Football Analysis

The Extra Mile - McKinna on Jedinak

The Extra Mile - McKinna on Jedinak

Lawrie McKinna was the coach who gave Mile Jedinak his first big chance in professional football. The following is an extract from Lawrie's biography (published in 2016) in which he discusses Mile's development and impact on the Mariners before going overseas... 1 Oct 2018
Version 14 A-League...Bring it on!

Version 14 A-League...Bring it on!

FFA’s war with FIFA. FFA’s war with its own stakeholders. The prospect of a normalisation committee and being turfed out of the Asian Cup. The Socceroos starting life under a coach who divides the fans. Expansion about to delight two and disaffect the rest. And pop music at goal kicks and corners? Some would suggest that Australian football’s traditional death wish is simply ratcheting up a notch, but I reckon this could be the best season ever. 18 Sep 2018
Let's Sing Another Song Boys

Let's Sing Another Song Boys

I absolutely love the FFA Cup and everything it stands for. Except for one thing. The team songs. 31 Aug 2018
Who'll love a lad Usain?

Who'll love a lad Usain?

The eyes of the world are on the Central Coast right now. Wondering… Could it really be so? Could he actually play professional football? Could we really love a lad Usain? 21 Aug 2018
FFA Cupsets show expansion is ready to go

FFA Cupsets show expansion is ready to go

One of the obstacles occasionally thrown up by anti-expansion apologists (and how many of those are left?) is the danger of spreading talent too thinly across the league. Well given the recent performance of NPL clubs in the FFA Cup, that fear is pretty much blown out of the water. 9 Aug 2018
Referees: A Grassroots Crisis

Referees: A Grassroots Crisis

There is a crisis in grassroots football, and I myself am part of the problem. 29 Jul 2018
Bolt the door and kick this sugar hit habit

Bolt the door and kick this sugar hit habit

We need to kick the sugar hit habit of big name signings in the A-League before they put Australian football into a permanent coma. 17 Jul 2018
Striking Gold - how to solve the Socceroos' scoring woes

Striking Gold - how to solve the Socceroos' scoring woes

In three games at the recent World Cup, playing the teams ranked 7, 11 and 12 in the World, we conceded five goals – one of them a dodgy VAR penalty and two others were super unlucky deflections. All things considered, that was not too bad for a country rated 36, so clearly, defense is not a problem. Australia’s biggest problem is scoring goals. 17 Jul 2018
Confessions of an Australian England Fan

Confessions of an Australian England Fan

Inconceivable as it may sound to some in both Australia and England, there is a deep down affection for the Old Country in these Antipodes. Those of British stock, in particular, can’t help but want England to do well in football competitions – but only if Australia is no longer in contention. 11 Jul 2018
Gaming the Game

Gaming the Game

I’ve heard it said that gamesmanship – acting outside the laws of football to win an advantage by any means possible – is differently perceived in different cultures. One man’s cheat is another man’s champion, depending on where you’re from. 5 Jul 2018
Leave it out Ange

Leave it out Ange

Ange Postecoglou has not been directly critical of Bert van Marwijk and the Socceroos’ performance in Russia, but he’s gone pretty close. 29 Jun 2018
Arnie: The Second Coming

Arnie: The Second Coming

So, the Socceroos bow out at the Group Stage, again. I, for one, think Bert van Marwijk did a fantastic job in a short time. He set the team up well enough to stand toe to toe with three of the best teams in the world, and one of the main beneficiaries could well be Graham Arnold. 28 Jun 2018
Competent, but impotent: The goals the Socceroos must now aim for...

Competent, but impotent: The goals the Socceroos must now aim for...

It’s not news that the Socceroos can't score from open play. What’s odd is our reluctance to tackle that issue. 28 Jun 2018
Where van Marwijk went wrong

Where van Marwijk went wrong

Aussie Bert's reign has reached a disappointing conclusion, but how should Australia look back at this feint episode in Socceroos history? 27 Jun 2018
Brave minnows no longer!

Brave minnows no longer!

It’s taken a couple of days to get to this article, with all the travelling, but that’s given me some time to think about our performance in the first match against France... 20 Jun 2018
The Road to Russia - Brazil fan chat

The Road to Russia - Brazil fan chat

Adrian Deans is slowly making his way to Russia. Along the way he is testing the mood of fans from some of the participating countries and the next instalment is Brazil – one of the tournament favourites. Adrian had a chance encounter with Paolo and Dominique from Goiania, who were surprisingly downbeat about their country’s chances. 11 Jun 2018
442FM’s postcard from Kazan

442FM’s postcard from Kazan

As my flight touched down in Kazan daylight at 1.50am, I wasn’t sure if I had missed the sunrise… or the sunset was still to come. 9 Jun 2018
BLOG: The Road to Russia - Denmark

BLOG: The Road to Russia - Denmark

Adrian Deans is slowly making his way to Russia. Along the way he is testing the mood of fans from some of the participating countries and the third instalment is Denmark – one of our Group C rivals. 7 Jun 2018
Compared! Socceroos 2014 and 2018 World Cup squads: Who soared, who sunk?

Compared! Socceroos 2014 and 2018 World Cup squads: Who soared, who sunk?

As Socceroos fans don the polar-fleece and look towards another World Cup dawn, we cast our mind back to 2014. Less has changed than you might have thought… 5 Jun 2018
BLOG: The Road to Russia - Sweden

BLOG: The Road to Russia - Sweden

Adrian Deans is slowly making his way to Russia. Along the way he will be interviewing fans from some of the participating countries and the second instalment is Sweden. Adrian talks to Andreas Palmquist about Sweden’s prospects this summer. 2 Jun 2018
When it all goes South: Can Southern Expansion change the A-League model?

When it all goes South: Can Southern Expansion change the A-League model?

Everything about prospective A-League bid Southern Expansion appears larger than life. 31 May 2018

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