Football Analysis

Thoughts on Oz v Jordan

Thoughts on Oz v Jordan

So we lost the first game – a game we should certainly have won. It’s a setback but the overreaction in some quarters is just plain ridiculous. 7 Jan 2019
The Once and Future Mariners

The Once and Future Mariners

Who’d be a Mariners fan these days? More than a year since we had a win and looking less likely every week. 5 Jan 2019
Does Aloisi deserve another A-League job?

Does Aloisi deserve another A-League job?

FTBL dives into John Aloisi's career to find out whether the Socceroo legend's lack of public popularity ever quite matched up with his coaching exploits. 29 Dec 2018
Corica, Rudan and the battle for NPL coaches

Corica, Rudan and the battle for NPL coaches

What do Australia's best NPL coaches have to do to be taken seriously by the A-League? Surely it's not punditry... 8 Dec 2018
Arnie's Army for the UAE

Arnie's Army for the UAE

Looking towards the Asian Cup, there is little further opportunity to impress, except at club level. Who will make the final cut? 21 Nov 2018
Change - but is it the change we wanted?

Change - but is it the change we wanted?

The upper levels of Australian football at yesterday’s FFA AGM could not be further away from the gritty beer-soaked stands and chip-strewn terraces they try to fill. 20 Nov 2018
Only Football Can Do This...

Only Football Can Do This...

Wow! What a game! Only football with its tiny margins governing failure or success can generate that kind of white knuckle ride. 31 Oct 2018
Arzani set for dream Hoops debut?

Arzani set for dream Hoops debut?

The word is that Daniel Arzani was hooked from the Reserves match this week and sent to train with the Celtic first team. He won’t be part of their Europa League game tomorrow, but he might feature against Hearts in the League Cup on Monday. 26 Oct 2018
Graham Arnold: The Master of Systems

Graham Arnold: The Master of Systems

Okay, Kuwait seemed about as interested in the game as their crowd, but you can only play what’s in front of you. Playing in stifling heat on an over-grassed pitch, the Arnie Era got off to a very solid start. 17 Oct 2018
Does 'cult' club hold the secret to attracting new A-League fans?

Does 'cult' club hold the secret to attracting new A-League fans?

We all want another Western Sydney Wanderers, but how can A-League expansion clubs get it right? The answer may be hidden within one of Europe’s most unusual teams. 9 Oct 2018
How to fix penalty decisions?

How to fix penalty decisions?

I have a crazy suggestion for a new rule that might improve the game. 4 Oct 2018
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

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