Socceroos | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Socceroos

leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
You've been told @AngryAnt !

In Australia we are lucky the AFL is run by such fair and upstanding people.
I never said that and certainly never will in contemporary times. My beef is with sports which excessively interfere with playing the sport in a strong and competitive fashion, although under justifiable and transparent, consistently applied rules. AFL. along with soccer, no way.

Current favourite sport - one I have played since youth, still play, and am enjoying watching as much as ever is ... golf!

Virtually never any non-required or unjustified intervention by a referee. Players generally scrupulously honest in obeying the rules; self-report (but get away with hardly any cheating at pro level: too many watchers including cameras), call for adjudications, resolve issues according to rules, then proceed.

Results almost universally determined by player performance only.
 

Baloo

Delisted Free Agent
Nov 8, 2005
44,113
18,922
And yet we've qualified for the last four world cups after being welcomed into the Asian Confederation even though it disadvantaged the stronger sides into the confed. Boom - there goes that theory.

It's the one thing that Sepp Blatter did for us. He managed to get us into the Asia Confederation which gave us a realistic chance to qualify. He brokered the deal which got us there as a way to stop giving Oceania 1 guaranteed place in the World Cup.
 
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leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
Being on the end of Leon's diatribes is like being slapped with a wet lettuce leaf.
The fact that this is the best comeback you have - with zero specific response in ideas or arguments - shows that you're demonstrably pathetic. You're just one of those posters I have to play whack-a-mole with from time to time.

Try respecting the different opinion of other posters before coming out arrogantly accusing them of spouting 'conspiracy theories' or being 'bizarre'. For a start, try to ensure you even comprehend what someone is saying or seek to clarify their views.

You are the one so full of yourself - " ... stop talking about things you have no idea about."

Clearly when I support or expand ideas you have nothing but sneering conceit ... or a wet lettuce leaf.
 

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
The fact that this is the best comeback you have

No, I just have limited patience to deal with your barely coherent ramblings such as the last 500 item word-salad that you came up with. Barely skimmed it but did notice you decided to veer off into golf.

Maybe stick to that.
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
#SackArnie

this for mine. admittedly, Arnold is an easy target as he was not well liked after his time as coach at Sydney FC. Plus his previous record as Socceroos coach was terrible. Forget the 11 wins in a row. They were crap opponents. We were terrible at the last Asian cup and we have been terrible against more credentialled opponents recently.

There are 2 main reasons for these:
1. He is tactically inept at this level. He doesn’t know how to counter the tactics teams use in Asia and the conditions.
2. He has had a long history of playing his favourites at the expense of others. At the moment, its Mitch Duke and Rhyan Grant.

It's a moot question. Despite some appearance of success such as WC qualifications, is the game actually progressing in Australia, or stagnant? Despite reasonably significant governmental and private investments?
Where are the burgeoning stars? How many players actually good enough to play with a truly premier league club overseas?
Less than 20/30 years ago? Because the rest of the world have moved on past us? Look at the numbers of quality players now pouring out of Africa, South and Central America as always, but now Asia too with Japanese and Koreans; and even more from North America.

I am absolutely 200% convinced the game is progressing well in Australia. The youth coming through is the best we have had since the golden generation. 9 of the starting 11 that beat Argentina at the Olympics started in the A-League. We are getting much better at developing youth with A-League clubs growing their academies. Melbourne Victory and Western United have both make big academy appointments over the past week.
 
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AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
I am absolutely 200% convinced the game is progressing well in Australia. The youth coming through is the best we have had since the golden generation. 9 of the starting 11 that beat Argentina at the Olympics started in the A-League. We are getting much better at developing youth with A-League clubs growing their academies. Melbourne Victory and Western United have both make big academy appointments over the past week.

Yeah, Arnold is unconvincing to say the least. It's got nothing to do with being an SFC coach, people have careers before they take the national reins, but yeah. Rhyan Grant I've got some time for - he stuck his hand up and has done OK. I think as a home-grown coach Ange was a one-off - clearly head and shoulders above others as he's currently proving with Celtic - won't be surprised if he's in the Prem or another top Euro league in a few years. I think we need another long-term, astute, tactical overseas grown coach for the next campaign.

