Del Piero

[weasel]

I've been through countless markets in Europe where they sell those fake jerseys and I don't ever recall seeing any non-European club's kit.

I've spotted Boca Juniors pretty easily.

 

[Twizzle]

only saw his highlights but yeh, he is very slow

 

[Danish]

The bloke is a few days off his 38th birthday, how fast do you expect him to be?

While Del Piero is probably an exception being an absolute superstar of the game, the A league is going to have to try and advance past throwing millions at the stars of yesteryear if they are going to actually grow the sport. Focusing on developing local talent to keep the socceroos competive should be FA's primary goal, not spending all their money giving out retirement packages.

 

[Wizardman]

The bloke is a few days off his 38th birthday, how fast do you expect him to be?

While Del Piero is probably an exception being an absolute superstar of the game, the A league is going to have to try and advance past throwing millions at the stars of yesteryear if they are going to actually grow the sport. Focusing on developing local talent to keep the socceroos competive should be FA's primary goal, not spending all their money giving out retirement packages.

I didn't expect him to be Usain Bolt you dribbler. But, he is significantly slower than any other striker I have seen in the A-League. I could not believe his lack of pace off the mark.

In saying that, I am a Roar fan and I would take him straight away. While other strikers are better in regards to pace, the guy has the most important skill of putting the ball in the back of the net. Give me Del Piero's skill over Thompson's pace anyday.

 

[Wizardman]

His most significant problem is that he will be easy to mark because of his pace. But, if he is set up well, he'll score.

 

[Big Sam]

Negatives:

*The guy is as slow as a slug. I guess if he had some semblance of pace, he would not be playing here.

*He is playing with hopeless teammates.

He may be physically slow but in his head he's 2 steps ahead of everyone else in the league along with probably Broich and Flores.

And yes the rest of Sydney, Emerton excepted, is shit. Although if they can somehow start with both Culina and Reid he'll get better service.

 

[Mong]

The bloke is a few days off his 38th birthday, how fast do you expect him to be?

While Del Piero is probably an exception being an absolute superstar of the game, the A league is going to have to try and advance past throwing millions at the stars of yesteryear if they are going to actually grow the sport. Focusing on developing local talent to keep the socceroos competive should be FA's primary goal, not spending all their money giving out retirement packages.

In time Danish.. What they have done with Del Piero has been a great success, pretty sure there is also a focus on developing talent as well although the a league is going to be a long way from being a socceroo breeding ground for some time.. Europe will have that role for a long while yet.

 

[Danish]

I'd like to see the a league breeding some youngsters who go on to Europe and socceroos success though.

The A league will never be able to hold onto someone whose good enough to play internationally, but it would be great to see some of our young talent (like the 15-17 year olds that get scouted by the European academies) getting a run in the A league to launch their careers instead of playing in 3rd and 4th tier euro comps. It will give the league great credibility if it can act as a stepping stone to Europe instead of being the last resort at a career that is currently is.

I guess it will come in time but PR exercises like Del Piero - as awesome as it is to have him in the league - don't really do us much long term good when basically they just bring in extra money to help pay their own salaries

 

[Mong]

Depends if the folk who start turning up to games because of such signings continue to do so I suppose..

The interest in him is immense, I saw a bar in Brisbane full of roar fans and others going to the game cheer long and loud at a Sydney goal yesterday..

Never thought I'd see that..

 

[Big Sam]

I'd like to see the a league breeding some youngsters who go on to Europe and socceroos success though.

The A league will never be able to hold onto someone whose good enough to play internationally, but it would be great to see some of our young talent (like the 15-17 year olds that get scouted by the European academies) getting a run in the A league to launch their careers instead of playing in 3rd and 4th tier euro comps. It will give the league great credibility if it can act as a stepping stone to Europe instead of being the last resort at a career that is currently is.

Where have you been for the last 8 years? The likes of Oar, Zullo, Ruka, Holland, Zarota, Leckie, Langerak, and Kruse all started here before going to Europe. They're all doing well too, starting almost every week for clubs in Germany, Holland, and Austria.

And they'd be in the Australian team except Holger thinks a bunch of geriatric mercenaries playing in the Middle East are better.

 

[Big Sam]

ADP's fk broadcast in Italiano:
http://www.video.mediaset.it/video/sportmediaset/calcio/352353/il-primo-gol-di-del-piero.html

 

[Big Sam]

Just found this on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy4pw7sdm8&feature=related

His anti-diving stance should endear him even more to the Australian public...

 

[Twizzle]

umpire should have taken notice of him rather then yellow card him

 

[Big Sam]

Alessandro Del Piero to remain in A-League for another season

David Davutovic
Herald Sun
January 21, 2013 12:00AM

ALESSANDRO Del Piero will play in the A-League in 2013-14.

The Del Piero camp has told Sydney FC he wants to remain for a second season and the club could confirm this by the end of January.

Del Piero signed a two-year deal, but the contract had a clause in there where either party could terminate.

But Del Piero has confirmed to FC and Football Federation Australia officials - who pay the former Juventus star a marketing retainer - that he has no intention of leaving.

FC chairman Scott Barlow returns from a business trip this week where he will continue talks with Del Piero.

Studs Up understands some minor issues still need ironing out, but the key issues are sorted including his salary, which will remain at around $3m a year.

The retention of Del Piero is almost as important as signing him in the first place.

It will help legitimise the A-League, which again received global exposure over the weekend after his four-goal haul.

Having Del Piero on its books gives FC bargaining power when recruiting - players want to play with the legend - and so should the rest of the A-League when it comes to recruiting internationally.

The 7-1 trouncing of Wellington gives Sydney a massive shot of confidence heading into the final 10 games of the season and sets up for a mouth-watering Big Blue on Australia Day.

The arrival of Joel Griffiths changes the landscape at Sydney, perfectly highlighted by the opening goal.

Griffiths peeled of, Del Piero not only spotted him but put it on a platter for him and the former Newcastle Jet did the rest.

Griffiths is the kind of striker defenders hate marking - he’s quick, clever, clinical and can be an absolute pest.

Not only will he take some heat off Del Piero but force defences deeper, leaving more space for Jason Culina and company in midfield and ease pressure from FC’s frail defence.

Sydney FC will give the top six a shake, with sixth position the most likely outcome.

With Western Sydney contending for third position, imagine a Wanderers v FC final in the opening week of April.

While the Wanderers love playing at Parramatta Stadium, FFA runs the finals and playing at Homebush (ANZ Stadium) would be worth at least an extra $1m for their bottom line.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/f...r-another-season/story-e6frfg8x-1226557838786

 

[Timmah]

Sorry to be picky, but when will the media stop referring to ANZ Stadium as being in Homebush? It's never f**king been there!

 

[Iafeta]

LOl- poor Del Piero, probably never seen such poor defence as he got on the weekend. On I think it was his last goal, Wellington had three defenders within a three metre space on the far post basically in a huddle holding hands while Del Piero toyed with the right fullback who himself had to come out from the group huddle to get near him.

 

[Misanthrope]

Glad to hear that he's staying around for another year. Good for FC, good for the competition, and good for the young guys coming through.