I spoke to a coach at one of the clubs today.He feels Weston,Mid Coast and New Lambton will be back up.Final spot looks between Azzurri and Rosebuds.Cooks Hill,South Cardiff and Belswans a bit behind.He wasnt sure of exact points and said there were still a few catchups amongst them.Originally Posted by WOW2.0
Lots of missing games in the Squadi tool...disappointing, I was going to see how the promotion battle was going in Div2
Will be interesting to see...(It's been interesting to track the club championships this year)
Over the weekend I saw that Charlestown and NL had a mixed of results (4 games played (18s postponed)
Charlestown won 13s and 16s, but lost 14s and 15s.
Belswans and South Cardiff certainly seem done though.
Last year, Belswans very nearly made it to tier 1 (failing only on the last day). I'll say they'll be weaker again next year as I know that a few if their players have been approached by tier 1 clubs already for next season.
Most games so far have been fairly tight though, a few outliers but certainly yet to see the 7+ goal drubbings that we had last year. So while these "lower teams" for lack of a better word may still not be able to get over the line for wins, they appear to be more competitive than previously. Which is a good thing and shows the system is slowly working on improving play. It is only 3/4 of the way through the second year so continue to watch this space.
Of course one should expect the for coming from tier 1 to be strong and better anyway, and they have an advantage in having played tougher teams all year. It's a testament to any Tier 2 club to take a Tier 1 spot.
That happened every year though and will continue, Tier 1, Div A clubs can't develop their own players so will seek to get better ones in developed by lower clubs.Last year, Belswans very nearly made it to tier 1 (failing only on the last day). I'll say they'll be weaker again next year as I know that a few if their players have been approached by tier 1 clubs already for next season.
They need to bring forward the transfer deadline to an earlier date, say 30th April. Enough time for kids/parents to move clubs if they aren't happy, but too early a date to know if relegated. In the U15s Div 1 there were kids moving clubs late June when relegation was basically locked in. Not only is it ridiculous, but completely unfair to the regional clubs who do not have the same opportunity due to geography.
Last edited by Izzy; 29-07-2024 at 06:29 PM.
That is an absolutely massive generalisation to make. Did you ever think it might be because the kids outgrow those clubs and want more of a challenge. Training with better players absolutely helps to develop players - they move for all sorts of reasons and it's a pretty bitter take to say that div A clubs are stealing players.
Players that are committed want to make first grade at the very least, and to do that they want and need to be playing the best football they can get access to. Sorry but playing first grade in lower divisions isn't the same, its just not.
Yeah sure there are some kids that may go out and look for it, even more coaches and TDs hanging out the front of changerooms though.
In my opinion its fairly equal.The same coaches blowing up when a player leaves mid season are all too happy to sign one mid season too if it will help.There is no surefire solution to it.The early days of SAP had recruiting periods that were supposed to make all trials/retentions and scouting uniform so the kids could just get on with playing but no one cared and were out there scouting 24/7 like before.As a father whos kids have been on the end of recruiting and of being cut its always been about how clubs (and players) conduct themselves during this process thats important.Reputations stick.
Current Club Championship
Div 1
1. Magic ~ 132Pts
2. Jaffas ~ 128Pts
3. NCF ~ 126Pts
4. Olympic ~ 125Pts
5. Edgeworth ~ 124Pts
6. Valentine ~ 122Pts
7. Lake Macquarie ~ 117Pts
8. Maitland ~ 102Pts
(N.B. 2nd and 4th postponed their games this weekend)
Div 2
1. Midcoast ~ 30Pts
2. Weston ~ 28Pts
3. Charlestown ~ 23Pts
4. New Lambton ~ 21Pts
5. Rosebuds ~ 21Pts
6. Cooks Hill ~ 16Pts
7. South Cardiff ~ 14Pts
8. Belswans ~ 13Pts
(2nd and 6th postponed all games this weekend)
Div 3
1. West Wallsend ~ 34Pts
2. NIAS ~ 28Pts
3. Kahibah ~ 22Pts
4. Toronto ~ 16Pts
5. Singleton ~ 15Pts
6. Cessnock ~ 12Pts
7. Thornton ~ 7pts
8. Vacant
(Lots of games seemed to be postponed this weekend...the bye also makes an impact)
Take a look at more than just the top grade.
