Australian Football Stuff - not worthy of a thread

[sydmariner]

Hyundai A-League Ins and Outs: Star Wars Round (Round 10)

A blockbuster Sydney Derby headlines an intriguing Round 10 in the Hyundai A-League, while a number of other teams will be looking to bounce back from last-start losses.

Here's all the team news ahead of this weekend's action.

Friday, 8 December 2017

Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United

Etihad Stadium, Docklands

Kick-Off: 7:50 PM (Local) (7:50 PM AEDT)

Referee: Kurt Ams

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Ins: 5.Mark MILLIGAN (return from suspension), 7.Kenny ATHIU (promoted), 19. Pierce WARING (promoted)

Outs: 16.Josh HOPE (not selected)

Unavailable: 11.Mitch AUSTIN (knee), 17.James DONACHIE (quad), 32.Poe Dameron (concussion – 1 week)

ADELAIDE UNITED

Ins: 2.Michael MARRONE (returns from suspension), 4.Ben WARLAND (promoted), 19.Ben GARUCCIO (returns from suspension)

Outs: 10.Karim MATMOUR (released)

Unavailable: 11.Johan ABSALONSEN (thigh - 2 weeks), 21.Tarek ELRICH (knee - long term), 99.Boba Fett (Sarlacc – 1000 years)

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Rhys WILLIAMS, 5.Mark MILLIGAN, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Kenny ATHIU, 8.Besart BERISHA, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.James TROISI, 14.Thomas DENG, 18.Matias SANCHEZ, 19. Pierce WARING, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 31.Christian THEOHAROUS, 41.Leroy GEORGE

**two to be omitted**

Adelaide United squad: 1.Daniel MARGUSH (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Ben WARLAND, 6.Vince LIA, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.ISAÍAS (c), 9.Baba DIAWARA, 12.Mark OCHIENG, 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIC, 19.Ben GARUCCIO, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Ersan GÜLÜM, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Jordan O’DOHERTY, 29.Ryan STRAIN, 37.Daniel ADLUNG

**two to be omitted**

Mark Milligan is back for Victory
Saturday, 9 December 2017

Brisbane Roar FC v Wellington Phoenix

CBUS Super Stadium (Gold Coast)

Kick-Off: 4:35 PM (Local) (5:35 PM AEDT)

Referee: Shaun Evans

BRISBANE ROAR

Ins: Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH (promoted), 2.Dane INGHAM (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (gk) (finger – 2 weeks), 3.Luke DEVERE (knee – 10 weeks), 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS (suspended), 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN (hamstring – 1-2 weeks), 10.Brett HOLMAN (knock – 1 week), 12.Han Solo (Carbonite – 3 to 4 months), 13.Jade NORTH (groin – 1 week), 20.Shannon BRADY (broken foot – TBC)

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Ins: 14.Alex RUFER (promoted), 18.Sarpreet SINGH (promoted), 24.Logan ROGERSON (promoted)

Outs: 10.Michael McGLINCHEY (groin), 21.Roy KRISHNA (knee)

Unavailable: 6.Dylan FOX (hamstring), 55.Luke Skywalker (Hand – 6 months)

Brisbane Roar FC squad: 2.Dane INGHAM, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Corey BROWN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Massimo MACCARONE, 11.Corey GAMEIRO, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 16.Mitchell OXBORROW, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG(gk), 22.Eric BAUTHEAC, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 31.Brendan WHITE(gk), 33.Petros SKAPETIS, 77.Ivan FRANJIC

**two to be omitted**

Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 2.Daniel MULLEN, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 8.Dario VIDOSIC, 9.Andrija KALUDJEROVIC, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 14.Alex RUFER, 16.Ali ABBAS, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.MATTHEW RIDENTON, 24.Logan ROGERSON, 30.Keegan SMITH (gk)

**one to be omitted**

Fahid Ben Khalfallah boosts Brisbane Roar
Saturday, 9 December 2017

Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Sydney FC

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Kick-Off: 7:50 PM (Local) (7:50 PM AEDT)

Referee: Jonathan Barreiro

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Ins: 18.Robbie CORNTHWAITE (returns from suspension), 19.Mark BRIDGE (return from injury), 25.Chris HERD (returns from birth of child)

Outs: 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO (injured – 1 week)

Unavailable: 1.Jerrad TYSON (gk) (shoulder), 7.Steven LUSTICA (injury – 1 week), 29.Kylo Ren (bereavement leave – 4 weeks),

