My FFA Cup adventure featuring Sydney Croatia (United 58) and Sydney Australia FC

Here is a story that appeared on the Four Four Two Website last week.

Featuring my adventure at  Edensor Park where the Round of 16 FFA Cup tie was played between  Sydney United 58 and Sydney FC. Featuring quotes by former Socceroos great Peter Katholos.

Check out the link below:

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/features/blast-past-or-glimpse-future?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=aleague

Interview with Penarol's Blake Ricciuto

Here is an interview I did with Aussie Abroad Blake Riccuito  who plays for Uruguayan giants Penarol.

Check out the link below the story was published on the Australian 442 Website.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/league-reject-living-dream-uruguay

Exclusive interview with former FC Barcelona Youth Coach Josep Gombau Part Two

Here is Part Two of the full Josep Gombau  interview. Part of this interview appeared on the Fox Sports website on August the 13th 2014. Here is the link here 

In Part Two Gombau talks: World Cup tactics, what his vision for the A-League All Stars vs Juventus game was.  

What former Barcelona and Spanish  international and now Technical Director of Adelaide United Guillermo Amor can bring to the club. 

And how his seven years coaching youth teams at FC Barcelona influenced his coaching career. 

9) In a recent interview you said you admired the German way of playing at the World Cup, particularly how they combined a passing game and being strong in defence, what other trends do you see in world football in terms of playing style?

There are a lot of styles, and every style is good, just you need to follow what I mean. In football you speak with an Englishman maybe he like the long ball, the second ball.

In the World Cup I like Germany because the treatment that they have with the ball was amazing, and after they combined this treatment with aggressive defence. and honestly now I am studying this. 

For me in Barcelona we try this treatment with the ball was amazing, but never aggressive in defence because we think attack attack attack and they combine this defensive with attacking but also when we lose the ball we are strong and it’s something for to make an analysis, it’s the way that I like. 

Because football is when you have ball try to have a good treatment with the ball and when you don’t have ball be strong and try to make the other team lose possession as soon as possible

11) What will the Foxtel All Stars vs Juventus game achieve for Australian football and you personally?

For me it’s a challenge, but not like a personal for a coach, it’s a challenge for all the country. These kinds of games put Australia in sight of the World in football and I have this responsibility to try and do a good game to try and get a result. 

The result is not win or lose, the result is to be competitive, is the game will be nice, will play a good football, and to show the A-League is strong and the league is good. 

This challenge that we have is important, this is what I like.

But not personal because in the end like a coach just to be in this game to make me a big name and also in Europe is speaking about this game, Josep is coaching there. 

But this is not the way. The way what I want to try and to put Australia and the A-League in a good way. But also for the players because the players get to get a good image, if they get a good image will show that this league is strong the clubs in Europe can show more attention to this league or they can have good offers in the future. 

It’s a way to show off Australian football, or the football here around the world.

12) You brought former Barcelona and Spanish footballer Guillermo Amor for the game against Malaga tell us what he brought to Adelaide?

He can bring a lot of things. In the beginning he come, he is the kind of person he need to get confidence. At the beginning he come and he just look around and not speak a lot.

But now he starts to work seriously he bring to us a lot of tactical stuff. He’s a player that played a lot of games and knows the movements perfectly and we want to work with Adelaide this 3 4 3 just to play with three defenders, attack more, he can bring a lot of things to us for me it’s a pleasure that Guillermo is here with us.



13) Do you think more Spanish coaches will follow your trail to Australia?

I think it’s not easy. Here there are good coaches, I become the fist team coach. It’s not easy to get this position with just ten teams. It’s difficult. 

We are lucky and I’m proud to have my position at Adelaide United. I know how difficult it is to have this job.

14) Can you tell us what kind of person away from football?

Away from football I think I’m a friendly person. A person that always is worried for the other people the family the people that is around me. 

I try always to help the people that are close with me. I’m a person that invests so much time with football it’s my life and sometimes I don’t share my time with my family because I am always thinking in football but this is the way that I am.

15) Who has been the biggest influence on your coaching career so far.

My biggest influence is not a person, it’s a style, my time in FC Barcelona. 

When I was there for me it’s the best university of football in the world and I stay seven years working there.  

It’s not one man or two mans or three mans, it’s the style, what you share with the other coaches of course it’s the people you work with  

Luis Enrique now is the coach, I work with Pep Guardiola and now he is at Bayern Munich.