In 13's NIAS beat Singo 8-1 and Singo beat Toronto 6-0. In 14s, NIAS beat Singo 7-0, Kahibah beat them 9-0, and Westy beat them 8-0. In 15s, Kahibah beat Singo 12-0 and then Singo beat Toronto 8-0. In 18s, Westy beat Toronto 7-0. Given that Kahibah's 14s and 15s both topped Div 2, there could be more blow outs ahead.
Frustrating for the Kahibah boys to beat Adamstown, Southy, Charlestown and Belswans in Div 2 and find themselves in Group C. If they were in Group B, I am sure they would be giving a very good account of themselves.
"It is not that I am afraid to die; its just that I don't want to be there when it happens" - Woody Allen
A reader of the forum kindly send me the video...and because, well reasons...I have transcribed it for us all
Craig Johnson to NNSW...
Video starts?[as a] Person that doesn?t like the spotlight I try to stick out the way, but there are 2 things I love. My country and my sport. 3 things [inadable].
But I don?t want to hear more waffle and more bullshit like we?ve heard from the last 4 or 5 owners. I don?t, and neither do you, neither do you. And for the young people in the room, younger and the women who have just joined our beautiful game in the last 5-6 years, ok, there?s something really important here. I heard the word pathways. How do we get these pathways. Do you know, right, everyone was bragging about how good our region is, and what?s our region, it?s called Northern NSW and we?re the jewel in the crown of Northern NSW. From lake Macquarie to the QLD border, there?s 90,000 registered kids, Northern NSW that organisation is called. Producing players for the Jets.
We haven?t produced a Socceroo for 23 years, since Robbie Middleby. Are you listening Peter Haynes? Peter, are you listening? I know you?re talking, but sorry mate this is about NNSW and our children and their parents paying extraordinary money, extraordinary money, and getting nothing back. So listen, don?t talk, ok. The point is, our kids should be coming from this region and is a very simple thing at stake here. How do we create world class footballers?
Let me tell you a little story that answers the question, and then I?ll get off.
There?s a chap called Ange Postecoglou, ever heard of him? (crowd Yeah), Bingo, probably Australia?s finest ever coach.
Liverpool for the first time ever came out to Australia and they played against Ange?s team, in Melbourne. Ange asked me to speak to his team the day of the match, and I said, ?well, I get all emotional, Ange, I?m not sure I?m the right man?. He said ?You?re the right man!?.
So, you know what I said to the players? I said you?re about to play Liverpool anyone nervous? They all put up their hand, they all said they were shitting themselves. Right, Suarez was playing, Stevie G was playing, Liverpool at their height. The largest crowd that has ever watched Liverpool was at the MCG. And you know what I said to them? I said, Everything Liverpool do, they do it faster and they do it more accurate than you. They?ve got two arms and two legs, [but] that?s the difference [the speed and accuracy].
They were having a 6-a-side training session the day of the game. Back into the 6-a-side, do it faster and more accurate that?s the fundamental backbone of the reading, writing, arithmetic, the A-B-C of soccer and we?re not doing it here.
The new owners, and Morris who asked if I could speak, thank you Morris! And Shane Matiske who I have a great deal of respect for, right, they know what?s really important here, NNSW?I am the patron of NNSW, they are lagging miles behind and need they need to get onboard.
I am also the patron of men and women in football they need to be involved in the game. NNSW is stopping them. Are you listening Peter, sort it out mate, you?re getting paid a lot of money to produce?(video cuts out)
.......
