The Roar » Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au Your Sports Opinion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:50:39 +0000 en hourly 1 Magilton struggling to make a mark http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/02/07/magilton-struggling-to-make-a-mark/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/02/07/magilton-struggling-to-make-a-mark/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:38 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=67367 Jim Magilton, in his post-match press conference for Saturday’s scoreless Melbourne Derby, defiantly argued he’d found a couple of positives he can build on, including a first clean sheet in 13 games and seeing out the last 15 minutes with a man down. But on the evidence of his work so far for the Melbourne [...]

Article link: Magilton struggling to make a mark. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Jim Magilton, in his post-match press conference for Saturday’s scoreless Melbourne Derby, defiantly argued he’d found a couple of positives he can build on, including a first clean sheet in 13 games and seeing out the last 15 minutes with a man down.

But on the evidence of his work so far for the Melbourne Victory, particularly in the past two games, he’ll need to produce significantly more over the next couple of months to have any hope of landing the permanent gig next season.

Against Gold Coast United in Launceston last Wednesday and against the Melbourne Heart on Saturday, Magilton used a 4-4-2.

As I’ve argued before on this column, it’s not so much the formation itself but the deployment of the formation and the personnel in it that has been his problem.

The biggest issue has been his use of a flat four-man midfield, a system no-doubt familiar to him from his time in the UK.

Among it’s many problems, at least as far as the Victory are concerned, is that it asks far too much, from a defensive perspective, of the wide men, Harry Kewell on the left and Marco Rojas on the right on Saturday, especially with the defence sitting so deep.

Starting these two in the same line, or just a touch advanced of Grant Brebner and Leigh Broxham, means that they are playing far too deep and shouldering too much defensive responsibility.

In the past two games it has meant that Kewell, in particular, has been too isolated from the front two, Archie Thompson and Jean Carlos Solorzano.

This contrasts to the three or four games before Launceston when he seemed to be used higher, in a 4-2-3-1, and had more of an influence in the front third.

What has also been evident in the past two games is that Kewell doesn’t appear to have been given license to roam across the forward line, where he can link with the likes of Thompson and Solorzano. He has essentially been working in the left corridor, up and down.

With his extra defensive burden in the flat four, it was perhaps no surprise the find Kewell replaced an hour into the derby.

On the other side, with Rojas sitting too deep, it was the Heart who took the initiative, with Craig Goodwin having a splendid debut.

The other major issue with a straight midfield is that the opportunities to play angled, diagonal balls to players in advanced positions are limited. Little wonder players have been guilty of circulating the ball slowly, or knocking it long.

As well, the system meant that Kristian Sarkies has a field day, able to pick up the ball, in space, without any pressure. He was then able to pick his pass, prompting the Heart’s control of proceedings.

The fact Magilton stuck steadfastly to a system that wasn’t working, and didn’t have the means to adjust things to wrestle the control from John van ‘t Schip was perhaps the most worrying element for Victory fans.

Coming into the game it seemed fairly obvious to this pundit that the Heart manager would play three at the back, releasing a fullback into an advanced role.

It’s a tactic he has adopted previously, the aim being that he controls the opponent by leaving one spare at the back.

Soon Goodwin, nominally a left back but playing mainly in an advanced position, was foraging forward down the left.

Magilton might have been able to force the youngster back, into a defensive position, by changing his own formation to a 4-2-3-1.

It wouldn’t have been too hard, even with Carlos Hernandez on the bench. All Magilton had to do was push Kewell into the middle, behind Solorzano, and move Thompson to one flank and Rojas to the other.

By doing this he would have forced van ‘t Schip to drop Goodwin into a more defensive position, limiting his impact in attack and asking more questions of him defensively.

It likely would have given the Victory a greater share of control. As it was, the Heart dominated, Ante Covic coming to Magilton’s rescue, not for the first time.

The fact Magilton evidently didn’t even see the opportunity to adjust the formation to wrestle some control spoke volumes.

The question for the much-maligned Victory board and particularly the man said to be pulling the strings, Ian McLeod, is whether anyone has the ability to see this, and assess Magilton’s work.

While the club clearly has a multitude of issues, including an aging and imbalanced squad, players on long-term contracts and the lack of a football director, sorting out the managerial post remains high on the agenda.

