With regards to policing of football in this country it comes from 2 things for me.
One is cultural and the other is educational.
Firstly cultural, the way authorities deal with a-league’s teams active support and how they treat them differently to the egg ball and cricket fans even though they bring in in more noise and colour to those sports the authorities expect football fans to act the same way as those egg ball codes do which doesn’t make any sense.
There also is a stigma (Yes I’ll use Mark Rudan words here) attached to football especially due to fans who come from multicultural and diverse backgrounds where football is their blood and how they show support is alot to different to the egg ball codes and I dont think the authorities get this either.
Which comes into the 2nd point which is educational, I don’t think the authorities are not educated enough about football especially around fan engagement culture like how it is overseas.
The questions I’ll ask is:
Do they try and discuss with the league officials and fan groups with regards to how the fans can express their love for their team?
Do they study football culture from overseas and understand how they operate and how they can apply it in a local level?
Without understanding the culture of fan engagement and the game itself you pretty left with the scenes on the weekend and why not much has changed in this country, I can see this as someone who saw similar scenes 10 years ago in 2015 where fans went to the pub moment and decided to protest but did it change anything? Not much it seems!
It’s a sad sight to see and I don’t blame if some of those fans want to walk away from the game completely after this.
And where does the game go from here I don’t know but im very disappointed how football the biggest game on the planet continues to get treated differently in this country.

Interesting points TheSecretScout.

Martinez is an interesting example, he might be 5’9 but he’s a very good defender and has an underrated leap im glad he can overcome that and have a great career in that position.

Do you think players with different backgrounds are under-appreciated compared to the connections from the UK or Australia for example because they work harder and maybe valued more by the coaches?
Thats one thing Australia should do is make the most of the diversity of backgrounds and playing styles as this gives us a point of difference when we compete internationally.

It has to be Messi, no player on the planet has come close to he’s greatness in the last 10 years or so.

Cristiano is a different kind of player who has achieved great things too but doesn’t have the same makeup as Messi does in what he can do in a whole game.
If he’s not scoring he’s creating, if hes not finding space he’s dribbling the whole defence, he can also take a decent free kick too…

He’s simply a genius.

Australian football needs to stop judging players based on their height or size, if the likes of Messi, Maradona, Iniesta, Bernardo Silva etc came through here they would be discarded very easily.
Football is a technical game this isnt AFL or rugby league, yes its true you need the physical engine to be equipped in the professional game but without the fundamentals you wont go far as the player likes to.
Its no wonder we lack technically when we compete especially in Asia where I’d say the majority of teams have better touch and control than our players as we saw in the Asian Cup.
I guess this is what happens when we follow the English game and egg ball codes perhaps too much that it can interfere in how we see the game whilst countries in Europe, South America and Asia etc see the game differently to us have got a got a better technical make up in their football.
In terms of Nisbet i would like to see him in the national team because he brings something different especially when we struggle to create against deep block defences, I would include Arzani as well who also has been good this season (and yes he should have scored yesterday, but he can create too which we surely lack in!)

Agree we will see how the next crop of young players will go, I’ll also add Volpato as well who is probably playing the highest level out of any Aussie player at the moment.
Just hope we can cap him as he looks quite promising.

I would say our technical level wasn’t the same with most of the teams we faced.
We struggled to combine for more than 3 passes at times, we struggled to play against deep block defences and create clear chances and our finishing was below par when it mattered the most.
You can make an argument that maybe Arnie favours physical players over the technical types but simply put we weren’t at the level with other teams technical level and we relied alot on the tactical, physical side alot more which got us a chance to compete in the first place especially at the World Cup.
Does a different coach change this? Maybe.
But for me it will only paper over the cracks which stems from a long time neglect from this issue, a coach could do so much with little preparation and coaching they normally would get at club level if the level of players are no different to the previous coach.
I think it starts at grassroots and youth level if you want true change, maybe this is the discussion that probably needs to be had going forward if the technical level is not there or not enough of it around as it can make a difference in the long term.