I work with Guillermo Amor and now he is here with us (at Adelaide United) and I share with them a lot of time. 

But this not the persons, for me it’s the club FC Barcelona

16) What is your main motivating to succeed?

Now when you are a father and you have kids they are all for you. and in this moment of course my wife my parents. But in the end my kids.  because they know they need you and you need to be there and you have to work hard to try to bring to them the best that you can.

( All photo's courtesy of Adelaide United)

Exclusive Interview with Adelaide United Coach Josep Gombau Part One

Ever since Josep Gombau arrived in Australia a little more than 12 months ago the charismatic former Barcelona youth coach has been capturing the attention of Australian football fans and media.

The Spaniard beat out more successful A-League coaches like Mike Mulvey and Tony Popovic to coach the Foxtel A League All Stars against Juventus. The All stars produced a quality display and Gombau passion and coaching style almost produced a shock result.

It's a sign of the Adelaide United boss's coaching prowess that he was chosen ahead of more established names even though the Reds didn't take any honours last season.

Gombau is one of the nicest guys in football and I was lucky he gave me so much of his time. He is very interested in growing the game here in Australia and imparting his wealth of football knowledge.

Gombau spent seven years working with the youth teams at FC Barcelona so with such a pedigree behind him Australian football has much to learn from the Spaniard.

So here is Part One of an exclusive interview I did with Josep Gombau not so long ago. Part of this interview first appeared on the Fox Sports website. Here is the link.

1) How would you describe your first season at Adelaide United?

I think that it was good for me because I come from Hong Kong to a new league a new country. Always a coach or a player needs time to adapt to this new league that his going to work.

I think that we make a big change of the way that the club was playing, the years before, we are now playing another style of football and it was not easy in the beginning and in the end we finish playing a good football and I think the people and fans will appreciate it and I am happy.

2) Australia is far away from Spain what made you decide to coach here?

I was in Hong Kong I was not far away I was in Asia. I like always travel and football, these are two of my passions, and if you can mix both and you can know new countries new cultures, have friends around the world and also you can work in what you like it’s a good way.

3) Tell us how hard it was to stamp your playing style and philosophy on Adelaide United? Looking in from the sidelines it looks like you have a close relationship with your players is that important as a coach?

Yes it was very difficult when you arrive to one place and you want to change all the things to play another style and you want to put in a new system of playing, you need to change a lot of things and this takes time.

I need to say thanks to all the players because everybody worked hard to arrive at this objective to play this beautiful football that I think that we played last season in the last games. 

And it’s true I’m very close to the players because everybody is in the same way with the same objective to play and to win to be close to them is something that I like.

I think my age helps in this because I am a young coach, and it’s easy for me to have a close relationship with them



4) What are the main differences between coaching in Spain and Australia?

I think there are a lot. In Spain the football is the main sport and everybody appreciates it and everybody knows exactly what you are doing. 

Here the football is not the main sport. And a lot of people don’t care a lot about football and with these things you can see facilities support and these things. 

But it is something you can see I think in Australia the football is growing and growing and every day we are more close to have this 

5) What do you think about the standard of the A-League?

For me it’s high and every year is more high.

For me last season was high and this year will be more high.

Today I’ve been speaking with some players from different teams everybody have a good squads good signing players that are coming to the A League and this is nice and also is a challenge for everybody because I think the A-League is growing and we are doing the right things.

6) How do you manage a young player so the pressure doesn't get to him?

Sometimes the coaches want that the young players to play like an experienced players and in the moment this is quite impossible when the player make a mistake the coach take off and put inside again

Also sometimes choosing the games that he can play. The game is in a bad moment or the game is losing or you are not having the position of the ball is not a games for the kids in that moment; it’s not to put the kids in the game in this moment.

7) Besides lots of pesos how does Australian football improve the quality of coaches and players in a technical sense? What can the A-league do to improve? What kind of things would like to see implemented?

I think there are a lot of things. For example the A-League has just 10 teams, in my point of view I would like if we have more teams also the number of games that we play, in strong league the teams play a minimum of 38 games, We are playing 27 plus the finals.

 These things are things that we can improve. There are a lot of things that are good, the stadiums, the media; a lot of people is following.

There are a lot of things that the A League for me is at a level of a European league. But then there are other things not enough teams not games enough for one season.

