Tuesday, November 30, 2010

National Under-15 boys' championships terminated by FFA

Football Federation Australia has notified State federations today that there will no longer be a Boys’ Under-15 National Youth Championship.

The selection process for State under-15 players conducted by Football Federation Tasmania is, therefore, at an end.

The training and information session for under-15 boys which was scheduled for Campbell Town on Saturday, 11 December, has been cancelled.

The Under-14 Boys’ State programme will go ahead as advertised previously at Campbell Town on 11 December.

The Under-13 Boys’ National Junior Championship will now be conducted in September and October 2011 and not in April 2011 as previously organised.

The Under-13 championships will be held in conjunction with the Under-14 championships.

No changes have been made to the Girls’ Under-13, Under-14 and Under-15 squads training and selection processes and national championship arrangements.

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

No wonder FFA don't jump in and sort out FFT. By the looks of it FFA are using the same business model as FFT.
Random changes selected from a hat, if they don't work, back to the hat. It would appear that the real problem is, the 'Wally' who puts the ideas in the hat, don’t blame FFA or FFT, where's Wally I say? or more to the point who's Wally. If we can get a better Wally we will solve all the problems.
Did they give any reasons or insight into this decision?
As a state that gets little exposure and lacks elite competition opportunities this should see a few more kids focus on AFL and cricket.
Where does the TIS fit into this or is the institute concept the reason?

Anonymous said...

hi walter do you know who is coaching the under 13 boys and girls state teams this year

Anonymous said...

Another unbelievable choice by the governing body.. Word on the street is Kurt Reynolds will have the under 13 Boys & Anthony Alexander the 13 girls!!

Anonymous said...

may i ask where you get this information from?
could you please provide the source of your information.

Anonymous said...

gallagher has 14 boys - so to speak

Anonymous said...

I believe the reason could be that FFA want players with potential identified earlier than 15 years of age.Those who are then identified are selected for NTC squads that will develop these boys further over 3 year period. If these boys are not joining the NTC until age 15, or 16 by the time the new year begins, then it is too late to develop them into good players by the time they are 17.The problem with this though is that all players develop differently ,some later or earlier than others.I presume FFA want to identify the best as early as possible so that the NTC have a good 3 years at developing them to the standard FFA are seeking.
Again there are many good players at age 16 who only need that little extra encouragement to become good players also. I believe this decision could leave many good players without any real structure or progress for their own future. Where do 15 year olds go now with no state team ? Back to clubs to be coached by people who get the jobs simply because a club has 15 players and they need someone to look after them ?
Maybe to AFL or other sports.

Anonymous said...

Does this mean Dean May will be taking on 12" 13" and 14 year olds releasing players at 15 or 16 may be instead of waiting until there nearly 20????

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.57 . There are still State Teams in place up to under 14 so I doubt that the NTC will be looking at 12 year olds to commit 5 days per week. Think about it.

Anonymous said...

why not have nationals for more age groups? it keeps people interested! Even a men's nationals would not be a bad idea. Think about it FFA.

Kurt Reynolds and Anthony Alexander for state 13 boys and girls. Jobs for the boys?

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.50 pm

Good post.

There is a problem for young players to aspire to in this state as it is. There are no A League and W League clubs with youth programmes. Young players can only play aspire to play at the level of the local league, which is similar to social league football, other than South Hobart.

One problem, however, is that the current set up deludes young players in elite programmes. They often think they are going to become professional footballers. It is unlikely that they will achieve this.

The solution is to have a state league. I'm fed up with hearing flawed arguments as to why it can't succeed. Play two conferences in the south and north. In an eight team league teams would only have to travel intrastate once every eight weeks. In a ten team competition they would only have to travel intrastate once every ten weeks.

The advantage of reducing the clubs playing at a high level (state league) is that part of their charter should be to run their own junior/development development programmes. At the moment it is nearly always neglected by premier league clubs.

Credit to FFT for putting forward the state league concept. It is a shame the club presidents voted against it. After all the parochial interests of their own clubs supersedes the interests of raising football standards in this state in their eyes. If not, I challenge club presidents to advance their rationale for rejecting the state league proposal on this blog. They may be able to proffer whether it was for logistical or philosophical reasons.

