Gumby never finished lower than third in the division and won two titles while in HK.
Before he arrived they hadn't won the league since 1963-4. He obviously did an amazing job.

Club honours under Gumby
Hong Kong Kitchee SC
Hong Kong First Division League
Winner (2) 2010-11, 2011-12
Hong Kong FA Cup
Winner 2011-12, 2012-13
Hong Kong League Cup
Winner 2011-12
Personal
Hong Kong First Division League
Best coach (2) 2010-11, 2011-12

The Wiki page lists the lot of course. A brilliant career in his four years there.

All that means at this stage is that he's worth the gamble here in Australia and that's why the club have given him such trust. Obviously he's also adjusting to the style of play we have and the players he's inherited. Football's a cutthroat business. I'm sure he'll be here next year wherever we finish this year (and so he should be). Midway through next season will be crunch time. He'll have had time and the option to recruit a significant number of players (and lose others). If we're looking like a top-four team by then he'll be safe. If we're looking anything like we do at the moment...I'm sure there will still be a job in HK for him.

For now, REDS fan's like me who hate losing just have to wait, hope and trust.

=d>

Cant believe you guys would rather watch our first 6 weeks of this season over last season :shock: i guess Rinis last season at the club was a highlight for you guys ? :lol:

What happens this week if we give heart there first win and loose 2-0 still the same views ? This guy has less then 2 years now to take us to top like he thinks he can but so far from round 1 nothing has improved but if you rather sit down with you're fingers in you're ears and eyes shut you can.


Ive always said Gumbi needs time but we should still be competitive and showing improvement each week not be going backwards each week. Hopefully this week we see improvement. He has been a great manager so far at clubs he has manged lets hope he can bring it here too.

Edited by liverpoolfan2010: 27/11/2013 02:03:31 PM

Sorry man, we were disgraceful to watch last season
We had a fast start that kept us there or there abouts

Second half of season results we were in bottom 2 results wise
Jog any memories?

As we kept losing games we came out with statements like "there was nothing riding on that game, we will switch it on for finals"

That was after losing a game that would have seen us qualify ahead of Victory for the 3rd ACL spot.

You either have no memory of last year and the fact we completely fell in a pile of our own shit like every year in recent memory or you are so sore over your mate and neighbour (jesus do you watch him mow his lawns through the fence?) missing a place in the 1st team you are calling for a new coach's head after 7 games of completely trying to turn around a style with players he didn't even get to choose.

Our defence is a HUUUUUUUGE worry that's for sure. It's a suicidally high line they are playing which involves having no fullbacks back and 2 CB spread so far apart it's basically with a Noah like ease teams can walk through us.

I'm starting to have serious doubts over Isaias too. He may be an "ok" ball player but you need more than that as a CM in this league. It's fast and tough and there's nowhere to hide. Unfortunately I think a few of our players like to try and find those places to hide though when the going gets tough. The ones that do get tough try to get themselves sent off like McKain and Boogard with desperate tackles in unnecessary situations oh and I love Malik but he has cost us goals 2 games in a row now…

The attack was always gonna take at least a third to a half a season to gel and start scoring goals in a new system like this and it doesn’t worry me as much. The point is we should have been collecting more points than we have along the way to that gelling if it weren't for our insane defence

On that, since the WSW game when he looked TOO fired up I have a new respect for Elrich. Only one back there that can hold his head up last few weeks if you ask me.

Ugh....back at work

Where ???? i would like to say where i have said at all gumbi should be fired ?? ive said he needs to change things that does not mean he should be fierd

and you say the defense needs work you are happy with boogard and mckain job then ? if not the obvious choice is golec in.


Last half of the season last year was bad but our start last season was alot better then this start which was my point :roll: Hopefully it is reversed and our second half is alot better this year then last.

Edited by liverpoolfan2010: 27/11/2013 08:13:22 PM

well he is about to smash that record this season

Does the fact that bookies are a lot richer than punters ever make you think - why is it so?

FORMER Adelaide United coach Phil Stubbins says Reds boss Josep Gombau's urging for patience with the new philosophy is a cop-out, claiming the style is more suitable for youth teams.

Stubbins says Adelaide's 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory in Melbourne on Saturday despite playing against 10 men for more than 45 minutes is proving Gombau's game is not effective.

"To say they need more time to implement his philosophy is a bit of cop-out for me,'' Stubbins said. "It should be clicking smoothly into place now with results following.

"The A-League has grown into a solid competition and if you aren't sufficiently prepared in all areas of the game then you're going to get punished."

"Look at the Western Sydney Wanderers in how they are so difficult to beat and also table toppers Brisbane Roar who currently appear to have the balance right between attack and defence and all with a possession-based philosophy in place."

