European Football Weekly – Gurgler’s Eurotrash

By

-

January 30, 2015

Welcome to our weekly dive into the reaches of the many European Football Leagues on offer, all with claims to be as good if not better than the EPL.

Each week we’ll go through the Spanish, Italian, and French Leagues in detail, with some updates and tidbits on other leagues time and interest permitted.

For your German news and views, help yourself to our separate Bundesliga column and look out for it each week.

So enjoy our thoughts, stats and best bets which are the best that money can’t buy.

[soccer-info id=’1′ type=’results’ title=’SPANISH RESULTS’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’5′ type=’results’ title=’ITALIAN RESULTS’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’6′ type=’results’ title=’FRENCH RESULTS’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’1′ type=’fixtures’ style=’red_light’ title=’La Liga Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’5′ type=’fixtures’ style=’green_light’ title=’Serie A Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’6′ type=’fixtures’ style=’blue_light’ title=’Ligue 1 Fixtures’ limit=’10’ /]

[ultimatetables 5 /]

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Villareal	10
Wins	Real Madrid / Barcelona	3
Games Without Win	Granada	16
Loss	Almeria	3
Most Draws (no./games)	Cordoba/Granada	9 (20)
Best Home Record (points/games)	At Madrid/Valencia	28 (11)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Almeria	3 (9)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Real Madrid	27 (11)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	R Sociedad/Espanyol	5 (9)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Barcelona	18
Least Goals Scored last 6	Celta Vigo	1
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Almeria	13
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Barcelona	2
Best form (points from last 6)	Valencia	16
Best form (points from last 6)	Real Madrid	15
Best form (points from last 6)	Villareal	14
Worst form (points from last 6)	Levante/Granada	3
Worst form (points from last 6)	Ath Bilbao	2
Worst form (points from last 6)	Celta Vigo	1

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Juventus	11
Wins	Juventus	3
Games Without Win	Empoli	8
Loss	Parma	3
Most Draws (no./games)	Sassuolo/Empoli/Sampdoria	10 (20)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Juventus	26 (10)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Parma/Chievo/Cesena	7 (10)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Juventus	23 (10)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	Parma	3 (9)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Palermo	15
Least Goals Scored last 6	Empoli	2
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Cesena	15
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Juve/Roma/Torino/Empoli	4
Best form (points from last 6)	Juventus	14
Best form (points from last 6)	Napoli	12
Best form (points from last 6)	Torino	12
Worst form (points from last 6)	Parma/Empoli	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Cesena	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Genoa	2

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Lyon/Monaco	7
Wins	Lyon	7
Games Without Win	Metz	10
Loss	Metz/Lille/Nantes	2
Most Draws (no./games)	PSG/Bastia	8 (22)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Lyon	33 (12)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Caen	8 (10)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Monaco	20 (11)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	Metz	5 (12)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Lyon	18
Least Goals Scored last 6	Toulouse	2
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Rennes	14
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Monaco	0
Best form (points from last 6)	Lyon	18
Best form (points from last 6)	Monaco	16
Best form (points from last 6)	Montpellier	14
Worst form (points from last 6)	Toulouse	2
Worst form (points from last 6)	Rennes	2
Worst form (points from last 6)	Metz	1

UK Football Weekly – Gurgler’s Own Goal

By

Theydon Bois

-

January 30, 2015

0

Welcome to the Gurgler’s UK Football Weekly. We discuss things UK Football, and it doesn’t begin in Manchester and finish in London. We care about all four leagues and below if we have time. All your favourite stars are here too with the exception of Ariaga II. Enjoy the finest.

The English football world takes a breath this weekend with the return to a normal full round of fixtures throughout the four divisions.

After Cambridge United held moneybags United on Friday night UK time, we thought we had seen the upsets of the round.

To be fair with Chelsea up 2-0 against third tier Bradford City and Manchester City still drawing with high flying Championship side Middlesbrough it seemed that it would remain the upset of the round.

That’s not how it eventuated though, with Bradford stunning Chelsea with four unanswered goals, and Middlesbrough with half that many. Some calling the Bradford result the biggest upset ever, it is hard to argue it’s one of the best of recent times, or of all time.

