How and why is the real question? I'm not sure if you have the answer, but just give us the latest on what's happened.

Well, there was a report that came out yesterday afternoon that was indicating that players and staff had been paid late and that there were allegedly staff that had walked out at three o'clock.

What the club have said since then, and this is per Ben Smith's reporting in the West Australian today, the club have stressed that the player and staff payments have been processed despite telling employees obviously yesterday afternoon that the pay would be delayed for the fifth time in less than 18 months.

So CEO Ben Lever has stressed that those payments have been processed.

I'd like to hope that every player and staff has received their pay, but I think the issue is that this has happened way too many times and it's disappointing because glory owner and chairman Ross Pelligra was present at the club's season launch on Tuesday night, which was a fantastic event overall.

So really the club needs to be doing far better to ensure that these sorts of events, even though it appears it has been rectified fairly quickly, they cannot be occurring in the future because it just doesn't help, particularly with the season kicking off for both the men's and women's tomorrow afternoon.

Yeah.

James, 30 years of the Perth Glory, what's your earliest or favourite memory in supporting the club?

but, um, just, just give us the latest on what's happened.

Well, there was a report that came out, um, yesterday afternoon that was indicating that, um, players and staff had been paid late, and that there were allegedly staff that had walked out at, uh, 3:00.

Um, look, what the club have said since then, um, and this is per, um, Ben Smith's reporting in The West Australian, uh, today, um, the club have stressed that the player and staff payments have been processed despite telling employees, um, obviously yesterday afternoon that the pay would be delayed for the fifth time in less than 18 months.

So CEO Ben Chiva has stressed that those payments have been processed.

Um, I'd like to hope that every play- player and staff has received their pay, but I think the issue is that this has happened way too many times, and it's disappointing because Glory owner and chairman Ross Peligra was present at the club season launch on Tuesday night, which was a fantastic event overall.

So really, the club needs to be doing far better to ensure that these sorts of events, even though it appears it has been rectified fairly quickly, they cannot be occurring in the future because it just, it just doesn't help, particularly with the season kicking off for both the men's and women's-

How's the, the women's team, uh, shaping out? Can we have high hopes for them?

Yeah, I think the expectation has to be finals, and that was something that was reiterated by the CEO, Ben Leaver.

What's going wrong for them in the early part of this season under Michael Carrick?

Look, I think there's several issues, but to try and boil it down, I think they've been caught out

by quite a lot of teams thus far.

I think If you want to go back to the first game week against Hull, they didn't have anywhere near the level of intensity and application that you'd expect from a side like Man Utd, who did have a very strong second half of last season to make the Champions League.

But for that performance that they had away from home, they got found out by Hull and just had no cutting edge.

They did well to respond against

Ipswich, which you would expect.

How did the Glory move forward with that? Pretty shattering news.

What's going wrong for them in the, the early part of this season under, under Michael Carrick?

Look, I think there's several issues, but to try and boil it down, I think they just ha- they've, they've been caught out by quite a lot of teams thus far.

I think if you wanna go back to the first game week against Hull, uh, they didn't have anywhere near the level of intensity and application that you'd expect, uh, from a side like Man United, who did have a very strong second half of last season to make the Champions League.

Uh, but for that, for that performance that they had away from home, they got found out by Hull and just had no cutting edge.

They did well to respond against Ipswich, which you would expect.

Uh, but then the following week, um, they had quite an embarrassing draw to Everton, where they struggled to, to hold on to the game, um, despite taking the lead twice in that game, respectively.

And then when they took on Man City, um, when they were given a significant advantage of, um, an extra player, or City going down a man, I should say, um, they lacked that quality and incisiveness within their own play to get the job done.

How do the Glory move forward, um, move forward with that, uh, pretty shattering news?

So what's really standing out to you at the moment in the Premier League?

Yeah, look, as you said, I think Arsenal are certainly the team to beat.

I think they're the most balanced, and clearly their form has been excellent.

You could make a case for Man City, though.

I think how they went against Coventry, I think it left a lot to be desired, particularly with how many chances they missed, but also how gettable they were in transition.

Meanwhile, Arsenal, I just think, they've been far more comprehensive with their performances.

And while they were challenged by Chelsea, I think they did well enough to get the job done, too, by that hope.

all right now uh from the world cup obviously a lot of controversy out of there for gianni infantino a little bit of controversy when matt ryan came in for the penalty shootout uh for the soccer ruse tony popovich says no regrets

So what's really standing out to you at the moment in the Premier League?

Yeah, look, as you said, I think Arsenal are certainly the team to beat.

