Box2Box Football Network

This week on the Stoppage Time Agenda with Derek, Edge & Rob, the guys look back on key football moments of 2023 and ahead to what they think will define 2024.
2023 saw some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows with the Women's World Cup delivering both. On the pitch the Matildas thrilled Australia, while off it Spanish administrators tarnished the spectacular triumph of La Roja. Violence in the game amongst players, spectators and - in a bizarre moment - a football club President exposed footballs sinister underbelly, but hope springs eternal and came in the form of renewal with the Socceroos and Graham Arnold capping a new generation of men's talent.
2024 will deliver its own story but as the lads gazed into their crystal ball, they saw more disruption in Europe with the Super League back on the agenda and the rise of the Matildas continuing amid expectations that the podium at the Paris Olympics is a realistic goal.   
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First up, we reflect on the A-Leagues so far and what we might see into 2024: a third of the way through the men’s and nearly half way through the women’s, both of last year’s Premiers are off the pace and the finals aspirants are taking shape with half of last season’s finalists currently in play off contention – crowds are generally up – with a few aberrations, so a perfect time to reflect on the state of the game. Rob and Edge discuss it all with Simon Hill from Ten/Paramount +.

Meanwhile in a country where football is rarely less than in rude health Derek & Rob have a chat with Martin Tyler about how he thinks this helter skelter season will shape out and what his thoughts are on the rise and rise of the WSL. 

The guys end looking at Manchester City's dominant win over Fluminense in the World Club Championship.

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This week on the Stoppage Time Agenda with Derek, Edge & Rob, the guys look back on their games of the week. Manchester City's title defence copped another battering from Crystal Palace, Tony Popovic is continuing to rebuild Victory as a force in the ALM and Al Ahly flex their muscles in the World Club Championship Quarter Finals.

Teams in focus - Hearts make history in the SPL, Everton prove they've got the guts for a fight in the EPL and FC Copenhagen upsetting the big boys in the European Champions League.

Hot Topics - Derek contrasts the great crowd and atmosphere at the Big Blue with the paltry attendance at the Aloisi Derby, Edge discusses American titan John Texter's billion dollar headache and Rob puts the spotlight on the EPL with the first ever female referee Rebecca Welch to officiate a Premier League match when she takes charge of Fulham's home game against Burnley on Dec. 23.   

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The countdown to the Paris Olympics is on and off the back of the success of the Women’s World Cup this year, expectations are high. Just a little pressure on Tony Gustavsson, first to qualify then is it fair to say that after a fourth place finish against the best the world has to offer, that nothing less than a podium finish could be considered a success? Edge and Rob chat with former ABC Journalist and host of the about to be launched Sports Ambassador Podcast Tracey Holmes.

Then, could it get any worse for the one time kings of the football world. In the ten years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired – including caretakers the Red Devils have had eight managers and appear to be on the brink of going to market for their ninth. Did the weekends draw at Anfield buy time or is it a stay of execution for Erik ten Hag. Derek and Rob discuss it all with The Guardian’s man on the beat Jamie Jackson.

The lads bring home the Pod looking at the Young Matilda's AFC Asian Cup draw and Maty Ryan's race against the clock to be fit for the Men's AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

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This week on the Stoppage Time Agenda with Edge, Rob and special guest Joey Lynch, the guys look back on their games of the week and while Arsenal's men stumbled, their women went from strength to strength in the WSL with a big Matilda influence, Eintracht frustrate Bayern in the Bundesliga and the Mariners dominate Western United in the ALM.

Teams in focus - can Unai Emery take Aston Villa all the way in the EPL + Macarthur and Glory surprise leaders in the ALM and ALW.

Hot Topics - Rob asks if Arnie can leave Bruno Fornaroli out of the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup, Joey looks at the Spanish influence in the A-Liga in the lead up to the Asian Cup and Edge ponders how to best manage Sam Kerr to extend her career.

