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The official Robbie Slater thread 2013/14


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Former Socceroo Robbie Slater looks at every team

ahead of the start of the 2013-2014 EPL season

ARSENAL

A lot of money, a lot of talk and no signings. Welcome to the Arsenal Gonners –

they’re always gonna do something. I see plenty of goals with Cazorla, Walcott

and Podolski. Suarez would also add goalscoring bite if he signs on. But defence –

isn’t that what you sit on?

Prediction: A lot of goals

ASTON VILLA

Brett Holman took the soft option by leaving the Villans after one difficult year in the

Premier League. He should have stuck it out and I’m disappointed because I really

rate him. Manager Paul Lambert is already under pressure. Christian Benteke is a

rising star.

Prediction: Survival fight

CARDIFF CITY

Can’t wait for the Welsh derby against Swansea. Talk about passion, this will be off

the charts. Craig Bellamy is their big name and new man Andreas Cornelius was a

proven goalscorer in Denmark. First shot at the Premier League and they should enjoy

it while it lasts.

Prediction: A short stay

CHELSEA

The Special One is loved by everyone – even himself. Having Jose Mourinho back

in London spices things up. Expect big things from Eden Hazard. There is the Aussie

factor in Mark Schwarzer. At the very least, our keeper will face some great strikers

at training.

Prediction: Title challenge

CRYSTAL PALACE

Ian Holloway has been trying to sign Mark Milligan to partner another Aussie, Mile

Jedinak, in the midfield. London’s new Kangaroo Court, perhaps. Their Selhurst

Park ground is a step back in time to the quaint history of London football.

Prediction: Aussies rule

EVERTON

A dour Scotsman in David Moyes has been replaced by the more adventurous

Roberto Martinez, who likes to build his teams from a back three. Marouane Fellaini

has big hair and a big game and they have to keep him.

Prediction: More entertainment, less results

FULHAM

With Schwarzer moving on, it places huge pressure on Maarten Stekelenburg, but

the Dutchman is a class keeper and has played under Martin Jol before. A scrappy

team living in the shadow of London’s big three – Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Mid-table at best.

Prediction: Jol to feel the heat

HULL

Steve Bruce is back in the top flight as manager and it’s great to see. Yannick Sagbo

arrives from Evian with high expectations. Bruce hopes he can emulate the instant

success Benteke had with Aston Villa. It’s a big ask, but the goals have to come from

somewhere and he’s the man.

Prediction: Relegation battle

LIVERPOOL

Brendan Rodgers will be expected to return them to the Champions League. Iago

Aspas looks great. Kolo Toure brings experience. But then we get to Luis Suarez:

with him they can be top four, without him it’s another tough season.

Prediction: Suarez walks . . . alone

MANCHESTER CITY

I can’t see anyone stopping them. The challenge for Manuel Pellegrini is fitting

all the egos in the same dressing shed. Four major signings – Fernandinho,

Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic – at more than 90 million quid

builds on a powerful squad.

Prediction: Moneyball

MANCHESTER UNITED

The David Moyes era is likely to start by being second best in his own town.

Following Sir Alex Ferguson will be tough. The Wayne Rooney stand-off has been

disconcerting and there have been no new signings of note. If Robin van Persie

is injured, look out.

Prediction: A blue year

NEWCASTLE

The big club that never seems to win anything. I’d have Alan Pardew equal

favourite with Paul Lambert as the first manager to get fired. The talent is there,

just not sure about the character.

Prediction: Underachievers

NORWICH

The Canaries have bought well. Gary Hooper from Celtic is a really good player and

they have added Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon and Leroy Fer from

FC Twente.

Prediction: Mid-table

SOUTHAMPTON

A good, stable team. Have signed Victor Wanyama from Celtic for a record 12

million quid. He will be the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League. A nice touch.

Prediction: Mid-table

STOKE

Long balls are out with Mark Hughes replacing Tony Pulis as manager. Rory Delap

is gone, too, so no more long throws for Peter Crouch. Hughes will introduce more

intricacy and fluidity in a year that could define his managerial career.

Prediction: Solid season

Sunderland

They have some class in Stephane Sessegnon and James McLean, but this club

has over-promised and under-delivered in recent years. Manager Paolo Di Canio is

eccentric (some might say odd-ball), but he has been busy in the marketplace.