I think they're the most balanced and clearly their form has been excellent.

You could make a case for Man City, though.

I think how they went against Coventry, I think it left a lot to be desired, particularly with how many chances they missed, but also how gettable they were in transition.

Meanwhile, Arsenal, I just think they've been far more comprehensive with their performances.

And while they were challenged by Chelsea, I think they did well enough to get the job done to one at home.

it all right now uh from the world cup obviously a lot of controversy out of there for gianni infantino a little bit of controversy when matt ryan came in for the penalty shootout uh for the soccer ruse tony popovich says no regrets

What are your thoughts on Brighton?

Look, I thought it was an outstanding performance really.

I mean, it was just an onslaught that Aston Villa were completely helpless in trying to stop.

Obviously, I think it was the first goal where it was a bit of Comedy Central where it was a back pass that, that led to the own goal from Victor Lindelof.

But from a Brighton perspective, they've always, they've always been a side that have impressed, and they've got some really good technical players, and they can play some really fun football.

I think they've just lacked the consistency to really, um, climb higher up the table and get into a, a much stronger position from a European standpoint.

But, um- It was a really impressive performance from them, um, a- and to get all four goals basically within the first half an hour, uh, congratulations to them.

So, uh, yeah, nice start for, uh, some of the teams that were promoted.

So what did you think of Man City's victory?

Look, I think that Enzo Maresca would have been finding new and creative ways to pull whatever remaining hair he had out of his head because the finishing from particularly Erling Haaland left a fair bit to be desired.

He did rock up with a brand new haircut that iconic ponytail had gone and seemingly so did his finishing.

I mean, some of those chances that he had in the first half where there was a moment where there was a cross from the left-hand side and it was perfectly weighted to him and he just couldn't get his body shape right and he just left a lot of really good chances on the plate but...

I think from a Bournemouth perspective, look, they've got Marco Rosa, their new coach.

I think they'd be reasonably happy with their performance if they really looked a little bit more clinical in front of goal.

They possibly could have come away from the game with a good result.

So, yeah, nice start for some of the teams that were promoted.

Can you believe?

Yeah [laughs], it's clearly coming around the corner, and I think you're still seeing fans of all sorts of clubs going, "We have not signed enough players.

It's going to be a long season," or, "We're not playing great football.

It's going to be a long season." All the usual rhetoric from fans.

And look, I think if you're a club like Arsenal, I think you'd be pretty comfortable with how things are going at this point in time.

I mean, you're signing Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle, and you're being linked to Vinicius Jr.

Obviously, he resigned with Real Madrid in the end.

So, uh, any news coming out of the Glory?

22nd of August is, uh, match day one, can you believe?

believe?Yeah, [laughs] slowly coming around the corner, and I think you're still seeing fans of all sorts of clubs going, "We have not signed enough players.

It's going to be a long season," or, "We're not playing great football.

It's going to be a long season." All the usual rhetoric from fans.

And look, I think if you're a club like Arsenal, I think you'd be pretty comfortable with how things are going at this point in time.

I mean, you're signing Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle, and you're being linked to Vinicius Jr, obviously he re-signed with Real Madrid in the end.

Um, but I think at the moment they are the, the, the clear favorites to take out the league title again.

So, uh, any news coming out of the Glory?

What else is happening around the Perth glory before we take a look at some of the other Australia Cup results and games?

Yeah, so regarding the glory, I mentioned briefly there was that story that came out regarding players and staff having their pay late.

That was a story that was done by Ben Smith last week.

This has been an ongoing issue now for some time.

The PFA have noted that it's been a recurring issue.

The understanding is that the Glory will be getting everyone paid up properly by tomorrow.

They've got a new CEO in Ben Lever who will be officially announced at some point as well.

the women's ground, around about $300 million in cost.

What else is happening around the Perth Glory before we take a look at some of the other Australia Cup results and games?

Yeah, so regarding the Glory, I mentioned briefly there was that story that came out regarding players and staff having their pay late.

That was a story that was done by Ben Smith last week.

This has been an ongoing issue now for some time.

The PFA have noted that it's been a recurring issue.

The understanding is that the Glory will be getting everyone paid up properly by tomorrow.

They've got a new CEO in Ben Lever who will be officially announced at some point as well.

Yeah.

What did you think of this match? And, well, the big question, did the ball hit the spider cam?

Well, it did.

I mean, and that's where there's been significant debate because IFAB, which deal with the laws of the game, there is a rule there that states that if the ball hits an outside agent, that means that play should stop and it should be restarted with a drop ball.

