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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.…
Agree, reckon Mariners will be too strong for the Wanderers first up
A-League Preview: Duke and Rogic could send Mariners all the way
Yep, prep the key, plan the session beforehand, fun at the core, parent involvement, one ball each. Learning comes
Fix Australian football through coaching and player development
Of course everything we do is about fun and enjoyment, every training drill we do has an enjoyment aspect with all the kids involved all the time, but fundamental to the process is that the kids are having a blast, but at the same time, and often unknown to them, they are learning.
To them it’s just a game of “tidy the bedroom” or “sink the ship”, they’re having a blast, but at the core of these games is the learning element.
Fix Australian football through coaching and player development
Only saw the final half hour Bondy, but Reds doing most of the pressing, battering Hearts at one point, but failing to finish it off. Suarez, at one point, rounded the keeper, should have scored, hesitated, then was shut down by McGowan. From a tight angle, tried to sneak it between McGowan’s legs (nutties) but it hit McGowan’s right leg and just went wide.
Made up for it though. Special goal.
As for Pepe Reina, really reckon we should look elsewhere, he’s pretty avg
Re the Gunners, yep, width a real issue, inevitably has been under Wenger, not sure he has the tactical smarts to sort it, may even be worth using Cazorla wide. Otherwise, if he wants to use his central, mustn’t crowd him, give him space.
Gotta watch Hazard, the boy is top shelf. Seen all 3 Chelsea games, quality. Look fwd to seeing him against the big clubs.
Analysis of five fresh EPL stars
Thanks for the perspective Mid & I do hope you & “she who must be obeyed” enjoy the sea change & make it a success
Exciting start for the Wanderers: on and off the pitch
3rd QF, Spain 2 – France 0; Disappointed with Les Bleus’ first position, sitting deep, trying to do a Croatia. Croatia did it much better.
Really thought France had more to offer, earlier, based on their first two outings. There they showed they can possess and control.
Obviously that’s harder against this Spain side, but by sitting back, you’re eventually going to be found out by the individual and collective quality.
Playing Malouda ahead of Nasri, I thought, was an error. If you really want to sit back and defend, and you’re worried about Nasri centrally, you play Diarra, M’Vila and Cabaye central, throw Nasri out on the right.
Anyway, Spain invariably have a solution and do enough, quality.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
2nd QF, Germany 4 – Greece 2; Joachim Low took a calculated gamble by starting a fresh front three in Reus, Schurrle & Klose, for Podolski, Mueller & Gomez. Obviously he felt the three had the quality to do the job, were motivated & that it was a gamble he could afford to take against a limited Greece. Plus it would keep the starting three fresh & motivated.
I felt that there was method in the move & that Low, with his record, was entitled to make it. He gets more things right than wrong.
Again, it showed faith in a German system that has produced the quality to Schurrle, Reus & Goetze, not to mention the now ever-present Ozil & Mueller.
They started well, moving the ball swiftly, with bodies in motion, but couldn’t quite unlock the packed defence. In truth it was more down to their finishing.
The key, against a deep sitting defence, is to have patience, and solutions all over the pitch. If you can’t score in behind, you use the space from deep & strike. Precisely what Lahm did.
There was a fright in the second half, when Greece drew level through their two most productive front men, Salpigidis teeing up Samaras, but the balance of the match was restored soon after through Khedira.
Again, it was a solution from deep.
From there the Geeeks were chasing, leaving space for the Germany to exploit. It was another quality display, with the youngsters Schurrle & Reus shining.
Some options, some future, and blossoming as required here.
Greece had a respectable tournament, but to my mind need to bring out more freshness & football at future major tournaments.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
1st QF, Czech Republic 0 – Portugal 1; Thought the Czechs started real well, playing high, getting out the right hand side where Jiracek and the surprise selection, Darida, combined well. Also managed to control Ronaldo well through Gebre Selassie.
But then Ronaldo started to wonder to a more central position, and when he started making runs in behind the defence, this forced the Czechs deeper.
This positional movement from Ronaldo changed the dynamics, with the Czechs dropping deeper and deeper to ensure they weren’t caught in behind.
They defended with spirit, but never looked likely on the counter, unable to keep it in forward transition. Jiracek tried, but had little support. They missed Rosicky.
This was a limited Czech side that did well to rebound from the hiding on md1, defending much better thereafter, once Bilek made necessary adjustments.
But the weight of possession in favour of Portugal eventually told, with Ronaldo finally coming up with the goods. Lovely find from Moutinho.