Prediction: A wild ride

SWANSEA

The Welsh club will be good again. They haven’t missed a beat since Michael

Laudrup replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager. Wilfred Bony arrives with the

reputation as the next Drogba, his idol. If he’s half as good, look out.

Prediction: Europa League hope

TOTTENHAM

The off-season has been all about Gareth Bale, but Spurs are no one-man band.

Roberto Soldado is a brilliant get from Valencia, where he scored 59 goals in 101

games. Paulinho is also a big star. Have the chance to add more big names.

Prediction: Soldado to shine

WEST BROM

My gut feeling is the Baggies will do all right this season. Why? I have no idea.

West Brom always punch above their weight. Romelu Lukaku’s 17 goals will be

hard to cover as he returns to Chelsea.

Prediction: Top half

WEST HAM UNITED

Will the Hammers get the Newcastle version of Andy Carroll or the Liverpool

version? They have broken the bank to sign the striker and he will have to score

15-20 goals to make it a decent investment. Sam Allardyce could be another big story.

He has never been a fan favourite.

Prediction: Firing squad is taking aim

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  • 3 weeks later...

Robbie Slater recalls the magic of the FA Cup as Australia gets set for our own version in 2014

Tom Smithies The Daily Telegraph August 30, 2013 9:40AM

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YOU can just imagine the scene — a cold July day, probably raining, at a football ground somewhere in the outer suburbs that holds a few thousand spectators and for this game is close to full.

It will be the magic of the FA Cup done Australian-style, or so Football Federation Australia hopes after yesterday confirming that the FFA Cup will begin next year — pitting the A-League clubs against the grassroots of the game.

Exact details of its format are still to be clarified, but the A-League clubs will most likely appear in the competition’s round of 32, joined by 22 qualifiers from around the country who have come through regional cup competitions.
Under the terms of one format under discussion, between July and September will be that round of 32, a last-16, quarterfinals and semi-finals — leading to a final in mid-December.
It will be a straight knockout competition, each round decided on one game rather than two legs, and the organisers would like nothing more than to see the draw force well-heeled A-Leaguers travel to hostile territory as giants in danger of being killed.
The timing is designed to be as favourable as possible to the lower-level sides who will be battle-hardened by having completed the bulk of the leagues, while giving the A-League teams preseason fixtures with real meaning.
There is the caveat that a sponsor and a TV partner have to be found, though it’s understood that discussions on both fronts are well advanced — on the broadcast side with Fox Sports, unsurprisingly. That’s not a shock as the competition idea has huge appeal — everyone loves an upset after all.
Well, except those on the receiving end, as Robbie Slater can testify. In 1997 his Southampton side were dumped out of the FA Cup by Reading, then a division below their Premiership opponents.
On a freezing pitch the Saints were humbled 3-1, and Slater was sent off for swearing at a linesman "which I probably did," he concedes.
"This was when Reading played at Elm Park — a small ground full of hostile fans, as those cup games always were, and hopefully as we’ll see with an FFA Cup," Slater said. "Normally in those upsets it’s because the so-called superior sides get outfought — if you don’t win your battles then it’s easy to find yourself behind. Psychologically, you’re playing a lower-division team, and it’s hard not to think that as long as you’re on your game you’ll be fine. If 11 players do that, you’re in trouble."
Nor, Slater believes, will the discrepancy between the sides be huge in a pan-Australian competition. "They’ll be tough games, just look at the some of the players playing in the state leagues now and those who’ve come into the A-League," he said. "Especially if the A-League teams are away, I can see upsets easily. Hopefully too it will bring back supporters who have felt disenfranchised since the A-League started, and build a connection."

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On the fox sports coverage of 'pool vs United, Mark Bosnich said United would be making a mistake signing Fellaini as he is not what the club needs and instead should be looking at signing a player Madrid were willing to part with post signing Bale, like Ozil or Modric. Robbie Slater said he didn't think United would be able to do that.

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Disgraceful Neill should go: Robbie Slater
  • From: AAP
  • October 15, 2013 3:01PM

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FORMER Socceroo Robbie Slater says Lucas Neill should immediately be stood down as Australia's captain

The one-time English Premier League championship medal winner, turned commentator said Neill has torn apart an already broken squad with his response to coach Holger Osieck's sacking.

Australia takes on 106th-ranked Canada tomorrow morning (AEDT) at Craven Cottage in London, just four days after Osieck's sacking following successive 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France.

