Matildas The Matildas Thread

[Dixie Flatline]

Australia finished plumb last in the SheBelieves Cup, with zero points from three games and a goal difference of -6. Japan defeated the USA in the other game to win the tournament by virtue of going through the tournament without dropping a point (three wins from three games with a +8 goal difference).

In the longest search for a head coach in human history, it looks like Sermanni will be in charge for the pair of friendlies against South Korea in April in Sydney and Newcastle. We're one year away from the Asian Cup kicking off and we have no clue who will actually coach the Matildas in that competition. Absolutely farcical by Football Australia.

While Football Australia stands still, the Matildas are getting left behind

Football Australia has attempted to tread water for the past six months in its search for a new national team coach. In that time, the Matildas have drifted -- badly.

www.espn.com

 

[stax on the mull]

A League commentator Teo Pellizzeri on Dubzone reckons that a new coach won't be in place maybe until as late as August.

Can only guess there's someone they're waiting for to finish a season coaching one of the teams in Europe. I heard one of the men's commentators - Simon Hill, or maybe it was Daniel Garb on radio mention Joe Montemurro's name. I don't know whether coaching Matildas actually pays more than coaching Lyon in France. I guess Sermanni is doing it on the cheap.

 

[swingdog]

A League commentator Teo Pellizzeri on Dubzone reckons that a new coach won't be in place maybe until as late as August.

Can only guess there's someone they're waiting for to finish a season coaching one of the teams in Europe. I heard one of the men's commentators - Simon Hill, or maybe it was Daniel Garb on radio mention Joe Montemurro's name. I don't know whether coaching Matildas actually pays more than coaching Lyon in France. I guess Sermanni is doing it on the cheap.

If I was Montemurro, would I really want the Matildas' job when I've just taken over arguably the leading women's club in the world?

For me, the focus on the missing coach, while understandable is misguided. We need a systemic review and different approach to developing players for the national team. Japan should be the model.

 

[stax on the mull]

If I was Montemurro, would I really want the Matildas' job when I've just taken over arguably the leading women's club in the world?

For me, the focus on the missing coach, while understandable is misguided. We need a systemic review and different approach to developing players for the national team. Japan should be the model.

Think when Pellezzeri is talking about August, he might be referring to when the Matildas play another game with a new coach. Maybe the appointment will be sooner.

Leah Blayney, the Young Matildas coach was not too long ago appointed as an assistant coach for Japan and would have been at the She Believes cup.

 

[FreoRicci]

To be honest doubt anyone would care if he compared the socceroos to year 10 boys. Feels like an overreaction to lose his job over it to be honest. Can understand the offence taken but don’t think it’s as bad as some are saying, just dumb.

Criticise him fair enough but lose his job? Doesn’t Sam Kerr still have one? What did she say again?

If he had stopped at his comment of year 10 girls, fine.

Just feel Matildas have gotten way too much media attention and money, for no reward. It’s fine to have an opinion about the state of the game. Tbh the national team sucks and is significantly overrated.
Probably due to keeping Gustavasson for way too long.

Then to go overboard with the Asian Cup comments was the tipping point.

 

[stax on the mull]

Overrated by who though? By people in the mainstream sports media who don't watch them play. The Matildas popularity means that some blokey sports shows will sometimes have to mention them as a topic. These shows hardly go into any in depth analysis - their comments are on the same level of the kind of discussion you got on that Triple M show. If Sheargold directed his comedy at blokes who think they're doing a big favour when they pat women's sport on the back with a mention when they really don't give a crap, maybe he would have hit a target with his comedy.

The other thing is that anyone that follows Matildas sees negative comments about women players all the time, but in this case the media generated their own outrage of what the punishment should be. They don't really care much about year 10 girls being the the target of such misogyny, it just became another way to generate controversy, nothing more than a "whose side are you on?" based on their perceptions of what you should think. You get a headline on MSN news saying "Matildas coach slams comments..." but when they asked the coach, all he said "we're used to it" and that "it crossed the line". The reaction is there because he was asked by an interviewer. It wasn't like the coach went out of the way to comment.

But apparently now it's Sam Kerr's fault for being a hypocrite. She only had to go through a meaningless 5 day trial. Can we get this clear. The Matildas didn't cause Triple M to sack Marty Sheargold.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Australia finished plumb last in the SheBelieves Cup, with zero points from three games and a goal difference of -6. Japan defeated the USA in the other game to win the tournament by virtue of going through the tournament without dropping a point (three wins from three games with a +8 goal difference).

In the longest search for a head coach in human history, it looks like Sermanni will be in charge for the pair of friendlies against South Korea in April in Sydney and Newcastle. We're one year away from the Asian Cup kicking off and we have no clue who will actually coach the Matildas in that competition. Absolutely farcical by Football Australia.