SYDNEY FC

Ins: 10.Milos NINKOVIC (promoted), 18. Matt SIMON (return from suspension)

Outs: None

Unavailable: 23.Rhyan GRANT (knee – indefinite) 27.Anakin Skywalker (Legs and Arms – 6 weeks)

Western Sydney Wanderers FC Squad: 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Josh RISDON, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 8.Roly BONEVACIA, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alvaro CEJUDO, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 14.Jumpei KUSUKAMI, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 18.Robbie CORNTHWAITE, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 22.Jonathon ASPROPOTAMITIS, 24.Raul LLORENTE, 25.Chris HERD, 30.John HALL (gk), 33.Michael THWAITE, 42. Keanu BACCUS

**two to be omitted**

Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Josh BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Adrian MIERZEJEWSKI, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 16.Anthony KALIK, 17.David CARNEY, 18. Matt SIMON, 21. Charles LOKOLINGOY, 22.Seb RYALL, 26.Luke WILKSHIRE, 30.Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk)

**two to be omitted**

Milos Ninkovic and Kearyn Baccus
Saturday, 9 December 2017

Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets

nib Stadium, Perth

Kick-Off: 7:00 PM (Local) (10:00 PM AEDT)

Referee: Adam Kersey

PERTH GLORY

Ins: 24.Callum TIMMINS (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 3.Marc WARREN (ankle – 4-5 weeks), 7.Joel CHIANESE (collar bone – 1 week), 9.Andy KEOGH (groin – 1 week), 22.Adam TAGGART (hamstring – 1-2 weeks), 17.Diego CASTRO (calf – 1-2 weeks), 18. Andreu GUERAO (calf – 1-2 weeks), 23.Scott NEVILLE (groin – 1-2 weeks), 25.Daniel STYNES (hamstring – 1-2 weeks), 66.Mace Windu (Broken leg and back – 6 months)

NEWCASTLE JETS

Ins: 9.Roy O’DONOVAN (promoted), 10.Wayne BROWN (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 1.Jack DUNCAN (foot – 5 weeks), 8.Ronald VARGAS (ankle – indefinite) 17. Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (knee – 2 weeks), 25.Wedge Antilles (Deep Vein Thrombosis – 1 week)

Perth Glory Squad: 2.Alex GRANT, 4.Shane LOWRY (c), 5.Jacob POSCOLIERO, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 8.Xavi TORRES, 11. Mitch MALLIA, 13 Nick FEELY (gk), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joseph MILLS, 19.Joe KNOWLES, 20.Jake BRIMMER, 24.Callum TIMMINS, 26.Jacob ITALIANO, 29.Jeremy WALKER, 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 34.Yagoub MUSTAFA

**one to be omitted**

Newcastle Jets Squad: 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD, 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimitri PETRATOS, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Wayne BROWN, 12.Mario SHABOW, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 15.Andrew NABBOUT, 16.Nick COWBURN, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 19.Kosta PETRATOS, 20.Glenn MOSS, 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 24.Joe CHAMPNESS, 30.Ivan NECEVSKI, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY

**two to be omitted**

Roy O'Donovan is back for the Jets
Sunday, 10 December 2017

Melbourne City FC v Central Coast Mariners

AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-Off: 7:00 PM (Local) (7:00 PM AEDT)

Referee: Jarred Gillett

MELBOURNE CITY FC

Ins: 6.Osama MALIK (returns from suspension), 12.Braedyn CROWLEY (promoted), 35.Ramy NAJJARINE (promoted), 8.Neil KILKENNY (promoted)

Outs: 2.Manny MUSCAT (suspended (yellow card accumulation) - 1 week), 17.Tim CAHILL (released - mutual termination)

Unavailable: 23.Bruno FORNAROLI (ankle), 9.Marcelo CARRUSCA (calf), 2187.FINN (Coma – 1 week)

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Ins: 3.Josh ROSE (return from injury), 9.ASDRUBAL (return from injury)

Outs: nil

Unavailable: 900.Yoda (Back - indefinite)

Melbourne City FC Squad: 1.Dean BOUZANIS (gk), 3.Scott JAMIESON, 5.Bart SCHENKEVELD, 6.Osama MALIK, 7.Nick FITZGERALD, 8.Neil KILKENNY, 11.Bruce KAMAU, 12.Braedyn CROWLEY, 13.Stefan MAUK, 14.Daniel ARZANI, 18.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 21.Ruon TONGYIK, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 25.Iacopo LA ROCCA, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 27.Marcin BUDZINSKI, 35.Ramy NAJJARINE, 44.Ross McCORMACK

