The Socceroos Blueprint - Is Holger really to blame and are we stuck with Lucas Neill?

 

 

Believe it or not last month’s 6-0 loss to Brazil isn’t the first time we’ve lost to the Samba Kings by such a margin.

Brazil trounced the Socceroos by the same score back in 1997 in the Confederations Cup Final, where the Socceroos side contained named such as Bosnich, Tobin, Lazaridis, Vidmar, Foster, Zelic, Slater, Kewell, and Viduka.

All names I’d love to still have around today.

As much as I was frustrated by the decisions Holger Osieck made, I think he has been thrown under the bus in a way, given the position we find ourselves in on the world stage is really a sign of the times.

Our youth sides have been poor over recent World Cups; we didn’t make the Olympics in 2012 and we have just one player playing in a top league.

Back in 2005, Kewell, Cahill, Neill and co were flying the flag in the Premier League, Bresciano and Grella in Serie A and Aloisi in La Liga. Today, Mile Jedinak is in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, with the other Socceroos dotted throughout the UAE, Korea, Japan, MLS and A-League.

Many have been crying for a youth policy and for the Socceroos to usher in the next generation, but much of the talent have stunted their development with poor moves overseas.

Tom Rogic sits on the bench for Celtic each week, whilst Mustafa Amini plays in the third tier of German football with the Borussia Dortmund reserves. Nathan Burns has been in the wilderness for years, as has Matthew Spiranovic, both of which have recently returned to the A-League alongside names such as Djite, Zullo, Vidosic (gone again), Babalj, and Behich who all have moved abroad, only to return soon after and lose any momentum gained due to a lack of action.  

The reason Holger Osieck selected the squad of players he did is because he clearly did not feel the younger players were up to it, and although I do not entirely agree with that, you have to say they certainly haven’t helped their cause.

Holger has also been criticised for not looking towards the future during his recent tenure but it’s no real surprise given the way the FFA structured his deal.

 Holger’s main objective was to ensure World Cup qualification, which he did.

The Socceroos qualification for Brazil triggered a bonus in his contract and Holger would have received another if he managed to guide the Socceroos out of the group stage.

Now the way these bonus payments are structured is pretty conventional but it is a factor in the way Holger selected and prepared his sides. Holger prepared the best squad that he thought would assure qualification and progression through the group stage of the World Cup.

People are saying his view was too short sighted, but he was only doing what was outlined in his contract and for which he was to be heavily rewarded financially.

There is plenty of doom and gloom about regarding the Socceroos but the position we find ourselves is not too dissimilar to the one in which we found ourselves back in 2005.

Australia went to the Confederations Cup and lost every game.

The Socceroos lost 4-3 to Germany, 4-2 to Argentina and 2-0 to Tunisia, which led to Frank Farina getting the axe and the FFA turning to Guus Hiddink.

I don’t have to go into detail over what happened next but the argument is simple. The squad which saw Frank Farina fired was the same squad that would seal qualification under Hiddink and almost stun the eventual World Champions in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Hiddink brought in the odd player but the bulk of the squad stayed the same and I believe the next Socceroos manager only needs to follow the example.

Hiddink brought the Socceroos of 2005 structure, organisation and a bit of belief and I feel that is all that is lacking with our current crop. There is no question some tinkering must be done, but I cannot see too many players coming in from outside the current squad. Some of the fringe players will be given more prominent roles, but many of those Socceroos that fell to Brazil and France will take their place in June 2014.

There are areas on the field where the Socceroos are clearly lacking and that needs to be fixed up urgently.

Much of the finger pointing from both defeats has been towards Socceroos captain Lucas Neill and whilst to be fair he is not the sole culprit, I have been calling for his head since the 4-0 loss to Germany back in 2010.

Neill was slow then and almost four years later, we haven’t seen much improvement.

Now, Holger is not an idiot, he is watching the same matches as everyone and obviously he feels Lucas brings something extra to the team. He is the most experienced option we have, having played 94 times for the Socceroos, and maybe Holger felt the fact he isn’t overawed by the big stage as key, not to mention his leadership.

Neill has survived up until now for a couple of reasons, one being the fact that the Socceroos have until recently got the desired results and sealed qualification for Brazil. Secondly, who exactly do we turn to if Neill is shown the door? The Socceroos are devoid of any real experienced centre halves with the likes of Rhys Williams, Robbie Cornthwaite and Jason Davidson having just 21 caps between them. Other contenders include the likes of Curtis Good, who is yet to be capped and you’d have to think on recent form someone like Matthew Spiranovic is firmly off the international radar.