At this stage, Magilton has done little to state a case.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/02/07/magilton-struggling-to-make-a-mark/feed/ 68 Heart, Glory team goals signs of A-League’s rising standard http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/31/heart-glory-team-goals-signs-of-a-leagues-rising-standard/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/31/heart-glory-team-goals-signs-of-a-leagues-rising-standard/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:16:54 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=66259 If you’re looking for another indication of the growing standard of the A-League then you only had to cast an eye over the quality of the goals scored over the weekend, two of them in particular featuring 14 and 12 passes respectively. While Wellington’s Paul Ifill dished up another clinic on how to beat an [...]

Article link: Heart, Glory team goals signs of A-League’s rising standard. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> If you’re looking for another indication of the growing standard of the A-League then you only had to cast an eye over the quality of the goals scored over the weekend, two of them in particular featuring 14 and 12 passes respectively.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/31/heart-glory-team-goals-signs-of-a-leagues-rising-standard/feed/ 29 Wellington united in the desire to gain more respect http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/24/wellington-united-in-the-desire-to-gain-more-respect/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/24/wellington-united-in-the-desire-to-gain-more-respect/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:30:12 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=65180 One thing that becomes patently clear as we enter the final third of the regular A-League season is that the teams with the most settled and united squads are the ones performing the most consistently. I’m referring, in particular, to both the Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix, the two teams who perhaps best epitomise [...]

Article link: Wellington united in the desire to gain more respect. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> One thing that becomes patently clear as we enter the final third of the regular A-League season is that the teams with the most settled and united squads are the ones performing the most consistently.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/24/wellington-united-in-the-desire-to-gain-more-respect/feed/ 22 Arnold and van Egmond leading Australia’s football education http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/17/arnold-and-van-egmond-give-another-class-in-australia%e2%80%99s-football-education/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/17/arnold-and-van-egmond-give-another-class-in-australia%e2%80%99s-football-education/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:25:10 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=63939 On a weekend in which high-profile stoushes, both on and off the field, hogged the headlines, it was the battle to control a football game between Graham Arnold and Gary van Egmond, that was the most productive. As an advertisement for the A-League, the F3 derby between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets on [...]

Article link: Arnold and van Egmond leading Australia’s football education. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> On a weekend in which high-profile stoushes, both on and off the field, hogged the headlines, it was the battle to control a football game between Graham Arnold and Gary van Egmond, that was the most productive.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/17/arnold-and-van-egmond-give-another-class-in-australia%e2%80%99s-football-education/feed/ 17 Sydney FC’s problems stem from poor squad building http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/10/sydney-fcs-problems-stem-from-poor-squad-building/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/10/sydney-fcs-problems-stem-from-poor-squad-building/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:05:45 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=63025 As the Central Coast Mariners marched forward, eight points clear and 12 games undefeated, Sydney FC were left to lament another poor start on Sunday, leading to their third loss on the spin. With only one win from their six games so far at the Sydney Football Stadium, and even that due to some late [...]

Article link: Sydney FC’s problems stem from poor squad building. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> As the Central Coast Mariners marched forward, eight points clear and 12 games undefeated, Sydney FC were left to lament another poor start on Sunday, leading to their third loss on the spin.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/10/sydney-fcs-problems-stem-from-poor-squad-building/feed/ 20 Van ‘t Schip pulling out all the Christmas party tricks http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/02/van-t-schip-pulling-out-all-the-christmas-party-tricks/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/02/van-t-schip-pulling-out-all-the-christmas-party-tricks/#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:15:09 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=62161 While Melbourne Heart have gone on an incredible run of seven wins from eight games that has seen them move up into second spot, one of the most impressive features has been John van ‘t Schip’s ability to shift formations mid-game in order to wrestle control of a match. This has particularly been evident in [...]

Article link: Van ‘t Schip pulling out all the Christmas party tricks. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> While Melbourne Heart have gone on an incredible run of seven wins from eight games that has seen them move up into second spot, one of the most impressive features has been John van ‘t Schip’s ability to shift formations mid-game in order to wrestle control of a match.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/01/02/van-t-schip-pulling-out-all-the-christmas-party-tricks/feed/ 12 My Australian Football Team of 2011 http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/20/selecting-australian-footballs-team-of-2011/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/20/selecting-australian-footballs-team-of-2011/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:48:36 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=60699 It was a year in which Australia’s youth teams, the Joeys and Young Socceroos, disappointed at their respective world cups, so it’s with deep regret that not a single under 17s or 20s player features in this 11, although a couple get notable mentions. With the Brisbane Roar so dominant in the A-League, it was [...]

