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Stuart Thomas is a sports writer, freelance journalist and copywriter who made the jump from Roar Guru to Expert in 2017. A former trainee professional golfer, his sporting passions are broad with particular interests in football, AFL and rugby league. His love of sport is only matched by his passion for gardening and self-sustainability. Follow him on Twitter @stuartthomas72, connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn and see his work at https://www.stuartthomas.com.au
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The last Aussie standing in the singles at the Australian Open is gunning for a maiden quarter-final appearance at Melbourne Park when Alex de…
When Danielle Collins made herself the most hated woman on the grounds of Melbourne Park after defeating Aussie Destanee Aiava, she also brought to…
Round 15 looks like a ripping A-League weekend of action. Adelaide with the chance to take top spot and City looking to stop them in their tracks.
It is rather obvious and wasteful to suggest that the A-League Men possesses a level of unpredictability unseen in most competitions around the globe.…
Two mid-week matches for A-League fans to savour. Western Sydney head to Perth and Sydney take a trip to Wellington.
The Central Coast Mariners head up the highway to face old foes Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and…
Round 13 of the A-League begins, with a Melbourne Derby headlining Friday before Sydney FC take on the champions the following day.
Sadly, football remains something of a farce when it comes to the way the game is officiated.
More mid-week A-League action to savour and a Melbourne Derby on Tuesday night.
After an excellent Day 1, Australia will be looking to build a first innings lead over India on Day 2 - though Jasprit Bumrah…
For the first time, Australia and India battle in a fifth Test, with the two teams arriving at the SCG to determine both the…
Round 12 of the A-League launches into action, with the Macarthur Bulls looking for three points against the Reds.
Western Sydney Wanderers manager Alen Stajcic has given fans of the club something to believe in. After just one finals appearance in seven years,…
The final A-League game of 2024 sees Melbourne City head north to face reigning champions Central Coast Mariners in Gosford. Join The Roar for…
Three New Year A-League fixtures for the panel and fans to grapple with as Round 11 gets underway.
After a wild Day 1, Australia will be hoping to push their score towards 400 against India at the MCG. Join The Roar for…
It was another disastrous week for the panel, the crowd and everyone in the A-League world who continues to have no clue as to…
Teenage debutant Sam Konstas faces the music on the biggest stage of all as Australia face India in front of a sold-out crowd for…
Most pundits had the Phoenix rolling into Sydney on the weekend and knocking off the home side - then impressively, the Wanderers came to life.
The second Melbourne Derby of 2024-25 is upon us, with a Patrick Kisnorbo-less Melbourne Victory hosting their cross-town rivals Melbourne City at AAMI Park.…
I was a bit stunned watching that one. I thought Brisbane might impress and make a statement against City. I think they play again so that will be worth a watch.
Ten teams still in the hunt: Why A-League parity makes it more interesting than anything in Europe
Ooops, sorry for the wrong score there. Typo I think.
Ten teams still in the hunt: Why A-League parity makes it more interesting than anything in Europe
I like Radelaide!
A-League Tipping: Round 13 - City to go top, Sydney host champions in prime time clash
I read that as John Laws and nearly wet my pants. Surely the golden microphone would get in the way?
A-League Tipping: Round 13 - City to go top, Sydney host champions in prime time clash
I’m buying a membership to help them out.
A-League Tipping: Round 10 - A Big Blue to savour, and has Auckland's bubble burst?
I can’t believe the way the tipping data is falling for tonight’s match. Astonishing wave of support for one team.
A-League tipping: Round 8 - Auckland finally on the road, can Jets and Glory avoid implosion?
If I reflect on my coaching of a girls team back only seven years or so, I seriously think I may have crossed the verbal and style line many a time during the two seasons. I certainly would do things differently. Coaches who get it right and stay in the game for long periods, like yourself, deserve much credit. A lot harder than the supporter parents on the sideline think it is.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
Live blog of the CCM v ADL match tonight ladies and gentlemen. Join me at 7.35 (AEST) tonight for what is an important fixture for both teams.
A-League tipping: Round 8 - Auckland finally on the road, can Jets and Glory avoid implosion?