You can see now why Neill has survived this long. The question that needs to be asked now is what’s more of a liability- Taking Lucas Neill to the World Cup or a younger option who has just six games to get up to speed before the tournament begins.

One thing the Socceroos must do is change their structure and revert back to the two midfield “screeners” adopted by Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek. Australia clearly has a weakness at the back and this formation does counter this. It may not be the easiest on the eye, but it does ensure results, something that is important in tournament football like the World Cup.

Another area where the Socceroos are lacking is creatively. They didn’t have a single shot on target against France and had just two against Brazil. Hardly surprising when you lose by 6-0, but the Socceroos have struggled going forward in recent times, as shown throughout the qualification stages.

The Socceroos still do not have a striker they can rely on and Holger tried several throughout the campaign, including Alex Brosque, Archie Thompson, Josh Kennedy and Dario Vidosic. The best option for me is to play Tim Cahill as a striker, given his knack of finding the net. I feel Cahill serves to team best as a striker as I do not feel Cahill is the player he once was and we are better served creatively with someone like Tom Rogic in the no.10 role.

Cahill is still deserving of a place in the Socceroos side and has a high work rate and will press from the front. The Socceroos are certainly not flush with options up forward and he has saved our bacon countless times, ensuring he must have a place.

As mentioned I believe Rogic should become the player in behind and although not playing regularly at Celtic, he has shown promise in his short cameos with the Socceroos. Another option at No.10 could be Robbie Kruse, as I feel he is Australia’s most dangerous attacking weapon and naturally you want to give him as much of the ball as possible. However there is a lack of options to fill Kruse’s role on the right hand side of midfield and a Rogic-Kruse-Oar combination certainly strengthens the Socceroos attack.

As mentioned earlier the Socceroos must adopt two holding midfielders like previous campaigns and Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan are my first choice to hold those places. Jedinak is performing solidly for Crystal Palace and Milligan was a revelation in this role throughout the final World Cup qualifiers.

This means Mark Bresciano and Brett Holman move to the periphery, but both have underperformed in recent matches and I feel do not offer enough when played out of their natural positions. Both are probably best suited as attacking midfielders and with the future in mind, Rogic wins the race for that role.

The biggest conundrum for any new manager is the back four and as mentioned above, I’m not the biggest fan of Lucas Neill, but who fills the void, given most options are so inexperienced and we have so little time until the World Cup.

David Carney and Luke Wilkshire have also been poor in recent times and again continue to survive given a lack of any real alternatives. Players such as Michael Zullo and Aziz Behich should be pressuring for the left back role, but how sold are we on both at the top international level. Both still have a lot to prove.

We can’t discount a guy like Shane Lowry either, who has struggled for a look in under Holger. Perhaps the new Socceroos boss will open the door for several who have seemingly had their cards marked in days past.

 Whatever is decided and however gets the Socceroos job, they have just six games to turn things around before the World Cup begins.

Australia played some stunning football throughout the Asian Cup in 2011, and two years later they are playing some of their worst.

In the middle of all of it I still feel the performances of 2011 are possible, but some tough decisions need to be made. Whoever the new manager decides to turn to must be given confidence and we need to understand that there is really no quick fix.

There’s no guarantee results will improve, but I’ve learnt a valuable lesson in my time covering sport.

Never write off the Aussies.

Adam Santarossa

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa

 

 



Why the arrival of Sugar Shane doesn't taste so sweet

 

 

Danny Green thought his crushing win over Roy Jones would launch him into some mega fights in the US.

His next two fights were against Manny Siaca and Paul Briggs, which eventually led to a shot at Antonio Tarver, which was just his second fight in three years.

The reason – The Boxing world knew Jones was done and that the win meant nothing in the larger scheme of things.

Now Anthony Mundine will bring the next superstar to our shores in “Sugar” Shane Mosley. A man who is guaranteed a place in the Hall of Fame, with two victories over Oscar De La Hoya and a World Champion across three weight divisions.

There is no denying Mosley is one of the biggest names this country will have ever seen, but Mosley is well past his prime.

Sure his recent resume makes good reading. Fights with Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez case in point. But looking beyond the names and having seen each fight, Mosley was never in the contest.

Sure he had Mayweather in trouble for a round in their fight, but he didn’t come close to winning another round thereafter.  It was a complete shutout in the Pacquiao fight and whilst he showed heart against Alvarez, it was again largely one sided.