Article link: My Australian Football Team of 2011. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> It was a year in which Australia’s youth teams, the Joeys and Young Socceroos, disappointed at their respective world cups, so it’s with deep regret that not a single under 17s or 20s player features in this 11, although a couple get notable mentions.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/20/selecting-australian-footballs-team-of-2011/feed/ 8 Why Bernie Ibini reminds me of Thierry Henry http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/13/why-bernie-ibini-reminds-me-of-thierry-henry/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/13/why-bernie-ibini-reminds-me-of-thierry-henry/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:02:28 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=59846 Ahead of the season, in dissecting the Central Coast Mariners’ chances for this season, I wrote about how the development of Bernie Ibini-Isei was critical to the Mariners pushing on from the success of last season. My logic, at the time, was that the Mariners needed to add a little more craft in the front [...]

Article link: Why Bernie Ibini reminds me of Thierry Henry. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Ahead of the season, in dissecting the Central Coast Mariners’ chances for this season, I wrote about how the development of Bernie Ibini-Isei was critical to the Mariners pushing on from the success of last season.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/13/why-bernie-ibini-reminds-me-of-thierry-henry/feed/ 29 Vidmar needs to find an Olympics formula that fits http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/29/vidmar-needs-to-find-a-february-formula-that-fits/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/29/vidmar-needs-to-find-a-february-formula-that-fits/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:03:31 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=58111 Finding the right balance in his central midfield and a workable front three are the big challenges for Aurelio Vidmar, as he seeks to find a formula to continue Australia’s proud Olympics record that has seen the Olyroos at every games since Seoul in 1988. Right now, midway through a qualifying group which sees only [...]

Article link: Vidmar needs to find an Olympics formula that fits. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Finding the right balance in his central midfield and a workable front three are the big challenges for Aurelio Vidmar, as he seeks to find a formula to continue Australia’s proud Olympics record that has seen the Olyroos at every games since Seoul in 1988.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/29/vidmar-needs-to-find-a-february-formula-that-fits/feed/ 19 How the Mariners are sailing in the right direction http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/22/how-the-mariners-are-sailing-in-the-right-direction/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/22/how-the-mariners-are-sailing-in-the-right-direction/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:39:36 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=57157 In amongst the flow of the Brisbane Roar and stuttering of the Melbourne Victory, perhaps the A-League’s most consistent side goes about its business in a quiet, productive manner, continuing to build into its season. I’m talking of course about the Central Coast Mariners, who moved into second place after their most impressive effort of [...]

Article link: How the Mariners are sailing in the right direction. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> In amongst the flow of the Brisbane Roar and stuttering of the Melbourne Victory, perhaps the A-League’s most consistent side goes about its business in a quiet, productive manner, continuing to build into its season.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/22/how-the-mariners-are-sailing-in-the-right-direction/feed/ 26 Osieck seeking more control: on and off the pitch http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/16/osieck-seeking-more-control-on-and-off-the-pitch/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/16/osieck-seeking-more-control-on-and-off-the-pitch/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:43:54 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=56387 Far from cohesive, the Socceroos were fortunate to come away from Bangkok last night with the three points and passage to the next phase of World Cup qualifying after being given an almighty scare by Datsakorn Thonglao and his Thai outfit. For the most part, Holger Osieck’s men struggled to contain the gifted playmaker Thonglao, [...]

Article link: Osieck seeking more control: on and off the pitch. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Far from cohesive, the Socceroos were fortunate to come away from Bangkok last night with the three points and passage to the next phase of World Cup qualifying after being given an almighty scare by Datsakorn Thonglao and his Thai outfit.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/16/osieck-seeking-more-control-on-and-off-the-pitch/feed/ 72 Which players are advancing under Osieck? http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/08/which-players-are-advancing-under-osieck/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/08/which-players-are-advancing-under-osieck/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:50:48 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=55166 With this week’s two World Cup qualifiers away to Oman and Thailand likely to garner safe passage to the next phase, it’s perhaps a good time to look back over the opening three qualifiers and assess the players that have really progressed their cause under Holger Osieck. While the likes of Sash Ognenovski, Neil Kilkenny, [...]

