So German Holger Osieck has been named as the new Socceroos coach.
A relative unknown but from what I've read he sounds as if he has the requiste knowledge and results to get the job done, although those results are from quite a while ago...
But he's coached in Germany, so he has experience in Europe - very good;
He's coached in Japan, so he has experience in Asia - which is also very good and just for good measure he's coached in Turkey which seems to be the new Japan/Korea for Aussie players...
Obviously this mix of experience is good as we will encounter both styles of play on the way to and during the 2014 world cup.
But I think most importantly he has experience dealing with youth and rebuilding a team. This is what he's going to need to do and hopefully he can do it well.
If he was smart he'll look at the side that took on Slovenia this morning, although apparently the result was not so good, and see the youth that are there and take them and develop them rather than focusing on the older players who weren't there.
The Socceroos need to rebuild and relatively quickly, the Asian cup in 2 years is a great opportunity for these young guys to get some and I say this tentatively, quality, international experience.
In 2006 Australian soccer/football experienced such a high that it would be a shame to fail to build on that.
P.S.
Congrats to Brad Jones whose move from Middlesbourogh to Liverpool was made official today.
P.P.S.
Bozza, where was AFL in your weekend of football? The Swans were in town so there was no excuse...
P.P.P.S.
Why aren't Chelsea buying any players? They have all these guys leaving, granted I think most are free transfer and therefore don't get anything but they need to at least get some more quality into the side because the whole world knows they're going to do the triple this year!!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
AFL - video umpires
I say it's about time the AFL introduced video technology, not least because of the stuff ups that happened this weekend, but more importantly from my point of view, what happened in last years grand final with Tom Hawkins poster that was given as a goal.
Yes I know everyone is human and therefore makes mistakes but the general footy going public expects the umpires to be as close to perfect as is humanly possible and making mistakes, as elimentary as the Geelong not goal is simply not good enough. The goal umpire was in the perfect position but still managed to stuff it up. Yes I know it all happens very fast but really it was clear to see that it was a goal and should have been given as such.
But I wonder if video technology was available whether they would have gone upstairs anyway? I guess we'll never know although when the umpire signalled the point it did look as if he was seeking clarification because the all clear isn't given by the boundry umpire.
One instance where video technology in all probability would have been used is on Friday night's is it an Essendon goal or not? I'm still not convinced 100% but i'm 95% sure that it was a goal and replays did help to clear things up for me.
Yes I know video referals are time consuming and costly and confusing for the people at the ground, but personally I'd rather the score be accurate rather than open to interpretation.
But they must come with restrictions. Such as if you can't tell with 5 replays then benefit of the doubt must occur. It's ridiculous in cricket where they take 17 000 different replays and then give it out when if it took so long obviously doubt must have kicked in there somewhere.
Another option that was raised by the Herald Sun was putting a chip in the ball so that when it crosses in between the posts it sets off lights or something.
This is an idea but it has its limitations, such as it doesn't tell you if it was touched, so it wouldn't help in Geelong's case, it just signals if it crossed in between the posts which would help Essendon, and the Saints in the Grand Final as the ball hit the posts.
But the range of the reciever for the chip would have to extend above the goal posts as we have seen more than the odd ball go higher than the goal posts, granted not so much after they raised the height of them, but still it does happen.
I think maybe the best solution would be a mixture of the two, the chip definately would have helped the Saints when they took on Adelaide earlier in the year when the ball went over the line, bounced off the goal umpires leg back into the field of play and was called play on.
Yes umpires aren't perfect and we know this, boy do we know this, but maybe with the help of a little bit of technology they can get close to it...
Yes I know everyone is human and therefore makes mistakes but the general footy going public expects the umpires to be as close to perfect as is humanly possible and making mistakes, as elimentary as the Geelong not goal is simply not good enough. The goal umpire was in the perfect position but still managed to stuff it up. Yes I know it all happens very fast but really it was clear to see that it was a goal and should have been given as such.
But I wonder if video technology was available whether they would have gone upstairs anyway? I guess we'll never know although when the umpire signalled the point it did look as if he was seeking clarification because the all clear isn't given by the boundry umpire.
