sport news Socceroos coach Graham Arnold demands huge change to 'crazy' A-League season trends now
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold says A-League expansion, and a move to at least 30 games per season, is the only way to continue the talent production line and boost Australia's standing on the world stage.
While English Premier League star Harry Souttar will miss the Socceroos' second game against Ecuador on Tuesday night after suffering an ankle knock last Friday, Riley McGree will be included in the starting line-up among 'six or seven changes' to the team.
Arnold suggested that one reason for McGree's 'unbelievable form' with English Championship team Middlesbrough was the increase in the amount of games he's played and that needed to be replicated in Australia.
The A-League has 26 rounds, which Arnold said wasn't enough to develop players sufficiently.
Arnold insists the current 25-game season isn't enough to develop players properly and give talented youngsters the opportunity to 'go up to another level'
The Socceroos coach is keen to see the domestic competition expanded to 30 games a season (pictured, action from the Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC derby earlier this month)
With expansion plans now moving forward for two more teams, and as he looks to build on the World Cup success in Qatar last year, Arnold wants that element of the local game addressed.
'We just need the A-League to play more and more games. It's crazy, 25 games is not enough,' he said on Tuesday.
'I could probably name 100 kids that, you know, could go up to another level, but they just need to play more football.'
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