Whether we are mature enough to criticise whilst supporting the team you support is always an interesting debate.
You will always get two different types, the first is when people can get defensive when it gets more heated from bad results or bad football they want to shut down any discussion whilst there are others who have no problem saying what others would not say because maybe they don’t have the same emotion attachment?
Either way an interesting discussion.
In terms of the Socceroos Asian Cup campaign ive seen both sides where people get defensive whilst others are not afraid to say their piece.
Just hope we learn from this and be better for the future.
For me when I see the Socceroos who toiled hard but still look technically inept compared to most of the teams especially the ones we competed with I do question how did we get here and where is our football going if we want to compete with the very best?
What happened to the coaching curriculum imposed 15 years ago where it was supposed to improve our weaknesses especially technically and then I see the current Socceroos team it seems not much has changed in terms of this so I question why?
Whilst I say all of this I still want the Socceroos to be the very best it can become not only because they represent our the nation but they represent our football community, I just hope we don’t shut down future debate and discussion because without it you can’t expect to learn and improve into the future.

When I saw the line up and how we approached the game then I wasn’t surprised at all.
If anything Australia should have scored from the chances they had and if you don’t score you will get punished.
The penalty was the right call but when you spend alot of time defending eventually you will get tired when the other team has alot more of the ball.
Until we start to develop technically proficient players that could play at the highest level we will continue to play a style that will be reactive and limited in style because we are technically not at the level of the South Korean’s, Japanese even Iran who beat Japan are technically better than our players.
If you want to change the style you also need to change the players or develop them!
So the tactics and possession number which was 25% didnt surprise me, yes Ange had us playing possession based football but we know Ange is he’s own man and he has a strong belief in how to play the game alot different to Arnie.
Am i the biggest fan of Arnie as a coach? No.
Mainly because of he’s reactive tactical approach but also it seems he has a preference for physical players instead of the technical types which might have helped us more especially up against deep block defences which we badly lacked in this tournament.
Either way lessons can be learned for now and into the future if learned well from the findings.

Why are people get so defensive when it comes to criticism especially when any team in any sport could do further than its current level?
For me I said before the Socceroos have clear technical deficiencies so they need to make up for it on a collective level especially tactically and physically but it doesn’t mean we cant talk about how they can be better either with personnel or with tactics of course because thats normal football discussion.
If there is no discourse or discussion then it means people should stop caring which I dont think helps grow the game at all.

Of course the Asian Cup isnt easy after all its tournament football but its also ok to criticise whilst supporting your team at the same time, after all this is how mature football nations operate.
But in Australia though im not sure we are capable of doing this which is disappointing and shows lack of maturity in my opinion.

We lacked fluency because we are playing a system in possession that requires technical quality and intelligence which we don’t have or have little off in this squad.

The only player that looks effective was McGree as he wants the ball at feet and is willing to play between the lines by playing forward and create chances, the problem is the other midfield two with Irvine and Baccus who are infectious in playing the ball forward in finding players like McGree in advanced areas and also incapable of receiving the ball between the lines and caused alot of unnecessary turnovers in the process.

They missed a trick in not bringing in another technical midfielder who can help us progress the ball forward like Genreau, Robertson, Luongo (who is now retired) or even someone like Hrustic whom is always hungry in wanting the ball from almost any scenario but they are capable of doing the above things in possession which we are lacking in this tournament.

I also think they need to let the players play in their best positions or roles they feel comfortable, for example Bos is a natural left back as a winger your wasting a spot for another attacker who could bring us more technical and creative quality which we are lacking in the final third, someone like Silvera or Tilio if he was getting regular football at Celtic could do the trick.
So Bos could play more deeper when overlapping and allowing for an attacker to cut inside.

Irvine is not capable of playing more advanced, hes better off deeper when he doesnt need to progress the ball forward in most cases and focus in what hes good at which is ball winning, covering ground and showing hes experience and leaderships skills around the young ones.

If think we can go deep into the tournament but it wont be pretty or wont be the most technically proficient team out there so they have to play to their strengths which is mainly out of possession and set pieces which we have been poor so far.

It’s clear they need a shake up and yes focus on being a football league, however im just baffled they are going to expand the league by 2 teams when they having these off field issues.

Interesting strategy…

It’s so tiring being a football fan in this country, time after time I see the decision makers who mainly come marketing or big business make decisions based on commercial interests and less on the football itself and then we question why we got here (again).

They could have spent 30 million on bringing the national youth league back, cheaper ticket prices or better marketing but instead they spent on an app which had flaws early on which has turned into a failure.

Football here always seems obsessed in chasing the money and short term-ism over building the development of football in this country.
And look at us and compared to a country like Japan who started a new league with no to little football culture in the early 1990s and look where they are now? 3 national divisions with promotion and relegation, excellent youth development and national team players playing at the highest level which we would only die for.

