Roar Rookie
Joined May 2009
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Recently, an article was posted about the NFL draft and how, in the writer’s opinion, it was intriguing. Predictably, there was a comment stating…
Finno –
Is there a reason for Bruce Djite to regret playing for the Socceroos? It’s just the Confed Cup final. It’s not too hard to reach one of those. 😉
Dual nationality can be a double-edged sword
A draft only works in tandem with a system where young players represent their high school or college and are totally unaffiliated to the pro clubs before turning professional (e.g. gridiron and basketball in the US). With the massive youth academies that Premier League clubs are required to have … no chance.
PS: How does the AFL draft work? Are players drafted from high schools/colleges like they are in the US?
Why the EPL should introduce a draft system
The US run to the final was nice, but it will ultimately mean nothing if they bomb out in the group stages next year. Remember, even Australia have played in a Confed Cup final. The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions the words “Socceroos” and “1997” is not Harry Kewell’s golden goal winner against Uruguay in the Confed Cup semi.
Five conclusions from the Confederations Cup
The AFC hasn’t realised that they’ll have trouble filling a neutral venue for the final if there isn’t at least one Japanese team involved. It’s an astonishingly bad idea, especially when you consider the worst-case scenario:
“Welcome to tonight’s coverage of the AFC Champions League final, featuring Newcastle Jets and Bunyodkor. Officials are hoping that the crowd will reach triple figures …”
Pohang a tricky ACL opponent, says Van Egmond
“… how many Aussies do you know who pepper their postings with anecdotes about the glorious day when Scunthorpe City beat Grimsby Town 3-2 in the West Midlands windscreen repairs trophy?”
That’s ridiculous. Scunthorpe and Grimsby aren’t in the West Midlands. 😉
PS: No, I don’t have any British heritage. Honestly.
Cahill headlines prove power of media beat-ups
Maybe England deserves a WC more than Australia, maybe they don’t. It’s completely irrelevant in the context of this discussion, because one WC will go to Europe and one will go elsewhere. Therefore, Australia is not competing with England, Russia etc., but with USA, Japan, etc. for the right to host the WC that isn’t awarded to Europe.
So, having said that …
VC –
Since you don’t believe that the WC should go to Spain or the US (and following your reasoning, it shouldn’t go to Mexico, Japan or Korea either), who deserves the “non-Europe” WC ahead of Australia?
What’s that? You think both WCs should be awarded to Europe? Interesting.
How Australia will win its bid for the World Cup
The fact that Iraq could outplay Australia with their eyes closed (but as we saw in Brisbane, that doesn’t always translate into victory) but can’t beat New Zealand or Qatar suggests that they can’t find the kind of motivation necessary to perform at the top level in every game. I wonder how much of their success was down to Jorvan Vieira.
Let the All Whites enjoy their moment in the fun
Mid –
For sure. Un-Australian … and not even in the interests of her favoured sport.
Every time I see a Rebecca Wilson article there’s always a complaint about something. The negativity is by no means confined to soccer. I don’t know if my experience of her work is a fair reflection of her “journalism” though.
Cracks are showing in the Socceroos camp
“Apparently Rebecca Wilson was at it again on Sunrise calling Football in this country 3rd rate and our bid for the world cup ridiculous”
Someone needs to take Rebecca Wilson aside and quietly explain to him that, for the price of one partially disrupted season, rugby league can get a lot of its facilities upgraded. For free. Rugby league people are the last people who should be against our WC bid.
Cracks are showing in the Socceroos camp
“And don’t underestimate the Asian teams’ ability to kick out a team from their confederation. Israel, after all, are playing in the European zone.”
True, but wasn’t Israel’s invasion of all its’ neighbouring countries a factor in that? Australia is unlikely to do something similar.
Advance Australia Fair
In any case, resting Harry Kewell is better than watching him jog aroung at half-pace trying not to get injured, which is what happened against Bahrain. There was nothing to gain from playing him against Japan.
It's a shame but who cares? We're off to South Africa
Kurt –
So what you’re saying is that your post that states that it is juvenile to take anything on this site seriously was … not entirely serious. I’m an idiot. I don’t know why I didn’t see that coming. 🙂
Will AFL and NRL take a backseat to World Cup?
Lazza –
And who got the team to the point where they were good enough to be one penalty from the World Cup?
Why do most Socceroos come from one State?
The conclusion I’ve come to after reading Eamonn’s and Finno’s arguments is that successful players are either born in the first half of the year or the second half of the year. 😉
Why do most Socceroos come from one State?
Michael C –
jimbo wasn’t being serious. At least, he SHOULDN”T have been serious.
What's really holding "soccer" back?
Kantarovski actually plays with such maturity that I think when people discuss Australia’s up-and-coming talent they tend to forget him. I can imagine the discussions …
“What about the guy who plays defensive midfield for the Jets?”
“Nah, don’t be ridiculous. He’s about 27 or 28, surely?”
😉
Schwarzer named Australian footballer of the year
Ben Kantarovski made his debut against the Mariners in Round 1 last season when he was 16 (!), playing at centre back (!), and looking like he’d been playing professional football for a decade. IIRC, he’s also played on the left of midfield in addition to his customary defensive midfield position. All this from someone who was born in the 1990s. Just astonishing.
Schwarzer named Australian footballer of the year
Fantastic memories. Three years ago, Tim Cahill catapulted himself into super-stardom (in Australian terms, anyway). Of course, much credit should go to Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, whose baffling moment of goalkeeping ineptitude kick-started our glorious comeback. And Guus certainly didn’t die wondering, with Emerton and Chipperfield both finding themselves playing at centre-back as we chased the game.
The anniversary of our first World Cup triumph
Italy with 10 men defend better than most sides with 11 men.
Whether its against West Germany in 1970, Brazil in 1982, Nigeria in 1994, the Netherlands in 2000, or Australia in 2006; you gotta admit, the Italians are great at giving opposition players and fans nightmares for years.
Unless you’re Korean.
Verbeek proves he was right man for job
Really? We had trouble scoring goals at the 2006 WC when we needed to? Tell that to Japan and Croatia.
Verbeek proves he was right man for job
Agreed Hemjay. Friendly or not, I can’t see the fifth best Asian side taking the lead three times against a superpower like Italy.
All Whites' turn to shine on the world stage
I’ll agree with you das, partly because I wasn’t that close to the pitch and partly because I was continually distracted by the crowd’s attempts to start a Mexican Wave. I think I just assumed that Culina was distributing well because that’s what he usually does. And before I give the wrong impression, I think Grella’s passing ability is just as good as Culina’s.
As far as Scott McDonald is concerned, perhaps a friendly with the Philippines is in order. I qualify through my parents, so I’ll move from my natural position of withdrawn striker to centre-back just to help him out. It’ll be nice for him to play against someone his height for a change. 😉
Despite the euphoria, Socceroos remain cautious
VC –
It should be an easy three points. Just like how England should have qualified for Euro 2008.
Socceroos ready to take on football's finest
Finno –
Good points, but I can’t help thinking that there would be a lot of teams that would struggle if you took away three of their best outfield players. And TBH, most teams need another 6 world class players.
Good call on the US. I’d love to see the Socceroos play them as a point of comparison.
Socceroos sixteenth in FIFA rankings