One instance where video technology in all probability would have been used is on Friday night's is it an Essendon goal or not? I'm still not convinced 100% but i'm 95% sure that it was a goal and replays did help to clear things up for me.
Yes I know video referals are time consuming and costly and confusing for the people at the ground, but personally I'd rather the score be accurate rather than open to interpretation.
But they must come with restrictions. Such as if you can't tell with 5 replays then benefit of the doubt must occur. It's ridiculous in cricket where they take 17 000 different replays and then give it out when if it took so long obviously doubt must have kicked in there somewhere.
Another option that was raised by the Herald Sun was putting a chip in the ball so that when it crosses in between the posts it sets off lights or something.
This is an idea but it has its limitations, such as it doesn't tell you if it was touched, so it wouldn't help in Geelong's case, it just signals if it crossed in between the posts which would help Essendon, and the Saints in the Grand Final as the ball hit the posts.
But the range of the reciever for the chip would have to extend above the goal posts as we have seen more than the odd ball go higher than the goal posts, granted not so much after they raised the height of them, but still it does happen.
I think maybe the best solution would be a mixture of the two, the chip definately would have helped the Saints when they took on Adelaide earlier in the year when the ball went over the line, bounced off the goal umpires leg back into the field of play and was called play on.
Yes umpires aren't perfect and we know this, boy do we know this, but maybe with the help of a little bit of technology they can get close to it...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Cricket
What is going on with Australia's cricket team at the moment?
They're all getting complacent and with an Ashes summer coming up I think it's time the selectors shook it up!
Drop Marcus North, we have plenty of all rounders at the moment so let's go with some who can do all of their jobs ie Steven Smith.
Drop Ricky Ponting, he's getting old and really ought to make this his last summer, come on Ricky you know I speak the truth.
Drop Michael Clarke, what is going on with him? He can't play twenty20 so they make him the captain and now that lack of form is flowing into the test and one day arena, not good enough I'm afraid. I also want to know why from the minute he made it to the national team he was vetted as a future captain. Why him huh? I don't think he has the brains, or at the moment, the form to be a captain of our team. In future give the one day captaincy to Bear, Cameron White and the test captaincy, to I don't know, DOugie Bollinger for all I care, just not Michael Clarke.
Put Phil Hughes in. He's got to learn how to bat at test level and there's only one way he's going to be able to do that. Simon Katich will be retiring soon and I think it's a good idea to have someone in the wings with some experience under his belt.
Make Lee Furlong Watson stay at home. The only time Watto made a century was when she wasn't there, we can't afford for all of our batsmen to fail so do us a favour and keep her away!
They're all getting complacent and with an Ashes summer coming up I think it's time the selectors shook it up!
Drop Marcus North, we have plenty of all rounders at the moment so let's go with some who can do all of their jobs ie Steven Smith.
Drop Ricky Ponting, he's getting old and really ought to make this his last summer, come on Ricky you know I speak the truth.
Drop Michael Clarke, what is going on with him? He can't play twenty20 so they make him the captain and now that lack of form is flowing into the test and one day arena, not good enough I'm afraid. I also want to know why from the minute he made it to the national team he was vetted as a future captain. Why him huh? I don't think he has the brains, or at the moment, the form to be a captain of our team. In future give the one day captaincy to Bear, Cameron White and the test captaincy, to I don't know, DOugie Bollinger for all I care, just not Michael Clarke.
Put Phil Hughes in. He's got to learn how to bat at test level and there's only one way he's going to be able to do that. Simon Katich will be retiring soon and I think it's a good idea to have someone in the wings with some experience under his belt.
Make Lee Furlong Watson stay at home. The only time Watto made a century was when she wasn't there, we can't afford for all of our batsmen to fail so do us a favour and keep her away!
AFL Grand Final
Why is it that the AFL seems to have the habit of stepping on everyone's toes?
Play nice Andrew, we have a nice big country here with plenty of room for everyone so just play nice.
