A-League Men 24/25 - Round 9

[SocceroosFan]

As a neutral I thought Roar were better than many posters on here think they were. They lost, but it was a close game.

Loved some beautiful turns and dribbling actions by Keygan Jelacic. Love a La Croqueta where he beat two players in succession! O'Shea got through some hard graft.

It was a close game, but it was terrible football. Jelacic was easily the most skilful player & it would've been great to see his shot from outside the box not hit the woodwork & go in, but even he turned it over too many times with careless passes/ touches. O'Shea has been a great player for us, but like Aldred last year, it looks like he's cooked.

 

[Paul01]

The highlight this season which has been talked has been the emergence of young strikers coming up although through the a-league but is very encouraging for the future, they just now need to kick on overseas when they ready to go in the future.

However i’ve been impressed in a different part of the field a part where we have depth in anyway but two new prospects have done very well this round in Ethan Alagich and Dylan Scicluna, both not only comfortable showing for the ball but also show maturity tactically as well in a key position which has a lot of responsibility well done to both teams
trusting in Australian talent in that key position.

Just need to find some No.10s or advanced No.8s now…

Dylan Scicluna was recently selected for the Maltese National Team. He missed the last window because of injury so has not been capped for Malta yet. Not sure he would play for Australia unless actually asks him to change allegiance

 

[Paul01]

One game left
Macarthur vs Mariners
A win or draw put Macarthur back into the top 6. A win for the Mariners puts them into the top 6

 

[Quicky]

The highlight this season which has been talked has been the emergence of young strikers coming up although through the a-league but is very encouraging for the future, they just now need to kick on overseas when they ready to go in the future.

However i’ve been impressed in a different part of the field a part where we have depth in anyway but two new prospects have done very well this round in Ethan Alagich and Dylan Scicluna, both not only comfortable showing for the ball but also show maturity tactically as well in a key position which has a lot of responsibility well done to both teams
trusting in Australian talent in that key position.

Just need to find some No.10s or advanced No.8s now…

Scicluna's goal was a cracker!

 

[RIMB]

Thurgate is an interesting one, he’s a bit more older but hasn’t put a foot wrong I wonder if he needs to go overseas to get that recognition he needs?

The other three are very talented as well but as know there is plenty of depth in that part of the field.

I have always seen Thurgate on the wrong side of the mongrel v thug line.

He has always done dirty fouls in the aleague and may be too much of a disciplinary risk for the national side.

Have not seen much of him this season to comment on his current positive form but have still seen "Thugate" shining through on the negative side.

Put him against our flopping opposition and we are screwed.

 

[Lupi]

whenever I watch Z-league highlights, they seem to be punctuated by calamitous defending

 

[Barca4life]

I have always seen Thurgate on the wrong side of the mongrel v thug line.

He has always done dirty fouls in the aleague and may be too much of a disciplinary risk for the national side.

Have not seen much of him this season to comment on his current positive form but have still seen "Thugate" shining through on the negative side.

Put him against our flopping opposition and we are screwed.

He’s a similar age to Nisbet so you never know.

 

[Barca4life]

Dylan Scicluna was recently selected for the Maltese National Team. He missed the last window because of injury so has not been capped for Malta yet. Not sure he would play for Australia unless actually asks him to change allegiance

Fair point I think he could be option even for the aus u23s especially with an Asian cup coming up.

 

[Paul01]

Fair point I think he could be option even for the aus u23s especially with an Asian cup coming up.

He has been playing for the Malta u23s in UEFA competition

 

[Barca4life]

He has been playing for the Malta u23s in UEFA competition

Looks like an outside shot but worth trying.

 

[Paul01]

Looks like an outside shot but worth trying.

The only problem is Popa is not chasing players like Arnold did. Scicluna has to want to change

 

[Decentric]

The only problem is Popa is not chasing players like Arnold did. Scicluna has to want to change

Given the quantity of quality young talent coming through I'm not worried.