**two to be omitted**

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 3.Josh ROSE, 4.Jake McGING, 5.Antony GOLEC, 6.Tom HIARIEJ, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Blake POWELL, 9.ASDRUBAL, 10.Daniel De SILVA, 11.Connor PAIN, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 13.Kwabena APPIAH, 14.Adam BERRY, 15.Alan BARO (c), 16. Liam ROSE, 18.Tom GLOVER (gk), 21.Kye ROWLES, 23.Wout BRAMA

**two to be omitted**

Asdrubal returns for Mariners.

 

[Big Al]

Was
Retweeted by Shaun

 

[Pirate Pete]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...by-ffa-for-socceroos-job-20171214-h04f9u.html

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold cooled suggestions he will become the next Socceroos coach having denied he's been approached by Football Federation Australia to take charge of the national team.

Reports surfaced late on Wednesday night linking Arnold with the vacant post at the Socceroos, suggesting the FFA offered Arnold the job. However, on Thursday morning, Arnold quashed those reports and reiterated that he's had no contact with the FFA about coaching Australia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

 

[Pirate Pete]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...after-two-months-reports-20171214-h0540v.html

Tony Popovic's first steps towards coaching in Europe may have ended after just two months, with the former Wanderers manager reportedly set to be sacked by Turkish club Karabukspor.

Turkish media have reported Popovic's tenure is set to end on Friday after a poor run of results has sunk Karabukspor to the bottom of the table.

 

[sydmariner]

FOX SPORTS to broadcast Australian U23 matches LIVE & EXCLUSIVE
Football fans will be able to follow Australia’s fortunes at January’s 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China thanks to FOX SPORTS.

In fantastic news for supporters FOX SPORTS has confirmed that they will broadcast the team’s campaign in China LIVE, EXCLUSIVE and ad-break free during play.

On Thursday 11 January 2018 FOX SPORTS will broadcast the second half of Australia’s first Group D match against Syria on FOX SPORTS 501 immediately after ‘Just For Kicks’. Any goals from the first 45 at the Kunshan Stadium will also be shown during ‘Just For Kicks’.

Australia’s second and third group matches against Vietnam (Sunday 14 January 2018) and Korea Republic (Wednesday 17 January 2018) will be broadcast LIVE and in full.

The Vietnam fixture will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS 506, while the clash with Korea Republic will be on FOX SPORTS 501.

Caltex Socceroos Assistant Coach Ante Milicic will lead the Australian U23 National Team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China.

A top two finish in Group D will be required to propel Australia U23 to the Quarter Finals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

Australia’s results at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship will impact the team’s seeding for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship, which will double as the qualification tournament for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

Australia U23 v Syria U23
Thursday 11 January 2018
Kunshan Stadium, Kunshan
Kick-off: 4pm (local); 7pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Second half LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS 501 following ‘Just For Kicks’

Vietnam U23 v Australia U23
Sunday 14 January 2018
Kunshan Stadium, Kunshan
Kick-off: 4pm (local); 7pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Full match LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS 506

Korea Republic U23 v Australia U23
Wednesday 17 January 2018
Kunshan Stadium, Kunshan
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Full match LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS 501

 

[Capn Gus Bloodbeard]

Just getting harder and harder to compete against this...
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...-salary-cap-at-sydney-fc-20180104-h0dm63.html

• 
  

How Graham Arnold mastered the A-League salary cap at Sydney FC

The rigid walls of the A-League salary cap makes half the job of coaching in Australia seem like accounting. Not all have navigated the maze of rules, regulations, expenses and salaries and fewer have flourished in it. But within the constraints aimed to level the playing field, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has found a way to streak ahead of the rest. They set new records, won every trophy in 2017 and are on track to claim the premiership once more. Within these supposed equalising restrictions, Sydney FC are showing little sign of slowing down.

Recruitment

• terms and conditions and privacy policy.
  
  Managing the cap
  
  However important, recruitment is still only half the task. Making so many quality players work within a rigid salary cap now of $2.928 million is another job altogether and experience has made Arnold an expert at this delicate balancing act.
  