I agree with his sentiment...you need to master fundamentals in any field
"?" Are typically apostrophes (forgot if I type in the computer, it doesn't play nice in the forum with some special characters)
Connor Metcalf was our last Socceroo approximately 12 months ago
Valid point...I see that he left Newcastle when he was 14-15 on a scholarship to join Melbourne City
So, I suppose it depends than on how Craig (or others) define the region "producing" a Socceroo?
Him and Archie Goodwin both came up through "Div 2" clubs too if memory serves me right.
Prime example of how NNSW are asleep at the wheel. Region is losing to many kids to other regions such as Central Coast as not given a chance locally. All the while Jets are satisfied picking up rejects from Sydney to fill their a league squad.
It's not NNSWF'S job to create Socceroos, the Jets and Mariners are our representatives for the Hunter region in the A Leagues, the highest rung in the Talented Player Pathway, under the Socceroos.
Our local kids need representation at the highest seat at the table, the Jets. If the Jets cannot provide these positions to our best local kids then we should send a message with our memberships and not support them. However, we are happy to be sold the dream of finals football after every coach or owner change, bring in the rejects from the other academy's then be upset why we are not in finals contention and then have the gal to complain about no local representatives.
2 options, we finish where we finish on the table full of locals 8+, and demonstrate where our kids fit in the grand scheme whilst earning the respect of our region. Or be honest, tell our community that our players are not good enough to compete for finals football and as that is our priority it over-rides all loyalty to our region, players, and community.
The chance of a player playing for the Socceroos outside of A-League Academies past the age of 16 is ZERO, unless the player left Australia to play in Italy, Croatia or Serbia as an adolescent.
NNSWF should support the Jets and encourage local talent to represent where possible, but unless the Jets prioritise investing in our locals we won't see a Senior Socceroo for a very long time. And since the Jets have appointed the very capable operator to run the Academy, who brought success to the Mariners. Those who know, the strength of the Mariners Academy came from hyper aggressive scouting from all over Australia and New Zealand, and a high turn over as soon as the players' ability didn't make standard, turn and burn. We cannot keep a player in our Academy past 19 years of age, they quit and join NPL teams.
If you watch the local league there?s no one that stands out, it?s in terrible condition the NPL, worst I?ve seen so in 10 years
Northern's own "mission/strategy statement" contains the claims:
"...nurturing talent and producing professional players."
And from the same page
"we also aim to increase the depth and quality of talented players throughout northern NSW."
The Jets and Mariners are private businesses, Northern cannot obfuscate responsibilities contained within their own strategy claims to private businesses.
What they can do, is build and encourage a system with the greatest potential outcome to develop elite players through the levels they administer...and they could start there by giving our local region and appropriate number of games aligning as closely as possible to the "best practice" found in Sydney, i.e. 30 games/season, and ensuring a standard of quality games through tiering (at the team level)
You can't keep up by going slower!
Also worth noting to the claim
"The chance of a player playing for the Socceroos outside of A-League Academies past the age of 16 is ZERO..."
This is not the case, as in the case of Tom Rogic (arguably the most successful player of his generation, in terms of career achievment)
You'll not that he only joined Mariners the year he turned 20, before making it to Europe...before this, he had no involvement in an a-League (or NSL/AIS) academy set up.
So we can't exactly say it's zero 🤷
Probably more examples too
Was looking at the middle grade
You mentioned U14s and U15s so will refer to this two teams, but they both didn't beat those clubs in Div 2. Neither of them beat Southy, 14s lost to Belswans, 15s drew with Charlestown, 15s also didn't beat Adamstown, no other 15s did either of course. The 14s and 15s may be giving an alright account for themselves, but the other 3 teams would struggle a lotFrustrating for the Kahibah boys to beat Adamstown, Southy, Charlestown and Belswans in Div 2 and find themselves in Group C. If they were in Group B, I am sure they would be giving a very good account of themselves.
Last edited by Taffy; 31-07-2024 at 09:34 AM.
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