From watching the AL a lot more particularly in the last few weeks, I'm a bit alarmed how few domestic Aussies there are aged 26 and over playing in the AL. What is blowing me out though, is the talent coming through the Under 23s and younger. There is so much quantity of quality.

Also , that improvement is very much technical - our national weakness. Added to the recent rugged 1v1 ball winning of the Socceroos against Japan, Saudi and Bahrain, if these younger AL players are as rugged in ball winning as the older Aussies, with their vastly improved tactical nous, Roberton, Volpato and Scicluna, will be easily covered.

Just in the last round I've been astonished how young midfielders Alagich AU, Valadon MV and Schreiber Melb City, are adept at short passing and moving, plus being able to pass over long range. All have really good vision too. All are aged 22 and under down to age 19. Impressive!

 

[Decentric]

whenever I watch Z-league highlights, they seem to be punctuated by calamitous defending

All the goals scored might be a product of excellent attacking strategy in the AL, Lupes!

You might have to stop watching the Cook Islands national league, your favourite football outlet, to gain some perspective on realistic football practices, mate!

 

[Decentric]

Top game of football, excellent intensity as well as good football.

City had chances to go 2-0 which they will be left to rue but Beach their goalkeeper should have catched that, that’s the thing with young players they will make clangers from time to time.

However Victory played some excellent football, I thought Arzani and Piscopo looked very sharp they just lacked a finisher in the final third.

Western United beating Auckland was a surprise and won quite convincingly too, they got some good young players but Thurgate was excellent in this one.

Brisbane vs Perth say the less the better, not great from two struggling teams but a relief for Perth for finally get off the board but for Brisbane it’s not looking good and I don’t know where they will go from here as a club.

I've only reached the part of the game where Arzani has been subbed in the replay.

Agree, BFL. What a game!

There are a number of current and past Socceroos, plus a few Socceroo aspirants on show.

Pretty rugged at the start, where both sides struggled to gain possession for any lengthy periods. From a City perspective, Meneti just missed a few goals, but shows immense talent and goal sense. Love Schreiber's skill set. Trewin is making steady progress as a CB.

I'm a bit worried about how many 1v1 duels Atkinson lost at RB. He will have to improve to be considered for a Socceroo berth as RB again. Meanwhile Geria won everything as Vic RB, apart from one heading duel with Polites?


For MV, Arzani, Machach and Piscopo, were terrific in attack. Arzani terrorised the City defence at times. He has to be selected for the Socceroos in this form! He is so skilled at keeping his head up whilst running with the ball and dribbling, which enables him to make good decisions with the ball. He is so inventive ATM. In one action Arzani beat Socceroo LB, Behich, with a consummate right sided body serve, then crossed a ground pass that Machach should have done better with.

Valadon continues to improve - short passes and moves with aplomb, passes well over range and is getting better at winning hard balls. Teague is becoming a rugged ball winner.

 

[Decentric]

Thurgate is an interesting one, he’s a bit more older but hasn’t put a foot wrong I wonder if he needs to go overseas to get that recognition he needs?

The other three are very talented as well but as know there is plenty of depth in that part of the field.

What a game Thurgate had!

Brilliant!

In his age cohort, he was a standout, but there are so many younger players coming through about 2 years younger in the AL, plus a lot more younger again, which has taken the focus off him.

 

[Decentric]

The highlight this season which has been talked has been the emergence of young strikers coming up although through the a-league but is very encouraging for the future, they just now need to kick on overseas when they ready to go in the future.

However i’ve been impressed in a different part of the field a part where we have depth in anyway but two new prospects have done very well this round in Ethan Alagich and Dylan Scicluna, both not only comfortable showing for the ball but also show maturity tactically as well in a key position which has a lot of responsibility well done to both teams
trusting in Australian talent in that key position.