  Generally, A-League clubs have operated on a "rule of sevens": Seven players earning in the highest bracket ($200,000 or more), seven in the middle tier (between $100,000 and $150,00) and then seven players hovering just above the minimum salary ($61,287). At Sydney FC, Arnold appears to have bucked this trend, largely because of the club's physios and strength and conditioning department.
  
  In the seasons before Arnold took over, Sydney FC led the league for the most amount of games missed by players due to injury, according to the Australian players' union, the PFA. Last season, Sydney FC shared the fewest absences through injury alongside Western Sydney Wanderers with only 19 games missed by players. Veteran defender Alex Wilkinson started all 29 games for the Sky Blues in their A-League campaign.
  
  Since Rhyan Grant suffered a ruptured ACL in a freak training ground incident in the first week of pre-season, the Sky Blues have managed their squad more conservatively this season but have still avoided long-term injuries. Those are the results of fitness guru, Andrew Clark,
  
  "From day one, him and Arnie came in and started changing things," former Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman said in 2015. "It was hard at first. Clarkey led some training work that, if I'm honest, most of us weren't used to. We all had to adapt. But look at us now, this is the fittest we've ever been as a club."
  
  As Clark says, most injuries can be avoided.
  
  "There's a certain percentage [of injuries] that come with fatigue, poor decision and positioning that puts you at risk where an unpreventable injury can occur," Clark told Fairfax Media in March.
  
  With a high availability of players, Sydney FC have little need for rotation. Last year, only 12 Sydney FC players started in 10 games or more and just 18 players featured in more than two games during their 29-game campaign, including finals. By comparison, 25 Adelaide United players played in two games or more in a season the club finished in ninth place and played only 27 domestic games.
  
  What does this mean for their salary cap? The "rule of sevens" doesn't apply at Moore Park. Squad depth is not as pressing a need for Sydney FC as it is at other clubs and they can afford to allocate a larger proportion of their salary cap for their first 11. This has allowed Sydney FC to sign 40-time Poland international, Mierzejewski, inside the salary cap despite earning a salary previously reserved for marquee players.
  
  Arnold's methods
  
  Nothing drives-up a player's value more than success and keeping a winning team together is no easy task. That's where Arnold's emphasis on team culture comes in. Creating a tight bond and family atmosphere within the dressing room has more benefits than just on-field morale, it makes it more difficult for a player to uproot and leave. They have access to one of the best fitness and physio teams in Australian sport, performances have propelled the likes of Danny Vukovic and Grant into national teams, meals are provided by a team chef and most recently, trophies have been delivered.
  
  "Players here want for nothing," Arnold said last month. "Why would anyone leave this for an extra $5000?"
  
  In more tangible terms, it is why captain Alex Brosque offered to play for the minimum salary this season if it meant Sydney FC could keep the bulk of their title-winning team together. However, the club refused to pay him so little.
  
  Experience has taught Arnold many lessons about managing the cap. Sydney's coach learned early in his career to save foreign signings until late in pre-season, offering the same funds for shorter contracts, landing better quality signings with a higher proportionate weekly wages.
  
  Some clubs looked for bargains in foreigners in the past, but it is understood Arnold refuses to entertain a foreign signing worth less than $200,000 a season. If he's going to bring in a player from overseas, it needs to be better than what's available domestically and worth the investment. He now doesn't spend the total at the start of the season, leaving room to manoeuvre in the January transfer window and uses injury replacement regulations effectively, bringing in the likes of experienced Socceroo Luke Wilkshire as a replacement for Grant at no further expense to the cap.
  
  Then there is Arnold's creativity. He has already flagged the idea of signing an Asian visa-player outside of the salary cap in February, reserved specifically for the continental competition. It means the club's football budget may swell, but without affecting their A-League salary cap. This ingenuity stems from the riches on offer at Sydney FC never before afforded to Arnold when coaching Central Coast Mariners. Since taking the reigns of the Sky Blues, Arnold has never spent less than $1.5 million per season on marquee players outside of the salary cap.
  
  This season began with the the loudest calls from clubs to scrap the A-League salary cap. Having found the clearest path through the maze of regulations, removing them could be how others catch-up to the Sky Blues.
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[Big Al]

Just getting harder and harder to compete against this...
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...-salary-cap-at-sydney-fc-20180104-h0dm63.html

How Graham Arnold mastered the A-League salary cap at Sydney FC

The rigid walls of the A-League salary cap makes half the job of coaching in Australia seem like accounting. Not all have navigated the maze of rules, regulations, expenses and salaries and fewer have flourished in it. But within the constraints aimed to level the playing field, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has found a way to streak ahead of the rest. They set new records, won every trophy in 2017 and are on track to claim the premiership once more. Within these supposed equalising restrictions, Sydney FC are showing little sign of slowing down.