Article link: Which players are advancing under Osieck?. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> With this week’s two World Cup qualifiers away to Oman and Thailand likely to garner safe passage to the next phase, it’s perhaps a good time to look back over the opening three qualifiers and assess the players that have really progressed their cause under Holger Osieck.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/08/which-players-are-advancing-under-osieck/feed/ 13 Mariners, Victory kickstart race to catch runaway Roar http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/01/mariners-victory-kickstart-race-to-catch-runaway-roar/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/01/mariners-victory-kickstart-race-to-catch-runaway-roar/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:20:50 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=54146 As far as the performances go, neither the Central Coast Mariners nor the Melbourne Victory will have been totally satisfied by their respective wins on the weekend. But when they reflect on their campaigns at the end of the season, week four might just be the one they recall as their kick-start. With the Brisbane [...]

Article link: Mariners, Victory kickstart race to catch runaway Roar. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> As far as the performances go, neither the Central Coast Mariners nor the Melbourne Victory will have been totally satisfied by their respective wins on the weekend.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/11/01/mariners-victory-kickstart-race-to-catch-runaway-roar/feed/ 23 Five A-League bolters for the Socceroos http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/25/five-a-league-bolters-for-the-socceroos/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/25/five-a-league-bolters-for-the-socceroos/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:00:04 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=53364 With three wins from his opening three World Cup qualifiers, the ball is well and truly in Holger Osieck’s court as the Socceroos eye safe passage to next phase of qualifying. Results so far give the German even more scope to push on with his regeneration of the Roos squad, one of his chief remits.  [...]

Article link: Five A-League bolters for the Socceroos. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Sydney FC's Nick Carle and Brisbane Roar's Ivan Franjic fight for possession

Sydney FC's Nick Carle and Brisbane Roar's Ivan Franjic fight for possession (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

With three wins from his opening three World Cup qualifiers, the ball is well and truly in Holger Osieck’s court as the Socceroos eye safe passage to next phase of qualifying.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/25/five-a-league-bolters-for-the-socceroos/feed/ 41 Will Super Dario steal the show from Kewell, Emerton? http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/19/is-super-dario-set-to-steal-the-show-from-kewell-and-emerton/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/19/is-super-dario-set-to-steal-the-show-from-kewell-and-emerton/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:00:56 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=52920 While most of the pre-season attention has been on a pair of big name returning Socceroos, in Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton, less heralded in the mainstream was the return of another 2010 World Cup representative, Dario Vidosic. After four seasons in Germany, where his career never quite took off at FC Nuremberg and a [...]

Article link: Will Super Dario steal the show from Kewell, Emerton?. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Australia's Dario Vidosic (centre) takes the ball up field despite pressure from Paraguay's Dario Veron. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Australia's Dario Vidosic (centre) takes the ball up field despite pressure from Paraguay's Dario Veron. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

While most of the pre-season attention has been on a pair of big name returning Socceroos, in Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton, less heralded in the mainstream was the return of another 2010 World Cup representative, Dario Vidosic.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/19/is-super-dario-set-to-steal-the-show-from-kewell-and-emerton/feed/ 43 Socceroos comfortable despite struggling to pass through Oman http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/12/socceroos-comfortable-despite-struggling-to-pass-through-oman/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/12/socceroos-comfortable-despite-struggling-to-pass-through-oman/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:00:42 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=52435 While Holger Osieck’s Socceroos all but booked a spot in the next phase of World Cup qualifiers after last night’s comfortable 3-0 win over Oman at Homebush, it was the inability of the team to pass their way through the opposition that should give the manager a bit to ponder. This was as comfortable a [...]

Article link: Socceroos comfortable despite struggling to pass through Oman. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Oman's Amad Ali Sulaiman Al Hosni is tackled by Socceroos players Matthew Spiranovic and Lucas Neill

Oman's Amad Ali Sulaiman Al Hosni is tackled by Australian Socceroos players Matthew Spiranovic and Lucas Neill. AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

While Holger Osieck’s Socceroos all but booked a spot in the next phase of World Cup qualifiers after last night’s comfortable 3-0 win over Oman at Homebush, it was the inability of the team to pass their way through the opposition that should give the manager a bit to ponder.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/12/socceroos-comfortable-despite-struggling-to-pass-through-oman/feed/ 145 Roar’s test will come with more use of the high press http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/11/brisbane-roars-test-will-come-with-more-use-of-the-high-press/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/11/brisbane-roars-test-will-come-with-more-use-of-the-high-press/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:10:52 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=52349 Right from the opening minutes of the opening game, between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Heart, there were two things in particular that caught the eye in the opening round of the A-League season. The first was the intensity, perhaps not surprising given that the players were coming off such a drawn-out pre-season. There’s no [...]

