My impression of Segecic was great left foot, not a lot else in general play. Triantis made a serious mistake choosing Greece.

Personally, I would rate Portugal above Holland or Belgium.

RF, I sheet home much of that to the fact that the A League clubs have never taken the competition seriously. Which is disgraceful considering how short the season is here. Decent prize money would solve the problem very quickly.

I'm not "blaming" anyone or anything, MCG. I am simply expressing my view of where the A League finds itself now. I agree with you on the impact of a long series of poor decisions from FFA then FA. But that does not change my view of where we are. now. As the tv deals grow for other sports...

it is very clear now that the A League is low cost summer schedule filler for Paramount. Better than no other sport at all but low rating material. Accordingly, they invest what they believe the product will return. Unfortunately, the low value of the TV deal and no alternative bidders indicates...

Until a major media outlet has a direct financial stake in the A League, there will be no coverage. They back their investments. Those reside in AFL and NRL. Simple as that.

Agree. Bottom line is that the League is not succeeding in Asia, is not attracting TV audiences and live attendances are poor and declining. What more evidence does anyone need that the cap is a dead albatross.

I suggest it is a difficult sport for the uninitiated, presenting as it does superficially as a dog fight over an old sausage.

All I can say is that the AFL, a lonely tadpole in a vast global lake, will never have to worry about that.

After watching England's disaster this morning, it's clear to me that Tuchel was on the blower to Popa for tactical advice before the game.

Just quietly, this dispute has the potential to be the straw that breaks the A League camel's back. From my pov, the clubs have no stretch and the PFA have - very unwisely- put themselves in a corner. So, either the clubs confess that they are lying, or the PFA cave. No winners here.

The question is whether the clubs are being straight when they say they can't afford what the PFA wants. Given the abysmal TV deal, I'm inclined to believe them. The PFA need to take care that they don't kill off the comp here.

ffs the recycle churn in the A League of so so players going nowhere in the A League is ridiculous

with respect, Kosta needs to retire. I don't know wtf Victory are doing here. Kosta is done

no mates, based on Australia's total population I simply do not believe that SOO figure FTA ratings system is rubbish. everyone in the industry knows it

why do people call Ange 'big'? he's 177 cms. or is this a girth deal?

have to agree LFC tough comments on the A League but accurate

hmm.... I watched all of the games and came away with a different view.

Good grief, Cs.. Wanderers the bestside in t ACL 12 years ago.?? I thought you said we didn't need to make stuff up? :)

partly also advertising revenue

Vietnam is a fabulous, football mad country and Hanoi is a great city. Great place to coach.

good grief, rf, how many clubs have to fire Kewell for you to change your mind? My pick would be Aloisi, if we have to go local.

ah well, we've all had our social media say in the end Popovic is the option that FA can afford and I accept that for that reason we are stuck with him and more deeply awful football at the Asian Cup if he has a genuine football brain he will look at all of this and modify hos approach...

And a perennial grand final loser a long time ago too as we know the football world changes... this is Popovic's problem he is doesn't change

we can only agree to disagree on that point

if he wins the Asian Cup... well I think I'm safe there

tactical sophistication tactical flexibility selecting the most effective starting 11 getting the best out of individual players creating a team that performs as more than the sum of its parts capacity to respond to changing game situations none of which Popovic has been able to accomplish...

ACL 12 years ago in a very different football world and they played horrible football and rode their luck to an astounding extent

I'm not interested in either of them. I only care about our team.

Popovic was let go by Melbourne Victory and has coached a team to perform less than the sum of its parts in playing the worst football at the World Cup. I suggest that a 'good job in clubland' is a long shot. He's a tactical Neanderthal and shows absolutely no capacity for change.

I would say exactly the same thing. Popovic is way above his level, which is mediocre A League.

the way we played is an embarrassing failure that's on the coach not the players but it was humiliating we played the worst football in the competition

there is a point where it has to Popovic has embarrassed the whole damned country

I think it is reaching the point where the blowback will force FA to show Popovic the door. his position is to completely untenable.

Lucas Neill was better at his peak

fair cop

one thing I never want to hear again is this crap we always seem to get about how incredibly fit our players are compared to the other teams Egypt ran all over us at the end of the game and in extra time it's part of the Popa bs about what a tough Taskmaster he is utter nonsense obviously

My read is that Toure was very unhappy in Popas negative system.

love the way he plays the game total commitment

Behich was a credit to the shirt and always has been. at 34 his physical condition is amazing

Interesting to look at the Roos coaching team. Popovic had his only success over a decade ago and was fired in Turkey and let go from his last gig at Melbourne Victory. Okon failed dismally at CCM and was fired. Fox has been an undistinguished assistant coach. Certainly not a selection that...

popaball = dogsbreakfastball

Melbourne Victory chose not to renew Popovic's contract and he gets the NT job. Go figure

what I want to see now is Popovic held to account

FA has to get rid of Popovic

well, its gone pretty much as anyone familiar with Popovic's club career would have expect at this world cup he was an ordinary A League coach, defensive and tactically limited a tragedy that we had the talent that Ange didn't have available and Popovic wasted it

not a fraud just out of his depth really the blame goes to FA who appointed a mediocre coach at club level bec he was cheap and available

what an abysmal coaching performance this world cup has been for Popovic does he have to destroy us at the Asian Cup as well now?

except they scored it for us

so was I, unfortunately in the end I knew Popovic would sink us

100%

Agree

at least I don't have to listen to wills banging on like a brain damaged robot from here

this is on Popovic

we hv yep

so we're playing for pens now are we, Popa?

so we 'milk a foul' and it's good? ffs wilkshire

alarming how Egypt ran over the top of us at the end of regular time

fair to say that Popovic has made the least of what he's got in this squad

no hope he's clueless

Great post. Agree on every point.

I have an uncomfortable feeling that this game is where Popas dire tactics and selections bite us on the arse. Hope I'm wrong.