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Green & Gold FC Podcast #7 - Popovic’s Way: Qualifying by Loyalty

Decentric said:
Now that we've seen a few younger Aus players perform for the Socceroos, younger debutants like Circati, Teague, Irankunda, Bos, possibly Matthews, who have skill sets that appear to exceed the qualities of many Socceroo predecessors, indicates that there will be many more coming through. Villupillay has done well too, despite not definitely having a skill set that exceeds previous gens.

If Robertson (Championship ?) and Volpato ( Serie B?) are as good as many suggest (for mine it is usually because they aren't available), I can't believe they will exceed the aforementioned quintet, or, many of the younger players in their cohort who are yet to gain Socceroo caps. Neither are playing UEFA Big Five, or the Big UEFA 30-40 clubs outside the Big Five who play regular Champ League or Europa League football.

I think it might be sage to forget about them until they commit - if they ever do?

Volpato being a tall player as a supposed number Ten, is probably similar in stature to Zidane and Ballack. It is unlikely Volpato will be particularly nimble, or quick on the turn.
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I think Robertson and Volpato exceed Teague and are in the same conversation with Bos and Irankunda. Circati the stand out.
 
Decentric said:
I might post this here, rather than the Socceroos WCQ thread, but with the success of MV players Geria, Villupillay, Arzani and Teague, for the senior Socceroos, does Popa have a better identification skill set of talent than?

1. Arnie?

2. Club coaches like Arthur Diles?

How much work do Okon and Foxe do as assistants in identifying national team players?

Geria, Villupillay and possibly even Teague, are emerging as key Socceroos. Arzani is a useful bench player.
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Agree that Geria, Teague and Velupillay have performed above expectations for Popovic.

Throwing Arzani in there with them is a stretch though. He's been largely impactless.
 
A bit harsh on Velupillay he’s also shown a good skill set especially with he’s dribbling where he’s very effective in tight spaces or even in open transition.

A lot of the young gen in general have a higher skill which is why they need an pathway into the national team where they can form most of the nucleus of the national team but that hasn’t happened under Arnie and Popa has shown little of it unless he knows the players.
 
Really enjoyed the episode. Balances out with Velupillay. Inferior opponents but he did the job and has done more than McGree ever has already.
 
Interesting point about the older age of the squad. I disagree with many choices but just maybe a dad's army may get the desired results even at a WC. It was mentioned Popovic like experience so I think we're going to see an older squad for a while yet.

It'll be disappointed to not see the talented bunch until 2030. I'd personally go all out with many of them in 2026. It wasn't going to happen with Ange but part of me wonders how the defence would've fared in 2014 with Wilkshire and Neill and a fit Kennedy up top. Neill was very unfit by then but had he been at his top fitness his defensive awareness would've covered a lot of area.
 
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JS96 said:
Interesting point about the older age of the squad. I disagree with many choices but just maybe a dad's army may get the desired results even at a WC. It was mentioned Popovic like experience so I think we're going to see an older squad for a while yet.

It'll be disappointed to not see the talented bunch until 2030. I'd personally go all out with many of them in 2026. It wasn't going to happen with Ange but part of me wonders how the defence would've fared in 2014 with Wilkshire and Neill and a fit Kennedy up top. Neill was very unfit by then but had he been at his top fitness his defensive awareness would've covered a lot of area.
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Ange planned to fold Wilkshire, Schwarzer, Neill into the squad. The first two retired I believe and Neill couldn't get a start in the Aliga. That squad definitely needed their experience.

I'm not sure of the average age of the current squad, but I would be shocked if it were even close the the age at the end of the GG. The current squad does not have a lot of experience, when I looked before, only Ryan, Behich and Irvine had over 50 caps (Degenek with 45 as well). 16 with less than 15 caps.
 
JS96 said:
Really enjoyed the episode. Balances out with Velupillay. Inferior opponents but he did the job and has done more than McGree ever has already.
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A good point, JS.