Stubbins, who led the Reds briefly when then-coach Aurelio Vidmar moved to the Socceroos before Rini Coolen won the job in 2010, believes Adelaide has talent but must execute the tiki-taka when it's on and not at all costs.

"Adelaide can play out smoothly on most occasions but the need to recognise when - and when not to - should be the key,'' Stubbins said.

"It's OK for developing youth squads to embrace this philosophy but surely not a senior team where winning is crucial to the ongoing concerns of the club along with its commercial partners and shareholders who invest heavily.

"But I admire Josep for his efforts to persist in going about things his way and, hopefully for everyone connected to the club, things will change for the better shortly. Fingers crossed."

Stubbins leaves for Thailand on Monday to start pre-season with Ayutthaya after saving the club from relegation with a nine-game unbeaten run when he took the reins of the struggling club this year.

But after spending four years with Adelaide from 2007 when the Reds claimed a spot in the AFC Champions League final, the FIFA Club World Cup and A-League grand final within the space of five months in 2008 and 2009, Stubbins believes Reds fans will be very much on edge given the side is having its worst start to a season.

"To lose 3-0 on the night would have hurt the Reds supporters,'' he said.

"I think some of the possession play from Adelaide is very good on occasions and congrats to the coaching staff for that. That said, the only thing the supporters want to look good at the moment is the scoreboard in their favour."

Stubbins also claimed Adelaide losing four from its past seven games is impacting on the morale of players.

He believes squad harmony is crucial to Gombau's success but doubting the philosophy will make the Spaniard's job much more difficult, especially if he cannot arrest the six-game winless streak.

"Obviously not winning games brings discontent,'' Stubbins said.

"Josep bravely says that in general he's happy with everything but I'm not so sure on that.

"The team just doesn't appear to have the mettle in their play presently.

"You can't win games without a strong resolve and strong winning mentality among the group.

"I believe Adelaide United has a gifted squad technically but I would certainly seek more of a galvanised team effort when they're really being challenged.

"They've led games that have turned into draws or losses and without a stronger assembled game plan and a clear winning mentality as part of their identity things won't reverse."

MEDICAL staff have confirmed injury plagued Adelaide United left-back Cassio ruptured a tendon in his hamstring during the Reds' loss to Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The club was reluctant to place a time frame on the Brazilian's injury but he will be almost certainly be forced off the pitch until after Christmas, and the injury could sideline him for much of January and February.

He will have a better idea of the extent of the injury after he consults a specialist later this week.

Cassio, who had scans on the injury on Monday night, limped from the pitch just 12 minutes into the Victory match and had to be subbed off for Steven Lustica.

The latest injury setback casts doubt over the 33-year-old's future at Hindmarsh.

A torn hip tendon and a quad injury have sidelined the club's longest-serving player since July.

Meanwhile, Sydney FC say they are ready for the sternest defensive test yet of their A-League season - Newcastle strike duo Adam Taggart and Emile Heskey.


Jets coach Gary van Egmond has indicated his is ready to unleash the in-form Taggart and the now-fit Heskey up front together on the Sky Blues in Saturday's round eight encounter at Allianz Stadium.

Taggart, who has scored six goals in three weeks to race to the top of the A-League goalscorers' list, and former England striker Heskey are set to spearhead the Jets attack for the first time this season in a match between two of the competition's in-form teams.

Both the Jets and Sydney FC are enjoying three-match winning streaks, with Newcastle's only defeat this season coming at the hands of the Sky Blues in round one.

But doubts remain about the Sky Blues' defence.

They conceded the most goals of any side last season and those wounds were opened again this season in a 4-0 round two loss to Brisbane Roar and a 2-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers a week later.

Since then Sydney have found some early momentum but without suspended defenders Tiago Calvano and Pedj Bojic the mission to stop Taggart and Heskey has become that much harder.


But defender Matt Jurman, who is beginning to make his mark at the Sky Blues after returning from Brisbane Roar this season, believes the hosts are up to the challenge.

"I watched Newcastle last week and Taggart played well in getting that hat-trick ... it is going to be a good test for us on the weekend and all the boys are up for it," Jurman said at training on Tuesday.

"Taggart and Heskey are two good players but at the end of the day it is up to us to stop them.

"If we turn up and do our job we are a good chance of winning.

"Not that long ago both teams were down the bottom of the ladder and under a bit of pressure, now we have both moved up but we need to keep our momentum going."

Edited by liverpoolfan2010: 28/11/2013 12:13:56 AM

Maybe (probably!) I like Stubbins simply because he seems to agree with what I think. This is a decent analysis of where we are.

But it'll be a year before we know if our trust and hope is validated. In Gumby we trust. As others have noted, it's not like we've come from a high point to here.

