In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; Something new for the Sokkahroos Depth Chart; not predicting next month's team but, instead, gazing into the crystal ball and trying to forecast June's World Cup squad The bolters, the injury returners, the stalwarts, and more 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

New from me; Michael Matricciani feels he’s seen a common thread in Melbourne City’s three ALW defeats this season. But he’s confident the two-time defending premiers can solve them before season’s end. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/there-are-... .

I'm losing my mind.

Ya boi is back on Aussie Open duty once more; Alcaraz vs Zverev www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2... .

New from me; Melbourne Victory aren’t taking enough of their chances. To paraphrase Keisuke Honda, it’s a fact. And while you’d rather be missing chances than not creating any, it’s something ALW boss Jeff Hopkins knows can’t be shied away from. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/we-have-to... .

New from me; Wrote this as the introduction for a broader ALW piece. @espnaustralia.bsky.social has been kind enough to run it standalone. Some words on Rado Vidošić; Australian football richer for having had him and poorer now that he’s departed. 🔗: www.espn.com.au/soccer/story... .

New from me; Aurelio Vidmar believes Kai Trewin is a “shoo-in” for the World Cup if he can log regular minutes with New York City FC but that, in loanee Ryan Teague, Melbourne City has a player ready to step up. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/city-turn-... .

In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; Newly installed A-League chief Steve Rosich won't rule out a Canberra men's side or Western United in the 2026-27 season, whilst confirming more than a dozen formal registers of interest in purchasing the Central Coast Mariners. 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

New from me; Melbourne Victory netted four times against Sydney, and if not for the all-seeing eye in the sky, it would have been seven. No wonder Arthur Diles felt it was the best they've ever played under him. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/foursome-v... .

In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; Another Australian is set for a move to the MLS, with Melbourne City defender and #Socceroos World Cup hopeful Kai Trewin set to complete a permanent move to New York City FC, sources have told ESPN. 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

New from me; Aurelio Vidmar forsees Daniel Arzani playing a key role for Melbourne City after the attacker secured a loan move back to the A-League, hoping to mount a late push for World Cup selection. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/vidmar-see... .

New from me; Arthur Diles says Melbourne Victory are content to stand pat throughout the rest of the transfer window, happy with the squad assembled under his charge and focusing on recapturing lost momentum in a Big Blue clash with Sydney FC 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/diles-happ... .

New from me; Melbourne City ultimately took just eight points from a potential 21 during their seven-game homestand but ending it with a comeback win over table-toppers Auckland offers hope of a turning point. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/after-sput... .

New from me; As Socceroo Ryan Teague lands, Melbourne City stands on the precipice of doing something in the A-League Men. Coach Aurelio Vidmar is waiting to see if it’s a surge up the table or an implosion. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/teague-lan... .

Story in ESPN updated to reflect today’s press conference, with quotes from new Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler, chair Anter Isaac, and new ‘executive director of football’ Heather Garriock.

In ESPN; Football Australia's long search for a leader has concluded, after the federation announced on Thursday that former Stan Sport chief Martin Kugeler had been appointed as its next chief executive officer. 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

In @theguardian.com; “Very bold action is needed” - Elise Kellond-Knight. We are less than two months out from the Women’s Asian Cup. And in a new vision for the A-League Women centred around full professionalism, the PFA says it’s a rubicon moment. 🔗: www.theguardian.com/football/202... .

For the first time in 2k26, it's ya boi's ESPN A-Liga Hombres Stock Watch. This time out. 📈 The Box Office Jets go hardboiled 📈 Sydney goes bang 📈Stajcic fights on 📉APL takeovers 📉 Grinta, but one win in six 📉Sokkahroo centrebacks 🤕 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

I'm told that the APL aren't of the mindset to entertain ownership offers that would see the Mariners move away from Gosford. Committed to keeping the team on the coast.

Updated in @ByJDLMedia; Western Sydney has played 12 games this season and, in Alen Stajcic's eyes, their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory was probably their 12th-best performance of the campaign. But the win they secured? "We needed it desperately" 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/wanderers-... .

New from me; Not the prettiest of wins from Western Sydney. But a desperately needed one. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/wanderers-... .

New from me; Melbourne Victory are flying. Western Sydney are not. And yet when the two sides meet this Saturday, Victory is anticipating the toughest test of their season to date.  Oh, and the Vuck have also signed a new striker. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/victory-wa... .

New from me; Melbourne City attacker Medin Memeti will remain available for selection as Football Australia investigates an allegation that the teenager used a racial epithet towards Brisbane Roar attacker Justin Vidić. 🔗: jdlmedia.substack.com/p/memeti-to-... .

New from me; Brisbane's robust reputation precedes them this ALM season, but in desperate need of a win, a Melbourne City side not afraid to get amongst it are welcoming, even relishing, the challenge. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/no-backwar... .

In AAP Sport; Melbourne City boss Aurelio Vidmar says his players need to back themselves to address their goalscoring woes after they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Sydney FC.  🔗: www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/914480... .

