Yes I did hear about this – interesting though, he spent a chunk of his youth in the UK and thought he’d be quite comfortable there

I knew you’d point that out as soon as I hit post 😛 To be fair a goal and two assists and I feel like he’s won a fair few penalties in his short career too. But I take the point.

Yep I’ve heard the same re Madanha. Hopefully sees a bit more game time next season – he scored a ripper in NPL last weekend.

Personally I hate the Murray’s coach but if you make it here I’ll buy you a beer 🙂

Unrelated – Indonesia knock South Korea out of u23 Asian Cup – first time SK haven’t qualified since the 80s.

That Asia gap is closing fast…

Best young fullback…? Farrell by a mile.
Yeah where has Barnett been? I remember he was showing real promise at the back end of last year.
I’ve seen a lot of angst amongst ADL supporters re the sale of Bovalina (too small, no replacements etc) – what are your thoughts on Madanha? Thought he was another that showed something earlier in the season.

Never been a good tipper – as usual I want to see the young stars keep performing and finish the season strong and some good crowds to boot. Not much to ask ????
It’s been a good season Grem. Hoping I will be able to jump off the bandwagon, support a team in CBR and actually be able to attend some matches.

Hoping that the one-off investment by ACT gov is signifying that there is some buyer interest – and this funding will just tie CU over until then.

Although wishful thinking with A leagues is a dangerous thing lol

I assume the APL are worried that with scrutiny comes disinterest from investors but I’d argue that their current approach has now burnt the investors that did throw money in.
As an aside Simon Hill is a national bloody treasure and I find myself vehemently nodding with almost everything he says on a Tues night. Particularly about football journalism and their role in keeping governing bodies to account.
I also wonder how/when the PFA step in and advocate for their players operating in what cannot be a stable environment and a lack of transparency.

Yeah the writing was on the wall halfway through the Indonesia game.

Like SS, I thought this squad was good enough to get through the group – i rate most of the players – but acknowledge we had several key ones miss out.

It really, really is time for the average football fan to learn that Asia is improving so much faster than probably any other continent. Can excuse the general sports fans not knowing and thinking this is a compete abject failure – which it is – but we have to acknowledge that these countries are getting better and are learning how to compete. I don’t really think we are getting worse year on year.

I also would be interested in a comparison of match minutes of the current Olyroos compared to Paris Olyroos – just as an indication.

SS – we conceded one goal in 3 games. I’d argue that scoring was probably the bigger problem.
I acknowledge that defensive mistakes happened and weren’t punished but we also had a bunch of chances that we didn’t put away (even the commentator was lamenting our luck last night).
Although I agree I don’t think Nestor makes much difference. We need to stop thinking of him as the lord and saviour of all things Australian football (why do we do this to every new prodigy???).
I thought the current group would have been good enough to get through on their own, and they did seem to dominate most of their matches.

Why don’t we just skip straight to a Premier League all-stars vs Wellington Phoenix match?

? to be fair the A league is already heavily reliant on u23s.
And I tend to disagree that it doesn’t have the same excitement. If people were behind it (like you say) and supported it and lived it and breathed it and attended it – full stadiums, etc etc – every game would be brilliant.
Although I acknowledge we won’t and shouldn’t have pro/rel for a while.
The obvious drop in quality compared to the prem would not matter because the product would still be exciting, drama-filled and a great atmosphere. Players would play harder as well. Friday nights at Coopers for me is the best example of a league that could be. The sport creates that, more so than the quality of the comp. There has to be fan emotional investment in it.
My main problem with eurosnobs is that they have absolutely no reason (in my humble opinion) to be so attached to their European clubs compared to their local pro-team. That’s it. Follow them if you like, but just as country > club football, it should also be local football > international football. Where do people think Socceroos and Matildas come from, overwhelmingly?
I’ve said this before, it’s self-fulfilling. When/If people see it as a league worth supporting/attending, the product will improve and it lead to it being a better supported/attended league with improved outputs. One won’t happen without the other.
But I am just a purist with a passion for the underdog Aussie game, and I acknowledge not everyone is like me and wants to watch the best of the best and enjoys insulting the local league more than they enjoy talking about the benefits of it.

