Interesting question - Who has been the biggest improver in the Australian milieu since 2014? My answer would be Matty Ryan. As I said in another thread, if the Matty of today was between the sticks in 2014 we could have got a win against the Netherlands and a draw against Chile.

Yeah definitely Ryan. Luongo, Mooy and Sainsbury have also satisfied. The latter two just missed out on Brazil. 

can't believe how many in our squad for this world cup did not play in 2014

Ange found them all. 

I'd agree but with an additional comment.  The tournament changed in a single minute in 2014.  Oar crossed a great ball from the left to Leckie who was open on goal.  Leckie hesitated just a fraction and tried to chest it into goal.  60 seconds later the ball was down the other end after a Dutch counter attack and Ryan failed against a low curving ball your grandmother should have stopped.

If the Leckie of today had that chance it would have been a headed goal and Australia up 3 - 1.  Who knows from there?

we would have lost 4-3 still cause Ange's teams dont know how to defend or finish games off.. we saw it through his entire tenure. 

Epl openers announced. Brighton at Watford. Huddersfield host Chelsea. 

Burnley got a win away at Chelsea first game last season, could be a good chance for Huddersfield.

Cleur starting in the Serie C promotion final.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime

Harvey started and played 66 minutes for GAIS in Sweden.

APOEL drawn with Lithuanian side in CL qualification while Celtic have Armenian side Alashkert. Rogic will probably still be resting. 

Looks like Mooy might have some competition next season, albeit better competititon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=7MdBTpfALxI

Kwame Yeboah has moved to third tier German side Fortuna Köln permanently

And interestingly Oli Bozanic has signed with Hearts in Scotland

Wow 3 Aussies at Hearts now - Garuccio, Edwards and Bozanic.

Might have to tune into a few games this upcoming season.

The Edinburgh Derby will be mandatory Aussies Abroad viewing if Hibs get their wish and keep JMac.

UCL draw   (just noticed John already posted about it)

Alashkert (Armenia) v Celtic
Suduva (Lithuania) v APOEL
Valur Reykjavik (Iceland) v Rosenborg

Davidson's loan at Ljubljana ended so won't be involved. I think the only other one is Pasquali at Ajax, but yeah.

aussieburgh derby

Reports Everton and Southampton want Mooy. 

Hope he stays with Wagner, to be frank.

everton just picked up marco silva as manager.  that could be really good.  imo silva could get everton into europe contention.

Huddersfield won’t let Mooy go for less than 30mil and reports are an 18mil potential offer from Everton or Southhampton....don’t think so.

No way Sainsbury will stay at Grasshoppers. Initially I was tentative about his playing in the Swiss league but after his recent performances, he'd make Basel and should even end up in the Bundesliga, EPL or La Liga. 

In regards to Mooy, his time at Huddersfield is working out perfectly and as much as I'd like to see him get European competition, it'd be extremely draining on him and he's got a spot in the EPL.

Everton and Southampton will likely get to Europe before Huddersfield but those clubs can be quite volatile and although I like Everton, they're quite unsteady these days. 

How would you feel if Sainsbury joined Spartak, CSKA or Zenit? Could add the successful Ukrainian clubs too. European competition would be there and the leagues are steadily improving but I'd much rather see him closer to the English Channel. 

If he'd be at one of the big Moscow clubs or Zenit he'd be doing great as he'd be right into European competition and this world cup has proven the quality of the Russian league. Wouldn't do Arnie's retirement fund much harm, either.

He's finally extricated himself from his contract with Jiangsu, hasn't he? Had Grasshopper kept the same coach that hired him? Giving him the armband was a big statement. Even on a lower salary, after earning big bucks already he could do far worse than staying put for now, Zurich is a great city/village.

Yakin went and Fink came in. Sainsbury is way too good for what Grasshoppers were doing but he can stay there as a means to get away from China.

He's still owned by the Chinese but there's absolutely no way he'll go back due to their 3 foreign player rule risking so much match time.

Grasshoppers are famous but have really dropped. He's done Holland and I think the world cup has only added to his value. Someone big might try him but he needs a spot in the 11. He needs to look for teams with vacant CB spots. 

That would be a mistake. He has to move for the good of his career. Huddersfield won't be in the Prem for too many more seasons. It's a dead end club in the longer term. He'd be far better off moving to a big club like Everton, which may even offer him European football down the line. West Ham and Southampton also seem like solid options. He'd be a key player in any of those teams. 

The more I think about it the more I think Grasshoppers were on to something when they moved him into midfield. I reckon he has all the attributes to be an outstanding 6. He could also excel as an RCB in a back 3. 

Alannah Kennedy scoring from inside the centre circle in the US. Video: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1010703011285491714?s=19