There is a big big break; there is four five months that the league stops and in these things we can improve.

8) Last season you conducted coaching clinics for local coaches in Adelaide, what was the idea behind that? 

My idea was that I love to see the kids, to coach kids.

In the beginning the first few days that I arrived, sometimes I was with my car and I stopped and I watched the kids training and I watch also the coaches training and I feel there is a lot of things without ball, a lot of physical stuff, things that for me is not so important.

Important for me are that the kids have the skills and for kids to have the skills they have to work with the ball.

The moment come to me why not try and share my knowledge that I have coaching kids with all the coaches that want to come to the clinics and we spoke in the club and the club agreed to this.

And we make this coaching course that was 12 weeks, and we showed all the kids what they need to work and improve their skills and this helped to show kids from South Australia can enjoy more from training and can learn more from training.

Also the coaches have more knowledge and also we make a book for everyone, showing the way that they need to do the training. So I am satisfied we do this.

( All photo's courtesy of Adelaide United)

Part Two to follow.

David "Barack Obama" Gallop's State of the Game (Union) Address

David Gallop has been administrating Australian football this week like a Boss! Earlier in the week David "Keats" Gallop penned a letter to Australian football fans extolling the beauty  of football as he kicked off the promotion for the tenth season of the A League.

Later in the week David "Barack Obama" Gallop delivered a very presidential like speech on his state of the game address extolling the vision of Australia's football future

David "Keats" Gallop 

"Football is often referred to as ‘The Beautiful Game’. But what is beautiful?" asked Australia's John Keats. If you don't know who John Keats is you seriously need to step up your romantic game. His opening few lines of his famous 1818 poem Endymion should be remembered by anyone wishing to win the heart of that special someone. It's never worked for me but give it a go anyway you might get points for trying.

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing"

Beauty as they say is in the eye of the beer holder and if you look at the promotional videos that come with Gallop's love letter you will see how various  icons of Australian football define the Beautiful Game. One such icon  is ex Socceroos and Fox Sports regular Robbie Slater. His version of football beauty is nicking the ball, halting play, and giving shit to various former Socceroos teammates like Craig Foster and Harry Kewell. Link here:

Some of the Slater's recent clashes on Twitter and on Fox Sports have been a thing of beauty for me.

What isn't a thing of beauty is seeing the Socceroos slide down the FIFA rankings to 84.Now ranked ninth in Asia and down to historic lows after being as high as 19th in the world in September 2001. It's a pity FIFA don't rate brave losses or losses that still feel like a victory. After the Holland game at the World Cup in Brazil the Socceroos would've been in the Top 10 if the ranking system was changed to the bravery index!

The Socceroos have to start playing teams ranked in the mid 20's and 30's. We keep on trying to pick up the hottest chick at the dance! Sure trying to land the hottest chick at the dance  is good practice for when you meet the lesser teams but soon the lesser teams will see you in action and know how you play the game.(that was probably sexist and I may have mixed my metaphors or something but you know what I'm trying to say)

David "Barack Obama" Gallop 

Back to David Gallop's State of the Game (Union) speech. Even Rugby League botherer Roy Masters in today's SMH wrote that the ex NRL man looked very "Pres" during his speech.

"There was something presidential about FFA chief executive David Gallop's "State of the Game" address in Sydney on Thursday, a US-style declaration of national goals achieved and those still to be kicked," wrote Masters in the opening paragraph of his article.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/given-a-free-hand-david-gallop-tackles-his-ffa-role-with-zest-20140918-10isqo.html#ixzz3Dj4Yvl00

It was interesting getting Masters' take on the speech particularly the last line in Masters' article: "Your sport has joined the big boys now David. Time to dig your own gold." 

Here Masters was referring to how Gallop plans to fund his National Plan for Australian football, a plan that Gallop says will:

"Set us on our way to making football the biggest and most popular game in Australia."

In Gallop's words: "we have many mouths to feed, but rarely do we have enough to go around"

Australian football will need cashiola if it plans to fund Gallop's National Plan. Most likely Government cash, and Masters in his article is moaning about how Australian football plans to feed those mouths:
 \
"How much money will Gallop extract from government for this purpose?"

Frank Lowy got 25 million from the Australian Sports Commission  in 2003 to meet the recommendation of the Crawford report and reform Australian football.

