success," the chief executive said.

"That sort of hunger comes through in that Michael's success as a player, having taken over the leadership from Ricky (Ponting), has even got better.

"With all the pressures on you as captain, to step up as a cricketer and as a leader at the same time, is a pretty phenomenal effort.

"There's a lot of pressure on the captain that people don't always see."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Elkin couldn't handle the heat

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BORING into the left hand side of my neck, his ferocious gaze was screaming for recognition.

So I turned to confront a face distorted with pure hatred and loathing, which belonged to Eels trainer Trent Elkin.

This showdown had been brewing all season, and now, in full view of guests and fellow media at Parramatta's end-of-season presentation in September, it was set to explode.

The Rosehill Gardens function marked the end of a difficult season for Elkin, who was cast as a key figure in establishing and overseeing the controversial supplement program at Cronulla two years earlier.

After learning that an independent report had found Elkin responsible for injecting Sharks players with peptides in 2011, The Daily Telegraph pursued the true extent of his previous role at Cronulla.

PHIL ROTHFIELD: SHARKS WILL NEVER DIE

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RICHARD HINDS: NRL FINDINGS SHAME NRL

We duly discovered that Elkin not only welcomed Stephen Dank, the sports scientist responsible for devising the program, into the club, but also had at least one injection to verify whether the proposed supplements altered his standard blood readings.

It would also emerge that Elkin was the first significant witness to speak to ASADA, visiting their head office in Canberra just days after the investigation as announced at the infamous Australian Crime Commission press conference on 7 February.

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This particular development made his former Sharks club mates extremely agitated, prompting a house call from senior trio Paul Gallen, John Morris and Ben Pomeroy at the end of February.

A week later Cronulla dismissed four staff and suspended head coach Shane Flanagan over management failures from the 2011 program. But the man most intimate with its detail and execution was beyond reach because he'd moved to Parramatta the previous November, and the Eels had vowed to stand by him.

They even went to the extent of having two security guards shadow him when the fired-up Sharks visited Pirtek Stadium in April.

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With an obligation to impart the truth and facts material to the biggest sports story of 2013, we reported each of these major developments in the face of denials, and intimidation.

Then, on the edge of the red carpet at Parramatta's most prestigious event of 2013, came the threats.

After locking eyes with Elkin, I bluntly welcomed him over for a chat.

Having already told our female photographer to "get f*&^ed" upon arrival a few minutes earlier, he was in the mood to oblige.

Out of respect for a private exchange - albeit one witnessed by dozens of people - I won't detail the precise conversation.

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Suffice to say I challenged him to point out any specific inaccuracies with our coverage, which he failed to do.

And suffice to say it ended with a threat as we parted ways.

It was all delivered with the conviction of a man completely assured of his own innocence, which must have made yesterday morning's phone call from NRL Integrity boss Jim Doyle an interesting one.

Doyle rang to personally inform Elkin that his NRL registration had been cancelled with immediate effect, thanks to the preliminary findings of the NRL's independent investigation.

Trainer, Trent Elkin keeps time during a Parramatta Eels secret training camp at Kiama. pic mark evans Source: News Limited

The eight provisional findings against Elkin include: exposing Cronulla players to "significant potential risks of health" and possible anti-doping breaches, personally injecting players without adequate qualifications, failing to obtain their fully informed consent in all circumstances and misrepresenting "material facts" about the supplement program.

As a result, Elkin has been told that, unless he can successfully defend the charges, he's likely to be outed from rugby league for at least two years.

Parramatta boss Scott Seward yesterday said Elkin was "very, very disappointed" with the findings and planned to fight them.

You can bet that when he does, he'll be wearing his game face.

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ELKIN - MARCH 19

"I have never condoned the use of performance enhancing drugs and I have not ever knowingly worked with anyone who did."

DAVE SMITH YESTERDAY

It is proposed that his NRL registration be cancelled. If that is the final decision, he will of course be at liberty to apply for registration at some time in the future but it is fair to observe that it is unlikely that any such application would receive favourable consideration if it is brought at any time within the next two years.

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THE EELS YESTERDAY

"At this stage the findings are provisional and Elkin has been given until 15 January, 2014 to respond. The club's primary focus is the welfare of Trent and his family during this difficult time."