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The J League has long been the leading men’s competition in Asia and in recent years has been the breeding ground for not only some of our leading national players, but also our coaching top ranks. Of course Ange Postecoglou is head of the class but not far back is Kevin Muscat with a Premiership and second place in the last two seasons – will Harry Kewell be the next manager to polish his craft in the land of the rising sun? Rob and Edge discuss it all with our mate from The Asian Game Scott McIntyre.

Then, after falling just short of an unexpected title in last seasons English top flight, the Gunners are mounting a proper case this season with Mikel Arteta’s men one point from top in the Premier League and top of their group in the Champions League with both titles looking open. Was the weekend a stumble against a legitimate Villa side or are the Gunners still a player or two short of a premiership winning side? Edge and Joey Lynch discuss it all with James McNicholas from The Athletic…

The lads bring home the Pod looking ahead to the mens Asian Cup just one month away.

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This week on the Stoppage Time Agenda with Derek, Edge and Rob, the guys look back on their games of the week and while there was plenty of controversy at The Etihad with Erling Haaland showing he's a dab hand pre schooler petulance as well as football, it was Spurs who got the last laugh while down the M62 Liverpool left it till late to thrust a dagger into the hearts of the Cottagers with a series of show stopping goals and the Lionesses thrill Wembley with a Stoppage Time winner over the Netherlands.

Teams in focus - Giancarlo Italiano has the Phoenix flying in the ALM, Ipswich Town just might be headed back to the top flight with a couple of Socceroos leading the charge and will Lyon make history for all the wrong reasons in Ligue 1?

Hot Topics - Derek asks whether there's a place for Sin Bins in football, Edge salivates over the goalfest over the last week and Rob wonders how a serial prankster managed to provide a bawdy soundtrack to the Euro draw.

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With the announcement of big hitting new owners for the 2025 Auckland A League franchise, the incumbent Wellington has picked exactly the right moment to flex their muscle with an uneaten start to the new A League Men’s season under rookie coach Giancarlo Italiano. The man who is across every nuance of football in the land of the long white cloud is our mate from Sky Sports New Zealand Jason Pine so we get his thoughts on how the Nix have managed to silence the doubters and what we can expect of the new Auckland franchise.

They have been quietly building a resume and sneaking up the EPL ladder in a way no one would ever suggest was Liverpool’s style - but with Spurs stealing the early season headlines, Man City always there, the Gunners backing up last season with a proper start and the likes of Villa among others making noise, Jurgen Klopp has been reshaping a generational squad - Rob and Derek talk to James Pearce from The Athletic about what the talk is like around Anfield and if he thinks they are a serious chance of going all the way.

The lads bring home the Pod reflecting on the twelve month anniversary of the Qatar World Cup.

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This week on the Stoppage Time Agenda with Derek, Edge and Rob, the guys look back on their games of the week and while we rightly complain about stadiums and crowds in Australian football, the ALM Sydney derby where Western Sydney beat Sydney FC put the spotlight on the game at its best, Eddie Howe's revolution continues to rock the house as Newcastle dismantle Chelsea and Canberra United can't take a trick going down to the Jets in the ALW.

Teams in focus - in the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen continue to frustrate Bayern - by winning, Hertha Berlin are a basket case and while the Matilda's head to Canada with confidence, there's also the will he won't he leave spectre hanging over them with Tony Gustavsson reported to be in talks to return to Sweden.

Hot Topics - Edge and Rob reflect on the legacy of Terry Venables and Derek ponders whether cycling's Mr 1% David Brailsford is the man to shift the dynamic at Old Trafford.

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After exploding out of the blocks with ten goals in an undefeated start to the season after three rounds, Adelaide United came back to earth in round four against Sydney FC but bounced back in a tricky assignment against Western United in Ballarat. Rob and Edge chat with Carl Veart to get a sense of the vibe in the camp.

Last week Premier League clubs voted against a proposal to temporarily ban loans of players between clubs that share the same ownership. Derek and Rob make sense of it with Kieran Maguire from The Price of Football Podcast.

The lads bring home the Pod reflecting on an unexpected possible new Matilda.

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