That knocked out the top 2 of the EPL, and with 3rd placed Southampton handed an exit by Crystal Palace, along with Spurs and draws for Man Utd and Liverpool requiring replays, the Cup remains as open as ever. Even for Cambridge who may not progress past Man Utd in the replay, but quickly sew up almost a year’s budget in two fixtures. Quite a pointed remark on the vast difference between EPL and lower leagues.

A nice statistic from UK Football is that the top 4 divisions have now gone 20 days without sacking a manager, which is close to the record for 2014-15.

Down a peg to the Championship, which is the tightest contest for many a year. Usually by now one or two teams have skipped away from the rest, however this season currently has just 4 points separating the Top 6, with new boys Bournemouth and Brentford mixing it with perennial underachievers or midfield certainties Derby, Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Watford.

Lower down in the third and fourth division, away from the FA Cup giant killings and regular fixtures, there is the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, which is a knockout competition just for third and fourth division teams. The semi finals were run during the week with Walsall and Bristol City winning their way through to the final in March.

Just in case you forgot what happened last time due to FA Cup fever, here’s the most recent results.

[soccer-info id=’2′ type=’results’ style=’blue_light’ title=’EPL RESULTS’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’20’ type=’results’ title=’CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS’ limit=’12’ /]

[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’results’ title=’L1 RESULTS’ limit=’12’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’results’ title=’L2 RESULTS’ limit=’12’ /]

Here’s the best of the upcoming fixtures in the Football League and EPL.

EPL SAT – Liverpool v West Ham
EPL SAT – Chelsea v Manchester City
CHAMP – Bournemouth v Watford
CHAMP – Brentford v Middlesbrough
L1 – Sheffield Utd v Swindon
L2 – Newport v Shrewsbury
L2 – Burton v Bury

And here’s the rest of the matches.

[soccer-info id=’2′ type=’fixtures’ title=’EPL FIXTURES’ limit=’10’ /]

[soccer-info id=’20’ type=’fixtures’ title=’CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES’ limit=’12’ /]

[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L1 FIXTURES’ limit=’12’ /]

[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’fixtures’ title=’L2 FIXTURES’ limit=’12’ /]

Here’s our best bets for the weekend in UK Football. Why don’t you spoil yourself, spoil yourself.

[ultimatetables 1 /]

[ultimatetables 2 /]

[ultimatetables 3 /]

[ultimatetables 4 /]

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Southampton/Liverpool	6
Wins	Southampton	3
Games Without Win	Aston Villa	7
Loss	Sunderland	3
Most Draws (no./games)	Sunderland	11 (22)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Chelsea	30 (10)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Sunderland	9 (11)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Manchester City	24 (11)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	QPR	0 (10)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Chelsea	15
Least Goals Scored last 6	Aston Villa	1
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Newcastle	13
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Southampton	3
Best form (points from last 6)	Southampton	16
Best form (points from last 6)	Liverpool	14
Best form (points from last 6)	Chelsea/Spurs/Arsenal	13
Worst form (points from last 6)	Newcastle/Sunderland	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Aston Villa	3
Worst form (points from last 6)	Everton	2

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Wolves	7
Wins	Brentford	3
Games Without Win	Charlton	10
Loss	Cardiff/Blackpool	2
Most Draws (no./games)	Charlton	14 (27)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Ipswich	29 (13)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Blackpool	12 (13)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Bournemouth	27 (14)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	Blackpool	5 (14)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Watford	18
Least Goals Scored last 6	Charlton	1
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Blackpool	17
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Wolves	2
Best form (points from last 6)	Wolves	14
Best form (points from last 6)	Derby	13
Best form (points from last 6)	4 Teams in Top 6	12
Worst form (points from last 6)	4 Teams	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Charlton	2
Worst form (points from last 6)	Millwall	1

