Blog goes until the final

The Aussies may be out, but this blog will run until the final, of course

Japan v Saudi Arabia: I'll be following Japan as a Celtic and Nakamura fan.

Iraq v Korea Republic: In view of my special relationship with Jorvan Vieira and the Iraqi players, its come on Iraq.

Japan v Iraq final. I'd like to see that.

Think of the money we saved!

CEO Ben Buckley, "We're gonna be quids in if we lose to Japan."

Losing to Japan was good for the game! Ok, Ben Buckley said nothing of the sort, but it got me thinking.



We were always going to have to pay for the team and support staff to stay until the final.

So we saved a week's money there. Hotel fees, The big man's food bill, you know who I mean etc.

Also the players were said to be on $110,000 per man if they won the tournament. With Arnie and others on a bonus, that has to be about $2.5million.

We're rich, we're rich.

That should cover a Youth League or a Women's league. Take your pick.

Until I hear otherwise the FFA must have more money in their budgets now than if we stayed one more week and won the Asia Cup.

Remember there was no prize money, so the longer we stayed the more it cost.

Any thoughts?

Socceroos Asian Cup rating

Here's my Socceroos ratings: They ain't pretty but then the performances weren't.

Positives: David Carney, Mark Milligan, Michael Beauchamp, Tim Cahill and the fact these weren't the World Cup qualifiers:) Football in Asia. We've never had so much and I love it.

Negatives: Team performances, Coaching decisions and Mark Viduka, Vince Grella Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo and Harry Kewell.

Thoughts:
Mark Viduka is 31. This team needs to move our best World Cup player to the bench. This would allow him to maintain his impact and quality as he ages and slows further.

More importantly it will allow the new coach to bring in younger, more mobile forwards which will enable this team to change the way it plays.

We can't qualify for the World Cup with a slowing Viduka leading the line. Until we move him we can't improve as a team.

Sadly, it's time to change the pace of our attack, even if that means in the short-term we lose more games. We will only qualify if we can improve in our forward play. With Viduka ageing, and slowing, we need to look to the next generation.

Do you really want to watch a 34 year old Mark Viduka leading the line at the next World Cup?

RATINGS:
Mark Scharzwer..6.Made some great saves against Oman, and Japan. But his distribution was shocking, especially against Japan. His performances were much poorer than what we expect from a guy ten years in the Premiership. Very disappointing overall, but not through lack of effort or character.

Lucas Neill 5..the most disappointing of all the players. Woeful in the first two games. And getting sent-off for back chat! Well, I find that unforgivable for a guy who was so dignified in defeat against Italy twelve months ago. Missed his penalty. Can't criticise him for that, but his run-up was painful to watch.

More importantly he talked up the Socceroos chances, ran down the Omani's, got sent off, got out jumped for the Japanese goal and played woefully against Oman and Iraq. What is wrong with Lucas?

Will be important once he gets his game and attitude back. Probably needs a strong coach to get the best out of him.

Patrick Kisnorbo..4.. Arnold should have read the signs against Singapore. The rest of the country did. Kisnorbo needed protecting and given the chance to improve. Only plays with Leicester in England so clearly playing above himself for the Socceroos. Will get his chance again. Lets hope he is given more support by the Coach and players next time.

David Carney..8..well, well,well. Showed his energy and his left foot. Will undoubtedly give us scares with his defending in years to come. But will play many more times for the Socceroos, and will improve. Well done Carney and well done Arnold.

Mark Milligan..8..did fantastically well, apart from the goal which eventually took us to penalties. But he is quality, sharp and you can see he wants to win. Would always be in my Socceroos team from now on. Arnold must rue the fact that he didn't have the confidence to give the Olyroos Captain a start earlier in the tournament.

Brett Emerton..7 Still super fit. Showed his energy and ability in the last game. This is where he's needed despite his poor distribution and threat in final third. Slow to start the tournament in terms of fitness which suggests the whole team was underdone. If this guy can't run, who can!

Michael Beauchamp..7..did well I thought. Gained confidence since last Socceroos appearance and showed he can handle the pressure. Should improve from here for the Socceroos if guided correctly.