The fact is he was won only one fight in his last five, with a draw against The Contender winner Sergio Mora separating three straight losses.

His only win in those five came in his last fight against Pablo Cesar Cano, who at 26-2 is reputable, but not yet world class.

There’s a similar angle being played here to the one used in the build-up to the Green-Jones fight. Jones defeated an equally done Jeff Lacy to setup the Green bout, with the marketers now able to say that Jones was back.

Lacy in his day was real quality, but after being destroyed by Joe Calzaghe, he rode a steady ride to oblivion. The Super Middleweight fought Jones at Cruiserweight, with Lacy adding the extra mass at the Hot Dog stand and not in the gym. Jones was too fast and looked good in the process, but as we saw in his fight against Green it was all smoke and mirrors.

I wrote in my preview of that Green-Jones fight that you’d have to question the willingness of an aged fighter to get into a war, when they are already guaranteed $1-2 million before stepping in the ring. Why hurt yourself for good when the cheque is as good as cashed?

Mosley’s fights have taken a similar trend in recent times, with the fighter seemingly more interested in self preservation than actually winning.

It isn’t just the Boxing world saying these things; Sugar Shane even decided so himself, retiring earlier this year, before the Mundine offer tempted him out of retirement with a nice big superannuation cheque to go along with it.

A Mundine v Mosley fight will do good business, simply because Mosley still remains a name. The fact Mosley has continued to fight for the last two years despite everyone telling him to give the game away is based on that very fact.

Mosley will sell tickets, something Anthony “The Man” Mundine has never struggled doing either. But Mundine has always been criticised of taking the easy options in his quest for world domination and his decision to take this fight over others will again give writers like me ammunition.

It wasn’t long ago that Mundine turned down the chance to fight Austin Trout for a shot at Miguel Cotto, despite being the WBA No.2 and Trout No.1. Trout would not only go on to defeat Cotto but walk into a fight with Canelo Alvarez, two fights that Mundine has filled newspapers talking about for the past few years.

The easiest way to get noticed in boxing is to pick the hardest fight possible and make a statement. Sometimes your risk will pay off like it did for Daniel Geale, who walked into Germany twice and won and could now be just a fight away from a Middleweight superfight.

 Mundine v Mosley will sell tickets and do well on PPV, and truth be told, I will most likely buy it, but I did buy Fenech v Nelson 3!

The fact is a Mundine win will not do anything more than line his pockets. His credibility won’t rise and neither Alvarez, Mayweather nor Pacquiao will come knocking at his door.

Boxing fans know where Mosley sits in the current scheme of things and it’s the same place Roy Jones sat in 2009.

I’ve seen the story before and I know its ending.

The winner will use the victory to try and make as much noise as possible in the days and months following the fight in the hope that another payday will land in their lap.

 They'll proclaim that they are ready for the biggest and baddest that the boxing world has to offer.

But the best won’t come, because the best left both “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Anthony “The Man” Mundine a long time ago.

Follow Adam on Twitter at - @adamsantarossa

Barker no easy deal for Geale

 

 

Unlike some recent Australian Boxing World Champions no one can accuse Daniel Geale of handpicking his opponents.

Fresh from wins over Sebastian Sylvester and Felix Sturm in Germany and a comprehensive win over Anthony Mundine earlier this year, Geale has decided to take on America and has chosen the toughest opponent imaginable.

“Dazzling” Darren Barker is the man who will stand in the opposite corner from Geale in Atlantic City, with the Englishman looking to prove that he can exist at the elite level of the Middleweight division.

Barker pushed Middleweight King Sergio Martinez all the way in October 2011, despite finally being stopped in the 11^th round.

Barker has bounced back from that defeat with two consecutive wins, and although both Simone Rotolo and Kerry Hope aren't notable in the Middleweight rankings, the way Barker disposed both shows he can be a force. But lose to Geale on Sunday and his cards will be marked and it will be unlikely we will see him on a similar stage anytime soon.

Despite being Champion, Geale still has a point to prove.

 Still largely unknown on the US scene, Geale is hoping an impressive display against Barker will prompt a fight with the heavyweights of the division.

Currently Geale is seen as the least marketable of the Middleweight champions, with Martinez and WBA Champion Gennady Golovkin seemingly on a collision course to fight in the very near future.  

Martinez has reigned in the division for a number of years and Golovkin has been knocking out anything with a pulse in recent time. Geale has stated he will have no issues stepping in with either, but we all know the only thing that guarantees these fights is dollars at the end of the day.