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Doncaster	6
Wins	Bristol City	4
Games Without Win	Crawley	13
Loss	Crawley	3
Most Draws (no./games)	Oldham	10 (25)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Milton Keynes	32 (14)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Leyton Orient	9 (12)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Swindon	27 (13)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	Crawley	7 (14)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Swindon/Rochdale/Chestfld	13
Least Goals Scored last 6	Coventry/Yeovil/Notts Co	3
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Oldham	18
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Doncaster	2
Best form (points from last 6)	Bristol City	15
Best form (points from last 6)	Chesterfield	13
Best form (points from last 6)	Swindon/Crewe	13
Worst form (points from last 6)	Peterborough/Oldham	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Notts co.	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Crawley	2

Result	Team	Stat
Games Unbeaten	Wycombe	10
Wins	Northampton	3
Games Without Win	Portsmouth	8
Loss	Accrington	3
Most Draws (no./games)	York	13 (27)
Best Home Record (points/games)	Shrewsbury	38 (14)
Worst Home Record (points/games)	Hartlepool	10 (13)
Best Away Record (points/games)	Wycombe	27 (14)
Worst Away Record (points/games)	Hartlepool	8 (14)
Most Goals Scored last 6	Stevenage	11
Least Goals Scored last 6	Dag & Red / Plymouth	1
Most Goals Conceded Last 6	Exeter	12
Least Goals Conceded Last 6	Wycombe	2
Best form (points from last 6)	Stevenage	13
Best form (points from last 6)	Bury	13
Best form (points from last 6)	Newport/Southend/Burton	12
Worst form (points from last 6)	Accrington	4
Worst form (points from last 6)	Portsmouth	3
Worst form (points from last 6)	Plymouth	3

Gurgler’s Weekly Sporting Review – Circling the Drain

By

Max Layne

-

January 29, 2015

0

Welcome to the ALL NEW weekly sporting round up we call Circling the Drain. Each week we hand pick the sporting tidbits that tickle our fancy and provide our commentary along with some factual information. That and our best bets featuring the ever popular Super Multi and the new Ticket to Ride.

BIG BASH DONE AND DUSTED
Another series of the ever popular Big Bash T20 is over, and despite a plethora of one sided games during the early stages, they saved the best for last , in of all places, Canberra.

Not since Mike Valetta and Merv Hughes lit up Canberra as part of the massively popular Canberra Comets of the ING Cup in 90’s has Manuka Oval had some much buzz.

The final had a bit of everything, including an ending that looked like going either way all the way up to the last ball. Brett Lee showed his class by almost winning the game single handed by attempting to defend 1 run over the last three balls. Doug Bollinger and Moises Henriques showed less, with two brainfades that cost a win.

More importantly was the continued brilliance of Brad Hogg. showing enough to cement his place in the tournament next year. Not only still bowling deliveries as unreadable as a certain local newspaper during an election, but is the crowd’s number one man, and he knows it, and gives the punters what they want. Australian selectors missed the World Cup boat by not including a little GBH in their squad.

EVERYONE HATES MICHAEL

Clarke that is, and not quite, but stories have surfaced over the last week or so about the unpopularity of the current skipper.

The stories are surprising to a degree if true, but also not given how long it took Joe Public to warm to the anointed one. And, with the Channel 9 commentary job in the back pocket and training from Michael Slater will continue to be Mr Luke Warm for the cricketing world.

Still has to prove fitness for World Cup by the third game. Leaves the door open for a left arm chinaman spinner perhaps.

FOOTY SHOW FIGHT NIGHT

At last the perfect combination is here. The Footy Show, Rugby League players boxing, and Channel Gem. It’s all waiting for you this weekend.

A shame that it isn’t rugby league boxing each other, instead it is some of the least likeable players like Paul Gallen fighting people good enough to fall over for them after a few rounds.

Still, up against the Asian Cup Final and Election coverage, good luck to them. It will no doubt provide that few seconds for the Sunday morning news and a few words here next week.

AUCKLAND NINES
Looking forward to the first taste of League for the season in a perfect bite size introduction to the season. Sure most of the stars won’t be there, but it’s a good way to see some of the young guns early, and allows for early Supercoach study.

