Well, well, well, the Round of 16 Tony G. Nicely done sir.
After many of us felt sick to the pits of our stomachs during your first year at the helm of the Matildas, the ship appears to have been somewhat righted and the team is finally enjoying some success.
Credit where credit is due. After a stodgy win against Republic of Ireland and a night to forget against Nigeria, your troops were simply stunning against Olympic champions Canada and after sending that quality team to the airport, have now advanced to a knock-out encounter with Denmark next Monday evening in Sydney.
You are unquestionably an excitable man, something akin to a cross between former Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe and a 16-year-old on a school camp. At times I fear you may launch into orbit, such is the gesticulation that goes on during Matildas matches. However, right now, Australia needs you to knuckle down and think your way through the next five days.
Unfortunately, you have already made a number of blunders leading into and during the World Cup and we simply cannot afford another, before what could be a glorious night for Australian football to celebrate if we get it right.
Tony, Kyah Simon is not fit, yet appeared to have been selected as a perfect back-up for an injured Sam Kerr. When Kerr’s calf tore, and it was a tear Tony, stop being coy and suggesting otherwise, the poor decision to select Simon based on loyalty and emotion was exposed.
Sam Kerr’s injured required a ready made replacement and Gustavsson botched the call at the selection table. (Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
You were caught out.
Australians don’t really like the games mate, press conference after press conference suggesting that Kerr was a day to day proposition didn’t sit too well with many of us. The fans are stressed and letting us know how our star player actually was would have been a better approach. It all looked a little silly from afar.
What you were doing at training that caused both Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik to be knocked into the middle of next week is concerning. Tell me you were not overseeing a morale building game of dodgeball or gridiron!
I’m actually a little concerned that you may have forgotten how many players you selected in the squad. You do know there are 23 don’t you? It seems like the same 14 or 15 get minutes and the rest remain on the pine.
There are some good players in that lot Tony. Why not give one or two a run when the opportunity presents itself. I’m starting to think that the booking for the team bus that delivers them to the stadium may have been botched.
Were you after a coach and accidently booked a mini-bus instead?
If the team does suffer defeat on Monday, please don’t tell the world that they were dominant if they were not, and could have scored four goals in the final ten minutes. You did that against Nigeria, despite the Xg data suggesting otherwise.
All the way through this journey you have told us to trust the process. We have and Football Australia, despite many doubters behind closed doors, resisted the urge to make changes to the coaching staff, despite a very poor run of results in your early time at the helm.
There is something a little eccentric about Tony Gustavsson, but is he the right man for the job? (Photo by Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
In return, could you please play things with a little more of a straight bat this time around? Rather than a continuation of the spin and hype that appears to be the cornerstone of your coaching methodology, how about just admit defeat if and when it occurs and not worry about the implications for your own coaching future.
Keep wearing the scarf champ, it looks good on you and congrats on the words to the anthem, you nail them every time, and good luck on Monday night.
It is a little tough from the outside to know whether the team is performing well due to your astute decision making on the sideline, prudent selections, media savvy or on mere uninstructed talent as you stand by and watch whilst flapping your arms.
I know what I believe, but will hold back judgement until the job is done or the road comes to an end. No pressure Tony, but there is a heck of a lot riding on this.
James584
Roar Rookie
Ha, ha, yeah, you can tell I am a rugby poster. But I do love the round ball game. And, some would say that they might run the Wallabies close, at the moment.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
It makes no sense to play Kerr until and unless she is fully fit. Her game depends on her physicality getting her into positions to lay off the ball, and to score, despite defenders. She is not a super skilled ball artist who could stand pretty much in one spot and pass decisively with her ball skills stopping defenders getting the ball. [Riquelme pretty much did that even when he was fit!] The first anyone outside the team should know about when Kerr is ready to play is when she takes the field. It is only good sense to keep the opponents guessing. And personally, I support the team, not just their most prominent player. If the team wins the WWC and Sam spends the whole time recovering, then that is unlucky for her, but as I am sure she would be the first to say, it’s about the team. I have criticised Tony G here and elsewhere for many things, but he’s got this particular aspect right so far.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Makes sense..one game each day
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Texi, I wrote this in my post above. "The FA have rolled the dice on TG and like it or not, I have to believe, and I will." Of course, you are right Texi, for the good of the Matildas, and in the end yes, we have to trust Tony, and we have to believe. Btw love your work.
