AUFC NAME COACH FOR NEW W-LEAGUE

[adam]

ADELAIDE UNITED FC ANNOUNCES COACH FOR NEW W-LEAGUE

Adelaide United FC has named Michael Barnett as the club’s Women’s Team Coach for Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) new national women’s league, the Westfield W-League.

Barnett is the current coach of local South Australian Super League club MetroStars and has over a decade of coaching experience, which includes two years in charge of the men’s SA State Team.

Adelaide United Director of Football Michael Petrillo said Barnett’s depth of experience and enthusiasm for the role is perfect for the start up of the new competition.

“Mike and Adelaide United have the same philosophy in its commitment to assisting women’s football in this country, being successful at a national level and contributing to the overall growth and profile of the women’s game in Australia,” Petrillo said.

The appointment will be the first time Barnett has coached a women’s team, and he sees the position as an exciting step in his coaching journey.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to further my career as a coach, and also help develop the women’s game to a national level,” Barnett said.

“I can see that the women’s game, with the progress it has made in the past 12 months with the Matilda’s performance at the World Cup, is really ready to explode in this country.”

Barnett will spend the next month identifying talent and compiling a squad, before resuming training ahead of the start of the Westfield W-League Season, which kicks off on October 25.

“There is now a pathway for local players to showcase their talents on a national level so I expect the game to really grow,” Barnett said.

“The next couple of years are going to be really big for the sport, it gives everybody at every club an opportunity to show their wares and I am sure we will unearth some good players around the clubs.”

The new women’s league was formed after a landmark agreement between the FFA and Westfield, and will comprise of a ten round competition (plus finals) with teams from each of the seven Australian Hyundai A-League clubs as well as Canberra.

“I’m really happy to be on board as a coach at the club. I’m sure the women’s Adelaide United team will get the support from the men’s side and it will be another South Australian side that everyone can get behind,” Barnett said.

[guess_who]

[SpazzTic]

WOAH..

[ARodgers]

Wow!! That's a suprise, a quality coach and great asset to the women's game! (I wonder who'll take over at MetroStars??) Hopefully everyone gets behind this first 10 week season and we see it expand in future years!

[adam]

he will still coach metro i would have thought...

[SAD GAL]

Ok

A small yet significant step in the right direction.

[John Cena]

Ok

A small yet significant step in the right direction.

small step are you for real.....its a big step, no longer will average perfomances be acceptable

[E. Grant & Co]

Adelaide United have set the bench mark at a very high level in appointing Mike Barnett, the girls will have to earn their spot in the squad let alone getting a starting position.

It appears that the club does want a winning mentality from the word go, and that is how it should be. If any of the SASI girls are good enough to play at this level then they too should be included. One thing is for certain, in Mike Barnett the club has a person who won't settle for second best, I think we will see a few more surprises between now and the first match of the season.

Well done AUFC and those responsible for making this decision.

[Tottenham Hotspur]

An interesting and very good step in the right direction for womens football in SA. I would imagine that Mike will continue in his role as Metros coach..... guess we will find out on Monday night

[SAD GAL]

Please please please Coyote..Let me be humble...Also, we do not know if the tentacles of valetta rd will extend to the new team. Let me see who the support crew are first up before I crack the champers.

Ok

A small yet significant step in the right direction.

small step are you for real.....its a big step, no longer will average perfomances be acceptable

[E. Grant & Co]

SAD-GIRL > I assume you are referring to SASI and not Fulham, when you refer to the tentacles of Valetta Rd

Do you really think that Mike Barnett won't select the players in the squad to form a team that he will be accountable for and that a team manger or assistant coach is going to pick them for him?

I don't think it will happen that way, sure he will take advice, all good coaches do, then he will make his own mind up and pick who he wants in there. I'm betting there will be a few surprises in the squad.

[Red Tiger]

Well I just want to add that it's great that AUFC is taking this seriously........maybe now we can start to see women's soccer recognised..........and hopefully attract more supporters.......as our girls deserve this.........bout time I say..........wish our W-League SA girls all the best..........let's win it for the state........so that we can proudly say we have successful male & female soccer teams.......United all the way!!