DRAWN STRAWS
Over to the African Cup of Nations where the end results of Group D are quite extraordinary. Going into the last two games of the group all four previous games had ended 1-1. This meant that another full deck of 1-1 draws meant that the two to progress would have to be drawn instead of earned.

Thankfully Ivory Coast bucked the 1-1 trend by beating Cameroon by 1 – 0, which saved the all four draw draw as Ivory Coast progressed and Cameroon waived an early goodbye.

Not to disappoint the draw fans out there Guinea and Mali played out the inevitable 1-1 draw to ensure that 2nd and 3rd would be exactly the same points, for and against. This means that one nation will progress without winning a game, and the other will be knocked out despite being unbeaten. Fair? Probably not. But trying to imagine the most creative way of drawing straws does interest.

THIS WEEKS SUPER MULTI
$1 gets you 424
CRICKET – ENGLAND to beat India
TENNIS – DJOKOVIC to win Australian Open
ALEAGUE – BRISBANE to beat Wellington
ALEAGUE – WESTERN SYDNEY to beat Melb City
ASIAN CUP – UAE to beat Iraq
ASIAN CUP – DRAW – Australia v South Korea (reg time)
SUPERBOWL – Seattle to win Superbowl

TICKET TO RIDE
Our bid to take a $1 bet into 7 consecutive weeks hit it’s inevitable snag for the first attempt with another draw in the African cup of Nations not being quite as good or payable as the Senegal win would have been.

So this week we start off with a $1 bet again.

THIS WEEK’S SELECTION:
$1 on Australia to win Asian Cup in Extra time = $9

Stayed tuned for more sporting updates and tipping results.

Queensland Election 2015 – Final News in brief

By

Gerry Mander

-

January 29, 2015

0

As the media blackout arrives for advertisements for the political parties for the 2015 Queensland Election, we provide our last minutes news items that the mainstream media may have missed with all the action on the hustings.

Check out the latest stories below.
[huge_it_gallery id=”10″]

Gurgler Six Pack – FIFA Presidential Race Alternatives

By

Theydon Bois

-

January 28, 2015

0

The nominations close for the FIFA presidency on Thursday, and despite previously claiming he wouldn’t run again as president for a fifth term, Sepp Blatter is indeed standing again to finish what he started. If that means making FIFA the most corrupt, hated sporting organisation in the universe, he could easily stand down now. With sponsors leaving and more likely to fly from the nest, there may not be the money this around to keep aside for themselves.

Sepp has thrown down the challenge to anyone to take him on as president, and has accused the most powerful non FIFA footballing body Uefa of lacking the “courage” to challenge his leadership.

One could argue that there is plenty of courage and willingness to unseat him, it’s just a futile exercise as somehow he would come out on top, and as seen with the challenges to the recent corruption report, reputations would get smashed to go with the humiliation of defeat.

Some may argue that he has achieved a lot in his time, and Wikipedia has listed the below “achievements” listed in Wikipedia.

The silver goal replaced the golden goal rule in extra time of play-off matches.
Since the 2002 World Cup, the current World Cup champion no longer automatically qualifies for the next World Cup finals, as was the case for the champions of all 16 previous World Cup^[59]
National associations must enforce immediate suspensions of all players sent off during a game, even if television replays offer compelling evidence of a player’s innocence. In particular, Blatter insists that a referee’s judgement must be seen as final and that mistakes are part of the game. The FA, however, has refused to follow this directive. Also refer to Blatter’s views on referee Valentin Ivanov at the 2006 World Cup for believing in referees.
The game implemented the booking of players who remove their shirts after scoring a goal, as well as those who are guilty of ‘over-zealous celebrations’.
In 2007, Blatter decided that no football matches will be played above 2500 metres (8200 ft) above sea level. This number was revised to 3000 metres (9840 feet) on 26 June 2007.

In addition to that list there’s also the video replay for goals going over the line which FIFA strenuously denied until the most recent World Cup, thereafter claiming it was their idea all along.

There’s also the $36M spent on making a movie telling the world how great they were. So far they have only received less than $500,000 back for their 90% involvement.

