The Roar’s most senior and respected football contributor Mike Tuckerman hit the proverbial nail on the head in his Monday column.
Saturday the 26th of October could not be set up more tastily or competitively for either the A-League or Sydney’s two clubs. Everything about Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers creates tension and a contrast.
One club foundational, the other a necessary effort at sprawling expansion. The Sky Blues rooted in the Ritz and glamour of Sydney’s beach side culture, the Wanderers hailing from the Wild West. Even the colours draw lines of delineation with Liberal blue juxtaposed against Labor red.
Finally, after just one Wanderers win in the last 17 incarnations of the derby, this coming Saturday’s encounter feels just the way it should – the way it used to. With both teams perfect thus far in season 2019-20, it stands to be something special, especially considering the venue.
Sydney FC striker Caitlin Foord will not be watching, no doubt preferring to view the rugby league Test between Great Britain and Tonga from Hamilton. Her recent admission that football can be ‘boring’ and her preference for the gladiatorial game, may well see her sit this one out.
She may be one of the very few not salivating at the idea of Sydney and Western Sydney, both in top form, going head to head.
Caitlin Foord. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
At least Caitlin, as unproductive as her recent comments may have been to many football fans, was able to articulate them in a relatively clear and lucid manner. No such luck for Archie Thompson.
A-League fans tuning in to host broadcaster Fox Sports are not enjoying the childish and embarrassing efforts of the former Socceroo, as he attempts to take on an expanded role behind the microphone.
The 40-year-old owns 90 A-League goals and 28 successful conversions for the national team and his football achievements will live eternally in the annals of the domestic game.
However, the battles he is currently experiencing in attempting to provide analysis, commentary and colour to A-League broadcasts is bordering on being nothing other than insulting to Foxtel subscribers.
Thompson was in ripping form on Sunday afternoon in the pre-game lead up to the AAMI Park clash between Melbourne City and Adelaide United. Charged with interviewing Red’s speedster Nikola Mileusnic, the Melbourne Victory legend had his wires well and truly crossed; addressing Mileusnic as Nikolai.
He was also hesitant when asked for some pre-game analysis, just as the ground staff at AAMI Park activated the irrigation system prior to kick-off.
Obviously ruffled, Thompson stated he was a little concerned about getting wet and that he “was trying to avoid the sprinters”. I think he meant sprinklers, but with Archie it is sometimes a little difficult to be sure.
Archie Thompson playing for Melbourne Victory in May 2016. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Often playing the role of class clown in Fox Sports’ coverage of matches and associated football programs, Thompson’s consistent gaffes have been generally tolerated in the past. However, now given the task of engaging directly with players and flying solo in pre-match crosses demanding analysis and insight, he is flailing badly.
His absurd question to promising young Melbourne City midfielder Connor Metcalfe capped off a sad afternoon for Thompson. He actually asked the 19-year-old why it was important that new manager Erick Mombaerts have faith and trust in him.
Quite stunned and rather astutely the mature youngster replied cleverly, suggesting it was very important otherwise he, “wouldn’t be playing”.
Seems pretty logical to me. Perhaps a question about the young man’s role in the midfield, combinations or forcing his way into what is a talented City team might have been more insightful.
Instead, Archie went with the inane.
Suffering from no such hesitation or apprehension, Matt Simon was awarded his 50th A-League yellow card on Saturday night in the F3 Derby at Central Coast Stadium.
Social media went bananas in a comically sentimental nod to the Mariners veteran after he ran across the back of an opponent in the second half. After years of tough and uncompromising play, Simon shows little sign of slowing down.
The 33-year-old has managed seven goals from 22 A-League appearance since his return to Gosford in 2018 and was spitting, swearing and contesting with the best of them in the controversial encounter between two old foes.
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but for those able to see the lighter side of football, Simon is great entertainment value; something that we always need to remember, lies at the very heart of the game we all love.
That potential for entertainment will be showcased this coming Saturday in the biggest A-League clash of the season to date.
Just as Simon keeps us on the edge of our seats, so too will the Derby and if Fox Sports manage to keep Archie Thompson away from the microphone we might all be able to enjoy it.
Everydayjoe
Guest
The sad part is, he was playing in the Spanish 7th division just a few weeks ago and decided he was a better commentator than a 7th division footballer. ????
