Tag: football

Football Is Not a Political Weapon.

Julie Bishops Dialek type of attire when announcing Wold Cup 2018 could be used as a political weapon got my attention.

Right in the middle of the outrage of sport being the pinnacle of Australian culture and the priceless values our organisations and personnel representing our nation she says Australia could withdraw if her government felt it was politically beneficial to show support to USA and England.

As a foreign minister I would have thought her knowledge would tell her England would never relinquish a World Cup opportunity and as the USA failed to qualify it sees political advantage in destroying a event that will give the world a chance to make up our own minds about about Russia and its people. Obviously it’s beyond her comprehension that this game goes beyond her bubble and millions of Australians and billions around the world young and old wait 4 years for this event and the fate of the game in Australia factors on our performance as some funding is allocated according to our results.

So Julie I would be pretty confident if the Turnbull government or any other political movement choose to use the Wold Cup a a political weapon we the sporting public will respond accordingly at the ballot box and will quickly learn what own goal is all about.

Time for The Soccerroos to hand in their Flop Dolls.

The World Cup in Russia is high on my agenda for 2018, however I am not liking what I am seeing in Australian football at present.The power struggle in the board rooms I believe impacted on Ange Postacoglious decision to leave the national job, which in turn will effect our preparations regardless who is appointed for the campaign in Russia. 

Secondarily I believe it’s now time our Soccerroos to create a Australian style of football that will make the other nations think twice when we run on the park.

Looking at the Aleague we are playing exactly like the European flop dolls and the commentary endorsing yellow cards for petty little knocks is not creating good roll models for our new talent. 

We screamed when Italy flopped and sent us home yet we are now doing exactly the same thing week in week out in the Aleague. We would do well to take a leaf from the Matilda’s book on “Manning Up” when we challenge in attack and defence. 

This idea of being so precious can remain with other codes as with true professionals 3 matches on 11 days is common place and fitness levels are expected to cope.

The positive perspective is all data on the Australian squad will be questionable with the new coach appointment and a change in style is a advantage but the spy’s will be at work once the appointment is confirmed. 

And thirdly to be totally realistic we will struggle if we play the same cards so our new coach must have a shock factor as did Hiddink and create the culture that brings a fear factor to the Soccerroos with skill, determination and passive aggression, not the bozo type but the type that lets the opposition know they are in for a match for 90 minutes. Mental strength and physical strength that will force the opposition to question their own abilities. 

I see some of that in some players in our Aleague today, a trait that was common in past years before we got soft but in really it boils down to the referees booking players for simulation and realising football is a contact sport. 

Postecoglou’s White Ant Problem.

The uncertainty around Ange Postecoglou’s status with Socceroo campaign has been created by media speculation combined with a concerted effort to white ant his position by commentators who see themselves as lords based on their own self promotion.History of past coaches be it imported or in Ange’s case local the self appointed brains trust are fine when they see themselves in the inner circle of Australian football but when the coach moves to close the dressing room door the friendship sours as it has today. 

Postecoglou’s effort in bringing players worldwide home plus the restructuring the game locally has been outstanding and while the A league has seen marked improvement in his time the simple fact is we do not have the depth to compete at the worlds highest level “yet”. Our game is growing fast and our biggest hurdle is avoiding the nepotistic view and embrace overseas coaches and managers to expand our education across all levels.

We can’t compare or compete with the wealth of club sides like Bayern Munchen or Real Madrid but we can steal their ideas and thinking we have all the answers here doing it our way is ludicrous, so when the CEO Gallops statement of Australia first for coaching replacement when it becomes vacant is less than visionary for the games future. 

I am not advocating European takeover of Australian football but our football culture must reflect that of the top nations if we are to rise to that level. That means the media commentary has some growing up to do and leave the boys club culture of the older we get the better we were off our TV screens

Investment in Our Youth will Deliver. 

Ipswich has prided itself since inception on its Football prowess and has dealt with its opposition by delivering good hard but fair style of play. I know because I felt the fairness quite often playing against the likes of St. Helens, Coalstars, Blackstone, and Bushrats after the match and the next couple of days. 

With that said, and recent results from the Western Pride the game is in a very good place and with the plans to involve satellite clubs in coaching and managing programs can only take Ipswich Football to a level where a A League franchise is beyond a dream. 

This needs to happen sooner than later or some serious thought will need to happen as our Queensland representative in the A League has taken the dads army approach to its playing staff, a strategy designed for survival more than progression. 

In a game where careers depend on skill, dedication, and opportunity its vitally important to have a sound base and culture for developing our talent and retaining that talent here in Ipswich.

A specifically built Sporting Academy in Ipswich involving not only Football but multi sports should be a vision supported in a catchment from Ipswich west to Toowoomba and beyond giving young talent the benefit of leading edge knowledge and facilities to practice,refine and produce. 

This concept should be supported by all facets to government which would provide employment and associated business opportunities as well as providing a sporting hub. 

We have the talent but its spread, but unfortunately the scouts often look in the mainstream established facilities letting the undiscovered fade into broken dreams because of where they live.

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