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The Roar

Stuart Thomas

Expert

Joined January 2015

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Stuart Thomas is a sports writer, freelance journalist and copywriter who made the jump from Roar Guru to Expert in 2017. A former trainee professional golfer, his sporting passions are broad with particular interests in football, AFL and rugby league. His love of sport is only matched by his passion for gardening and self-sustainability. Follow him on Twitter @stuartthomas72, connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn and see his work at https://www.stuartthomas.com.au

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I am fairly confident it has changed more than “a little since then.” A 7% drop from 01-11 would most likely be mirrored in the next decade. Thus a figure around 70% would be far more reasonable as an estimate.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

I apologise.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

A little disrespectful to Tajikistan methinks.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

I think you may be right pete4.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

I think the real issue and the point I am attempting to make, is the fact that there is one 1st rate league and only one. It’s elitist nature has led to the demise of Australia’s involvement in it. So-called 2nd rate leagues should be the goal for developing Australian players and some of the ‘labelled’ 3rd rate leagues will only get stronger and stronger in the next decade.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Gnasher, those stats are a bit off. According to the official UK Government site “from 2001 to 2011, the percentage of the population of England and Wales that was White British decreased from 87.4% to 80.5%”. That is only up to 2011, imagine the continued trend afterwards.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Ah…..yes.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Well that seals it then.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Yes, terrible coach. Achieved nothing since.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

And if you could quote the sentence where I stated that qualification for World Cups through Asia is a greater achievement than 2006 it would be much appreciated. Please don’t insert statements into my narrative just to serve yours.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

None taken Mitchell and you are so correct. In fact I have written about the size issue specifically in regards to Scotsman and now Australian based coach James Boyle. His son missed out for years, seen as too small, he now has a contract with Fleetwood Town International Academy. No one in Australia appeared to want him.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Not cherry-picked as a result that proves anything, more used as an example. There are, of course, a host of others such as our fight at the World Cup under Postecoglou, Asian Cup success etc.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

You make a very good point about the NSL structures, oft mistakenly claimed as the source of the GG talent. Yet as you point out, when the NSL sank, the tap would not have been shut of immediately, surely another decade or so of players from that system would have emerged. I guess such a logical conclusion does not suit the narrative of those living in NSL and English Division One football world.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

I think the point is that so called “top clubs” stretch far beyond the elite EPL and the arrowhead of football that it has become. As for the “sum of its worse performances” do you mean consistent qualification for World Cups, an Asian Cup win and the host of young boys doing brilliant things right around the globe?

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

I strongly refute the assumption that there has been an ‘obvious’ drop in quality of Australian players. Dare I suggest the Socceroos of any any era would have seriously struggled against the absolute best of the best. The opening game of the 2018 World Cup against France showed the exact opposite of what you are suggesting, far from outclassed and embarrassed, the boys showed just how far we have come. Football has changed immensely since the beginning of the Premier League when players like Slater cut the mustard. Skill wise, many contemporary players’ tool kits are far superior to that possessed by players like him, yet the competition for spots and the money in the league has made accessing it near impossible.

Anyone bemoaning the lack of Aussies in the English Premier League is missing the point

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5d

Now, before I even read this, one of the three had better be West Ham!

The three sides that can win the EPL title

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2w

Wow, where did this come from? FANTASTIC!

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

Surely that changes the pronunciation? Po or Pop?

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

Now that would sell some tickets. Are they gluten free?

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

I think Popovic may have more than one plate in his cabinet.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

What Popovic did in the inaugural Wanderers season was astonishing. How many grand finals were there? He has a few plates in his trophy cabinet as well. “Top quality” may mean “He won nothing else” to you, yet I think the brisk turnaround he achieved in Perth shows just how clever and efficient he is as an A-League manager. Never sacked after numerous seasons……..a rarity in the A-League.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

Great thoughts Mid and those that convey some of my concerns over the vested interest in the thoughts of the “golden generation” when it comes to Australian football. Good players are good players, great coaches are great coaches and quality administrators and quality administrators. Let them all play the appropriate role, crossover starts to blur vision. Why the GG should have an influential voice in football structure is beyond me. Great players all, but as we know, not all great players make good coaches or administrators.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

That is a great point Buddy. Would success in Greece really prove to Popovic that he was better than A-League standard? I shall ponder on this. You always make me think.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

I agree, both would be better off earning some stripes in Australian football before venturing to a European lower league.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w

There will be many who completely agree with your assessment. Who knows, Popovic may star in the second tier if the club is forced to play there. Yet if the boys do go there with him, the Greek fans may well ask a few uncomfortable questions.

Is three Popovics a few too many?

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2w
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