our players that have gone through v1 of sap are better but either injured or mostly too young to break through. Bos, irankunda, circati,robertson, toure, neiwenhof, triantis, italiano, Volpato (if we get him) all are getting game time when fit but we've had a bit of an injury crisis


I don't think it's arnies job to improve their 1v1 much - it's too late by the time you get to this age

I think our main issue is lack of pathways as it has been throughout the a league era.

A league expansion, A league academies and nst will help, as will a full h&a NYL. We probably see the benefits of academies by the end of this season or next season with all the youth getting game time in europe. We still have a problem where our athletic players who are good off the ball have better success in europe than our technical players. So if you put all our best players on the pitch at the same time it is an athletic and defensive side

Robertson development is largely due to England, not Australia imo. I doubt he would be where he is if he had stayed in Australia. Probably making appearances off the bench for an A-league side.

This is concerning for two reasons. 

1) There are four core concepts taught at the SAP level. 1v1 is one of those core things. If players at International level do not have that ability, then what is going on in our development and pathways that they can get to this stage, and not have the ability to take on opposition players in a 1v1 situation. I get that even players with that skill would struggle if going up against the very best. But when you are going up against a side ranked 80, that is very worrying if your players cannot do that. 

2) Arnie has been manager since 2018. He has had more than enough time to have no identified this issue and corrected it. If he has not corrected a core skill that is meant to be taught at the U13/14 level, then what is he actually doing? 

I'm sorry, but Arnold has had two chances at this gig and has failed on both occasions. Yes he may have a 60% win rate, but that hides the turgid style of football, and the regression of player talent. We can't dish out jobs for mates at this level. He needs to go. 

This is concerning for two reasons. 

1) There are four core concepts taught at the SAP level. 1v1 is one of those core things. If players at International level do not have that ability, then what is going on in our development and pathways that they can get to this stage, and not have the ability to take on opposition players in a 1v1 situation. I get that even players with that skill would struggle if going up against the very best. But when you are going up against a side ranked 80, that is very worrying if your players cannot do that. 

2) Arnie has been manager since 2018. He has had more than enough time to have no identified this issue and corrected it. If he has not corrected a core skill that is meant to be taught at the U13/14 level, then what is he actually doing? 

I'm sorry, but Arnold has had two chances at this gig and has failed on both occasions. Yes he may have a 60% win rate, but that hides the turgid style of football, and the regression of player talent. We can't dish out jobs for mates at this level. He needs to go. 

he did his sap and game development stages here to be fair. I agree though that the ideal is to get our of here by 15 if you can (he got out at 12ish iirc)

It doesn't matter what players Arnie uses because he is going to make them play his one way.

Every team has watched us play under Arnie and they all know how to stuff us up - with no Plan B as we know. If he restructures to some other formation he still has them playing the same way.

I saw maybe 4 or 5 really nice pieces of play between a couple of different players in that last game and everything else was individuals doing something good to get the ball back.

Yengi stood offside the whole game during our build ups, clearly telling Bahrain that we are not going up the middle and will attack up the wings.

Our 6s moved laterally with our backline's side passing and all game you could see that a quick and accurate pass to O'Neill would have drawn two or three players to him immediately as the Bahrain players were ball chasers. He could then have passed back to whoever gave him the ball and Bahrain's high press was moved around and forced to make decisions - giving us opportunity. But we did not pass anything into the middle and the two or three forward Bahrain players just had to jog back and forth to keep the middle clear.

We have the players to do better if we play a way that allows them to do better.

Nisbet is a brilliant player. Irankunda has vision, individual flair, pace and power. He would make a difference being in the starting side regardless of his inexperience because the defenders can't just keep him wide like they do with our standard Arnie wing attack. He will cut in, take players on inside or outside, and in the middle of the flurry he can spot and pass to a player making a run and open up behind.