How much money could Gallop get to fund his National Plan? 

Don't forget the AFL has literally received hundreds of millions of dollars over the years. 

Here is a quote by Jeff Kenett on that subject during an interview he gave to ABC last year:

"Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by us through political manoeuvring under Demetriou's baton, while the AFL has committed so little cash. It's a remarkable achievement."

Below is the speech where Gallop outlined the key questions facing Australian football if it wants to be number one baby! 

* In elite player and coach development, I have no doubt we need to overhaul the way we do things. Do we want to see others in Asia setting the standards, or do we want to be the leader?

* For our national teams, qualifying for World Cups is fantastic, but do we want to be a contender and challenge the elite nations?

* Community football is currently a strength in the participation base and our collaboration with our Member Federations. But is it enough to have a model primarily based on clubs and outdoor football when so many people want to play indoor, at schools or just for fun in parks?

* Facilities are at the heart of our game, but how can we thrive as a sport when the space to play remains a critical shortage?

* Our national competitions, the Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League, PS4 NPL and Westfield FFA Cup provide us with a 12-month of the year calendar, but structures, connections and expansion are big questions for our future.

* Fan Engagement is the life-blood of everything we do, whether it's in the community, with our major brands or through the many channels where you find football content. But we need to stay ahead of the trend in this digital world if the football family is to remain strong.

* Commercial revenues are the dividends of a successful sport, but we know we need to do a better job telling corporate Australia about the massive potential if we are to have the resources to deliver on the game's promise.

* And our governance structures need to be aligned, efficient and ready for the challenge. Every stakeholder needs to know their role and have the trust in others, and that's the starting point of our ambitious thinking.

So basically, coaching, qualifying, participating, facilitating, competing, fan engaging, making (asking for money) money and governing it all.

It's a  plan that will take decades said Gallop to Tom Smithies of the Daily Telegraph:

TS: You’ve talked again about being the No 1 sport – in what time frame, and do you not run the risk of alienating fans of other sports?
DG: In a strict participation sense, we are already the biggest sport. We have to convert those participants to fans of the national team and A-League and W-League teams. We’ve always said it will take decades, it’s not an overnight exercise. But we should be ambitious about the game’s future.

For me I'd love to see investment in: elite player and coach development, we should build centres of excellence around the states, use the experience of our golden generation to coach the next gen and the next gen after that. Each A-League club should have academies that allows a player to develop in the clubs system from the grassroots to the senior team

Expansion of the A-League to more teams, and one day hopefully that includes a pathway for the National Premier League teams to the A-League via promotion and relegation through the National Premier League final series. 

Yes it will take time, watching the FFA Cup the difference between the second tier and first tier of Australian football is huge. Not talent wise but structurally and also the question remains with the FFA launching the National Club Identity Policy is old football part of that future?

More will be revealed after the Asian Cup as Gallop said in his speech via an online portal that will capture the voice of the people. 

My glass half full goggles say let's do it! Together we can make a difference! Gallop's State of the Game Speech could be an agent of real change.

With the Asian Cup on the horizon the cynic in me hopes the National Plan is not just a big distraction dreamed up by the suits at the FFA to make us look away from the latest FIFA rankings.

The Socceroos are now ranked just one spot above Cyprus, a country that's been divided since 1974 and that has a population of just over one million people. Australia is also ranked below countries like Benin, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo a country that's been ravaged by an ongoing civil war. 

Socceroos Belgium and Saudi Arabia Analysis

After watching the Socceroos fumble and bumble their way with a lucky loss against Belgium and a very lucky win against Saudi Arabia, the World Cup afterglow has well and truly faded.

Recently there has been boasting predictions by some of the Socceratti that the Asian Cup victory on home soil is there for the taking.

The Socceroos chucked their 2014 Copo do Mondo performances into the waste bin of history and reminded fans, pundits and bandwagoners that there is lots of work to be done.

The Socceroos have planty of excuses why they played so badly. Sure it's hard to rise up to and match the performances that the Socceroos gave against Chile and Holland when your are playing in half empty stadiums in Belgium and London.

Compared to the pageantry and excitement of the world's biggest organised piss-up. the buzz of full stadiums and the gaze of the world's eyes, the atmosphere and the importance of the friendly games against the Chocolatiers and the Oil Botherers are a Debbie Downer in comparison to Brazil.

