haha - i was wondering who was gonna get in first with this ;)

so which thread is it?

Gabbo vs Hipo - bring it awwwwn

crap...

i'll have to concede. my search must have been mistyped.

the opening post in this one is better though :)

actually, after consulting with the FFA, as hip posted his before the final, that thread has been suspended for 9 months.

i hope the FFA sees at least some sense and also suspends Shield for 9 months for crimes against football

From the world game:

FFA CRACKS DOWN ON HI-FIVES

In the wake of the controversy surrounding Danny Vukovic's suspension the FFA this week has outlined its new policy on hi-fives and other gestures of a congratulatory nature towards referees. The new policy could see players suspended for up to five years for offering positive feedback for refereeing performances. In an exclusive interview with SBS FFA chief Ben Buckley said: 'Look, we're aware that the standard of refereeing in the league is poor and players building up referees self esteem isn't helping. If we really want things to improve we need the ref's to understand just how shit they are.'

The policy outlines a plan to stop any friendly gestures aimed towards referees passing without scrutiny and an independent tribunal will be set up to watch every game and alert the FFA to any potential incidents. There is some concern over what constitutes 'a gesture of a congratulatory nature' but the current definition will encompass 'any action that doesn't make a referee feel like the complete sack of shit that they are'. Beyond that any decision is left up to the tribunals discretion but the FFA has backed down on plans to censure players that smile in the general direction of referees.

When pressed on how the new regulations would apply to situations like the infamous Joel Griffiths cock punch earlier in the season Mr Buckley had this to say: 'In the situation with Joel there was always the hint of a suggestion that he was trying to give the linesman a wristy, but, after speaking with both the linesman and Joel, we were satisfied that there were no friendly connotations and Griffiths was acting purely out of malice. Given this we stand by our position earlier in the season that justice has been served in this matter.'

AAP

Tommy Pondeljak has signed with Melbourne

Well that's certainly a boost.

Roar have signed two youngsters. I WONDER WHAT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT WAS.

Hmm.

Boost is one way of looking at it, complete waste of a spot on the roster is another way. No offense to the guy but we're overstocked with CAM and desperately need some wide players. That, combined with the fact we've given a 32 year old a two year deal, makes this VERY poor business in my eyes.

I'm really hoping they bring in another Victorian team way more quickly than they're planning so I can jump ship before this useless central-midfielder idiocy gets too out of hand.

At least Ward has been signed on for next season and Ljubo has agreed to fuck off and will only cost 60K out of the cap.

I agree with you on Ward. He improved the way the midfield functioned immediately after joining. He and Hernandez (who I think could play out wide quite ably if given the space or Kemp is shot) will work together as long as any combination of Brebner, Muscat and Broxham aren't on the pitch. This multiple holding-man rubbish needs to stop.

We're hardly overstocked with attacking mids.

Kaz is adaptable to out wide on the left, Ward can play out wide. Carlos is gold and lets face it Pondlejak has more goals and more assists for about the same game time than Caceres had.

We've got a balance of about 50% defensive players and 50% attacking players now. Last season we spent most of it at about 75/25.

There is no guarantee that Kaz will even be around post ACL.

I think its a pretty good signing to be honest.

For the sake of his future career, hopefully as a full international, Patafta has to leave now.

What? Go back to playing some reserves matches now and again?

Kid is young, needs to fight for his place, and the ACL is a good chance to do it (as the refs may give him some more protection).

No, Benfica wanted to loan him out to club that would give him a regular game. He wanted to go to Victory after meeting Merrick at the Uruguay game in Sydney, despite their wishes, and he hasn't been given a chance at all. Merrick refused to play him all season, and I can't see that changing anytime during the ACL, especially after seeing Ward and Pondeljiak come in.

I think playing Ward will make Merrick comfortable with playing just one DM as the ability to break up play high up the pitch is what he was looking for all season. Agree with ed, with Pondeljak in Patafta is on the way out as he'll have no game time. At least he has the ACL to impress in before Pondeljak becomes an active member of the squad.

are we presuming Muscat won't see the season out?

Hernandez out of the first three games with a knee injury. Fuckity fuck fuck fuck.

And fuck again.

Mostly disappointed that i won't get to see him against Chunnam or Gamba Osaka at home.

Fuck.

We've signed some sort of agreement with Atletico Minero. Don't know if it involves player loans, but wouldn't that be nice...

well done ff

funny - i can recognise Durante in the bkg of the Jardel pic solely cos of his nose

going straight from work tonight which means i am driving. booooooo.

I'm going to the james squire brewhouse again to look longingly at the rack of ribs.

i'll be at the oxford scholar. they have tv's right?

yeah but they will show rugby over football - so you're fucked if there is any rugby on.

I reckon i may still have a sneaky beer at james squire loki - keep an eye out for a dude in a t-shirt that says Giant Robot

Will do.

and then kick him in the nuts!

geezus. I may have to put a jacket on and wear a fake moustache or something now.

and being movember, you'll blend right in.

loki is too lazy to be violent.

hutcho hutcho man!!

i wanna be e hutcho mann!

ahh Tommy. our Tommy. MY Tommy. what have you done???

that goal by pondeljak was one of the better ones ive seen

yeah, Tommy is a classy dude. nice lead up play, esp from Macallister ;)

it was pretty much the perfect cross!

oops, mariners should be up 2-1. shitty decision.

what the fuck is that white shit on the closest sideline?

unfair but there's still time!

I think Andre Rieu stuffed up the surface. Great game, but yeah should be 2 - 2