Asunto: National Team U21

So some news I wanted to put forward so that it doesn't come at the end of this campaign (where we may be celebrating moving on to the World Cup Group phase), this season (if we don't qualify) or next season, will very likely be my last as U21 NT Coach.

With the coming of our first child next week and having to concentrate on the hustle required to move my career in to the next phase (which could be a 6-10yr commitment), I just won't have the time to continue on as NT coach.
I will still be active in the forums, training youths, everything that a usual club team does, but just not taking on the extra responsibilities associated with the NT coach.

I bring this to the Australian community attention just so you can consider whether you would like to take over the role. All things going well, and what is most likely, this will still be 4 months away before I hang up my hat, so it's no rush for anyone to make a decision.

I find with the use of Sokker Assistente, and until devs bring in the ridiculous only allowing plus NT coaches to see shared skills, it only takes a couple of hours per week to have 95% promising players updated, and then once a month an afternoon going through the players that don't auto update (ie those not in the NT squad and who don't have managers who use Sokker Assistente). I am also able to scout youth pulls, transfers etc. from Aus clubs in that time.

The most time consuming bit can be scouting other teams, their tactics and building tactics to counter, but will some well tested tactics, and knowing which little edit each has, if I run out of time, I can often select a previously used tactic which adequately, but not perfectly, counters the opposition.

Anyway, just keep it in the back of your mind should you wish to take over the role and I'm happy to assist and share thoughts privately, whether it be about running the NT, keeping the community involved, tactical planning, player selection or how to go about giving advice to other managers regarding their players

You’ve done a superb job mate. For me, the importance of the U21 manager is not the results on the field, it’s uniting the community around youth development and you’ve done that perfectly. We now have an active group of managers pulling youths, posting on the forums, and training/selling whereas previously it was really just a couple of managers paying any attention.

Great work, and good luck with the next week and impending ruination of your previously pleasant existence ;)

You’ve done a terrific job in the role to get us to where we are. As agbell has mentioned it’s not the results of a match that matters, it’s how you are able to inspire others to come along for the ride with you. I think you can safely say we’re in a better spot than we’ve ever been from not only an NT perspective but from a community perspective as well. Whenever that times comes it will be tough to come in and keep driving that momentum you had a role in building but that’s a challenge for whoever wants the opportunity. In many ways the u21 side is harder than the senior side because of the constant rotating of players and the quick improvement at that age, however this is offset somewhat by a little more flexibility in tactical options, making the role a challenging but rewarding experience if you are prepared to dedicate the time and resource required.

Your great work has been seen Even international. You Guys will have a hard time finding as dedicated a trainer.

Depends on what you mean by dedication. If you mean dedication plus skill then yes it will be a challenge. Achmid will be difficult to replace. Guess we’ll find out closer to the time if we attract high quality candidates. In the mean time we have a World Cup to qualify for :)

Echoing all that’s been touched on here, & I still don’t know how you manage to fit it in with all that you’ve had going on, G.
I can say I wouldn’t have returned to SK if you hadn’t reached out, & there might be a couple of others who share that sentiment.
Even though my initial intention was to purely act as a youth farm, I soon found myself being dragged back in to the wider club role, thanks to your ongoing engagement & a livelier Oz SK community.

Congrats on the baby, that's great news! Also the job upgrade sounds fascinating. Looking at what you have done here, there's no way you won't handle any new tasks :D
As for the NT leaving part, well, can't see anyone filling your shoes, so basically I think a lottery's coming sometime soon. Can't imagine how anyone would achieve things you have.

Thanks for kind words all, it certainly brings a tear to the eye.

The goal has always been to leave the NT in a better place than which I found it, and I can safely say this has been achieved, but not without all the help and effort provided by everyone in this community

I can't imagine the U21 NT not being managed by you. And definitely not at the same level. It's remarkable what you've been able to accomplish and how you've galvanised the community.

Even if you weren't able to put as much time into it, an hour a week achmid would be a match for a lot of managers.

You deserve a chance to take the team you've cultivated to the WC Finals. And you also deserve a break from Sokker duties, so up to you.

Very exciting times ahead for you.

Well looks like Achmid is running again next season as we’ve qualified again to a World Cup :).

Time to finish the job against Argentina next week to get us a top 2 pot as well. Perfect way to cap the season off if we can do that

Congratulations achmid for this 1st position not easy at all to reach initially !! You are a legend ! Time flies so fast when the baby is born, take every second as possible with your loves. It is magical !!

Thanks all.

It's great to not only have qualified for the World Cup Group Stage, but to have also done it by coming first in the Qualifying stage with 1 round still to play.

And of all the seasons to have done it, with Argentina being one of the strongest rated teams, Senegal outrating us most of the season and Indonesia having a same rating, couldn't be more proud.

And as cometer said, looks like you are with me one more season, which will actually be my 20th season as the u21 coach.

I will try to have everything sorted for next week's Argentina match well in advance as the little one is due on Friday, and the match being Saturday (Australian time)

Hey all,
We made it through qualification in 1st, and to celebrate, I want to have some fun with the team, and let people see their players in action.

As we have a friendly this week, I thought we could have a bit of community involvement.

Anyone who is following the Aus U21 team, put in up to 3 players (in order) that you'd like to see play this week. They don't have to be your players if you don't want.

I will attempt to make sure as many managers as possible have at least one of their selections involved.

Depending on what players we get, I will then fill any gaps with players of my own choosing so that it actually resembles a sokker game.

I’ll nominate this one from my lot (form is good) -

Richard Yang, age: 20
club: Melbourne Mongrels, country: Australia
value : 452 000 AU$, wage: 3 160 AU$
magical [15] form, solid [8] tactical discipline
height: 184 cm, weight: 78.2 kg, BMI: 23.1

solid [8] stamina tragic [0] keeper
solid [8] pace outstanding [12] defender
excellent [10] technique very good [9] playmaker
weak [4] passing average [5] striker

Ill nominate Isaac Munn [39481164], and can I get go know how he developed

Ain't gonna jeopardize result with my player :D