Texi
Roar Rookie
What I'm suggesting is that the options are 1. Trust Tony and 2. Do not trust Tony. Either way, it's not going to change anything, and if we show a little belief it will rub off on those around us. What prize do you you get for saying "I told you so" in this instance, if it all goes belly up on Monday night? Is it just to lessen the disappointment?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agree on a lot of that Sheek. Swimming and athletics are 2 other sports where I find the women as watchable.
sheek
Roar Guru
Coolncold, The Matildas have to get past Denmark, France & England (likely & presumedly in that order) to make the final. All excellent European teams. England ranked #4, France #5, Australia #10 & Denmark #13 pre-tournament. The Matildas will not want any more false steps.....
sheek
Roar Guru
Giddy Middy, Trust you are well. I'm loving this world cup also. It's one sport where the skills of the women is closest to the men. They're not as explosive as the men, obviously, but pretty awesome all the same. And much, much better looking in most cases.....
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
I'm still waiting Nick, for your proof. Care to apologise? August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Brainstrust - keep an eye on Nick - the next thing he will do is accuse you of something you didn't say or do. Still waiting for your proof Nick! Where is it? Liar! August 3rd 2023 @ 11:35am Not sure I’ve ever read a suggestion that football “should be adopted and recognized as the sole national sport at a professional level.” That would indicate insanity and stupidity if anyone said that. Para has said it nearly in that exact way, Stuart.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
It lists 3.56 pm Fri on the article, maybe it got updated. Round of 16 games on Seven Japan v Norway – Saturday, August 5 Sweden v United States – Sunday, August 6 Australia v Denmark – Monday, August 7 France v Morocco – Tuesday, August 8
Nick
Roar Rookie
The article did show which matches would be shown. Leave the conspiracies to Para.
Nick
Roar Rookie
Besides winning the whole thing, what's the pass mark for the Matildas? I would think - given some of the teams that have dropped out now - a semi final appearance should be the benchmark of success.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The SMH is reporting four of the round of sixteeen matches wont be shown. Well that means 4 will be shown. The SMH cannot even list in that article which matches are going to be shown. Is the media staging an unofficial disinformation campaign , they cant even list it on the TV guide.. James Johnson is a joke where is he underground?
TinRattler
Roar Rookie
I'm chucking a sickie tuesdee
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
"In Tony we trust. Why wouldn’t we?" Hmm, Stu has made some strong points.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Tell us how you really feel Stu! Can we have some sort of "I'll do XYZ if Tony lifts the World Cup trophy" to help frame your thoughts? In Tony we trust. Why wouldn't we?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Sheek, anything can happen in two minutes. It can take just a few seconds to move the ball from end to the other and score, and fresh legs help. It's not unusual to see 3 or more goals scored in extra time or the last few minutes. Often late subs are a time wasting plpoy, but not solely. I don't think there's any doubt the Matildas have a very high team spirit. They've been building this team for years, with several great senior leaders, very level-headed and highly regarded not just in Oz. You can imagine how easy it is for everything to go off the rails, as has happened to a few countries. They're an excellent mix of experience and youth. If Kerr and Fowler are on their game, and Gorry and Raso and Foord, we can win this, but of course, they're not always on their game. Lovin' it. Regular health checks may save your life.
At work
Roar Rookie
Interesting that Morocco has contributed the teams success down to King Mohommed's encouragement, not of course the effort and skills of the women on the pitch. Says a lot...
sheek
Roar Guru
Some interesting questions & observations there. I don’t think most fans from anywhere like a coach/manager who plays games with the truth. Okay, TG kept the Kerr injury from Ireland, not a problem. But why not come clean afterwards as to the extent of the injury? It’s been an insult with the game playing over her injury since then. And we’re supposed to have a squad deep with talent, yet no-one has come as a replacement before the 75th minute. Grant was brought on in the previous game with just 2 minutes remaining. Why would you bother? And then Grant, wrapped in overflowing enthusiasm, nearly knocked herself out with a Canadian player. Some of our girls might be getting a bit fatigued now, which isn’t good as the tournament runs deeper. Where’s the coach been managing their health. Foord has probably run a marathon each game to date. And some of the others wouldn’t be far behind. To answer the first question, perhaps the Matildas are achieving in spite of TG, not because of him. But interestingly, no-one from inside the team has bagged TG, not that it tells us much. When you want to be picked in the starting team, you’re not going to cut off your nose to spite your face, so to speak.