Sure Grumpy Postecoglou used a bunch of new players and  used the game to widen the net and add more depth to the national team’s small pool of players.

But talk about comedown Tuesday! I haven't felt so low on a Tuesday morning since the late 90's and early noughties of my misspent youth.

Sure the game was played on a Monday morning Australian time but everyone associated with the term "comedown Tuesday" knows that the low doesn't hit till the following day.

The Socceroos were pedestrian, lazy and as Alan Partridge says just too "cas" in defence.

The midfield is an ongoing saga and the attack is the same old story: a lot of conversation and very little action.

Fire up Tommy!

Before the first game against Belgium I had the opportunity to interview World Cup 2014 Socceroos members, Tommy Oar and Bailey Wright. Click on the their last names for the interviews.

Oar will want to forget these two games and Wright will never ever forget the Saudi Arabia game.

Oar continues to disappoint for the Socceroos while the Preston North End veteran (he's only 22 and has played over 100 games for the Lilywhites) made his full Socceroos debut and scored

After being a suited and booted cheerleader for the Socceroos last six or seven games including the World Cup, Wright would have been thinking 'finally'!

Oar is a mystery to me, and the Utrecht winger is probably puzzling many Socceroos observers and himself over why he can bring it for his club but not for his country.

The 22 years old's performances at the World Cup were mixed, Oar said so himself when I interviewed him:

"I've got mixed feelings,” he says. “Obviously playing at the highest level, coming up against the best defenders in the world is always going to be tough. I’m disappointed I couldn't have a more positive impact; however I am grateful for the experience. It has highlighted for me the things which I need to work on and what I need to improve."

It’s easy for this coach on a keyboard to say, but what Oar needs to improve upon when playing for the Socceroos is his composure.

When Oar plays for his club side in Holland he seems more relaxed. He's been on fire for Utrecht, starting the Eredivise season with three assists in two games.If you look at the highlights Oar's been giving some sublime passes to his teammates.

Where is Utrecht Tommy Oar when he plays for the Socceroos? Perhaps Oar is trying too hard and trying to do too much when he puts on the green and gold. I'd like see Grumpy Ange give him a free role. Give him the freedom to move inside from the left and into the middle like he does for his club side.

Poor Ol' Mitch

Goalkeeper Mitch Langerak must have done something wrong in his past Socceroos life because his current Socceroos teammates are causing the Borussia Dortmund's Goalkeeper all sorts of grief every time he puts on the Socceroos keeper's uniform.

Langerak's Socceroos career seems jinxed. His debut for the green and gold was against France when the Frogs thrashed the Aussies by six goals to nil. It was the last game dour game Holger Osieck ever coached for Australia.

In the lead up to the World Cup, Langerak's poor performance against Ecuador were he got sent off gave Socceros number one GK position to Mat Ryan, wrapped up in a green and gold bow tie.

Langerak must be thinking to himself: “At least I don't have to put up with this shit at Dortmund.”

Hipster bearded kreas Mile Jedinak has Tommy Oar's disease, were he excels for his club and plays crazy in the coconut (go "The Avalanches" reference!) for the Socceroos.

To continue with the Avalanches references: Since the Socceroos left us at the World Cup, Ange Postecoglou's five year project, is still a work in progress.

The Fringsters

Joshua Brilliante, Trent Sainsbury, Mitch Langerack, Massimo Luongo, Bailey Wright, Ben Halloran, Chris Herd, Tomi Juric and Brad Smith all need proper playing time or to move to proper clubs.

The Socceroos can't be having League One players and bench players trying to keep up with your Belgium's and trying to dominate your Saudi Arabia's.

It will take time to get regular games and proper clubs, for some players in the Fringsters list, perhaps the Asian Cup is a year too soon.

The Regulars

Tommy Oar, Jason Davidson, Mile Jedinak, Mathew Leckie, Mat Ryan can’t keep on playing below their ability or better for their clubs.

Step it up, you're playing for Australia farken!

The Meek

Robbie Kruse, Rhys Williams, Mathew Spiranovic and Terry Antonis see more of the inside of a doctor’s office than the outside of a football pitch.

You all don't want to be called the next Hayden Foxe especially by Andy Harper do you?

Generation What's Next? may look like a mad woman’s breakfast at the moment, but with some refinement of the squad particularly the fringsters, regulars and some luck with the meek, I’m still intrigued to see how the story ends.

