Roar Pro
Joined February 2017
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With a background in TV media and football administration, I choose to live and breathe everything sport.
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Ferrari - with its current structure, team bosses, strategists and drivers - will never be in the position to win a Formula One world…
There was once a belief that to measure the success of Australian football, one had to look at how many Australians were playing in…
There is something deeply wrong with the way the administrators are managing the Australian Test cricket side. From the CEO to the selectors to…
Is there a more polarising figure in Australian football than Besart Berisha? Love him or loathe him, there is no denying that he is…
The fans want it. The FFA wants it. Ange Postecoglou wants it. A-League expansion has been on the lips of many in and around…
Its a good idea. I’m a bit concerned by the required size of budgets but the idea is good.
Promotion and relegation in the A-League could soon be a reality
Having watched it a few times, I can see how Berisha just wanted to stop the contact the ref was making with him. The ref held on for far too long, at which point Berisha just wanted to get on with it. As much as I hate the guy and would have loved to have seen a long ban, it certainly wasn’t a malicious incident. It was less of a push, and more of a “stop holding me for an extended period of time”.
Still deserved a ban, you don’t just touch a ref and his reaction was too aggressive, but I’m happy with the ban given, it seems fair.
Is the quest to get it right killing the essence of football?
I agree with everything you wrote. Its a good enough system with a few quirks to work through. The actual decisions it makes are fine, its there for the absolute objective gamechanging howler and its been doing its job.
People who complain about VAR’s actual decisions miss the point of its existence entirely.
The complaints about speed and clarification by people inside the stadium are valid, but as they work on the technology with time that speed can become faster and they can work on that communication with the players and fans inside the stadium.
Is the quest to get it right killing the essence of football?
Kurt, I’m not a supporter of 3 at the back – I agree 4 at the back would be better on this away trip. But that is not what Ange does – and that is what we are talking about. He is stubborn, and will stick with his formation until the end. In which case, Risdon would be the logical fit for his system, because he’s pretty much the only full time right back he’s brought along.
Replacements for Leckie and Milligan only hinted at in 30-man squad
Because Leckie was being shafted into a wing-back role with a high defensive duty – which is a position closer to right back than a wide forward (which Leckie excels at club level). Risdon as a right back with a high attacking work rate would far and away suit the position better, much like how we’ve been using Behich/Gersbach on the left.
One only needs to look at the first Syria game as an example – when Risdon was on the pitch, we were easily winning and nullifying the Syrian attack, with Leckie doing well playing further forward (he was probably player of the match at this point). When Risdon came off and Leckie moved back into that deeper role, we immediately had much less possession and conceded numerous chances through our right side (ultimately culminating in the penalty Leckie gave away). The position requires a high defensive work rate to cover the vulnerable wide areas on the pitch. Ruka (a winger/striker) or Mabil (a winger) just wouldn’t suit the position naturally and would get sliced to pieces back there when needed to defend. Mabil usually plays as a winger in front of a four at the back formation for Pacos, with a right defender behind him to pick up the defensive slack. Ruka is in a similar position, playing often as a forward for Maccabi.
When you look at other clubs overseas using three at the back, these positions are often occupied by players who are suited to defensive roles. Think Kyle Walker, Bellerin. Risdon would be the logical choice to fill this position.
Replacements for Leckie and Milligan only hinted at in 30-man squad
Nemesis you should be flattered. They went to all that effort just because they disagree with an opinion on an opinion website. You must have affected them greatly haha.
Replacements for Leckie and Milligan only hinted at in 30-man squad
Settle down boys or I’ll give you all detention
Replacements for Leckie and Milligan only hinted at in 30-man squad
I wonder what poor Yoshi is doing. Does he still support Melbourne City or did he come to rue his decision?
One day I feel like I’ll bump into him in a bar, he’ll be this bearded man in the corner muttering things about Timmy Cahill.
A football fan with no team
Sydney 1, Glory 0 – Glory don’t travel well but still expect them to put up a fight
Nix 2, Brisbane 1 – Brisbane to continue their poor start to the season
Adelaide 1, City 3 – Adelaide will play like title contenders, but so will City
Jets 1, Wanderers 2 – Jets have looked impressive, but Wanderers look like genuine title winning material
CCM 0, Victory 2 – Victory to get onto the board with a win over a sloppy Central Coast
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 4
Risdon would be the logical choice. But we will probably see Kruse moved to the right and Gersbach/Behich on the left. Risdon would suit the team formation better but Ange likes to be unconventional.
