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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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And thus Western United enter the finals in their first year of existence. The top six appears set, bar positional changes, heading into the final matches of the home-and-away season.
The Central Coast Mariners are the current whipping boys of the A-League.
Just ten matches remain in A-League home-and-away play for 2019-20 and boy has it taken some time for us to get here!
Normally by this stage of an A-League season, with just a handful of matches remaining before the semi-finals, form lines have been well and truly set.
Wellington, Western Sydney and Perth all double up in this section of the most mad-capped A-League season to date and all three are seeking to secure points and consolidate a position in the finals.
Hunkering down to some A-League action on a wet and cold night in front of a big screen television, all of a sudden seems a little different.
But for Sydney’s lax second half against the Jets midweek, the tipping leader (me) had a perfect week of selections. Daylight now runs a clear second.
A headline such as the one above is usually written after an underwhelming performance, a bad loss or a catastrophic capitulation.
Quick! Blow the whistle and get things started.
Some 116 days ago, Brisbane Roar’s Scott McDonald scored in the 16th minute against the Newcastle Jets. That goal secured a 1-0 victory for the team then coached by Robbie Fowler and would be the last successful A-League strike for some time.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything it is to be prepared for the unexpected. The pandemic has shown quite clearly that what at first may have seemed improbable, is in fact anything but.
On Sunday evening, the Bulldogs redefined mediocrity in an inept performance against the Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium.
Rarely has Australian football experienced such a collective ‘stacks on’ as it did late last week.
The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ may well be applicable in car yards, supermarkets and hardware stores, yet it appears to be well off the mark when it comes to the Brisbane Broncos and Anthony Milford.
Beggars cannot be choosers and as such, Football Federation Australia has accepted Foxtel’s new and less financially rewarding deal to cover A-League football for the next 12 months.
I have an app for most things. From spirit levelling to sports scores and fuel prices to Flybuys, there is an app for just about everything a human being could desire in 2020.
Compared to many nations around the globe and perhaps thanks to our relative geographical isolation, Australia appears to have weathered the worst of the coronavirus storm.
The North Queensland Cowboys have a considerable home-ground advantage on their side in tonight’s meeting with thew Cronulla Sharks. Stay up to date with the match with live scores here on The Roar from 7:35pm (AEST).
The most popular word in Australian sport right now appears to be hub.
It was a treat to sit back and enjoy the 1970 World Cup Final that SBS slotted into its programming last week.
Based on the talent that left Gosford, the Mariners could well have been zillionaires. It is something of a who’s who, as Stevo pointed out above. Well said.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
You are on the money there Rodger, too many people forget or know little about the demise of the NSL and how large a role some of the pig headed people involved in it actually played. The powers at be did them few favours either by changing things endlessly and never allowing continuity.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
Precisely what I said in the piece Roberto. Times of struggle should not lead to extinction, merely a period in relegation and rebuilding. Leeds-like if you will.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
That is really hard to read. I can’t imagine feeling like that.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
So pleased you worked Simon in there. I would have been upset if you didn’t.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
True Pete yet sadly, when financial times turn tough they are often the first to feel the pinch. Let’s hope a Saudi Billionaire is listening. A club like the Mariners deserves a good break
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League
I agree, Sydney are flat. City and Adelaide the big dangers in my view. Wellington and Brisbane sniffing around the edges of contention. Interesting culmination.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: 27 in 34 (Part 4)
Plenty of goals there. I love your analysis of the WSW vs MVC and MCY vs ADL matches. Forthright.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: 27 in 34 (Part 4)
In the mail Coastyboi. You are spot on in you assessment of the more articles and posts the better and the subsequent exposure. My definitive goal every single time I hit the keys.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Strewth, that’s harsh. I’m a whippersnapper!
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Been pumping up the Australian game for 5 years Lionheart, as you know. That does not mean that one should live with one’s head in the sand and not cite issues when they arise. That would in fact be unethical and there are serious financial ramifications for football moving forward. I’ll always raise them when relevant, despite the comments by Mahler above.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Nice attempt at getting in my head, but a dismal fail. As many times as one is accused of negativity, excessive and blind positivism is also cited. Either can be applied in isolation and with talk of a significant reduction in salary cap, a threatened Mariners, Macarthur struggling to whip up funds, it might be fair to say the prediction has indeed some relevance. You have little idea how much I do not want that to be the case, nor how many positive spins I have put on the Australian game in the past.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
I agree, a strange performance from Sydney in many ways and a solid, professional display from the City boys.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Offset by the fact that there are no away games either I suppose. No one to blame in that regard really, an unfortunate rub of the green.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Firstly, my simple comment on the Roar was that there was “nothing to write home about.” Compared to what I said about the premiers that is extremely mild and I stand by the point that Brisbane have yet to hit the sparkling form they were showing some months back. I hope they do, it was great to watch them improving as a squad. As for the ladder from Jan 1st, that is fine, but not the point here which is to suggest that things are all over the shop after the resumption.
Based on form, the A-League top six is an utter lie
Why do you keep watching? When did Zelic get another gig at Fox, I thought he was off sending tweets about COVID conspiracy theories?
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
What is the background to that Lionheart?
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
No doubt that is his intention, yet his turn of phrase that lurches into AFL and league space really irritates football traditionalists who are not fans of other codes.
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
I think this is definitely a case of taking two to tango. Fox hardly game the game a chance with questionable decisions throughout and the powers at be did no favours to the game.
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
Sounds just like newspaper sport departments. Once had experts, most now just have a league and AFL team who dabble in other content when required. Very sad really.
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
I guess they need a reason to do so and thus far, that has not been provided for them.
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
Tara lights up any coverage. Very bubbly and obviously does her research. Yet losing Hill and keeping the others is bound to annoy people.
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
There were a few really smart Alec remarks from Bosnich. Most likely attempts at humour, but a few of them were about football knowledge and nuance and perhaps there was more to them than I thought at the time. The highlight of the night when a Wanderer took a shot from the edge of the box and Speed called it a “snap shot”. Wanderers = Essendon?
Simon Hill's departure from Fox Sports leaves a gaping hole
Not sure it has been documented officially, yet I believe there was an over-arching belief that there was not enough money in the domestic game to support it. Silly really, because you sell one and then buy one, and the players value is obviously still assessed with their salary. However, it would have given those holding talented players some real weight in the market, something the Mariners would have enjoyed considering the talent they produced.
Save the Mariners or it just ain't the A-League