I have trust in Gombau, it's the players that I have been critical of at times. We'll wait and see how much transfer movement there is, once the coach can build the squad he wants then maybe we can cast the spotlight on him.

Two words: Pancho Usucar

Would certainly be a long way ahead of Isais, and he's got fire in his guts.
Won me over when he eyeballed Muscat in his 1st game for the Reds.

Hoping for 2-0 tomorrow jero to break the away duck and djite to score

With so many teams chasing carussca next season would we be happy if we signed him to marquee wages next season ?

Edited by liverpoolfan2010: 1/12/2013 07:06:49 PM

Well we didn't lose, but that's a tough result to stomach:(
The continued playing of Boogard at CB is puzzling. I knew for sure we wouldn't keep a clean sheet as soon as I saw Boogers and Malik as the CB pairing:(

Not even going to rant on the BS penalty. Our lacklustre 2nd half condemned us. One team played the second stanza as though their season depended on their performance and then there was our effort:(

Edited by vanbasten88: 1/12/2013 09:26:07 PM

- The reason that Gumby keeps persisting with Malik and Boogs is that they are TBH our two best ball playing CB's. They are also probably our two worst defensively.

- Isaias is a brilliant passer, but needs to played alongside Malik to cover his lack of defensive ability

- Our high line is killing us, and Eugene. Does not suit him at all IMO.

- Despite not getting as many goals as he should Brucie is one of our most important players IMO, a Bruce and Jero strike force would be lethal.

I'd like to see us play a bit deeper and rotate the squad more, with the first choice XI being:

Hugene
Elrich-McKain/Boogard-Golec-Zullo
----------Malik---------Isaias
---Cirio--------------------------Carrusca
------------------Jeronimo
-----------------BRUCEEEE

Next year by a new ball playing centre half, problem is we have no foreign spots remaining, so will be difficult to find Aussie CB who is good on the ground.

Maybe Pancho could be lured back, would be great rotating him in with Isaias and Ozzie.

Changed the game back to us when he came on playing a viduka type role

Bruce is an absolutely perfect CF for the style of game we play no matter how much the boo boys try and bring him down.

People think that's booing? :shock: They're saying BRUUUUUUUUCE.

We so badly need him back in the starting line-up

Nah, that's not what GA meant.
Bruce does have a lot of detractors out there for being a "donkey" and not scoring etc

Makes me so angry coz these people clearly don't understand just how much he brings to our team and how much selfless work he has to do.

All of the above about the wonderful BRUUUUCE!
Plus - with Cassio out Bruce is one of the few players who you know, whenever he pulls on the shirt, will give 150% for the team. I'm really starting to like Elrich for the same reason.
We need some heart and soul in the team. Poor Eugene hardly has any effect anymore because he's been hung out to dry by the system we're playing. He's gone from looking like the best goalkeeper in Australia to a shadow of that. It's not just a minor drop in form, it's a total misunderstanding of his strengths.

We need a better striker. Thankfully, I have an idea...

That's actually quite helpful - it reminds me we've seen even more ridiculous times and survived! :) That was a funny moment in our history. :d

Edited by jessesdad: 2/12/2013 11:00:28 AM

Funny you say that. I actually went to my first Adelaide game just before the Romario experiment. My son and I went back for our second game to see him play. Then two games became three, three became four and we became fans.

Still remember his toe-poke goal.

I know that Isaias is getting heat, but I honestly think he is one of our better midfield players right now. The problem is we can't afford at this stage to have him, Cirio, Currusca and Jero on the pitch at the same time simply because though they have excellent tekkers they aren't working hard enough when we don't have the ball.

Part of the issue I think is the complete lack of confidence in our CBs ability to effectively circulate the ball. They just do not seem to understand how to switch play and maintain effective possession. January really needs to see us bring in some more appropriate defenders, hopefully we can find some free transfers and off load at least Boogs.

Any good Aussie CBs that fit the criteria? Don't think we have any foreign spots left

Isaias is not defensive enough to be a defensive midfielder, Malik is the player who should play there. Then it is a choice between Isaias, Lustica and even Cirio who plays along side Carrusca as a more central midfielder, probably Isaias.
Not sure Ferreria is offer enough on the right either, he sometimes does very good things but does not do it enough for me. I would like to see Mabil start although that will not help the defensive side of things at all.
I would like to see



Cirio and Mabil can swap sides.
Maybe a bit harsh on Jeronimo, but he needs to start performing both home and away not just at Hindmarsh.

I like those players, but you are being a bit harsh on Fabio. Most of the times he sits in a 20 metre empty zone and we ignore him as an outlet. He offers much more than Cirio or Jero as a wide player.

We really need to start Djite, he is a perfect player for our system.