Vince Grella..5..poor Vinnie. Not fit from the off, and Arnold unwilling to take him off and give him support early in games. Vinnie undoubtedly a player of ability in a certain role. But when his team-mates aren't moving Grella will always look less effective, and for many games no-one was moving. Grella probably just needed a rest and Coach's support. He got neither.

Jason Culina..6 ran hard and got fitter as the games went on. Didn't produce anything in the final third of the field. With Grella not expected to, surely one of the two centre mids have to produce something occasionally. The team requires something more at international level. Culina has the ability and engine to score but needs to pick some moments when he can influence forward play.
Distribution was shocking in first three games. But Culina gives his all. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. Still a vital member of future campaign.

Harry Kewell..5..Not sure what Harry did. Not sure what he can do anymore. Him and Dukes beat Uruquay and got us to the World Cup last sixteen. Our golden players.

But Harry did not create much if anything in Asia. Was unfit. In fact such was his defending against Thailand that he was quickly shifted to right wing, from where he scored a great meaningless goal. Has he got more to give the national team? Maybe, but at 28 is he going to be fit enough to play?

Maybe it's time to move Harry on. Hard as it is, but maybe with the World Cup three years away, his time is over!

Mark Viduka..6..yes he scored three goals. Two against Thailand. But he didn't really turn up. in fact he didn't run until the third game and came off early in the fourth. I'm a big fan of Viduka, but until he ends his days we are restricted by his lack of pace but undoubted strengths. The big man should step back, but not down. Call him in occasionally and play him when we need him. But his talents are so big he demands a place. His lack of pace demands a certain style.

This is now restricting the growth of the team. Kennedy and McDonald, younger more mobile are not Viduka but they are the future. Viduka, sadly I say, it's time to be a bench man.

John Aloisi 6..Aloisi fought hard and always wants to play. He scored and that is what he is there for, but did he gives us much more.

Against Japan he kept the ball for way to long, was unable to find his team-mates and often lacked control. Not always his fault as support was distant, but didn't really perform. Best days are behind him. Good squad man in years to come. What's new!

Tim Cahill...8 can hold his head high. Ran hard, created goals, and scored. Probably one of the few to play as we know they can.

Nicky Carle..6..well he didn't get much game time, but sometimes a star makes his name in such a way. Can't criticise him for not winning the game against Japan single handedly, but if he had he'd be remembered for ever.

Needs more opportunities at this level. Do you really put him on at this time of the game, in this game with his experience. Coaching blind I call that.

Luke Wilkshire....5 played out of position. Silly bookings. Limited ability to attack from full-back. Carney showed what an Australian left-back is required to do in terms of attack.

Brett Holman..5 poor first touch, missed chances, didn't perform. Seemed nervous and too keen.
Jury still out, but needs more game time.

Marco Bresciano: 5 Played in patches, but reflected the team. Not fit, seemed like it was too hard at times. Lifted against Japan. As one of our creative players, what did he create in the whole tournament? Looked like a man who had played too much football in the last few years. Coach should recognise this.

Graham Arnold: 4 Poor performance. Failed to get his squad to perform. Culturally Australia need a guy that is more than just a football manager. We are in Asia. We need an intelligent man beyond the tactical stuff.

Arnie learnt as the tournament taught him lessons. He now knows it's okay to play A-League players, but he would never have done it. How many j-League players waltzed all over the Aussies, and Iraqi and Thai for that matter.

Arnie blamed his players, the referee, the heat, the different seasons. Where was the ability to celebrate our journey into Asia. The ability to use Nicky Carle instead of a non-performing Bresciano, or Carl Valeri for an exhausted Vince Grella. How long would he have persevered with Kisnorbo and Neill. Did he not see the Singapore debacle?

Arnie needs to move on. And maybe return later in his career. For me, right now, he cannot take us towards 2010. It wouldn't be fair on him.

This Australian team is the most important job in sport. This team will take us across Asia. We need a football tactician and much much more.

The Government should fund the position!

FFA CEO Ben Buckley talks Asian Cup

FFA CEO Ben Buckley talks with Australian Assistant Coach John Kosmina and Ireland's Michael Lynch from The Age.

I interviewed FFA CEO Ben Buckley after the Iraq game. Here's the article.


Football Federation Australia has been stung by criticism earlier this week as The Socceroos struggled to live up to their pre-tournament tag as Asia Cup favourites.