But Arnie will not change his system and if he brings these better players in he takes away the very thing that makes them effective. If he plays Nisbet he will no doubt make him isolated up front and put high balls to him all night. When he plays Irankunda he will isolate him just as badly by directing traffic up the wings slowly and safely until the defence is settled around him then expect the cross field pass to unlock the set defence and free Irankunda.

I am really tired of reading and writing the same criticisms of Arnie and our playing group to see nothing change. We can just visit the last 'Arnie Out' type of thread and it will all read the same. That game was disgraceful on every level and one of the worst live experiences I have had with football.

It is once again all on Arnie in my eyes and he just will not change anything with his blinkered and negative views on our chances, his expectations of players and favouritism/laziness, and his 'One Notion' system. Our opponents know how he plays - he needs to earn his huge salary by working on alternative systems.

We do not deserve to be where we are in the World Rankings and it shows with every minnow that pushes us around. I do not have unreasonably high expectations of what we can do - but we are definitely not doing what we could do with Arnie as our manager.

Until Australian football moves away from its obsession with pace and power at all levels we will continue to struggle to develop enough players with strong 1v1 ability at the elite level it’s not to say we don’t have any but when we do have players they are in the minority sadly.

Its not to say that physique and power has a say especially at the top level but the basics on 1v1 is technique and skill all the top players developed that when they were young and added the other parts of their game such as the pace and power as they got older.

Im not sure what’s goes at youth level these days but it seems we still get it all wrong here when pace and power is prioritised over technique, and yes it seems the curriculum or the implementation of it hasn’t done enough to improve on this regard.

The way this is developed is NOT small sided games. It is street/backyard football. When you are playing with 30 or 40 kids and rarely get the ball you develop your 1 v 1 skills for 2 reasons. First there is no room for passing, so keeping the ball is a must. Second, if you want to keep the ball you have to develop the skills.

If he doesn't start Nizz and Irankunda on Tuesday, I'll assume he's taken a Saudi bribe to set us up as poorly as possible.

unless we break the bank we can't get anyone better than arnie imo

I do think something went terribly wrong here. 300 passes down from normal - the ball movement was really really slow

I think with all of our attacking mids out as well as all our rbs out the emphasis was on nothing going wrong. It was arch conservative. We played 3 defensive minded mids and 3 cbs, we had only 2 players in between bahrains lines....was really really conservative...

hope he turns it around...

I definitely coached this with my U14s NPL side last year. We had some sessions where the focus was specifically on 1v1. We had a great TD who had a clear structure for each year level so that players were developing with certain skills and ideology all the way through the ranks. Unfortunately he got usurped by one of the board members mates who was quick to get rid of certain coaches. He kept the coaches who didn't turn up to the TD's training sessions and such.  

In saying that, certain clubs are trying to do the right thing. There is a massive disconnect between club level and A-league level. It's like the FA and the respective state organisations don't talk to each other. It's almost like everyone is doing their own thing. Our biggest issue is having heads of organisations who play everything as some sort of political game. 


I read your other posts as well as you sound extremely cynical. Not many players from Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, England etc are playing street ball. They all developed in small sided and built from there. There is also no chance that people are playing matches agaisnt 30 or 40 kids. Even in places where they do play street football, those numbers are not realistic. 

SSG can definitely develop the skill, but it all comes down to the player and how they approach it and apply it. 

Been saying Arnie out for some time, but he got by because Redmayne saved a penalty and we beat Denmark, so Arnie was apparently the messiah. He has never been a very good manager, at least not at the International level. Domestically he is fine, but once the level ramps up, he struggles. 

It's inexcusable the downward trend that the Socceroos have been on since Ange left. No major talents coming through and no noticeable brand of top level football being played. 

Arnie won't be sacked any time soon because he beat Lebanon and Bangladesh. Not to mention that we still don't have a Matildas coach, so the FA are busy with that. They don't want to have to multitask. 

I dont agree, Indonesia will be very physical and the conditions hot and sticky, I dont know much about little Nisbet but putting an inexperienced playemaker in and expecting him to change the game in such a hsotile envirnoment would be suicide.

