World Cup trip changed Hayne's life

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JARRYD Hayne went to the last World Cup thinking he would do Fiji a favour by playing for them – five years on the now Kangaroo credits that time in his life for making him the man he is today.

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The Parramatta superstar admits it is going to be one of the most emotional challenges of his career when he runs out for Australia next Saturday in his first appearance at this World Cup against Fiji. 

Prior to that 2008 tournament, Hayne was already one of the most talented young stars in the NRL, but it was issues off the field that were threatening to derail his career. 

But by the time the tournament was over he was on his way to superstardom and, more importantly, his life had finally found meaning. 

"Fiji changed my life," Hayne said. 

"This is something that I have been thinking about for a long time.

"It will be one of the toughest games I will ever play from an emotional point of view, knowing how much an experience it was last time. 

"With God and church, for me, that is how it all started.

"It was an amazing tour for me. I went away thinking I was going to help them, but the team impacted me and gave me something I will remember forever." 

Hayne's spectacular performances for Fiji made him just about the story of the last World Cup as the Fijians shocked the rugby league world on their way to a semi-final showdown against Australia. 

They ended up losing that game but the following year Hayne produced arguably the greatest individual season ever played as he carried Parramatta to the grand final and collected the Dally M Medal along the way. 

And he was preparing to play for Fiji again this year before he received a surprise call-up from the Kangaroos after a season marred by injury. 

Hayne put in a phenomenal performance for NSW this year in the State of Origin opener but days later suffered a hamstring injury against the Roosters and he never recovered, playing just three games for the rest of the season. 

He said he hardly gave himself a hope of being picked to play for Australia but now that he's here his mission is to fight his way into the Kangaroos' top team ahead of first-choice centre Brent Tait. "Obviously not playing this week is disappointing but I think personally it might help me getting another week under my belt training," Hayne said. 

Take it as read Hayne was right in contention for Australia's vacant right centre spot for last night's showdown with England but missed out to Brent Tate. 

Hayne will now get his chance to shine next Saturday and from there the race will really be on.

"It is a long tournament," he said.

And he said playing right centre would not be a new experience.

"I played Origin on the left but right centre is probably my preferred spot in the centres," he said.

"That is where I played growing up and that is where my dad played as well, he was a right centre.

"So it is something I'm familiar with.

"I think one of the things that took my focus off the injury this year was knowing there was going to be a tour at the end of the year, whether it was for Australia or Fiji, and knowing that if I could get the body right I would be on it. 

"It has definitely been something I have based my year around from Origin to this."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Socceroos can expect culture shock

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ANGE Postecoglou's Melbourne Victory lieutenant Kevin Muscat says the Socceroos can expect a culture shock under their new boss and has declared him ready for his international challenge.

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Postecoglou arrives in Sydney tomorrow for day one of Socceroos duty, but his highly anticipated inaugural squad for the Costa Rica friendly next month is unlikely to be picked until tomorrow week. 

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Muscat, who won 51 Socceroos caps between 1994-2006, said parts of the past 18 months under Postecoglou at Victory had been gruelling and believed those expectations wouldn't change for the Socceroos. 

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"One thing's for sure there will be a certain shock that goes around the place. It can be taken the wrong way, but people will understand and be grateful," Muscat said. 

"The ones that are fortunate enough to hang around and work with Ange will certainly be better for the experience, no doubt about it. 

"It will be challenging, it will be gruelling, no two ways about it. The boss certainly knows what he wants and how he wants to go about it and people are going to have to ride the wave with him or else they will get left behind." 

Muscat, whose Australian coaches included Eddie Thomson, Terry Venables and Frank Farina, said Postecoglou was ready to step up. 

"I think so. It's certainly a different challenge not having the players regularly, but from what I've seen in how the boss analyses and thinks about football, the challenges will be different but they're still football challenges," he said. 

"I'm looking forward to it with a great deal of excitement to see what he does, with the way we play and how we go about it. Knowing him I've got a fair idea but I'll be watching from a distance with a fair bit of anticipation." 

Muscat said Postecoglou would already have an idea of the ideas he wants to implement and warned — expect the unexpected.

"People can second guess and try to assume what he's going to do but he's certainly his own man," Muscat said.

