SHIMIZU CLIMBING HIGH
In a week where the fixture list was jammed with top flight action Shimizu took the opportunity to scale the heights of the J League ladder. It began on Saturday
(April 28th)
with victory over FC Tokyo, then Thursday a drubbing of Kashima Antlers had the home fans in raptures, before Sunday's win over competition leaders Vegalta Sendai. Wow!
After the recent run of success Shimizu S-Pulse now sit 2nd on the ladder and just two points off the leaders Vegalta Sendai. Now it is S-Pulse who are being touted as title winners in many quarters. With 24 games to play there is still many twists and turn to come in what is arguably Asia's most exciting league.
GRAHAM ARNOLD STAYS AT GOSFORD
Graham Arnold is staying put. The man who has steered the Mariners into calm and prosperous waters over the past two seasons will remain on board much to the chagrin of his Sky Blue suitors.
Sydney FC are still looking for a manager after Graham Arnold made a negotiation too many for their liking. Football director Gary Cole (Sydney FC) said yesterday, “We had asked Graham for a final answer by today but we were presented with some last minute requests, which we were not prepared to meet." According to Cole, Graham Arnold had requested that he be able to bring along his Central Coast Mariners assistants.
However bad this is for Sydney FC, it's double that in positive measures for the Mariners. In two years at the helm Arnold has took the team to a Grand Final appearance in 2010/2011 and this season they carried off the Premiers Plate which grants them automatic entry to the ACL. And lets not forget the Mariners are still in with a fighting chance of making it through to the knockout phase of the ACL, pending their fate in Nagoya next week.
Sydney FC are still looking for a manager after Graham Arnold made a negotiation too many for their liking. Football director Gary Cole (Sydney FC) said yesterday, “We had asked Graham for a final answer by today but we were presented with some last minute requests, which we were not prepared to meet." According to Cole, Graham Arnold had requested that he be able to bring along his Central Coast Mariners assistants.
However bad this is for Sydney FC, it's double that in positive measures for the Mariners. In two years at the helm Arnold has took the team to a Grand Final appearance in 2010/2011 and this season they carried off the Premiers Plate which grants them automatic entry to the ACL. And lets not forget the Mariners are still in with a fighting chance of making it through to the knockout phase of the ACL, pending their fate in Nagoya next week.
ALOISI HAS HEART IN RIGHT PLACE
After being on the playing roster just last year (2010/2011) Socceroos golden boy John Aloisi now finds himself the Heart's head coach.
Aloisi was full of praise for the board and the achievements of the team in the season just passed. In 2011/2012 Aloisi was in charge of the Melbourne Heart Youth League team. With his insider knowledge he confidently stated, "The club is well positioned to succeed, with an exciting young core at the heart of our team, and I'm confident we will be able to build on last season's success over the next few years."
Ante Milicic was also in the running for the head coach role but now that it's clear that he won't have the top job rumours are rife that the former Sydney United marksman will be lining up the top job at the new Western Sydney A League side. Milicic was assistant to departing manager John van't Schip and many had touted Milicic as the man for the job. Aloisi has said, "I want Ante to stay on. We're good friends off the pitch and he is an integral part of this club." Only time will tell if Ante's heart rules his head.
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| Aloisi at the press conference |
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