Frankly at this time, not enough people are aware of Geale and his talent to tempt Martinez or Golovkin into the ring with the Australian champ, with the Barker fight the first step to rectifying that.

WBO Champion, Dmitry Pirog may be next in line for Geale, with a second World Title perhaps a further selling point for promoters, fans and potential opponents alike.

 But there are also the ongoing proceedings around current IBF mandatory, Sam Soliman.

The Australian was meant to fight Geale earlier this year, before that fight was scrapped after it was announced that Soliman failed a post-fight drugs test, only for Soliman to be later cleared.

Even a fight with Julio Cesar Chavez could be in the works, with Chavez looking to restore his pride after being suspended for testing positive to Marijuana after his fight with Martinez. Despite being a lacklustre affair for all but the final round, a rematch between the two was set before Chavez’s drug ban, so a fight with Geale might get Chavez quickly back in the mix.

But all the speculation on the future is wasted unless Geale gets past Barker in Atlantic City, which will be no easy task.

Barker and Geale both fight in the same style, with each taking an all action approach, fighting each round bell to bell. Barker has power in both hands and is equally adept at fighting at a distance and can also mix it up in close. Barker is a skilled technician who uses his angles well, and like Geale uses his jab to put his combinations together. Not a single punch thrown by either is wasted.

The styles of both fighters are so similar and it will be interesting to see how Geale settles given the fight will be his first in the US and with so much on the line. In his fights with Sturm and Mundine, Geale has started on fire and it allowed him to dictate the terms from the word go. Geale’s work rate is superior to anyone in the division and that may just be what gives him the edge.

He showed no fear in his two fights in Germany, but this time the pressure is squarely all on his shoulders.

The task isn’t just to retain the IBF Middleweight Champion but prove to the world that he is in fact the Real Deal.

THE PREDICTION – GEALE by decision

THE BET - Whilst Barker will go into the fight the outsider, for those wanting to have a bet I’d consider putting a lazy $5 on the draw at $21. That’s how close I feel this fight could be.

Follow Adam Santarossa on Twitter - @adamsantarossa



Why the banning of the biff is serious business

 

Now we have had huge debate for the past few weeks about a banning of the “biff” in State of Origin. We've had NRL players, fans and legends of the code come out and say the game has gone soft, but all of them have a short sighted view, and simply do not understand the bigger picture and the changing climate in which the game now operates.

We must remember that the NRL is no longer just a sport, but a business, and a billion dollar business at that.

As a result the game has corporate interests it must protect and it must counter a push from the AFL, which has dramatically cleaned up it’s code in recent years.

In junior participation numbers, rugby league is behind both AFL and Football, and perhaps harshly continues to be levied with the “dangerous” tag.

The debate surrounding the removal of the shoulder charge and the “biff” is similar to when the AFL outlawed the “shirtfront” or sling tackle. People said it was a softening of the game, but the line was drawn. If you made contact with the head, you paid the price. Suspensions of 6, 8, 10 weeks were handed down, and the message was quickly received loud and clear.

Think of the last time you saw a punch thrown in the AFL. Barry Hall on Brent Staker, probably comes to mind, maybe even Matt Scarlett on Hayden Ballantyne, if you get technical. But both offenders were dealt with by the tribunal and spent weeks on the sidelines.

Paul Gallen unleashes a barrage of punches, gets suspended for a week, and complains.

The NRL needed to show that his actions are not acceptable and if you step out of line, a punishment must be served.

The NRL is a billion dollar industry now. It no longer has a single obligation to players and fans, but it now must consider government and corporate interests.

Sponsors such as Holden and Telstra pay millions of dollars to be associated with the game, and through this they not only sign up for the good but the bad. By their association any hits to the NRL’s brand, directly affect them.

With every image of Origin players splashed across the media exchanging punches, comes a Holden , VB, GIO, or XXXX State of Origin logo on each player’s jersey, a privilege that the company has paid millions to own.

People were furious on talkback radio over the severity of the punishment levied at New South Wales forward James Tamou.

People said the $20,000 fine was too severe and that he should be treated like a regular citizen and remain innocent until proven guilty.

But Tamou is not a “regular citizen”. He is a player on around $400,000-$500,000 a season. $20,000 is a small price to pay, considering he was four times over the legal limit, not to mention driving unlicensed, a crime in which he is a repeat offender.

It has been reported that Tamou was driving a sponsored vehicle at the time of his arrest, given to him by the Cowboys major sponsor, Toyota.