It is important to develop young players at club level too. A few more junior/youth programmes at state league clubs (like Melbourne Knights, South Melbourne) would also cater for those good players overlooked for state programmes. They could also enjoy the club atmosphere.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

As a corollary to my preceding post, there are some good things about state programmes.

Two past state coaches I know had an excellent philosophy. They wanted to borrow players from clubs, develop them as much as possible over a year or two, and send them back to the clubs as better players.

These state coaches had no particular affiliation to any specific club. This is a win/win situation.

Unfortunately, in empirical terms, it has been argued that some state/rep coaches may have close affiliations to particular clubs. Large numbers of players have followed coaches to certain clubs, according to some members of the Tasmanian football milieu. Even worse, some contend they have been induced.

If true, this is the antithesis to the attitude of the two altruistic coaches cited above. With an attitude of improving the players to the greatest extent, then sending them back to clubs as better players, it is a terrific concept. All benefit.

Another problem with state football programmes is it costs about $3 500 to play in a state team. This precludes players from less affluent families. As I understand it, it costs almost nothing for youth players in participate in AFL, cricket and hockey state teams.

I think it is important for eight or ten more serious clubs (state league) to become involved in more serious football than our current social competitions.

South Hobart should be the model ( in terms of male football) for other clubs to aspire to, not criticise. However, in gender terms they had no female team in the premier league last year.

Clarence had a meritorious paradigm in theory for youth development a few years back. Unfortunately, the club didn't make players feel an integral part of that club. Having said that, there are some coaches who are excellent role models for youth players at that club. I don't want to embarrass them by naming a few of them on here!

I also believe Kingborough aspires to develop youth.

The Knights have an ambitious and exciting programme next year too.

More of it I say.


Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer,your comment regarding the club presidents voting against a State League is interesting. Do you know if it was a 100% unanimous decision ?
Unfortunatley there are one or two presidents that would not know sh.. from clay ,as far as the sport is concerned. They are there for their own selfish reasons and are not interested in the good of the sport .They are only concerned with the goings on within their own club.A bit like sticking your head in the sand. It will be the undoing of these clubs in the future .One or two of them are beginning to show cracks at the moment.State League is the only way to go and the only way that the sport may attract any decent sponsorship and coverage. To continue on the same road is ignorant in my opinion.Someone once said ,"If you believe you are on the right track and you just stay there, you will get run over"

Anonymous said...

This is unbelievable! it was fine as it was, why change it?

Anonymous said...

how dissapointing to see the u/15 state program scrapped. as a parent of a boy that played in nationals 2008 and developed through that program into a young player that has a want for the game that through coaches that instill discipline and the implementation of a game plan to these boys that i doubt that these boys would have been taught through the club system .it is a big step from u 15 to senior and many young boys drift away from the game whether it be outside influences from growing up or just over coaching.watching coaches like previdi and hey coach has instilled a confidnace in me after sitting for 8 months watching boys being taught team rules & personal development and to be ready for competition and nutrition & for positions are things that most boys dont get .boys like ben phillips , jim pennicott , nick difalko ,jeremy walker ,brendan garth ,sam mcintyre .will abbott .just to name a few and this team had the highest finish for a long time /what happens to this structure now ,do we just go through the club system and just hope that these boys aspire to play at the highest level here .mick garth

Anonymous said...

The Knights have an ambitious and exciting programme next year too.

hi noticed your comment about the knights what will they be doing to for youth football next year as i have some kids looking for youth teams to play in

Anonymous said...

I agree Mick - it is a pity the State program now stops at 13 year olds. It would be great to have State teams for all age groups but unfortunately the only goal seems to be to find the next socceroo. As people have said earlier the State programs provide much more than this to participants, families and avid spectators. As you point out Mick, many of the fine young players in our Premier Leagues (including young Garthy) have come through these programs and will bring greater technical and tactical skills to the game.

Unfortunately now we will only have what? 4 or 5 players statewide ovee the age of 13 rolling through the TIS program. What are the figures for dropping out of the TIS - 30%?

Biggest benefactor? - Morton Soccer School! That's what I'd be doing with my young star.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2.07 pm

I don't think it was unanimous. I think the Launceston City or Rangers' president voted for the state league.

Someone viewing this post communicated this info to me. They can probably conform the break up of voting.

