Looking forward to some friendlies - without so much riding on every game and experimenting with new players. Did I read we are playing the Kiwis twice? I'd prefer a different opponent, more battle hardened from a tough WCQ campaign. Given we are playing USA in friendlies, I'd prefer Mexico.

Thought the Slovenians Squeezed intensively in a Full Press, often preventing free Matildas in space to play out. So many attacks from Slovenia were from disturbed build ups in the Aus defensive third/half, then fast attacks. By doing this they ceded space further back and if Aus played...

Aus limping to 4-84 in second innings. Webster top score with 19 NO. Windies all out for 190, with Starc taking 3 wickets. Cummins, Josh H and Webster all took 2 each.

Thought you had Fox?

Metcalfe had a plus 3 ledger against Japan and plus 2 against Saudi for his 1v1 duels. In similar positions our CBs are dominant against opposition forwards, although not so much full backs against wingers. So Metcalfe is creating a physical presence in the attacking part of the pitch. I...

Interesting? Have you looked at a replay, or two?

I think so. A nocturnal mate of mine stayed up all night watching and said Aus was all out for 180 and then had Windies 4-56.

You are the only person awake!

Coaches learn a lot through video analysis after a game has been played. If a coach evaluates, one often has a split second to make an appraisal live. Players also vary from game to game. In the last 2 games Burgess had one horror half. Boyle was far better in one game than the other. One...

Stats are part of the picture. Sometimes one has to credit the calibre of the opposition. The entire Aus team unit struggled to negate the Japanese team on the ball. Importantly, Japan didn't create a lot of chances considering the territorial and possession advantage they had though. The...

Miller was only dribbled around on 2 occasions. With a Steal he had the ball taken off him on 1 occasion. Circati was dribbled around on 1 occasion wide. The only duel he lost. O'Neill and Boyle lost a few speed duels - being outpaced. All this adds to depict a scenario on our right where...

Aus 2, Saudi 1. 131 unique 1v1 duels contested. Geria - contested 13 unique 1v1s, won 10 and lost 3. Ledger plus 10. Degenek - contested 6 unique 1v1s, won 4 and lost 2. Ledger plus 2. Burgess - contested 12 unique 1v1s, won 7 and lost 3, with 2 neutral. Ledger plus 4. Was struggling in...

I'm just about to post the Saudi stats. It seems in both the Japan and Saudi games, Miller is close to contesting the most 1v1 duels in both games! Japan Tackles - Won 1 and lost 1. Steals ( dispossessed whilst with ball at feet, not 50/50 tackle) - won 0 and lost 2. Headers - won 2 lost 1...

A lot of people I interact with online are not old, Mono!

I asked Pasquali about recruiting specific cricket posters, like Richie. He was happy with it. And happy to recruit specific book readers. Both categories might even become interested in football!