I’ve never taken the time to write a detailed analysis of my thoughts on the end of Postecoglue’s time with the National team, but if I did, it would read pretty similar to that. I don’t buy the “couldn’t handle the press” for a second. 

Not the point I was making. Stick to Ange

My point was that its a doddle for any top 60 Asian Nations to go to the WC, but I guess tangents do seem to be your strong suit

I honestly don't know the truth, just rumours floating around, you know how these things go, every side has a different truth....  Maybe I'm naive and just want to expect the best in people, maybe Ange just saw how shit the Socceroos where and didn't want to lead them to another world cup ( oddly despite having lead an only slightly better squad against an even tougher group 4 years earlier)  If you look at it dispassionately for a second though it doesn't match his methodology or  garacter  both before and after the NT gig. He is stubborn as f#ck without a doubt and not afraid, from his past selection of players at least, to follow his own path and you can tell his ego and self belief are gigantic. Taking on the Socceroos gig despite previous failure with the youth team was a gamble (BTW kudos to GA for doing the same thing, I'll admit at least that) , gutting the senior players before Asia cup was a gamble, packing up and coaching in Japan was a gamble, taking on Stevie G and the Hun in Scotland is a huuuuge gamble but doesn't make sense he would pack it in before getting a chance to prove his credentials with a team he qualified for a WC....  its so uncharacteristic..... why if not pushed, he wouldn't give 2 shits about what anyone else though of his performance.... there has to be something behind it.....
Look I get that you feel cheated ( I was too, and to be honest I like you a little more now that I know what's  behind your criticism)  I get that it was sold to us fans that Ange abandoned the squad in the final hour because he is a coward and the FFA saved the day with a foreign devil presenting us with a fighting spirit appearance in Russia and after a world wide search for the best talent available..... good ol Aussie GA as a saviour....... I just don't buy it.....

I got your ‘point’ first time. Don’t think for a second any of fhe past/present Socceroos, that have given everything on the pitch to qualify for a Wcup, would agree with your disrespectul comments towards our NT Wcup history/struggles/journey 

Just because it is called "The World Cup", doesn't necessarily means it's the best/strongest competition. The quality of the competition is "nerfed" with weaker teams that qualify for the tournament due to them qualifying via weaker Confederations.

For the World Cup to be contested by the top World class teams, then there really is only one way to do so.... And that is having inter-Confederation qualifiers.. that would/should root out the weaker nations and have only the best Nations (plus/along with the odd dark horse/surprised team whoay/will qualify) competing against one another come the 'Word Cup' proper.

Yep, I remember that clearly, only for him a few weeks later he packs up and leaves Brisbane for Melbourne. 

This on the back of an injury that the Celtic medical team picked up when we first tried to sign him a season or two back. His injury was so bad that he had to pretty much relearn how to walk again,. Let alone relearning football again.

Cheers brother 🙂 ☘🍀

Massive away game in the league against Hibs coming up. If they can win this, they’ll be building some great momentum. A draw is dropped points in the long run, while a loss is, well, let’s not think about that right now.

I’m not a long-term SPL follower, but Hibs don’t seem to be doing well this year (maybe the loss of Irvine?), but Celtic historically seem to struggle against them away.

I think Celtic haven’t won there for seven years? 

Profoundly disagree with this.

Anyone who understands the way he plays football (especially as coach of Oz) would appreciate his determination to succeed as coach / leader of Oz football. Read his book! He wanted only the best for Oz football and took immense pride in his position (and achievements). 

Can there be anything more fun than going to a World Cup as a player or manager? No-one is going to give that up without a seriously powerful incentive.

My own theory (for which I have zero evidence) is that Ange was embittered by the criticism he'd copped and at the same time received an offer he couldn't refuse from the CFG. All of a sudden there was both a carrot and a stick and the man was just exhausted. (I understand also he has a pretty powerful ego which might have helped.)

But no way in the world would he have been such a defeatist as to quit because he thought he would lose. In fact, I'm certain we would have done better if Ange had stayed. Just ask Jackson Irvine.

That's 4 on the trot that Hibs have lost in the League. What's going on? Has Boyle dropped his game, though I note he scored against Celtic? He seemed a bit off against Japan, but I thought that was that he was very well marked out of the game.