WHAT ELKIN IS ACCUSED OF:

The preliminary NRL findings against Trent Elkin include that he:

* Exposed players to significant potential risks to health;

* Exposed players to possible breaches of the NRL anti-doping rules;

* Allowed persons without the necessary qualifications and training to administer supplements by injection;

* Personally injected players without adequate qualifications and training to do so;

* Failed to obtain the fully informed consent of players to the administration of particular supplements;

* Failed to comply with his obligation to inform the Club Doctor about changes that had been made to the supplement program and to obtain his prior approval with respect to those changes;

* Misrepresented material facts to players in relation to the supplement program;

* Failed to comply with a protocol that had been agreed on 7 April 2011 to the effect that the prior approval of the Club Doctor be obtained with respect to any supplements that were intended to be administered to players.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

The method behind Boof's genius

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A POST-DAY tongue lashing and pre-day joke spotlighted the two sides of Darren Lehmann's coaching mantra that steered Australia to Ashes glory.

Australia's 3-0 Ashes victory has drawn focus on Lehmann's new-world, old-world coaching methods which made him instantly successful in the Indian Premier League, at first class level and now at national level.

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Lehmann has become renowned as the man who puts a smile on his players' faces and his style was seen as a direct contrast to England coach Andy Flower who has the bearing of a military major.

But soon after Australia's Ashes win Lehmann also spoke of the need to play the enforcer such as after the fourth day when he felt Australia's bowlers had drifted from their precise game plan as fatigue and impatience took their toll.

"I am relaxed outwardly but if you had been in some team debriefs lately you would probably think the other way," Lehmann said.

"We are brutally honest. The blokes got a bit of a lashing last night with the way we bowled but they keep learning."

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Lehmann then spoke of how he occasionally uses a joke of the day to lighten the mood.

"I do it because they are funny and I like to see the sweat on the players or coaches faces because it is quite nerve-wracking for them (when they tell it). They worry players won't laugh. We had the worst joke today in my time from our phsyio so he won't be doing it again. You need some fun. The game is about enjoyment.

"No-one enjoys telling the joke because they are always nervous."

As a coach Lehmann is an unusual blend of the past and present. He loves a dressing room beer but lives in a world where scientists tell him its going out of fashion.

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He uses some sport science but is not a slave to it and no amount of data will convince him a fit player should be rested from a Test match or that beers should be banned from the rooms.

He was never big on the gymnasium as a player but knows that is the second home of modern players and the game plans he sanctions are shamelessly hard-edged and aggressive.

Winning the Ashes justifies the huge gamble Cricket Australia took install Lehmann in place of Mickey Arthur just before the recent Ashes tour.

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"I had a vision where I wanted to take us as a cricket team. We came up with some players and plans that will work for a long period of time. The atmosphere and belief of getting the guys to play a good attacking brank of cricket was essential," Lehmann said.

"We bowled really well in England. England did not make over 400 in the last eight Test matches. We just didn't bat well in England. We have batted better here. It was very emotional for a lot of players today. To see a few tears in their eyes was great.

"We have played some good cricket but they have had their chances as well. In England we lost those key moments. Here we won them.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Flanagan goes into hiding

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SHANE Flanagan was saying little on Tuesday.

Stunned at his one-year suspension over Cronulla's ASADA scandal, Flanagan was not accepting or returning phone calls yesterday afternoon.

Flanagan texted colleague Phil Rothfield saying: "I'm not talking to anyone as instructed.''

The Daily Telegraph did however capture these photos of Flanagan leaving his home in Bangor.

Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan leaving his home in Bangor yesterday. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Limited

THE MAIN MAN: WHO IS TRENT ELKIN?

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TIMELINE: HOW THE SAGA UNFOLDED

OUTED: RISE AND FALL OF FLANAGAN

Even Flanagan's great mate, Darryl Brohman, couldn't get through.

Flanagan is generally helpful and open to the media.

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He is one coach who doesn't speak in cliches and doesn't "play games'' with the press.

Flanagan has until 15 January 2014 to respond to the charges. The Sharks have indicated they will defend the allegations.

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The preliminary findings against Shane Flanagan include that he:

* Failed to ensure a safe and healthy work environment;

* Failed to properly supervise the Head of Strength and Conditioning;

* Failed to ensure the Head of Strength and Conditioning complied with his obligation to inform the Club Doctor about changes that had been made to the supplement program and to obtain his prior approval with respect to those changes;

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* Failed to take appropriate action when he became aware that unsafe practices had been employed in the administration of supplements to players;

* Failed to ensure that the Head of Strength and Conditioning complied with a protocol that had been agreed on 7 April 2011 to the effect that the prior approval of the Club Doctor be obtained with respect to any supplements that were intended to be administered to players.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Worst is yet to come for Cronulla

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THE NRL has finally taken the necessary hardline approach in suspending Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan for 12 months and if the Sharkies faithful thought yesterday was rough justice, think again.

Worse days lie ahead for the Shire outfit only next time it will be ASADA, not the NRL, handing out the punishments.