Fans in Australia were shocked at dismal performances against Oman and Iraq, which left Australia in a do-or-die battle with Thailand. Australia won 4-0 easing pressure on Coach Graham Arnold, the players and the whole FFA organisation but the previous performances haven’t been forgotten.

Many fans have called for Graham Arnold’s resignation. Others blame a lack of preparation. Some say the players don’t want to be here. A lack of knowledge and respect of Asian football within the FFA structure has also been raised.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley admits seeing the Socceroos play in their first Asian Cup is a big learning curve for everyone.

But Buckley, clearly disappointed by the criticism, strongly refutes the team is under prepared.

“Not at all. We invested a lot of time and money in reconnaissance. We sent a team to the various locations to check training facilities and hotels. We worked hard on having a preparation plan; we went to Singapore where we acclimatised. We had a very strong game plan in place. But it’s like anything when you are first time participants. Entering a new tournament for the first time, when you sit down afterwards you will learn a lot about what went right and what you can improve on.”

Within the FFA Coaching structure is there anybody with Asian Cup knowledge?

“The Coaches have studied the teams. The coaching staff watched tapes and saw them play in some games so I don’t think we have been deficient in our preparation but there is always going to be a team who comes and plays a different way from what we’ve seen or a player who plays better than we anticipated he could. That’s the same in any sport.”

Despite the rocky start the FFA is delighted with the interest back in Australia.

“We were unsure how the Australian public would embrace the Asia Cup. But the TV audiences have been extremely strong. Clearly there is a lot of interest and that’s really pleasing. The scale of the tournament; the reach around such a large region can only be beneficial to Australian football in the long run.”

If Australia goes out of the tournament early will this hinder the growth of the sport?

“Sure it would help if we are successful here, but our long term strategy is governed by a range of factors; not just success at one tournament. We want to grow the A-League, bring in quality players and get the huge grass roots participants through the turnstiles. Our long term growth doesn’t depend on success at anyone tournament.”

“There is no one silver bullet for the growth of football in Australia. But getting the participants and people who have an interest in the game through the turnstiles of an A-League club would result in higher attendances, bigger revenues for clubs and more income from TV and Sponsorships, and this would allow us to reinvest back into the community.”

The Socceroos are reported to be on $110,000 per person to win the Asia Cup. Given the wages of some of these players, plus the fact there is no national women’s league or men’s youth league due to a lack of funds within the FFA, are these player incentives warranted?

“Well, I think you are being selective in your numbers. But the players are the games greatest asset. These are the ones young people aspire to. It’s the players who generate huge interest in the game. They need to be appropriately rewarded, and to be fair, they could have asked for more. But they sat down and we went through our four-year business plan and they saw what we are trying to do for the growth of the game. The players accepted our plan.”

Aussie ref gets the big game.

Mark Shield gets key appointment.

Korea Republic vs Saudi Arabia in Jakarta
REFEREE - SHIELD Mark Alexander (Australia)
Assistant referee – Silva Benjamin (India)
Assistant referee - AL MARZOUQI Saleh Mohamed Abdulla Hassan (UAE)

Australia referee Mark Shield gets probably the big game of the group stage.

Mark could be in for a finals position, if Australia don't get there.

Wake up Australia.

A friend of mine from Perth tells of his frustration at missing out on free to air coverage of the Socceroos. Where can he take his young kids, football players, to watch the game?

Fox are claiming huge PAY tv viewing figures, but as Craig points out below, the losers may be football in the long term.

Hi Eamonn

Tried to put some comments on your site with no success.

Nice work!

Interesting that on the day when we should have been warming the set for the Oman match we were with our kids at an AFL Multicultural Day (with some Burmese and Chinese kids).

We will go to the telecast on Friday and leave the kids with my mum (who is over visiting) but we are witnessing the FFA surrendering its future.

Cheers Craig

Got a similar experience? Let me know

Harry Kewell takes time for a photo.

Can Australia beat Iraq?

I collared Harry Kewell in the lobby of the Royal Orchid hotel today in Bangkok.

"Can Australia win on Friday," I asked.

"We'll see." said our wizard winger.

Harry and the team had the day off today to wander around Bangkok.