What some people do not consider is the fact that every sponsor of the Cowboys would have clauses written into their contracts that they can walk away if they feel the integrity of their brand has been blemished by the action of the club or players.

A major sponsor of an NRL side could be paying between $500,000-$1 million per season and if that sponsor chooses to walk away as a result of an incident like Tamou, then the club’s financial security is placed in jeopardy.

$20,000 is a fair punishment in my eyes.

You have to remember that there are several clubs in the NRL without a major sponsor, and long gone are the days when leagues clubs were the main source of funds.

The most important thing to remember in all of this is who exactly pays the bills – sponsors.

The $500,000 plus that a major sponsor pays per season is what goes towards paying the salary of players like Tamou.

Some clubs in the NRL have an inability to spend the full extent of their salary cap due to a lack of revenue, through sponsorship shortfall. It is imperative that clubs not only hold their sponsors but attract more lucrative deals year upon year.

This is why clubs are spending more and more time in the community, increasing the value of their brand. It is no longer all about getting the two points on the weekend. Good deeds on the field on Sunday will no longer paper over the bad deeds in Monday’s paper.

Sponsors are paying big dollars and don’t want their product being portrayed in the wrong light.

A clean image sells better and revenue doesn’t simply grow on trees.

Scandal affects the NRL in the same way it affects the share price of major organisations around the world. As a result the value falls and potential investors shy away.

Look at Cricket Australia and Swimming Australia in recent times. For so long, blue chip stocks in the Australian sporting climate, they now both seemingly have fallen well down the pecking order in the sponsorship stakes.

Sure, Cricket Australia just signed a significant TV deal, but there is substantial discontent around the national side at the moment and the baggy green brand has certainly seen better days.

As sport becomes more corporate, it must be run like the billion dollar business that it is.

This is why a banker such as NRL boss David Smith now sits in the top job.

It’s no longer all about the Rugby League, but corporate image, dollars and most importantly sense.

Adam Santarossa

Follow Adam on Twitter at @adamsantarossa

How Holger gets the Socceroos out of the hole

Holger Osieck goes into Tuesday night’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Japan, needing a result, not only for the Socceroos ailing World Cup campaign, but with talk around in the press this week that his future may hang in the balance, it will be an important 90 minutes in Saitama.

Holger had had his critics, but he is not helped largely by the players at his disposal. The Socceroos are an ageing list that was one of the oldest at the last World Cup. Four years on and many of those names from 2010 remain, coupled with a younger generation whose development has been hindered by poor career moves, which have stalled their development.

Holger goes into the three biggest games of his tenure plagued with problems; let’s get into some of them.

Formation

Whilst Pim Verbeek wasn’t exactly popular with everyone in his time as Socceroos manager, he is fastly gaining more and more respect, given how easily in retrospect the Socceroos qualified for the last World Cup.

Whilst the style of football he played was well known for being largely unattractive, it did manage results.

It wasn’t the most attacking style and didn’t conjure tons of goals, but his “anchor” system ensured the Socceroos not only held their shape but were hard to break down.

Verbeek’s use of two midfield screeners was effective, and I would like to see Holger adopt the same approach, especially if he is going to go in with a central pairing of Lucas Neill and Sasa Ognenovski.

The Socceroos have had a tendency to be caught on the break in this campaign due to a lack of pace in our back four and the adoption of this formation will provide more cover for this. We have to remember we are playing tournament football and it is all about results at this point.  

The use of Brett Holman -

The Socceroos can no longer afford to continue playing Brett Holman out of position. Holman is generally being used as a wide player, at times on the left, given the preference to play Tim Cahill in his more natural No.10 role. Sure Cahill is the first name on the Socceroo team sheet but I feel Holman’s performances in recent times should see him claim that position. Cahill will still have a role to play, and that is leading the line.

The Socceroos are currently bereft of a quality striker and although Alex Brosque and Archie Thompson have been used by Oseick as a foil for Cahill, I feel a Cahill-Holman pairing could work.

There is no one else in the Socceroo line-up that can guarantee goals like Cahill and he will make it hard on any defence playing on the last man. I don’t feel the Socceroos will lose any of his potency in making the shift, and if anything the move may even prove to prolong his career, as Holman becomes the terrier chasing down everything, when playing in between the lines.

We all know Cahill’s aerial prowess and he has the ability to hold the ball up well. The move is more designed though to accommodate both better in the same team. It is worthless playing Holman wide as he is simply not a natural wide player and has a tendency to drift centrally, which causes the side to lose its shape.