They will most likely come in the form of infraction notices to Sharks players, who are still staring down the barrel of two-year bans for using banned supplements CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 for an 11-week window in 2011.

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PHIL ROTHFIELD: SHARKS WILL NEVER DIE

RICHARD HINDS: NRL FINDINGS SHAME CRAFTY AFL

SHARKS FINED, FLANAGAN STOOD DOWN

SHAPR READY TO STEP-UP FOR SHARKS

RISE AND FALL OF FLANAGAN

As much as the pro-Cronulla rhetoric whipped up over the last 10 months has claimed the ASADA investigation is little more than a political stunt and a Labor witch hunt, the facts are the facts.

Shane Flanagan, Trent Elkin and Steve Dank oversaw a program of banned peptides being introduced into the Cronulla club.

Whether they like it or not, an independent report commissioned by Cronulla's previous board found the Sharks players were subjected to a progressive regimen of injections, creams and tablets from March to the end of May.

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Both substances used have been banned under Article 2 of the WADA code since 2004, meaning the Sharks were playing dirty pool and the whole "don't ask, don't tell", "we didn't know, we were duped" defence is null and void.

Flanagan has always maintained he was completely ignorant about the supplement program, but this stance is at loggerheads with the first version of the independent report commissioned by the club.

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According to that report, Flanagan and Elkin both sat Cronulla's playing roster in 2011 down in the middle of Shark Park during the captain's run and outlined a "new, top secret" supplements program, "for the game day 17 only".

Flanagan's repeated denials differ to what Elkin has told ASADA, with the ex-Cronulla trainer understood to have detailed how the suspended Sharks coach was present in the corporate boxes at Shark Park when players were being administered with injections.

Flanagan's supporters - and he has plenty - will argue it is ridiculous the Sharks coach has been handed the same suspension as Essendon AFL club coach James Hird.

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They will reason how at Essendon, Hird oversaw a 12-month program involving thousands of progressive injections whereas at Cronulla, there were only a tick over 100 jabs in an 11-week window.

Rubbish, it doesn't matter. The rules are the rules.

At best, Shane Flanagan was completely naive and knew nothing about what Elkin and Dank were administering to the players. If this was the case, then he's guilty of being completely negligent in terms of his duty of care to the Cronulla Sharks players from 2011.

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But in the worst case scenario, where Flanagan potentially knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, he could be deemed complicit in the biggest doping scandal in rugby league history.

One of the crucial nails in Flanagan's coffin, which was specifically outlined by the NRL yesterday, was the April 6 email ex-Sharks doctor David Givney sent to the suspended coach and ex-football manager Darren Mooney sounding the alarm about Dank - who continues to deny any wrongdoing - and his regimen of supplements.

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Its date was crucial to the NRL's case against the Sharks.

In response to the email, Flanagan promised to "knock it all on the head, no injections, no anything".

But the problem was Dank was allowed to remain at the club until being dismissed on May 29 and players were subjected to another round of injections and instructed "Not to tell the Doc".

Does this sound like a football club with the duty of care of its players as a paramount objective?

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Two players, Isaac Gordon and Josh Cordoba, have since started legal action against the Cronulla Sharks.

Now that NRL CEO Dave Smith and chief operating officer Jim Doyle have finally reached a satisfactory "fork in the road" with the ASADA element of the investigation to punish Cronulla from a corporate governance perspective, all that remains to be resolved is the anti-doping authority investigation.

Smith and Doyle deserve praise for their handling of the Cronulla file, leaving scope for further hardline action by labelling yesterday's decisions "provisional".

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While some interpreted this as a soft option, it was not.

As much as the Cronulla faithful can continue to live in denial, ASADA continues to build a strong case file. Elkin was the first to go on the record, submitting to an interview.

The development prompted Cronulla players Paul Gallen, John Morris and Ben Pomeroy to front Elkin at his home on the same night they learned he was co-operating with anti-doping officials.

All parties have since attempted to water the scenario down to a convivial chat.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Suarez, Fergie for Golden Vettel

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Welcome to the second preliminary final in our search for the Golden Vettel winner of 2013. This end of year award goes to the person who stitched up their teammates, or generally acted like a goose during the season.

Back in March Red Bull F1 superstar Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders and shafted his Australian teammate Mark Webber at the Malaysian Grand Prix. This, in our eyes, was a moment of treachery we could not let pass and so the Vettels were born, living weekly on the Fox Sports Facebook page.

First up we tackled cricket and today it's the football world in the spotlight.

Check out the nominees and leave your vote. The football winner will join luminaries from other sports in the Golden Vettel grand final next week.

