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“I would like to think that people judge me on what I’ve done, not what people might suspect,” new FFA chairman Chris Nikou told journalists last November.
Congratulations to the Central Coast Mariners, and more importantly to everyone who supports them following a belated first win of the season.
The glory days are back in Perth and the fans should be too, but increasingly we’re seeing a rise in the number of fans whose only contribution is to boycott.
“This next game we’ve got to come out and fight,” reckons Arnie – which makes you wonder why the Socceroos didn’t simply do that the first time around.
Congratulations to Jordan, who came at Australia with a game plan and executed it to perfection in their 1-0 win over the Socceroos last night.
The Socceroos kick off their Asian Cup defence against Jordan on Sunday night. It will give us a chance to see if they’ve learned anything from previous campaigns.
They may have moved up to fourth after ten games played, but we’re still no closer to knowing whether Adelaide United are a decent football side or not.
There’s no use pointing the finger at Chris Sutton for his idiotic comments when the A-League has a significant problem of its own to sort out.
The Mariners wouldn’t win the chook raffle at the Central Coast Leagues Club if they were holding the only ticket and conducting the draw themselves.
It’s that time of the year when I don my Christmas hat and dust off some Yuletide cheer to wish season’s greetings to my fellow Roar readers and football fans.
Warren Joyce is a genius, and after dropping the most popular player in Melbourne City’s history, he’s won the public relations battle now and forever.
When it rains it pours in the A-League, which is probably why Keisuke Honda’s first visit to Brisbane threatens to be blown away by a tropical cyclone.
The Newcastle Jets look like they can still take flight, but it will have been another sleepless night for the Aloisi brothers following the Brisbane Roar’s defeat.
When the Wanderers run out tonight in a stadium not fit for purpose, it will sum up just how far Sydney has fallen as a sporting city since the 2000 Olympics.
Warren Joyce is a genius, and after dropping the most popular player in Melbourne City’s history, he’s won the public relations battle now and forever.
Who is playing in the A-League this weekend? It doesn’t really seem to matter, because all the talk right now is about expansion.
Spotless Stadium was anything but on Friday night – and the Western Sydney Wanderers would be within their rights to rescind their contract with the venue.
Here’s some free advice for new FFA chairman Chris Nikou. Most fans don’t care about the machinations that you got you into the job, they simply want you to fix football’s problems.
Our greatest ever Socceroo deserves a decent send-off, so here’s hoping plenty of fans turn out at ANZ Stadium for Tim Cahill’s final game tomorrow night.
It’s been 1,394 days since the Socceroos last played in Brisbane, so the best response fans can give the FFA is to pack Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
We have very different opinions around why Ange Postecoglou didn’t go to the World Cup.
How can we trust the FFA to do the right thing?
Saw that this morning, Middy. Fantastic stuff.
Active support works best when it actually involves support
Would it though?
In all seriousness, all the best with the cadetship and the move to Perth.
An illustrated review of Australia's 3-2 win over Syria, and my last column
A general admission ticket for Melbourne City versus Perth Glory on Saturday costs $32.75 if you buy it online.
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
Perhaps josh… and if football lovers in Sydney don’t like the way Sydney FC fans conduct themselves, they should definitely support the Wanderers. I don’t think either club should be hugely satisfied with where they’re currently at though?
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
Yep, they are the problem. And interestingly enough, I had a few people contact me today to say it’s about time a few of these problems came to a head.
As for Brisbane Roar, I suppose the fact they’re currently searching for a new coach says much about how the season is going. Not sure anyone is shying away from that?
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
This old chestnut. I suppose it might be valid if:
– HBF Park wasn’t less than half-full on Sunday (but it was)
– The Den didn’t release a statement on Saturday (but they did)
– Sydney FC got another full house at Kogarah (but they didn’t)
Other than that, yeah, I suppose the problem probably is me writing about things that happened.
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
Yeah, there’s a bit more to it than that in Brisbane. Would never bag anyone who spends their hard-earned on the A-League, but there have been a few persistent complaints that I that I think The Den would do well to go away and address.
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
Sydney’s crowds are okay, and I’m not one to talk as I haven’t been down for a while, but the reality is that even the Sky Blues could stand to draw a few more fans through the gates on a regular basis.
As for the Glory penalty, you see them given nine times out of ten.
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
It will be interesting to see what the actual configuration of Western Sydney Stadium ends up being. I’ve only seen the seating plans like everyone else – hard to believe an entire stand will be given over to corporates and media?!
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
I’ll respond to some of these comments in a bit.
Whatever happened to supporting your team no matter what?
How can I be expected to make up ground when you folks all tip the same as me?!
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 13
That line is in reference to Perth Glory v Sydney FC.
The Roar's A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 12
Well I know why those Japanese players are here – it’s because Naoki Imaya, who these days doubles as Ange Postecoglou’s translator at Yokohama F. Marinos – has been bringing them down as a registered player agent for a few seasons now.
Many of them are good enough to play in the A-League – Adelaide United tried to sign one of them, Yuzo Tashiro, several seasons ago – but for whatever reason clubs are still really risk averse when it comes to signing Asian players.
If an A-League club really wanted to boost their metrics, they should sign Thai international Teerasil Dangda, who just ended a loan spell with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
But the J. League has got the drop on Australia when it comes to creating commercial opportunities in South-East Asia, so that looks like yet another area where opportunities are being lost.
As for why Asian players would come? Lifestyle. Australia remains an attractive destination for players from across the globe – including Asia.
What have the Socceroos learned from previous Asian Cup campaigns?
For what it’s worth, someone who used to work for SBS told me they used to get regular complaints for broadcasting an Asian football highlights show. Make of that what you will.
What have the Socceroos learned from previous Asian Cup campaigns?
All fair points, AGO74, though I’ll have to pull you up on that last one about Asian players not wanting to play here. Just have a look at how many Japanese players currently ply their trade in the National Premier Leagues and you’ll see that’s not necessarily the case.
What have the Socceroos learned from previous Asian Cup campaigns?
I just gave this comment a thumbs up. Am I on the Christmas card list now or what?
The FFA have made the right decisions on A-League expansion
Mea culpa folks – I thought demolition of Allianz Stadium had already started, but realised today that wasn’t the case. My apologies for the error.
Sydney is the most embarrassing city in Australia
As I said the other day, I wrote a string of positive articles at the start of the season that you failed to comment on. So you are literally part of the problem.
Melbourne City have a massive image problem
I actually think this is a pretty reasonable viewpoint – and it’s something I’d considered myself.
I suppose that’s the question though. Does backing Warren Joyce make more sense than backing Bruno, Cahill, Brattan, Kilkenny etcetera? Maybe it does from a footballing sense for City. But it seems to be hurting them from an off-field perspective. Will be fascinating to see how it plays out from here.
Melbourne City have a massive image problem
Nonsense, Redondo. The writers – assuming you’re referring to me – simply write about what’s happening in the A-League. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Melbourne City have a massive image problem
These are all moot points.
How can we trust the FFA to do the right thing?