There is no question both need to be in the side, but Holman is not the answer out wide. I would much prefer Holger turn to Tommy Oar or Matt McKay, who can cause damage in wide areas.

The Age Old Question –

Holger has faced criticism in recent weeks for turning to the older players for the final three matches of this campaign.

But this is certainly no time for risks and of course he is going to go with what’s proven.

Whilst I have long been a critic of Lucas Neill and his lack of speed, no one has really stood up and done the job in his absence and his partnership with Sasa Ognenovski has been relatively solid.

 I would be pushing for the inclusion of Mark Milligan, who always seems to lift when pulling on the Socceroo jersey, and can be deployed in either a holding midfield or further defensive role.

Holger’s job security relies on results and this is not the time to roll the dice. Sure I would have loved to have seen more youth involved in the last four years, but you get the sense that Holger just doesn’t think the younger players are up to it.

You have to agree that the next generation aren’t exactly doing themselves any favours. Most have made silly career moves which have hindered their development as they make moves to Europe that has seen them confined to the reserves team or the bench. Instead of playing each week in the A-League, many have decided to chase the riches on offer in Europe, which frankly across the board have not transpired.

Matthew Leckie and Mustafa Amini are two examples, who were in the frame for selection before their moves overseas, only for both to slip off the radar in recent times. James Holland is another who has slipped well back following years wasted in the reserves in the Netherlands, but is starting to get his act together in recent times playing regularly in Austria, where his side won the league.

 Dario Vidosic is another who showed so much promise, and finds himself back in the A-League, whilst names like Matthew Spiranovic, Nathan Burns, Nikita Rukavysta, and others have simply failed to kick on.

Tommy Oar, Tom Rogic and Robbie Kruse are perhaps the exception, but even Rogic has been a bit part player since moving to Celtic, which may prevent Holger from using him here.  I expect him to feature more regularly next season.

Players on the pine –

Holger Osieck looks at his squad and finds many players who are not playing regularly for their clubs.

Brett Holman has been seeing very limited game time at Aston Villa, whilst Captain Lucas Neill doesn’t have a club. Some of the A-League players haven’t played a competitive game for months and many others are bit part players at best.  

Harry Kewell –

One thing Holger has done right in recent weeks is not include Harry Kewell in the squad for these qualifiers. If Harry believes three games in the space of twelve months gives him any hope of playing some part in these qualifiers then he is sadly mistaken. Gone are the days when Kewell’s name found its way into the side simply on reputation.

Kewell has been on a steady decline since his move to Galatasaray and although he showed glimpses in his time in the A-League with Melbourne Victory, his form was underwhelming.

Whilst admirably Kewell had to make the move back to England to care for his wife’s mother, I find it hard to believe that he was unable to secure a club for the past twelve months. Now sure, Kewell may not quite have the ability to go with the best in the English Premier League anymore, but I feel he would have proven a handy signing for a club in the English Championship or League One.

Edgar Davids is still trotting around in League Two with Barnet, so I’m confident he could have found a place at some club, however reports of Kewell not being able to agree on wage demands and not wanting to drop down to the English Championship, prove either Kewell has been seriously misadvised or his ego is again getting in the way.

If Kewell really did want to play a part in the next World Cup then he would have found a way. Spending 12 months out of the game isn’t exactly going to help your fitness, sharpness or attractiveness at transfer time now is it.

Whilst Kewell seems to have come around and decided to join the Melbourne Heart for next A-League season, at minimal wage, you have to ask the question what was stopping Kewell from making a similar move at the back end of last season, like Lucas Neill.

I’m not prepared to say Kewell has no place in the Socceroos squad, all I’m saying is he must earn it. If he can recapture the form he showed at the last Asian Cup, then he should be considered, but until then he needs to prove to everyone he is worthy.

 Japan

Japan is one of the most improved sides in world football and I have them as genuine dark horses for the World Cup. Now, a long shot at lifting the trophy, they will certainly be in the mix come quarter finals stage for mine. They are the stand out team in Asia at the moment and have had some big wins over some of the World best in the last twelve months.

Whilst Australia are looking for three points in Saitama, I would happily take one, which sets the Socceroos up for two must win games against Jordan and Iraq in Australia, and really if you cannot beat either then you do not deserve to go to the World Cup.