I went to the hotel by chance, and as luck would have it Harry was just wandering out.

Despite all the press attention over the last few days Harry was happy to oblige. Thanks Harry!

Thai's love English Premier League players.

Spot the local!

Well the myth about Thai people loving football and English Premiership football seems well and truly smashed.

Maybe they do, but on a beautiful clear evening maybe 5-10,000 were inside the 60,000 seater stadium.

And most were Australian and Omani.

Still it could have been worse.

Imagine if the storm had come through just before kick-off!

Who is responsible for this fiasco?

Don't know yet, but I'll find out.

At this stage I'm blaming it on the four country host scheme. One country hosting the tournament means fans from all countries come to a single country thus creating a wonderful atmosphere around the cities, and increasing interest from the local, and ensuring the Government really promote the tournament with energy and pride.

Next time, The AFC will get it right.

Let me know what you think.

Everyone loves a goalscorer!

Superhero Tim Cahill to the rescue.

Tim Cahill gives the press what they want in the mixed zone after the game.

"It's great to score important goals." said Tim Cahill.

And doesn't he keep doing it for Australia.

How good were the Aussies tonight?

Maybe 4/10..bit harsh, but it wasn't pretty.

But what about the defence. In it's current form it can't win a major football trophy, can it?

Not your greatest game Mark Viduka!

Mark Viduka struggled to impress tonight in the Asian Cup.

A disappointed Mark Viduka talks in the mixed zone after the game.

Viduka and Tim Cahill kept all the players waiting along time as the Thai media and Aussie media bombarded them with questions.

Viduka is speaking to Massimiliano Civili from SBS Radio.

Max, as he is known, asks the questions in English and the player responds in another language. In this case Croatian.

Viduka was amused by this idea, but wanted Max to ask the questions in Croatian if he had to answer in Croatian.

Eventually Max explained it was for Croatian listeners and Viduka, impressively, listened in Australian and spoke in Croatian.

The Aussies are here.

Our Harry sends a message to the Aussie fans as he enters the stadium for tonights big game.

Few fans here, but plenty of Aussies.

There si good feeling around the place.

Aussie fans are excited to be in Asia, and just loving the heat and hustle of Bangkok

Asian Cup off to a stormy start.

Thailand 1 Iraq 1

A great open game of football.

Fantastic storm before the game, caused much excitement in the media rooms. The storm abated, Tata Young sang for the small crowd and the show began.

Asia's football showcase was under way.

And Thailand took the lead from a penalty much to the delight of the noisiest home crowd I've ever had the pleasure to hear.

The crowd built gradually, leaving the stadium maybe half full at best, but given most of the crowd had to sit in pouring rain all night, this was not a bad crowd.

And as we waded ankle deep away from the stadium after the game, the Canberrans I met outside down a Bangkok street, as you do, complained of the knee depth water they had to walk through to get to the game.

Of course my friend from Myanmar, Kwizk and SBS radio journo Massimilio jumped up when Thailand scored. The hosts, we always support the hosts, don't you?

I looked back at the media pack, no-one had moved. No-one standing, few cheering maybe the odd clap.

I'm still raw at this game, and long may I remain so.

Iraq looked strong in parts, can certainly play, but faded in both halves.

A headbutt to star striker Younis...see his website its something else...by the Iragi number 11 was entertaining and showed some disharmony in the ranks.

Thailand looked likely to lose after Iraq and starman Younis equalised with an easy header, but to my surprise Thailand rallied and were great value for their draw.

The crowd. The din. The drums and band played under a covered roof. No-one stopped even for half-time.

And it ended 1-1. No-one died. They could have when the supports for the opening Ceremony crashed 30 metres in the pre-match storm.

People came in reasonable numbers, despite the lashing rain, and flooded walkways.

Everyone wore yellow as a sign of respect for the King of Thailand, and the AFC President was spotted leaving in his motorcade shortly after the end of the match.

It felt good to be here. It was uniquely Asian. The football was entertaining, more open than the World Cup and devoid of too much European professionalism.

If you like goals, flair, mistakes, and action, the Asian Cup will not disappoint.

What are they laughing at?

Simon Hill, Robbie Slater and a guy with big glasses.

