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The Australian National Football Team General Discussion*OFFICIAL*

erogenouszone said:
Still feels odd not needing a sudden-death-all-on-the-line-it-will-be-the-end-of-the-local-game-if-we-dont-make-it playoff to get to the world cup.
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Well said!

I can feel a lot more relaxed!

I felt ecstatic about the 6th successive WCQ campaign from Aus, with only 11 teams in the world doing it.

However, I feel I am in a minority on Aus football forums. I feel, rightly or wrongly, many fans are dissatisfied with the coach/es and many of the players.
 
Decentric said:
Well said!

I can feel a lot more relaxed!

I felt ecstatic about the 6th successive WCQ campaign from Aus, with only 11 teams in the world doing it.

However, I feel I am in a minority on Aus football forums. I feel, rightly or wrongly, many fans are dissatisfied with the coach/es and many of the players.
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Happy about results but feel the manner will get caught out very easily against better teams. Maybe not given how we hold shape but it'll be closest to 2018 style play.
 
The USA game is a good idea. They're a good team, or were before Poch. It acclimatises us the US conditions. It gives us the opportunity at another team with a different style. A latin team or perhaps Jamaica would be good.

I do want a game against African or Euro opponents in another window though. That would make a good mix leading into the World Cup.
 
Decentric said:
Well said!

I can feel a lot more relaxed!

I felt ecstatic about the 6th successive WCQ campaign from Aus, with only 11 teams in the world doing it.

However, I feel I am in a minority on Aus football forums. I feel, rightly or wrongly, many fans are dissatisfied with the coach/es and many of the playersI
Click to expand...
I have not had this feeling since ever. I don't know how to cope either.

But as a fan I want more! I demand more!

It would give me no end of pleasure to see Behich and Metcalfe holding the world cup aloft and being the first team outside of Europe or South America to win a WC.

Hence, I want Popa to really try and improve the game plan. Not be so defensive.
 
I'd like to see a squad like this for the friendlies

Forwards (7)
[ ] CF: Mohamed Toure
[ ] CF: Kusini Yengi
[ ] CF: Nestory Irankunda
[ ] RF: Martin Boyle
[ ] RF: Adrian Segecic
[ ] LF: Craig Goodwin
[ ] LF: Riley McGree

Midfielders (7)
[ ] CM: Jackson Irvine
[ ] CM: Nectarios Triantis
[ ] CM: Max Balard
[ ] CM: Massimo Luongo
[ ] CM: Connor Metcalfe
[ ] CM: Aiden O'Neill*
[ ] CM: Josh Nisbet*
*For Alex Robertson if he answers the call

Defenders (9)
[ ] CB: Harry Souttar
[ ] CB: Alessandro Circati
[ ] CB: Cameron Burgess
[ ] CB: Hayden Matthews
[ ] CB: Jason Geria
[ ] RWB: Daniel Bennie
[ ] RWB: Ryan Strain
[ ] LWB: Jordan Bos
[ ] LWB: Jacob Farrell

Goalkeepers (3)
[ ] GK: Joe Gauci
[ ] GK: Paul Izzo
[ ] GK: Ashley Maynard-Brewer

Some variety in attack. Two midfielders who can invert and create in McGree and Segecic. Two who can go wide. All press.

More mids less defenders.

The midfielders we should have been using in Triantis and Balard. Nisbet as a point of difference for certain game situations. I'd be happy to see Robertson though.

Some actual attacking intent from our wing backs with Bos and Bennie.

Give the old dogs Ryan and Duke some time off and room to try others.
 
Last edited:
Decentric said:
Well said!

I can feel a lot more relaxed!

I felt ecstatic about the 6th successive WCQ campaign from Aus, with only 11 teams in the world doing it.

However, I feel I am in a minority on Aus football forums. I feel, rightly or wrongly, many fans are dissatisfied with the coach/es and many of the players.
Click to expand...
Colour me dissatisfied.

We can do better.
 
Quicky said:
I'd like to see a squad like this for the friendlies

Forwards (7)
[ ] CF: Mohamed Toure
[ ] CF: Kusini Yengi
[ ] CF: Nestory Irankunda
[ ] RF: Martin Boyle
[ ] RF: Adrian Segecic
[ ] LF: Craig Goodwin
[ ] LF: Riley McGree

Midfielders (7)
[ ] CM: Jackson Irvine
[ ] CM: Nectarios Triantis
[ ] CM: Max Balard
[ ] CM: Massimo Luongo
[ ] CM: Connor Metcalfe
[ ] CM: Aiden O'Neill*
[ ] CM: Josh Nisbet*
*For Alex Robertson if he answers the call

Defenders (9)
[ ] CB: Harry Souttar
[ ] CB: Alessandro Circati
[ ] CB: Cameron Burgess
[ ] CB: Hayden Matthews
[ ] CB: Jason Geria
[ ] RWB: Daniel Bennie
[ ] RWB: Ryan Strain
[ ] LWB: Jordan Bos
[ ] LWB: Jacob Farrell

Goalkeepers (3)
[ ] GK: Joe Gauci
[ ] GK: Paul Izzo
[ ] GK: Ashley Maynard-Brewer

Some variety in attack. Two midfielders who can invert and create in McGree and Segecic. Two who can go wide. All press.