SANTAROSSA’s SOCCEROOS (if all available) – Schwarzer, Wilshere, Neill, Sasa, McKay, Oar, Valeri, Jedinak, Kruse, Holman, Cahill

ADAM SANTAROSSA

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa

Mayweather-Alvarez: Boxing finally shows some sense, proving it's not all about money

 

 

Floyd Mayweather announced to the world today, via Instagram, that he would give boxing fans what they wanted and he would take on Saul Alvarez on September 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

You have to commend Mayweather, as he has taken the most dangerous fighter possible and the man who many feel will eventually take over his crown, as the king of boxing, once “Money” Mayweather decides to hang up the gloves.

But you have to wonder if the decision to take on Alvarez has come too quickly, and if the young star is indeed ready.

Alvarez has certainly done the rounds, that’s no question.

 He is 22 years old, yet has a record of 42-0, which is what happens when you turn professional at the age of 14. Mayweather is 36 and is 44-0.

But Canelo only really has two notable names on his record, Shane Mosley and Austin Trout.  Sure Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore Ndou have been vanquished also, but in my opinion the record still lacks a few more big scalps.

Mayweather has Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Zab Judah, etc.

The Mayweather-Alvarez fight is still going to make money and do big business for all involved, but with some patience the fight could have been even bigger.

Alvarez is obviously a star in the world of boxing, but I don’t know how prominent he has become on the radar of casual sports fans. With the boxing world swept up in the whole Mayweather-Pacquiao saga for the last five years, the deeds of the likes of Alvarez have gone unnoticed on the grander scale.  Another couple of notable names on the record of Alvarez and another couple of tidy defences for Mayweather and suddenly the fight is worth that little bit more.

From a business perspective too, it’s strange to see this fight happen now. Mayweather still has five fights remaining on his mega deal with Showtime, and given he has dispatched nearly every credible challenger, who looms on his radar if he does get past Alvarez?

Sure there’s still the Pacquiao fight, but there’s no doubt the question of “who’s better” has already been answered given their recent performances. Juan Manuel Marquez was soundly beaten by Mayweather a few years ago, and Tim Bradley still has things to prove at the elite level.

I thought Mayweather-Alvarez would be one of the final fights in the Showtime deal, that way in a perfect world, assuming Mayweather defeats Alvarez, Mayweather could roll into the sunset having defeated anyone and everyone, whilst Alvarez is showcased to the world, in what would be by that time, a “superfight”, and would become a symbolic passing of the torch, with Alvarez assuming the pound for pound mantle from Mayweather, even in defeat.

But now if Alvarez does fall to Mayweather on September 14, Mayweather will then have to fill three fights, already having beaten the strongest challenger there is out there. Whilst Alvarez comes away from the fight with his marketability dented as well, which for promoters is a loss-loss.

As a boxing fan though, I’m more than happy to see these two go toe-to-toe, with the most dangerous fighter on the planet going up against, simply the best fighter on the planet. Alvarez’s aggression and fast hands, against Mayweather’s defensive gifts and silky skills, is mouth-watering.    

Full credit must be given to Mayweather again for taking the fight at Junior Middleweight. Mayweather was on the record following his defeat of Miguel Cotto that he did not feel entirely comfortable at the weight, preferring to campaign at Welterweight. He felt Cotto was stronger and better suited, and there is no question that that advantage will go to Alvarez in this fight.

Alvarez was impressive in getting past the previously undefeated Austin Trout, who also is a “big” junior middleweight. Mayweather could have dug his heels in and made Alvarez drop to the welterweight limit, or indeed set an agreed weight, but Mayweather is ensuring that there are no reasons for his detractors to criticise.

The perfect scenario for Alvarez and his promoters, Golden Boy is of course an Alvarez win, but as good as he is, I still think at 22, he is still some fights short of being able to beat Mayweather.

Neither fighter has really been in a war, or had that single fight on their resume that defines them. Ali, Frazier, Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, all have a fight you can point to and say it is what made them great.

This could well be the fight that they point too when they discuss the names Mayweather and Alvarez in years to come.

Having seen boxing languish behind promoters marketing fighters and creating “the story”, in order to generate the most revenue from fights, it’s refreshing to see this fight being made.

Future box office earnings may take a hit, but both have come back to what the whole sport is entirely about. Two fighters lacing them up, to find out who is the best.

The two best fighters on the planet will stand in the ring and go toe-to-toe on September 14, with the world watching.

I can’t wait...and that’s how boxing should be.

Adam Santarossa

Follow Adam on Twitter at - @adamsantarossa

Mayweather v Guerrero Preview - "It's May Day for Guerrero"

 

 

Most men who leave jail worry where their next pay cheque will come from, but Floyd “Money” Mayweather is not like most men.