"Opinions will count for nothing because once he focuses on something he'll find a solution and it will certainly be an enjoyable ride for a lot of the people that jump on board."

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Kiwi squad country's greatest-ever

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HEADED by superstar Sonny Bill Williams, New Zealand will start their World Cup campaign tonight with a team coach Stephen Kearney rates as arguably the country's greatest-ever.

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The defending World Cup champions face Samoa in Warrington believing they can retain their title with a squad stacked with NRL stars. 

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Williams has to be one of the favourites to pick up the Golden Boot this year as the world's best player — and there isn't a better prop in the game than Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. 

Issac Luke is as good a hooker as New Zealand has produced, while Kieran Foran captained the Kiwis in the one-off Test earlier this year and is heading towards greatness. 

And on the size front, the Kiwis are in a world of their own with probably the biggest pack of forwards in the history of the sport. 

Kearney coached the Kiwis to their shock World Cup final win over Australia in 2008 and their Four Nations triumph in 2010. 

Asked if this was the strongest squad he's coached, Kearney said: "It would be one of. I think the quality of depth in the group is certainly one we haven't had before. And when you are not taking away a Jeremy Smith or a Benji Marshall, in the past that would have been a real issue, but I think with this squad it is not such a big issue." 

Kearney knows he's got a hell of a football team on his hands.

While he was heavily criticised initially for bringing Williams into the squad at the expense of Tohu Harris, we're about to find out why the decision certainly was in the best interests of New Zealand's fortunes at this tournament. 

Kearney wouldn't go into exactly what Sonny Bill said and why he changed his mind, but he said his influence on the team since arriving in the UK has been significant. 

"I know what Sonny is about and I know him as a person and I have done for a long time," Kearney said.

"We are fortunate that he is here with us. Everyone is well aware of what he offers on a footy field, but it is also his influences away from the field and his drive, as a player, is second to none."

League historian David Middleton pulled together a list of some of the best Kiwi teams we've seen, and how this squad goes against Australia will be what determines their standing. 

The Aussies might be the top seeds and favourites, but the Kiwis are the reigning champions and Kearney said competition for a place in the top squad will a great motivation. 

"I have got no doubt we have some talent in the group. It is a matter of making sure every time we play we are performing," Kearney said. 

"We have a squad of 24 and I can only pick 17 and they all understand and realise how hard it is to make the side so they have got to be playing well."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Postecoglou right man for the job

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CONTRARY to popular belief, Ange Postecoglou and I have a healthy respect for each other.

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I'm thrilled about his elevation to the role of Socceroos coach. 

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Changes need to be made in Australian football and Postecoglou's the man to do it. 

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It's no secret that we didn't always see eye-to-eye during the period he was Brisbane's coach and I was the Roar's captain. 

But that's in the past and we've spoken many times since.

Hopefully, in my role as an FFA elite player mentor, I can work with Postecoglou to foster our best young talent.

He knows I'm passionate and that I want to see the game improve. We'll work well with one another.

While his main focus will be the Socceroos, there's no doubt he will cast an eye over the entire national program and ensure it's in good order. 

Postecoglou is about the bigger picture in terms of having a wide-ranging impact and leaving a legacy for Australian football. 

You can already sense his passion for his new job.

And part of the reason for that is because he's an Aussie, and we're all buying into that.

For probably the first time since Frank Farina's time in charge of the Socceroos, there is a genuine feeling that the team really belongs to us. It's a team we can again take ownership of. 

We know for sure that regardless of results, the typical Australian attributes of desire, willingness, and commitment to the cause will be there in spades for all of us to see. 

Another good thing about Postecoglou is that he's always striving to improve as a coach, regardless of the success he has tasted in recent years. You can never stop learning. 

He knows that as well as anybody. 

In terms of the immediate future and next year's World Cup, we know Postecoglou is going to make changes, and players have to accept that. 

There needs to be a real understanding from players that they need to be first-team regulars wherever they are plying their trade. 

There are no longer any huge advantages or disadvantages about being in one league over another.

The fact is we now only have a few players involved the world's best leagues.

The majority of the Socceroos' 2014 World Cup squad will pick itself because its members will have played 30-plus league games going into the tournament. 

