What is really happening in the A-League??? Part 1
We all know that recently promoted Collingwood FC is top of the standing and looking good, that big club Alcoholics Utd are in a bit of trouble and slipping down the ranks, and that Chemango United is also looking like putting up a battle for top spot. But what is really happening? How are the managers coping with the stress of managing an A-League club? Are there any new rivalries breaking out? What is being said?
In this article I will cover what has been said in the forums and Press Announcements.
Lets start with halfway season leaders; Collingwood FC. How is he feeling sitting top of the A-League standings? Is he getting cocky/ arrogant? Is he surprised about his position, or was it a long time coming?
We know that he is not getting ahead of himself and he is concentrating on the matches ahead, Quote: “I reiterate we are not even halfway through the season yet and the lads know there’s a long way to go.” “We are sitting top of the A-League but I assure you we wont be getting ahead of ourselves we will be working even harder and trying to improve every week.” But is he getting ahead of himself, maybe following this announcement; Quote: “Amro has declared if his side doesn’t get a ROW spot next season the season will be a failure! From the position we have put ourselves in we will be very disappointed not to finish top 5.” Collingwood is this showing that he is trying to be bold and come out with big predictions/ expectations, trying to be like the older, bigger clubs? Who knows?
Quote: “We know people are waiting for us to slump, well let me tell u we have never been more fired up at Coll FC and we will work even harder than we have been to make sure it doesn’t happen!”
Is he getting arrogant?
Quote; “It’s been a long week with lots of talk, negative press and innuendo regarding our manager and squad. It has only brought the whole football club and fans together and made us stronger!
The boys went out tonight and did the business as we have done all year and will continue to do! I’m proud of everyone of them and there is no other manager in the world I would have running this club!”
Is he out of his league, struggling under the pressures of an A-League club?
We interviewed Collingwood on his thoughts about the A-League, his prospects and how he is coping.
Are you surprised about this position, or was it a long time in the coming?
If I said to you I wasn’t surprised, I’d be lying, I did say from the start we will push for ROW but no! At no stage did I think we would be sitting not only top but 5pts clear…
How are you coping with the stress of been an A-League club?
“Stress? What stress? Lol there is stress in any management position you are in, I have ways of not letting the stress get to me one of those is keep winning!”
When asked if there were any managers that annoyed him, he replied; Quote: No clubs annoy me they can say and do whatever they like… I might lose respect for some mangers but no, no one annoys me, we just continue doing what we have been...
I then asked him what he though of TM Australia, and whether he would it useful, this was his reply;
“I think TM AUSTRALIA is a great site where people can go and read some great articles and catch up on all the goss and happenings in each division not only the A-League, I’m more than happy to help out as much as I can and I think the whole TM Australian community should get behind it!
I for one enjoy reading the articles and also read other division reports as we were all in those lower divisions once and if my experience can help anyone out I’m happy to do so as some managers in the lower divisions may testify to! Keep up the great work guys!”
Thank you Collingwood FC for your time, and we here at TM Australia wish you all the best for your future hopes and dreams.
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Green Tea United is one of the big clubs struggling at the halfway stage of the season. And they are not very happy about it; he is continually thrashing out at leader Collingwood FC. This is what he had to say it his announcement- ‘Does anyone care about Collingwood?’ Quote: “Collingwood may be top of the A League and flying but manager Amro has made no friends in the top Australian league according to respected SBS analyst Les Murray: “One clear indicator is the fact that no one has replied to ANY of his garbage press releases. That shows a total lack of respect which is strange for a club coming first in the league. Perhaps if he stopped repeating the same thing over and over again, the other managers may take him seriously.” ”
There is a BIG rivalry starting up here, GTU just can’t stand not being amongst the favourites (out at 26.00 according to Chemango United tip) and is attempting to tear the other clubs apart. Division 3 club; DynoTiger FC was quick to defend Collingwood after this outburst from GTU, saying; Quote; “I like Amro. I think the reason no one replies to his press reports is most likely because a combination of respect and fear.”
GTU not liking this response was quick to reply; Quote: “It’s funny how the only manager who has so far replied to Amro is that nobody from Division 3.”