Mayweather walked from a two month spell in prison into a $100 million dollar four fight deal with Showtime, which makes him the highest paid athlete in sports.

The 36-year-old plans for four fights in 30 months before walking off into the sunset to a life of promoting, music producing and whatever else he desires.

But as his long time adversary and once rival for the pound for pound title, Manny Pacquiao knows even the most bulletproof of plans can come unstuck in the world of Boxing.

Cotto, Ortiz, Mosley, Marquez, Hatton and De La Hoya all said they were the fighters who would end the run of Floyd “Money” Mayweather, yet he remains unstopped at 43-0, with Robert Guerrero the latest in line to stop the fastest hands, and mouth in the business.

Guerrero is a five-time World Champion across four weight divisions and has some handy names on his resume. Australia’s own Michael Katsidis, Vicente Escobedo, Joel Casamayor and Andre Berto the biggest, but it will still be a herculean effort to stop Mayweather.

But Guerrero only needs to look at Tim Bradley for evidence that it can be done. Bradley defeated Manny Pacquiao although controversially last year, when everyone thought a Pacquiao win was fait accompli.

Guerrero can bang that’s no question, but laying a glove on Mayweather is another thing all together. The best defensive fighter we’ve seen for a long time, Mayweather may not often leave opponents on their back, but has bludgeoned some of the biggest names of the sport with wide point’s victories. Leaving many wishing he had put them out of their misery far early with a knockout.

Whilst there was clear evidence of Pacquiao slowing in his recent fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, there is no real suggestion that father time is catching up with Mayweather. His jail term doesn’t seem to have had any real impact on his physical health and despite Mayweather admitting he did receive an unnecessary amount of punishment in his last fight against Miguel Cotto, there is reason for this. Cotto is a future hall of famer and was much more accustomed to the Junior Middleweight Weight Limit they fought at.

Guerrero meets Mayweather at Welterweight, where Floyd has done his best work and seems most comfortable. Guerrero has also bounced around the weight divisions, fighting as a lightweight as recently as September 2011. A fighter with a heavy punch and clear knockout power at the lighter weights, that power seems to have been negated through his rise up the weight classes, with Guerrero not possessing a knockout in his last five fights or at all at Welterweight.

Being a Southpaw, Guerrero will come at Mayweather with angles he is not all too familiar having only fought a handful of lefties in his career,  but if Mayweather uses his hand speed and silky skills and fights at a distance, I see no reason it won’t be another victory for Floyd.

Boxing needs a Mayweather victory, now more than ever the sport needs a marquee name on everyone’s lips. A quarter million people will be in town for this fight and it will generate over $100 million dollars in revenue to the city of Las Vegas, and they are all to see one man.

Mayweather will earn $32 million dollars just for lacing up the gloves, and even more money when his slice of the Pay Per View revenue is calculated. Guerrero will earn $3 million, a career high.

With this fight being fight one of a four fight deal, potential opponents are being sought as marquee names continue to drift of the boxing map.

Pacquaio,Cotto, Mosley, Hatton, Margarito, etc are no longer as marketable and the likes of Alvarez, Trout and Bradley don’t yet feel ready to take over Mayweather’s mantle. 

A potential fight with Pacquaio has been hurt given the Pilipino fighter losing his last two fights ( should have been three), and although the fight would still do good business, it would pale in comparison to what it might have been. Looking at it from a Risk v Reward scheme of things, if Mayweather was tentative to take the fight previously when figures of $100 million were offered, both fighters would stand to earn far less if the fight was made now.

Boxing seems to be building to an eventual Floyd Mayweather v Saul Alvarez super fight, but with Alvarez still only 22 and is still yet to have a real “Marquee” name on his kill list, despite looking impressive recently against Austin Trout. Golden Boy Promotions and Boxing may not want to burn their future star before he is ready.

If anything I see a Mayweather v Alvarez fight as the final fight of the four fight deal, but questions remain as to who Mayweather will step in the ring with if he defeats Guerrero.

Tim Bradley, Austin Trout, Juan Manuel Marquez, Amir Khan all should keep the money rolling in and remain credible opponents, but can any really trump Mayweather.

Robert Guerrero stands in the perfect position to send all future plans down the drain with an upset win on Sunday, and stop the search for Boxing’s next superstar, but in a city where the house always wins, sometimes you’re on a hiding to nothing.

Prediction – Mayweather by decision

Follow Adam on Twitter - @adamsantarossa