I just hope it doesn't have the same ending as another disastrous and embarrassing home football tournament.

The Sydney 2000 Olympics anyone?

Interview with Socceroos Tommy Oar and Bailey Wright

With the Socceroos in action for the first time since the Brazil World Cup .Here are a couple of interviews with one regular Socceroo, Tommy Oar and another one that could make his international debut for Australia, Bailey Wright.

Oar Talks about his World Cup & The Holland game. At 2-2 against the Dutch should he have crossed/shot?Plus he looks forward to the Asian Cup. 

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/tommy-oar-reflects-on-missed-chance-against-holland-and-world-cup-performance-ahead-of-belgium-friendly/story-e6frf4l3-1227047795442

Bailey Wright could make his full debut for Australia in the next week when the Socceroos play Belgium and Saudi Arabia in upcoming international friendlies. Wright talsk about his excitement at making his first start for Australia his World Cup experience and Preston North End's push for promotion this season..

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/time-wright-says-bailey

Aussies Abroad Month in Review August 2014

Here is the Aussies Abroad Month in Review for August 2014 compiled by Damian Davies. Email Damian for any updates or new info damiandavies@ymail.com

The European season is back for 2014/15, the Asian leagues continue, the transfer window has just closed and the Socceroos are getting ready to play a few friendlies - football is back and plenty to review for the month of August!!

Transfers:-  the number of Aussies Abroad continues to swell with some more interesting destinations like Uzbekistan, Kenya and The Maldives now seeing Aussie expats plying their trade.  Some notable movements with several Aussies such as Davidson, Demetriou and Gallifuoco joining the English Premier League. Current Socceroos Ivan Franjic and James Troisi finding new homes, along with recent Socceroos in Luke Wilkshire and Jackson Irvine.  Of the more notable players seemingly still searching for a club are Lucas Neill and Kerem Bulut.

Additions/changes to player database:

Evan Alexandrow-Ridley (19 Jun 1994) - transferred to Ekranas, Lithuania

Mitchell Austin (3 Apr 1991) - loan from Cambridge Town to Brackley Town, England

Emre Balci (5 Apr 1987) - transferred from Inegolspor to Diyarbakir Buyuksehir Belediyespor, Turkey

Andrew Barisic (22 Mar 1986) - transferred from South China to Kerala Blasters, India

Brandon Chin (14 Feb 1995) - transferred to FC Hennof 05, Germany

Daniel Collins (15 Jun 1995) - transferred from Bala Town FC to Wrexham, Englanf

Jason Davidson (29 Jun 1991) - transferred from Heracles Almelo to West Bromwich Albion, England

James Demetriou (14 Aug 1995)  - transferred from Nottingham Forest to Swansea City, England

Kenny Dougall (7 May 1993) - transferred to Telstar 1963, Netherlands

Jonathan Faerber (15 Mar 1988) - transferred from FSV Erlangen-Bruck to TSV 1860 Rosenheim, Germany

Ivan Franjic (10 Sep 1987) - transferred from Brisbane Roar to FK Torpedo Moscow, Russia

Petar Franjic (7 Apr 1992) - transferred to Olmaliq, Uzbekistan

Rocci Gabey (TBC) - transferred to Kaya FC, Philippines

Giancarlo Gallifuoco (12 Jan 1994) - transferred from Tottenham to Swansea City, England

Sam Gibson (11 Nov 1988) - transferred from SV Bergisch Gladbach 09 to TSV Germania Windeck, Germany

Carter Glockner (16 Sep 1994) - transferred to 1. CFR Pforzheim, Germany

Tom Glover (24 Dec 1997) - transferred to Tottenham, England

Liam Graham (14 Aug 1992) - loan from Monza to Pro Partia, Italy

Alex Grant (23 Jan 1994) - loan from Stoke City to Macclesfield Town, England

Max Haubus (8 Mar 1993) - transferred from TuS Koblenz II to SV Rot WeiB Hadamar, Germany

Jackson Irvine (7 Mar 1993) - loan from Celtic to Ross County, Scotland

Luke Kairies (4 Mar 1995) - transferred to FC Eindhoven, Netherlands

Josip Konyit (29 Apr 1992) - transferred from Trento Calcio to Inter Zapresic, Croatia

Evan Kostopoulos (7 May 1990) - transferred from Sydney Olympic to South China, Hong Kong