That's a must in terms of being match-hardened. 

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beware the GC walls

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RED Bull Racing star Craig Lowndes has warned "carnage" – the type caused by giant concrete walls – is likely to decide the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship.

As practice for the Gold Coast 600 gets underway today, Lowndes has told The Daily Telegraph he expects the notorious holiday strip to help decide a title race where only 181 points separates the top four drivers.

Currently, fellow Red Bull racer Jamie Whincup leads the championship with Lowndes and Ford Performance Racing duo Mark Winterbottom and Will Davidson right in the mix.

"Coming to the Gold Coast, you always know this is the one track where mistaking a mistake costs you – big," Lowndes said. "Everyone saw the amount of carnage up here last year, it was tough. And there's nothing to suggest it won't be happening again.

"Right now, I'm very mindful of the championship. All the top drivers are. You want to win this race but at the same time there's just no room for error. With those concrete walls going right around the track, it makes things incredibly difficult." Exactly 12 months ago, the Gold Coast track resembled a smash-up derby after not one, but two start line incidents on Saturday wreaked havoc.

In the first, American driver Ricky Taylor launched off another car and rolled along the pit wall, with his ride eventually coming to rest on its roof. All up, six V8s did not make the grid of the restarted race due to damage from the first two attempts.

Asked if the notoriously tough Gold Coast track, complete with its famous triple chicane, could determine the outcome of this year's series Lowndes continued: "Oh, for sure.

"Winning the series now is all about taking risks, calculated risks. So you want to push the car as hard as you can up here.

"But if you cross that line ... you're into a wall and the race, as well as the championship, is over. Any mistake up here can prove so costly mistake." Whincup leads the V8 supercar Championship on 2423 points. Lowndes is next, on 2309 points, followed by reigning Bathurst 1000 champion Winterbottom (2281) and FBR stablemate Davidson (2242).

Asked about Whincup's claim that he couldn't really call his advantage a lead, Lowndes smiled and said: "Any time you're ahead in a series as tough as this one you'll take it ... it makes more a fantastic weekend of races."

Elsewhere, this weekend's Gold Coast 600 will also decide the inaugural Pirtek Enduro Cup, with no less than 12 combinations still in with a mathematical chance of securing the new gong.

Whincup and Paul Dumbrell lead the Championship-within-a-Championship and, having won three of the last six Gold Coast races, the Holden driver starts as short-priced favourite to lift the Cup.

Practice begins this morning, with two 300km races taking place Saturday and Sunday.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ange with one last score to settle

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YET to taste a win over Brisbane Roar since deserting them last year, Ange Postecoglou has one last chance to inflict defeat on the club he coached to back-to-back A-League championships.

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The new Australian coach ends his tenure at Melbourne Victory Friday night at Etihad Stadium, and fittingly it's against the Roar, where he forged the reputation that resulted in him being this week named the new Socceroos boss.

Despite his standing, Postecoglou has been unable to get the better of the Roar since defecting to the Victory in April last year.

The Roar and the Victory have met four times since then, including a recent trial, with Brisbane winning two of the matches and the other two finishing in draws.

Of the four matches, Brisbane fans will most fondly remember the 5-0 thrashing the Victory copped at Suncorp Stadium last October.

The Roar could do no wrong that night against a woeful Victory, with Postecoglou having been angered before the match with suggestions his former assistant Rado Vidosic had been the brains behind Brisbane's successive title wins.

"There was already plenty of spice surrounding that match," Brisbane skipper Matt Smith said Thursday.

"None of us wanted him to leave us. But that was 18 months ago and we've definitely moved on."

Smith said regardless of Postecoglou's involvement, the Roar always lifted when they played the Victory, the club regarded as the A-League's biggest.

---

HAVE you checked out the Fox Football Podcast yet?

Episode one was a raging success and the latest addition to Fox Sports' football stable is back for its second edition.

Host Adam Peacock is joined this week by Simon Hill and Brenton Speed in the studio, and on the phone by Daniel Garb from London.

There's no shortage of fodder for the gang to discuss - from the incoming Socceroos' coach, to all things A-League, EPL and El Clasico - and none of our pundits are short of an opinion.