While Football Australia stands still, the Matildas are getting left behind

Football Australia has attempted to tread water for the past six months in its search for a new national team coach. In that time, the Matildas have drifted -- badly.

www.espn.com

It seems kind of ironic to me that in a week where we're yet again demanding this team be treated seriously, and be treated with respect... meanwhile we're making fools of ourselves with the coaching situation.

If any of these pillocks determined to stick the boot into women's sport at the first sign of us being rubbish at something did even a skerrick of research, there's a hell of a lot to criticise.

 

[stax on the mull]

This article says that Montemurro had already been sought, but that they missed an opportunity in January.

Coach-less and directionless Matildas falling further behind rivals

For the first time ever, the Matildas, Young Matildas and Junior Matildas are all without a permanent manager. It's a worrying sign for Australian football, writes Pokuah Frimpong.

www.abc.net.au

 

[HairyO]

If he had stopped at his comment of year 10 girls, fine.

Just feel Matildas have gotten way too much media attention and money, for no reward. It’s fine to have an opinion about the state of the game. Tbh the national team sucks and is significantly overrated.
Probably due to keeping Gustavasson for way too long.

Then to go overboard with the Asian Cup comments was the tipping point.

Matildas had a good 2023 but really were at their best when few countries had serious national teams. The whole world is in it now so it isnt easy.

And they act like a team who are opposed to hard work.

I assume the coaches that are wanted, dont want to coach them.

 

[stax on the mull]

Squad for the games coming up vs Sth Korea. Same old same.

 

[stax on the mull]

Squad for the games coming up vs Sth Korea. Same old same.

There was a change to this squad announced a couple of days ago with Katrina Gorry out injured and replaced by Melbourne City midfielder Leah Davidson.

 

[stax on the mull]

Carpenter and Raso won't play. Arnold with a possible injury. Sally James (GK), Alexia Apostolakis (defender) and Tegan Bertolissio (defender) added to the squad but just as train-ons.

 

[stax on the mull]

John Aloisi or Joe Montemurro being touted by the media as the two most likely candidates to be selected as the next Matildas coach.

 

[giggler99]

A win in Sydney!

 

[jhong]

A win in Sydney!

Decent crowd 37,000 ish.

 

[stax on the mull]

Wasn't great but it wasn't horrible so I guess it was an improvement on previous efforts.

Rankin started for the first time and was pretty safe at left back - I liked that a few times when she cut out a pass it was redirected to our advantage.

Catley played in the middle of defence. Grant had Carpenters role. Heatley had Gorry's role.

Foord was the one player that looked like she had so much more class.
McNamara showed her speed off the mark and had to be fouled a couple of times to prevent her from breaking through and so was another threat.

Don't know what the purpose of Van Egmond is. She's so slow. The goal came because she got a through ball from Foord but couldn't run onto it and keep the momentum towards goal so she had to hold it up and cut back on her right foot and we got a lucky goal from it being headed backward where the keeper couldn't keep it out.

Fowler came on and almost scored with a moment of class with a shot also getting through two defenders but slightly deflected a few centimetres past the post.

Micah made one match winning save near the end. Korea muffed another great chance to equalise when they had a player free on the far post and the cross ball ended up on top of the net.

 

[stax on the mull]

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on Van Egmond but she was playing in an attacking position for most of the night. She speeds up for about 5 steps in this clip but then she drops down to the mid speed that she ran for most of the game so she really never gets in a dangerous position but I suppose because she's run wide she's ends up with the ball. Compare her position to where Foord is when she wins the ball and where McNamara gets to after getting first touch on the ball in this clip.

Lucky goal.

 

[jhong]

I do like Catley as a centre back for the tillies .

 

[Fabab]

Just seen the teams ready to walk out onto the pitch and I thought who is the bloke behind the south Korea captain !
They line up for the anthems and the person I'm on about appears to be their keeper.

 

[stax on the mull]

Just seen the teams ready to walk out onto the pitch and I thought who is the bloke behind the south Korea captain !
They line up for the anthems and the person I'm on about appears to be their keeper.

Better call Lucy Zelic. What's the score?

 

[Fabab]

Better call Lucy Zelic.

Cant stand her.

 

[stax on the mull]

Cant stand her.

From the teamsheets, it's the same GK as the first game.

 

[stax on the mull]

Goal to Fowler 44min

 

[stax on the mull]

S.Korea Own goal 2-0. From radio description. Cross from Fowler - Foord's shot saved onto the crossbar - then deflected by defender off a shot by Torpey that wasn't on target.

 

[stax on the mull]

85m Offside ruled from a set piece where S Korea get the ball in.

2-0 Final score.

Next matches vs Argentina May 30, Marvel Stadium and June 2 Canberra.