Manu Cup 2012 - Results

[Action]

im assuming you dont like adelaide city...

both clubs came out of easy groups if you really wanna make comparisons.... there was no way that any team out of group 1 or 2 were going to have enough in their legs to go all the way after their group draws....

congratulations to birkalla on the tough win, all the best in melbourne....

Birks were deserved winners - congratulations and all the best in Melbourne.

West Adelaide and Raiders deserve credit too. Both took their semi-finals to the wire (contraversial penalty shoot out for Westies and a disallowed 'ghost goal' for Raiders) but in the end they probably both ran out of legs given their group stages.

[AL K HOLIC]

All jokes and Banter aside all teams/coaches deserve credit.

[runcorn2adelaide]

City Beat West Adelaide in Semi-1
Birkalla beat Raiders in Semi-2

Birkalla beat Adelaide City 2:1 in the Final

[Football NOT Soccer]

well done to birkalla, just goes to show with the great d mori as coach (playing his own formation instead of 4 3 3 like most of the other clubs instucted by the ffsa) and the prodigies son, the easy group, and the retaking of two penalities in the semi finals, with everything in its favour, birkalla have again proven that ac are`nt the only club producing decent juniors, hopefully this re-enforces to all other parents out there that your kids dont have to play at ac to develop into good players, plenty other clubs also producing and playing great football.

If anyone had the easy group it was birkalla they had the easiest group in the competition.

[ellen]

in answer to they had the easiest group, yes you are probably correct, but they had to beat the best in every group to win the final,

in answer to the question about where are the players from, Tommy, Michael, Marcus, Brad, Nathanial, Jacob, have played since under 8, and a number of other players who had been cut from other clubs over the last few years, there are only 4 players who werent in the under 14 last year, and 3 of these still qualify for under 14 now.

boys are excited and deserve it like many other out there also do, thanks for the congrates from so many.

[johnydep]

Well done Birkalla boys, well coached and well played. Good luck interstate.

[barney]

Flops of the tournament:

Northern Anglo clubs especially Para Hills. All these clubs failed to impress. Para once was dominant but now that the SASI "connection" is no more they are as good or bad as the other Northern clubs.

White City, despite Dragos promises and poaching of players from all parts of Adelaide and his excessive coaching fee still remain the shambles they always are. They even had a player booked for time wasting in the final group game protecting a 1-0 lead then began celabrating at the final whistle their quater final spot only to be told they actually needed to win by 2 goals to progress. The White City coaches had mixed up their mathes!!!

[Željko Jurin]

Is there any reason, (as the tournament is about the kids and not what is easier to organise for the Federation), that it can not be played over 2 weekends like they do in Victoria ?
Maybe even Weds night quarter finals to split it up, and give the kids the chance to recover from bumps and knocks they receive, rather then playing on with them, and the chance to injure themselves even more

The finalists played 6 games in 3 days, including 3 on the last day ....... that is just ridiculous ........ where is the 'duty of care' that is always talked about and they pull out on hot days .........

Kids arent allowed to train / play for even on minute when it hits 33c between 11am and 5pm, but if its 32c (or 30c like it was yesterday), its ok to play 3 games within 4-5hrs ...... crazy stuff ........

[rossonero]

barney u have no idea buddy....
i dont know anything about para hills 15s so will make no comments....
as for white city a flop, drago had nothing to do with the selection of the squad, he wasnt even the coach at the tournament....
the squad selected was made up of the exact same team that finished 4th in C division apart from the goal keeper.... they have a couple of players that are playing seniors and the club decided to not play them in the tournament.....

if u think that a new coach with a team that finished 4th in c div, dealing with dodgy suspensions, best defender breaking his arm and federation not adding up the goal difference correctly, i think just missing out the group stages by one goal was a good achievement.....