Stuart Thomas
Expert
A crash course required.
Hermes
Guest
The children of those South American and European immigrants became accountants, lawyers, teachers and builders. Essentially, they became middle class and everything associated with it. Those children themselves had children which are now caught up in many school and non-school related activities. In my day, we were just given a football to play with. Additionally, given Australia's skilled migration program most newcomers are also well-educated and not the mostly lumpen proletariat and rural peasant class that migrated here in the 50's and 60's. Therefore, we will never have another generation like the one referred to above. Unless Australia opens its borders and allows half a million African migrants into Australia with no work or educational criteria.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It might depend on what they want from Thompson and where his style best fits (which might not be pitch-side interviews, but sideline commentary and panel shows). I assume Thompson had media training as a player, or could maybe do with a little course on this?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Imagine working at say Apple in a fairly prominent position and going on record as saying you find Apple products boring and you prefer Samsung? It wouldn’t happen in the corporate world and it shouldn’t have happened here. Of course everyone knows people will have different preferences but if you represent one brand you do not disrespect it and promote another brand.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“Left of field” is being kind. It was down right disrespectful and damaging to the code. She should be booted from football imo.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Mid, I’m not sure what elephant in the room you are referring too tbh? The reality is our code is no longer reliant upon immigrants for a lifeblood of growth - we now have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of young men and an increasing number of young women, born here who have grown up playing and loving our code. The challenge now is to sustain their playing careers as long as they wish and/or transition them in to the next wave of volunteers, team managers and coaches. In doing so this will require “putting out to pasture” of many older men born in the 60’s and 70’s There is only opportunity at the moment.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Foord does her profession and fellow professionals a disservice though. I think we can all agree that no one has the single view on what is “entertaining” and what isn’t - we all like, laugh at, and enjoy different types of content. So Foord isn’t “saying it how it is” there’ll be plenty of people who both agree and disagree with her point of view. But the reality is she has disrespected the code that pays her wage and disrespected her fellow professionals, at least in the way this was reported (she may have been taken out of context?). At the very least she could have kept these unnecessary opinions to herself. No one wins out of such crassness.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Bozza’s too narrow in his analysis for me. But he’s clearly comfortable in front of the camera and if they could get him out and about and engaging all clubs (not just the two Sydney sides) his output would improve significantly imo.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Haha :thumbup: I’m sure the audio can be edited later if not on a 10 second delay in case you lose it :silly: Makes you wonder why not a live audio blog on the Roar between two fans of the teams playing ;-) Who knows, it might be preferred over Slater and co.
Paul2
Guest
Yes, to think that a female player thought herself entitled to give an honest answer like that. Outrageous. There really should be a male FFA official on hand to provide guidance in these cases. Seriously, though, who cares if she prefers watching rugby league to soccer? What are you worried about? That people are going to tune out of Aleague matches 'cause they heard Caitlin Foord finds them boring? As if someone's going to go, "You know, I'm really looking forward to the Sydney derby this weekend... Hang on, what's this? A professional player has just said she finds watching soccer
cambrai
Guest
I have been hearing this bit about football being' boring' for years. Of course, there are no boring games in NRL or AFL. Every single game is brilliant.! On Sunday, I am thinking SFC V Phoenix is bit boring and slow so I switched over to the RWC. I soon went back to football; all of a sudden the game looked really fast.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
He's lacks the subtlety to be misunderstood
Fadida
Roar Rookie
I think he wonders himself
Punter
Roar Rookie
Carragher articulate, can you understand him?
Punter
Roar Rookie
Did you see the Maradona doco RF, he didn't have it easy.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Maybe okay to say that she doesn't watch that much football. That is quite common for elite athletes. Yet to suggest that football is or can be boring is a little left of field in my view. I'm sure some of her team mates were a little surprised and FFA might have been a little disappointed. Probably a poor choice of words and if true to heart, best left unsaid.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
There may have been a few things hampering his performance I'd guess.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Just trying to capture the week that was and the week to come Reuster. Football is boring/most anticipated match of the season thus far? Seemed an interesting comparison.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I have found Muscat excellent this year. Obviously knows the local scene and generally spot on in commentary. Don't care who he played for or managed or supported. Thompson is indefensible. Just bad.