Following football: Yes – I was 10 in 2005 though, and I don’t think I had fully transitioned my love for playing to my love of the sport in general (this is where I think a lot of those high football participation stats come from). I never had a heap of encouragement from my parents to attend live sport, the odd AFL match and A league match with no significant interest in the early days.
My first football love was Newcastle United (now has fallen off a cliff for me now after the takeover). Compare this to my older brother, whose first love was Fulham and he still has that same passion – and that hasn’t transitioned to the A league.
I only really started following the A league when I was about 16, and by then I saw my peers who were Victory fans and decided I have no interest in that hooliganism really. Not that I don’t love chanting and cheering etc – in Russia 2018 was up there with the best of them – but to me (and I stress this is my opinion) – it still felt… unsafe isn’t the right word – overzealous for the sake of being overzealous? Maybe that’s the mainstream media upbringing talking or because I never felt the tribal passion for the club.
Then City came along and similar to my declining interest in Newcastle I had no interest in them either.
So TL:DR I think a combination of; I wasn’t quite mature enough/not the right people around me to garner that interest.
Bloody well love it now though – but my passion is specifically Socceroos so I am interested in the A leagues from an Aussie development for the NT POV.
Thanks for coming to my ted talk :p

and contempt that was completely irrelevant to the thread of discussion

Always seems to come down to money in this league so I am assuming that

Yes I think that is a major concern with City – it’s always been that. But I don’t know if there is as tribal a rivalry between parts of Melb as there is in Syd. I think they will always be a ‘not Victory’ club now.

But I think if there was a team out east and it was branded it as such (please don’t call it Eastern United) – I think there could be a bit of a cult following. Don’t know if City is the right club to do that now – but also we are a long way off a 4th team in Melb, i hope.

I follow the A League as closely as I possibly can, but I have never felt a tie to my local club. Victory – no thanks, City – Absolutely not, Western – barely deserved a spot in the comp. Don’t really feel attachment to any of them

If Team 11 had their bid successful, I would have supported them (I am from out that way originally). Likewise if CBR get this fabled A league team, now that I live here, I will 110% back them in – was a member of CU this year.

In saying that I am a rare breed who follows regardless of not being attached to a club. Mariners and Adelaide have always been my favourites has they have represent the way things could be run in smaller cities – with the right sized stadium, promoting youth, strong local support etc.

What a helpful comment SS thanks for that contribution 👍

felt like Quinn was used as a bit of a marketing ploy by Brisbane but it’s good to see him impress.

Yes I understand – it is a tricky situation. It’s always club over country for me – but it seems pointless to stand down players when squads are already relatively small in the A League, but also same token unfair for players to be around for some teams but others not around for other teams.

It’s great that our Olyroos are full of some A League talent though.

Whatever the solution I feel bad for Irankunda who is probably sick of being talked about and around.

I guess I have absolutely no skin in the game given I don’t follow a specific team – I acknowledge it’s shit for the teams that get called up, but I thought this was a bit ridiculous to complain – surely it is up to players to decide whether they go or not?

And the rules you quote – are they actually rules? and was Irankunda officially asked to join? Doesn’t sound like he was.

Have just read this on Millwood SS, given your recent comment. Looks interesting – let’s hope he’s now at least on the radar

Some interesting names, I really hope Jovanovic commits to Aus, I think he’s excellent

Thanks SS. No need to discuss Nestor, a bit over everyone wanting to talk about this kid as well
AP is a good case in point and agree a conversation probably should have happened with Arnie if it didn’t.
Davidson I also reckon is age related (not that I think it matters when you have good up and coming left backs – pick Davidson to support them, esp given Behich is not available).

Nah disagree.
Who’s the ‘has been Scotsman’? Burgess who grew up in Perth? Souttar who started playing for the Socceroos at 19? Only one I agree with is Gethin Jones.
I think it’s about managing a delicate situation where we have high potential players breaking into their club squads (Circati, Robertson) – pulling them away to likely not play as much as they would at club level. We’ve seen time and time again the issue of taking players away from clubs for internationals – Kewell, Cahill, Schwarzer etc were all given a hard time.
It’s strange that people think they know exactly what Arnold does, when he clearly has a good relationship with all of these players and is likely in constant communication and interviews with both players and him indicate exactly that.
Also if Robertson/Circati are both good enough to play for England/Italy it would make their lives so much easier, so you also cannot blame them for having second thoughts from that aspect either. I would say if SS had any examples of that, I’d hazard I guess that this would be the reason; not personal complains about Arnie but happy to be proven wrong (somehow)
Arnold is not a perfect manager but too many people find blame with him for everything to do with the NT

…Name one young player who Arnold has turned away from the National Team? I’ll give you Langerak, but he’s not young.
If you’re insinuating Irankunda is now going to play for Burundi… lol.
Volpato has chosen to not be selected. Circati, Robertson released/injured respectivelly.
Who are these quality young Australians who have decided to play for other countries?