I said it in another thread but I question why I bother sometimes because the priorities have always seem so wrong for football here…

Personally im not fan of it, I dont understand why football continues to pursue to what happens with the egg ball codes locally and not look for inspiration from overseas which works successfully in football.
Sometimes I get frustrated being a football fan in this country…
And there is nothing with the football either so why do they need to continue to reinvent the wheel?

For me you play your best team at the Asian Cup, its the only trophy Australia can realistically win at international level so you put your best foot forward and worry about the future after that.
There will be time to blood in the young generation next year with the expanded World Cup qualifiers spots and Olympic Games (providing we can qualify) next year to bring in new talent.
I also dont think there isnt a young striker knocking down the door to take a spot from an older players, in terms of older players Bruno Fornaroli is making a strong case to be selected he’s not only scoring goals but looks sharp with he’s touch and fully fit and also provides the team with a different profile from other strikers we have got.
I think we can make the semi finals and maybe win it providing if they bring the best team on the park, anything less than that it will be a let down after the incredible feat at the World Cup last year.

28K was decent but this game would usually sell out back in the day, but still ok considering where the aleague is going these days.
As for the game itself I dont think it was a great game of football, lots of long balls and second balls I get its a derby but the lack of composure on the ball was quite telling from both teams.
Feel for Kucharski, he had he’s moment to be a hero but it wasn’t he’s night, not taking away the talent that he is because he looks to have alot of promise.
Meanwhile Sapsford another former Sydney FC academy player hurts Sydney, again cant keep them all but they find a way to hurt the sky blues in a big game!
By the way after watching the game yesterday at Suncorp the pitch which didnt look great, Brisbane need to get Perry Park renovated having a football specific stadium makes a big difference.
If only we can crop up Hindmarsh Stadium’s all over the country, never a fan of multiused stadiums which egg ball codes and concerts can effect the pitch and quality of the game.

Overall it a very positive step for the sport, regardless of what people think about the model, teams, time of season etc there is no perfect way to run functional business as long as foundations are put in place then things can evolve into the future.

Its a great way in terms of uniting the sport, not fully without pro-rel but alot better than before that’s for sure.
Biggest winners for me will be the players and coaches, more opportunities to compete at a professional level can only be a good thing when it comes to building up the player and coach pool.

I also like the NPL championship at the end of the season for the NPL teams, so in way it will be a 3rd division per say? Anyway bring on the kick off in 2025, I cant wait till it starts!

I accidentally bumped into watching YouTube and I found old a-league highlights from a game featuring Sydney FC and CCM, finished 5-4 to Sydney in front of a big crowd up in Gosford way back in 2007/2008 season.

Fast forward to today and it feels like a different world in terms of what the product looks like, the football might be the same for better or worse but the crowds and atmosphere isnt the same like it used to be.
I wish we had those days back when we had great crowds but most importantly great atmospheres which you can hear from the TV screen.

For me what crushed the egg was destroying the a-league’s biggest USP which was the active fans and overall fan culture, when the league was flying everyone who I knew who wanted to go was due to the atmosphere of going to a game and the experience was great which dragged more people week by week but when they decided to over police it then I feel it turned off quite a few casuals.

Also the lack of marketing is another problem which hasn’t gone better for quite awhile, I also feel the a-league cant go on its own under the Paramount banner without another league to hold their hand like the EPL which worked well attracting football fans in watching the a-league before watching the EPL.
Also watching games at a pub are very rare now, especially that not everyone has paramount.

I fear for the future of this competition if crowds continue to dwindle because I don’t see how it could survive let along grow and prospect if the care factor continues to decline.

Meanwhile the national teams are flying and we are see a new emerging young talent which puts us in good stead for the future so the game is an interesting intersection and I don’t what this will look like for the game in this country when both spectrums seems are in opposite directions.

We could complain about time wasting and unsportsmanlike behaviour all we want but whats more alarming is Australian teams whether it be women, men or even youth continued inability to break down deep block defences.
It’s no coincidence that we mostly played on the counter at the World Cup but then they run out of energy towards the end of the tournament, because they spent alot of time running and less reliance in having the ball for longer periods of the match just so they can play on the counter.
Surely the next evolution is better with the ball so we can control games and create better goal scoring chances rather than relying on space and counter attacks all the time?

