A Twitter rant that actually means something, thanks Krusey, Keogh in good company and Santa’s song.

That and more in this edition of A-League Insider.

‘WHO ARE WE TO SAY’

WHEN Dean Heffernan was 19, he was told he wasn’t good enough to play in the NSL.

When he was 25, that same coach, Graham Arnold, picked him to play for the Socceroos against Argentina.

“Talent identification is a load of s***,” the retired A-League defender told foxsports.com.au this week, after getting his frustration off his chest on Twitter earlier this week.

The former Mariners, Heart, Glory and Wanderers defender, now the Technical Director at the Central Coast Academy, took to social media amidst the angst he was feeling while needing to cut kids from his squads.

1. I'm currently calling parents one by one to let them know their kids were not selected for the 13s - 16s Central Coast rep teams.. — Dean Heffernan (@Heff35) October 23, 2016

2. Unlike when I was 15 and all the kids sat down at the end of a trial and if the coach didn't point at you, that meant you were out. — Dean Heffernan (@Heff35) October 23, 2016

3. Who am I and who are we to judge players at that age anyway. 2 years b4 the A-league started, Graham Arnold told me I was to raw for NSL — Dean Heffernan (@Heff35) October 23, 2016

4. And a year before that I couldn't make u/21s at Sutherland Sharks. And every other trial I was at from 15 to 20 yrs old — Dean Heffernan (@Heff35) October 23, 2016

5. Moral to story is that talent ID is a load of shit. Hopefully these kids don't listen to people and keep fighting for what they want. 👊🏽 — Dean Heffernan (@Heff35) October 23, 2016

His message?

People get it wrong, and as a football country, Australia can’t risk losing players from the system by killing their hopes any longer.

“The main thing for kids is: ‘Who cares what someone thinks,” says Heffernan, who also works as a pundit for Fox Sports.

“And who are we to say you’re not good enough.”

While Australia’s national youth teams have struggled in recent years, with the Young Socceroos bowing out of World Cup qualifying against Tajikistan just last week, Heffernan says coaches need to find the right way to let young players know they haven’t made it, without killing their dreams. It’s a passion born from his own experiences, where after five years of representative football, he was cut at 15 years old, to go back to play club football, fall in love with the game, before embarking on his national league adventure.

Dean Heffernan of the Socceroos. Source: Getty Images

“Sometimes you just want to make it as easy a situation as possible for the kid, let them know, it’s not the end, who knows how big you’re going to grow, how hard you’re going to work by kicking the ball against the wall.

“How can I say you’re not good enough to play football.”

Heffernan’s fear is that “the next Messi” could slip through the cracks – not just by playing other sports, but by being knocked down within football’s systems, or not being allowed to flourish, and play creatively.

Dean Heffernan in 2014. Source: News Corp Australia

“At the Central Coast Academy, we’re about creating an environment where the kids are having fun, because we’ll develop their passion for the game,” he said.

“Because (if they are enjoying it), as they get older they’re more likely to work on their skills, kick against the wall, watch videos … if we try force it on them they’re not going to like that training, we could lose him to AFL, rugby and he could’ve been one of our best players.

“The other scenario is where teams pick the biggest and fastest at 12 years old, and then you’ve got the late developers who weren’t selected and fall through the cracks. That’s when you lose your potential Messi.”

On spreading the talent pool, he added: “Let’s give as many kids as we can, the right coaching. Let’s not just pick the best XI at under-9s through to under-12s. If I have a kid that wants to learn, I bring him in and teach him as much as I can.

“Maybe we should even do that until 14, or 15 or older.”

More players, more opportunities, because Heffernan says, “talent identification is a load of s***”.

Just look at the Socceroos’ most two senior players at the moment as a case in point: “Was Tim Cahill identified? Was Mile Jedinak?”

THANKS, KRUSEY!

Robbie Kruse isn’t just a key contributor to the Socceroos.

He’s still making an impact in the A-League years after he left.

Kruse crossed paths with new Melbourne Victory striker Maxi Beister when the pair were at Fortuna Dusseldorf.

The striker is looking to re-invent his career after 18 months on the wane, and suffering with injury, and when he was looking for a new destination, it seems the former Victory and Roar flyer had a key influence.

“I had a couple of conversations with Robbie Kruse. He told me a lot about Melbourne, a lot about Victory,” Beister said on his arrival in Melbourne.

Introducing Maximilian Beister, who has joined us for the 2016/17 season after making a name for himself in the #Bundesliga 🇩🇪 #WelcomeMaxi pic.twitter.com/Ilmi6gQWFX — Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) October 19, 2016

“I was looking for a new experience. I chose Australia, and hopefully it becomes a good time.

“It’s a new culture for me, meeting new people, and a completely new city.

“Right now I don’t know what I can expect, but I’m just looking forward.”

MAKING PEOPLE NOTICE!

Andy Keogh was in very good company this week, named in EA Sports’ FIFA 17 Team of the Week after his hat-trick for Perth Glory against Melbourne City.

Congrats to Andy Keogh of @PerthGloryFC for making the latest #TOTW! pic.twitter.com/cIZxPBJdxn — EA SPORTS FIFA ANZ (@EASPORTSFIFAANZ) October 26, 2016

It’s one thing getting into Bozza’s Team of the Week, but sitting alongside Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri is quite some recognition for the Irishman!

‘I’M ABSOLUTELY AMAZED’

Football gamers will know the next Football Manager isn’t far away from release, but a few sneak peaks have started to emerge.

That prompted one local player, Jason Psanoudakis from Western Knights SC in Western Australia, to write into a FM17 forum to express his disbelief that he’d been included in the game.

“I play for a team in Division One in Western Australia and have somehow found my way into the game (Western Knights SC if you wish to look for me).

“I am completely stunned as to how I am in and how they knew I was a Spurs fan and spoke greek and such.

“Absolutely amazed and I certainly will be signing myself every save I do.”

Football Manager. Source: FOX SPORTS

‘CAN YOU LEND ME SOME MONEY’

Kenny Lowe marched into the press conference after Perth Glory’s impressive triumph over Melbourne City declaring his innocence after his half-time protestations with the officials.

He issued a mea culpa the next day, but on the Fox Football Podcast, Simon Hill explained why his post-match antics were very much a facade.

Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe watches the match from the stands. Source: AAP

“I saw Darren Davis during the week, one of Melbourne Victory’s assistant coaches, and he was sent down to watch the game by Kevin Muscat. He was in the next box when Kenny was sent upstairs.

“Apparently Kenny came out and said ‘alright, Daz, can you lend me some money to pay my fine.’

“So I think he knew.”

PODCAST: Adam Peacock, Simon Hill and Daniel Garb dissect the Socceroos squad for Thailand, the FFA Cup semis and all the other big issues in the Fox Football podcast.

SING A SONG FOR SANTA

The Wanderers’ active supporter group RBB have made their feelings known about super sub Brendon Santalab, giving him the rare honour of his own song.

The repetition of his name, set to the disco classic “Give It Up” by KC and the Sunshine Band.

While the RBB sings from before the first whistle to after the last, the songs aren’t usually devoted to individual players. The exceptions, in their short, history have been for marquee man Shinji Ono and keeper Ante Covic. But against the Jets, Santalab’s late appearance onto the park sparked the tune of “Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, now / Brendon Santalab / Santalab / Brendon Santalab ...” - Tony Harper

Western Sydney Wanderers player Brendan Santalab. Source: AAP

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