Choose two left backs for Australia

[JS96]

It's tricky given the age and current injuries of some and the goal being the 2026 WC. Which two left backs should be in the Australian squad for the next 18 months? Choose 2.

 

[Quicky]

Bos will be picked by everyone.

I picked Farrell as my second. Defensive beast and developing offensively. I wish he weren't injured.

Elder would be my third pick and may be a more intuitive LWB option than Farrell given his playing qualities. I still like Farrell better.

Behich should not be picked any longer. He's lost a heap. Davidson likewise.

King doesn't have the quality.

Lino and Mauragis are works in progress but not there yet.

 

[JS96]

Bos will be picked by everyone.

I picked Farrell as my second. Defensive beast and developing offensively. I wish he weren't injured.

Elder would be my third pick and may be a more intuitive LWB option than Farrell given his playing qualities. I still like Farrell better.

Behich should not be picked any longer. He's lost a heap. Davidson likewise.

King doesn't have the quality.

Lino and Mauragis are works in progress but not there yet.

Yeah, the long list was more a cosmetic thing rather than serious consideration. Bit like a Senate Ballot paper. I think for Popovic's system Davidson and Elder can be considered as they can play LB and LCB. Just realised I forgot Jack Iredale. He reached some very good form at Bolton.

Bos just needs to start for Australia regularly. Behich hanging around isn't helping.

 

[onedaywinners...]

Not that I think he should be ahead of Bos and Farrell who I picked, but someone that is often overlooked for me is Gersbach who at 27 is finally back to getting consistent minutes now in Sweden.

Always thought he did a solid job in the NT and that he had the potential to be as good or better than Behich

 

[JS96]

Not that I think he should be ahead of Bos and Farrell who I picked, but someone that is often overlooked for me is Gersbach who at 27 is finally back to getting consistent minutes now in Sweden.

Always thought he did a solid job in the NT and that he had the potential to be as good or better than Behich

I used the wiki to check names. Can't believe I forgot Iredale and Gersbach. Gersbach against Cameroon was a revelation. Injuries and club minutes became and issue. Ange liked Davidson, Smith, Behich, Gersbach in that chronological order and then BVM went with Behich and Meredith in Russia which was fully justified at the time.

 

[Capac]

I'd still choose Behich for the experience as a backup option. I would expect us to transition from him by the next world cup though.

 

[Bowden]

I honestly think that JCP will emerge as our #3 LB option behind Bos and Farrell. He’s got the height that Popovic likes in his wingbacks too.

 

[JS96]

I honestly think that JCP will emerge as our #3 LB option behind Bos and Farrell. He’s got the height that Popovic likes in his wingbacks too.

Another I forgot. I withdraw my poll! Well, I had hoped for discussion as well.

 

[JS96]

I'd still choose Behich for the experience as a backup option. I would expect us to transition from him by the next world cup though.

Even his experience doesn't bring anything of substance. He passes back all the time. Still losses duels and doesn't come across as smart. He's way too comfortable and complacent.

 

[highkick05]

Goodwin and Grant

 

[Decentric]

I chose other, because the younger Bos at Melb Vic is making strides - fast.

Maraugis has improved this season.

Looking at all the stats, including 1v1s, Jordi Bos has struggled in recent Socceroo games - over the 90 mins. He has been dribbled around quite a lot, and either sat tight, when he should have backed off his opponent, or sat off when he should have been tighter.

Of course Bos senior has also executed some spectacular driving ball carrying and dribbling actions, but in the long periods between them, he has been shaky against some good Asian opposition wide players.

 

[Decentric]

Even his experience doesn't bring anything of substance. He passes back all the time. Still losses duels and doesn't come across as smart. He's way too comfortable and complacent.

Behich doesn't 'lose' duels.

He isn't as proficient a 1v1 exponent as Geria, Souttar, Caceres, Irvine, O'Neill and Burgess, but he is winning more than Bos, and possibly Miller. His experience enables him to know where and when to challenge.

Like Irvine, Duke and Goodwin, he is ageing well.

It is always interesting to compile stats, because they always show up surprises. One never knows with players sometimes when they are unfamiliar in scrutinising them closely.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

I chose other, because the younger Bos at Melb Vic is making strides - fast.

Maraugis has improved this season.

Looking at all the stats, including 1v1s, Jordi Bos has struggled in recent Socceroo games - over the 90 mins. He has been dribbled around quite a lot, and either sat tight, when he should have backed off his opponent, or sat off when he should have been tighter.

Of course Bos senior has also executed some spectacular driving ball carrying and dribbling actions, but in the long periods between them, he has been shaky against some good Asian opposition wide players.

Harsh on J Bos. Under Arnold he knew what was expected of him, but like a few other players, I don't think he gets Popa. And Popa has been outcoached as well.

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

Behich doesn't 'lose' duels.

