Roar Rookie

tomdartnell11

Roar Rookie
http://tomdartnell11.wordpress.com/

4,887 Article Reads
6 Articles Written
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About

"England have the best fans in the world and Scotland's fans are second-to-none." - Kevin Keegan

Member Since:: March 2012
Based In:: Melbourne, Australia
Favourite Sporting Team:: Arsenal
Favourite Sports:: Football,

Latest Articles

Showing articles 1 - 6 of 6 |

Golden memories and greener pastures for Socceroos

14 Sep 2012

Australia’s 2014 World Cup qualification campaign has thus far asked more questions than it has answered about the present state and future of our national team.

EPL gets set for intriguing new season

15 Aug 2012

With the Premier League season finally upon us, what can this edition of the English top flight bring us that last season’s nail-biter didn’t?

Seven years without a trophy: time to replenish Arsenal

12 Jun 2012

It was ultimately a fairly depressing 2011/12 Premier League season for Arsenal fans. Sitting just above the relegation zone and well out of serious title contention after five games gave the season a miserable outlook early on.

Is Chelsea's Abramovic finally satisfied?

22 May 2012

What’s the key to success at Chelsea? It’s a club with all the resources a manager could want for, but which comes with the hefty burden of Russian owner Roman Abramovic’s expectations.

Rotating Victory door must stop turning

7 Apr 2012

With Jim Magilton making the decision to return to Northern Ireland earlier this week, it’s time for Melbourne Victory to think long, hard and most importantly smart, about who they appoint in his stead.

The Moyes milestone, featuring 'Super' Tim the Toffee

12 Mar 2012

Everton Football Club, a proud and historic mainstay of English Football’s top division is on the verge of chalking up a very impressive milestone.

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tomdartnell11's Recent Comments

tomdartnell11 has written a total of 5 comments

Socceroos: Always happy with one point?

Great article. Found your argument quite persuasive considering I'm not in agreeance. Firstly though, I have to say I think the chorus of positive feedback is in regards to the result GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, both prior to and within the game. We've heard plenty about the stifling conditions and physical toll on the Aussie players of playing Oman in 40 degree heat so recently, so no-one should be overlooking that. Secondly you've got to consider the way the draw has played out so favourably for Japan, who came into the game full of confidence with 6 points in the bag from two convincing home wins. They were under far less pressure to get a result. Then look at the shambolic refereeing performance, which just about evened itself out. A lot of the praise is, I think, directed towards the Socceroos' ability to limit the damage to one goal conceded whilst playing so long with 10 men, until they finally got their lucky break with the soft penalty awarded. Regarding the young players not getting a run, I agree I would love to see more pitch time afforded to Rukavystya, Jedinak, Tommy Oar, Chris Herd and others but the reality is you can't risk experimentation in WC qualifiers with so much on the line and experience is largely going to win out. The fullback positions aren't as weak as you suggest, Rhys Williams is a very promising player waiting in the wings and Wilkshire usually returns to defence when Emerton is available to play wide. On the left side David Carney has proved servicable, whilst Michael Zullo is a good option if you're looking for real drive. And Matthew Spiranovic is just plain unlucky that Sasa Ognenovski has played so well since his late rise to prominence. Spiranovic is touted as a technically gifted central defender who can facilitate playing out from the back, which is a potential foundation of our future play so look forward to the time when he gets an extended run. Australia's playing style, like Osieck said when he took the job, is a malleable and flexible one. Some nations will just always be better than us at playing football. When we come up against a very good side we adapt a pragmatic gameplan, of defensive solidarity and targeting a specified weakness of the opposition. Japan are a very good side, and I think we effectively attacked their arial deficiencies. When the manager feels we can dominate another team, we'll try to. Look for us to control much more of the home games against Oman, Jordan and even Iraq.

13 Jun 2012

Newcastle Jets grounded by FFA’s inept management

Good quick coverage of the shocking events of this morning, all over it mate. I'm devastated and praying that a solution comes about which will resuscitate the Jets - great club both within the community and the A-league (past champions), and showing a very progressive style of passing football under Van Egmond. FFA has countered Tinkler's version of events by saying that HSG were responsible for any breakdown in communication. An agonising wait to see what happens next...

10 Apr 2012

Arnie and Angie take the A-League to another level

Spot on about local managers. Ange and Arnie definitely torch-bearers for quality Australian coaching. Proof is in their results and extraordinary feats of fast, effective transformation of Roar & Mariners into successful, elite-tier clubs. Both are now setting the domestic benchmark.

31 Mar 2012

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