2channel Anime Saimoe 2014: Fourth Round Results, Match Day 2

華麗なる寝落ち
1位　145票　原村和＠咲-Saki- 全国編
2位　108票　清水谷竜華＠咲-Saki- 全国編
3位　73票　西木野真姫＠ラブライブ!
4位　10票　松実宥＠咲-Saki- 全国編

2channel Anime Saimoe 2014: Fourth Round Results, Match Day 1

昨日(10/30)の試合結果（2位以内で決勝T進出）
1位　87票　園城寺怜＠咲-Saki- 全国編
2位　80票　アリス・カータレット＠きんいろモザイク
3位　74票　大星淡＠咲-Saki- 全国編
4位　8票　愛宕絹恵＠咲-Saki- 全国編

San Francisco Giants: 2014 World Series Champions

KANSAS CITY -- The names roll smoothly off the tongue, for they have become legendary. Willie Mays. Willie McCovey. Barry Bonds. Juan Marichal. Christy Mathewson. Carl Hubbell. Mel Ott. Each occupies a hallowed spot in the pantheon of Giants franchise greats. Add another to this distinguished group: Madison Bumgarner.

The 25-year-old left-hander joined this distinguished group Wednesday night by completing a World Series performance that just might rank as the finest by a Giant in the club history. He garnished his victories in Games 1 and 5 with five shutout innings of relief to earn the save in Game 7 to help San Francisco outlast the Kansas City Royals, 3-2. The decision sealed the Giants' third World Series triumph in five seasons.

"Right now, I'm not tired at all," said Bumgarner, who came on in relief of winning pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. "We just won the World Series. It's hard to be tired right now. Probably tomorrow I'll be tired, though."

After the Giants scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth inning on Michael Morse's RBI single, Kansas City used three relievers to blank the Giants over the final five innings -- something Bumgarner did all by himself on two days' rest after pitching a four-hit shutout in Game 5.

"He was throwing so well, there was no way I could take him out," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "Just get on him and ride him. Again, it's just amazing what he did. The innings were easy, and we had his pitch count about where he ended, and he said he was exhausted at the end."

Bumgarner's effort was nothing short of remarkable. He yielded a single to the first batter he faced, Omar Infante, before proceeding to retire the next 14 batters he faced.

Then, with the Giants one out from victory, Alex Gordon lined a single to left-center field on an 0-1 pitch. After the ball skipped past center fielder Gregor Blanco, left fielder Juan Perez struggled to pick it up as Gordon raced to third base.

That didn't faze Bumgarner. Salvador Perez popped a 2-2 pitch into foul ground outside of third base, where Pablo Sandoval made a careful, two-handed catch before falling backward in ecstasy. The Giants, many of whom played on the Series-winning teams of 2010 and '12, flooded the field in celebration.

Bumgarner became the first left-hander to pitch at least four innings in Game 7 of the World Series on two days' rest since the illustrious Sandy Koufax beat the Minnesota Twins in 1965.

"He's incredible," said Morse, who drove in two runs. "He's incredible. He's a different human being. Yesterday, I told him, 'If you're going to go out there tomorrow, you better bring it.' And he said, 'Just watch me.' This guy, every start, he gets better and better. And this is what you get. What you see, is what you get." 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

MadBum keeps dominating: Three days removed from a shutout in Game 5, Madison Bumgarner has delivered a relief appearance for the ages, conjuring up memories of Pedro Martinez in the 1999 American League Division Series by blanking the Giants from the start of the fifth through the end of the eighth.

Bumgarner gave up a leadoff single to Omar Infante, then retired the next 12 batters in order, requiring only 52 pitches to twirl four scoreless innings. The Giants' ace has given up all of one run in 20 innings in the World Series, setting him up to be the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic if the Giants finish it off.

Fire on the mountain: Madison Bumgarner began his much-anticipated relief appearance in the fifth inning of Game 7, recording three outs to pass Curt Schilling for the most innings (48 2/3) in a single postseason.

It wasn't all smooth; Bumgarner gave up a leadoff single to Omar Infante and a sacrifice bunt to Alcides Escobar before Juan Perez -- starting in left over natural first baseman Travis Ishikawa -- made a running stab of Nori Aoki's line drive to prevent the tying run from scoring. Bumgarner then struck outLorenzo Cain to break Schilling's record, which stood for 13 years.