FFT cops some criticism. For putting the state league concept on the table they should be lauded. I think club presidents voting against a state league have set the game back by some degree.

Any football stakeholder on the mainland will wonder why we still have no state league. They won't be interested in what they consider to be spurious rationale for not having one.

If we ever get an A League team it will need better feeder leagues than the Southern and Northern Premier leagues.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Mick Garth

Hopefully your son will stay in the sport. I know hockey and cricket have good national pathways.

What concerns me is when young players leave state programmes then go to clubs after their time there and find senior players who lack commitment and desire to become better players. This is sometimes manifested in not wanting to even train. Spectators also want to see a higher standard of football on show too.

A short term solution is for South Hobart to play in the Victorian State League, but ultimately we want a state league with eight or ten South Hobarts in women and men.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

well said anon 7.32 some of the qualities that atate coaches instill into these kids can be recognised not only by other players .but parents .opposition coaches and to see these boys not dropping out of the game because they have a resistance against some of these outside influences
.why does this happen ? maybe because some boys enjoy a structure that is put in place that they actually enjoy and learn to respect that regime .I know my son and others have nothing but glowing respect for state coaches and would probably follow them anywhere given the right scenario,

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer - your tag belies your regular, overly verbose contributions, which often misuse words or use words out of context.

If you are a joke then great. I just hope no one takes your comments seriously.

Anonymous said...

Anon 7.16 pm

I suggest you contact Knights' administrators.

Paul Woodham is one. I can't remember the name of the other.

Good luck.

If a venture for youth/juniors with a different club doesn't eventuate for the normal reason - the seniors and club championship aspirations take total precedence, I could be at the Knights the season after 2011.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer, you say that under your proposal teams would travel once every 8-10 weeks. If we took the top 4 from the north as their reps, Burnie would be in the league with Devonport, and 2 Launceston sides. Burnie would therefore travel a minimum 2 & 1/2 hours virtually every second week. What is it, 4 hours to Hobart from there?

While I agree that a form of statewide competition is the way to go, the question is what happends to the clubs who don't make it?

Take 4-5 teams out of the north and you are left with 4-5 clubs left to play each other. The depth of numbers isn't there for state league clubs to also compete in the northern league.

Furthermore, many of the better players from non-state league clubs would surely go to a state league club, thus decimating the local comp.

The logistics/expenses perhaps favour a system where the north/south league remain as they are, with the addition of a champions league type format. The top 4 teams from each region in the previous season play each other once during the course of the season. The winners are top after 7 games (or play knockout finals). We could continue on with the final series for teams finishing top 4 of the current season. This gives all teams extra games against teams from the other league without bankrupting clubs, or stretching playing/admin resources too far.

We have tried so many times to get a state league up,and the logistics have brought it down each time. We surely can't make the exact same mistake again?

Mike Bassett
England Manager

Anonymous said...

Anon 2.07

One doesn't want to criticise voluntary administrators - in this case manifesting in the form of club presidents. They often devote an enormous amount of time to the game of football in this state. However, one needs to keep an eye on the bigger picture.

I've met a few presidents who seem blissfully unaware of football beyond this island. Nice blokes too. They have not one bit of interest on macro issues concerning football if it doesn't effect their clubs. I think some I've met are far more passionate about AFL than the A League, Socceroos, Joeys, Matildas, W League, Asian Champions' League or the Asian Cup.

It is a concern if people with this level of ignorance have a definitive vote about the future of football in this state. If they vote with what they consider best for their particular club and their own fiefdoms, as opposed to football utilitarianism in a macro context, there are grave ramifications for the future of association football in Tasmania. We will continue to be a football backwater.

We don't have to be. Look at the hockey and cricket milieus in Tasmania.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

KLEBERSON says:

The loss of state under 15s effects us more than other states. We have no A League teams with a presence in our football community. We at least have tenuous contact with elite level football at national championships through the participation of the under 15s.

Anonymous said...

Mike Bassett

The proposal I have is based on the American conference system for basketball.

Hypothetically, we could have four teams in the north and four in the south. It could extend to five for each conference.

South
A
B
C
D

North
A
B
C
D

Over a three week cycle each Northern and Southern team plays each other once in its conference.

