Raconteur

Sure didn't expect to wake up and read Australia had beaten the Uzbeks 6-0! Headlines of "Australia's day on Australia Day" Gotta love Robbie Kruse getting on the sheet while Scotty Mac sat eating his liver on the bench! Here's hoping Japan are knackered after their ET semi, because it's going to be a very different kettle of fish in the Final...

Not strange at all - he's a sensitive soul (from all reports) and it's perfectly understandable that he might substitute one tragedy ( losing a grandparent) for an infinitely more personal tragedy ( losing an unborn child). I reckon in the same situation I might tell a lie rather than letting people know the truth...

Hmmm... Not too sure about that - we're not far from a quality first team, but as for quality squad... For instance, look at the difference between Spurs' bench and ours

Hyperbolic, much? I'll be the first to admit that you English have overhyped Rooney to ridiculous degrees, but to suggest he is "League 1 standard" - even if trying to win the N-O WUM of the Year award, is ludicrous and pathetic. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in 2009-2010 wasn't he on course to beat Cronaldo's scoring record until injury curtailed his season?

As I say, gibberish. I am open to the notion that the above post might be witty or clever to someone who doesn't think wrestling is a massive wankfest, however...

That's a misrepresentation of the facts - yes, Joey was initially pushed out wide out of necessity but has been such a revelation there that it has proved to be his best position. Indeed, buying a starting right midfielder and moving Joey back inside would be a huge step backwards. Don't get me wrong, cover is required because muddling through with Guthrie, Gosling and Raylor would also be a folly. But long term Joey should be our first choice wide right man...

They've even got their own "wrestling-football" thread - no need to pollute the rest with this gibberish...

That's fucking brilliant!

If you mean dedicated cricket stadium, then okay. But having watched cricket, football and Australian Rules football at the MCG I can tell you that the atmosphere and viewing of football there is diabolical. The pitch is miles from the stands, especially the upper tiers where you may as well be watching ant colonies while any noise is lost (though this could be due to Australian football crowds being utterly unable to generate atmosphere - the problem isn't replicated for cricket or AFL)

I notice Pardew doesn't mention Ireland (or any other potential target) by name there - yet another case of cobbling together some generic quotes, embroidering with bullshit and presenting it as news...

Yup, you could pretty much open the match thread now and put that line-up in it, because it's a certainty. Goddamn I hate The Yids - and one of my best mates is your typical smug, living-in-the-past Spuds fan too so I'll be praying that the boys perform a miracle and sent the dirty bastards back to London with their tails between their legs.

My thoughts exactly - it's the official site and the fuckers can't even speak English!

That's 235 times. This morning. Young, Bent and potentially Keane? (or has that been said too ) As the Barenaked Ladies sang: "It's All Been Done"

cheers like. didn't get the point of posting the formation though Well, there ARE three Aussies in this thread talking about our best team Aussiemag, your last three posts tell me the green and gold specs are firmly on - I don't think any of the players you mentioned (except maybe Tommy Oar) could ever wear the black and white. Consider that Moore and Viduka are two of the greatest players we have ever produced, and then ask some of these Toon fans how highly they rate these great Australian talents... And as for Holman, two goals in the World Cup doesn't mask the fact he is technically limited (and that's generous). I wouldn't have him in my XI, which would look like: Scwharzer - Lowry, Neill, Ognanovski, Williams - Wilkshire, Valeri - Kewell, Cahill, Emerton - Kennedy Ridiculously old for 2014, perhaps, but the players coming through just aren't good enough. Unless there's an Andy Carroll-type fulfillment of potential from the half dozen or so prospects we have, we could very well struggle to qualify for Brazil...

True, it was just an amusing sidebar - Bruce's media antics over the past week suggest he's living in a different world...

Had to laugh at the article where Steve Bruce whines about being "let down" by Bent, with the line about how "everyone supported him". Really? All the mackems have been right behind him, eh Stevie? I reckon the man himself might disagree with that one. It's as stupid as asking "What is it about Steve Bruce that makes you want to kick him in the balls, hard?"

Not sure he could handle the pass of the premier league tbh. Definitely my first choice DCM for Aus though and has been for some time. Good to see a youngish Aussie doing well at a time future prospects look pretty dull. Are you guys for real? Jedinak is rubbish - sure he's scored two goals on this tournament but frankly I'd rather Alan Smith for footballing skill. Who are your top two Aus CDM's then? btw i meant pace of the premier league haha. And yeah so would I and I don't know where I said otherwise If we're playing a 4-3-2-1 then it has to be Culina and Valeri (and yes, I know Culina is on the downhill slope, but he's still better than Jedinak). Even better would be Rhys Williams at RB and Wilkshire at CM (which is where he plays for Moscow). I was glad to see Kilkenny get some game time against Bahrain too... Our talent pool is so thin that we barely have a decent XI let alone a squad.

Not sure he could handle the pass of the premier league tbh. Definitely my first choice DCM for Aus though and has been for some time. Good to see a youngish Aussie doing well at a time future prospects look pretty dull. Are you guys for real? Jedinak is rubbish - sure he's scored two goals on this tournament but frankly I'd rather Alan Smith for footballing skill.

No. He's had enough off them, don't subject him to more. Sorry, reading it back it seems as though I'm advocating senseless needling of Bent - I was more thinking of something like "this is what these animals are saying about you". Which, upon reflection, is daft considering he clearly is a sensitive soul and doesn't need anymore torment, especially considering he is about to close this dark chapter of his life forever...

Is that for real? Can you get done for online racial villificacation in the UK? Failing that, post the link on Bent's Twitter...

what was it he said again? was it just a bit of abuse over the shock sacking of Hughton? Indeed fair play if they have let it go. Reply 27 (page 1) of this thread (sorry, can't quote properly on this phone)

Australian cricket was plagued with streakers for decades so the authorities legislated an A$50,000 fine (approx £30,000) for anyone encroaching on the field of play. Problem sorted.

I used to think Guthrie was pretty decent and had some real potential. It's been a while since I thought that, though. That said, of those "black sheep" you list I think he is the most likely to make the "good books". Oh, I also endorse the "Ranger is a muppet" contribution...

Isn't his salary mainly endorsements, image rights and League contributions? Maybe this list is only club salary?

I have some Villa supporting mates who don't shed any tears over his departure, and I imagine anecdotes like that are why. But you won't read anything like that in the papers or on football websites, it's all about the miracles he performed and the evil Yank who cut off the cash-flow.