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Football Federation Australia ought to be congratulated for at least giving it a go. It’s an initiative that’s worth persevering with because it has potential. Other football codes have their gimmicks for certain rounds so why not football? The round itself has generated its fair share of publicity too which can only add to the experience. Let’s hope that it remains in place so that it has time to catch on.
Don’t get carried away with Ange
Ange Postecoglou has done a good job with the Brisbane Roar but let’s not get carried away. Sure he had that amazing 36 game unbeaten streak – which spectacularly fell away with five consecutive losses – but there’s a lot more to the story.
For starters, check out the backroom staff. First class and as safe as the Reserve Bank. Any coach with that sort of support is on a winner. Then there’s Thomas Broich who is arguably the best player in the A-League. When he is on fire, so too are Brisbane Roar and any team would love to have him.
And, finally, there is momentum and confidence which any team on a roll can generate. Suggestions that Postecoglou should be the next coach of the Socceroos are, at best, premature.
I am no expert on the merits of coaches but surely Graham Arnold must be ahead of anyone given what he has done with the Central Coast Mariners. With Vitezslav Lavicka very likely to part company with Sydney FC at the end of the season, the club would be mad not to pursue Arnold despite the fact the he is still under contract to the Mariners.
Vale Murray Barnes
It was very sad this week to hear of the passing of Murray Barnes. For people of my generation, we only managed to catch the last few years of his career but there is no doubt that the former Socceroo captain was an icon of Australian football.
He was a one-club man - a rarity by modern football standards. Barnes of course played for the mighty Sydney City Hakoah “The Slickers” alongside the likes of John Kosmina, Joe Watson, Steve O’Connor, David Mitchell, Alex Robertson, Frank Farina, Gerry Gomez, Jean Paul de Marigny, Tony Pezzano etc. RIP.
What happened to ES Marks Field?
On the subject of the Sydney City Slickers, their home ground was ES Marks (Sydney Athletic) Field in Kensington. The ground is still there as is used by local sporting associations and by schools for Athletics Carnivals etc.
With its central location, one has to wonder why the magnificent old ground is not incorporated into modern day football.
How? Well something like Coverciano in Tuscany which is the base for the Italian national team and a centre for excellence for training of coaches, players and referees. Our Socceroos do not have a central assembly place and a base in Australia. It’s about time an investment was made into a centre of excellence which can used by the Socceroos when they are in Australia.
If ES Marks Field is not suitable, then how about St George Stadium at Barton Park in Rockdale? Here is another former great ground of Australian football that is calling out for some TLC. Just a thought.