1. Luis Suarez. Is he brilliant? Undeniably. So good is the Uruguayan playing right now it seems churlish to talk of the downside. But has there ever been a sportsman which such disparity between his most magical moments and his depths of depravity? Exhibit one: his 10 match ban for the April chomp on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic (not the first time he has sunk his teeth into an opponent). Then, while serving the ban with the full support of his manager Brendan Rodgers, he agitated for a move away from the Reds, in the process shafting Arsenal by misleading them over his transfer release clause.

Saurez has kept his head down and his scoring boots firmly on since his return - but how long before his next indiscretion - the January transfer window?

Fergie's autobiography launch was not to be missed. Source: Getty Images

2. Sir Alex Ferguson. Football pundits are divided over this, but has Fergie given his anointed David Moyes one of the great all-time hospital passes? Fergie left Moyes a squad that - RVP and Wayne Rooney aside - is ageing or substandard. Fergie can't be blamed for Moyes's chronic failures in his first transfer window in charge but did nothing to help his cause by coming out with an unsettling autobiography when Moyes's reign was in its infancy. That book adds to Fergie's Vettel credentials - he bagged out men who made him such as David Beckham and Roy Keane, and had a substantial swipe at Mark Bosnich.

Manchester United's English midfielder Ashley Young has got some bad habits. Source: AFP

3. Ashley Young. So blatant was his dive against Crystal Palace earlier this season he was publicly ticked off by his Manchester United coach David Moyes. Who knows how it went down behind doors though, as Young was at it again last month, winning a penalty against Real Sociedad with a comical tumble after a slight tug on the sleeve. Moyes refused to condemn him that time, although plenty including Roy Keane did.

Young is unrepentant - so expect more. He says: "I think it's one to ask the referees. They're the ones who are giving free-kicks and penalties.

"It's been talked about obviously by the previous manager and the current manager but that's in house."

Sepp Blatter's nomination should come as no surprise. Source: Getty Images

4. Sepp Blatter. Are words necessary? Well, maybe one word: Qatar. Oh, and Qatar.

Sportsmanship went out the window. Source: Getty Images

5. Leroy Fer. The Norwich player hit the headlines when he rolled the ball into an empty Cardiff City net after it had been kicked out because of an injury. Fer ignored the conventions of fair play that hold that a team will give the ball back to their opposition. Referee Mike Jones disallowed the "goal" - wrongly in the eyes of many, including Fer.

"I just looked at the referee and he did "play on" with his hands so I think the goal had to count," said Fer. "I'm a little bit confused on that one. I meant to put it in because I wanted to win the game."

Which football identity should be in the grand final for the 2013 Golden Vettel?

Who should football's nominee be for the Vettel of The Year award?

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Adelaide thumps Mariners 4-0

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ADELAIDE United defeated Central Coast Mariners 4-0 by mixing its usual tiki-taka game plan which saw the club win just one match this season before Saturday night.

Adelaide steam rolled the reigning champion at Coopers Stadium despite emphatically losing the possession statistic for the first time.

Re-live all the action from Coopers Stadium in our match centre.

Melbourne Victory was the only other club which won the possession stakes just - 51 per cent to 49 per cent - during the round two 2-2 draw in front of a record A-League crowd at Hindmarsh (16,504) this season.

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Mariners had 55 per cent of possession on Saturday but the key to the change of style was Adelaide's use of effective long balls forward to split the Mariners defence.

Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic was the best long ball example when he claimed an assist for a route one clearance which allowed Sergio Cirio to score Adelaide's third goal when he rounded Mariners keeper Liam Reddy before walking the ball into an empty net.

Out of Adelaide's 457 passes compared to Mariners 554 Adelaide used the long ball 17 per cent of the time while Mariners only tried the long ball six per cent of the time.

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But when Mariners' Mitch Duke got behind the Reds defence's high line after just 45 seconds before his opportunity was lost with a heavy touch Adelaide seemingly defended smarter.

And with the Reds defence seemingly dropping deeper than coach Josep Gombau's previous high line Adelaide took command of the clash.

With Reds forwards also dropping off rather than pressing the Mariners four man defence when the away side had the ball deep, the Reds midfield appeared to be much more compact than its previous nine encounters.

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In essence Mariners had fewer holes to exploit which was symptomatic of Adelaide's previous results barring the opening round 3-1 win over Perth Glory.

"The style we played over the last weeks also we played very well but we didn't get theses results,'' Gombau said.

"We have the style we are playing (Saturday) we don't make mistakes but this is football.

"We know the way that we play and we know what we are doing and we are believing in what we are doing and this is important.

"We have this style and we are playing.

"We are playing the way we want to play and we are creating chances every week more and more."

Re-live all the action from Coopers Stadium in our match centre.

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