No. He was Hibs highest rated player today according to BBC Sport.

I've read his book and I can't find an excuse for him abandoning Australia months out from the WC based on what he said in that..

More baffling was the revelation from players that even after they won the Asian cup they were afraid to approach him to celebrate because he always keeps everyone around him guessing. Fair enough during or before the tournament but after. Tool. 

I actually think he has some quite strong asberger's/autism traits.
Not saying that as a judgment btw. 
Just note the way he couldn't ever look at the person interviewing him straight (he always looks to the side or down). Always had me intrigued.

Fair enough that we have different opinions and I’ll admit I’ve never read Ange’s book. It would however have been his second WC where he lost all three group games had he stayed and given the performances against Thailand, Syria and Honduras I think he knew it was likely. That is a record to avoid at all costs both in the context of historical Australian coaches and as a coach looking for a job after the WC.

I haven’t read any of Irvine’s comments on Ange leaving, but would be interested to. Any links you can share?

I’m generally not one for conspiracy theories in football, but hearing that in their three previous games Rangers have been behind when the opposition have received a red card and two penalties, followed by the softest penalty ever to square things up against Aberdeen in the 81st minute; is enough to make you believe in a “Rangers effect”.

The sooner VAR is introduced to Scottish football the better.

"
  "Looking someone in  the eye" is supposed to mean sincerity and honesty.  The best liars can look you straight in the eye and still lie convincingly. Doesn't mean much to me. 

Some people are better able to organize their thoughts and communicate more articulately by looking away.

But he quit because he knew he did not have the cattle to play the way he wanted and would be smashed at the World Cup.  Again.  That's the thing about international coaching-the cattle is limited.

Yep, then Rangers will the penalties that they get cheated out of every week. Then again , maybe not if someone like Kevin Clancy is in the VAR box.

It's fairly common for the League's most successful side(s) to receive more favourable treatment isn't it?  I wouldn't chalk it up to conspiracy, rather the natural human reaction to believe that the inferior side have committed a foul, etc. 

We see the same in in Australia  with Sydney, where everybody thinks the FFA have given a directive to refs to favour Sydney for no reason whatsoever.

A bit of truth in both of these I think. They are not mutually exclusive. Ange seems to be quite a complicated man.

My own theory (for which I have zero evidence) is that Ange was embittered by the criticism he'd copped and at the same time received an offer he couldn't refuse from the CFG. All of a sudden there was both a carrot and a stick and the man was just exhausted. (I understand also he has a pretty powerful ego which might have helped.)

and

It would however have been his second WC where he lost all three group games had he stayed and given the performances against Thailand, Syria and Honduras I think he knew it was likely. That is a record to avoid at all costs both in the context of historical Australian coaches and as a coach looking for a job after the WC.

Yes he was pissed off with criticism (in spite of encouraging football analysis), he had a good offer from CFG, he had a poor result at the last World Cup (though won plaudits with how Australia played) and he has a large ego and another poor showing at the World Cup would not have sat well with him.

To me - he did the best for his career - something we probably would all do.

And if you spend a lot of time in your opponents box, then the law of averages dictates you will win more penalties.

Yes. And at a local level (when I'm reffing) I've noticed that teams that have more skilful players draw more fouls. (Either blokes are missing the ball and kicking them accidently because they've moved it away from them or outright kicking them because they've got better skills.)

Very good win last night for Ange’s Celtic over Ferencvaros away in Hungary, 3-2. If they can win away in the league this coming weekend, Celtic will still be alive in the Europa League, have a cup semi-final coming up and be just four points off Rangers in the league. Since the last international break Celtic have not lost a match, and really only had one disappointing outing, last weekend’s draw at home to a side that parked two buses and played anti-football. Fascinating times, Celtic haven’t quite got a grip on Ange-ball yet but are on their way. The squad is still thin, definitely needs a boost of two or three quality players in midfield in the transfer window, and more time, which is not freely given at Celtic, but still, things are better right now for Ange than just six weeks ago. Of course, we all know football fortunes can turn on a dime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VEkZmOezfY

Jackson Irvine talking about Ange