[tryhard]

ZJ u are spot on. would result in better football and maybe avoid a serious injury like heat stroke

[Adrenalin]

=>Yes the tournament could have been played over two weeks to let the boys recover physically ----a a basic HSE suggestion the FFSA should look at very intently.
=>Yes it could've gone either way in the semis as the top four truly deserved to be there---West Adelaide just unlucky with the ref's strict policies,and hapless Raiders did the hard yakka going up against top Div A teams in the lead up.
=> Yes a lot of people believe Adelaide City (including myself) should have stuck to their guns and not have experimented with their formation --- expert adjustments do not really work with heat fatigued juniors and .............

and we could go on and on with many other insights.

All things said, now we know this is the time for us to rally behind WT Birkalla. They won the tournament fair and square...they were the best team on the day and year to date!

The question now is: In your opinion what should Birks do from now until the 23rd of March in order to represent SA well?

Humble suggestion: No doubt they are well coached, have speed,and maintain their shape consistently. But for more ammo and little prep time my feeling is get a running coach who will strap a heart rate monitor on them and teach them to run as fast but this time more economically ...thus conserving "fuel in the tank" for longer against those brutes from QLD and NZ.

Go WT Birkalla ! Go SA!

[Stepover]

Flops of the tournament:

Northern Anglo clubs especially Para Hills. All these clubs failed to impress. Para once was dominant but now that the SASI "connection" is no more they are as good or bad as the other Northern clubs.

White City, despite Dragos promises and poaching of players from all parts of Adelaide and his excessive coaching fee still remain the shambles they always are. They even had a player booked for time wasting in the final group game protecting a 1-0 lead then began celabrating at the final whistle their quater final spot only to be told they actually needed to win by 2 goals to progress. The White City coaches had mixed up their mathes!!!

For your info. Para have 5 eligible U15 boys who will be playing U16s this season therefore under current club policy weren't dropped for the tournament.
That is the clubs choice and I certainly dont have a problem with clubs that drop eligible players back, and I am sure that we are not the only Club to have this policy.

The side that played has a number of new faces, and will do very well in JPL Div2 this season, after just missing out on staying up in what was a very even U14s comp. last year..
By the way you for memory Para either won the league or finished runners up last year in 12's,13's,15's 16's, & 17's.
Not bad for a struggling "northern anglo club".
Also.. all races, nationalities, creed, are welcome at Para.
To top it off we have tireless workers like Peter GRECO (Chairman) and Joe CENTRONE (Treasurer) at the Club.

I find it insulting that you suggest that the late Martin Crook would select players for SASI who were undeserving of there spot.
Just as Tony Vidmar would not favor players of "ethnic" backgrounds.

You are an embarrassment on this forum, and an embarrassment to your club...grow up!

PS: congrats to Birks and AC, deserving finalists.

[rabbit]

=>Yes the tournament could have been played over two weeks to let the boys recover physically ----a a basic HSE suggestion the FFSA should look at very intently.
=>Yes it could've gone either way in the semis as the top four truly deserved to be there---West Adelaide just unlucky with the ref's strict policies,and hapless Raiders did the hard yakka going up against top Div A teams in the lead up.
=> Yes a lot of people believe Adelaide City (including myself) should have stuck to their guns and not have experimented with their formation --- expert adjustments do not really work with heat fatigued juniors and .............

and we could go on and on with many other insights.

All things said, now we know this is the time for us to rally behind WT Birkalla. They won the tournament fair and square...they were the best team on the day and year to date!

The question now is: In your opinion what should Birks do from now until the 23rd of March in order to represent SA well?

Humble suggestion: No doubt they are well coached, have speed,and maintain their shape consistently. But for more ammo and little prep time my feeling is get a running coach who will strap a heart rate monitor on them and teach them to run as fast but this time more economically ...thus conserving "fuel in the tank" for longer against those brutes from QLD and NZ.

Go WT Birkalla ! Go SA!

Congratulations Birkalla on winning a tough tournament. Don't listen to anyone about strapping on heart monitors or anything else for that matter Have a good rest, regroup over the coming days and talk about what you just achieved. Do a swimming session or something at the beach away from the training track. Make sure you are 100% "refreshed" and ready for Melbourne. You are obviously mentally and physically strong enough at this point of the season so no need to punish yourselves any further. Leave the tactical side to your coach and you will do well whatever happens.....despite any external pressures. Remember, your best is always good enough! Congratulations again.