You know that you seriously wouldn't hold the Grand Final anywhere but the MCG, where would be big enough for you to stuff the competing clubs members so you can seat all your cronies? Or are you going to ignore the competing clubs members altogether, that would probably be easier, and as you wouldn't have to worry about the MCC Members then you'd be looking at a 50,000 capacity ground, shouldn't be too hard to find now should it?
Seriously, pull your finger out and start making nice with Cricket Victoria so we can get this mess sorted out nice and properly in a gentlemanly fashion.
Let's go Saints!!
Play nice Andrew, we have a nice big country here with plenty of room for everyone so just play nice.
You know that you seriously wouldn't hold the Grand Final anywhere but the MCG, where would be big enough for you to stuff the competing clubs members so you can seat all your cronies? Or are you going to ignore the competing clubs members altogether, that would probably be easier, and as you wouldn't have to worry about the MCC Members then you'd be looking at a 50,000 capacity ground, shouldn't be too hard to find now should it?
Seriously, pull your finger out and start making nice with Cricket Victoria so we can get this mess sorted out nice and properly in a gentlemanly fashion.
Let's go Saints!!
Rugby Union - Robbie Deans
Alan Jones shut the hell up! What was all that on the news last night about how Saturday will be the day of reckoning for Robbie Deans? Do the world a favour and shut the hell up will you?
I realise that you may have got an inflated sense of ego when you were coaching a really good Wallabies side that really didn't need much coaching at all but you have to realise that that doesn't happen all the time, that all teams, no matter what the sport, go through a rebuilding phase and that's what the Wallabies are going through at the moment.
"It's not hard to win 6 in a row" bullshit it's not. Of course it is and when you're up against the number 1 and 2 sides in the World, although it's doubtful the Springboks are still number 2 but anyway, the task of keeping a winning streak going becomes all the more harder...
And as for my mate Dingo, I love what he said the other day, that his mission is to get the Wallabies ready for next year's world cup, and he aims to do that whether he's still got the job or not, although undoubtedly that would be a little bit hard if he were to be fired anytime soon.
That's just smart, obviously not something that would describe Alan Jones. Yeah, he's such a good rugby coach he's a talkback radio host... yeah, sweet references Alan...
Do we seriously want to be like the All Blacks who in the lead up to every world cup peak a year too early? Sure it would be nice to beat them, especially with the Faingaa twins making their run on debut together, well it's not Saia's but it is Anthony's and that's really hard to word without making it awkward, but I think the bigger picture has to be the World Cup and I think Robbie Deans is well and truly on the right track, even for a Kiwi...
I realise that you may have got an inflated sense of ego when you were coaching a really good Wallabies side that really didn't need much coaching at all but you have to realise that that doesn't happen all the time, that all teams, no matter what the sport, go through a rebuilding phase and that's what the Wallabies are going through at the moment.
"It's not hard to win 6 in a row" bullshit it's not. Of course it is and when you're up against the number 1 and 2 sides in the World, although it's doubtful the Springboks are still number 2 but anyway, the task of keeping a winning streak going becomes all the more harder...
And as for my mate Dingo, I love what he said the other day, that his mission is to get the Wallabies ready for next year's world cup, and he aims to do that whether he's still got the job or not, although undoubtedly that would be a little bit hard if he were to be fired anytime soon.
That's just smart, obviously not something that would describe Alan Jones. Yeah, he's such a good rugby coach he's a talkback radio host... yeah, sweet references Alan...
Do we seriously want to be like the All Blacks who in the lead up to every world cup peak a year too early? Sure it would be nice to beat them, especially with the Faingaa twins making their run on debut together, well it's not Saia's but it is Anthony's and that's really hard to word without making it awkward, but I think the bigger picture has to be the World Cup and I think Robbie Deans is well and truly on the right track, even for a Kiwi...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
AFL finals 2011
So lately there has been much talk about the make up of the AFL Finals next year, and when they're gonna hold the bugger. Personally I think it's all details coz it's going to be the Saints defending their title against whoever has the balls to challenge them but they're details really...
Anyway so as it stands there are 8 teams in the finals. 16 teams, 8 in the finals pretty simple maths even for me.