Every fourth week, the first team on the ladder in the north plays the first team in the south. The second northern team plays the second southern team, third plays third, fourth plays fourth.

Then we have a state ladder.

Then we have a further three week cycle where the teams play the other three in their own conference.

Then we have an intrastate round every fourth week.

When each team plays a team from the different conference every fourth, eighth and twelfth week they could alternate travelling either home or away. That means one intrastate trip every eight weeks for each club.

If there were to be a ten team state league, if it were deemed to be appropriate, there would be less travel involved.

I've wanted to present this paradigm to a FFT meeting, combined with the club presidents for years.

As to what happens to the clubs who miss out on the state league. They can play what we have now - social football, where players can train on Cascade and Boags, and not train, yet be selected for senior premier league football.

Instead a state league should aspire to create teams the quality of South Hobart men's team in both genders. We may attract players/coaches from interstate too.

It may be possible for one team to be eligible for relegation/promotion in each conference. The top northern social club and the top southern social club could play the bottom southern and northern state league clubs in a play off.

What I would like to see is some people with the foresight to look for reasons to make a state league paradigm work - not look for reasons for it to fail.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9.52

Respond to the essence of the comments, not the style.

There may actually be people who participate on this blog who take pride in writing correctly. Many grade 11 and 12 students I've known write better than some people on this blog, because some participants on here have no pride in writing correctly. To some elsewhere it makes Tasmanians seem illiterate.

What do you think of state leagues and under 15 elite competitions?

Or have you nothing to contribute about football? You might be better served participating in internet chat rooms and reading Women's Weekly.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Mike Bassett

The paradigm I propose for a state league will cost barely any more money than now.

At the moment we have a low standard premier league. The concept of a state league is to see football improve.

By the best eight or ten teams playing each other at a higher level week in and week out, the football standard would ameliorate. I'm not sure how often South Hobart train, but a guy I know who plays in the VPL trains four times a week with the club.

To effect consistent and effective permutations of
4-3-3 in tactical training Han Berger advances that it needs to be done four or five times a week. The TIS already trains this often.

Those who don't want to train seriously can still play social football, like they play now. I would like to see ALL clubs/coaches try and emulate what Dean May and Ken Morton do in terms of training ground practices.

Spectators want to see a better quality of football. One former state coach finds the standard of the local men's premier league 'depressing'.

Young players leaving the institute who don't get professional contracts ( none of them have to date) need a local league to aspire to, not to drop in standard by playing in it.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

It is clear that Ken Morton is the best coach Tasmania has to offer therefor i think that Dean May could learn a lot from this man. Ken has proven to be a successful coach by winning numerous amounts of titles etc. Whereas Dean is yet to show any signs of success.

Marty Nidorfer said...

In regards to State League concepts, the above model does nothing to concentrate the best players into 8 teams. It rewards the best 8 of 17 clubs.

Heres an idea for thought.

8 'regions' are allotted in Tasmania that incorporate 2 or more clubs for each region.

Ie: Burnie & Somerset, Knights & Eagles & Metro. ETC.

Each regions clubs appoint a coach (could be an existing one) for the year.

Set rounds during the year are allocated for matches (international style) where teams play home and away.

7 weeks would be allocated in the season around the existing Premier Leagues. It would in effect replace the Statewide cup.

Players would be released to train for a Wed night fixture followed by a Saturday fixture each round.

Every region team will travel out of area only 3 times a year(sat fixtures).

This would ensure the best players from the area, and create more support with more Clubs backing their region.

???

Anonymous said...

Marty Nidorfer

Your idea has some merit. However the model I proposes would inevitably mean the better players would be drawn to the best four or five clubs in the two conferences. The players not good enough, or not willing to meet the commitment for state league football can play social football.

This addresses the current mediocre standard of the men's premier league competition. The best players need to be playing against each other week in and week out.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 11.12

It is difficult to compare Dean May and Ken Morton.

Didn't Dean May coach at Arsenal?

One footballer I met at a national coaching course, probably better than any player in this state as he was a fringe A Leaguer, claimed Dean May was the best coach he had had.
The quality of football the institute plays is the best I've seen in this state, and, it has been produced by young teenagers.

Ken Morton has had success in the Tasmanian Premier leagues. He has often had the best players in Tasmania. His teams have beaten opponents with less talent, quasi- social clubs if you like.