Theo Markelis (24 Jun 1992) - transferred from Hercules Alicante to PAE Veria, Greece

Josh Macdonald (TBC) - transferred from Sydney FC to Nottingham Forest, England

Ian Niva (1994) - transferred to Gor Mahia, Kenya

Richard Porta (1 Aug 1983) - transferred from Nacional to Independiate del Valle, Ecuador

Alistair Quinn (1 Jun 1993) - transferred from NAC Breda to Telstar 1963, Netherlands

David Rowley (6 Feb 1990) - transferred to Club Sportif Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Mario Simic (28 Dec 1989) - transferred to Lucko, Croatia

Brad Smith (9 Apr 1994) - loan from Liverpool to Swindon Town, England

Roko Strika (12 Feb 1994) - transferred from Velika Gorica to GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia

Dean Tomeski (4 Feb 1991) - transferred to FY Makedonija GJP, Macedonia

James Troisi (3 Jul 1988) - loan from Juventus to SV Zulte Waragem, Belgium

Luke Wilkshire (2 Oct 1981) - transferred from Dinamo Moscow to Feyenoord, Netherlands

Removed from player database: 

Luis Abadia (Kaya FC) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Dario Al Saad (B&I Svebolle) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Matthew Bonasera (CF Badalona) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Bryan Bran (FC Chabab) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Kerem Bulut (Akhiser Belediyespor) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Billy Celeski (Liaoning Whowin) - transferred to Newcastle Jets

Christian Esposito (Novara) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Matthew Fletcher (Hull City) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Charlie Fuller (Balzan Youths) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Iain Fyfe (Mes Kerman) - transferred to Campbelltown City, SA

Ryan Go (Feyenoord) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Calvin Lovric (Hercules Alicante B) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Ben McNamara (Northampton Town) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Jordan Nadalin (Balzan Youths) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Lucas Neill (Watford FC) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Conor O'Neill (Middlesbrough) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Stepehen O'Neill (Middlesbrough) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Robert Paratore (Leicester City) - transferred to Barwell, England (non-league)

Adam Parkhouse (Stalybridge Celtic) - uncontracted, whereabouts unknown

Steve Pepper (FCV Dender) - transferred to Croydon Kings, SA

Connor Thurston (Blackpool) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Sebastian Usai (Cowdenbeath FC) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Daniell Zeleny (Churchill Brothers) - uncontracted, returned to Australia

Club Level:-

England (Premier League) - Mile Jedinak has continued as captain at Crystal Palace, playing 90 minutes in each of the club's first three fixtures.  Jason Davidson has made his starting debut after a prolonged transfer from Holland.  The only other Aussie that has made a match day squad to date is Liverpool reserve keeper Brad Jones.

England (Championship) - making their senior debuts for Fulham were young defender Cameron Burgess and Ryan Williams.  To recap, Williams had a fantastic loan spell at Oxford United last year and has returned a better player.  Great to see Scott McDonald on the scoresheet early in Millwall's new campaign.  He seems to have moved to an attacking midfield role, and initial reports were positive on his involvement level.  Great to see Adam Federici back between the sticks at Reading after a disappointing last season.  Also featuring for Reading has been Ryan Edwards after returning from a loan in the A League.

England (League One) - of the Aussies in this league, Brad Inman has possibly started the strongest at Crewe, scoring twice in six league/cup appearances.  The boys at Swindon are also impressing with young defender Brad Smith joining on loan from Liverpool, complimenting our other young Aussie Mass Luongo who will be looking to build on his World Cup experience.  Another returning Socceroo is Bailey Wright, who will also be looking for a career defining club season.  Neil Kilkenny has had a good start to the new season at Preston North End.

England (League Two) - early days but Shane Cansdell-Sheriff's Burton Albion sit top of the table with Shane playing centre back in a miserly defence.

Italy (Serie A) - a rapid rise to fame with Josh Brillante debuting for Fiorentina in the first game of the season.  Some negative press after the game but tipping Josh to bounce back strongly after featuring in the Socceroos camp this week.

Germany (Bundesliga) - Mitch Langerak started the first game in goal but was promptly relegated to the bench for the second game.