In AAP Sport; Relishing regular football as he lights up the A-League Men, Juan Mata says he never doubted his ability to contribute to Melbourne Victory's resurgence, as a showdown with his former side Western Sydney now looms. 🔗: aapnews.aap.com.au/news/mata-th... .

In AAP Sport: Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles believes his players are getting closer to the "best version of themselves" after two assists from Spanish superstar Juan Mata highlighted a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Perth Glory. 🔗: www.theleader.com.au/story/914467... .

New from me; After undertaking a “brutal” review of their 3-1 loss to Perth Glory, Melbourne City boss Aurelio Vidmar says his side knows they’ll need to bring the right attitude if they’re to bounce back against Sydney FC this Saturday. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/hard-truth... .

New from me; After navigating a stop-start beginning to the 2025-26 season, Melbourne City will enter 2026 well placed to surge up the table. But they'll need to deal with frequent rivals Sydney FC first. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/city-eyes-... .

New from me; After winning three straight to end 2026, Victory boss Arthur Diles knows the importance of building on this form in 2026. And that starts with a clash of two hattrick heroes in Nikos Vergos and Perth's Tom Lawrence. 🔗: jdlmedia.substack.com/p/victory-se... .

For AAP Sport; A rampant Melbourne Victory put Wellington Phoenix to the sword and surged into the A-League Men's top six, with a Nikos Vergos hat-trick powering a 5-1 win at AAMI Park. 🔗: www.standard.net.au/story/914281... .

New from me; Perth’s drought-breaking win over Melbourne City at AAMI Park represented another major milestone in Glory's Summer of Love, but also rings out alarm bells for a suddenly miserly City unit. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/glory-brea... .

New from me; Dread it. Run from it. Holly McNarama, and Melbourne City, arrives all the same. 🔗: jdlmedia.substack.com/p/dread-it-r... .

For AAP Sport; Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic insists that his side remain title contenders despite a late, 3-2 loss to Adelaide that leaves them perilously close to the foot of the A-League Men table.  🔗: www.northweststar.com.au/story/914218... .

New in AAP Sport; Luke Vickery has secured Macarthur one of the great A-League Men wins, his 96th-minute strike grabbing the Bulls a madcap 5-4 Boxing Day win over Newcastle. 🔗: www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/914210... .

Mumbai City, who remain in limbo amid the Indian Super League's ongoing crisis, confirm the divestment of City Football Group. Mumbai are coached by Australian/Czech coach and former Melbourne City assistant/youth coach Petr Krátký.

For AAP Sport; A stunning free kick from Socceroo defender Aziz Behich hasn't been enough for Melbourne City against Macarthur, with the Bulls rallying to secure a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park 🔗: www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/914113... .

New from me; It’s got to be one of the most unusual build-ups to a Melbourne Derby in its history. Multiple months into the season, and one side is entering with literally twice as much (A-Liga) football played as the other 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/preparatio... .

Ya boi totally forgot about his cancer juice appointment until 40 minutes before it started. Bless the lighter Christmas traffic.

In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; Ya boi is back on A-Liga Men’s stonks watch this week. 📈 Box Offices 📈 Ice Cold Penalties 📈 Pressure Easing Wins 📉 A Hot Seat At X-Mas 📉 Injuries to Star Men 📉 Knowledge Of Ancient Anatolia 🔗: www.espn.com.au/soccer/story... .

New from me; A Christmas Derby that for 91 minutes didn’t really shape as being all that memorable. And then, with Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat watching on, a childhood Melbourne Victory fan smashed in a long range winner to win it late. 🔗: jdlmedia.substack.com/p/a-victory-... .

New from me; There are some things Juan Mata will probably never get used to, such as being told to 'suck it up' amid 39-degree training sessions. But that aside, in year two of his time in the A-League, Melbourne Victory is relishing his form. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/victory-re... .

New from me; Nishan Velupillay missed out on a lot over the past ten months. But back playing for Melbourne Victory, he's eyeing a new journey -- one that starts at a Christmas Derby and could just end up at a World Cup. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/after-ten-... .

New from me; Forget being home for just Christmas. After crisscrossing Australia and East Asia in recent months, Melbourne City boss Aurelio Vidmar is looking forward to an extended home run, starting with Saturday's traditional Yuletide Derby. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/city-comin... .

New from me; As his Melbourne Victory prepare to face down a former talisman who is now leading Newcastle's line, Jeff Hopkins feels consistency will prove defining in an A-League Women season thus far being defined by its parity. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/victory-se... .

In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; A piece on the arrival of new A-Liga chief executive Steve Rosich. On not just the challenges but on being visible and selling the dream. 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

In @espnaustralia.bsky.social; Ya boi is back on the Worldwide Leader’s stock watch for the A-Liga Femenino. 📈 Canberra United 📈 Furphy Stonks 📈 Time Zones 📉 Wooden Spoon Watch 📉 Existential Crisis 📉 Goalscoring Droughts 🔗: www.espn.com.au/football/sto... .

New from me; You could see the sense of catharsis pouring off every Melbourne Victory player as they celebrated the goals that delivered their 2-1 win over Adelaide -- the suffocating pressure surrounding the side relieved... at least for a week. 🔗: www.jdlmedia.com.au/p/sweet-reli... .