2024 A-Leagues All Stars Men game
| Event | 2023–24 A-League Men | ||||||
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| Date | 24 May 2024 | ||||||
| Venue | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | ||||||
The 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Men game was the fourth edition of the A-Leagues All Stars Game, and the first since the 2022 Game. It was held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on 24 May 2024 against English club Newcastle United as part of Global Football Week Melbourne.
Pre-match
[edit]In March 2024, the A-Leagues announced that the A-League All Stars Men would play Newcastle United at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on 24 May 2024 as part of Global Football Week Melbourne – shortly ahead of the 2024 A-League Men Grand Final.[1] In addition, an A-Leagues All Stars Women game would be held for the first time, against Arsenal, immediately after the men's game at the same venue.[2] Newcastle would also play Tottenham Hotspur at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a friendly two days before the All Stars game.[3] The official kit partner was announced to be Kappa.[4]
Squads
[edit]The A-League All Stars Men squad will initially consist of 23 to 26 players, as selected by the coaching staff, before being finalised to an 18 to 20 player squad.[5] Only a maximum of four players per club can be chosen.[5] Nestory Irankunda and Daniel Penha were announced to be the first two players to be selected in the squad as voted by fans.[4][6] On 14 May 2024, Patrick Kisnorbo was named head coach of the A-League All Stars Men, with Robert Stanton and Mark Milligan as assistant coaches and Michael Theo as goalkeeping coach.[7]
A 13-player preliminary squad selected by Kisnorbo was announced on 15 May. Penha withdrew for personal reasons.[8] Following the season's semi-finals on 20 May, Kisnorbo added eight players from Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix to finalise a 21-player squad for the match.[9] Around the same day, Newcastle United's head coach Eddie Howe announced a 29-player squad for the matches against Tottenham Hotspur and the A-League Men All Stars.[10] Garang Kuol featured as the only Australian player for The Magpies from their 2023–24 season.[11]
Before the match, Howe renamed the starting line-up from their match against Tottenham to consist of under-21s players. Kieran Trippier was named on the bench as the only over-21 player in the match squad after a majority of first-team players were withdrawn.[12] Kuol made his unofficial starting debut for Newcastle in the match.[13] None of the players named for the English side had registered a Premier League start prior to the match.[14]
A-Leagues All Stars Men squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Newcastle United squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Match
[edit]Details
[edit]A-Leagues All Stars Men   | 8–0 |  Newcastle United |
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Report |
Post-match
[edit]The men's game was heavily criticised for the schedule of the event which resorted Newcastle United to field a team of players from their youth academy after the club's first-team players were withdrawn for international duty. The average age of the match squad was 19.5 years old, excluding goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.[15] Eddie Howe noted that it was not possible for his side to field the first-team players due to travel, risk of injuries, and the recent conclusion of the 2023–24 Premier League.[16] Newcastle reportedly travelled 16,914 km (10,510 m) from Heathrow Airport to play in Melbourne, three days after their 2023–24 season finished. Kieran Trippier and Alan Shearer criticised the date of the friendlies which placed near to the 2024 Copa América and UEFA Euro in June 2024.[17][18] For fans, the match was deemed to be disrespectful to the A-League and local supporters for fielding a weaker side than anticipated.[19] Newcastle were reported to have received a seven-figure sum from the matches.[14]
After concerns were raised about player welfare, The Football Association opened about a rule change that would prohibit overseas friendlies after a season was completed. English clubs are also obligated to give players a five-week rest following that period. The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) were reported to be aware of these concerns.[20] The match was the first win for the A-League Men in an A-Leagues All Stars Game after losing in the matches to Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona. The crowd was confirmed to be 42,000 spectators in total after the women's match.[21] Despite the absence of first-team players, Howe said the match was a great experience for the younger players going against experienced opposition.[22] All Stars head coach Patrick Kisnorbo praised his sides' hunger and dominance during the match although understood Howe's decision prior. Kisnorbo also suggested for future matches to be between an Asian side rather than a European opposition to solve scheduling issues.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ "Tottenham, Newcastle and Arsenal to send teams to Melbourne for exhibition matches". ABC News. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Arsenal Women to play in Australia". Arsenal. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Rugari, Vince (18 March 2024). "A-Leagues All stars is BACK in 2024: Everything you need to know". A-Leagues. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b "First FOUR A-League All Stars named as iconic Kappa playing kit unveiled". A-League. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b "A-Leagues All Stars fan voting open NOW: How it works". A-League. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Kidane, Benyam (24 April 2024). "Nestory Irankunda headlines A-League All Stars as special edition Kappa kit unveiled". Sporting News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Patrick Kisnorbo named A-League All Stars Men boss as stacked coaching staff revealed". A-Leagues. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "PRELIM SQUAD: 13 A-League All Stars Men players locked in to face Premier League giants". A-Leagues. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "A-League All Stars Men lock in final 21-player squad to take on Newcastle United this Friday". A-Leagues. 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Squad for Australia trip confirmed as Magpies head Down Under". Newcastle United. 19 May 2024.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (9 May 2024). "Confirmed: Newcastle United will bring Garang Kuol home to take on A-Leagues All Stars". A-Leagues. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Scurr, Dominic (24 May 2024). "Newcastle United line-up: Kieran Trippier call made as former West Ham man starts ahead of summer move". The Shields Gazette. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Team news: First start for Kuol". Newcastle United F.C. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "NUFC receive seven-figure transfer boost ahead of summer window - was it worth it?". The Shield Gazette. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ McMurtry, Andrew (25 May 2024). "Football world pile on Newcastle United after Aussie humiliation". news.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Drury, Sam (24 May 2024). "A-League All Stars 8-0 Newcastle: Eddie Howe's young side thumped". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Hardy, Martin (25 May 2024). "Kieran Trippier slams Newcastle's Australia trip for Tottenham friendly". The Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "'Crazy' Australia trip slammed by Newcastle United legend". ABC News. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Deans, Adrian (24 May 2024). "EPL cash-grab by Newcastle United is a disgrace. The A-League deserves better". FTBL. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Ziegler, Martyn; Hardy, Martin (23 April 2024). "FA could ban clubs from globetrotting post-season friendlies". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "All Stars recap: Arsenal notch narrow win after young talent shines in Newcastle domination". A-Leagues. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "A-Leagues icon says what everyone is thinking after All Stars demolish Newcastle United". A-Leagues. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Coach's left-field idea for next A-Leagues All Stars opponent: 'I think that's sort of next'". A-Leagues. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.