For your mid-week fix of football talk and fun - where else will you hear Simon Hill's Dutch accent - the Fox Football podcast is your place to go.

You can check it out here at the iTunes store, subscribe, and share your rating!

And if you're an Android user, you can find the pod on the iPP Podcast Player app.

---

However, the central defender said he would like nothing more than to end Postecoglou's Victory reign with defeat Friday night.

"There's nothing more sure of us wanting to beat the Victory, and there's nothing more sure that Ange would finally like to beat us, particularly as it's his last game before the takes charge of the Socceroos," Smith said.

Both teams are unbeaten this season going into Friday night's clash, but the Roar are far healthier with two wins from as many matches and the Victory having to settle for draws in the opening two weeks of the season.

Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey couldn't resist having a dig at the Melbourne club, particularly at the way the Victory and Postecoglou celebrated their 2-2 draw with Adelaide United last Friday night.

"I'll tell you why it's big for them - they haven't got a win on the board yet," said Mulvey in dismissing the significance of Friday night being Postecoglou's last game in charge of the Victory.

"They've played two games and they've drawn two games. There were scenes of delirium last week when they got one point."

Mulvey said he was shocked that Postecoglou would be in charge of the Victory tonight after being officially appointed Socceroos coach on Wednesday.

"I'm quite amazed that he's actually coaching this game against us, because I thought he's already got another job," Mulvey said ahead of the clash at Etihad Stadium.

"If you're holding one job, I find it difficult to understand that you can do two jobs at once.

"From outside it appears there's a degree of uncertainly (at the Victory) at the moment.

"(But) as far as Melbourne Victory is concerned, it doesn't bother me in the least because I've got a job to do here."

Mulvey said Friday night's clash was "just another game" and claimed he and his players had divorced themselves from any of the hype surrounding Postecoglou.

"They (the Roar players) also recognise that the past is the past, and you've got to go and write history, you don't go and read about it," he said.

"I don't really care about the opposition."

Brazilian speedster Henrique, who scored after coming on as a substitute in last Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Sydney FC, is set to start in the absence of injured striker Besart Berisha.  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ennis the menace

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SYDNEY Kings coach Shane Heal says it will take team defence, not a solo effort, to contain Wildcats star import James Ennis when they host Perth at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

Traded by NBA champions the Miami Heat, Ennis has drawn comparisons to some of the NBL's most athletic stars after some eye-catching dunks in his opening matches.

The 23-year-old was the difference between the teams when the Kings were overrun by the Wildcats in the closing minutes of last Friday night's clash in Perth (81-69).

"He's one of the most talented players to come to the country in the last 10 years," Heal told the Daily Telegraph.

"Fans will want to come and watch him.

"As far as talent goes, he was drafted in the second round (NBA draft), he's young and athletic and he's a great scorer.

"He needs to prove himself over a season before we start drawing any comparisons to other players, specifically."

Ennis led all scorers with 27 points, including a perfect nine from nine from the foul line in last week's win over the Kings.

But Heal and his players have gone to school on the American and will come up with something different defensively.

"We won't play him the way we played him last Friday night we will make adjustments," Heal said.

"We will certainly put enough pressure on him to see if he can handle the adjustments.

While the margin was comfortable for Perth in the end the Kings have drawn confidence from the fact they were able to go with the championship favourites deep into the match.

"We believe we can beat Perth," Heal said.

"In a tough environment we were 62-62 with four and half minutes to go and then we broke down in certain areas.

"We take confidence out of that game more than anything else."

An upset win against the Wildcats who are coming off a busy schedule having played the Breakers in New Zealand last night would be a massive result for Heal's men, who are sure to finish the season stronger than they started.

"If we could beat a team like Perth at home in a tough first three games then I think it gives us even more confidence to know we're on the right track and can beat anyone in the league," Heal said.

"I feel like there's a whole lot of upside and I don't think our guys should play with a whole lot of pressure because anyone outside our team thinks we aren't going to win anyway.

"We should feel really loose, we should feel really confident and we'll play aggressive to be able to get the win.