That sent Game 7 into the sixth inning, with the Giants clinging to a 3-2 lead.

Bullpens, assemble: Both starting pitchers were out of Game 7 before three and a half innings were complete. Giants righty Tim Hudson was taken out, replaced by lefty Jeremy Affeldt, with two outs in the bottom of the second. And with one out and runners on the corners in the top of the fourth, Royals rightyJeremy Guthrie was pulled in favor of righty Kelvin Herrera -- the Royals' typical seventh-inning guy.

Herrera proceeded to give up an RBI single to Michael Morse, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead, then struck out Brandon Crawford and got Juan Perez to ground out, limiting the damage. Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence started the inning with back-to-back singles, making them a combined 22-for-51 in this World Series (a .431 batting average).

Replay! It did not take long for instant replay to have an impact on Game 7.

With Lorenzo Cain on first base and one out in the third, Giants second baseman Joe Panik made a terrific diving stop of Eric Hosmer's ground ball near the bag, flipping it with his glove to Brandon Crawford for the inning's first out. Crawford then set his eyes on first base, delivering the ball there just as Hosmer slid in headfirst.

First-base umpire Eric Cooper initially called Hosmer safe, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy challenged and umpires reversed the ruling following a two-minute, 57-second review. It was the second replay review in World Series history, following an unsuccessful Ned Yost challenge in Game 4.

Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt recorded a quick third out from there, moving a 2-2 game into the fourth.

Royals back in business: Moments after the Giants took a two-run lead in the top of the second, the Royals tied it up, took Tim Hudson out of the game and almost lost their Gold Glove catcher.

Billy Butler led off the bottom of the second with a sharp single up the middle, then motored around the bases to barely score on Alex Gordon's liner in the right-center-field gap, a double that gave Gordon only his fourth hit in 25 at-bats this World Series.

On the next pitch, Hudson's 89-mph cutter caught Salvador Perez on the side of the left knee. Perez had a hard time getting up, and initially couldn't put any weight on his left leg, but he gingerly made his way toward first and remained in the game.

Gordon then tagged and went to third on Mike Moustakas' flyout to left field and scored on a liner to center field by Omar Infante. Lefty Jeremy Affeldt replaced Hudson after Alcides Escobar's single, then retired the left-handed-hitting Nori Aoki on a chopper that shortstop Brandon Crawford fielded right on top of second for the forceout.

One night after Jake Peavy recorded four outs, Hudson recorded just five.

Two Giant runs: Considering how strong these two bullpens are, both managers spoke to the importance of jumping out to an early lead in Game 7. The Giants were the ones who actually did it, parlaying a bases-loaded, no-outs rally into a two-run second inning.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie opened the second by loading the bases on a hit batsman and two singles. Michael Morse and Brandon Crawford then hit consecutive sacrifice flies, giving the Giants a 2-0 lead. By the time the rally ended, left-hander Brandon Finnegan was already warming up in Kansas City's bullpen.

Everybody up: For 28 consecutive years, they suffered through losing seasons and empty Octobers, waiting, anticipating, a night like this. And from the moment the first pitch of Game 7 came in at 7:11 p.m. CT, it was evident. A sold-out Kauffman Stadium crowd stood on its collective feet the entire first inning, basking in a windless 55-degree night while living and dying with each pitch.

They roared when Gregor Blanco flew out to center field to start the game, went nuts when Mike Moustakas made a diving play on Buster Posey's sharp grounder, completing a 1-2-3 first for Jeremy Guthrie, and began waiving towels after Nori Aoki's one-out walk in the bottom half. Royals fans finally sat down after Lorenzo Cain's fielder's-choice groundout and Eric Hosmer's swinging strikeout ended the first -- but only momentarily.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, and follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Chivas USA: 2 Aug. 2004-26 Oct. 2014.

Dear Chivas USA Supporters,

Later today, the League will announce a new strategy for the Los Angeles market. After conducting a comprehensive strategic review of the market and Chivas USA’s operations, we will announce that effective this afternoon, Chivas USA will cease operations. This was a very difficult decision. We want to thank you, the fans, for ten years of unconditional support. We are grateful for your commitment to the club and to the sport.