Article link: Roar’s test will come with more use of the high press. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Newcastle Jets Sung-Hwan Byun. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Newcastle Jets Sung-Hwan Byun. AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Right from the opening minutes of the opening game, between the Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Heart, there were two things in particular that caught the eye in the opening round of the A-League season.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/11/brisbane-roars-test-will-come-with-more-use-of-the-high-press/feed/ 34 A-League season 7 players to watch (Part 2) http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/07/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-part-2/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/07/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-part-2/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:58:38 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=52055 On Wednesday, in part one of this two part look at the A-League players to watch at each club this season, I picked out a mix of youth and experience, local and foreign, from Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Gold Coast United and Melbourne Heart. Today, 24 hours before the season kicks-off, I [...]

Article link: A-League season 7 players to watch (Part 2). Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Perth Glory's Michael Baird (right) tackles Melbourne Victory's Surat Sukha. AAP Image/Tony McDonough

Perth Glory's Michael Baird (right) tackles Melbourne Victory's Surat Sukha. AAP Image/Tony McDonough

On Wednesday, in part one of this two part look at the A-League players to watch at each club this season, I picked out a mix of youth and experience, local and foreign, from Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Gold Coast United and Melbourne Heart.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/07/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-part-2/feed/ 8 A-League season 7 players to watch (Part 1) http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/05/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/05/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:36:19 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=51936 With the much-anticipated seventh season of the A-League launched yesterday, somewhat overshadowed by the sensational sacking of Newcastle Jets manager Branko Culina a short time later, excitement and awareness is reaching fever-pitch ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster triple header. In the first of a two part series identifying the players to keep an eye on at [...]

Article link: A-League season 7 players to watch (Part 1). Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Adelaide United's Zenon Caravella tackles Melbourne Victory's Harry Kewell. AAP Image/James Elsby

Adelaide United's Zenon Caravella tackles Melbourne Victory's Harry Kewell. AAP Image/James Elsby

With the much-anticipated seventh season of the A-League launched yesterday, somewhat overshadowed by the sensational sacking of Newcastle Jets manager Branko Culina a short time later, excitement and awareness is reaching fever-pitch ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster triple header.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/05/a-league-season-7-players-to-watch-%e2%80%93-part-1/feed/ 10 Adelaide United to come out on top of cracking Season 7 http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/28/adelaide-united-to-come-out-on-top-of-a-cracking-season-7/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/28/adelaide-united-to-come-out-on-top-of-a-cracking-season-7/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:00:33 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=51504 With the news yesterday that star recruits Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton will both be available for the opening night of the season in 10 days time, the A-League’s seventh season is all set to kick-off with a bang. The season, being touted as the biggest and most exciting yet, under the well-entrenched We Are [...]

Article link: Adelaide United to come out on top of cracking Season 7. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Melbourne Victory's Ney Fabiano is challenged by Adelaide United's Sasa Ognenovski and Paul Reid. AAP Image/Joe Castro

Melbourne Victory's Ney Fabiano is challenged by Adelaide United's Sasa Ognenovski and Paul Reid. AAP Image/Joe Castro

With the news yesterday that star recruits Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton will both be available for the opening night of the season in 10 days time, the A-League’s seventh season is all set to kick-off with a bang.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/28/adelaide-united-to-come-out-on-top-of-a-cracking-season-7/feed/ 104 Rusty Olyroos fortunate to draw against impressive UAE http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/22/rusty-olyroos-fortunate-to-draw-against-uae/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/22/rusty-olyroos-fortunate-to-draw-against-uae/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:29:57 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=51060 If Aurelio Vidmar and his Olyroos needed a reminder of just how difficult a job it will be to get to the London Olympics next year, then last night’s scoreless draw with the United Arab Emirates at Hindmarsh Stadium will surely have provided that. With only the top team in a group also containing Iraq [...]