Longer term, I'm an optimist too. The game will never be as big as some other codes here but with improved development pathways we'll keep punching about our weight. And it's the biggest sport in the world - to say "don't participate if maybe you can't be the best" is a pathetic defeatist attitude. If you are that cowed when faced by adversity, stay in bed and sleep with the lights on, life is too hard for you.
 
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Baloo

Delisted Free Agent
Nov 8, 2005
44,113
18,922
Arnie strikes me as a Mark Neeld type coach. Good assistant but completely out of his depth on the International stage. Worst part is that he doesn't realise he's out of his depth
 
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leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
this for mine. admittedly, Arnold is an easy target as he was not well liked after his time as coach at Sydney FC. Plus his previous record as Socceroos coach was terrible. Forget the 11 wins in a row. They were crap opponents. We were terrible at the last Asian cup and we have been terrible against more credentialled opponents recently.

There are 2 main reasons for these:
1. He is tactically inept at this level. He doesn’t know how to counter the tactics teams use in Asia and the conditions.
2. He has had a long history of playing his favourites at the expense of others. At the moment, its Mitch Duke and Rhyan Grant.



I am absolutely 200% convinced the game is progressing well in Australia. The youth coming through is the best we have had since the golden generation. 9 of the starting 11 that beat Argentina at the Olympics started in the A-League. We are getting much better at developing youth with A-League clubs growing their academies. Melbourne Victory and Western United have both make big academy appointments over the past week.
Respect your opinion and greater expertise on this game, Ian. AFL is much more my football code, but take an interest in most codes and enjoy 'soccer' at its best and want to see our national side succeed. So I hope you're right and put faith in what you're telling me re 'youth coming through' but it seems to me that the best we have produced over recent years like Rogic, Mooy and perhaps in potential, Arzani, are not A grade by world standards. (But as i've said, I rate Boyle). Mind you, the first 2 would have made a difference against China. I think Arnold had Arzani but won't play him; so what does that say?

Progress with the academies good to hear. But hasn't the code had the highest number of participant players and juniors for many years now? Perhaps it's always going to struggle for greater success while AFL is the dominant code in our financial/media world and followers/members etc?

I found the performances against SA and China really underwhelming myself. We seem to have no-one truly dangerous in attack aside from the promising Boyle.
 

leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
No, I just have' to deal with your barely coherent ramblings such as the last 500 item word-salad that you came up with. Barely skimmed it but did notice you decided to veer off into golf.

Maybe stick to that.
What a little twerp! Your ' limited patience' when you came on and attacked my post with patronizing arrogance and sarcasm. What a *smile* you are! I'm the one with far better things to do that waste time on your silly, superficial replies to MY posts.

So 'Barely skimmed it but did notice you decided to veer off into golf.' That's because, despite your conceited opinions on everything, your actual literacy is too challenged to deal with anything beyond glib, shallow thinking. Plus, my words on golf were in reply to another poster, never you! But you can't stop yourself throwing more crap my way for them, again, never demonstrating any ability or will to address any idea on its merits. Nothing but witless sarcasm.

*smile* off and stop bothering me with your pesky responses. I will try harder to ignore you as I previously decided - you are just such a lightweight.

That moniker is far too pretentious for you. I suggest a re-branding to Empty Vessel or maybe Wet Lettuce Leaf.
 
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leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
Yeah, Arnold is unconvincing to say the least. It's got nothing to do with being an SFC coach, people have careers before they take the national reins, but yeah. Rhyan Grant I've got some time for - he stuck his hand up and has done OK. I think as a home-grown coach Ange was a one-off - clearly head and shoulders above others as he's currently proving with Celtic - won't be surprised if he's in the Prem or another top Euro league in a few years. I think we need another long-term, astute, tactical overseas grown coach for the next campaign.

Longer term, I'm an optimist too. The game will never be as big as some other codes here but with improved development pathways we'll keep punching about our weight. And it's the biggest sport in the world - to say "don't participate if maybe you can't be the best" is a pathetic defeatist attitude. If you are that cowed when faced by adversity, stay in bed and sleep with the lights on, life is too hard for you.
So how is your final sentence at all relevant to Ian's post and why is it directed at him?