More mids less defenders.

The midfielders we should have been using in Triantis and Balard. Nisbet as a point of diffrrence for certain game situations. I'd be happy to see Robertson though.

Some actual attacking intent from our wing backs with Bos and Bennie.

Give the old dogs Ryan and Duke some time off and room to try others.
Click to expand...
Squad pretty much picks itself if we're honest. Maty can sit a window out.

Omissions of Degenek and Rowles don't need to be perceived as harsh. I think we need to see how some next gen fit in.

That midfield shows how ridiculous some of the inclusions have been ahead of these guys.
 
Quicky said:
I'd like to see a squad like this for the friendlies

Forwards (7)
[ ] CF: Mohamed Toure
[ ] CF: Kusini Yengi
[ ] CF: Nestory Irankunda
[ ] RF: Martin Boyle
[ ] RF: Adrian Segecic
[ ] LF: Craig Goodwin
[ ] LF: Riley McGree

Midfielders (7)
[ ] CM: Jackson Irvine
[ ] CM: Nectarios Triantis
[ ] CM: Max Balard
[ ] CM: Massimo Luongo
[ ] CM: Connor Metcalfe
[ ] CM: Aiden O'Neill*
[ ] CM: Josh Nisbet*
*For Alex Robertson if he answers the call

Defenders (9)
[ ] CB: Harry Souttar
[ ] CB: Alessandro Circati
[ ] CB: Cameron Burgess
[ ] CB: Hayden Matthews
[ ] CB: Jason Geria
[ ] RWB: Daniel Bennie
[ ] RWB: Ryan Strain
[ ] LWB: Jordan Bos
[ ] LWB: Jacob Farrell

Goalkeepers (3)
[ ] GK: Joe Gauci
[ ] GK: Paul Izzo
[ ] GK: Ashley Maynard-Brewer

Some variety in attack. Two midfielders who can invert and create in McGree and Segecic. Two who can go wide. All press.

More mids less defenders.

The midfielders we should have been using in Triantis and Balard. Nisbet as a point of difference for certain game situations. I'd be happy to see Robertson though.

Some actual attacking intent from our wing backs with Bos and Bennie.

Give the old dogs Ryan and Duke some time off and room to try others.
Click to expand...
No room for Tilio? or Botic?

AFAIK Souttar has not started training yet and remains in rehab. Not sure on JBos or Farrell.

How many minutes has Luongo played over the last six months?
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Popa is perfectly capable of winning silverware with the Socceroos and eventually winning at least one trophy during his tenure should be the benchmark I think.
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I think winning a trophy should always be our aim, but in reality there is only one trophy we have a realistic chance of winning. Thats why I think our 4 year cycle should be aimed at winning the Asian Cup and not finishing with the World Cup. Also with an expanded world cup a failure to make the knockout round would be considered a fail to me. If we can't make the round of 32 we will struggle to make an impact in the Asian Cup.
 
WhatAmIWatching said:
No room for Tilio? or Botic?

AFAIK Souttar has not started training yet and remains in rehab. Not sure on JBos or Farrell.

How many minutes has Luongo played over the last six months?
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Not in mine.

I did have an optimistic outlook on injuries.

Luongo is one of our best technicians. We haven't seen enough of him imo.

I do like the idea of Botic and wouldn't mind him in.

I'm also not going to complain about adding flair players and goal scorers. Tilio fits that though I also like Arzani.

But if you pick a squad some are going to miss.

Who would you pick in q 26 man squad.
 
WhatAmIWatching said:
I have not had this feeling since ever. I don't know how to cope either.

But as a fan I want more! I demand more!

It would give me no end of pleasure to see Behich and Metcalfe holding the world cup aloft and being the first team outside of Europe or South America to win a WC.

Hence, I want Popa to really try and improve the game plan. Not be so defensive.
Click to expand...
In 3 of the last 4 games other teams, Indo, Japan, Saudi, have Squeezed us in a Full Press like I've only ever seen before occasionally from Japan or South K.

It was high risk for them. We won all three games though.

From assiduously accruing all the stats and 1v1s, our defensive line and midfield line had so little time and space on the ball. I give great credit to opposition coaches Kluivert, Moriyasu and Renaud to be able to coach this.

However, particularly against Saudi, even in the last 10 or 15 mins we still didn't control the game when they had no hope of qualifying. I particularly found the second half against Saudi hard to watch with Aus having so little ball. It is anathema to the national style Aus has been trying to develop.

