Saturday, July 28, 2012

Sports World

---

Mattner aims for strong finish Posted: 28 Jul 2012 11:13 AM PDT Marty Mattner has called on his Sydney team-mates to maintain their grip on the number-one spot on the AFL ladder and finish the season strong. Victory against St Kilda ensured the Swans reclaimed the top spot in the league, in a performance which summed up the team's season so far. Maintaining their cool under pressure, Sydney looked like champions as they ran out 29-point victors against a brave St Kilda side at the SCG. The victory means that the Swans have earned a home final and two chances at the play-offs, giving Sydney a great chance in the Aussie Rules betting of now going on to become title winners. Not many could argue against the team going on to clinch the title, after a season which has shown this Sydney side to have that mixture of heart and talent needed to get a team into this position at this point in the season. Punters who bet on Aussie Rules certainly think they will be victorious. Defender Mattner has been a key part of this Sydney side's success this season, and the 29-year old has made it clear that the job is still far from being completed. "You always want to finish the season on top to get that double chance home final and those sort of things," Mattner said. "It's hard to win from outside the top four, that's been shown from the last few years. "If we can finish in the top two to get a home final it would be great, and that has to be our ultimate aim over the rest of the season." The Swans may be without the services of Shane Mumford following a knee injury sustained against St Kilda, however, there is more than enough back-up in the squad to make up for the loss of the influential ruckman.

Another A-League star heads north Posted: 28 Jul 2012 09:30 AM PDT Central Coast Mariners have said goodbye to long-serving defender and club captain Alex Wilkinson in a move which adds weight to the growing theory that Asia is fast becoming the next station for football's gravy train. Worryingly, it also condemns the A League to the loss of one of its best signings. He made 172 Hyundai A-League appearances for the franchise over seven seasons. He played in three A-League Grand Finals and was instrumental in Central Coast's two A-League Premiership triumphs. The 27-year-old is to join K-League powerhouses Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC on a two-and-a-half year contract. Head coach Graham Arnold did not hide from the fact that the move gives Wilkinson the chance to secure his future financially. It leaves just three Asian players in the Hyundai A-League at this stage: Sydney FC's Ali Abbas and Hirofumi Moriyasu, and recent Brisbane Roar signing Do Dong-Hyun. The goalposts are clearly shifting and I would bet on Socceroos that are still in the A league are considering their futures too. While major clubs in continental Europe cut their cloth accordingly, the gold rush has now reached countries such as China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Japan. Paris St Germain have been flexing their muscles in the close-season,bringing in the likes of Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and, possibly ZlatanI brahimovic, but they are an exception to the rule. Closer to home,Roberto Mancini has yet to show his hand at the helm of newly-crowned Premier League champions and cash-rich Manchester City, but Greg Cunningham(Bristol City, free), Owen Hargreaves (released), Gunnar Nielsen (released),Stuart Taylor (released), Wayne Bridge (Brighton, loan) have all been shown the door. Though the live soccer betting suggests it will only be a matter of time before a lump of cash is shelled out by Sheikh Mansour's pet project. The Mariners may feel they have just been jilted at the altar but the truth is they are not alone.

You are subscribed to email updates from Sports World To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610