Roar Rookie
Joined June 2014
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Simon is the man behind simonsaysepl.com, which gives you fantasy news, stats and tips so you can beat your mates at fantasy premier league. Because why else do we play the beautiful game?
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After waiting eight years to score his second World Cup goal, Lionel Messi now has four in this tournament, including two late strikes to…
Is Tim Cahill really our best ever Socceroo, or is Australia simply hung over from his wonder strike? Andrew MacDougall argued that while Harry…
After being unceremoniously dumped from the World Cup, English fans can at least take solace in knowing that the Premier League has so far…
With Tim Cahill suspended, Socceroos fans will be given a glimpse into how the future will look without Australia's highest goal scorer in the…
We loathe them in cricket, we ignore them in rugby league, and we'll never forgive Johnny Wilkinson for that drop goal, but somehow, when…
A loss to the Netherlands tonight will almost certainly knock Australia out of the World Cup. So, with the Socceroos needing to score goals,…
So it’s official, Ange has gone with:
–Taggart–
–Leckie–Bozanic–Oar–
–Jedinak–McKay–
–Davidson–Wilkinson–Spiranovic–McGowan
–Ryan–
Who should line up for Australia against Spain?
Credit has to be given to Ange for entrusting our youth against world heavyweights…
Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland
Mathew Leckie and Tommy Oar are the youngest (attacking) midfielders Australia has fielded in their last three World Cup campaigns. When Adam Taggart came on, he made that average even younger. And if he starts against Spain that will complete our ‘young’ forward lineup, which is ultimately more the face and protagonist of the national team than our back line.
Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland
Agree about the FIFA ranking system. Closer to home, would you say that the 2014 Socceroos should be ranked higher than our 2006 golden generation?
Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland
And the fact that the Socceroos squad consists of so many A-League players is testament to how far football has come in this country, and the future we can look forward to.
Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland
Ange has blooded a new generation and taught football the way it is supposed to be played. Although it has always been a pleasure to watch the Socceroos, nevertheless their overly-physical and defensive-minded approach to every game was indicative of a belief that we simply were not good enough to take the game to the opposition, something that was hard for fans to swallow. But Ange has changed that. His young Socceroos not only took the game to the Netherlands, they did it playing beautiful football, of which even the most ardent purists would be proud. We proved to the world that we belong in the World Cup and are not simply making up the numbers. But most importantly, the players proved to themselves that they are good enough to perform on the world stage. Cheers Ange for a successful campaign thus far!
Tim Cahill was not MOTM in Australia's clash with Holland
In theory yes, mathematically not necessarily.
If Australia draw:
– and Chile beat Spain, then a victory against Spain and Chile defeating Netherlands by a handy margin will put us through…
– and Chile draw with Spain, then a victory against Spain and Netherlands defeating Chile by a handy margin will put us through…
– and Spain beat Chile, then victory against Spain and Netherlands defeating Chile will put us through…
There is even the mathematical possibility that we could go through even if we lose tonight, but only one team has ever qualified with 3 points.
Will Ange take chances against the Dutch?
Aussies will be hoping much the same! NSW winning after eight years has set up the night to be something special… Now it’s over to the boys in Brazil!
Dutch nervous about Cahill
It’s always easier to be seen by scouts when your playing in Europe as opposed to so far away in Australia. That said, if he’s not getting game time then he needs to look elsewhere. Hopefully a big showing tonight will have him on a few scouts’ watch list—we all know the Aussies need him to stand up!
Chile match was Leckie's coming of age
Before the World Cup, Nate Silver (Five Thirty Eight) said that Australia’s biggest chance of scoring was against the Netherlands. Well, I bet he didn’t see 5-1 coming either…
Dutch nervous about Cahill
That’s right, we’ve never lost to the Dutch. But we’ve never had to play Robben and Van Persie in such form either… I reckon Adam Taggart could make a big difference in this game—he collected Golden Boot because he knows how to score! But yeah, all up, if the Aussies can frustrate the Dutch, you never know what can happen.
Dutch nervous about Cahill
Don’t you think giving teams the right to challenge calls mid-game will turn football into the sort they play in America?
Technology and FIFA, do they mix?
The EPL introduced a similar body for this past season as well but its power are limited. Only if the match referee confirms that he did not see a particular incident will the match review committee be able to convene. That only goes halfway to solving the problem.
Technology and FIFA, do they mix?
Simulation is less of an issue in other sports, or perhaps clouded by other more pressing issues. In the EPL, simulation is a weekly talking point among players, managers, fans and the media. Unfortunately, diving is rampant in football and is detrimental not only for the sport’s image but for the message given to the younger players coming through the ranks. Disciplinary action (yellow cards) for simulation is only a recent development and highlights the concerns caused by diving. However, many instances of simulation are missed on a weekly basis (some more grave than others) and a midweek tribunal—similar to what we have in the NRL and AFL—where retroactive action could be taken would go a long way in weeding out this issue from the game.
Technology and FIFA, do they mix?
Maybe football needs to follow the example we have here in Australia with midweek disciplinary tribunals. Just like in our rugby codes, tribunals could review contentious decisions like red cards and even retroactively penalise simulation, as you wrote. Such a tribunal would be even more effective in knockout competitions (the World Cup, the FA Cup and even our own new FFA Cup) where controversial send-offs can change the complexion of a team’s success.
Technology and FIFA, do they mix?
Exactly. And this system is important to not only make the correct decision (do I hear Frank Lampard calling?), but to award the right statistics. Karim Benzema’s shot struck the woodwork and only crossed the line the when the Honduran goalkeeper parried it in. That’s the difference between a hat trick and an own goal.
Technology and FIFA, do they mix?
Our Roarer’s most popular lineup looks a little different:
–Taggart–
–Leckie–Bozanic–Oar/Halloran–
–Jedinak–Luongo–
–Davidson–Wilkinson–Spiranovic–McGowan–
–Langerak–
20 minutes and the verdict will be out! Good luck Socceroos!
Who should line up for Australia against Spain?