So next year with the introduction of the Suns or whatever dicky name they're going by next year, will bring the number of teams to 17, again simple maths, but we have people starting to think about finals.
How many teams will contest them?
When will we hold the Grand final? and so on and so forth.
Personally and historically the last team to come from outside the top 4 and win the damn thing was Adelaide and we're not going to discuss who they may or may not have beaten in order to win said flag. They were the last team in like 20 years according to my God and Saviour Nick Riewoldt on On the Couch on Monday night, blasphemy to some but the truth in my eyes haha.
But seriously, take as an example last year, I think there were teams getting into the finals having lost more games then they won. Seriously do we think these teams deserve to be there? To be competing for AFL's grandest prize? I think not.
Unfortantely for some the title of AFL Premiers is not won after 22 rounds, it's won after 25 or 26 if you're good enough to get there, and yes I do see the point of a finals system and I also see the point of having no finals, but that's for a time where the Saints are actually looking like taking the minor Premiership, or not.
But getting back to my point, 8 teams is enough for the finals. Personally I can also make an argument for just a final four only but I think that might be a bit silly.
I think to extend it to a top 10, because having an uneven number is just stupid, actually if you really wanted to make things easy it should really be a top 12 so the number of teams knocked out leaves an even number of teams so that they can all play the next week or so there are 2 teams getting a break, making it more equal, is rewarding teams for mediocrity no matter what the number of teams in the finals are.
Yes I know that as the system stands now there are teams who are doing just that but the number is small. I don't think there should be more than 1 or 2 teams at the most who find themselves in that situation.
So in summary, leave the finals at 8.
Now the Grand Final.
Will the fights over the G ever end?
Next year the AFL planned to hold the GF on October 1. As a side note I don't like this coz first weekend in October sounds nowhere near as good as last Saturday in September, but that's a side issue.
But Cricket Victoria has said they are claiming their rights to the G as of the first of October as the traditional start of their season.
So what are the AFL to do? They can't start the season earlier because, again, the state cricket clubs who control the MCG, SCG and Gabba won't release the grounds before March 31. Oh my oh my... I guess at a stretch they could manage it, it would put Eithad under a bit of pressure, but it's workable for 2 weeks.
Eithad hosts 3 games, Friday night, Sat and Sun;
Skilled Stadium gets one;
ANZ Stadium gets one, stuff the NRL;
AAMI Stadium gets one,
Subiacco gets one
and for kicks lets send one to either TIO, which might be a touch hot, or Aurora.
That's 8 stadiums for 17 teams with obviously 1 team having a bye.
This is more workable then moving the AFL Grand final elsewhere, because the Grand final isn't the grand final without the G.
Anyway so as it stands there are 8 teams in the finals. 16 teams, 8 in the finals pretty simple maths even for me.
So next year with the introduction of the Suns or whatever dicky name they're going by next year, will bring the number of teams to 17, again simple maths, but we have people starting to think about finals.
How many teams will contest them?
When will we hold the Grand final? and so on and so forth.
Personally and historically the last team to come from outside the top 4 and win the damn thing was Adelaide and we're not going to discuss who they may or may not have beaten in order to win said flag. They were the last team in like 20 years according to my God and Saviour Nick Riewoldt on On the Couch on Monday night, blasphemy to some but the truth in my eyes haha.
But seriously, take as an example last year, I think there were teams getting into the finals having lost more games then they won. Seriously do we think these teams deserve to be there? To be competing for AFL's grandest prize? I think not.
Unfortantely for some the title of AFL Premiers is not won after 22 rounds, it's won after 25 or 26 if you're good enough to get there, and yes I do see the point of a finals system and I also see the point of having no finals, but that's for a time where the Saints are actually looking like taking the minor Premiership, or not.
But getting back to my point, 8 teams is enough for the finals. Personally I can also make an argument for just a final four only but I think that might be a bit silly.
I think to extend it to a top 10, because having an uneven number is just stupid, actually if you really wanted to make things easy it should really be a top 12 so the number of teams knocked out leaves an even number of teams so that they can all play the next week or so there are 2 teams getting a break, making it more equal, is rewarding teams for mediocrity no matter what the number of teams in the finals are.