As part of our new Los Angeles strategy, we will launch a new MLS Los Angeles club for the 2017 season and will announce the new team’s ownership group later this week. I believe strongly that a new MLS Los Angeles team with passionate local ownership and an inclusive approach targeting all soccer/sports fans will be very successful.

While I will wait until Thursday’s formal announcement to get into specific details, I can assure you that this new team will have world-class ownership with local connections and residency and a commitment to a new soccer stadium in the greater Los Angeles area.

I believe that our new strategy for Los Angeles provides the best opportunity for success and is the best way to connect with an engaged and impassioned fan base in Southern California. I am confident that this new direction will help us achieve our goal of becoming one of the top leagues in the world.

Sincerely,

Don Garber
MLS Commissioner

27 October 2014

Los Angeles, CA

Dear Fans and Partners,

Later this week, Major League Soccer will announce that a new ownership group has been granted the right to operate a second soccer club in Los Angeles. So as to allow that LA-based group the ability to develop and market a club with its own identity, the League has also decided to cease operations of Chivas USA effective immediately.

While the new club promises to be inclusive and will benefit from residing in its own soccer-specific stadium in Los Angeles, the news is obviously bittersweet for our loyal fans and dedicated partners.

Over the last decade everyone associated with Chivas USA has worked earnestly and with deep devotion. Staff, players and coaches have defended the Red & White with the same pride and honor that you exhibited on our behalf. You have been unconditional in your support of the club, only asking that in return we give our best each and every day.

As like any team in any sport, we have suffered unimaginable heartache as well as enjoyed moments of unbridled joy.  We have felt the pain of the cruel ricochet, the unlucky bounce and the wrong clang off the post. However, we have also been blessed to witness Cubo’s golazos, the grace of a Claudio Suarez tackle and the superhero saves of Brad Guzan and Dan Kennedy.                                            

History will say many things about Chivas USA, but the one, undeniable truth will be that in every instance – no matter the circumstance, setting or outcome – our resiliency was supported by the indomitable spirit of our most loyal and proud fans.

It has been my honor to be associated with you and Chivas USA. Thank you.

Nelson C. Rodríguez

President

Wanderers head into the unknown

Western Sydney goalkeeper Ante Covic has declared the Wanderers won’t be intimidated, even if Al-Hilal fans resort to dirty tricks on and off the field when the team arrives in Riyadh for the second leg of their Asian Champions League decider.

The Wanderers were subjected to disruptive and potentially dangerous behaviour in Guangzhou, China for their ACL quarter-final, when locals deliberately caused car crashes with the team bus and shined laser pointers into players’ faces during training and the match.

Covic had a laser shined directly at him when saving a penalty early in the tie-clinching match against Guangzhou Evergrande, and said he and the Wanderers are expecting similar shenanigans from the passionate Saudi Arabian supporters.

Laser pointers were first used at Saudi venues back in 2006, and King Fahd Stadium with its capacity of 65,000, is known for being a gauntlet for opposition supporters.

The veteran shot-stopper said if Al-Hilal try to disrupt the Wanderers, they will live to regret it.

“We’re not going to be intimidated,” said Covic.

“We’re not going to care what they’re going to throw at us.

“We were in China with 50,000-odd people throwing bottles and yelling at us. We couldn’t even walk off the field without security coming to get us, so that’s not going to faze us.

“They can do what they want.

“We’re going there with the mindset that something probably will happen.

“(But) if they’re thinking of throwing any tricks, they’re going to be doing it to the wrong team.”

In Guangzhou, the Wanderers say they were spurred on by the outrageous tactics of the locals.

From dogs being set loose during training sessions to intruders door-knocking and prank-calling the team hotel at 2am the morning of the match, the Wanderers thought they’d seen it all.

That was until the trip to the ground, where the team bus was hit from the front and rammed from the back, forcing the players to change vehicles.

Then within minutes, two cars suspiciously crashed into each other directly in front of the new bus, attempting to delay the Wanderers’ journey to the ground.

Western Sydney lost 2-1, but the away goal was enough to guarantee their path to the semi-finals.

“It was a very, very suss bus crash. The boys were looking at each other going, `alright, this is what you’ve got for us.’

“It really fired us up more than anything.

“That’s the nature of our team.