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Olyroos draw with UAE

The Olyroos' Oliver Bozanic (right) is tackled UAE's Amer Abdulrahman (left) in the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics (AAP Image/James Elsby)

If Aurelio Vidmar and his Olyroos needed a reminder of just how difficult a job it will be to get to the London Olympics next year, then last night’s scoreless draw with the United Arab Emirates at Hindmarsh Stadium will surely have provided that.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/22/rusty-olyroos-fortunate-to-draw-against-uae/feed/ 50 How Emerton can fit into Lavicka’s 4-4-2 diamond http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/21/how-emerton-can-fit-into-lavicka%e2%80%99s-4-4-2-diamond/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/21/how-emerton-can-fit-into-lavicka%e2%80%99s-4-4-2-diamond/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:29:56 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=51003 Brett Emerton and Vitezslav Lavicka were non-committal when I asked them about their positional preferences for Sydney’s A-League season opener on Monday. But it is a question worth discussing: just where is Sydney FC’s marquee player best used by Lavicka? The Czech manager, keeping his cards close to his chest, refused to say too much [...]

Article link: How Emerton can fit into Lavicka’s 4-4-2 diamond. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Brett EmertonBrett Emerton and Vitezslav Lavicka were non-committal when I asked them about their positional preferences for Sydney’s A-League season opener on Monday.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/21/how-emerton-can-fit-into-lavicka%e2%80%99s-4-4-2-diamond/feed/ 50 Emerton and Kewell needed in A-League kick-off, not Socceroos warm up http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/14/saving-emerton-and-kewell-for-the-a-league-opener-won%e2%80%99t-hurt-the-socceroos/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/14/saving-emerton-and-kewell-for-the-a-league-opener-won%e2%80%99t-hurt-the-socceroos/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:28:57 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=50415 When the Socceroos take the field against Malaysia in Canberra on October 7, in a warm-up game ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Oman a few days later, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell should be left to watch it from the comfort of their accommodation in Melbourne. With the A-League set to kick-off 24 [...]

Article link: Emerton and Kewell needed in A-League kick-off, not Socceroos warm up. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Harry Kewell

Harry Kewell shouts during his AFC Asian Cup group C soccer match against South Korea at Al Gharafa Stadium (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

When the Socceroos take the field against Malaysia in Canberra on October 7, in a warm-up game ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Oman a few days later, Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell should be left to watch it from the comfort of their accommodation in Melbourne.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/14/saving-emerton-and-kewell-for-the-a-league-opener-won%e2%80%99t-hurt-the-socceroos/feed/ 44 Socceroos handle the heat, in more ways than one http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/07/socceroos-handle-the-heat-in-more-ways-than-one-2/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/07/socceroos-handle-the-heat-in-more-ways-than-one-2/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:56:00 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=49862 Confronted with some very trying conditions after a long haul to Dammam and extreme temperatures when they got there, the Socceroos showed the strength of their mentality, coming up with both the game-plan and performance to come away with a resounding 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia. It is a victory that takes them to maximum [...]

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Josh Kennedy scores for the Socceroos

Australia's player Joshva Kennedy, center, scores his second goal against Saudi Arabia's player Osama Hawsawi, left, and Saud Kariri during their 2014 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying soccer match at the Prince Muhammad bin Fahd Stadium in the eastern port city of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Confronted with some very trying conditions after a long haul to Dammam and extreme temperatures when they got there, the Socceroos showed the strength of their mentality, coming up with both the game-plan and performance to come away with a resounding 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/07/socceroos-handle-the-heat-in-more-ways-than-one-2/feed/ 84 Socceroos given a scare by unlucky Thailand http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/03/socceroos-given-an-almighty-scare-by-unlucky-thailand/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/03/socceroos-given-an-almighty-scare-by-unlucky-thailand/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:01:54 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=49585 Job done, if not done quite to plan. The Socceroos received the fright of their lives last night at the Suncorp Stadium against a wonderfully organised, motivated and unfortunate Thailand, ultimately winning 2-1 thanks to a very late winner from substitute Alex Brosque. In terms of kicking-off their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup, [...]

Article link: Socceroos given a scare by unlucky Thailand. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Soceroos captain Lucas NeillJob done, if not done quite to plan. The Socceroos received the fright of their lives last night at the Suncorp Stadium against a wonderfully organised, motivated and unfortunate Thailand, ultimately winning 2-1 thanks to a very late winner from substitute Alex Brosque.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/09/03/socceroos-given-an-almighty-scare-by-unlucky-thailand/feed/ 69 Will Pim’s Accumulators transform into Holger’s Entertainers? http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/31/will-pims-accumulators-transform-into-holgers-entertainers/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/31/will-pims-accumulators-transform-into-holgers-entertainers/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:26:21 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=49396 As the Socceroos embark on the qualifying campaign for what is hoped will be Australia’s third consecutive World Cup in 2014, the hope is they will do it not only through the accumulation of points, but through style which demonstrates that the team is moving forward. While the ultimate objective for Holger Osieck will be [...]