"We will be a lot better in the second half of the year than the first just because of our injury problems and Cody Ellis coming in."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Laver honoured

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AT 75, Rod Laver is officially back in business doing what he can to help Australian tennis.

The greatest player ever _ in the opinion of many who are qualified to make such a lofty call, including Roger Federer _ was appointed the Australian Open's first global ambassador yesterday.

Yes, such a title is not so much a job description as a mark of respect and gratitude for all that he has already done over a long lifetime in the game _ a "mere formality", Tennis Australia president Steve Healy said.

But Healy said there was a reason for doing it. "The qualities Rod Laver personifies _ excellence, fair play, spirit, fun, and most outstandingly humility _ are the very qualities the Australian Open strives to emulate." By that, read Australian tennis full stop.

This was happening at _ naturally _ Rod Laver Arena where his autobiography, Rod Laver _ A Memoir, was formally launched even though it is already in its second print run, testimony to the enduring popularity of the Rockhampton Rocket even though he hasn't lived in Australia for decades.

Laver may not _ quite _ qualify as Australia's greatest-ever sportsman, a status unlikely to be lost by legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman any time soon, but it is doubtful anyone else has managed to so completely combine stupendous achievement with such a liberal supply of the bloody-good-bloke factor.

To some extent that is a compliment to tennis itself, or at least the way it used to be. As happy as he is entitled to be about his two Grand Slams and countless other glories, Laver says he is even prouder that he can still, 40 years later, count his opponents as his best mates.

"It's a sport of friendships _ you fought hard on the court and whoever won had to buy the beer," he said.

"You did it just because you enjoyed it and you wanted to play for your country."

That's not to suggest he is not also happy to have played a major role in making the sport fully professional. He is, very much so. But that wasn't what TA was honouring. It was his attitudes and examples.

With that in mind, he was asked to critique the Australian team's problem prodigy Bernard Tomic, who was reported yesterday to have retired midway through an important match with a headache the day after his 21st birthday.

Laver sympathises with him, but only up to a point.

vI thought he played some great tennis at Wimbledon this year. He's very, very capable. But he has a different game and that's why some people feel he's not playing up to his best standard," he said.

"That's the way he plays so people shouldn't get too critical if he plays a drop shot and misses. Some things don't pan out but he's putting opponents off with the way he plays so I hope he doesn't give that up."

But Laver also worries about the negatives. "I know there have been some down times that when he looks back in five or 10 years time he may be disappointed with himself," he said.

In his day, he said, if you didn't behave properly legendary Davis Cup captain Harry Hopman wouldn't have a bar of you and senior players such as Neale Fraser, Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor would say "that attitude is not what we want in tennis and you're representing all of us on court, so heave to."

Here's hoping someone buys young Bernie a copy of the book for Christmas.
 

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ange's journey: from Epping to Rio

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EPPING Soccer Stadium is a world away from Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium in every sense but this is where Ange Postecoglou took the first modest steps in relaunching a stumbling career.

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Deemed damaged goods and having failed in a series of A-League job interviews, Postecoglou accepted a job with the bottom club in the Victorian Premier League.

He may have changed the culture at Whittlesea Stallions but he couldn't stop their descent as they finished bottom and were relegated to the state's second tier.

His damaged reputation stemmed from another disappointing showing with an Australian youth team that led to an infamous slanging match with SBS analyst Craig Foster.

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But Postecoglou used every opportunity during his seven-year spell with the Joeys and Young Socceroos to educate himself by travelling to Arsenal, France's famed Clairefontaine academy and Argentina's national headquarters.

Putting it into practice with a decreasing standard of Australian youth players was more challenging but only with the benefit of hindsight have people appreciated Postecoglou's challenge.

Postecoglou yesterday described this period as his "PhD in coaching", but those close to him say it was always in his DNA.

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SOUTH MELBOURNE SCHOOLING

Postecoglou, age five, migrated to Australia from Greece with his parents and elder sister and it wasn't long before he joined South Melbourne's youth ranks.

It was the start of a 25-year association with the club which he captained while representing the Socceroos on four occasions and eventually coached to two NSL titles.

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Ironically it was in Brazil that Postecoglou got his first taste of international soccer when he led South Melbourne to the FIFA Club World Championships against Manchester United in 2000, which preceded his stint with Australia's national youth teams.