“Throw anything at us and we’ll come back at you twice as hard.”

Covic said one thing the players weren’t going to worry about was the officiating.

“That’s out of our hands,” he said.

“The only thing we can be worried about is what we can control.

“If they want to try little things like (50-50 calls going to Al-Hilal), that’s something we have to deal with in a professional manner.

“We’re going to be disciplined on the field and do everything we can do to win the game.”

Morwell City: Insipid as ever.

Former Melbourne Heart boss John Aloisi has bought into the controversy surrounding David Villa, suggesting the Spanish striker may not be happy in the A-League.

Villa leaves Australia after Friday night’s match for Melbourne City against Adelaide United – just four matches into an expected 10-game stint – and City bosses are yet to negotiate his return.

A combination of football, family and marketing reasons are thought to be behind his departure.

Villa’s family has been settling in New York while he plays in Melbourne, with his next club – New York City FC – expecting him to fulfil football and promotional obligations ahead of the US Major League Soccer (MLS) season starting in March.

But no one understands why Villa or Melbourne City have not guaranteed his return.

It’s a delicate situation for the club, not helped by their winless start to the league season.

Aloisi, the man who preceded John van `t Schip as coach of the since-rebadged club, believes something is not quite right.

“If he’s missing his family you would think that they would just fly the family out,” Aloisi told Fox Sports.

“If they’re saying he needs to promote New York City (FC) over there, you would have thought they would have announced that beforehand.

“Reading in between the lines, I think there’s something else.

“I don’t know if he’s totally happy or if they’ve already planned he was only going to be here for four games.”

Aloisi was relieved of his duties as coach of the then Melbourne Heart less than a month before the announcement of the club’s takeover.

The oil-rich Abu Dhabi owners set in train an off-season transformation of the club.

The biggest on-field statement was the arrival of Villa, who as a guest player can play for up to 10 games.

The official announcement of Villa’s arrival from June this year said Villa would play for “a period” of the season.

“Villa … will play, train and contribute to Melbourne City FC’s Hyundai A-League campaign between October and December 2014 prior to the commencement of the MLS season in the United States,” Melbourne City’s statement reads.

With nowhere else to play competitive football between now and the MLS season in March, Villa’s one-way ticket out of Australia is a mystery yet to be solved.

2channel Anime Saimoe 2014: Fourth Round Odds

2014/10/30
FL1
Alice Cartelet @ Kin'iro Mosaic 30-1
OOHOSHI Awai @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 6-1
ATAGO Kinue @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 10-1
ONJOUJI Toki @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 15-1
Predictions: Awai Oohoshi and Kinue Atago
Over/Under: 400
Under

2014/10/31
FL2
SHIMIZUDANI Ryuuka @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 8-1
HARAMURA Nodoka @ Saki Zenkoku-hen EVEN
NISHIKINO Maki @ Love Live! 30-1
MATSUMI Yuu @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 15-1
Predictions: Ryuuka Shimizudani and Nodoka Haramura
Over/Under: 400
Under

2014/11/01
FL3
TAKAKAMO Shizuno @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 4-1
UIHARU Kazari @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S 10-1
SUEHARA Kyouko @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 7-1
KAFUU Chino @ Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? 35-1
Predictions: Shizuno Takakamo and Kyouko Suehara
Over/Under: 400
Under

2014/11/02
FL4
MATSUMI Kuro @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 5-1
KIRIMA Sharo @ Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? 35-1
JINDAI Komaki @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 3-1
YUKINOSHITA Yukino @ Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru 20-1
Predictions: Kuro Matsumi and Komaki Jindai
Over/Under: 400
Under

2014/11/04
FL5
MIYANAGA Saki @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 10-1
KIRISAKI Chitoge @ Nisekoi 15-1
KANAME Madoka @ Madoka Magica Movie: Rebellion Story 5-1
NAKAGAWA Kanon @ Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen 40-1
Predictions: Saki Miyanaga and Madoka Kaname
Over/Under: 400
Over

2014/11/05
FL6
MISAKA Mikoto @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S 15-1
ATARASHI Ako @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 10-1
SAKURA Kyouko @ Madoka Magica Movie: Rebellion Story 5-1
AMAE Koromo @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 30-1
Predictions: Ako Atarashi and Kyouko Sakura
Over/Under: 400
Over