Portugal aren’t great, but can play without the ball and have enough in attack to get the job done against limited opponents, working collectively to support their main man, Ronaldo.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
Thanks Fuss, good suggestion re the team, considered having Iniesta in central attacking mid, but been doing great out on the left, so left him there. Pirlo was close, great on md1, but not so effective since.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
Thanks, and hard to disagree with any if your tips. Tight ones should be 1 & 4.
Re the Dutch, was hoping to see Strootmam in mid. Alas.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
Good comment Davo, and thanks
Certainly understand where you’re coming from re Xabi & Busquets, always had the same feeling, but think del Bosque likes the insurance, and it’s part of his controlling of the opponent. Always seem to recall him using two screeners at Real as well.
Assessing the Euro 2012 quarter finalists
Probably more of a wide attacker in a front 3 at this stage Mid. Might sneak on late if we’re chasing, but don’t see it as highly likely. HO seems to prefer others
Stopping Hasebe and Endo key to the Socceroos' hopes
Oh, and you will have also noticed, in my opening par, I mention this idea as a “starting point”. By no means is it the be all and end all of what Holger will and should do tactically.
Again, thanks for your input.
Stopping Hasebe and Endo key to the Socceroos' hopes
Matsu, thanks for your input and for the correction on the spelling.
If you had taken the time to read the whole analysis, you will have noted my comments about Uchida and Nagatomo and how much of their supply comes from the two deep central midfielders.
Therefore, if you get in their face, disrupt them, you have a better chance of stopping the outlet to the flanks.
You may also have noted, in my final par, I mention the width of Suncorp and how this makes the Socceroos’ task all the more difficult, naturally because Jaoan are so good at spreading the play and creating space elsewhere. That’s why, if you sit deep, you ask for trouble. Best to press the two holders higher and not wait.
Enjoy the game
Stopping Hasebe and Endo key to the Socceroos' hopes
Hi Brett, certainly not the worst option, and that’s coming from this Liverpool FC fan.
It was certainly raised at the forums I attended, but not with any significant support. A couple of fans mentioned it wasn’t an option given that there’s already a Sydney United in the NSW Premier League, and going with United might upset them, not to mention there might a legal impediment.
I’m not sure if there’s a legal restraint, but I can certainly understand not wishing to antagonise a club that already uses United given this club is meant to be a model for community engagement.
Fans want a club, not a name, that fills them with Pride
John Aloisi it is at the Heart, 3 yr deal
Only Sydney remains on the A-League coaching carousel
Thanks apaway, and spot on. I’ve enjoyed Mancini’s tactical flexibility in the EPL this season, lots of really good work.
Manchester City back in pole position
Yes Katie, Fergie went conservative and got punished. Strange one not to use Valencia especially, I thought.
By no means a given that City will beat the Toon away on Sunday, but on recent form they should. See if they can handle the pressure of leading again
Manchester City back in pole position
Good comment Q, and I agree, we should expect more from foreign managers. particularly if they’re on big dollars, but we also need to acknowledge their positive contributions, and learn from the good things they bring.
Any that come now need to raise the bar, for sure
Time for the new breed to board the coaching carousel
Anyone who claims Lavicka n van ‘t Schip provided us nothing is kidding themselves.
Lavicka, when he arrived, took over a basket case of a football department and changed its culture, instilling a professionalism this country hadn’t seen in many a year.
This lifted the standard of those around him and it was no coincidence that Postecoglou replicated Syd’s preseason the next year. He wasn’t the only one.
Tactically he fell short, but to say he offered nothing is, frankly, absurd.
JvS also instilled a professionalism and frameworks that should help the Heart for years.
There is still room for good foreign managers in the league, particularly at big clubs like Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar, but they have to be high quality. Otherwise you may as well have one of the local kids.
Time for the new breed to board the coaching carousel
Enjoyable read Tommy, power to the investment in youth
Can Rene Girard and Montpellier win Ligue 1?
Thanks all for the kind words and sharing your thoughts here on how to get Western Sydney going.
Be sure the peeps close to the project are keeping a close eye on this
FFA's commitment to Sydney's west needs to be long-term
Very touched by your story and what you’ve gone through Mid and hope you have a healthy and speedy recovery from this, you’ve been a massive supporter of my writing here since day dot, but I must congratulate you on this brave and wonderfully written piece.
For your sake I hope the Mariners can finally get their hands on the golden toilet seat.
Midfielder: It could have been my last game
Mid, hearing plenty good about Caceres, unfort he was nursing an arm on Sat so spent the session on the sidelines
A-League Preview: Duke and Rogic could send Mariners all the way