I think Nishan V has done more than McGree thus far for the Roos.
 
Cunningstunt said:
Ange planned to fold Wilkshire, Schwarzer, Neill into the squad. The first two retired I believe and Neill couldn't get a start in the Aliga. That squad definitely needed their experience.

I'm not sure of the average age of the current squad, but I would be shocked if it were even close the the age at the end of the GG. The current squad does not have a lot of experience, when I looked before, only Ryan, Behich and Irvine had over 50 caps (Degenek with 45 as well). 16 with less than 15 caps.
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IMO, given your useful info about current experience, we are very lucky to have Ryan, Irvine and Behich in the squad, given their vast international experience. We are lucky their bodies are holding up.

Goodwin may not have lots of caps, but he has global experience and a lot of games at club level. Looking at his body language, and confidence, he appears to lift players around him on the pitch.

I also think Behich (apart from his brain explosions in the AL), Goodwin and Irvine are really intelligent footballers. They have phenomenal game sense and quality decision making attributes.

Players have to know their own game very well to organise other players around them. I'm sure this helped Teague against China - having Irvine in a line close to him, and Behich just behind and to his left.

Geria has played a lot of club football too. Whether this helped Teague, I'm not sure?
 
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Cunningstunt said:
Am I wrong, didn't McGree provide the ball for Leckie to score against Denmark? What is the criteria here?
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In the podcast, I think Grazor said Nishan V has scored 3 goals from 5 games as a winger. Before he was selected, I think we had scored no goals against Bahrain and Indo under Arnie.

I tend to judge players on how they perform for the Roos - not what they have or have not done at club level.

Ball Possession Opposition - NIshan V may have won more hard balls than McGree, although McGree has been a lot better off the ball than Hrustic. Both V and Mac have created turnovers from closing down space.

Goal output - the Melb Vic player has scored a much higher goal per game stat than McGree.

Assists - probably better to appraise assists for shots at goal, because the assistant isn't responsible for the shooter's performance.

Off the ball running to open passing lanes, or create dummy runs, to support ball carrying teammates - Villup has certainly done this well, possibly better than McGree?

Technique - B4L may be correct, that Villup has effectively beaten a few opponents 1v1 in dribbling, and I've undersold his Socceroo performance. Both have a decent first touch and get into decent body shape quickly.

Two footedness and use of both sides of the body - both are pretty decent using non-preferred foot and side of the body. If they were defenders we tend to appraise their tackling with the non-preferred foot or side of the body.
 
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Another shout out to what a great job the podcasters are doing. Graham and Alex have vast knowledge of the Aussie players globally. I've been reminded a bit by G and G posters I don't know much about club scenarios overseas - true.

Although I am having a look at Scottish league games and Serie A games ATM. For this reason it is good hearing 3 podcasters with a wide knowledge of Aussie club football overseas.

I like it when Zimbos appears, because Graham, Alex and Zimbos have three distinct voices. Sometimes I get Alex's voice confused with guests like James, confused.

I'm not sure how they do it, but how do the podcasters manage to not interrupt each other so adroitly? Do you Zoom?

I've certainly learned some useful info from all the podcasts.

I'm also having a good laugh at the last window, where Graham and Alex would have had egg on their faces because of the Popa selections succeeding!

On the forum, never underestimate experience in the team unit.

I'm sure if Teague and Villup had been surrounded by less experienced Aus u23 teammates, as opposed to some very experienced internationals, they would not have played as well, albeit Villup not playing that well against China.
 
Cunningstunt said:
Am I wrong, didn't McGree provide the ball for Leckie to score against Denmark? What is the criteria here?
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A good pass by McGree. However, he hasn't reached anywhere near the heights we expect or hope of him.
 
One piece of very solid logic that stuck with me from the podcast is wasting squad depth and subs on guys like Duke when we have uncapped dual national players like Toure. We need to be more strategic here and use the bench to regenerate the team and square away some players where its warranted.
 
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