So that was something that the Norwegian players and staff were protesting about as it occurred and even after the game as well.

So disappointing on that end that VAR didn't really seemingly follow the rules at that instance, but It was a good game and a topsy-turvy game, if you like.

I think one of the criticisms of England in this World Cup is that despite the talent that they have, they haven't exactly dominated enough of the teams that they've played against, be that through sheer possession or control of the game.

Yeah, it was a really good start from Andreas Scheldelup from Norway.

What do you think of this match-up and then also the red card for the Swiss as well?

What did you think of this match? And, well, the big question, did the ball hit the spider cam?

Well, it did.

I mean, and that's where there's been significant debate because IFAB, which deal with the laws of the game, there is a rule there that states that if the ball hits an outside agent, that means that play should stop and it should be restarted with a drop ball.

So that was something that the Norwegian players and staff were protesting about as it occurred and even after the game as well.

So disappointing on that end that VAR didn't really seemingly follow the rules at that instance, but It was a good game and a topsy-turvy game, if you like.

I think one of the criticisms of England in this World Cup is that despite the talent that they have, they haven't exactly dominated enough of the teams that they've played against, be that through sheer possession or control of the game.

Yeah, it was a really good start from Andreas Scheldelup from Norway.

What do you think of this match-up and then also the red card for the Swiss as well?

What will his legacy be, his lasting legacy, Cristiano Ronaldo?

I think in terms of Portugal at the very least, look, he deserves immense credit.

He played a key role in winning a few key trophies for them.

I think that Euro 2016 trophy in particular, he should be commended for his effort in that.

He's certainly been an outstanding player for Portugal, scoring so many goals and giving that nation a little bit more credibility and status on the world stage.

They're not quite a country of the size of a France or a Germany, for example, but they I think in that aspect, his legacy should be reflected on as one of great achievement.

But I think as he got on with his career, I think there was way too much of a focus on himself and not the team.

Now, speaking of coaches, is Tony Popovich the man to guide the Socceroos into the future and into the next World Cup, in your eyes?

What will his legacy be, his lasting legacy, Cristiano Ronaldo?

I think in terms of Portugal at the very least, look, he deserves immense credit.

He played a key role in winning a few key trophies for them.

I think that Euro 2016 trophy in particular, he should be commended for his effort in that.

He's certainly been an outstanding player for Portugal, scoring so many goals and giving that nation a little bit more credibility and status on the world stage.

They're not quite a country of the size of a France or a Germany, for example, but they I think in that aspect, his legacy should be reflected on as one of great achievement.

But I think as he got on with his career, I think there was way too much of a focus on himself and not the team.

Now, speaking of coaches, is Tony Popovich the man to guide the Socceroos into the future and into the next World Cup, in your eyes?

Yesterday we saw Paraguay getting past Germany and then it was Morocco defeating the Netherlands, both via penalty shootouts.

Yeah, you're right.

And I think, touching on Germany, first of all, I think it's huge alarm bells for them as a footballing country.

Yet another World Cup where they exit early, obviously the round of 32 this time.

But I think they didn't make it out of the group stage in either of their previous two World Cup tournaments beforehand.

So the pressure will be put on for Julian Nagelsmann following this latest disaster.

And just in that penalty shootout, it was really... striking to me just how composed Paraguay were, whether they were taking their shots or their goalkeeper when he was stepping up against some of the German top-class players.

Oh,

Yesterday we saw Paraguay getting past Germany and then it was Morocco defeating the Netherlands, both via penalty shootouts.

Yeah, you're right.

And I think, touching on Germany, first of all, I think it's huge alarm bells for them as a footballing country.

Yet another World Cup where they exit early, obviously the round of 32 this time.

But I think they didn't make it out of the group stage in either of their previous two World Cup tournaments beforehand.

So the pressure will be put on for Julian Nagelsmann following this latest disaster.

And just in that penalty shootout, it was really... striking to me just how composed Paraguay were, whether they were taking their shots or their goalkeeper when he was stepping up against some of the German top-class players.

What are your thoughts on this upcoming game against Egypt? How do you see it?

So a couple of key outs there for the Socceroos.

Yeah, you're right, and I think the big selection dilemma comes at right wing-back because it's such a niche system that Tony Popovich is playing in that isn't really a like-for-like replacement.

There'll need to be some shuffling on the deck, if you like.

You don't have Lewis Miller, obviously, who's injured and wasn't selected.

Kai Truen has looked rather uncomfortable in that role.

So I anticipate that it'll be Jason Guerrero.

