I'm just returned, somewhat dehydrated, but happy, it must be said, from Melbourne
I won't bore you with tales of drunken revelry, and kilted Scotsmen climbing fences in search of a public house still open circa 11-30 on Saturday night, as such things are for another list.
However, I will tell a tale of my visit to Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday.
It was not I must say, one of my most enjoyable fitba outings.
I seemed to spend most of my time either in the grossly understaffed queue at the beer shop, or worse, in the toilets behind the stand as I was suffering from the Heart of Midlothians, no doubt brought on by something I must have eaten (couldn;t have been the drink, I told Mrs Forza, who just gave that knowing nod, and turned away.)
However, exceedingly good toilets they were, and anyone who has been in such a predicament as I, knows the overwhelming sense of relief, to find that not only was there a cubicle vacant, but YES!, there was paper too!
But I digress.
Also not contributing to my night at the fitba, was the company of a very drunken and I can only say, complete pest of a friend who tagged along with us.
He spend the whole night, making a complete erse of himself, complaining about thet standard of play, the referee, and generally anything he could think of.
Needless to say, he shall no be invited along to any more games.
However, for all his ranting and raving, I could not disagree that this was hardly a classic.
My summation, was that it was a game played by two pretty ordinary teams.
Without Joe Spiteri, Marconi will never score again this season, of this I am almost convinced.
Alex Brosque is a fine young player, but he is still learning, and no 'powerhouse, ' and his current striking partner, well possibly the least said the better.
In truth Marconi had about as much penetration as I have found I do after 15 schooners.
However, if they showed as much determination as I do, then maybe things would have been different!.
Memo to Raul Blanco: Raul, I am getting totally pissed of hearing that we "played well, but just didn't score." My understanding of the game is that "scoring" is a very important part of it, some would say a major part, and many coaches have been sacked cos their sides did not score enough. As someone who was raised on the blood and guts of Scottish fitba, I do not go into raptures if Marconi make 5 quick passes in a row that, yes, see them retain possession, but also see us with that possession, 20 yards behind where we originally started off! I would much rather we put, or attempted to put opposition defences under pressure.
After 36 minutes, adn under very little pressure, ,Marconi made a defensive error, and were punished by a fine strike that exoceted past Michael Turnbull in goals, and that, I knew was that.
It was however, nice to meet fellow listees, Seb and David Paton, and my thanksto them for taking the time to come down and say hello..and no that Hibby I was with, was not the erse I refer to.
Actually there were a few of us there, and the laugh of the night, was when I turned (in all honesty) to Mrs Forza, while my friend was abusing the referee at the top of his voice for allowing the goalie to take a bye kick(!) said...."Gee, Maz, now I know what its like for you, when I'm pissed....."
At this my friend, who told me he was supporting Marconi but had stood up (briefly) to celebrate the Souths goal, sulked away up the back of the terraces for a while....much to the blessed relief of assorted regular family members who were growing understandably pissed of with his language...etc.
Now, on the subject of atmosphere, I have to say that I have been drunk in several NSL grounds in my time, and have long considered my own Marconi Stadium to be very close to zero on the 'atmosphere' scale..but surprisingly, Bob Jane rivalled it last night!
Perhaps, like my drunken friend, I just caught them on a bad night.