Recruitment

• terms and conditions and privacy policy.
  
  Managing the cap
  
  However important, recruitment is still only half the task. Making so many quality players work within a rigid salary cap now of $2.928 million is another job altogether and experience has made Arnold an expert at this delicate balancing act.
  
  Generally, A-League clubs have operated on a "rule of sevens": Seven players earning in the highest bracket ($200,000 or more), seven in the middle tier (between $100,000 and $150,00) and then seven players hovering just above the minimum salary ($61,287). At Sydney FC, Arnold appears to have bucked this trend, largely because of the club's physios and strength and conditioning department.
  
  In the seasons before Arnold took over, Sydney FC led the league for the most amount of games missed by players due to injury, according to the Australian players' union, the PFA. Last season, Sydney FC shared the fewest absences through injury alongside Western Sydney Wanderers with only 19 games missed by players. Veteran defender Alex Wilkinson started all 29 games for the Sky Blues in their A-League campaign.
  
  Since Rhyan Grant suffered a ruptured ACL in a freak training ground incident in the first week of pre-season, the Sky Blues have managed their squad more conservatively this season but have still avoided long-term injuries. Those are the results of fitness guru, Andrew Clark,
  
  "From day one, him and Arnie came in and started changing things," former Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman said in 2015. "It was hard at first. Clarkey led some training work that, if I'm honest, most of us weren't used to. We all had to adapt. But look at us now, this is the fittest we've ever been as a club."
  
  As Clark says, most injuries can be avoided.
  
  "There's a certain percentage [of injuries] that come with fatigue, poor decision and positioning that puts you at risk where an unpreventable injury can occur," Clark told Fairfax Media in March.
  
  With a high availability of players, Sydney FC have little need for rotation. Last year, only 12 Sydney FC players started in 10 games or more and just 18 players featured in more than two games during their 29-game campaign, including finals. By comparison, 25 Adelaide United players played in two games or more in a season the club finished in ninth place and played only 27 domestic games.
  
  What does this mean for their salary cap? The "rule of sevens" doesn't apply at Moore Park. Squad depth is not as pressing a need for Sydney FC as it is at other clubs and they can afford to allocate a larger proportion of their salary cap for their first 11. This has allowed Sydney FC to sign 40-time Poland international, Mierzejewski, inside the salary cap despite earning a salary previously reserved for marquee players.
  
  Arnold's methods
  
  Nothing drives-up a player's value more than success and keeping a winning team together is no easy task. That's where Arnold's emphasis on team culture comes in. Creating a tight bond and family atmosphere within the dressing room has more benefits than just on-field morale, it makes it more difficult for a player to uproot and leave. They have access to one of the best fitness and physio teams in Australian sport, performances have propelled the likes of Danny Vukovic and Grant into national teams, meals are provided by a team chef and most recently, trophies have been delivered.
  
  "Players here want for nothing," Arnold said last month. "Why would anyone leave this for an extra $5000?"
  
  In more tangible terms, it is why captain Alex Brosque offered to play for the minimum salary this season if it meant Sydney FC could keep the bulk of their title-winning team together. However, the club refused to pay him so little.
  
  Experience has taught Arnold many lessons about managing the cap. Sydney's coach learned early in his career to save foreign signings until late in pre-season, offering the same funds for shorter contracts, landing better quality signings with a higher proportionate weekly wages.
  
  Some clubs looked for bargains in foreigners in the past, but it is understood Arnold refuses to entertain a foreign signing worth less than $200,000 a season. If he's going to bring in a player from overseas, it needs to be better than what's available domestically and worth the investment. He now doesn't spend the total at the start of the season, leaving room to manoeuvre in the January transfer window and uses injury replacement regulations effectively, bringing in the likes of experienced Socceroo Luke Wilkshire as a replacement for Grant at no further expense to the cap.
  
  Then there is Arnold's creativity. He has already flagged the idea of signing an Asian visa-player outside of the salary cap in February, reserved specifically for the continental competition. It means the club's football budget may swell, but without affecting their A-League salary cap. This ingenuity stems from the riches on offer at Sydney FC never before afforded to Arnold when coaching Central Coast Mariners. Since taking the reigns of the Sky Blues, Arnold has never spent less than $1.5 million per season on marquee players outside of the salary cap.
  
