One game left in a very Spanish A-League season
On the field it's been an outstanding A-League season, perhaps the best yet, as I wrote two months ago. One of the things I've…
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Tony Tannous, "The Round Ball Analyst", is a Sydney-based freelance football writer of all things technical and tactical, and has been covering Australian and international football for over 20 years. Tony is a pioneer of football analysis downunder, having started Australia's first football blog, "The Round Ball Analyst", in 2006, and has been an integral part of The Roar since 2009.
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On the field it's been an outstanding A-League season, perhaps the best yet, as I wrote two months ago. One of the things I've…
Australians have every reason to be delighted with the progress of Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos as they navigated their first phase of qualifiers with a…
With little hype and fanfare ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Adelaide, it makes it hard for Ange Postecoglou to get his players…
If the success or quality of any competition is to be measured by its evenness and depth, and there is some debate if that's…
Much of what went on in the terraces at Etihad Stadium was about flexing some muscle to send a message about who is the…
To say it's one of the most anticipated games of the season would be underselling tomorrow night's clash at Wanderland between the top two,…
When the Western Sydney Wanderers arrived on the A-League scene it promised to represent the region's best values of hard work and honesty, rather…
It's been a crazy old year for the round ball game in Australia. From the highs of the Asian Cup and the win by…
The one thing that's struck me watching the Western Sydney Wanderers this season is just how calm and composed everyone is, and much of…
Right now, if you were looking for leadership and where the power lies in the round ball game in Australia, you'd be hard pressed…
Football's head office might feel it's stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of trying to keep everyone onside, but right…
It's been a few weeks since my most recent post on The Roar and as always there's so much to talk about in Australian football. Whether…
It wasn't that long ago that Matt McKay was the Socceroos permanent makeshift solution at left-back and there seemed no immediate specialist in sight.…
It's Sydney derby time on Saturday. If the Western Sydney Wanderers are to take anything from their trip to the SFS, their front three…
Not fancied by many to make any impression this season, the three local 'newcomer' managers to the A-League all made a flying start in…
If the A in A-League stood for 'ambition' at the start of the 2012-13, when Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono were…
There may be a degree of the unknown in what awaits the Socceroos in the first phase of qualifying for Russia 2018 after Tuesday's…
Tony Popovic has struggled this season to get the Western Sydney Wanderers playing proactively. But last night, by playing Japanese playmaker Yujiro Takahagi deeper…
This week might have been all about players misbehaving, on and off the pitch, but given that the A-League is generally struggling to hit…
It wasn't so long ago, only 2012 in fact, that football fans were pulling their hair out about the length of the A-League off-season.…
Interesting that whenever I’ve written something positive about the establishment, which has been often over the past 6.5yrs on Roar, you get a few comments endorsing, yet the same names, when the argument is that people could and should be doing a better job (ie. how I assess the lay of the land at the moment), and that questions should be raised about performance, and positions questioned, provide an almighty leap to the establishment’s defence. Makes you wonder…
From ambition to austerity: The A-League adjusts its agenda
Cheers Batou, I’m pretty confident that Ange would have recognised he got out-thought for much of that game
Watchable Socceroos must keep calm and make the semis
Thanks Fadida, but we have to agree to disagree regarding matchday 3, I thought Stielike got his selection & strategy spot on >> http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/01/18/stielike-gets-right-knocks-postecoglou-off-course/
Watchable Socceroos must keep calm and make the semis
Yep, no doubt Postecoglou swung the pendulum with an eye to the future, choosing Luongo/Sanisbury/Troisi over, say, Bresciano/McKay/Milligan/Wilkinson.
Very good move
2015 Asian Cup: Postecoglou's nod to form and legs works a treat
Came across as an absolute gentleman, a class act of a lad, a credit to his family. RIP Phil, a life cut tragically short
Phillip Hughes' death casts a pall over Australian cricket
Super read, Janek, well done…
And best of luck, Musti. It’s great to read that he’s working hard as a 8 with a creative edge, the type of deeper, sharp, creative enabler we can well do with in the national team in the next couple of years
Amini's Dortmund adventure starting to catch fire
Just has to drop by to say what an outstanding piece this is Dom, one of the best I’ve seen here in my five or so years on The Roar. Football, for me, is as much about the experiences it gives you to get to know & meet the world, and they’re the mems I most have of Germany in 06.
Congratulations & best of luck on Tuesday, I’ll be there.
Why I left my heart in Brazil
In case you haven’t seen it, video of one of Awer Mabil’s goals, a brilliant free-kick….huge fan of this kids, massive front third game…
http://on.fb.me/1r5NIUC
Any other highlights of the game floating about?
Postecoglou gives Australia a sense of belonging to something bigger
Johnno, if you read the article you will see that I have mentioned Henry and added that he effectively played as a right-sided winger in France 98, not a number 9.
That was when he played. If you remember, Henry was only 20 at the time of the tourni and didn’t feature as a permanent starter. In fact, in the knockouts he came off the bench in the semi and didn’t get off the bench in the final.