Replacements for Leckie and Milligan only hinted at in 30-man squad
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Ange Postecoglou names 30-man Socceroos squad for World Cup qualifiers vs Honduras
Bit disappointed that Brillante didn’t make the cut, but otherwise its a pretty standard team and I don’t think there’s a lot to complain about. I hope Ruka doesn’t make the final squad, he added nothing in his sub appearances. Would rather see Mabil or Goodwin playing ahead of him.
Ange Postecoglou names 30-man Socceroos squad for World Cup qualifiers vs Honduras
The system is only there to decide on obvious objective errors. Things like penalty decisions (particularly when there is contact) is up to interpretation from the referee like decisions have always been done. But instances like this (where there is a clear and obvious offside that has no scope for interpretation) it is quite rightly applied. I don’t see how anyone can be angry at the decision, as it was clearly the correct one. The way it was communicated to the players and fans present though leaves a lot to be desired.
John Aloisi fumes at VAR after Roar goal denied
I think if he becomes match fit he would be a decent acquisition. But he is a long way off fit at the moment, it may take him 10 or so rounds to bring that fitness level up, because its certainly holding him back.
John Aloisi fumes at VAR after Roar goal denied
Fahid has been awful. His level of fitness is the lowest I’ve ever seen for a professional footballer, the guy is absolutely spent by half time and can barely break into a jog. I feel like he hasn’t had enough time to get fit for the season, and really shouldn’t be playing until he is ready, or at least restricted to getting runs off the bench. This is the fault of the coaching staff.
John Aloisi fumes at VAR after Roar goal denied
I’m happy with the decisions the VAR made, it is there to overturn obvious and clear errors from the ref and his assistants, so I have no complaints in that regard and it worked as intended.
It does however need a bit of work in its presentation, as I can see the frustration some of the home fans (and players) felt. Perhaps a system like in cricket when they do a DRS review and you can hear the third umpires decision making process with a mic would be a nice idea.
John Aloisi fumes at VAR after Roar goal denied
Adelaide 1 Victory 0 – I’m thinking Adelaide could show that they could be a real force this year
City 2 – Nix 0 – City should comfortably walk over Wellington
Sydney 0 Wanderers 0 – A scoreless draw in the derby, with Wanderers looking very threatening but Sydney repelling them
Roar 1 Jets 0 – Roar to bounce back, though Jets will pepper the goal later in the game
Glory 3 Mariners 0 – Glory to look good at home, Mariners will play nice football with no end product.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 3
As a Sydney FC fan, I must grudgingly admit I would love to have him on board. He’s the perfect fit for any system – he has great defensive work rate, has more than enough skill to beat a man, and has that poachers eye for goal. He’s a defensive forward, poacher and target man all rolled into one.
Will anyone usurp Besart Berisha as the A-League’s top goal scorer?
It will be hard for a player to top Berisha. Local players who score lots (ie Maclaren) inevitably end up moving overseas. Foreign imports are usually at the back end of their career and don’t last long enough. You either need a local player to stay in the A-league (unlikely) or a younger foreign import who also wants to stay (there haven’t been many).
I think it would be a good sign for the A-league when Berisha’s record gets toppled. And if its a local player, it means that they are being paid enough to not warrant a move overseas.
Will anyone usurp Besart Berisha as the A-League’s top goal scorer?
Could this be the big Kamau break out season?
Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory: A-League highlights, live scores, blog
You know how I badmouthed Hoole’s vision earlier? Let me eat my humble pie
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog
Hoole is such a frustrating player to watch. Can do some really good things with the ball, but has absolutely no vision and seems so often to play the wrong pass. Mariners overall looking really good this week, much improved.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog
Why didn’t they sub Fahid off? He’s been dead on his feet since the 60th minute and added so very little movement and slowed down play. Seems like a tactical blunder to me.
Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United: A-League highlights, live scores, blog
WOW! Aloisi is speechless
Brisbane Roar vs Adelaide United: A-League highlights, live scores, blog
Adding a second division doesn’t necessarily mean we need to add relegation straight away. The clubs having licenses until 2034 potentially scuppers that anyway (depending on the actual contracts which are not privy to the public).
Instead, we can use the second division as a proving ground for potential expansion teams – so promotion can be possible but done on a case by case basis. I wrote an article on that on here some time ago, I stick by my idea.
A model for promotion and relegation in the A-League