Article link: Will Pim’s Accumulators transform into Holger’s Entertainers?. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

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Socceroos at training

Australia's head coach Holger Osieck, second left, talks to his players during a training session. AP Photo/Martin Meissner

As the Socceroos embark on the qualifying campaign for what is hoped will be Australia’s third consecutive World Cup in 2014, the hope is they will do it not only through the accumulation of points, but through style which demonstrates that the team is moving forward.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/31/will-pims-accumulators-transform-into-holgers-entertainers/feed/ 66 Emerton’s return to Sydney a further A-League coup http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/25/emertons-returns-to-sydney-a-coup-for-the-a-league/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/25/emertons-returns-to-sydney-a-coup-for-the-a-league/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:47:39 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=49001 Irrespective of where Vitezslav Lavicka eventually uses Brett Emerton, the expected signing for Sydney FC is another significant step ahead of season seven of the A-League, now just 44 days away. Coming hot on the heels of Harry Kewell’s unveiling by Melbourne Victory on the weekend, Emerton’s return home is yet another big tick for [...]

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Socceroos Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton

Socceroos Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton - both now in the A-League (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Irrespective of where Vitezslav Lavicka eventually uses Brett Emerton, the expected signing for Sydney FC is another significant step ahead of season seven of the A-League, now just 44 days away.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/25/emertons-returns-to-sydney-a-coup-for-the-a-league/feed/ 38 Kewell’s signing gives A-League a chance to rebuild http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/24/kewells-signing-gives-a-league-a-chance-to-build-again/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/24/kewells-signing-gives-a-league-a-chance-to-build-again/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:30:31 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=48913 As the momentum builds towards the start of the seventh A-League season, which kicks-off with a mouth-watering triple header on Saturday, October 8, it’s perhaps pertinent to take a step back and revisit the early days of the new national competition, reflecting on a few mistakes, to ensure they aren’t repeated. To start, there’s an [...]

Article link: Kewell’s signing gives A-League a chance to rebuild. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> As the momentum builds towards the start of the seventh A-League season, which kicks-off with a mouth-watering triple header on Saturday, October 8, it’s perhaps pertinent to take a step back and revisit the early days of the new national competition, reflecting on a few mistakes, to ensure they aren’t repeated.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/24/kewells-signing-gives-a-league-a-chance-to-build-again/feed/ 39 It’s all in the dynamics of the formation http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/17/its-all-in-the-dynamics-of-the-formation/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/17/its-all-in-the-dynamics-of-the-formation/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:05:03 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=48561 Over the weekend, as the English Premier League took off for another season, England’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper featured an insightful tactical yarn looking into Andre Villas-Boas’ philosophy. It’s a piece of football literature that should be an essential resource at any management course, cut up and discussed in absolute detail. In it, the new [...]

Article link: It’s all in the dynamics of the formation. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Over the weekend, as the English Premier League took off for another season, England’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper featured an insightful tactical yarn looking into Andre Villas-Boas’ philosophy.

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]]> http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/17/its-all-in-the-dynamics-of-the-formation/feed/ 25 Can Swansea go into EPL and win over all? http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/10/can-swans-go-into-epl-and-win-over-all/ http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/10/can-swans-go-into-epl-and-win-over-all/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:24:05 +0000 Tony Tannous http://www.theroar.com.au/?p=48145 Aside from the Brisbane Roar’s local brand of pass-and-move and a brief Liverpool renaissance under Kenny Dalglish, one of this correspondent’s most enjoyable periods of the most recent club season was watching Swansea City’s eye-catching run through the English Championship play-offs in May. The fact their flowing brand of 4-3-3 helped them romp through the [...]

Article link: Can Swansea go into EPL and win over all?. Written by , on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

]]> Swansea CityAside from the Brisbane Roar’s local brand of pass-and-move and a brief Liverpool renaissance under Kenny Dalglish, one of this correspondent’s most enjoyable periods of the most recent club season was watching Swansea City’s eye-catching run through the English Championship play-offs in May.

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