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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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Race result Twilight Payment has won the 2020 Melbourne Cup. In a rare, rare occurrence, the Joseph O’Brien-trained galloper led for pretty much the entire race, building up a big lead before holding out the rest of the field down the straight to take home the Cup.
Watching players take a knee in the final seconds before kick-off during English Premier League matches in 2020 has continued to irk many.
A few months back, the family and I took a three-night holiday in Newcastle to celebrate my eldest’s 17th birthday. I must admit to never having spent much time in New South Wales’ second-largest city, despite residing just a couple of hours south of it.
Okay. So let me get this straight.
The news that A-League players and owners have finally managed to find some common ground and look likely to forge a new collective bargaining agreement was welcoming.
The Indian economy apparently revolves around a GDP figure of $4.15 trillion. That rather incomprehensible number places it fifth in terms of the largest economies in the world and also makes it the fastest-growing trillion-dollar economy.
The temptation to write about the wage impasse between A-League players and their employers was strong this week.
There has been recent commentary around the realisation that just one Australian will compete in the English Premier League in season 2020-21.
Xanthi FC, based in the north-east of Greece, is not currently enjoying a particularly good time in Greek football.
As the dust settles on the 2019-20 A-League grand final and fans anticipate the start of the rapidly approaching new season, Sydney FC can bask in all its glory.
As all bar one of the experts and the voice of the people predicted, Sydney FC and Melbourne City have advanced through to the A-League grand final for 2019-20.
Well, well, well, the Phoenix and Roar are done and the momentum-building run of Western United continues.
A-League tipsters were thrown another curve ball over the weekend. This time around it was the 2019-20 elimination finals, where the higher placed teams were humbled in two entertaining and compelling fixtures.
As Sydney FC and Melbourne City cool their heels, the other A-League finalists prepare for elimination matches that will reduce the number of potential 2019/20 champions to four.
Professional sports that use a finals format to decide their champions usually expose a considerable chasm in class between those teams finishing near the top of the ladder and those that scrape their way into the finals.
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.
Well said Tigertown. Let’s give the credit when due I say.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
Imagine being a long suffering fan. Brilliant for them. They truly expected to beat the Wanderers and were furious when they didn’t. A far cry from the defeatism evident just a few years back.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
I can assure you AA, there are some ripper kids in addition to the ones we have already seen.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
Could happen but I’m backing Stajcic’s work to hold up a little better than that. Time will tell.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
I like this. Should the Mariners head down that path with an original it would be a definite candidate for Hottest 100 2021.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
They would be a dynamic pair up front. He’s still only 34, there is time. Probably working on his first touch back in Jamaica as we speak!
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
Yes, should the Mariners make the finals it would be a cheap easy article to laud Stajcic’s work. I’m calling what I see, a palpable change in culture and on-field success that is the residue of it. No doubt there will be some hurdles and when the Red Devils do sign Kuol the Mariners will miss his presence up top!
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
In fairness I did say that specifically, yet as we all know, rebuilds take some time. My point is that over 29 games in charge, I’ve seen enough to form an opinion that the culture change is tangible and the product on the pitch a result of it.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
I had a drink with a chap the other day who did nothing but whinge about le Fondre. He said he couldn’t understand why he left. I tried to explain the money going around in the Indian league and he refused to believe me. Have to be 3 to 4 times his Aus salary?
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
Let’s not forget that Stajcic has been at the helm for 29 games now and won almost a third of them. For context, in a 27 game season, his 31% success rate would result in around 8 wins and 24 points, not to mention the addition of any individual points picked up. The Mariners have not tallied more than 22 points in a full A-League season and accumulated tallies of 18,13,20,23 and 13 over the past five seasons. My view is that under his influence the attitude looks better and the culture far improved; hence the piece.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
I think Mr Corica will be a long term appointment for Sydney but Alen could well pick up some interest from elsewhere around the country once the A-League economics return to near normal levels.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
He is certainly showing that his methods work very well in the men’s game; something I heard a few people ridiculously doubt.
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics
I must admit to not thinking anything inappropriate about it Mike. Others may feel that way but we’ll all move on as usual.
Maybe a global pandemic is just what the A-League needed
You are a good judge mate. Well called. If the Jets win a few he will amass plenty of points.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
Between the two of you there is now a good case to expect something ridiculous. Should it prove a grinding 1-1 draw we will all be disappointed after that excellent build up.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 5
Thought last night might have many rethinking Adelaide. What a poor performance that was.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Match Week 5
So he will match his career playing time after just five matches in Newcastle. I guessed six. Thanks for the deets.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
One word of evidence to your point……Troisi.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
A good point really. Very rare for a domestic player to shine in that spot. I referenced that in the piece for that very reason. Without knowing the players, he would easily have passed as an experienced foreigner.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
Don’t forget that Isaias spent some time below that as well. He was a fine player but to me Najjarine looks move powerful through the hips and certainly tougher. Can’t wait to see what he does in future. We’ll both enjoy it, no doubt.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
I’ll go further and say Najjarine might have Isaias covered in a few years time. In my view he is something special.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
He looked like he enjoyed the responsibility and bossed the midfield accordingly. Do you know how many starts he made for City? It seems all we ever saw was the odd flash and the comment about how talented he was.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
It is actually hurting the domestic game more than I had anticipated. The Najjarine example is a perfect one. I wonder if Lachlan Wales might do something similar after departing. A promising player as well.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
Punter, I sat there mouth agape on Sunday. All I could think was just how I’d never really been given the chance to see him in action. My goodness he played well. This might be heading out onto a limb but Najjarine has Socceroo written all over him in my view.
Ramy Najjarine was wasted at Melbourne City, the Jets have set him free
Enjoyed reading that. Well said. Great for the league and Newcastle’s win wasn’t too shabby either. Victory the only side without much to cheer for so far. That will upset many supporters!
Alen Stajcic has nurtured a winning culture at the Mariners and silenced his critics