The Roar
The Roar

Ben Somerford

Roar Guru

Joined June 2009

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Former Media Manager for the WACA & Hockey Australia. Long-time freelance journalist, having written for global publications including FourFourTwo, AAP, Inside Futbol and many more....

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Fixed now, cheers for flagging. Fundamentally doesn’t alter the key point that South America has never hosted it.

Why Australia-NZ could miss out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup

Good call, my mistake on Canada.

Why Australia-NZ could miss out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup

Good discussion. One of the unquantifiables is how much would a Women’s World Cup in Colombia actually impact the rest of South America? My take is their bid doesn’t outline this strongly enough but Council voters may see otherwise.

Why Australia-NZ could miss out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup

Hah that feels very similar to the question I’m posing ?

Will people realise they can live without sport?

Summed it up well, Jack

Are the two WA clubs victims of the AFL's Vic bias?

So why preach “fairness” last week?

Are the two WA clubs victims of the AFL's Vic bias?

Thanks Paul2, yes I heard about his passing, very sad. As you say, he doesn’t meet criteria as he moved to Australia from USA with his family as a 5-year-old. Thanks 👍

The top ten VFL/AFL international recruits

Thanks @DingoGray, Jim Stynes’ story deserves a movie, truly remarkable & doubt it’ll ever be replicated.

The top ten VFL/AFL international recruits

Fair enough. I found it a tough one to define, but essentially there is a brigade of 20-30 talented kids outside the top 5 who are relatively even every year. I went with ‘slider’ as these ones slid outside the top 10. Suggestions welcomed?!

The top ten AFL draft sliders since 2005

Thanks Redb, an oversight on my part. Amended.

What's the best timeslot for the AFL's ninth fixture?

AGO74,
I think that factor in players’ decisions is over-exaggerated. Players were always aware these teams would struggle for wins in their first few seasons. The money is surely the key factor in the decision, along with a new challenge or change of lifestyle.

GWS Giants a disaster waiting to happen for AFL?

TCunbeliever,
To be fair, I’m aware of everything you listed above. Firstly, with due respect, the quality of the NEAFL is well short of the VFL, let alone the AFL. Yes the Giants have had two wins in the NEAFL but when put up against VFL opposition for the first time they were caught well, well short. I watched the game, it was painfully one-sided.

The worrying thing with this batch of players is they won’t get to face VFL opposition week-in week-out like the Suns did in 2010. That clearly has them behind the 8-ball already with their transition into AFL ranks, which is worrying considering how the Suns have performed in 2011.

GWS Giants a disaster waiting to happen for AFL?

Thanks Richard,

Whichever way you see it, it’s hard to predict what will happen as it is unprecedented in the AFL. It may a wonderful move, it might not work. We’ll have to wait and see.

My comment on the director of coaching role being a peripheral role is based on what Paul Roos said about Malthouse needing to give Buckley space, rather than watching over his shoulder 24/7. Sure, what Roos says isn’t sacred, but I think this comment holds a fair bit of weight. It’ll be interesting to observe it all unfold.

Ben

Malthouse must coach in 2012, but at which club?

I believe it’s an ACL requirement to have the competitors for the ACL decided by the end of the year before, which is for the ACL draw. All clubs who’ll compete in the 2011 ACL, initially qualified in 2010.

No problem with short-term contracts, in moderation

Interesting to see Korean club Pohang Steelers have signed Aussie Erik Paartalu on a short-term deal for the ACL.

No problem with short-term contracts, in moderation

I think you’re missing the point with the pitch inspection, TomC. The FFA re-scheduled THREE A-League fixtures to Skilled Park recently, thus creating a heavy workload at the venue which has had its surface issues, before suddenly deciding for this finals match the pitch needed to be inspected, following a heavy workload! Sure it’s common sense to have a pitch inspection but they may have created the problem themselves. Gold Coast Utd were always in a good position for a home final so I’d say it’s fair to say there was a lack of foresight there.

As well, Buckley was asked about the possibility of moving the game to Melbourne (FYI not once about Mars) and never outright said it wouldn’t be going there. Why not say Brisbane was the back-up plan? Why fuel the hype of a Melbourne home final? I’d said they were a bit too passive there and it wasn’t a good look.

FFA avoid a farce as Skilled Park surface gets the nod

As I also said in the article TomC, the FFA never outright said they wouldn’t be moving it to Melbourne, when Brisbane would’ve been a suitable back-up plan should Skilled Park have been unfit to use.
Also the fact the pitch was ‘subject to a pitch inspection’ following a heavy workload due to games the FFA re-scheduled at Skilled Park is damning too. These are the key points and the key reasons why I decided to write this column.

FFA avoid a farce as Skilled Park surface gets the nod

To be fair, Topor-Stanley has been a standout in the HAL this season, but not sure he can slot in for the Roos at this level, especially out at LB.

What does Holger do with David Carney?

Gday floppybottom,
Totally aware of Shane Cansdell-Sherriff. I do alot of work on Aussies Abroad and monitor his progress on a weekly basis, but not sure he’s international quality. Happy to be proven wrong, of course!

What does Holger do with David Carney?

This is from July when Traore hinted at a career in the green-and-gold.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/News/173306,traore-dreaming-of-socceroos.aspx?eid=10&edate=20100802&eaddr=

It’s difficult to know if he or any young player will be the answer, but I think there’s a problem which needs to be acknowledged and dealt with as we go towards Brazil 2014. Carney can play LM, but we need to groom a proper LB as we go ahead.

What does Holger do with David Carney?

Unfortunately today’s announcement by Central Coast of Michael Baird as their ‘major signing’ was a little underwhelming. But hopefully we still get the point.

Roar's dominance prompts ambitious transfer activity

Couldn’t agree more, Mike. Add to that, from a fans’ perspective, with some sides having played 18 games, some 14 games, some 16 games, it’s impossible to know what to make of the A-League ladder. You could argue Perth Glory are actually last right now.

The A-League fixture list is a confusing joke

He was called up by Macedonia in February last year but never actually played. Macedonia have since gone cold on him, meaning he’s available for Australia.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder for Ognenovski

Hi Midfielder,

I don’t see the FFA being in Europe presenting our bid on the WC as a defence. Far from it. If anything it emphasises the need to refine their structure to ensure there’s always an adequate amount of people focusing on the running of the A-League. In this instance they’ve failed to deliver their product, an A-League game, and failed one of their assets, a football club.

You can look at this, like Mahony has, as me attacking football, but it isn’t. I’m pointing out a clear failure by the FFA and/or the Jets to act on a foreseeable issue. And yes I’m saying the FFA should be aware of stadium situations, given it’s their responsibility to deliver football matches to the paying public and the clubs participating.

Of course, there’s others at fault in this debacle, but the main point I’m trying to make is the FFA’s procedures have allowed the faults of other parties to affect the A-League in a negative way. Surely there must be an effort made to ensure this doesn’t happen again and some accountability would show they’ve taken stock and learned a few lessons.

Accountability needed after Jets-Fury postponement

Hi Mahony,
It’s easy to see it that way with the football media and articles which can be interpreted as negative to the game, but I think it’s important to provide what I’d call constructive criticism. There’s some clear issues in this instance and they shouldn’t be swept under the carpet and ignored. Football can’t control what the NRL or AFL does, but it can control its own affairs and in this instance it didn’t, so lessons need to be learned. No more, no less.

Accountability needed after Jets-Fury postponement

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