So what stats, or information do you use to put Teague and Bratten above Ballard and Triantis?
Teague really surprised me how his technique on the ball stood up playing for the Socceroos against China - one of the best in the team in terms of one touch passing, two touch passing, first touch. Not quite as assured with his right foot as O'Neill - who is equally assured on both sides of the body.
Teague won plenty of hard balls too.
Keeper and Grazor identified at the 60ish minute mark, where Teague lost a marker. For mine it depends whether his coaching instruction from Popa - was as to whether the team was adopting a zonal or man marking strategy?
Brattan - is a technical player, but had the toughest opposition in Japan for Aus. His major weakness is mobility for international games in chasing ball in BPO against the Japanese juggernaut.
Haven't seen Ballard/Balard since the AL. I thought his teammate, Nisbet, was better for CCM. Ballard covered ground well in BPO, but was Mr Average with the ball. He has had a good club break this year, and is playing in the 6th best UEFA league. Ballard must have improved, but at his age technique doesn't improve that quickly.
Triantis - poor game as a Aus Under 23 CB a few years ago - where he was sent off. Mediocre games in Scottish Cup games - but one was against a really good Celtic team. From what I've seen in the Scottish league many teams have poor off the ball movement.
Hence, they tend to turn the ball over quickly, resulting in teams accruing low numbers of passes per game and the match played in the transitions more. No doubt one will improve in ball winning from Scotland, but is Triantis's off the ball movement to support his teammates less effective than a number of his teammates who are expected to do this all the time in club football?
Do some posters realise that in the AL players touch the ball almost twice as much per game than in Scotland? Unless one plays for Rangers or Celtic?
What concerns me is that a few posters won't recognise Popa evaluates players in camp in like for like scenarios. ATM we have a lot of young players coming through - slightly short of their peak.
The likes of Trantis, Robertson, Volpato will become irrelevant if they commit elsewhere, as the depth increases.
On the ball, Valadon for Melb Vic is outstanding - better than most older Aussie Socceroo DMs - central midfielders. I don't notice Teague as much as him at MV, but have no doubt he breaks up attacks better than Jordi V ATM.
When I elucidate reputable judges of players, Thurgate, whose skill set continues to improve, and was selected in a best AL team by other AL footballers, along with Teague and an Auck player, seems not to warrant a mention for a Socceroos berth?
In terms of handling speed, first touch, use of both sides of the body and both footedness, showing for the ball proactively, body shape, passing accuracy, the likes of the young Bozinovski, Okon- Entsler, Youlley as DMs, are very promising! Another who I've seen in the u 20s, is the tough tackling Deli - also a monster as a pass and move exponent in tight spaces.
It seems if Segecic becomes more disciplined, to add to his searing pace, dribbling at speed, running with the ball, shooting from range, is another emerging weapon - if he doesn't choose Croatia - if they select him?
There are so many coming though I can't keep up with them!
