The Australian National Football Team General Discussion*OFFICIAL*

[Alex M]

The Aus formation depends on which part of the pitch the play is, and whether it is Ball Possession Opposition or Ball Possession.

In the Defensive Transition ( 10 sec phase of play, or one of the 4 main moments as defined by the KNVB) when we lose the ball in the attacking half the formation usually manifests as a 5-2-3.

If Aus doesn't win the ball back, and the opposition build up progresses to our defensive half/third the formation evolves to a 5-4-1. The 2 wide players drop back into a line with the DMs.

If Aus is building up from the back and progresses into central third the formation becomes a 3-4-3 flat midfield.

If Aus builds up higher again the wing backs often push up to make the shape a 3-2-5, as the wide players overlap.

Most team formations are called whatever their shape in Ball Possession is - so I'm opting for a 3-4-3. Notwithstanding, we've spent a lot of time in BPO in the last few games, hence presenting as 5-2-3 and 5-4-1.

My description of the formation against Japan was based on observations from my seat and the positions adopted when Japan were building up from the back. I would agree that Popovic's formations can be flexible, but because we were happy to sit back and watch in that game I would go with the formation in defence as the main formation. These tactics got us through qualification (and getting 4 points from Japan and Saudi Arabia is quite an achievement) but I think we need something more in the World Cup. Hopefully some of the prospects develop into very good players by then and we can be as good an attacking side as we are a defensive one..

 

[Keeper66]

I'm still not quite sure what XG is?

Is it something to do with AI goalscoring probability?

For someone who is supposedly right into statistical analysis of football games, and has supposedly read various books on football statistics, you should really know what xG (and xGA) is. It has been around for quite a few years now. As is the case for all other factual questions you ask on here, Google is your friend.

 

[NicCarBel]

For someone who is supposedly right into statistical analysis of football games, and has supposedly read various books on football statistics, you should really know what xG (and xGA) is. It has been around for quite a few years now. As is the case for all other factual questions you ask on here, Google is your friend.

Calculating it though is another artform

 

[Keeper66]

Calculating it though is another artform

Yep, I'm not saying D should know the detail of the calculation behind it, as it relies on historical data to calculate the scoring probability for every goal attempt, but for someone who seems to live and die via football statistics he should know the concept of what it means and how, in very broad terms, it is calculated.

 

[JS96]

 

[Decentric]

For someone who is supposedly right into statistical analysis of football games, and has supposedly read various books on football statistics, you should really know what xG (and xGA) is. It has been around for quite a few years now. As is the case for all other factual questions you ask on here, Google is your friend.

There is always something we don’t know, Keeper.

In workshops/ coaching sessions I have attended with Kevin Muscat, Phil Moss, Arthur Papas and Ange P as keynotes, they all said the game is ever evolving - and if they as coaches don’t keep up, the game will pass them by.

Just from being on this forum I’ve learned - the recent evolution of gegenpressing ( which you may have observed too?),

the long diagonal balls expected as a skill set from CBs in UEFA to break full pressing / intensive Squeezing,

new expectations of extra physical gym sessions to compliment technique for elite youth,

Scouting report detail,

Whatever xg is?

Norm Boardman, then senior FFA staff coach and later WSW women’s coach, told another clinic I was at, that he saw every football discussion/ coaching session or football event as a learning op.

A very good point!

I’ve asked you what level you coach at and you’ve been evasive - or not seen the question.

Conversely, I wouldn’t expect someone to look up everything about football methodology familiar to me, that is unfamiliar to them on google, because I’m not sure it is there?

I’m not sure some of it is written in English?

Also, by asking if someone knows what a football term is it gives someone else a chance to explain - as opposed to googling it.

If you are a coach, Keeper, as a pedagogical tool it is better to discuss with players as a group as to what a football concept is, as opposed to sending them away to google it.

 

[Decentric]

Calculating it though is another artform

I’d love you to expound as to your understanding of what it is, NCB?

And why calculating it is difficult?

I genuinely don’t know? I haven’t tried to look it up - yet.

I’m also happy to say there is a lot, for almost anyone, that we can learn about football.

 

[Decentric]

My description of the formation against Japan was based on observations from my seat and the positions adopted when Japan were building up from the back. I would agree that Popovic's formations can be flexible, but because we were happy to sit back and watch in that game I would go with the formation in defence as the main formation. These tactics got us through qualification (and getting 4 points from Japan and Saudi Arabia is quite an achievement) but I think we need something more in the World Cup. Hopefully some of the prospects develop into very good players by then and we can be as good an attacking side as we are a defensive one..

It can be easier to identify one’s formation when a team is without the ball.

You did pretty well!

 

[Keeper66]

If you are a coach, Keeper, as a pedagogical tool it is better to discuss with players as a group as to what a football concept is, as opposed to sending them away to google it.

As a coach, I don't use Google as a pedagogical tool, I try to explain and demonstrate in the training sessions. Also as a coach, or in life in general, I don't use the word pedagogical either. I would use the word teaching or learning.

However, in discussion in online forums, and in many other parts of life online, I find in general that Google is a much more useful tool to research things I am unfamiliar with rather than asking a question online, where I don't know when it will be answered, or even if it will be answered, and I don't know and generally can't find out the credentials of who is providing the answer.