Mike Petersen has known Postecoglou since their junior days and developed a close friendship during their days as South Melbourne and Socceroos teammates.

Many would regard Postecoglou as an associate but Petersen is one of the few who can genuinely regard him as a friend - current Victory football manager Paul Trimboli is another - and he said that is because he has dedicated his life to the round-ball.

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"It was clear from a young age he had leadership qualities, he was captain of South Melbourne from 21," Petersen said.

"A knee injury ended his career prematurely at 28 so he turned straight to coaching. I believe he still would've been a coach but certain motivations came into play when he had to retire, so maybe felt there was unfinished business.

"He was always a student of the game and I'm delighted for him because football is his life and Australian football will benefit immensely."

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SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE PLAYER

While many of his teammates lapped up the fame that came with playing in the national league, Postecoglou was never a regular on the disco circuit.

A sports nut who followed Carlton and loved cricket from a young age, Postecoglou juggled an impressive domestic soccer career with university and part-time work and sold pension funds in his early 20s

"He was never one to go out, he was grooming himself for this at 20," Petersen said.

"We were going out to nightclubs and letting off a bit of steam, but he never did. He would go to the movies or go for dinner but he was always good company.

"He was always quiet and unassuming but he has a wicked sense of humour when he wants to involve himself and he comes out with some classic one liners."

Brisbane Roar and Victory players can attest to Postecoglou's ruthless streak and this is not something he's developed recently.

Having taken the South Melbourne job age 31 after a brief stint with state league club Western Suburbs, one of his first big calls was to tell Petersen his career was over.

"He tapped me on the shoulder and retired me. It was an emotional time because I thought I still had something to offer and we were mates," he said.

"But he was candid, honest and I appreciated that. It showed he took the job seriously and made decisions in the best interests of the club."

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

Postecoglou's career may have taken a different path had he got the Socceroos job in 1999 when he was one of four candidates interviewed - Frank Farina got it.

---

HAVE you checked out the Fox Football Podcast yet?

Episode one was a raging success and the latest addition to Fox Sports' football stable is back for its second edition.

Host Adam Peacock is joined this week by Simon Hill and Brenton Speed in the studio, and on the phone by Daniel Garb from London.

There's no shortage of fodder for the gang to discuss - from the incoming Socceroos' coach, to all things A-League, EPL and El Clasico - and none of our pundits are short of an opinion.

For your mid-week fix of football talk and fun - where else will you hear Simon Hill's Dutch accent - the Fox Football podcast is your place to go.

You can check it out here at the iTunes store, subscribe, and share your rating!

And if you're an Android user, you can find the pod on the iPP Podcast Player app.

---

Friday: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane, Fox Sports 1 HD, 7.30pm(EDT)

Saturday: Central Coast v Adelaide, 5.30pm; Sydney v Western Sydney, 7.30pm, FS1HD

Sunday: Wellington v Newcastle, 3pm, Perth v Melbourne Heart, 5pm, FS1HD

Kick Off on Friday night, 6.30, with special guest Michael Cockerill. 

Shootout on Sunday night, 7pm, with Craig Moore and Tony Popovic.

 

Sunday: El Clasico, Barcelona v Real Madrid, 2.55am, FS2HD

Monday: Atletico Madrid v Real Betis, 6.55am, FS3HD 

Saturday night: Crystal Palace v Arsenal, 10.30pm, FS1HD

Manchester United v Stoke, 12.50am, FS1 HD

Viewers' Choice: Norwich v Cardiff; Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa v Everton. 

Southampton v Fulham, 3.30am, FS1HD

Sunday night/Monday morning: Sunderland v Newcastle, 12.30am, FS1HD 

Chelsea v Manchester City, 2.50am, FS1HD

Tottenham v Hull, 2.50am, FS2HD

Swansea v West Ham United, 2.50am, FS3HD

"At the age of 35 I was praying they didn't give it to me because it was such an enormous task," Postecoglou said.

"I ended up getting the Young Socceroos job and what that did help me to do was, I was there with Frank Farina in the early days and I just saw how tough it was for him and you learn from that.