Just need to find some No.10s or advanced No.8s now…

I'll admit I don't watch overseas football now, because I don't want to pay more money for access.

I'm sure Perth and Roar fans will disagree, but the AL has improved so much recently in terms of - handling speed of players individually and faster team ball circulation, teams sustaining possession for longer periods, I can't deicide on a best league to go to immediately to play in overseas. Japan, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium are good destinations if good enough and players get minutes.

Going to the UEFA Big Five, or the 30 or so big UEFA clubs in more modest leagues can be too big a step up.

Apart from Miller and Baccus, I believe players stagnate when they go to Scotland. They become better ball winners, but when it comes to first touch, passing and moving in tight spaces, 1v1 dribbling skills, running with the ball, tactical nous, unless they play in the Old Firm , like Rogic and Mooy did, I see little improvement in players playing in Scotland. Popa isn't selecting them like Arnie. Popa is also looking past English League One too.

Re number 8s and 10s - Jake Hollman and Segecic are looking excellent to me in the A L. Jelacic is decent too. The latter could do with playing with a few better players than he currently is.

 

[Sutherlandbear]

I'll admit I don't watch overseas football now, because I don't want to pay more money for access.

I'm sure Perth and Roar fans will disagree, but the AL has improved so much recently in terms of - handling speed of players individually and faster team ball circulation, teams sustaining possession for longer periods, I can't deicide on a best league to go to immediately to play in overseas. Japan, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium are good destinations if good enough and players get minutes.

Going to the UEFA Big Five, or the 30 or so big UEFA clubs in more modest leagues can be too big a step up.

Apart from Miller and Baccus, I believe players stagnate when they go to Scotland. They become better ball winners, but when it comes to first touch, passing and moving in tight spaces, 1v1 dribbling skills, running with the ball, tactical nous, unless they play in the Old Firm , like Rogic and Mooy did, I see little improvement in players playing in Scotland. Popa isn't selecting them like Arnie. Popa is also looking past English League One too.

Re number 8s and 10s - Jake Hollman and Segecic are looking excellent to me in the A L. Jelacic is decent too. The latter could do with playing with a few better players than he currently is.

So you think Miller is actually a player ?

 

[WhatAmIWatching]

I've only reached the part of the game where Arzani has been subbed in the replay.

Agree, BFL. What a game!

There are a number of current and past Socceroos, plus a few Socceroo aspirants on show.

Pretty rugged at the start, where both sides struggled to gain possession for any lengthy periods. From a City perspective, Meneti just missed a few goals, but shows immense talent and goal sense. Love Schreiber's skill set. Trewin is making steady progress as a CB.

I'm a bit worried about how many 1v1 duels Atkinson lost at RB. He will have to improve to be considered for a Socceroo berth as RB again. Meanwhile Geria won everything as Vic RB, apart from one heading duel with Polites?


For MV, Arzani, Machach and Piscopo, were terrific in attack. Arzani terrorised the City defence at times. He has to be selected for the Socceroos in this form! He is so skilled at keeping his head up whilst running with the ball and dribbling, which enables him to make good decisions with the ball. He is so inventive ATM. In one action Arzani beat Socceroo LB, Behich, with a consummate right sided body serve, then crossed a ground pass that Machach should have done better with.

Valadon continues to improve - short passes and moves with aplomb, passes well over range and is getting better at winning hard balls. Teague is becoming a rugged ball winner.

Atkinson is a shadow of the player he was when he left the A-League. As you mentioned in a later post, he regressed in Scotland. I am not sure that Vidmar will bring him back to the player he was.

 

[melbcityguy]

Wanderers and western had big wins but we still don't know if they are a strong team.

Adelaide vs wsw will be a good game
Then western should hammer Brisbane on current form

 

[TheSelectFew]

whenever I watch Z-league highlights, they seem to be punctuated by calamitous defending

That's wild, bro. Any other insights? Are all other country's goals coming from piledrivers from outside the box?