Yes I know that as the system stands now there are teams who are doing just that but the number is small. I don't think there should be more than 1 or 2 teams at the most who find themselves in that situation.
So in summary, leave the finals at 8.
Now the Grand Final.
Will the fights over the G ever end?
Next year the AFL planned to hold the GF on October 1. As a side note I don't like this coz first weekend in October sounds nowhere near as good as last Saturday in September, but that's a side issue.
But Cricket Victoria has said they are claiming their rights to the G as of the first of October as the traditional start of their season.
So what are the AFL to do? They can't start the season earlier because, again, the state cricket clubs who control the MCG, SCG and Gabba won't release the grounds before March 31. Oh my oh my... I guess at a stretch they could manage it, it would put Eithad under a bit of pressure, but it's workable for 2 weeks.
Eithad hosts 3 games, Friday night, Sat and Sun;
Skilled Stadium gets one;
ANZ Stadium gets one, stuff the NRL;
AAMI Stadium gets one,
Subiacco gets one
and for kicks lets send one to either TIO, which might be a touch hot, or Aurora.
That's 8 stadiums for 17 teams with obviously 1 team having a bye.
This is more workable then moving the AFL Grand final elsewhere, because the Grand final isn't the grand final without the G.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Rugby Union - Robbie Deans
Now I know I'm only just learning to speak rugby but I do live with a kiwi so i think i'm on pretty safe footing when I say I like Robbie Deans and what he's been doing with the Wallabies and I like the track we're on with him at the helm.
I don't get why there's talk that he's going to get dumped, if it's true they're pretty stupid arse rumours, coz like all our previous coaches have been that great...
I like the fact that he's rebuilt this team and I have to say they're doing ok.
Rebuilding in any sport is really hard and I guess the guys who usually do it usually cop a lot of flack while they do but I think Robbie Deans is right on the money, even if i do sound a little bias because i support the reds and he's picked a lot of reds, but they've been going through their own rebuilding phase so I guess they were ripe for the picking.
There's a world cup next year and there was no way we could be competitive with the team we had last year or the year before that.
Do we want the Wallabies to end up like the Socceroos? A team of guys who should have retired a while ago but can't because there's no talent coming through? No I didn't think so.
So all of Robbie Deans' critics back off! While we may not be seeing results at the minute I suspect when the time is right, and when we most want results, that because of Robbie Deans' planning and foresight we might just be getting them.
And yes I know it goes against the grain as Aussies to actually like a Kiwi, but at least he's a kiwi who sings our national anthem and has the nickname "Dingo" and let me tell you there aren't a lot of Dingos running around in New Zealand...
Good luck Robbie, regardless of what happens you've been great for our boys and for Australian rugby in general and we'd love for you to take us all the way and see Bill sitting in our trophy cabinet once more!!
I don't get why there's talk that he's going to get dumped, if it's true they're pretty stupid arse rumours, coz like all our previous coaches have been that great...
I like the fact that he's rebuilt this team and I have to say they're doing ok.
Rebuilding in any sport is really hard and I guess the guys who usually do it usually cop a lot of flack while they do but I think Robbie Deans is right on the money, even if i do sound a little bias because i support the reds and he's picked a lot of reds, but they've been going through their own rebuilding phase so I guess they were ripe for the picking.
There's a world cup next year and there was no way we could be competitive with the team we had last year or the year before that.
Do we want the Wallabies to end up like the Socceroos? A team of guys who should have retired a while ago but can't because there's no talent coming through? No I didn't think so.
So all of Robbie Deans' critics back off! While we may not be seeing results at the minute I suspect when the time is right, and when we most want results, that because of Robbie Deans' planning and foresight we might just be getting them.
And yes I know it goes against the grain as Aussies to actually like a Kiwi, but at least he's a kiwi who sings our national anthem and has the nickname "Dingo" and let me tell you there aren't a lot of Dingos running around in New Zealand...
Good luck Robbie, regardless of what happens you've been great for our boys and for Australian rugby in general and we'd love for you to take us all the way and see Bill sitting in our trophy cabinet once more!!
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