2014/11/06
FL7
KUJOU Karen @ Kin'iro Mosaic 50-1
TOMOE Mami @ Madoka Magica Movie: Rebellion Story 6-1
ATAGO Hiroe @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 10-1
MIYANAGA Teru @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 30-1
Predictions: Mami Tomoe and Hiroe Atago
Over/Under: 400
Over

2014/11/07
FL8
MIKI Sayaka @ Madoka Magica Movie: Rebellion Story 7-1
TSUJIGAITO Satoha @ Saki Zenkoku-hen 14-1
AKEMI Homura @ Madoka Magica Movie: Rebellion Story EVEN
YUIGAHAMA Yui @ Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru 60-1
Predictions: Sayaka Miki and Homura Akemi
Over/Under: 400
Over

2channel Anime Saimoe 2014 Third Round Repechage Results

From AnimeSuki Forums, since shasya is not reporting this:

1st　121　AMAE Koromo @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
2nd　96　YUIGAHAMA Yui @ Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
3rd　91　ONJOUJI Toki @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
4th　90　YUKINOSHITA Yukino @ Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
5th　83　NAKAGAWA Kanon @ Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai: Megami-hen
6th　78　MIYANAGA Teru @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
7th　74　KAFUU Chino @ Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
7th　74　MATSUMI Yuu @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
9th　70　ITSUKA Kotori @ Date A Live II
10th　54　YUUKI Asuna @ Sword Art Online: Extra Edition
11th　53　NIBUTANI Shinka @ Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren
12th　50　SATEN Ruiko @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
13th　47　HOTO Kokoa @ Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
14th　40　FUKUJI Mihoko @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
15th　37　TEDEZA Rize @ Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
16th　31　YAZAWA Nico @ Love Live!
16th　31　KOSEGAWA Shiromi @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
16th　31　ANETAI Toyone @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
16th　31　Souseiseki @ Rozen Maiden
20th　28　SHOKUHOU Misaki @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
21st　27　SANZEN'IN Nagi @ Hayate no Gotoku!
22nd　26　KOSHIGAYA Natsumi @ Non Non Biyori
23rd　24　HIKIGAYA Komachi @ Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru
24th　23　Investigation team's horses @ Attack on Titan
25th　21　KATAOKA Yuuki @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
25th　21　SONODA Yuu @ Sakura Trick
27th　20　KAKURA Kurumi @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
27th　20　TAKEI Hisa @ Saki Zenkoku-hen
29th　18　MINAMI Kotori @ Love Live!
29th　18　SHIRAI Kuroko @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
31st　17　SENGOKU Nadeko @ Monogatari Series: Second Season
32nd　15　TOHSAKA Rin @ Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya
33rd　14　SONODA Umi @ Love Live!
33rd　14　AYASE Eli @ Love Live!
35th　9　TACHIBANA Kana @ Gokukoku no Brynhildr
36th　8　TOUJOU Nozomi @ Love Live!
37th　6　KOUSAKA Honoka @ Love Live!
37th　6　KOIZUMI Hanayo @ Love Live!
39th　4　Misaka 10032 @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
40th　2　HOSHIZORA Rin @ Love Live!
40th　2　Frenda Seivelun @ To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S

Pompeii

I was left to my own devices

Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down

In the city that we love

Great clouds roll over the hills

Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices

In your pose as the dust settled around us

And the walls kept tumbling down

In the city that we love

Great clouds roll over the hills

Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Oh where do we begin?

The rubble or our sins?

Oh oh where do we begin?

The rubble or our sins?

And the walls kept tumbling down (oh where do we begin?)

In the city that we love (the rubble or our sins?)

Great clouds roll over the hills (oh where do we begin?)

Bringing darkness from above (the rubble or our sins?)

But if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

Nothing changed at all?

And if you close your eyes,

Does it almost feel like

You've been here before?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

If you close your eyes, 

does it almost feel like nothing changed at all?

David Villa: The Greatest A-League Scam Since Harry Kewell

“The circus comes to town and then leaves.” So said Scott Munn, the chief executive of the club then known as Melbourne Heart, more than three years ago.

He was referring to Harry Kewell, who at the time had just signed with crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory in one of the biggest coups the A-League had seen.