[beaches]

Doubt whether there will be to many surprises initially, especially in the first year. There will be a few after that.

Hope those intending to tryout heeded my suggestion of getting fitter 3 months ago.

The step up into W/ League from Prems will be huge, and whether there are are enough players with the experience, talent and fitness is questionable IMO. Me thinks a few ego's are about to get a jolt.

I hope I am proven wrong.

[E. Grant & Co]

I don't think you will be - just reading some of the threads on here, some of the girls have a very high opinion of them selves and their ability, I suspect they will come up short when they are expected to perform. I can't wait for them to get on here and start criticising the coach or his staff because THEY haven't made the squad.

[paul merson]

It is a great move by Mick and I cant give enough recommendations to those that will be involved with him.
I believe he will still be our gaffer next season as I havent heard any different yet and he is a very honest boss so I'd say he would tell us first.
Great personel manager and will do well with a dedicated bunch.
Great move for AU and great move for Mick just make sure we get him back please!!!

[Leppskiii]

Challenge one..'THEY' would be? why hold back from mentioning names now..when all year names have been thrown around the forum.

Apart from that ..i have a 2nd challenge for all the SASI 'fans' & anyone else out there.
Since ex sasi players are either not good enough or only made sasi and state teams via connections and names (and all the other reasons sasi players have been abused for this year) etc..

name me an 18 woman squad that you would like 2 see as your W-LEAGUE squad..
the catch is.. you can not name anyone who has been in or involved with SASI..
they must be current players that are technically, physically and mentally up to the standard required to play against our current matildas...ill say again CURRENT players...oh and dont forget you can only have 2 players under the age of 16

[E. Grant & Co]

Good question, I can't do it!

I'm sure Billy and SAD-Girl can come up with some, excluding themselves of course.

I'd like to see Di back as a foundation at the back, maybe even Kirsty Moore back from Norway, just a thought.

[gubs]

di lives and works in sydney so forget that option

[Leppskiii]

Di is more of a possibility than u think ..
just to note.. both of them u named had sasi involvement!

[SpazzTic]

Leps i think this is impossible!! I actually cannot think of anyone with NO SASI involvement! Guess ur point is proven

[SAD GAL]

Best players for the job I say. However, I have this sinking feeling that Mick may be seeking the "input" or "advice" of KM. If so, you will have the usual suspects. After all, Mick probably doesn't have a lot of intel about the women's league here is sa? Maybe he does.

So to answer you question re: who should be in, I say run a fair and unbiased selection trial. I'll await to see the selectors and coaching panel before I deem the process fair.

Di? Possibility. Stocco? Isn't Kristy Moore the girl who went o/s coz she wasn't able to make it here in Oz and has been successful? Or was it someone else? In any case, yes. A good choice too.


Valetta rd doesn't refer to fulham. Apologies to fulham.

[E. Grant & Co]

Leppi > Touche' I didn't think it would be possible either but threw those names in as a start.

This is going to be an expensive exercise, time we started to think about who and how we are going to recruit interstate and O/S players, because to be totally honest if we rely only on local players we should not be expecting any great results.

Now that's not to say we can't develop great players in time, we can and will but even the great clubs of the world buy in the best players they can afford, ie Chelsea, Man U or closer to home Metro Stars in the mens league, I know they have the money and the pulling power but it was just an analogy. I hope Adelaide United do the same thing.

Mike is his own man, so will take advice from who ever is appointed by the club, THEN makes up his own mind, and yes of course there will be a selection process.

I wouldn't go so far to say that Kirsty didn't make it over here, think she played for the state and for the national team, but yes now earns a nice income O/S.

[Leppskiii]

So you can't name anyone either Sad Gal?

[guess_who]

So you can't name anyone either Sad Gal?

