No sh1t. But considering that the Brazilian league and São Paulo are more prestigious and of a higher standard than the A-Liga and Newcastle Jets, the analogy’s about as relevant as the price of fish in the Gobi Desert..
I've been playing long enough to know my limitations and just enjoy the social aspect these days. Practice is boring.
It does, we can, and we should do so after the Asian Cup.
We have never "expected" to get to the R16. It's always been a goal rather than an expectation. If it's your expectation then you've lost a bit of touch with football reality.
I think we all know Popa is staying on till the Asia Cup, but I don't think that means he is free of criticism for his World Cup exploits.
Harry Kewell is running well in the Vietnamese league despite his previous failures head coaching in Europe but if we had to go for one of the Aloisi brethren as Socceroos head coach then arguably John Aloisi would be better compared to Ross Aloisi.
It was 'their' expectation, it's how they would say it's been successful or not, maybe we can call that par.
He failed in Japan too. Good on him if he’s going well in Vietnam, but surely he has to be tested at a higher level than that before being considered for the Socceroos. Even a few years in the A League might do. Vietnam simply isn’t enough.
We had some very promising results under Ross before he pissed off and left us after a couple of games.
For some reason people treat losing a grand final as some huge negative. It is better to win, but the point is he makes the grand final. Which means he puts teams into the position to be successful. 10 years. Missed finals on two occasions. Two times premiers, one cup win, one continental win. 5 Grand finals.
They rode their luck in the final leg against Al Hilal. They were the best side in the comp. This was true Popa haramball. The rest of the competition was not.
We got lucky playing the same way at the last world cup as well. It was a group with better teams then, and it was a group with better teams now. Again we can acknowledge the success while still being critical of aspects before deciding if it is right to move forward this way. We don't need to diminish what has been achieved to do this.
Don't get me wrong, I don't put this on the players at all, they all played to their best in the conditions set for them. I don't want to diminish their efforts at all, as they played admirably.
Are you serious? Losing a grand final is not a negative? Is the point not to win competitions? No one really remembers the runners up. No one loses a Grand Final and goes, "you know what, at least we participated. I am so happy". This is participation medals in primary school level.
He has already beaten Japan with his selections and tactics. (with an own goal)
I think this is pretty much where I am at. But more than just boring football, I don't think it will get the best out of this group as the move into their best years.
Missing the finals, getting relegated, finishing bottom half etc is a failure. Making the grand final is a good season with a disappointing end.
It really depends on the quality of your teams. Purely on ALM terms there is no P& R. If your team is one of the best resourced team missing out of the finals is definite failure. Take it back to the Ange Brisbane - Arnie CCM days. Neither were the best resourced though Brisbane were up there. However they both viewed not finishing top 2 as a failure. That also meant more often than not a Grand Final appearance. Same with Arnie at SFC.
Constantly losing in a Grand Final is no achievement. 2 Major trophies in 10 years is also no major achievement.
It doesn't bother me that we are defence first. I think with the players we have that's sensible. But every Australian sporting team has an attacking intent. With this team that needed to be an intent to counter aggressively imo. This plays into our defensive strengths but gives us an outlet to go at the other team and punch back. Popovic's team had nothing going forward. It needs to change.
I'm just throwing a name out we can afford. I'd prefer Muscat. I wish we had a technical director. He could provide direction to Popovic to loosen the reins.As I’ve said on here I’m not at all opposed to him taking the reins someday further down the line, but it’s just too fucken soon for him now.
But as you imply, it’s a question ofin the end. However, I die on the hill that if Soccer Australia(which was basically always an accounting-error or two away from bankruptcy) could afford Venables as NT coach 30 years ago…well you get the drift, I think.
He probably has the poorest record of any Australian coach. Has usually been sacked within months. Lasted just over a year at Crawley Town with a <40% win ratio.