You could go on forever, we haven’t mentioned the 2018/20122 World Cup selection process, but we need to unveil our 6 alternative candidates. We could list the actual competitors to the throne, but David Ginola aside, ours are hopefully funnier and even less likely.

MR BURNS A balding tyrant who controls his empire without regard for anyone nor popular opinion. Tried to block the sun, sack numerous employees through trapdoors, steal oil from a school. Although not real and a cartoon character, still more likeable than Sepp Blatter. Corrupt enough to bribe any less wealthy football confederation.

PRINCE PHILLIP if you need a balding head of an organisation that can make gaffes-a-plenty, offends minorities and embarrass the organisation without any chance of being replaced, maybe they should consider the newly knighted Sir Prince Phillip. Likely to receive UK tick of approval.

MR T With an organisation full of questionable characters and practices, few other would pity fools than Mr T. That kind of fool-less accepting attitude could be the backbone of a new FIFA era. Would surely garner the necessary votes in the Americas block to run.

BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI Time for an elder statesman who has been there and done that at the highest level to bring respectability back to FIFA. There’s no one better and with a better name than B to B to the G. Would likely receive a chunk of middle east and African votes.

ERIC CANTONA If you need footballing experience with a can-do and kick arse attitude, how about Eric Cantona ruling with an iron boot. A new broom could be swept with either a menacing glance or wild kung fu kick for anyone not up for reform. Popular with all football nations.

A BAG OF MANURE Despite the obvious lack of experience and communication difficulties, would surely do a better job, and stink only a little more than the current FIFA management.

Gurglervision returns – Best of FTA TV

By

Kaaps Loche

-

January 27, 2015

0

It has begun, TV Ratings Period for 2015. What does that mean you ask? Well it means all the reality you can eat, all the news you can endure, and all the must-see, unmissable, number 1 dramas you can suffer.

Shows like My Restaurant Rules (aka Cook , Cry , Repeat) and The Block (whose Blockisms and bringing back the most hated contestants of recent series grate) and the new CH10 short lived juggernaut I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of here will drive you insane as they are relentlessly advertised, and crowbarred into various news and sporting coverage.

With most of the gaps in between filled by news and morning shows and opinion panels full of LCD thoughts and rantings, there’s not much room left on FTA for the viewer who wants something else.

As previously The Gurgler will provide an alternative highlights for FTA for the viewer who wants to kill time with TV that doesn’t require a twitter feed or facebook page, and whose popularity ensures it is on the lesser channels at a “special new time”.

Not that watching FTA is the be all, but if you have no Foxtel, let us save you time by giving you the 4-1-1 and highlights of the week.

Welcome to Gurglervision. Not to be confused with the other short-lived series Gogglebox.

WED – CH11 – 19:30 – SIMPSONS etc.
– standard issue but retro episodes give a welcome slice of nostalgia when The Simpsons was good.

THU – GO – 21:30 – TOY SOLDIERS
– see some stars before they were stars and who doesn’t love Lou Gosset Jnr?

FRI – CH9 – 20:30 – CROCDILE DUNDEE
– a 1980’s classic.

FRI – SBS – 20:30 – PULP FICTION
– Cult movie still as good as ever.

SAT – ABC – 17:00 – ELECTION COVERAGE
Why not watch with friends and a drinking game. Find out more here.

SUN – CH7 – 21:30 – STRIKING DISTANCE
– Bruce Willis makes Water Policing seem interesting despite lame serial killer plot.

SUN – SBS – 21:30 – DANGER 5
– Crazy comedy featuring Adolf Hitler. Sounds strange? It is.

Queensland Election 2015 Six Pack – Ch7 Election Night Special Guest Game Changer

By

admin

-

January 27, 2015

0

With the Queensland Election for 2015 coming to it’s exciting conclusion, the other battleground in this election battles heats up – The TV Channels clamouring for your viewership with promises of firsts, authority, 3000 years experience and something or other as it happens.

We’ve already discussed this as part of our Official Queensland Election Guide here but in summary we recommend only the ABC coverage – ad free and full of Antony Green goodness.

However we couldn’t help but be drawn in on the promise of the Channel 7 election coverage which claims their line up includes not only high quality journalists and respected former politicians, but a game changing mystery guest.