[Adrenalin]

Suggestion noted. Thanks Rabbit.

[rossonero]

barney just forgot to add.....white city also had 4 players eligible to play under 14s and one eligible to play under 13s....you call that shambles???? i prefer to call that DEVELOPMENT....

[Stepover]

=>Yes the tournament could have been played over two weeks to let the boys recover physically ----a a basic HSE suggestion the FFSA should look at very intently.
=>Yes it could've gone either way in the semis as the top four truly deserved to be there---West Adelaide just unlucky with the ref's strict policies,and hapless Raiders did the hard yakka going up against top Div A teams in the lead up.
=> Yes a lot of people believe Adelaide City (including myself) should have stuck to their guns and not have experimented with their formation --- expert adjustments do not really work with heat fatigued juniors and .............

and we could go on and on with many other insights.

All things said, now we know this is the time for us to rally behind WT Birkalla. They won the tournament fair and square...they were the best team on the day and year to date!

The question now is: In your opinion what should Birks do from now until the 23rd of March in order to represent SA well?

Humble suggestion: No doubt they are well coached, have speed,and maintain their shape consistently. But for more ammo and little prep time my feeling is get a running coach who will strap a heart rate monitor on them and teach them to run as fast but this time more economically ...thus conserving "fuel in the tank" for longer against those brutes from QLD and NZ.

Go WT Birkalla ! Go SA!

Congratulations Birkalla on winning a tough tournament. Don't listen to anyone about strapping on heart monitors or anything else for that matter Have a good rest, regroup over the coming days and talk about what you just achieved. Do a swimming session or something at the beach away from the training track. Make sure you are 100% "refreshed" and ready for Melbourne. You are obviously mentally and physically strong enough at this point of the season so no need to punish yourselves any further. Leave the tactical side to your coach and you will do well whatever happens.....despite any external pressures. Remember, your best is always good enough! Congratulations again.

I bet you are doing a fair bit of "resting and recovering down at the beach" these days hey Rabbit?

[barney]

barney just forgot to add.....white city also had 4 players eligible to play under 14s and one eligible to play under 13s....you call that shambles???? i prefer to call that DEVELOPMENT....

Two of your players turning up early yesterday morning to play the quarterfinal that you forgot to tell them you actually didn't make, is that a shambles or development???

[rossonero]

all players were told.... otherwise u wouldve seen the whole squad there.....
why dont u start worrying about ur club as ir club didnt go anywhere in the tournament either....

[winning feeling]

Any Standout Players in The finals or lead up games

[rossonero]

all the standout players are at barney's club....

[S2enrab]

Any Standout Players in The finals or lead up games

I only watched one game, Adelaide City v West Adelaide. As a neutral it was a good exciting game finishing with a controversial penalty shoot out. Thought City had a few gun players with fantastic touch & ability, west’s no 3 was a super star & no 12 was a super sub, sorry don’t know any names. Great game to watch, west unlucky at the end but city just deserved the win.

[black]

Any Standout Players in The finals or lead up games

I only watched one game, Adelaide City v West Adelaide. As a neutral it was a good exciting game finishing with a controversial penalty shoot out. Thought City had a few gun players with fantastic touch & ability, west’s no 3 was a super star & no 12 was a super sub, sorry don’t know any names. Great game to watch, west unlucky at the end but city just deserved the win.

you forgot to add....Hi My name is.... my son is number .......

[rossonero]

ease up a bit with the SUPERSTAR.....

[barchetta]

AC miss out twice in two years. Last year Para Hills. Good luck Birks.

[hudsona]

All jokes and Banter aside all teams/coaches deserve credit.

ok..so tournament over..well done to Birkalla..and the very best to them in the next stage...

Couple of questions on the quality of players/play based on seeing our best South Australian U15 players.