Collingwood seemed happy that he had cause a reaction from a big club; Quote: “WOW! LOL I’ve hit a nerve, someone jealous?” Also quick with his words he was able to rip GTU’s comments apart whilst having a good go at the same time; Quote; “U on the other hand ... your press releases are nothing more than nonsense. You ridicule everyone and make outlandish statements” “I would think that most managers take me seriously, yet I can assure you not many take you seriously as you talk nothing but garbage and dribble time and time again”
Then big-headedly stated; “Yet you sit in the relegation zone while I’m top of the league after 16 rounds for the 5th straight week in my 1st season! And that is tearing you up ...and guess what I LOVE IT.... your nothing but a fool for what you said mate and I will never ever show u any respect your a tool buddy!”
Fremantle United summed it up pretty well, saying (in reference to Collingwood’s top table position), Quote: “It also highlights that the lower divisions are getting stronger which is annoying to some 1st division teams.” Also having this advice to Collingwood; Quote: “GTU is good at sucking managers in and he will be laughing at the moment he enjoys a team bighting don’t fall into the trap.”
Then the conversation turned nasty between DynoTiger FC and GTU, after Dyno asked this (just a quick example of the ongoing feud), Quote; “how’s it feel in relegation zone anyway?” And this was his reply; Quote: “A lot better than Division 3.”
The topic seemed to die away for a while but the ever persistent GTU always had something else to add; Quote: “Hahaha Amro – mate you can’t be serious. All I said was no one replies to your press releases – this is a fact and it sounds like you’re wee bit hurt by this lack of respect. Toughen up princess.”
Dyno was not down and out yet! He went back to GTU about the original topic (does anyone care about Collingwood FC?), Quote: "GTWho manager Iwasaki asked a valid question and the answer is a resounding YES. Obviously lots of people care about Collingwood. Looking at the support from all the managers from all divisions he has their respect. No one respects Iwasaki. After his teams poor start to the season he has earned a new nickname around the leagues, they are calling him Iwasackme. He is completely pathetic, tries to talk it up like the big boys and he sits in relegation zone. Haha"
But GTU had found a support in Division 2 club; PSM Riot Squad. Quote: “There's a lot of trash talk coming from lower down division teams about GTU struggling in the 'relegation' zone, but it's easy to call shots like that when they're back in div 3 and 4” “Until Collingwood as been a regular A-League competitor for a couple of seasons (like GTU already has) you can't compare the two managers success”
GTU enjoyed the respect and replied, Quote: “Finally, a bit of life and intelligence outside of the A League. I was getting worried before and was just about to call NASA. PSM and GTU shared an interesting battle back in Division 2.1 – hopefully they can get promoted so we can continue the rivalry.”
Narre Warren North Skill was also able to sum it up well (in reference to the feud between GTU and Dyno), Quote: “I think we have found a case of tall poppy syndrome” We sure do, we sure do.
A very smart GTU had this to say about this growing debate (which is more like an argument), Quote: “Wow 37 responses (now 51) in just over half a day. Only GTU can attract this much controversy. Collingwood may never get this much response in its entire history.”
Jmaerson FC, a division 2 club was clearly getting pissed off with GTU’s antics, with this reply, Quote: “You are so f**king annoying with your poor use of third person. You begin in third person for one sentence before changing straight away to personal abuse and, pretty much, utter crap. EVERY SINGLE TIME. Really highlights your lack of professionalism as a (supposedly) skilled manager.”
Alcoholics Utd (forum Teamster) tried to get a bit of order and humour back into the topic by saying, Quote: “Enough of all this personal attacking each other - How 'bout you put all that energy in to good use and find out what's going wrong with my team this season, and help me get back to winning ways :)
Surely a happy AU makes a happy community :)”
So GTU has rustled a few feathers, in particular the Division 3 clubs (Dyno) and this will be an ongoing theme of the A-League topics while we have a young club on top. This topic can be found at http://trophymanager.com/forum.php?topic=show&show=815222.
And one that note I will end this part of “What is really happening in the A-League? – Part 1” This will be a continued series and in the next part we will cover more of the inside ‘banter’ between A-League clubs, in particular Kuumonica outrage over TM Australia and Melbourne Supremacy’s announcement. Hope you enjoyed the read and remember this is my opinion and feel free to give constructive criticism and support on either TM Australia Topic on TM, or on the sites blog’s. Until next time, see you later.
Written by Simon (wacagrund)
References;
A-League Announcements
PM mail
Interviews/ Previous Interviews
Comments on TM and TM Australia Forums
My personal views
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