Germany (2. Bundesliga) - an impressive start to Mat Leckie's Inglostadt career with goals and assists flowing.  A mixed start for Ben Halloran as he tries to nail down a starting berth at Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Netherlands (Eredivisie) - a few great stories with Tommy Oar showing great form after returning from injury at Utrecht.  Trent Sainsbury is moving towards a regular centre-back role at PEC Zwolle after several starts, and Luke Wilkshire may have a new lease of life after starting his career at Feyenood strongly.

Austria (Bundesliga) - James Holland has returned to the starting eleven but Austria Wien have had a terrible start to their season.

Belgium (Pro League) - Mat Ryan may not have started with a high number of clean sheets, but qualifying for the Europa League group stage would be arguably more satisfying.

Croatia (1. HNL) - great to see Tomislav Mrcela scoring on debut for his new club NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.  He was rewarded with a starting position.  Another to start the season in the senior squad is Steven Ugarkovic at NK Osijek.

Greece (Super League) - a bright start for Apostolis Giannou with two starts and two goals at Panionios Athens.  A debut as well for Robert Stambolziev at Niki Volos.

Iceland (2. Deild) - the amazing run continues at club level for Kile Kennedy.  KF Fjardabyggd have 13 points up their sleeve as they look for a second successive automatic promotion while Kile is in goal each week.

China (Super League) - plenty of minutes for veteran Jonas Salley at Guizhou Renhe.  Another who has seemingly worked his way back to a regular starting role is Harbin Yiteng midfielder Adam Hughes. 

Korea (K-League Classic) - the standout Aussie in this league for August would have to be defensive midfielder Aleksander Jovanovic.  He has now made 19 starts for Jeju United in a tough league.

Thailand (Premier League) - mixed results for our Aussies with Michael Beauchamp and Matt Thompson starting regularly for PTT Rayong.

Maldives (Dhivehi) - nearing the end of the season, journeyman Dane Milovanovic has featured prominately on the scoring charts for New Radiant as they push for the title.

Injuries:-   a fair number of Aussies in the medical rooms. Socceroos Curtis Good (hip), Adam Taggart (abdominal), Rhys Williams (achilles), Robbie Kruse (knee) and Tom Rogic (Abductor) all yet to appear this season.

Club Competitions:-

Europe                             

(UEFA Champions League) – no Aussies appeared during August, however Leverkusen (Kruse) did progress to the group stages.

(UEFA Europa League) – a bit of Aussie action with Mat Ryan appearing as Club Bruge progressed to the group stages.  Similar story for Luke Wilkshire as he started both legs that saw Feyenoord progress.  Trent Sainsbury also played both legs for PEC Zwolle who lost their playoffs and failed to enter the group stages.

North Amercia

(CONCACAFChampions League) – Tim Cahill started in the 2-0 win against FAS (El Salvador).

South America

(Copa Sudamericana) – Richard Porta was an unused sub for Independiate del Valle.

Asia

(Asian Champions League) - no Aussies Abroad remain.

(AFC Cup) - no Aussies Abroad remain.

Reserves and Youth:-

Youth leagues just recommencing, next report in September

International level:- preparations begin now for the Asian Cup in January.  Most notable inclusions for me were Josh Brillante who was close to the WC Squad, but has had a great pre-season in Italy.  Brad Smith has been recognised for a strong season at Liverpool and after appearing for the England youth team, would be great to lock him away.  Chris Herd hasn't been able to break into the Villa squad, so he is an interesting pick.  He has had injuries preventing him from appearing in the green and gold before now, hope to see how he is travelling now with a position at both club and national level seemingly on his agenda.  He certainly looked very promising a year or two ago so reason to be optimistic.  The last player I wanted to mention was Carl Valeri.  Certainly a player that has given his all to the Socceroos over the years.  With a transfer back to Melbourne Vicotry, I hope he has a fantastic six months at both club and national level. All in all, great to see Ange continue to look to build the depth of Australian football.

Socceroo (capped) of the month – on hold

Nov - Ryan, Dec - Jedinak, Jan - Jedinak, Feb - Ryan, Mar – Kennedy, Apr - Jedinak

Under the radar (uncapped)  - on hold.

Nov - Luongo, Dec - Mrcela, Jan - Giannou, Feb - Wright, Mar – Lowry, Apr - Halloran

Young player (U21) of the month – on hold.

Nov - Ryan Williams, Dec - Cooper, Jan - B.Smith, Feb - Grant, Mar – Tanner, Apr - Ugarkovic