Try Google, or other search engines. You may be amazed at what you find out. You don't have to take everything in it as gospel, but over a short period of time I would expect a reasonable person to be able to get a good understanding of discerning fact from fiction.

As to your question as to what level I coach at, I don't think that is important on this forum. I coach male players who play at a reasonable level, let's just leave it at that.

 

[patjennings]

Many many valid points from all.

I think the crux of my frustration with Popa is how can we really properly understand our potential when so many of us agree that there is a bunch of players that appear to be as talented as any we've had in the past decade....not getting selected.

Our non-selected under Popa XI would look pretty tasty I'd think!

These 25 were not pin the squad had little time?) in the last window.
Gauci, Glover, Beach, Souttar, Triantis, Matthews, Stenness, Rowles, Trewin, Bos, Farrell, Irvine, Balard, Robertson, Nisbet, Valadon, Leckie, Segecic, Goodwin, Kuol, D'Agostino, Goodwin, Irankunda, Arzani, Volpato,

Pick your XI form them.

 

[grazorblade]

xg basically a measure of the total quality of chances.

so if the chance is at an angle, from a distance, has players between you and the goal the xg goes down. An xg of 0.46 means you expect Japan to score 0.46 goals per game if the game was played a zillion times. An xg of 0.46 is lower than we have ever had against bus parkers. It means the defense has dominated pretty thoroughly, though I occasionally see lower xg

 

[grazorblade]

These 25 were not pin the squad had little time?) in the last window.
Gauci, Glover, Beach, Souttar, Triantis, Matthews, Stenness, Rowles, Trewin, Bos, Farrell, Irvine, Balard, Robertson, Nisbet, Valadon, Leckie, Segecic, Goodwin, Kuol, D'Agostino, Goodwin, Irankunda, Arzani, Volpato,

Pick your XI form them.

assuming I have to follow poppa's formation
-------------------------Beach------------------
------Matthews--Souttar--Farrel---
-Adamson*-Robertson-Triantis-Bos-
------Volpato---Botic*---Volpato---
*Not in your list
Crazy I don't have room for segecic or irankunda in a squad just made up of non-selected players.....

Also just noticed I didn't include Irvine I guess he is first choice

 

[patjennings]

assuming I have to follow poppa's formation
-------------------------Beach------------------
------Matthews--Souttar--Farrel---
-Adamson*-Robertson-Triantis-Bos-
------Volpato---Botic*---Volpato---
*Not in your list
Crazy I don't have room for segecic or irankunda in a squad just made up of non-selected players.....

Also just noticed I didn't include Irvine I guess he is first choice

You can put on Nestory for one of your Volpatos

 

[grazorblade]

You can put on Nestory for one of your Volpatos

That's hilarious oversight on my part

I meant to put craig goodwin in place of one of the volpatos

 

[JS96]

These 25 were not pin the squad had little time?) in the last window.
Gauci, Glover, Beach, Souttar, Triantis, Matthews, Stenness, Rowles, Trewin, Bos, Farrell, Irvine, Balard, Robertson, Nisbet, Valadon, Leckie, Segecic, Goodwin, Kuol, D'Agostino, Goodwin, Irankunda, Arzani, Volpato,

Pick your XI form them.

Better than the regular 11 almost.

 

[AUFC_Fan]

assuming I have to follow poppa's formation
-------------------------Beach------------------
------Matthews--Souttar--Farrel---
-Adamson*-Robertson-Triantis-Bos-
------Volpato---Botic*---Volpato---
*Not in your list
Crazy I don't have room for segecic or irankunda in a squad just made up of non-selected players.....

Also just noticed I didn't include Irvine I guess he is first choice

Which Bos?

 

[patjennings]

I think the real point is that there are plenty of players for Popa to blend with those that qualified to make a stronger squad next year.

 

[grazorblade]

Which Bos?

jordy for now

if kasey plays at mainz though...

 

[Decentric]

As a coach, I don't use Google as a pedagogical tool, I try to explain and demonstrate in the training sessions. Also as a coach, or in life in general, I don't use the word pedagogical either. I would use the word teaching or learning.

However, in discussion in online forums, and in many other parts of life online, I find in general that Google is a much more useful tool to research things I am unfamiliar with rather than asking a question online, where I don't know when it will be answered, or even if it will be answered, and I don't know and generally can't find out the credentials of who is providing the answer.

Try Google, or other search engines. You may be amazed at what you find out. You don't have to take everything in it as gospel, but over a short period of time I would expect a reasonable person to be able to get a good understanding of discerning fact from fiction.

As to your question as to what level I coach at, I don't think that is important on this forum. I coach male players who play at a reasonable level, let's just leave it at that.

I use google quite a lot, but sometimes not for aspects of football, because of accuracy.

 

[Decentric]

xg basically a measure of the total quality of chances.

so if the chance is at an angle, from a distance, has players between you and the goal the xg goes down. An xg of 0.46 means you expect Japan to score 0.46 goals per game if the game was played a zillion times. An xg of 0.46 is lower than we have ever had against bus parkers. It means the defense has dominated pretty thoroughly, though I occasionally see lower xg

Ta.

Concise, clear explanation, G.