FoxSports Simon Hill and Robbie Slater took a minute out in the middle of the most amazing storm. Half the supports for the opening ceremony crashed over 40 metres to the ground just moments before.

A wild wild storm which has delayed if not cancelled the Opening game and ceremony.

Maybe Ta Ta bye instead of Tata Young tonight.

Simon Hill Australia's premier match caller, and English Premier League winner Robbie Slater could be having a night off.

The photo was taken by FoxSports producer Murray Shaw, who I used to play football with at the University of Canberra one hundred years ago.

Murray was a full-back in those days.

Pre-Match warm up anyone.

Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok..six hours before kick-off

Looks like we're having marching bands tonight, and then Tata Young will sing "I believe" to me in my special seat.

There are great huge forecourts outside the stadium. Large grass and concrete areas. A contrast between the hustle and overcrowded pavements of Bangkok with its teeny weeny shops all selling the same but different things.

So far the only other space I've seen in Bangkok is in the lobby of the AFC's hotel. Simply enormous.

I spied some small goals under the stadium, I guess they'll be out later.

This place has a good feel. A football feel.

Off to Rajamangala stadium just now...well after brekkie:)

Notice the swimming pools. People who know me know I'm a mad swimmer. So I'll be dipping in no doubt before the game.

All work and no play etc.


Okay I'm off to the media centre...for tonight's opening ceremony with Tata Young singing, !I believe" to me.

Thailand v Iraq. Can't wait.

Will have photo's and stuff through the afternoon. If I get in.

Got my accreditation but you just never know.

Go through the cbox on the right of this blog, I'll be on all arvo, if you have anything to say at all at all:)

cheers

Your man in Asia

Eamonn:)

Aussies to get $110,000 each from Football Fed.Australia

There is no money for the winners of the Asia Cup!

Did you know this?

I think the AFC have spent it all on their hotel accommodation. (see previous post)

but equally puzzling, to me, is the fact that the Aussies are set to earn $110,000 each.

Presumably this comes from Football Federation Australia.

Just seems a few questions should be asked.

Hw come the players, the few that earn reportedly more than this a week, how come they take it?

And secondly with the FFA unable to fund a women's league, a youth league, and looking to chop the AIS programme, how come they have to offer $11o,ooo x 23; plus Arnie and co must be on a bonus.

Let's hope we come second, we'll be quids in:)

All the President's men

Now you think the Asia Confederation would be a little clearer on such matters.

I've picked up my accreditation, all very efficient. Also happens to be in the wealthiest hotel I've ever seen, never mind been in.

Wonder how the World gets to stay here, but lots and lots of people can afford it, it seems.

If I look up, right up, the ceiling goes past the clouds and that's just the lobby.

Anyway AFC President Mohamed Bin Hamman is holding a press conference this afternoon, so the press release says. Now he is very popular in my house, as he let the Aussies into Asia, so I thought I should rock up.

Well thing is, no-one at the accreditation desk, which is in the same hotel as the press conference, indeed where all the AFC officials are staying, well nobody can tell me if he's coming.

Maybe he is, we don't know!

And it's cold, the air conditioning is freezing and I'm in my shorts and it's raining so I can't duck into the five star pool without being seen!

Hanging round like a journalist ain't so great. bring on the football tomorrow!

Sometimes it pays to be unwell...just sometimes:)

Got my uniform on...and I'm off to Bangkok!

Here's the little boy off to follow his football team! 44, dead excited. Big kid grow up!

On the other hand, this was me leaving Canberra Airport after six years of ill health, and retired from work (see earlier posts..from sicko to Asia Cup.)

See that smile, it goes right down to my little toe:)

Anyway here's the craic.

Get to Bangkok, you know long flight, tired, every one's tired and hot, and then the 50o people standing waiting in line to get through immigration.

Not me.

I'm last off the plane, the very last, then wheel chaired through the airport. It's a long airport.

"I can walk a bit," I said to the Qantas steward. Always trying to be helpful.

"Mate, this new airport is so big, we land in Vietnam and walk to Bangkok!" Love the Aussie humour.

So we wing past everyone in my wheelchair. It's not my wheelchair, I don't use one, but that's another story

Anyway straight through a side door at immigration, past 500 hundred very healthy people, grab my bag, into a taxi and I'm in bed before half the plane collected their bags.