He isn't as proficient a 1v1 exponent as Geria, Souttar, Caceres, Irvine, O'Neill and Burgess, but he is winning more than Bos, and possibly Miller. His experience enables him to know where and when to challenge.

Like Irvine, Duke and Goodwin, he is ageing well.

It is always interesting to compile stats, because they always show up surprises. One never knows with players sometimes when they are unfamiliar in scrutinising them closely.

There are some people on this forum that absolutely loath Behich. Even when he joined Melbourne Hearts, he was loathed by MVC fans - can't see why when MVC delisted him.

 

[Decentric]

I honestly think that JCP will emerge as our #3 LB option behind Bos and Farrell. He’s got the height that Popovic likes in his wingbacks too.

Forgot about him!

J C-P excelled as Aus's best player in the Aus u 23s Olympic qualifying tournament playing left CB. This included Farrell and Maraugis at LB. I don't think Farrell was fully fit, because from what I've seen of him in the AL he is an immense talent.

J C-P is versatile as Left CB, Left Back and even Left Wing, and definitely has high quality already, with the potential to improve quickly at his young age.

 

[Decentric]

There are some people on this forum that absolutely loath Behich. Even when he joined Melbourne Hearts, he was loathed by MVC fans - can't see why when MVC delisted him.

I don't want to sound patronising, but maybe their insights into football aren't that great?

Behich is a very good player -and - a very intelligent one. Years ago , individually Davidson was doing well at LB, constantly outmuscling his opponents. But he struggled to fit in with his teammates as a cohesive unit.

Behich has done this seamlessly. At times the chemistry and cohesion amongst Goodwin, Irvine and Behich on the Socceroo left flank, has been tremendous! Well in excess of the individual skill sets of each player. All are highly intelligent players with great game sense.

The only thing that surprises me is how Behich sometimes loses his cool in the AL. I evaluate players as they perform. He has had a long period being at his peak.

 

[Decentric]

Harsh on J Bos. Under Arnold he knew what was expected of him, but like a few other players, I don't think he gets Popa. And Popa has been outcoached as well.

It was what I found against the best teams we've played.

Bos excelled against the weaker teams in the last round, like Hrustic. With experience things change and Bos is young. There might be a big step up playing Saudi et al, at international level from the mid tier and lower tier Belgian league? Saudi beat Argentina at the last WC.

I don't agree Popa has been out-coached after looking at replays, accruing and evaluating stats - 1v1s, passes, balls into the pen box, shots at goal, keeper saves and intercepts. Aus was totally outplayed against Japan and should have lost. Aus beat China, and should have beaten Bahrain easily, and defeated Saudi too.

The Socceroos have been pretty bad at shooting for goal. ATM it is our great weakness. Yengi scored 2 against Bahrain, but missed two others which were big chances. If he had put those two away, we would be sitting pretty and clear of the third placed teams.

One strength of the AL and the current Aus system is most of our players are good ball winners. I hadn't realised until the last three Socceroo games when I recorded 1v1s.

Given our players have lacked the technical qualities of many of the Asian teams, thankfully, the Aussie culture of ball winning and coaches taking great pride in winning the physical battles has been a real strength of Socceroo teams.

Was it Ecuador, the quality South American team who played two friendlies in succession against us? They claimed they were humiliated in the first game, being completely out-muscled by Aus. They didn't know what had hit them!

What we have found with the recent 1v1s is that any AL player who holds his own physically in our domestic league, is going to be extremely well equipped to play international opposition in Asia.

 

[Decentric]

Goodwin and Grant

Goodwin was a LB for a while, but has moved to LW now, after originally starting as a LW.

I'm sure he can still play LB though.

 

[Decentric]

Not that I think he should be ahead of Bos and Farrell who I picked, but someone that is often overlooked for me is Gersbach who at 27 is finally back to getting consistent minutes now in Sweden.

Always thought he did a solid job in the NT and that he had the potential to be as good or better than Behich

Players sometimes don't kick on as expected though.

Gersbach looked very good for a while, about age 20 I think?

 

[Quicky]

I don't want to sound patronising, but maybe their insights into football aren't that great?

Behich is a very good player -and - a very intelligent one. Years ago , individually Davidson was doing well at LB, constantly outmuscling his opponents. But he struggled to fit in with his teammates as a cohesive unit.

Behich has done this seamlessly. At times the chemistry and cohesion amongst Goodwin, Irvine and Behich on the Socceroo left flank, has been tremendous! Well in excess of the individual skill sets of each player. All are highly intelligent players with great game sense.

The only thing that surprises me is how Behich sometimes loses his cool in the AL. I evaluate players as they perform. He has had a long period being at his peak.

Mate you can't help yourself. You're tone is usually condescending and patronising. Maybe you shouldn't insult an entire supporter base when you're ignorant of the circumstances of his move, latter playing incidents, and fan feelings and culture.