We can only imagine who a game-changing mystery guest of an election coverage would be, so we’ll use our Queensland election six pack to share who we think it might/should be.

A HOLOGRAM OF SIR JOH
If we’re talking surprise game-changing special guests, then how could you not open with a hologram of former Qld Premier Sir Joh. Few others would be able to comment with such authority and have the personality to match.

HITLER
If we’re going to reanimate former passed away leaders as holograms, why not do it with the most controversial (read: Game Changing) political identity in history. Sure his lack of English, or experience with the Queensland Political would be some kind of hinderance, but no one would command such an audience as the former Austrian-born dictator.

SNOOP DOGG/LION
Since we can suggest game changers who may not know that much about Qld politics but he has been to Queensland in the past few years, and could be a voice of authority on Gold Coast seats. How about a man who may be able to rap about it instead? Surely most would see this as a breath of fresh air to the usual stale commercial format. Who couldn’t imagine Rob Borbidge doing the beat boxing with Lexy Hamilton-Smith.

ANROLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Slightly less musical and ridiculous to suggest is the other big man from Austria. Sure there’s the same limited knowledge of Qld politics, but at least the is general politics knowledge gleaned from years as Californian gov. Who wouldn’t listen to the booming voice as results from Mundingburra and Algester are called out.

MR SQUIGGLE with BLACKBOARD
Instead of cutting edge graphics and holograms, how about keeping it simple with Mr Squiggle and Blackboard providing a slice of yesteryear and using their tried and true method of presenting the results in each seat. Possibly the other thing that could rival Antony Green.

RUPERT MURDOCH
Instead of using his newspaper in Brisbane (the only for poor suffering Qlder) to give bias to each election, why not let him sit there in person to deliver bias by the barrel full. At least it would give people a chance to view their opinions in response.

Dr Sportz answers your questions

By

Kaaps Loche

-

January 27, 2015

0

Dr Sportz returns to answer more sport-related questions that we have received recently via email.

This week, with the Auckland Nines ahead, he’s answering a few posers on the reduced number event.

What you think of the Auckland Nines?
Stephen Neun, Bulwer, QLD

I’m a big fan of the Auckland Nines, with the recent addition of Foxtel to the Dr’s house, who wouldn’t be.

With the Rugby League season looming but not yet here, this truncated reduced numbers event is the perfect taster to the season ahead. You get to see all the teams, and also get to see the up and comers for the season or two ahead. It is also a boon for the SuperCoach freaks who will have an eye for those early round cheapies.

Whilst the Indigenous All Stars game is great it is too much too early, the season is much better starting off with the Auckland Nines, as the length of times of the game matches the amount of interest at this time of year. Like a Tapas feed of League instead of a full meal.

As good as the Nines are, there’s always room for improvement. I remember the old sevens back in the day would have teams from outside the main league competition like the PNG Vipers. We suggest expanding the comp to 24 from 16, and invite the other Pacific Nations who play off for the final Four Nations spot (PNG, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga) and then include the two finalists from the QLD and NSW Cup competitions.

One final thing that could be said about the Nines, is the carnival atmosphere of having all fans in the one venue over a weekend merely confirms that an Australian version of the UK Super League Magic Weekend would work in Australia no doubt.

For those who don’t know, the UK Super League play one full round of fixtures in the one city (usually not a place who has a team) over two action packed days of league. To have the 14 odd sets of fans chanting and counter chanting for and against teams based on their rivalries, plus to have game after game to watch with only a mascot Olympics as a side show, is one of the great sporting events that this Dr has been to. Problem is that the NRL don’t think too far out of the norm for an idea like this, and then it will in Sydney, a city not famed to turning up to anything other than premium sporting events. I’d recommend either New Zealand, Brisbane or Central Coast.

Are there any other sports who could benefit from an Auckland Nines style reduced numbers?
Forge Tohwyng, Kallangur, QLD

Yes, most sports in the world could do with a reduced numbers format, be it players like the Auckland Nines, or reduced length of game like the Big Bash and other various T20 competitions.