It's been around 2 years since the FFA National Curriculum was launched...which identified the technical aspects Australia needs to address and improve on as follows:

Analysis–Weaknesses
• Overall technical GAME skills,
in particular:
➢ individual attacking qualities (creativity)
➢ first touch under pressure
➢ short passing game
➢ handling speed in tight areas.
• Ball possession/positioning play,
in particular:
➢ playing out from the back
➢ controlling / changing the speed of the game
➢ successful attacking combinations.
• Tactical maturity,
in particular:
➢ tactical awareness; ‘reading’ the game
➢ leadership; decision-making on the pitch
➢ game ‘cleverness’; being ‘street smart’.

How do you feel these issues are being addressed?
Were the teams showing that they've improved in the above issues?
Are the coaches & clubs being seen to follow the National Curriculum?
Were the teams encouraged to play 1-4-3-3 and or it's various shapes or formations?

..based on the National Curriculum:
"To tackle the identified shortcomings in
Australian football and also opt for a style of play
that corresponds with the ‘Aussie’ mentality /
preference, a proactive style of play using the
1–4–3–3 formation will be introduced which is an important
condition for:
➢ ‘manicured’ positioning play, playing out,
combination football
➢ creative and varied attacking play, using
the width of the field
➢ early disturbing /pressing after losing
possession.
For youth players the positions and
accompanying basic tasks are logical and
recognisable and therefore playing as a
team is easier to develop.
The 1–4–3–3 formation has several shapes and
variations, making it a flexible up-to-date formation."

Love to hear peoples thoughts on this...

[Željko Jurin]

Your question is irrelevant if the coach is not following the FFA curriculum ....

The question should be, how many of the 21 teams/coaches (or how many there were) tried to follow it ?
Let's only look at the basics .....
(eg)
a) 1-4-3-3 ?
b) Playing out from the back ?

[rossonero]

i have a question which i hope someone can give an opinion....
if a new coach has just taken over a team that has not been properly coached and the players are years behind compared to most teams in the man utd cup teams....should a coach try to introdude the ffa corriculum and play it in the tournament or play a system that the players would find more confortable and make the team atleast competitive????

[Raiders]

By mondays third game no one was playing any system.
Is it ffa corriculum to play 3 games in 30 degree heat.
what is ffa corriculum and ffsa corriculum .

[black]

By mondays third game no one was playing any system.
Is it ffa corriculum to play 3 games in 30 degree heat.
what is ffa corriculum and ffsa corriculum .

FFSA follow the FFA curriculum which is a guideline at best.
Guidelines which we (SA) do not have the coaching depth/experience across the state to roll out effectively.

[hudsona]

i have a question which i hope someone can give an opinion....
if a new coach has just taken over a team that has not been properly coached and the players are years behind compared to most teams in the man utd cup teams....should a coach try to introdude the ffa corriculum and play it in the tournament or play a system that the players would find more confortable and make the team atleast competitive????

I guess my answer to that is...it depends.

Does the new coach (and importantly the club he serves) be prepared to commit to following the curriculum (which clearly states the football issues that need to be improved in Australian Youth Football) for the long term development of the players ....or get look to get a competitive result in the tournament?

If option 2 is chosen ... then the long term development of raising our Youth players to the top level possible (know that they can't all be World's best) is sacrificed for the sake of the tournament result.

It's a tough call...but in my opinion coaches & clubs have got to make a stand and start somewhere...otherwise there's always going to be an occasion where a team will play more comfortable to get a result (eg we're playing the top team today; we need to get a result to win promotion/avoid relegation/embarrassment today)

Again from the Curriculum:

Analysis–Cause and Effect
Both strengths and weaknesses are caused by
the strong emphasis in Australia on results and
winning at too young an age.

Winning is the purpose of football but
the manner and importance differs!

If we want to take our football to the world’s
top level, youth development will need to
focus more on:

➢ development instead of results
➢ the skilful instead of the powerful
➢ mistakes being learning moments instead of
mistakes being punished
➢ encouraging individual play instead of
forbidding individual play
➢ encouraging taking initiatives / risks instead
of forbidding taking initiatives / risks
➢ playing out purposefully instead of the long
ball etc.

In other words it is the choice
between: short-term losing, long-term
winning or short-term winning,
long-term losing.