Barca has an academy and its players manage to break through into the first team. Barcelona is different again, do they focus on developing Spanish talents? Not at all, they get talented youngsters from all over the world. Furthermore, they play a specific way throughout the youth team to first, so...

FFA revealed ticketing price bundles for the upcoming Asian Cup. I must say, after going through the extremely painful World Cup ticket process... these are just amazing value. Venue Packs will be on sale from 7 May . Individual Tickets on 27 May . http://www.afcasiancup.com/i/AsianCup/img/pdfs/AFC_...

There's loads of sites that streams the games live, they're usually not very good quality but it's free. Search in google will get you quite a few results.

I don't think you can compare Chelsea's academy to Southampton, Chelsea actually spent alot of money to bolster their academy players by bringing in promising youngsters from all over the world. Right now Chelsea have 23 players out on loan that include the likes of Courtois, Lukaku, Piazon, Marko M...

I agree on form all 3 of them probably deserve to go, but Hodgson is a very conservative manager so I can see him going with Cole over Shaw and maybe only one out of Lambert and Rodriguez and it would probably be Lambert. The problem with Rodriguez is it's not a straight battle for place between him...

He's kind of like Demichelis, very strong when facing the attacker but have no recovery pace. Under the right tactics they are very good defenders but can be made to look silly if they have to turn and chase.

I am so sick of seeing us playing Oman.

They ALWAYS do well, South Africa would not have qualified for the World Cup had they not being the host Why not? They had done so before. Falling at the first hurdle is not doing well. Back in the 90s, South Africa team have been in decline for years before the 2010 WC, their peak was the mid 90s ...

I'm pretty sure the last host nation failed to get out of the group stage. You're right, similar talent levels and everything... OP said they always do well. Obviously they don't. They ALWAYS do well, South Africa would not have qualified for the World Cup had they not being the host. They were pla...

Brazil is the overwhelming favorite, they're mine and most pundit's tip for the World Cup. They may lack a worldclass striker but they have arguably the best backline in the world right now with Alves, Thiago Silva, Dante and Marcelo across the back. And being at home you fancy them to score plenty,...

Reckon it's Chelsea's to lose. The only tough match they have is against us away. Liverpool still have a few tough matches too as do arsenal. It will be close. Agreed, Chelsea have the easiest run in out of the top 3, however Liverpool do have fate in their own hands as they have games against both...

True. IMO I'm really look at individual performances. I'm hopeful we'll see a couple of kids step up and become the names of the future for our country. Hopefully we start to see a few seeds of something to look forward to for the Asian Cup next year. Yeah I want to see more young players get a go ...

Obviously this thread was before the actual draw was made, alot of optimism here, but after that draw, I think we'll be lucky to score a goal against these guys. Yes Spain and Netherland both past their peak, Chile have a young and unexperienced squad, but Australia is well and truly past their best...

Glad to see China have qualified. It looked a bit touch and go with them. That would have been a few million less viewers if they weren't involved! Phew! Yes, China in by the skin of their teeth, thank goodness. It wouldn't have looked good if the most populous nation on Earth wasn't represented in...

Lol nice, I didn't realize A-League was broadcast overseas at all, maybe the Asia Cup might be an opportunity to introduce the league to Asian football audience, although you would need to somehow get the local broadcasters to show the matches first. It's still not going to be easy since it's going...

Lol nice, I didn't realize A-League was broadcast overseas at all, maybe the Asia Cup might be an opportunity to introduce the league to Asian football audience, although you would need to somehow get the local broadcasters to show the matches first. It's still not going to be easy since it's going ...

adelaidebloke wrote:I would be selling the A league as a whole to Asia as well when they are down here.

Not sure if that would work, does anyone outside of Australia and NZ broadcast A-League matches?

Isn't the host nation always top seed?

Jedinak have been the best player for Palace who is playing quite well under Pulis after a very poor start under Holloway. He was their player of the year for last season also, which is incredible considering that Wilfred Zaha was named player of the year for the whole league (but maybe he wouldn't ...

It's a close group, obviously Costa Rica will be the whipping boys in there, out of the other 3, each have their own strength and weaknesses. Uruguay is probably the slight favorite in my opinion, the expectation is high after a 4th place finish in the last World Cup and there will be alot of suppor...

Anybody like? Kruse, Broque, Oar, Leckie, McKay, Rukavyta(? guy playing for Frankfurt), would all be better options. Kruse, sure but he is a big maybe for the WC with his ACL injury. Brosque, :lol: Oar, has shown potential but has never shown the form Harry ever has. Leckie, also has a great amount...

Although I will admit that Harry have always seemed more motivated playing for Australia, maybe that's why he's been in better form for country than club. He is not only injury prune but also sulk alot when his club form dips, instead of work hard to get better he just tend to go on a downward spira...

Stuckey wrote: Anybody like?

Kruse, Broque, Oar, Leckie, McKay, Rukavyta(? guy playing for Frankfurt), would all be better options.

How about ANYBODY who has plays football regularly for their club. Kewell have been sulking for years now, and what can experienced old players who's well past their best do in the heat of Brazil? Let's be realistic, Australia isn't going to make it to the knockout rounds, so how about give someone ...

Ok, I know he hasn't made the national team for a while now, but why are there still pundits talking about Harry potentially being in the squad for Brazil? Am I the only one who think it's kind of pathetic to keep going back to someone who's past their best 10 years ago?

Nice One Cyril wrote:

The Kop wrote:Spurs are like the unflushable turd in this top 4 race.

Liverpool are the pond scum floating on the surface.

Soldado for a hatty against Chelsea!

Funny thing is... as things stand if Spurs has a chance to get into top4 it might be Arsenal who loses out.

I have to say though Chelsea selling him for about a £14m profit. Is this the first time ever they have made money in the transfer market? Kevin De Bruyne Ah I missed this one! Two for two they're on fire! Well that's not exactly fair, Chelsea is a buying club much like United for starters, how man...

It's been widely reported that a 37m pound deal for Juan Mata to Man United has been agreed. It looks almost certain to go through now and surely would be the biggest transfer news this January. Chelsea Perspective : Oscar, Hazard and Willan all in great form and suit the Mourinho tactic, selling Ma...