He's not really a wingback by trade, but I guess he'll have to do.

How do they do it? How do they get the job done tomorrow morning?

thanks for taking the time now some uh superstars on display earlier today in the four games that we saw

yeah you're right um We'll begin with France, Kylian Mbappe.

I mean, you know, we all know about his quality and perhaps he didn't have the greatest season for Real Madrid, but he's definitely showed what he's capable of being in today's game against Senegal.

I thought his movement and his speed, it was a constant thorn in the side of those Senegalese defenders.

And I particularly liked his finish to round out his hat trick late on and added time in the second half where he just let rip an absolute thunderbolt and it was a really fantastic finish.

Iraq played Norway.

So Graham Arnold, former Socceroos manager, he's looking after Iraq.

And then on the counter, they looked so damaging with the Irunkunda and Metcalf goals.

Now, some superstars on display earlier today in the four games that we saw.

Yeah, you're right.

We'll begin with France, Kylian Mbappe.

I mean, you know, we all know about his quality and perhaps he didn't have the greatest season for Real Madrid, but he certainly showed what he's capable of being in today's game against Senegal, I thought.

His movement and his speed, it was a constant thorn in the side of those Senegalese defenders.

And I particularly liked his finish to round out his hat trick, laid on an added time in the second half, where he just let rip an absolute thunderbolt, and it was a really fantastic finish.

Iraq played Norway, so Graham Arnold, former Socceroos manager, he's looking after Iraq.

And then on the counter, they looked so damaging with the Irunkunda and Metcalf goals.

Vice versa, what's their biggest weakness? What do they really need to try and avoid in order to win some games?

I think, as I sort of touched on, with their attack, they need to be generating far more volume in front of goal.

I just don't think from the games against Mexico and Switzerland, those two practice games before the World Cup, that we've looked all that convincing.

And even in the qualification process, I think.

there was a lot that was left to be desired.

The Socceroos aren't going to be that team that has, you know, 60% of the ball and controls the territory and constantly creates chances.

So their transition play is going to need to be outstanding and they're going to need a lot, the likes of their young players, such as Nestoria and Kunda or even Christian Volpato to be, really creative and ingenuitive with how they are on the ball and try and create as much supply as possible particularly if we are transitioning there will be space and I'm sure the conditions will affect the side the Socceroos are playing and you'd like to think with the Socceroos having based themselves in the United States for a few weeks already that they'd be accustomed to the time difference and the conditions themselves so if they can get a little bit more volume in front of goal then they're not just relying on creating that one chance throughout the whole game so That's my hope that we see a little bit better from the Socceroos from that offensive standpoint.

What sort of contribution will they have across this World Cup for Australia?

the Socceroos, what do you think their biggest strength is?

I think it's their defensive organisation.

And I think, obviously, with someone like Tony Popovich being the coach, you'd expect that.

I think they've got some really outstanding defenders in the team.

You look at players like Alessandro Sicati, you look at Harry Soutar.

I've obviously got Matt Ryan in goal as well.

So very experienced players that are playing at a pretty good level.

What sort of contribution will they have across this World Cup for Australia?

So James, there's a lot to digest here, but what are your overall thoughts when you saw the squad?

Look, I think you're probably not always going to get what you'd want from a fan's perspective, let's say.

Though I think in terms of where things are at overall with the team, I don't think there'd be many complaints.

I think defensively, the squad is in a fairly good shape.

I think someone like Jacob Italiano, who's a Perth Glory Academy product and a West Australian, I think he will have a key role at right wing back.

I think someone like Alessandro Sacati, I think he's prime for a big tournament, and I think there'll be plenty of interest in him.

He's obviously playing for Parma at the moment in Serie A, but I think there'll be plenty of big Italian clubs who will want to have a look at him if he does well.

Has there been any extra fallout at all from the Champions League final?

So James, there's a lot to digest here, but what are your overall thoughts when you saw the squad?

Look, I think you're probably not always going to get what you'd want from a fan's perspective, let's say.

Though I think in terms of where things are at overall with the team, I don't think there'd be many complaints.

I think defensively, the squad is in a fairly good shape.

I think someone like Jacob Italiano, who's a Perth Glory Academy product and a West Australian, I think he will have a key role at right wing back.

I think someone like Alessandro Sacati, I think he's prime for a big tournament, and I think there'll be plenty of interest in him.

He's obviously playing for Parma at the moment in Serie A, but I think there'll be plenty of big Italian clubs who will want to have a look at him if he does well.

Has there been any extra fallout at all from the Champions League final?