Thanks largely to the hardball tactics of agent Bernie Mandic, it was the competition’s first proper transfer saga. Victory’s courtship of Kewell went for an eternity as Mandic and the number-crunchers at both the club and FFA tried to come up with a contract that suited all parties. When it happened, there was as much relief as celebration.

No part of this “circus” impressed Munn, who scoffed at it all, but those prophetic words came back to haunt him. Two years later, the big top rolled back into Melbourne, Kewell was wearing red and white, and the Heart was scrambling after performing a backflip that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Cirque du Soleil.

Yesterday, we learned the David Villa circus has just two weeks left before it packs up and moves to New York City. Assuming he does not return after next weekend’s home clash against Adelaide United – and, let’s face it, suggestions that he might come back feel like a Larry David-style empty gesture – Villa will leave having played the same number of A-League games as Romario.

It’s disappointing to say the least. New York City, the club which owns his contract, can do what they like. Football is a business, and after seeing their other prized recruit Frank Lampard stretchered off against Tottenham while playing for Manchester City at the weekend, you could forgive them for wanting to wrap their star Spaniard in cotton wool until the new MLS season kicks off.

Melbourne City are powerless, which says much about their ranking in the City Football Group food chain.

Fans have a right to feel disappointed, and they have a right to ask questions. And not just Melbourne City fans. When a club brings a big name to the A-League, they have a responsibility to share the love.

Sydney FC away games over the last two years became events purely because of the presence of Alessandro Del Piero. He gave the competition a lift, and so has Villa, only nobody expected him to bail so soon. It’s not a good look.

While loan deals are cancelled prematurely as a matter of course in football, this is not your ordinary loan. For one, Melbourne and New York share 80 per cent of the same corporate DNA. And it’s not like Villa is going back to his parent club to play games, or even train – pre-season doesn’t start until late January, and NYC won’t play their first game until March. That’s why the full quota of games were expected from him – what else was he going to do with himself until then? The calendars matched up perfectly in a rare win-win.

Thus he became the first face of Melbourne City. It was not by accident that the club announced his guest stint at the exact same time as they unveiled their new name, logo and colours. Villa has been their leverage, the human realisation of the petrodollars that now power them.

That’s no disrespect to Damien Duff, but as I wrote two weeks ago, he’s not a headline act. Neither is Robi Koren, who has clearly been struck by the same unfortunate injury curse as Orlando Engelaar. Memberships and merchandise have been sold on the premise that Villa would be playing 10 games in the A-League.

That any ‘promotional’ work in New York is considered more important to the City Football Group than building a fan-base in Melbourne feels a little disrespectful. There is more money to be made in New York, but there is more work to do in Melbourne. The stench of the Heart still lingers with every game City dominates and fails to win. Everyone wants this reborn club to stick the landing, and having Villa on deck until Christmas would go a long way to ensuring that.

Just four games? Not enough. Villa is entitled to go back and check on his family, if that’s what he wants to do – and man, it must be tough settling into a place like New York on a World Cup winner’s wage. However, if the Melbourne arm of the sky blue empire knew all along that he would go back this early, even if it’s only temporary, they should have been clear and let their fans know it was on the cards.

Honesty is always the best policy, and in this instance, it would have placed an even greater importance upon each of his appearances. By holding this information back, by speaking in maybes and possibilities, the club has used up some of its goodwill, and many fans have been left with a bad taste in their mouths.

In the meantime, Munn will be crossing his fingers, hoping the circus comes back into town once more.

2channel Anime Saimoe 2014: Third Round Results, Match Day 12

Rブロック代表暫定結果
1位　254票　九条カレン＠きんいろモザイク
2位　67票　南ことり＠ラブライブ!

Xブロック代表暫定結果
1位　257票　宮永咲＠咲-Saki- 全国編
2位　88票　佐天涙子＠とある科学の超電磁砲S

Brasil

Despertar

a un estado de lucidez.

Despertar,

no hay engaño esta vez.

Despertar,

hay un sentido y no lo ves.

El ritmo va

cuando resplandecés.

Pienso seguir,

no somos tan distintos.

Quizás no existe un fin.

Y este calor

(Hey! Tu calor...)

se queda en mí.

(Y voy perdido en esta danza...)

Despertar

a un estado de lucidez.