We’ll select a few to discuss below.

Hockey is a great game, played like football but with sticks it ticks a lot of sporting boxes, however it always feels a little crowded on the field. We suggest that they could reduce the amount of players to 9 to open up the field with the promise of more goals for the punters.

There is form, Hockey has previously used reduced numbers in the extra time by having drop offs as the extra time continues, and not only is it a better way of dealing with extra time in knockout situations, it shows that the reduced numbers leads to more open could be the answer.

Another event that could surely do with some sizzling up is Rowing. Outside the Olympics and Australian participation no one really gives a hoot or two about Rowing. Kayaking, and K1ing. That could change with reducing numbers, but actually reducing them mid-event.

Our new blueprint for Rowing, and in this specific scenario we’re focusing on the 8’s. Coxless or not. The idea is split the rowing length into 8 segments (called a Tomkins) starting with 8 rowers. As each Tomkins is complete, the group of eight has to be reduced by one rower. Yes, this means that one rower has to throw themselves overboard.

It is up to the team themselves to determine which rower is to jump off at which Tomkins end, allowing for tactical overboarding and added excitement for the fans.

This will leave the last Tomkins of the race with one person rowing a boat big enough for 8 to the finish. Providing not only the toughest test as a rower, but also potential laughs if they can’t stay straight and cause collisions. It would turn the Rowing into one of the must see events of any Olympic games.

Finally, there’s Rugby Union, which could certainly be improved by reduced numbers. Sure they already have the successful sevens tournaments, but we’re thinking more around the zero mark.

Have a question for Dr Sportz? Why not drop a line here or at gurgler.chat@gmail.com

[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

Queensland Election 2015 – Other News in Brief

By

Gerry Mander

-

January 25, 2015

0

Can’t keep up with everything happening on the hustings? Well allow The Gurgler to keep you up to date and semi-informed.

Here’s the latest batch of newsworthy items.
[huge_it_gallery id=”9″]

Queensland Election 2015 Guide – The Gurgler’s Final Guide to…..

By

Gerry Mander

-

January 24, 2015

0

A week to go, and as the leaders debate underwhelmed, so should the Gurgler’s 2015 Queensland Election Guide. Your one stop hail and ride for the Queensland State Election.

We try and provide as much interest in as short a time as possible for you to consider briefly and then move to a more reputable, or indeed better site.

But have a look at the goodness we’ve offered thus far, in our Election News group on the right. If you’re too lazy to even do that, here’s a list of our goodness thus far.

Gurgler’s Election Night Drinking Game
Lyne Ball – Gurgler’s Election Night Tipping Game
Gurgler’s Election 2015 Analysis
Gurgler’s Alternative LNP Premiers
Gurgler’s Alternative Candidates
The Gurgler’s Shop Election Themed Specials
Gurgler’s Alternative Asset Sales/Leases

However, if none of our gold tickles your fancy, we suggest the excellent ABC Election Guide, which is far superior than our, but so it should, it features Antony Green. It features interactive ways of predicting the election and far more information than you have time for. Find it here.

CANDIDATES

We’ve given you our list of alternative candidates, but please accept our favourite candidates that are actually in this election.

[huge_it_gallery id=”8″]

TV COVERAGE
For us there is only one option for Queensland Election TV coverage and should be the only one for all. But we’ll go through what is on offer elsewhere on Saturday Night.

ABC
Features Antony Green, the voice and authority of Australian Politics, and the only reason you need to stay with the ABC. No ads and professional pundits who do this for a living instead of chatting about Kardashians ticks more boxes.

SKY NEWS
Just a serious and professional, but you have to pay for the privilege and it won’t stop the ads. Would more than likely feature Former Labour Powerbroker Richo, which is a good thing if the Qld election is determined to be interesting enough. Always willing to hand out pays to both sides.

CHANNEL 9 / 7
Will wheel out a range of past and present MPs who will attempt to inform and amuse the LCD, bring all the reporters up from Sydney as Queensland is obviously too stupid to report about itself to it’s own people, and hopefully interview Clive Palmer and get the storm off or argument that will feature in the wash up. Bob Katter though, should be a point of interest on Channel 7.

