Let's not forget either his last AL season in which he formed (with Nisbet) the most effective midfield duo in the league. Treble winners last year - unlikely to be finalists this year - Balard and Nisbet's absence is teh main reason for this.

I said December and am quoting someone from on here (or maybe the Mariners forum). Very solidly averaging over seven in 2025 for one of the lesser resourced teams.

You're the one who referred to the Kante label. Around December he was rated something like number 10 in Europe for interceptions, duels and forward passes from midfield.

So you're comparing one wrong commentator with the hordes of fans who adore Balard and the data wonks who rate him off the charts?

Ryan Strain Circati Souttar Bos Triantis Balard Irankunda Nisbet Goodwin Toure I dream of seeing that team.

I'd rather he picked our best players and devised a system to suit their talents.

The complexity of his game plan saw him play Irankunda as a #10, hook him at half time and never pick him again. Saw him pick Balard and Triantis and not play them. Brilliant...

Absolutely. We should have known that was our grand final and been totally up for it. Now there's every likelihood the GF will be played in Riyadh. Two points ahead won't be enough.

I'm still blown away the goal didn't stand. Asia hates us.

That wasn't my point. They had a goal disallowed at the end and most of us couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Hardly anyone else was playing in those years.

Except Trump

In the first half of their careers perhaps but not the second. In his last few years in the EPL fans estimated Schwarzer was worth about 15 extra points per year, which kept Boro up for quite a while. Many poms will tell you Schwarzer is the not only the best Oz keeper but the best Oz player...

Arnie did extremely well at the last world cup but his time was definitely up. I rate Popa's point against Japan but otherwise we've been lucky (Saudi disallowed goal; Indo's missed pen) or simply facing crap teams. If Popa would just pick (and play) the best players I'd be less on his back.

I read the Hibs forum and watch the highlights of every match. He's doing brilliantly - according to ALL of the Hibs fans.

I feel like this is trolling but I'll bite... Triantis has something like 5 MOTM ratings (fotmob) from his last 11 matches. There are commentators in Scotland saying he is the number one reason for Hibs outstanding form since Xmas and other commentators suggesting he's the best player in the...

Pretty much my view. The game could easily have been very different. Pissed off Triantis didn't get on - hopefully against China. Gotta lock him in for starters.

Who was the Chinese player sent off? Hopefully one of their best.

Ryan was surprisingly good, given recent performances... we scored some excellent goals... but Indo were crap. I'm very far from convinced by the Poparoos but that was waaaaay better than I expected. Not quite eating humble pie but if we beat China I'll be pulling it out of the oven with gusto.

Would've been 26/27 in those days.