  This season began with the the loudest calls from clubs to scrap the A-League salary cap. Having found the clearest path through the maze of regulations, removing them could be how others catch-up to the Sky Blues.
  
  
  
  
  

Yeah this allowing the richer clubs to get an advantage but City are stuffing it up

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Just getting harder and harder to compete against this...
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/...-salary-cap-at-sydney-fc-20180104-h0dm63.html

How Graham Arnold mastered the A-League salary cap at Sydney FC

The rigid walls of the A-League salary cap makes half the job of coaching in Australia seem like accounting. Not all have navigated the maze of rules, regulations, expenses and salaries and fewer have flourished in it. But within the constraints aimed to level the playing field, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has found a way to streak ahead of the rest. They set new records, won every trophy in 2017 and are on track to claim the premiership once more. Within these supposed equalising restrictions, Sydney FC are showing little sign of slowing down.

Recruitment

• terms and conditions and privacy policy.
  
  Managing the cap
  
  However important, recruitment is still only half the task. Making so many quality players work within a rigid salary cap now of $2.928 million is another job altogether and experience has made Arnold an expert at this delicate balancing act.
  
  Generally, A-League clubs have operated on a "rule of sevens": Seven players earning in the highest bracket ($200,000 or more), seven in the middle tier (between $100,000 and $150,00) and then seven players hovering just above the minimum salary ($61,287). At Sydney FC, Arnold appears to have bucked this trend, largely because of the club's physios and strength and conditioning department.
  
  In the seasons before Arnold took over, Sydney FC led the league for the most amount of games missed by players due to injury, according to the Australian players' union, the PFA. Last season, Sydney FC shared the fewest absences through injury alongside Western Sydney Wanderers with only 19 games missed by players. Veteran defender Alex Wilkinson started all 29 games for the Sky Blues in their A-League campaign.
  
  Since Rhyan Grant suffered a ruptured ACL in a freak training ground incident in the first week of pre-season, the Sky Blues have managed their squad more conservatively this season but have still avoided long-term injuries. Those are the results of fitness guru, Andrew Clark,
  
  "From day one, him and Arnie came in and started changing things," former Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman said in 2015. "It was hard at first. Clarkey led some training work that, if I'm honest, most of us weren't used to. We all had to adapt. But look at us now, this is the fittest we've ever been as a club."
  
  As Clark says, most injuries can be avoided.
  
  "There's a certain percentage [of injuries] that come with fatigue, poor decision and positioning that puts you at risk where an unpreventable injury can occur," Clark told Fairfax Media in March.
  
  With a high availability of players, Sydney FC have little need for rotation. Last year, only 12 Sydney FC players started in 10 games or more and just 18 players featured in more than two games during their 29-game campaign, including finals. By comparison, 25 Adelaide United players played in two games or more in a season the club finished in ninth place and played only 27 domestic games.
  
  What does this mean for their salary cap? The "rule of sevens" doesn't apply at Moore Park. Squad depth is not as pressing a need for Sydney FC as it is at other clubs and they can afford to allocate a larger proportion of their salary cap for their first 11. This has allowed Sydney FC to sign 40-time Poland international, Mierzejewski, inside the salary cap despite earning a salary previously reserved for marquee players.
  
  Arnold's methods
  
  Nothing drives-up a player's value more than success and keeping a winning team together is no easy task. That's where Arnold's emphasis on team culture comes in. Creating a tight bond and family atmosphere within the dressing room has more benefits than just on-field morale, it makes it more difficult for a player to uproot and leave. They have access to one of the best fitness and physio teams in Australian sport, performances have propelled the likes of Danny Vukovic and Grant into national teams, meals are provided by a team chef and most recently, trophies have been delivered.
  
  "Players here want for nothing," Arnold said last month. "Why would anyone leave this for an extra $5000?"
  
  In more tangible terms, it is why captain Alex Brosque offered to play for the minimum salary this season if it meant Sydney FC could keep the bulk of their title-winning team together. However, the club refused to pay him so little.
  
  Experience has taught Arnold many lessons about managing the cap. Sydney's coach learned early in his career to save foreign signings until late in pre-season, offering the same funds for shorter contracts, landing better quality signings with a higher proportionate weekly wages.
  
