Michael Baird back in Australia?

QUEENSLAND Roar has sent out an SOS to former firebrand Michael Baird as its search for an impact striker for their upcoming A-League season continues.

Baird, 22, is signed with newly promoted Romanian first-division outfit Universitatea Craiova after leaving the Roar at the close of their inaugural season.

Prior to his exit he produced a lukewarm A-League performance that included just six goals in 20 games.

He was famously booed off the pitch by home-ground fans at Suncorp Stadium following a 3-1 loss to Melbourne that effectively ended the club's 2005 finals hopes.

But Roar coach Miron Bleiberg has fired off an email in an effort to lure Baird back to his former A-League club.

"He has improved a lot as a player in Romania from what I have heard, and I think he would provide some of the explosiveness that we need," Bleiberg said.

"I haven't heard back from him yet. He has three more years left on his contract (in Romania) but maybe he wants to come back."

Known as much for his outspoken personality as his on-field prowess, Baird has thrived in Romania where he has become a crowd favourite among for Universitatea faithful.

Just 12 weeks into his four-year deal with the club, Baird has already picked up seven goals, two man-of-the-match awards and is widely credited on the club's official fansite as the catalyst for the side's promotion to the first division for the 2006-07 season.

He fared far better than his former Roar teammate Karl Dodd who was sacked from the club after just one month into his five-year contract.

Bleiberg has three vacancies on his roster including one for an overseas striker, a position he could keep aside for Baird.

He dismissed any suggestion Baird left the club on bad terms and would be welcomed back to Queensland with open arms.

"Of course he would be welcome back here. There is no bad blood between Michael and the club at all," the coach said.

Wold Cup 2006

Today the biggest football holiday begun. 2006 Wold Cup Germany is the most important event of this year. First games Germany - Costa Rica 4-2 and Poland - Ecuador 0-2.
Let's see togheter some photos from this event.

Fans from Ecuador.

Fans from Poland

Claudia Schiffer, one of the most important fans of Germany Football Team.

Violence Is Not The Answer

Violence without limmits at a footbal game.

In the last day of the second Romanian football league the fans of Universitatea Craiova resisted at a violent atac of the fans of Dinamo Bucharest. 200 fans of Dinamo Bucharest organised a war with knifes, baseball bats and stones against 30 fans of Universitatea Craiova who came to see the game between the second team of Dinamo Bucharest and Universitatea Craiova.

The final bilance of this animalic behaviour of the fans from Bucharest were: 3 supporters of Craiova superficially stabed, one supporter in hospital and many others with superficial hurts.

"I did not think that can happen on a Romanian football field! Pure and simple I can not find any sense in those facts. I would like to be only a nightmare. In this way mybe I will forget someday", said Ovidiu Stanga - the coach of Universitatea Craiova.

"Petre Buduru, the president of Dinamo Bucharest, called me for a transfer at that club. I will not play in the team of red dogs for good. All my life I will remember the things happen in Bucharest last Saturday!", said Mircea Bornescu, goalkeeper of Universitatea Craiova.

As a conclusion: violence bring nothing than other violence.

Michael Baird

"I hope I was at the level of the fans expectations"

Michael Baird left Craiova for a holiday in Antalya, Turkey, where he will join his friend Jon McKain, the player of Politehnica Timisoara.

Reporter: Michael, did you have a season at the level of your expectations, or do you think it could be done more?
Michael Baird: If you speak about our team, I don't see what is the better we could do. We arrived in Romanian football first league with three days before the end of the championship, we wonn the most important game (against Petrolul Ploiesti), we riched our goal. Speaking about me, I can say I am satisfied, I'm coming after a year full of competions without a pause and I can feel this. I hope our fans were satisfied with what I did until now.
Rep: You scored less goals than you expected...
M.B.: Yes, it is true, I scored three goals, but I belive I helped Craiova with my work here. Anyhow, I did not missed too much opportunities, I scored in almost all my ocasions I had. I hope I will score more goals in the future. Look at Ryan Griffiths. Now he is in a big shape and everybody is speaking about him, but FC National had patience with him about two years. Until now he rarely arrived in the first 11.
Rep: What are your holiday plans, do you comeback in Australia?
M.B.: No. I get used with Europe and I will stay here. Saturday I will leave Romania for a holiday in Antalya, Turkey. My girlfriend, Angie, Jon McKain and his girlfriend will join me there until June the 17th, when we comeback in Craiova. I'm waiting for this holiday from a long time and I want to use it at maximum.
Rep: How do you think the first league will be?
M.B.: I will be harder for sure. We must improve the team and our play, also. If some players with experience will came at Craiova, we can fight for the first places.

Rep: Romanians or foreigners?
M.B.: Doesn't matter. They must be valuable.
Rep: What news do you have about Josh Mitchell?
M.B.: He is in Australia, he has some days of holiday there and I believe will see eachother in Austria, because he will came straight forward.
Rep: Enjoy your holiday.
M.B.: Thank you! Stay cool, for the next season I will score more goals, I promise.