Would Ken's teams win titles with less talented players?

Having said this he coached Da Nang in the V League. He has coached in Ethiopia. He has coached in the old National Soccer League. Ken has been a professional coach. What success did he have professionally?

If he is an outstanding coach, why he is he still coaching in a football backwater like Tasmania?

What contemporaneous practices does Ken use?

Has he recently acquired up to date European methodological practices? Dean has.

Dean is also judged by national adjudicators. Ken isn't.

Ken is obviously a good coach, but questions like the aforementioned ones need consideration. Some of Ken's players performed well against the Mariners, a successful A League club with Socceroos in the team. So did Dean's players. Well done to both of them.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer

I would suggest that ken is happy with his lot in Tasmania as he would make more $ than most A-League coaches make, via his soccer school.

There is no need to compare the two as they work in two completely different fields.

Ken is private enterprise, whereas Dean is a public servant. Dean is far more accountable than Ken is as far as credentials go. Dean also holds a lot more water than ken does within FFA.

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer you must be very close to Dean May or maybe you are Dean May.

Anonymous said...

Why all this rubbish about comparing Ken Morton and Dean May ? All coaches are different. Ken has been in Tasmania a long time and has had numerous coaching positions.He has been successful.As we know ,Dean May is the coach of the NTC . His aim is not to win titles etc.His job is to develop our best young players to a higher level. If you watch the NTC play , I believe he is doing that.So we should accept that he is successful. Lets not forget he has only been a couple of years also. I have had some involvement with many of his existing players and all of them have improved greatly ,some more than others, but all are much better players. You cannot compare the two coaches . In fact I believe they both have much respect for each other and to suggest either of them should learn from the other is a stupid suggestion to make.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:58

either way its unfortunate for casual observer

Anonymous said...

I responded to a previous post suggesting one of the two aforementioned coaches was better than the other.

I wrote that both coaches deserve credit for coaching Tasmanian players.

I also suggested a few criteria for evaluating coaches' performances.

It would be good for Tasmania to have more coaches of this calibre.

I'm not sure how it is 'unfortunate' for me.


Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anon 2.58

No, I am not Dean May.

I have also been accused of being Dirk Gadd and Walter Pless!!!!

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Regarding language on this forum.

Quite a number who view it are interstate or overseas. This will only increase in January.

I've participated on a number of Australia wide blogs/forums. Many on the big island to the north think if one resides on this island, one lacks cerebral qualities.

From memory other bloggers on here, Brian Roberts, Richard Bladel, the Kingborough and Clarence club presidents, Mike Bassett, Chuq, Decentric, Walter, plus a number of others whose names I fail to remember, and, innumerable posters using the name 'Anonymous,' have demonstrated they take pride in presenting what they write.

Given most of the aforementioned reside in Tassie, the mainlanders and international participants on this blog can see that the Tasmanian perception is a myth.

Many grade six students write more literate pieces of work than some adults on this blog. No capitals, poor paragraphing, lack of full stops and commas, and poor spelling, detract from the quality of the discussion at times.

A few in the Australian football media rate Walter's site highly. There is considerable knowledge about certain facets of the game on here. It would be better if care was taken to edit and present the points made to match the football knowledge.

I admit I'm horrified when I see some typos I've made!!! At least I try.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Ken Morton doesn't abuse his players. He is THE professinoal coach.

Anonymous said...

aforementioned!

Anonymous said...

Omg Casual observer, Tasmania would benefit with more coaches of this calibre,do your research, there's more to coaching than just getting a team to play well.How well do you really know these coaches.Imo one is definately better than the other.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9.52 pm

I still haven't seen any input from you on the under 15 coaching scenario or a mooted state league.

Given the main words I use are, 'the', 'to' and 'and,' provide concrete examples how I've misused them in various contexts.

I'd prefer some input on the football matters discussed in this thread though.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Hey Walter what about a limit of 50 comments per day.

Anonymous said...

Casual O,

Who cares about correct grammar It's an internet blog.

Go back to Holland

Anonymous said...

Anthony Alexander is the U/13 Girls Coach.
The boys has yet to be confirmed as Kurt is not doing it.