"You learn about how to deal with things at that level and that with the limited amount of time you have got it's really important that you use it very effectively and the best way to do that is to make sure you have your own people with you, like-minded people."

Another great learning experience came in the unfashionable Greek third division, a career he was forced to pursue when he couldn't get a job in Australia.

He joined Panachaiki in 2008 and was on the verge of securing promotion before quitting due to boardroom politics.

"I was seen as an Aussie and Australian football wasn't greatly respected there at the time. It was a great experience and it gave me my confidence in coaching, we got battered a bit and it makes you question yourself a bit," Postecoglou said.

"Then we turned it around, the passion was amazing. When we won we'd be chair-lifted out of the ground, lose and we were escorted out. The coaches cop so much criticism there that it taught me to be not too sensitive.

"It gave me my confidence again and we did really well, we were second. I thought if it worked here, it gave me the confidence to go home and do it there."

Unable to land a job when he returned to Australia he was thrown a lifeline by Fox Sports and, impressed by his punditry, he became a regular.

His insight and intellect didn't go unnoticed and 10 years after missing out on the Socceroos job to Farina, he replaced him at Brisbane Roar after he was sacked following a drink driving offence.

Despite his three-year struggle to land a job in Australia, experience had taught him something - his non-negotiable was that he had to have final say on football department matters.

Roar accepted but Craig Moore, immensely popular with the players and a Socceroo at the time, delivered the board an Ange or me ultimatum after seeing teammates Charlie Miller and Liam Reddy offloaded.

The board backed Postecoglou and Moore was gone, with Danny Tiatto soon departing, offering several parting shots in the process.

"It wasn't part of the plan to get rid of senior players, but learning from my Australian youth team, if I didn't do things my way I'd fail," Postecoglou said.

The rest is history and he replicated the revamp at Melbourne Victory but 18 months in the making, the national team has come calling and he faces a similar challenge.

"I believe that Ange's finest hour is yet to be written and Australian football should be excited," Petersen said.  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ponting hits out at CA

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RICKY Ponting has intensified the pressure on Cricket Australia, claiming he was angry when attempts to try and keep the team No. 1 were often ignored.

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

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The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"When we were on top of the world we had to be looking at how we were going to get further and further and further away, not just expect that we would stay number one."

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"It made me angry at the time," Ponting said after the launch of his candid autobiography "At the Close of Play" by former Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney yesterday.

"I think some of the stuff we're seeing now might have been half avoidable and I'm pretty sure Buck (former coach John Buchanan) would be saying the same thing about where we find Australian cricket now.

"Maybe if some ears had been opened at an earlier time … it wouldn't have got to the point where we even needed an Argus review.

"We might have had things in place better than what we had right now."

The former captain's revelations came as sacked coached Mickey Arthur claimed chief executive James Sutherland, high performance manager Pat Howard and captain Michael Clarke would be under pressure if Australia lost a fourth successive Ashes series.

"There are some serious players in Cricket Australia under a lot of pressure around this Test series," Arthur told Fairfax Radio.

"If they lose this Test series there is going to be a lot of questions asked.

"I think James Sutherland, I think Pat Howard, I think Michael Clarke . . . I think some serious heads could roll if Australia don't win this Test series."

Ponting simply said that everyone is defined by results.

In his book Ponting admits to being stunned when told by Sutherland: "no one ever spends money when they are going well."

This was after Ponting and Buchanan had spent years making quarterly reports to the board.

"Whenever we had things that we thought would improve the team we took them straight to the board," Ponting said yesterday.

"History suggests they listed to some of those things, they made some changes around the team, but once again I think there could have been more done back then.

"If you look at the cold hard facts of it, we employed a bowling coach in 2006 after the 2005 Ashes loss and we didn't have a batting coach until 2010, when we lost the 2009 Ashes.

"I don't know why. I can't work that out. Why on earth would you have a specialist bowling coach but not batting coach when you've only got four bowlers and seven batters.

"Everyone is trying hard. Everyone wants success for the Australian team but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's not going to be an overnight thing, which is why the real foresight had to be there a long time ago.

"When we were on top of the world we had to be looking at how we were going to get further and further and further away, not just expect that we would stay number one."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More