OTHERS
With SBS to busy showing obscure movies and TV Shows, and Channel 10 not interested in anything, will be the safety grounds for those not interested at all.

SEATS
Here’s your quick guide to some of the important seats, later on the full list of seats and margins from the previous election. Will polls giving the ALP anything between 5 and 13% swing, you can use this as your background to our Lyne Ball Tipping game or just interest in general.

ASHGROVE
If you don’t already know, it’s the seat Campbell Newman needs to win to stay on as premier. Up against the same foe as last election and previous MP Kate Jones, with the polls suggesting a very close finish, possibly in favour of ALP. This would leave a situation of a winning party but no premier. This could be a disaster, so why not read our thoughts on who the next LNP Premier should be.

INDOOROOPILLY
With big name previous MPs as Denver Beanland and Ronan Lee, and current Transport minister Scott Emerson, it is a seat to watch. Read our thoughts on the Indooroopilly seat in our previous article For Whom the Bell Polls.

LOCKYER
If your looking for where Pauline Hanson is turning up to this time, this is the one.

ALGESTER
Previous ALP heartland lost in 2012 by 9.1%, will be a litmus paper for statewide if it return to the ALP with a reasonable margin. Other similar seats are Ipswich West at 7.2%, Ferny Grove at 9.5%, and even Sunnybank (10.2%) and Kallangur (12.4%).

MOUNT ISA
Covering nearly a third of the state and an area bigger than Victoria and Tasmania combined, this seat features a three way battle with LNP and ALP battling out with a third generation Katter.

THE LIST
Here’s the definitive list of seats and margins for you to follow at home.

LNP SEATS & % MARGIN
Bulimba	0.1
Maryborough	0.3
Waterford	1
Lytton	1.6
Greenslopes	2.5
Sandgate	2.9
Nudgee	3.1
Cook	3.4
Capalaba	3.7
Ipswich	4.2
Logan	4.8
Townsville	4.8
Brisbane Central	4.9
Mount Coot-tha	5.4
Morayfield	5.6
Ashgrove	5.7
Keppel	6.4
Thuringowa	6.7
Ipswich West	7.2
Cairns	8.9
Nanango	9
Algester	9.1
Barron River	9.5
Ferny Grove	9.5
Murrumba	9.5
Stretton	9.6
Toowoomba North	9.6
Mundingburra	10.2
Sunnybank	10.2
Whitsunday	10.7
Burleigh	11
Mansfield	11.1
Mirani	11.2
Broadwater	11.3
Albert	11.9
Pumicestone	12.1
Kallangur	12.4
Everton	13.2
Callide	13.5
Pine Rivers	13.7
Chatsworth	14.1
Southport	14.7
Springwood	15.4
Mount Ommaney	16.5
Gympie	17.3
Burdekin	17.4
Burnett	17.4
Cleveland	18.1
Bundaberg	18.2
Lockyer	18.8
Hinchinbrook	18.9
Indooroopilly	19.5
Condamine	20.1
Currumbin	20.2
Glass House	20.4
Clayfield	20.6
Maroochydore	20.9
Redlands	21.1
Caloundra	21.2
Toowoomba South	21.6
Aspley	21.7
Hervey Bay	21.7
Beaudesert	22.3
Coomera	23.3
Moggill	23.9
Gregory	25.5
Noosa	25.5
Mudgeeraba	25.9
Buderim	26
Mermaid Beach	26
Kawana	26.3
Warrego	28.1
Surfers Paradise	29.5
Southern Downs	30.4

ALP SEATS & % MARGIN
Mackay	0.5
Mulgrave	1.1
Bundamba	1.8
Rockhampton	3.9
South Brisbane	4.7
Woodridge	5.8
Inala	6.9
Redcliffe (*)	7.1
Stafford (*)	12

IND or KATTER SEATS & % MARGIN
Yeerongpilly (*)	1.4
Nicklin	4.9
Mount Isa	10
Gladstone	14
Dalrymple	15.2
Gaven (*)	19.1

****