Technical Development of Our Young Players and the Socceroos at the Asian Cup

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), Tuesday 1 Febraury 2011 at 7:00PM, across the Australian Community radio Network.

The wonderful performance by the Socceroos in the Asian Cup, signalled a turning point in the development of players across the nation. We finally adopted a forward thinking approach to our opponents, what we conceded had to won from us, which utilised the best of what we have at this time. Not since Gus Hiddick have we demonstrated a style of play that seemed to match our national character. All good so far!

Importantly, it demonstrated what we are not - at this time in the process of our domestic football revolution, following the release of the FFA National Football Curriculum and National Development Plan. We are not as technically proficient as our opponents, even when we beat them on the day. We are playing a style of play that will do for now as we go forward, but it not where we need to be, if we are to challenge successfully and consistently at the highest international levels.

The introduction of the FFA National Football Curriculum and its comprehensive adoption at club level across the nation, is critical to producing the sort of players we admire in places like Barcelona, Japan, Korea and yes, Uzbekistan. Just as important is coach education and training.

In this program we hear from Craig Foster of the fantastic SBS World Game program, who sums up our situation, following our narrow loss to Japan. Then its on to Alfred Galustian of Coerver, the doyan of techncial coaches, together with the Coerver COO of Japan, Shinji Ishibashi (former J League player). The points they make should written in stone! Then we follow with the Head Coach at the AIS, Jan Versleijen and his reflections on player development, following a friendly game his squad played against the Japanese High School team Nara Ishijo. Its one coherent subject from a troika of football luminaries - we should, we must listen carefully - then take action at club level.

One thing is certain, its a point that Ron SMith made in his recent review of our HPP - we need to get this FFA National Curriculum and playing 1-4-3-3, operating in every team in Junior / youth football in the ACT region. Give it a go in the Premier League. It takes years, perhaps generations, to produce players as technically gifted as we see in other places. So get started. Get Club coaches on board with the change.

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How to Build a Player, The Post Match Talk by a Junior Football Coach, Young Players Going Overseas, An Australian Football Story and What is a Loyal Club Supporter?

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) on the Australian Community Radio Network, Tuesday at 7:00PM.

This program is an interesting, informative and amusing mix of interviews.
First is Arson Wenger talking about how you build a football player. Now this short piece might stand as the most succinct and accurate description of player development ever made by a Coach. It's impossible to not to reflect on the age group that covers our Summer 20s (17 to 20 years), for it is an age group that is particularly important to Wenger.
Then we move on to three short extracts from the FA Respect campaign. In this section, a parent coach has just finished a blistering post match speech to his young players. You hear the observations of the young player (his son), an FA Coach education official and an FA Club Welfare officer. This is important stuff! Its hard to criticise parents and others who stump up for a junior coaching gig each season - but we really do have to get it right or we will kill off our children's enjoyment of the game.
It's timely to remind parents and young players that the FFA and FIFA have strict rules governing the transfer of players under the age of 18 years of age to play with overseas clubs.  This ABC interview with the FFA CEO covers on off on the issue. If you are told otherwise, ring Capital Football (Technical Director or the FFA). Its a jungle out there - be very careful.
Finally, something that will definitely engage your interest in Football, taken from the book -  "Why England Lose: And other curious phenomena explained"  by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. This is a terrific read and a good football reference book for the bookshelf  "in the pool room'! I've selected two extracts that will tickle your fancy - An Account of the Socceroos under Gus Hiddick, and, an interesting piece of analysis on Football Spectator Loyalty (very topical in our A league). Its a first rate piece of work.

Download the Podcast here;

Never Really Know When You WIll Cop A Red Card!!

Just couldn't resist this one that's doing the rounds on the internet at the moment.

It's been a misreable time in Federal Politics for some this last week and not the happiest of times for our Socceroos.
Harry K is in good company. Difference is that none of his team mates were smiling when it happened.

I'm staying with Football, there's enough tiresome politics in the game in the ACT.

Politics imitating Sport??

Australia’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Squad has been announced!

I looked in vain for my name, not there, no phone call or email, but I can dream! Hell, I'd carry the oranges. My son reminds me as I write, in between bursts of loud laughter, that most prefer orange sports drink. Is nothing sacred!

My colleague, Eamonn Flanagan and his side kicks, Paddy and Lucy have had a lot to say about the composition of the squad. They've come pretty close to the mark. Go to www.nearpost.blogspot.com for the Nearpost National program Podcast and tune in next Tuesday at 6:30PM on 2xxfm (98.3mhz)- they'll have lots to say about this subject.

So here it is - away the lads!!!

Preliminary squad in full

Michael BEAUCHAMP (Al-Jazira Club, UAE)
Mark BRESCIANO (U.S. Citta di Palermo, Italy)
Tim CAHILL (Everton FC, England)
Nick CARLE (Crystal Palace, England)
David CARNEY (FC Twente, Netherlands)
Scott CHIPPERFIELD (FC Basel, Switzerland)
Jason CULINA (Gold Coast United, Australia)
Brett EMERTON (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Adam FEDERICI (Reading FC, England)
Eugene GALEKOVIC* (Adelaide United, Australia)
Richard GARCIA (Hull City, England)
Vincenzo GRELLA (Blackburn Rovers, England)
James HOLLAND (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)
Brett HOLMAN (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)
Mile JEDINAK (Antalyaspor Kulubu, Turkey)
Brad JONES (Middlesbrough FC, England)
Josh KENNEDY (Nagoya Grampus, Japan)
Harry KEWELL (Galatasaray SK, Turkey)
Shane LOWRY (Aston Villa FC, England)
Scott MCDONALD (Middlesbrough FC, England)
Mark MILLIGAN (JEF United, Japan)
Craig MOORE (Uncontracted)
Lucas NEILL (Galatasaray SK, Turkey)
Jade NORTH (Tromsø, Norway)
Tom OAR (FC Utrecht, Netherlands)
Nikita RUKAVYTSYA (FC Twente, Netherlands)
Mark SCHWARZER (Fulham FC, England)
Carl VALERI (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Italy)
Dario VIDOSIC (FC Nurnberg, Germany)
Luke WILKSHIRE (FK Dinamo Moscow, Russia)
Rhys WILLIAMS (Middlesbrough FC, England)

On the 24th of May, the Qantas Socceroos will play the New Zealand All-Whites who have also qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). This vital game is key to both teams preparation in building tactics and improving their match fitness before setting off to South Africa.

A Lesson In Football , A Lesson In Life - The Value Of Persistence and Self Belief - You Can't Beat It!

The season's about to begin here in the ACT Region, the World Cup is just around the corner and our team is there - it just doesn't get any better.

You're not fair dinkum if this video doesn't send a shiver down your spine!