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The MOST important thing

The MOST important thing

I read with interest both Andy's latest blog and the feedback he was given and the main point is that as coaches, we are all unique. We all have our own style that we take with us. You may be the local Fergie, hairdryer at the ready or perhaps Rafa is more your style, leaving the players to ... 3 Nov 2010

Tell us what we've told you to think

Tell us what we've told you to think

Lyall Gorman sent me an email last week. The subject was "Help shape the future of the Hyundai A-League". Excitedly, I opened up the email only to find that rather than personally congratulating me on my helpful skepticism through this blog on his performance as A-League chief so far and ... 3 Nov 2010

Where Did It All Go Wrong?

Where Did It All Go Wrong?

I hope you know, that it won't let go,It sticks around with you until the day you die...And I hope you know, that it's touch and go,I hope the tears don't stain the world that waits outside...Where did it all go wrong? --Oasis, Where Did It All Go Wrong? Oh, Gallagher brothers - how ... 3 Nov 2010

No goals for the Jets

No goals for the Jets

The club almost goes down the gurgler. There are ownership changes. There are major pitch disruptions and there is political mud-slinging. The team plays only two games in 36 days. Key players are out injured. On-field players are sick or injured. Even the Captain is sidelined. There are lots of ... 2 Nov 2010

Baby I Like It

Baby I Like It

What a difference a year can make in the fortunes of a football team. This time last year we dragged ourselves down to Canberra to watch a lacklustre 0-0 draw with Adelaide. (Luckily there was a great vodka bar next to our hotel.) Who could have imagined that 12 months down the track we'd be ... 2 Nov 2010

Arterial Red

Arterial Red

Fans are the lifeblood of football. Football is the lifeblood of fans. You could describe the relationship as destructively co-dependent or mutually satisfying, depending on your mood. In the end it doesn't matter much. Like all great relationships there are good and bad times. Every true fan ... 1 Nov 2010

Home and Away?

Home and Away?

Home and Away? Call me old fashioned but this week I am really yearning for the good old days of Home and Away. Every second week I would love to drop on the door of my club and see them play on our pitch. Instead I am slowly turning mental in a thee week "Away" cycle as I try ... 1 Nov 2010

Could Simon be the spark?

Could Simon be the spark?

While one player is rarely a "silver bullet" in turning around their team's fortunes, the addition to Phoenix's roster of Simon Elliott could have a massive effect on his new side. Elliott's modus operandi is fairly simple. When his team has the ball, he makes himself available to receive ... 1 Nov 2010

Back The Victory March

Back The Victory March

Welcome to this month's betting blog, bought you with our chums from Sportingbet Australia. To clarify on any confusion caused from our inaugural entry, FourFourTwo Editor Trevor Treharne is crafting this blog for you. As a keen punter, this blog is my opportunity to share and start discussion ... 1 Nov 2010

The Power of Ten

The Power of Ten

Let it be known that I like the number ten: I was born on the tenth day of the eleventh month and many of my favourite football players, including Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Juan Roman Riquelme, have worn it on their backs. Now Melbourne Victory have given me another reason to like it ... 1 Nov 2010

Five Changes to Win Back the Fans

Five Changes to Win Back the Fans

The five goals scored by the Mariners on Saturday must surely have convinced even the most optimistic Glory fans that this season, this squad and this coaching regime is heading towards winning only one thing this season - the wooden spoon. For many fans, the one thing they really want is ... 31 Oct 2010

Tackling Champions

Tackling Champions

For those of us still having nightmares about the Socceroos taking on Germany in that opening game, the thought of the Matildas taking on the German national women's team is enough to make us shudder. Especially when you consider that the Deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft der Frauen have ... 30 Oct 2010

Do you want to borrow my wire brush Arnie?

Do you want to borrow my wire brush Arnie?

So Graham Arnold has again reaffirmed his claims that the poor performance of the Mariners against the white hot Roar side a week and a half ago was a case of the team being "rusty". Well Graham I have a wire brush and some Rust Go in my garage if you want to try and scrub the boys up a bit ... 29 Oct 2010

The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing

Wayne Rooney joining Perth Glory? Nah mate. The really important (and all together more factual) transfer story to come out of last week was Mathew Leckie's proposed move to Borussia Moenchengladbach. The whole issue has resurrected the debate about when exactly the right time for a player to ... 28 Oct 2010

A Sample Session

A Sample Session

I thought I'd use this blog to talk you through a typical session I would run for my 12 year olds and let you download the session plan. We always try to always cover the same key elements in each session. Warm up Ball Mastery Technique work Speed work Session Topic - throughout the 30 ... 28 Oct 2010

Come Play, FFA!

Come Play, FFA!

The last week of embattled survival talk has probably been the hardest week of the North Queensland Fury's short history. Yes, we went through this all before the start of this season, but I didn't legitimately think that we'd lose our spot in the A-League. Not while the FFA had a bid in for ... 27 Oct 2010

When bad teams happen to good people

When bad teams happen to good people

For some time now I've half expected the family to land on the doorstep for a "surprise" intervention. Now the Sky Blues are seeing blue skies again and for the moment, at least, the dark clouds of futility have parted. As John Lennon was fond of saying, nobody ... 27 Oct 2010

EAS Stadium turf-war backfires on the Knights

EAS Stadium turf-war backfires on the Knights

There is a lot of goodwill out there in Newcastle. There is also a lot of anger. There are also a lot of conspiracy theories. While many on the forums have blamed the FFA or the Jets management team for not seeing the damage to the pitch at the EnergyAustralia Stadium till too late, ultimately ... 27 Oct 2010

Third after a Third.

Third after a Third.

It seems that a large number of A-league viewers have caught the Fozzies. This is a serious condition that manifests itself in pompous outbursts and can cause sweeping generalisations. Symptoms include bagging the national team and their current coach, and constantly championing the latest ... 25 Oct 2010

Same Old Glory, Always Losing

Same Old Glory, Always Losing

Another game, another disgraceful showing. For those not convinced after the inept display against North Queensland that Ian Ferguson is not the coach to guide Perth Glory to reach their potential as a football side, I'm sure the embarrassing performance against Sydney FC will have opened ... 25 Oct 2010

Keep developing Aziz

Keep developing Aziz

Most fans will be excited with the news that Aziz Behich has been rewarded with a place on the club's permanent roster until the end of the 2011/12 season. This not only recognises the achievement of a fine young player, but also strengthens the club's commitment towards developing Victorian ... 25 Oct 2010

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