In so many other games including against Bahrain in this round, we had the completely different problem of penetrating a deep block/ partial press defences! The defensive and midfield lines had so much easy ball with no opposition pressure!

However positives under the Poparoos.

*Popa's 3-4-3 game plan has worked. 18 points from 8 WCQ games including Saudi twice and Japan twice, is fantastic.

* Popa has got a lot out of older players not really in Arnie's game plans - Geria, Degenek, Arzani.
Geraint Jones has been discarded.

* Popa has tried some new younger players who have worked out for different reasons - Circati, Teague, Yazbek, Villupillay, Metcalfe, Toure. Who have I missed?

* O'Neill, Miller have improved under Popa.

* Aus has dominated 1v1s against all teams.
 
Quicky said:
Not in mine.

I did have an optimistic outlook on injuries.

Luongo is one of our best technicians. We haven't seen enough of him imo.

I do like the idea of Botic and wouldn't mind him in.

I'm also not going to complain about adding flair players and goal scorers. Tilio fits that though I also like Arzani.

But if you pick a squad some are going to miss.

Who would you pick in q 26 man squad.
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I love Arzani and Tilio's skill too.

Metcalfe and Boyle have better engines and defend better for long periods.

I will list a best team with the ball. It will look quite different from Popa's team!
 
Kitwally said:
I wish people would stop talking about Volpato. He has already turned down going to the World Cup with the Socceroos. Please stop this pie in the sky dreaming crap.
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I feel a bit the same, Kitwally.

Focus on the players who have committed I say.
 
Decentric said:
In 3 of the last 4 games other teams, Indo, Japan, Saudi, have Squeezed us in a Full Press like I've only ever seen before occasionally from Japan or South K.

It was high risk for them. We won all three games though.

From assiduously accruing all the stats and 1v1s, our defensive line and midfield line had so little time and space on the ball. I give great credit to opposition coaches Kluivert, Moriyasu and Renaud to be able to coach this.

However, particularly against Saudi, even in the last 10 or 15 mins we still didn't control the game when they had no hope of qualifying. I particularly found the second half against Saudi hard to watch with Aus having so little ball. It is anathema to the national style Aus has been trying to develop.

In so many other games including against Bahrain in this round, we had the completely different problem of penetrating a deep block/ partial press defences! The defensive and midfield lines had so much easy ball with no opposition pressure!

However positives under the Poparoos.

*Popa's 3-4-3 game plan has worked. 18 points from 8 WCQ games including Saudi twice and Japan twice, is fantastic.

* Popa has got a lot out of older players not really in Arnie's game plans - Geria, Degenek, Arzani.
Geraint Jones has been discarded.

* Popa has tried some new younger players who have worked out for different reasons - Circati, Teague, Yazbek, Villupillay, Metcalfe, Toure. Who have I missed?

* O'Neill, Miller have improved under Popa.

* Aus has dominated 1v1s against all teams.
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On your last point, we were clearly watching a different smash and grab win against a markedly superior Japan B team.
 
Frankly Speaking said:
On your last point, we were clearly watching a different smash and grab win against a markedly superior Japan B team.
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Japan were a clearly superior team in my opinion and clear bias towards possession football, FS.

In the replay though, we dominated them in 1v1s. Our defensive structure was outstanding too.

I’m astonished we won too.

IMO in both games against superior Japan A and Japan B teams, we were very, very lucky to get 4 points.

IMO Japan are close to being a world powerhouse - along with Brazil, Argentina - plus 10 UEFA teams - the national teams of the Big Five, plus the next three of the Dutch, Portuguese and Belgium, plus Switzerland and Croatia.
 
If we played a team the way Japan played us I don't think we would claim to have dominated just because we had 69% possession
Japan's B team were very, very poor in my opinion (I suspect it was because we made them look poor). They generated absolutely nothing until Kubo's chance in the 80th, they weren't even getting touches of the ball in the central zone, were pushed wide where they aren't particularly effective and didn't generate anything

do we feel we dominated when we face a defensive team and can't generate any chances?
 
grazorblade said:
If we played a team the way Japan played us I don't think we would claim to have dominated just because we had 69% possession
Japan's B team were very, very poor in my opinion (I suspect it was because we made them look poor). They generated absolutely nothing until Kubo's chance in the 80th, they weren't even getting touches of the ball in the central zone, were pushed wide where they aren't particularly effective and didn't generate anything

do we feel we dominated when we face a defensive team and can't generate any chances?
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Good point, G.

I feel like we’ve played a lot of Asian teams playing a deep defensive block/ partial press and dominated, apart from having not enough clear cut chances and struggling to score.

I felt like Japan B dominated, but you make a good point about the lack of quality of their chances.

If they were often pushed out to the flanks, in the past under Pim, Jade North said it was Pim’s game plan to push them wide. That it was important to stop their central attacking interplay on the edge of the pen box,
 
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