Ok you've made your point. You win! Is that what you wanted to hear. MOVE ON

[SAD GAL]

Lepskii

Let me be blunt here however I will not name names. I don't know of everyone however what I do know is the many many many good players who because fo circumstance were turned away from trilaing at State and WNSL (aka sensations) because of the skewed selection process.

What are those circumstances ?:

1) believing that sasi players automatically getting selected. Extra spots amounted to only 2 or 3.
2) Believeing that once they were booted out or left sasi they had a snowballs chance of getting in? Makes sense
3) Perception that its a closed shop. Only the favs get in.

I suppose these thoughts about why players do not go out to trial is based on experience.

Who would I name as a player suitable to join in the new team? A player who wants to be there. Who has given herself to the game. Not there for the shiny boots and chasing glory through being part of sasi. Someone who is respected and can play the team game. Basically anyone outside of sasi would meet my criteria. Those players who are the heart and soul of our prems league are my picks. I want players who get in and are hard workers. not prima donnas!

Thh new league is not and should not be confused as the national training program managed by sasi. It must be totally separate so it is not confused. Its not to be used as a conduit for valetta rd to promote his players. They have their own mechanism for that.

This team is for thsoe players who need another chance to make the big time.

[slazenger]

Lepskii

Who would I name as a player suitable to join in the new team? A player who wants to be there. Who has given herself to the game. Not there for the shiny boots and chasing glory through being part of sasi. Someone who is respected and can play the team game. Basically anyone outside of sasi would meet my criteria. Those players who are the heart and soul of our prems league are my picks. I want players who get in and are hard workers. not prima donnas!

Please, give us a few examples. I'm sure I along with others would be interested to see who you are talking about. And don't be afraid to name names, it hasn't stopped you previously, why is it stopping you now??
And are you saying those who have been a part of SASI are only there for the shiny boots and chasing glory?? Because that's what it sounds like. Just be careful what you say and the presumptions you make.

[slazenger]

So you can't name anyone either Sad Gal?

Ok you've made your point. You win! Is that what you wanted to hear. MOVE ON

I think it's about time that someone pointed out that the National League team is going to be made of current SASI players and ex-SASI players, heck no one can name one person who hasn't or isn't involved with SASI so why are you complaining? She has a point and doesn't need to be told to move on, it is all of those who are complaining and criticising the system who need to be told to move on.

Since you're only here to complain, how about you (and SAD GAL) tell us who YOU would like to be in this team and see how the "cookie crumbles" (don't be afraid to use names, it hasn't stopped anyone previously) :
- if those people are selected, you can't complain
- if they aren't selected just wait and see how the other players cope with playing against the other teams - don't assume they won't do well, how can that benefit someone's confidence if all you people do is criticise and lower their ability???

Everyone was so quick to assume the National League wasn't going to happen and now it is and all you can do is assume that the people selected aren't going to be the best people for the job - STOP ASSUMING THE WORST AND BEING SO NEGATIVE! Wait until things are certain! I'm sure people agree with me when I say I'm fed up of listening to all the complaints about women's soccer in South Australia, why don't you get off your computer and do something for the benefit of women's soccer, stop critisising unless you have valid suggestions towards the game.

Oh and another thing, how about YOU move on.

[SAD GAL]

I think you have missed the point. It needs to be a team for everyone.

Names? What for?

[slazenger]

Names - to prove your point that there are players who have not been involved with SASI that are eligible to perform at a National League level.

[Dr.D]

SAD GAL - i think its you who has missed the point.

Your posts make it sound like you are making an assumption that it WON'T be a team for everyone. We get change and you describe it as "small", so at this point I find it hard to imagine you're ever going to be happy with anything that happens.

I think what #Unkown is saying, lets now spell dooms day before it actually happens. If things turn to crap down the track then hammer away with your critisism, but until then keep a lid on it, because its getting really old.

The fact is, most of the top players in SA, are ex-SASI. Are you expecting Barnett to find some diamonds running around in Div 2 or 3???? Hello! If those players were good enough and wanted it enough then they would be playing Reserves or higher already....