Slater today slammed as “disgraceful” Neill's attempt to defend his position within the squad in his first media appearance since Osieck was axed following the 6-0 loss to France. “It's quite possibly the worst captain's interview, certainly in a football sense, I've ever seen,” Slater told Fox Sports. “Lucas is in survival mode. He's got that siege mentality and you can see that in the interview - it's very defensive.

“He's living in a cocoon. He's not seeing things clear and he's not seeing the reality.There is a case to be stood down as Australian captain straight away by (Football Federation Australia CEO) David Gallop.It shows the need of how quick we need to get somebody in place because he shouldn't have been allowed to do that interview.”

Neill overnight dismissed a call by former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich to quit the team, and instead questioned the passion of the next generation of Socceroos. “My question to the younger guys who want to play for Australia is: do you dream of playing for Australia and if you do show me the hunger and the desire,” Neill said in London. “I think that's where we are lacking now - our attitude towards our national team.”

Slater, who played 44 matches for Australia during the 1980s and 1990s, said the FFA needed to appoint a local coach as soon as possible to bring the Socceroos back together as a team. “That squad is now torn apart. If it wasn't already before because of the results, it is certainly now because of what the captain has said,” the 48-year-old said. “I cannot believe how many times I heard the word 'I' in that interview. And for him to have a go at the younger players, our captain, that is exactly the opposite of what a captain should be doing. He should be pulling those players together. He has now clearly driven a wedge between the older generation and the younger generation.”

The 35-year-old Neill thinks he has the support of the entire playing group and hasn't heard any dissent and has every intention of going through to next year's World Cup in Brazil. “But I suppose evidence will be shown on Tuesday when I ask the team to come out and show the kind of spirit we need,” Neill said. “Let's see if we get the reaction that I'm looking for and Australia needs.”

Caretaker coach Aurelio Vidmar meantime has a host of injury concerns to contend with ahead of the match with Canada. It appears likely young and inexperienced players including Mathew Leckie, Oliver Bozanic and Jason Davidson could start the match. In good news, Dario Vidosic and Sasa Ognenovski trained overnight - only Tim Cahill missed the session - and are possible inclusions.

“We still need to find out which players are available to play,” Neill said. “We've got a few clouds hanging over people. But whoever goes out there has to wear the shirt with the kind of pride that it's been worn with for a number of years.”

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Robbie Slater: Hard-nosed Ange Postecoglou won't be

afraid to make tough decisions for Socceroos

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ANGE Postecoglou is a tough man. He was a hard-nosed defender as a player and he takes no prisoners as a coach(Pictured: Robbie Slater).

He played four games for the Socceroos and was a stalwart at South Melbourne in the old days of the NSL, but he was always destined to make his mark as a coach.There will only be one boss in the Socceroos team now that Postecoglou has been appointed. It will be perform or perish. History shows that if you don’t buy into his culture, Postecoglou will have no qualms about finding players who will.

Just like Graham Arnold did at the Central Coast, Postecoglou reinvented the A-League with his philosophy at the Brisbane Roar. It became fashionable to play an attractive high-possession game, working over teams with speed of passing and movement.The Roar and the Mariners forced the other teams to go with them and it lifted the entire competition.

What people forget in the wake of the Roar's record run, is the revolution that preceded it. Postecoglou was ruthless. When he took over, he moved on Liam Reddy, Craig Moore, Bob Malcolm and Charlie Miller because they didn't fit his culture. He endured a season of pain, but look at what grew out of it. Postecoglou knows that the tree of revolution must be fed with a sprinkling of blood. And that should serve as a warning to all Socceroos.

There are those out there who say having an Australian coaching the national team is unimportant; that bleeding for the cause and feeling the pain of 6-0 losses shouldn't have been a factor in the FFA's decision. Yet Postecoglou's intention is to "restore pride in the shirt". It's a mantra that should drive a new era.

Coaching the Socceroos is a difficult job; much harder than coaching an A-League club. You spend close to 200 days a year away from home assessing talent scattered to all corners of the globe. Some of the all-out attack Postecoglou employed with the Roar will have to be tempered at international level, too.But the non-negotiables - fight for everything, chase hard, close down space and play with pride and heart - work at every level of football.

Clearly, Postecoglou was the man the FFA wanted all along. Why they disrupted the A-League by saying they were looking at Arnold and Tony Popovic, when no one at headquarters even talked to them, is a mystery.But now the call has been made, we can move forward.

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