Irankunda is just wasted at national level at the moment, why the hell even put him on the pitch as it plays out? No service, no ball to run onto, the poor kid was trying to drive at players from outside the box for lack of any other movement... I bet the first thing that crossed his mind after the match last night was how farking good the Bayern Youth team puts it on a plate for him.... 

I definitely coached this with my U14s NPL side last year. We had some sessions where the focus was specifically on 1v1. We had a great TD who had a clear structure for each year level so that players were developing with certain skills and ideology all the way through the ranks. Unfortunately he got usurped by one of the board members mates who was quick to get rid of certain coaches. He kept the coaches who didn't turn up to the TD's training sessions and such.  

In saying that, certain clubs are trying to do the right thing. There is a massive disconnect between club level and A-league level. It's like the FA and the respective state organisations don't talk to each other. It's almost like everyone is doing their own thing. Our biggest issue is having heads of organisations who play everything as some sort of political game. 


I read your other posts as well as you sound extremely cynical. Not many players from Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, England etc are playing street ball. They all developed in small sided and built from there. There is also no chance that people are playing matches agaisnt 30 or 40 kids. Even in places where they do play street football, those numbers are not realistic. 

SSG can definitely develop the skill, but it all comes down to the player and how they approach it and apply it. 

Been saying Arnie out for some time, but he got by because Redmayne saved a penalty and we beat Denmark, so Arnie was apparently the messiah. He has never been a very good manager, at least not at the International level. Domestically he is fine, but once the level ramps up, he struggles. 

It's inexcusable the downward trend that the Socceroos have been on since Ange left. No major talents coming through and no noticeable brand of top level football being played. 

Arnie won't be sacked any time soon because he beat Lebanon and Bangladesh. Not to mention that we still don't have a Matildas coach, so the FA are busy with that. They don't want to have to multitask. 

It’s good to explain your experience, I agree the game here is too disconnected and too many are keen on doing there own thing rather than what’s best for the players and their own careers.

SSG’s and even futsal is good if done properly, SAP is meant to improve the skill level too but I feel the issues are bigger at play as the other things are good ideas in theory.

The question I feel is why we are not developing enough, creative and 1v1 is it down to the coaching standards and talent ID?

No major talents coming through?!?

We have an 18 Yr old whose just been registered in Bayerns champions league squad.

We have a 20 Yr old center back playing every minute in a mid table serie a team. All the best players in the A league are olyroos.. Probably the only time in A league history we could say that. 21 Yr old jordie bos is prob the best player in his mid table Belgian team.

Then throw on top Robertson and Volpato. 

What do you base your opinion on " Nisbet is a brilliant player " ?
I think he is decent wee player, but he was a free agent for months and the best he could get was Ross County, hardly where a brilliant player would end up.

You obviously didn’t watch him much in the last A league season.
 I’m confident that clubs who rejected the idea of signing him will rue their missed opportunity.

It’s good to explain your experience, I agree the game here is too disconnected and too many are keen on doing there own thing rather than what’s best for the players and their own careers.

SSG’s and even futsal is good if done properly, SAP is meant to improve the skill level too but I feel the issues are bigger at play as the other things are good ideas in theory.

The question I feel is why we are not developing enough, creative and 1v1 is it down to the coaching standards and talent ID?

No major talents coming through?!?

We have an 18 Yr old whose just been registered in Bayerns champions league squad.

We have a 20 Yr old center back playing every minute in a mid table serie a team. All the best players in the A league are olyroos.. Probably the only time in A league history we could say that. 21 Yr old jordie bos is prob the best player in his mid table Belgian team.

Then throw on top Robertson and Volpato. 

It’s good to explain your experience, I agree the game here is too disconnected and too many are keen on doing there own thing rather than what’s best for the players and their own careers.

SSG’s and even futsal is good if done properly, SAP is meant to improve the skill level too but I feel the issues are bigger at play as the other things are good ideas in theory.