  Some clubs looked for bargains in foreigners in the past, but it is understood Arnold refuses to entertain a foreign signing worth less than $200,000 a season. If he's going to bring in a player from overseas, it needs to be better than what's available domestically and worth the investment. He now doesn't spend the total at the start of the season, leaving room to manoeuvre in the January transfer window and uses injury replacement regulations effectively, bringing in the likes of experienced Socceroo Luke Wilkshire as a replacement for Grant at no further expense to the cap.
  
  Then there is Arnold's creativity. He has already flagged the idea of signing an Asian visa-player outside of the salary cap in February, reserved specifically for the continental competition. It means the club's football budget may swell, but without affecting their A-League salary cap. This ingenuity stems from the riches on offer at Sydney FC never before afforded to Arnold when coaching Central Coast Mariners. Since taking the reigns of the Sky Blues, Arnold has never spent less than $1.5 million per season on marquee players outside of the salary cap.
  
  This season began with the the loudest calls from clubs to scrap the A-League salary cap. Having found the clearest path through the maze of regulations, removing them could be how others catch-up to the Sky Blues.
  
  
  
  
  

So many coaches and clubs seem incapable of knowing or working out the basics of the salary cap, or three goalkeeper situation is a prime example. Adam Pearce could be on a youth contract, yet we are giving up a precious $55,000 of cap space, which we can I'll afford to do, to a player that is most likely not going to play this season.

 

[Big Al]

So many coaches and clubs seem incapable of knowing or working out the basics of the salary cap, or three goalkeeper situation is a prime example. Adam Pearce could be on a youth contract, yet we are giving up a precious $55,000 of cap space, which we can I'll afford to do, to a player that is most likely not going to play this season.

I think the age limit is 20yrs old for the NPL team? Pearce not eligible next season (as a non overage player - think we can play 3) so if we don’t give him that spot and cheap he’d be off somewhere else. That’s what we should be spending those last few spots on IMO.

 

[sydmariner]

 

[Insertnamehere]

I think the point was missed by most. Stop players getting injured and you don't need as deep a squad. We all know clarkie was/is the guru.
However, we'll see how they travel during ACL time.
I watched the bench boys do their warmups last wk end and it was garbage. They showed no effort or commitment. That basic work is how you stay uninjured, aside from someone going 2 footed at you like Thwaite did twice.

 

[sydmariner]

Scottish club Celtic have confirmed former midfielder Liam Miller has passed away from cancer at the age of 36.
Source:
Omnisport
10 FEB 2018 - 11:21 AM UPDATED 40 MINS AGO
Celtic announced the passing of Miller in a statement on social media.

Miller made a name for himself in Australia, playing for A-League sides Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, while also spending time earlier in his career with Manchester United.

He won 21 caps for the Republic of Ireland over 16 years, breaking through at Celtic before he moved to Old Trafford in 2004. He played in a total of 76 games with Hibernian between 2009 and 2011.

It was reported in November that Miller was suffering with cancer, his former clubs rallying around him and his family.
Miller's death brought tributes from a number of his former clubs – including Leeds United, Hibernian and Sunderland as well as Roar and City.
Miller played a total of 68 A-League games, 49 with Perth Glory between 2011 and 2013.
He won the A-League championship with Brisbane Roar in 2014, playing 74 minutes in a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

 

[VicMariner]

Sad news. 36 is just too young.
Cancer has hit my family, like many others. My thoughts go out to his family.
Words are not enough.

 

[sydmariner]

FFA puts Hyundai A-League expansion, Congress resolution at top of 2018 agenda

Football Federation Australia’s Board has put expansion of the Hyundai A-League and a resolution to the game’s long-running Congress evolution debate at the top of its agenda for 2018 following a day-long strategy meeting in Sydney yesterday.

The Board also focussed on its priorities of football development initiatives, the Westfield W-League, preparations for the Westfield Matildas’ campaigns in the Algarve Cup and the AFC Asian Cup in April, and on the Caltex Socceroos preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Russia in June and the AFC Asian Cup in January next year.

Hyundai A-League

FFA’s directors have targeted the 2019-20 season as the start date for two new clubs.

More details about the formal process will be announced next month with the intention to have a decision later this year.

The Board also agreed in principle to create a new corporate framework for the A-League/W-League which could give clubs more input over the running of the league and potentially provide new investment opportunities for existing and new clubs.

It is an important step towards a new operating model, on which FFA management has been working for more than a year. The existing Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs and FFA’s Member Federations will be invited to participate in discussions regarding the formation of the framework.