Yep and suggesting a few of them need to belt each other in the head is a bizarre message to be sending. Frankly, he sounded like a grumpy old man without the skills to communicate with the next generation of players.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
Ha ha, “I think this is worth celebrating”. LOL. 😂
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
I fear you are right here.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
Good point about the helicopter parent. Having previously been in private sector education for 20 years, the level to which I saw kids not held accountable and parents sweep in to clean up the mess created by their off-spring was considerable.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
This is a key point and there are examples of a few modern coaches struggling with the change in style and approach expected. Some of that is also protected by law and social expectation. North Melbourne coach David Noble went bananas a few years back and had players in tears. Not because they were soft, but because they had never been spoken to like that before. The idea of those men being soft men is actually quite hilarious.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
Yep, his argument would have to be that soft players aren’t digging in for him and the world has gone that way. However, a few clubs are doing well because they don’t have those soft players, yet the very same players are part of the generation he labelled as soft. It makes no sense.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
Having limited playing stocks, which Stanton clearly has, is one issue. He went into a weird area and poked at all footballers. Pretty silly when we constantly here stories of resilience and fortitude from athletes all around the world on a daily basis. Not so soft in my view, just a little different and protected by laws and expectations that don’t permit some of the nonsense that once went on. He’d probably want those comments back. Interesting about Irankunda and the distraction.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
I totally agree in regards to the generation comment and the new dressing room issue he has now introduced. I enjoy watching coaches lose their stuff in conferences, sometimes can be quite funny. He would regret what he said, it was unhinged in my view and helping no one.
Snowflakes and silver spoons: Jets coach calls out weak A-League players, entire generation – are modern footballers soft?
I was actually referring to the time spent dealing with the rumours and talk, suggesting it is wasted time and energy and the need to deal with Bumrah was far more pressing.
Sadly, Pat Cummins’ team has been more concerned with peripheral issues, having been forced to deny a rift and back each other in spite of failure, heading into a Test match they simply cannot lose.
Not once have I claimed to know there is a schism, rift or divide. I’ve also included the chatter around selection and form that in my view, will have been something of a distraction over an extended period in the lead up to the series.
Hopefully that explanation based on the actual words written is adequate for you.
Aussies need to put aside schism and focus on how they'll combat Bumrah - or it's series over
I think Vaughan would walk out if seated next to the other two. Would be an interesting trio.
Aussies need to put aside schism and focus on how they'll combat Bumrah - or it's series over
Fair, but his numbers against New Zealand and West Indies mask some pretty ordinary ones against most others. Perhaps a little harsh but this series might give us something of a definitive answer as to where is at late in his career.
Aussies need to put aside schism and focus on how they'll combat Bumrah - or it's series over
13 for 150-odd against NZ distorts things a little across such a small sample size. Outside that series the pattern is very different.
Aussies need to put aside schism and focus on how they'll combat Bumrah - or it's series over
The official stadium numbers are the collective from the two matches. If they are trying to ‘sell’ the ones above, they are being completely disingenuous.
In the wake of Unite Round, has the APL learned anything?
Deep breaths Mike, I sense your pain. It was a total disaster, with total attendance around the same as last year, around 47,000 by rough maths. In my view, the game remains trapped between the past and the present, with a need to jettison the former and also understand that a Unite/Magic/Gather round will work if people flood in from far and wide. That is never going to occur with football fans in this country at this point in time.
APL stopped around 15-20 thousand people from attending matches this weekend. Well done to them if that was the aim.
In the wake of Unite Round, has the APL learned anything?
Great weekend of tipping thus far……..seriously! This is appalling, Painful as picking a broken nose.
A-League Tipping: Round 3 - All eyes on Kiwi Clasico, Perth under pressure
Sorry mate, looks like I got your boys again.
A-League Tipping: Round 3 - All eyes on Kiwi Clasico, Perth under pressure
I live by Mr Caine’s words…..”Use the difficulty”, apt for the A-League really.
Ten teams still in the hunt: Why A-League parity makes it more interesting than anything in Europe