The question I feel is why we are not developing enough, creative and 1v1 is it down to the coaching standards and talent ID?

No major talents coming through?!?

We have an 18 Yr old whose just been registered in Bayerns champions league squad.

We have a 20 Yr old center back playing every minute in a mid table serie a team. All the best players in the A league are olyroos.. Probably the only time in A league history we could say that. 21 Yr old jordie bos is prob the best player in his mid table Belgian team.

Then throw on top Robertson and Volpato. 

One of the reasons I am not coaching this season was because of the politics around team selections. I had a player whose father coached one of the younger grades. His son is an incredibly lazy player, talented, but lazy. If he didn't get game time, there would be complaints and because the father was a coach at the club he would complain to the board and they would then have a word with me. 

The other issue at the level I was at was that because players get upset if they are not getting time, you need to balance the minutes. So you could be chasing a win for example and want a certain player out there, but you might have to sub them because another player hasn't had the same amount of minutes as everyone else. 


2 players who are currently at a big team and a mid table team. Yes, they qualify as potential talents but they are not major. Major is someone who is breaking into the first team of a top side. Remember when we had players playing in the first eleven across Europe. 

The players you mentioned would fall under potential, not major talents. 

Robetson and Volpato have done their training outside of Aus. They may be Aus players, if they choose us, but they have come through different systems. Let's not take credit for them. 

2 players who are currently at a big team and a mid table team. Yes, they qualify as potential talents but they are not major. Major is someone who is breaking into the first team of a top side. Remember when we had players playing in the first eleven across Europe. 

The players you mentioned would fall under potential, not major talents. 

Robetson and Volpato have done their training outside of Aus. They may be Aus players, if they choose us, but they have come through different systems. Let's not take credit for them. 

Major as far as I'm concerned is that you've actually made it and a start up 1st team player IMO.

Irakunda/Circati have enormous potential and still young and learning - lets not forget the other great "major :)" suspect not too long ago was Kuol signed up by Newcastle.
Hows that going by the way.
Hey all power to our young up and comers wish them all the best hopefully making it to the top but lets not carry on chicken before the egg.
We do this so so much its annoying.

The trhead is about our over rated gaffa, I like GA due to his past and passion/loyalty for our badge like any of us BUT I really don't see him helping our NT players grow into the potential they could play on the park.
Too much preventative maintanence that is good to get through qualifying but at the same time its holding back what lies underneath.
Its like don't go outside because the boogy man will get you.
Sure we might get ripped openning up but nothign ventured nothing gained.
I still don't think we have the players really capable, a core so to speak that can hold a game together whatever is thrown at them under the pump and our neighbours above and the ME have progressed and look as if they want it far more than our guys.
Is that because of GA's style - maybe so as well.
I'd like to see a coach that juggles things up, live by the sword die by the sword - we lack variety.

Lets not forget that only Kewell & Viduka were in the first teams in the top sides.

Timmy Cahill the only other high profile one & I love Timmy, but I think he would struggle to be a CAM for many of the top teams today.
Football has changed a lot since the early 2000s, these days Kante, Rodri, Jordan Hendson, Casmerio, all the donkeys (workers) can also play.

our players that have gone through v1 of sap are better but either injured or mostly too young to break through. Bos, irankunda, circati,robertson, toure, neiwenhof, triantis, italiano, Volpato (if we get him) all are getting game time when fit but we've had a bit of an injury crisis


I don't think it's arnies job to improve their 1v1 much - it's too late by the time you get to this age

I think our main issue is lack of pathways as it has been throughout the a league era.

A league expansion, A league academies and nst will help, as will a full h&a NYL. We probably see the benefits of academies by the end of this season or next season with all the youth getting game time in europe. We still have a problem where our athletic players who are good off the ball have better success in europe than our technical players. So if you put all our best players on the pitch at the same time it is an athletic and defensive side