Wow! Now that was amazing, and it felt good. Not to beat everyone, just to be pushed.

So that's that now it's football talk from here on in.

Got to get down town today to pick up my media accreditation and go and listen to Mohammed Bin Hamman head of the AFC do an official press conference.

Bit of a giggle to see if I get in and who is there.

Can't go yet, got in at 1am, it's now 5am and I slept for thirty minutes!

Told you I was a big kid:)

CArl Valeri interview: Aussies embrace Asia

"Who wants to go to the beach, or play golf?"

"I think Bangkok will be hotter than Singapore."

Football in the Capital caught up with Carl Valeri. Carl was recovering from the latest run in the sun.

Graham Arnold want's his players fit, no matter how hot it is, but he did give them a couple of days off.

So Carl what did you do on your day off?

"Some of us went to the beach, It was too hot. We were invited to play golf. It was too hot. So we went shopping."

So that's good, culturally mixing with the locals. After all every Singaporean I know just loves shopping.

In fact my mate who lives in Singapore takes his kids to the airport on a hot day. The air-conditioning is better apparently and his wife likes the shops!

After the shopping Carl?

"It was so hot we ended up by the hotel pool, just chilling."

Glad to hear it. No chilling on Sunday lads.

A nation awaits. Well at least those that have Fox!

Match Analysis: Socceroos v Singapore

This match analysis first appeared in the Canberra Times:

Can Australian win their first ever Asia Cup? Well if, the golden boys of Australian football, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka perform to their best then the chances are good.

Australia defeated Singapore 3-0 on Saturday night in The National Stadium of Singapore, in their last International before their opening Asia Cup game against Oman on Sunday.

Singapore are ranked 146th in the world but they caused Australia’s new defence plenty of problems. They hit the bar and post before Australia scored and had a couple of further clear-cut chances which should give Socceroos coach Graham Arnold some sleepless nights before next week’s opening game.

Hopes in Australia are high after their exciting World Cup campaign in Germany last year. Many fans expect Australia to win at a canter. They won’t.

Defensively the Socceroos have a new line-up and it’s not settled. Brett Emerton will play right back. He has played there before for Feyenoord some years ago, but he often drifts out of position when defending. Craig Moore will be replaced by Leicester City’s Patrick Kisnorbo or FC Nurnberg’s Michael Beauchamp. Neither are the finished article in international football. Lucas Neill stands out, but with the left back position still undecided there is plenty there for opponents to exploit and they will.

Former Coach Guus Hiddink’s favourite midfielder Luke Wilkshire played left-back against Singapore. Michael Thwaites, who plays his football in Poland, was left-back against Uruguay. Neither is naturally left footed nor looks completely comfortable when defending.

Wilshire supports the forwards better than Thwaites does, but with Scott Chipperfield’s non-attendance at this tournament, Australia has lost a dynamic option to their attacking play.

Australia’s first opponents, Oman and Iraq, both have quick wide players. Singapore could and should have been two nil up before Australia scored last night. Better teams may not allow Australia to play themselves into the game.

In the World Cup, crisp incisive passing by Australia caused Brazil, and Italy problems. Singapore was rarely troubled in the first half.

There were good signs. Midfield general Vince Grella looked sharp and composed on the ball. Brett Holman looked lively and had the best opportunities in the first-half.

But if Kewell is fit, and on last night’s form he looks close, he is capable of making a major contribution to Australia’s historic Asian Cup campaign. He scored one and produced a marvellous moment to provide for Viduka.

Significantly Viduka, with only 6 goals from 38 internationals before Saturday’s game, scored two.

He couldn’t score in the World Cup against defences of the quality of Brazil and Italy, but he should score in Asia. Asia is not the World Cup and Viduka at least in the early stages should get many opportunities to increase his tally.

Big players win big games. Kewell and Viduka are the best footballers Australia has ever produced. With the golden boys firing Australia can win the Asian Cup.
It won’t be easy and with the heat restricting Australia’s mobile style of play the slow slow quick tempo of many Asian teams will severely test the Socceroos unstable defence.

Australia lifted when Kewell came on. And maybe in the early games Kewell will be used sparingly.

Saturday’s workout will have given Coach Graham Arnold much to ponder, particularly his defensive frailties.