My recollections are that he emerged at France 98 but his best, most consistent football, followed later. I was a massive fan. In fact, he’s one of my favourite ever footballers, but the point here is that he wasn’t the main central striker in France’s World Cup success.
Jacquet effectively had the avg Guivarch as his main number nine, and like Fred he copped a whole heap of criticism. But he ended up a World Cup winner at home.
Can Brazil replicate Les Bleus' home success without a world class striker?
Tim Cahill has now scored five World Cup goals and it just dawned on me a little earlier that the last three (one v Serbia in 2010 and the two here) have all be assisted by the right fullback at the time, Wilkshire in 2010 and Franjic and McGowan in Brasil.
Great delivery for all three assists
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
You’re right in that he played the second half of a warm up game against Parana Clube at left back, but he’s very left footed, so can play as cover for Davidson if required.
You’re right about centre backs playing on the right. Given the circumstances I think McGowan has done ok the past game & a half but agree that long term he isn’t the obvious option there. Of course, Franjic has to find games & fitness.
As to the alternatives for Spain, I know that Milligan was being mentioned as a right back option for this one before his hammy, & there’s talk he msy be back for Spain, so it’s an option.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if McGowan gets another crack. As I said, thought he did ok, and I remember being impressed by him as a right back for Hearts against Liverpool in a Europa league game a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, he provided a gem of an assist (first time ball) for the Cahill goal…
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
Bozanic left footed Fuss, so he’s unlikely to play right back, but I’d like to see him start in mid, or at least 45 off the bench
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
The thought crossed my mind writing this, but didn’t want to say it too loud (fear of losing him) 😉
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
They were both excellent mid
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
Thanks Sheek, it’s arguably the biggest football nation never to win one. They have a great manager & front two, huge strengths, but we exposed a few weaknesses in defence & mid today that others may go to school on.
It’s still very open & teams like Croatia, Mexico, Colombia, Chile offer plenty of upset potential…
World Cup domination, yet defeat: Ange and his young Socceroos will learn from the errors
jbinnie, the point being that I see Cahill, Bresciano & McKay as having already played their best football, Milligan, Jedinak & Galekovic as currently playing their best football and the other 17 as having the potential to play their best football in the next 3/4/5 years
Potential to improve is at the core of Postecoglou's cull
Thanks Hamish, and great to hear from you, enjoy the Cup
Potential to improve is at the core of Postecoglou's cull
Jb, you’re missing the point. AP has had just over two weeks in total on the training paddock working with a team he had to
Reconstruct because his predecessor couldn’t and wouldn’t do it, and his predecessors boss saw it too late. We all called for it & now we’re bashing what we called for, think about it..
Fair enough be frustrated that we’ve left out rebuild for the world cup too late, but don’t take ir out on a manager who is doing what everyone called for and can’t be blamed cause he hasn’t had the time.
You mention Rasic but from what I understand he was able to get his team together over a long period and for very long periods. They became a club, building understanding.
AP doesn’t have that luxury. It’s the way of modern football.
Relax Australia, the Socceroos are rebuilding from the rubble
Totally agree mid, Ange now the main off field communicator, Mile to set the tone
No-frills Socceroos skipper Jedinak symbolises a return to a team ethos
Utterly immense quote
No-frills Socceroos skipper Jedinak symbolises a return to a team ethos
Hi Scott, my take on it is that Ange likely gave Neill the opportunity by having a close look, in and around the squad etc, and gave him an op to find regularly and quality football.
I don’t have too many issues with the timing. Always a tricky one to handle and Ange has probably been chipping away in the background
Neill came to symbolise a stale and commercial Socceroos era
Thanks Peter, it’s funny you mention the Wallabies as I’ve long felt the commercialisation of the Roos post 06 had much resemblance to the commercialisation of the Wallabies through the Eales & Gregan eras, and I never really rated that, thinking it resembled plastic
Neill came to symbolise a stale and commercial Socceroos era
The more fundamental question is do administrators and authorities even want active support?
On the evidence of what I’ve seen in recent times, it appears to me that authorities don’t want active support and our administrators seem happy enough to play ball
Sydney Derby an opportunity for football to turn a corner
Fuss, you happy for there to be no active fans? Seems the direction we’re heading in at the moment if non-active fans are happy for it to be stamped out.
To me active support is a crucial part of the A-League game-day experience, particularly as the quality on the field seeks to improve (which we haven’t seen this season).
Sydney Derby an opportunity for football to turn a corner
Good point. Casual fans can probably be excused for not quite understanding the finer details, thus pieces like this where I try to provide some technical insight in a language they can resonate with.
The pity in Australia is that you also have to educate the mainstream media, who really should have no excuse. Barely any so-called “expert” or “pundit” went near Brisbane, CCM & Jets ahead of the season, or in round one
How the three 'new' local A-League managers set up to upset