In response to a general trend in sport to lower attendances and television audiences, which has been reflected in A-League metrics this season, FFA will collaborate with the A-League clubs and broadcasters FOX SPORTS and Network Ten on a fresh approach to marketing the league, in particular around the start of next season.

FFA Congress

The Board re-affirmed its support for the principle of an expanded Congress to enable broader representation within the game and significantly improve gender equality, while balancing the interests of each group.

FFA's initiative in establishing a Congress Review Working Group with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will create a forum for voices across the whole of the game to be heard in this important step in the evolution of football in Australia.

Officials from FIFA and the AFC will join with FFA in Sydney from 20-22 February to meet with representatives from a range of interest groups within the football community including Member Federations, Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs, Professional Footballers Australia, the Association of Australian Football Clubs, women’s football, referees, coaches and fans.

FIFA has defined the purpose of the Sydney meetings as follows:

1. To meet with the stakeholders (Member Federations, A-League clubs, PFA) and any other relevant interlocutors, such as the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), that have been established in the meantime.

2. Based on the feedback received, to define the terms of reference of the Congress review working group, which include its objective, composition, mandate and timeline.

 

[Big Al]

FFA puts Hyundai A-League expansion, Congress resolution at top of 2018 agenda

Football Federation Australia’s Board has put expansion of the Hyundai A-League and a resolution to the game’s long-running Congress evolution debate at the top of its agenda for 2018 following a day-long strategy meeting in Sydney yesterday.

The Board also focussed on its priorities of football development initiatives, the Westfield W-League, preparations for the Westfield Matildas’ campaigns in the Algarve Cup and the AFC Asian Cup in April, and on the Caltex Socceroos preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Russia in June and the AFC Asian Cup in January next year.

Hyundai A-League

FFA’s directors have targeted the 2019-20 season as the start date for two new clubs.

More details about the formal process will be announced next month with the intention to have a decision later this year.

The Board also agreed in principle to create a new corporate framework for the A-League/W-League which could give clubs more input over the running of the league and potentially provide new investment opportunities for existing and new clubs.

It is an important step towards a new operating model, on which FFA management has been working for more than a year. The existing Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs and FFA’s Member Federations will be invited to participate in discussions regarding the formation of the framework.

In response to a general trend in sport to lower attendances and television audiences, which has been reflected in A-League metrics this season, FFA will collaborate with the A-League clubs and broadcasters FOX SPORTS and Network Ten on a fresh approach to marketing the league, in particular around the start of next season.

FFA Congress

The Board re-affirmed its support for the principle of an expanded Congress to enable broader representation within the game and significantly improve gender equality, while balancing the interests of each group.

FFA's initiative in establishing a Congress Review Working Group with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will create a forum for voices across the whole of the game to be heard in this important step in the evolution of football in Australia.

Officials from FIFA and the AFC will join with FFA in Sydney from 20-22 February to meet with representatives from a range of interest groups within the football community including Member Federations, Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs, Professional Footballers Australia, the Association of Australian Football Clubs, women’s football, referees, coaches and fans.

FIFA has defined the purpose of the Sydney meetings as follows:

1. To meet with the stakeholders (Member Federations, A-League clubs, PFA) and any other relevant interlocutors, such as the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), that have been established in the meantime.

2. Based on the feedback received, to define the terms of reference of the Congress review working group, which include its objective, composition, mandate and timeline.

Heard that before. Oh yeah from the FFA 12 months ago

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Yep. Truly terrible not to have expanded further by now.

And now we get another season of bad PR and flat stale competition to which Fox and the FFA's answer will be to try and stuff the "Big Blue" ever deeper down everyones throats.

They're so lucky it's a WC year to give Aus football a shot of energy that the FFA has done nothing to deserve.

 

[Tevor]

It just seems like now they have locked in the TV rights they don’t care anymore. In the lead up we seen good PR and games and rounds designed to give an inflated number of viewers. Now they have the bigger $$$$ for another 4 or 5 years they have lost their desire to expand or promote the game. I watch a lot of the HAL and this year hasn’t been that good or interesting. SFC have it wrapped up already and the bottom six teams including us are not much chop and some games are truely hard to watch and boring.

The league is not in a good position, I like many others are getting bored with old journey men getting their sixth crack at the league as they failed over seas. It’s exciting to see players like DDS and Arzani coming through but we need more of this not washed up old Italians.

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

 

[Big Al]

WSW has banned the RBB from their home game against Perth after the derby pyro and general RBB behavior