Dean is an awesome coach, if Dean took every Premier club a training session or two he would automaticly improve the standard ten fold.

Apparently according to FFA the best 15 year olds in the country are at the NTC programs. Only the NT, ACT and TAS have a one tier NTC program, where the other states have two.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 10.04

Aren't you embarrassed that people who speak English as a second language write better than some of the bloggers on here write English as their first language? I am.

The French take great pride in their language. It would be good if we did too.

Our esteemed Dutch coaches in this country speak better English as a second or third language than some of us write English on here.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 10.46 pm

Interesting and informative post.

Can you expand?

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.46pm.
Now there is a sensible option.
Have two NTC squads.The only issue with this is the funding. Having said that though ,maybe it could be arranged that the second tier just train and do not participate in games (maybe).They do not participate in the NTC challenges etc.There could be players in the second tier that develop later and improve rapidly , possibly catching the eye of the main coaches . The coach of the second group could operate under Dean May's guidance and mentoring.
Your other comment about Dean taking every club for a training session or two and suggesting that would improve them is a bit pie in the sky I think. It would take more than a session or two. Dean May is not superman either. He does have his own job and needs to sleep.

Anonymous said...

My understanding is State league is off the radar at the moment from the CEOs mouth to me at the Northern dinner.

The last time a state league was discussed at a Northern Presidents meeting no vote was taken, as feelings were the Northern clubs were not ready for a state league.

As has been said on here time and time again, any comp that takes four clubs out of the north would mean the end for several clubs in the north. Then when the state league fails the north will have no comp. Why all this talk about a state league. There are other ways to improve the standard of our comps. We need to better junior coaching etc.

To our southern cousins, it is not that we dont want a state league, its that we know what will happen once it fails (as it has done 3 times already). The northern clubs have worked very hard to maintain the viability of our league, and were the driving forces behind the end of season final series, so as to have some state contact without decimating the northern league. I guarantee you a state league will decimate the northern league.

It is easy for the south to say lets go state league. You have a lot more clubs, so if SH, Glenorchy, Zebras & Clarence (as an example) go to state league, you still have a viable 2nd tier of Olympia, Newtown, Beachside, Kingborough, Metro, Taroona, Uni, Nelson, Dosa etc etc

If for example you took the top 4 npl teams of Rangers, Devonport, Burnie and Riverside out you would be left with a comp that involves Ulverstone, Lton City, Lton Utd, Prospect and Somerset. Would be lucky to last a year.

Added to this was the problem raised by the Northern clubs last time a state league was discussed in that what about reserves, club commites being split with say a team in Hobart and a team in Burnie. All things that need to be resolved before we even get there.

You may dismiss this as the ramblings of a "Northern Monkey", however they are real problems that effect the Launceston and NW clubs. I know as Im am involved.

Anonymous said...

This post is addressed predominantly to Casual O, however, is more broadly aimed at all those who have been critiquing the language used on this blog.
I am a teacher by profession, and I agree that the sentence structure, lack of gramma, and general disregard for written convention makes it difficult to understand some posts.
HOWEVER
For centuries societies have used language to establish and maintain barriers between constituents. This ‘class’ hierarchy has always benefited a few, and disadvantaged many. Key to maintaining these class barriers is the issue of ‘accessibility’. Schooling, resources, literature, theatre etc are less accessible for the disadvantaged.
Supposedly one of the best things about world football is its ability to transcend class, race, gender, and income.
No matter how well written you think your posts are, they DO NOT carry anymore weight or speak anymore truth than someone with a weaker grasp on the English Language.

Anonymous said...

Northern Monkey assumes there must be 4 from N/NW and 4 from the South.

A more sensible split is 3 from the N/NW (leaving 6 in a Northern League) and 5 from the South.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3.25pm

You must knocking off early on Friday for a teacher!!!

You raise some fair points about language. What I contend is that some capable posters on here could take more care with the language they use in their posts.

I have participated on a number of forums, catering for international posters and mainlanders. By and large more care is taken with language than on here.

I agree that my posts are worth no more weighting than others. I sometimes push issues to elicit responses. For the enormous number of visitors to this site few comment. The percentage is lower than other forums/blogs.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer

Oh my, you just wont let this language thing go will you.....

