Socceroos to be without Kennedy for Cup

"Dont tell me youre one of those people who thinks Nagoya is in Korea. (‘?’)" No I'm one of those people who think a 45min flight is shorter than 10hrs. Can't really be bothered responding to the rest, it's just too arrogant, rude and patronising. Enjoy the tournament, hope it goes well for you guys.

Sorry, that should have been a reply to Titus, above. Anyway, lest you think Kennedy was a "special" case and that J.League clubs are "discriminating" against Australia, Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki was pulled from the squad before it left Japan, at Kashima's request, because trainers said he was showing signs of fatigue after the four games in a row, and they wanted him to get a rest. It wasnt even a question of feigning injury. Kashima just informed the JFA (36 hours before their first EAFC Cup match) that their player needed a rest so they had decided to pull him out. http://www.sanspo.com/soccer/news/20130719/jpn13071911550005-n1.html This is the NORM for the EAFC tournament. For Australia to THREATEN TO PULL OUT because a club didnt release one player - when clearly clubs are accustomed to doing exactly the same thing even where Japan NT players are involved - is a dummy spit of truly spoiled brat proportions

"It was a good chance for Kennedy, who is already there" Already where? Dont tell me youre one of those people who thinks Nagoya is in Korea. ('?') Grampus just finished playing four matches in 11 days. if Kennedy had gone to Korea that would have made it seven matches in 17 days (and that doesnt even consider travel time)! Even for a young guy who isnt carrying injuries this season, that would be a challenge. More importantly though, Nagoya "let it be known" ahead of time that they werent going to release players for the EAFC. Apparently that was enough of a hint for Japan not to call either Tulio or Jungo Fujimoto. Why did Holger feel the need to call Kennedy DESPITE the fact that he had been told unofficially weeks ago that it wasnt going to happen? Does he think that forcing an issue like this onto the front pages is the best way to build better relationships with the other teams and FAs in Asia? And more importantly, what on earth is he doing talking to Stojkovic about the matter? Evenh if Pixy WASNT one thin thread away from getting axed, this is the sort of issue on which the coach has virtually no say in the matter. Does the concept of "proper channels" really mean that little to the Aussie Federation? From what Ive heard, the Grampus head office was so furious that they asked the JFA to send a formal letter to FFA informing them that Holger ignored proper protocol, and asking the FFA to formally apologise!!! (Yes. I agree, thats an overreaction. But even so, dodging proper channels is not appropriate behaviour, even outside of Asia). Is this really the way that you folks intend to build friendly ties and improve your standing in the region?

Holger DID pick a young side, leaving out most regulars. It was a good chance for Kennedy, who is already there, to get a bit of game time with the Roos after a lack of.

"However other J-League clubs have released players for the tournament, including all 23 members of the Japanese national team." This is a literally accurate statement but one that does violence to the truth. It seems that Holger - and much of the Aussie press as well - didnt get the memo explaining what this tournament is about. One thing that it is NOT about is exposing the most valuable players for NT or club to potential bodily harm. J.League clubs may have released all the players called to the EAFC, but that is because Zaccheroni was told in advance who he was not supposed to call (ie. actual NT regulars like Endo, Konno, Nakamura or Maeda, as well as older players like Nakazawa or Tulio). The EAFC serves two purposes: it allows Japan and Korea to give young, untried players a chance to prove themselves, and it allows China an opportunity to cause physical mayhem and work off some of the angst they feel for being treated as second-class in the continent where they view themselves as the Big Fish. Kennedy is over 30, has had injury problems for most of the year, and is not in any condition to deal with something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVL45uWO-R0&list=TLTHjwo8KnI9E That is pretty typical of what you see in the EAFC (at least from China). Not the sort of "competition" you want to subject your most valuable players to, regardless of who you are. Nagoya (who are facing a possible relegation battle this year) is even more cautious than most other clubs. Of course they are not going to release Kennedy for something like that. They "prearranged" the decision by Japan not to call Tulio, as well. Indeed, Nagoya were left out of the "available" talent pool altogether for this tournament, so they could focus on hosting Arsenal instead (not a single Nagoya player got called up . . . . well, apart from Kennedy who wasnt released). This is once again a case of Australia failing to ask (and apparently not interested in knowing?) how things are done in Asia, and then getting angry when they find out that they cant do things THEIR WAY. Just a small amount of research and attempts to find out the ground rules would have prevented this "problem" from happening in the first place

Stinks a little but at least, and unlike some other players, he is getting first team games still and it means Holger has to try someone and or something different.