Games like on Saturday night confirm me what the potential the local game could be.
Good football
Good atmosphere
Good overseas based players
Good young players
One of my biggest frustrations is the off season continues to be so bloody long, it just holds the sport back! We need to get over the stigma of other codes like the egg ball stuff and back itself and have more games.
I would like to see the season start in August like the old days, as Arnie would say we dont play enough football in this country and imagine if we did then how good the product could further be? After all if the APL want the mens a-league to be a league to develop young players, it would not hurt be playing more games especially when overseas countries play than us no?
It would also help the players here when it comes to getting into contention for the national team and be match fit for international windows and also the clubs when it comes to competing in Asia which we know they are up against leagues when they are in-season.
The sport needs to be bold if it wants to grow further because the potential is there.

It was an mixed game for me, the good was our first half particularly McGree and Metcalfe whom I thought played well and at times combined really well but the second half we lost control of the game and conceded two unnecessary goals from both of our centre backs.

No offence when I say this but I don’t get the hysteria around Souttar, yes he played a great World Cup last year coming back from a long term injury but like any centre back he has he’s flaws mainly due to he’s height but he got caught out a few times as the Mexican’s attackers moved he’s big frame around but he should not conceded that goal especially with that height of he’s and should have attacked that header.
I wanted to see what Circati could do but again another window we missed out seeing him and showing what he can do.
Burgess was solid but Souttar he’s another big defender who you can move him around easily out of position.
They should have played a more established left back as Rowles didnt make any forward runs which meant the attack was unbalanced with no one occupying the left hand side with no width.

Silvera got only 20 minutes, again nothing against Boyle but another player who should have got more time after this is the only friendly in this window and the next one up is against England and I dont think you can do much experimentation against them!

Good to see the Olyroos have plenty of talent as well, I would like to see the Socceroos change the style of play to fit in the new wave of talent coming through but thats a discussion for another day.

Once again football gets shafted for funding, I had a feeling the politicians would use the public holiday to distract from the real issue about the lack of funding to football and use ‘women’s sport’ to fund the other sports instead.
There is the reason why the momentum has been built in the first place its from football!

Once again the politicians are falling asleep at the wheel in front of the biggest sport in the world, you would think the World Cup which has galvanised the whole country would rethink how funding is distributed especially to football which has the most participants anyway but I cant imagine how many would join a team dreaming of becoming the next Sam Kerr or Mary Fowler when the money is going to other sports instead.

Disappointing to say at least.

The game not only needs more quality facilities and changing rooms as mentioned but is also needs more qualified coaches too which probably flies under the raider by most.

Look at Spains success, u17, 20 champions too the result of investing in youth development through qualify coaching and the right football culture that promotes technique and intelligence.
Through a attractive possession based game, to playing futsal and small sided games where only short passes and dribbling is encouraged.
Alot could also go to Johan Cruyff actually when he brought this style of football when he became Barcelona head coach and reinvent Barcelona and Spanish football so to speak as well.

I think an reinvent football culture might be a bigger legacy more than anything else, after all Matildas style of football was quite limited to counter attacks and Spain and even England showed the way that possession based football is the way forward if you want to be successful on the international stage.
I still see too much kick and rush type of football even at grassroots level and with more girls and boys coming into the sport it would be a perfect time to invest in more coaching and educating the masses so to speak about the technicalities of the game and what should be encouraged at a young age.

In terms of the Tillies, its clear as daylight they look tired and needed some new fresh players but Gustafson had hes own way and credit to making the semi’s so it will be interesting to see the review done by Football Australia where they feel is needed for the team to go into the next level.

Spain were the best team, so well done to them.
To think they lost to Japan 4-0 as well is quite remarkable, they play some beautiful football in the process.
Best club team in Barcelona, U17, U20 champs and now the senior World Cup, they own women’s football it seems!

The Matildas and Socceroos are the two national teams that could bring the whole nation together, I always say this about the game here.

They are our a flag bearers and face when we compete internationally and leagues underneath them should be doing what they can in supporting and facilitating them and giving what they need for those two national teams to be successful on the world stage.

Because when they do it it helps the game and overall the country be united as one when the world is getting more divided.

I much prefer the game gets the funding it deserves over a public holiday just to score political points.

The game always gets shafted by the other codes when it comes to funding which has been very unfair, but this sport can bring alot more to the country especially on a global stage and most importantly it can bring people together in a country as diverse as ours more than anyone else (yes includes that provincial sport down in Victoria)

Now that would be the legacy from this World Cup and which we would look back as a turning point for the country.