You come up with some excellent points on football in this state etc etc. But why are you so bothered if someone with less of an education as yourself can not write as well as you on a football blog??

Do you have some kind of superiority complex??

You mentioned before that "the French take pride in their language so why cant we?" yeah true, but the French also eat snails, the women dont shave their pits, and they surrended to the Germans at the drop of a hat! I am quite happy being an Australian who might not be able to write proper and all vat, but it sure beats being from any other country on this planet!

and believe me, I have visited a few.

Casual Writer.

Anonymous said...

Will you guys rack off and leave the blog for people interested in the game? Casual Observer , you sound like a right prat and criticising others just shows your arrogance and lack of respect. This blog can do without people like you. Maybe if you are such a good writer, put those skills to work and apply for the soccer writer's job at the Mercury.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8.24pm

In this blog I've suggested that:

1. Ken Morton and Dean May are useful coaching acquisitions to this state.

2. Through a prudent state league paradigm (unique in an Australian context) there may be better opportunities for committed senior players to improve by playing against better opposition week in and week out.

3. Through a state league with mandatory coaching requirements for developing youth this can improve the standard of Tasmanian football players.

4. By more participants taking care to edit posts the language used here may match the football knowledge on this blog.

5. I have defended (and will continue to do so) disgraceful character assassinations directed towards Corey Smith. This guy is doing excellent work coaching young Tasmanian footballers. A few of his critics should realise this.

6. I have advanced criteria for appraising coaches objectively .

7. I have written for a national football media organisation which provides much greater autonomy for writers than what The Mercury ( a football hating tabloid) allows its football journalists.

8. I have often praised some other contributors on this blog.

9. I have praised facets of FFT's operations and lauded some of the personnel in that particular organisation.

10. If I've criticised aspects of the status quo in the Tasmanian football milieu it is because I (amongst others) want to see football progress in this state. There is a bigger picture.

Specifically name WHO I've criticised.

I'm not sure how you contend I display 'arrogance and lack of respect'.

I'm not sure how we can 'rack off and leave the blog to those who like the game'.

I have also witnessed an incredible amount of negative comments, cowardly character assassinations, cynicism and premeditated agendas on here. It is a shame because there have been some excellent and informed comments on this blog.

This is decent football website and deserves a higher percentage of thoughtful comments, devoid of character excoriation.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

Anon 8.24pm

Some of the comments I've made are designed to galvanise football supporters in this state from an inertia that afflicts AFL followers.

AFL has a following in four states of Australia. It is the predominant a sport in Victoria, South Australia Western Australia and Tasmania. It enjoys media hegemony.
Some Tasmanians are so complacent, gullible and sycophantic to Victoria, that the bulk of AFL followers in this state accept Andre Demetriou's specious, but spurious arguments, that Tasmania cannot expect to have an AFL team. This state needs to seize an opportunity that the ethnocentric cretins from the upper echelons of the AFL are too myopic to realise.

It is not even the most popular sport in NSW , ACT or Queensland. It has no following in any other country in the world and has no hope of securing a foothold in any other country in the world. Certainly not in any of the five continents I've visited. Maybe Antarctica is a possibility?

Many of us want to see an improved coaching development system in Tasmania. We don't need to import coaching expertise from the Australian mainland, because it also a football coaching backwater.
We can forge direct links to Europe and South America. Speaking to a state futsal coach, they already have direct links to South America.

Many of us want to see the game progress where we have A League and W League teams. Places with smaller populations, like Gosford and Townsville, already have A League teams.

I make no apologies for wanting to advance the future of association football in Tasmania. At this point in time many football stakeholders have an interest in grass roots football in Tassie, but follow Aussie heliocentric aerial ping pong as their passion. This needs to change.

Most of the world recognise association football as a quality spectator sport. It is the world game after all.

Casual Observer

Anonymous said...

One term used in this topic is NTC. Does this mean National Training Centre?

Has it replaced the football Institutes Of Sport?

Alf Ramsey

Anonymous said...

KLEBERSON SAYS:

Some really good points have been made in the discussion about this topic. I'm not sure why some participants operating under the title Anonymous feel the need to attack other participants personally though.

Anonymous said...

Casual Observer I was referring to the times you criticised others who dont have the same writing skills that you possess.That is all.Your comments relatng to the game are more than welcomed.