So gutless and pathetic!
 

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
What a little twerp! Your ' limited patience' when you came on and attacked my post with patronizing arrogance and sarcasm. What a *smile* you are! I'm the one with far better things to do that waste time on your silly, superficial replies to MY posts.

So 'Barely skimmed it but did notice you decided to veer off into golf.' That's because, despite your conceited opinions on everything, your actual literacy is too challenged to deal with anything beyond glib, shallow thinking. Plus, my words on golf were in reply to another poster, never you! But you can't stop yourself throwing more crap my way for them, again, never demonstrating any ability or will to address any idea on its merits. Nothing but witless sarcasm.

*smile* off and stop bothering me with your pesky responses. I will try harder to ignore you as I previously decided - you are just such a lightweight.

That moniker is far too pretentious for you. I suggest a re-branding to Empty Vessel or maybe Wet Lettuce Leaf.

If you don't have the time don't write long-winded and turgid retorts.
 

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
So how is your final sentence at all relevant to Ian's post and why is it directed at him?

So gutless and pathetic!

Not directed at Ian at all dude. Just a comment on those who believe that if you can't win it, don't participate.
 

leon

Tiger Legend
Apr 6, 2014
8,903
4,405
Not directed at Ian at all dude. Just a comment on those who believe that if you can't win it, don't participate.
Weak as. What's with your continual resort to usage of 'dude' anyway? So passe; so 70s porn or cheap/crappy crime flick. Are you living in a time warp? Or do you really think it makes you sound tough or cool!? Maybe you think you sound like an African American? Which you definitely are not, I'd say.

Just so lame. :eek:
 
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Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Respect your opinion and greater expertise on this game, Ian. AFL is much more my football code, but take an interest in most codes and enjoy 'soccer' at its best and want to see our national side succeed. So I hope you're right and put faith in what you're telling me re 'youth coming through' but it seems to me that the best we have produced over recent years like Rogic, Mooy and perhaps in potential, Arzani, are not A grade by world standards. (But as i've said, I rate Boyle). Mind you, the first 2 would have made a difference against China. I think Arnold had Arzani but won't play him; so what does that say?

Progress with the academies good to hear. But hasn't the code had the highest number of participant players and juniors for many years now? Perhaps it's always going to struggle for greater success while AFL is the dominant code in our financial/media world and followers/members etc?

I found the performances against SA and China really underwhelming myself. We seem to have no-one truly dangerous in attack aside from the promising Boyle.

In the modern game, you don’t need to play in a top European league to be considered “a-grade.” You will always have your Eurosnobs that argue this, but in reality, times have changed.

Mooy for example left the premier league for China due to an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Rogic has been a disappointment for mine. He’s the most technically gifted player we’ve had in a while but seems to lack ambition. His lack of pace is his biggest weakness.

Unfortunately, Daniel Arzani is struggling with injury and motivation. He’s only played 5 club games in the Belgium second tier all year and is not up to playing for the Socceroos. He needs to return to the A-League to revive his career. He is still only 22.
 
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AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
Rogic has had new lease on life under Ange at Celtic - was going great, a bunch of assists. He is slow and seems not to run out full matches - can see him playing cameos for the Socceroos for this campaign. Did a hammy recently, out for a few weeks more yet. I don't think Arnie knows how to use him. Mooy is good but too slow now for modern international football.

Boyle smacked in 3 goals against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semifinal last night. He's really good - not an A-Grade striker if you are looking at the Premier League but definitely an top player by world league standards. Souttar is another who is excellent and was likely to transfer to Premier league side if he hadn't done the ACL.

Of course if we don't have a Ronaldo or Messi we might as well give up eh?
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Socceroos v Vietnam at a sold out AAMI Park. it’s unfortunate its up against Ash Barty in the tennis, but it is what it is.

We basically need to win all 4 games to qualify directly. Probably not gonna happen.
 

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,791
Socceroos v Vietnam at a sold out AAMI Park. it’s unfortunate its up against Ash Barty in the tennis, but it is what it is.

We basically need to win all 4 games to qualify directly. Probably not gonna happen.
I'll be there risking Covid! But good to know it's sold out.