Despertar,

no hay engaño esta vez.

Despertar,

hay un sentido y no lo ves.

El ritmo va

cuando resplandecés.

Pienso seguir,

no somos tan distintos.

Quizás no existe un fin.

Y este calor

(Hey! Tu calor...)

se queda en mí.

(Y voy perdido en esta danza...)

Pienso seguir...

Pienso seguir,

no somos tan distintos.

Quizás no existe un fin.

Y este calor

(Hey! Tu calor...)

se queda en mí.

(Y voy perdido en esta danza...)

"I have plans for Sayaka Miki": Homura Akemi

"I have plans for Sayaka Miki": Homura Akemi

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
October 22, 2014

If elected as Saimoe Prime Minister, District L Representative-Elect Homura Akemi of the Puella Magi Party has decided to reach out to her personal rival, Sayaka Miki, who is the representative-elect of District F. This is her way of resolving the tension that came from her decision to rewrite the rules and keep the entire party available for the races this autumn against their primary rival, the bigger and better-funded Saki Party, the current Official Opposition unless a Saki Party member wins the office in November.

"I have plans for Sayaka Miki. I don't dislike Sayaka because I think she is understanding the bigger picture and has been an advocate for me and Madoka," Akemi said at Puella Magi Party Headquarters in Mitakihara Town, Japan. "The reason I chose Sayaka and not Madoka is that I don't want her to be burdened with so much work and effort after her year being the figurehead. I can trust Sayaka to be, in a way, my right-hand person when it comes to getting our message out.

"If Sayaka ends up winning the race, however, I do not have any intentions of being the deputy for a second straight session. I think highly of myself because I have years of experience. I've been a figurehead in Saimoe in Korea for one year and a figurehead in China for two go-arounds, so I already have something to stand on."

One of the pet projects that Akemi is advocating is the use of Clara Dolls as a personal assistant, similar to a house pet or a maid.

"I own a number of Clara Dolls as my assistants and I think they have been useful in simplifying the work I have to do around the house," Akemi said. "When I become Saimoe Prime Minister, I will be an advocate to having every family own a Clara Doll. They may be mischievous at first, but with proper training and time, they will be a better companion that any house pet or personal assistant will ever be. I plan to set up manufacturing plants across the country so that they can be sent all over."

Strengthening ties with Korea and China is another part of Akemi's plans as Saimoe Prime Minister.

"I want to implore the Prime Minister and his staff to reduce the number of visits to Yasukuni and urge the Diet to renounce all ownership of disputed islands across East Asia," Akemi said. "East Asia Strong is the program I want to put in place, which emphasizes sovereignty, respect, and a non-aggressive approach to resolving differences between ourselves, Korea and China. When we are each other's best allies, we become East Asia Strong and that can be the most empowering thing to come to this country for many generations.

"We have to issue apologies to those we have wronged. We have to mend fences and build bridges. We need them to help us and for us to help them so that this region can rise as one of the best in the world. The power of East Asian Strength is a fascinating phenomenon, and as Saimoe Prime Minister with Sayaka at my side, we can get it done, and we will."

As for Madoka, what role will she play?

"She will be my First Lady, of course," Akemi said with a sly grin.

This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now

Soldier soldier

We signed our lives away

Complete surrender

The only weapon we know

Soldier soldier

We knew the world would never be the same

Soldier this is where you can reach me now

We come from an ancient place

Beyond what we can see

We’ve come to colonise your night

And steal your poetry

Old man knows that I never listen

So how could I have something to say

Old man knows how to cheat ambition

You don’t lose if you don’t play

1, 2, 3, 4, was enough

Soldier soldier

We signed our lives away

Complete surrender

The only weapon we know

Soldier soldier

We knew the world would never be the same

Soldier this is where you can reach me now

On a double decker bus

Into College Square

If you won’t let us in your world

Your world just isn’t there

Old men says that we never listen

We shout about what we don’t know

We’re taking the path of most resistance

The only way for us to go

hup, 2, 3, 4, was enough

Soldier soldier

We signed our lives away

Complete surrender

The only weapon we know

Soldier soldier

We knew the world would never be the same

Soldier this is where you can reach me now

This is the site

This is the season

This is where you can reach me now

This is the time

This is the number

This is where you can reach me now.