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Poppa Out

I raised this the other thread so we might just disagree about this selection philosophy. But if he can do this for the entire season sure consider him. But I don't think a good month in Aliga warrants a call up. Two good seasons and a strong start in Europe and I am happy for the call up (Balard), otherwise I'd rather see some consistent good performances over a longer period of time.
Which players fit that description?
 
When I look at the situations on the pitch, the selections hurt ourselves. Imagine Irankunda, Arzani, Nisbet among many more not there in those spaces.

Miller was our main avenue for attacks. He tried to minimal effect. O'Neill did alright but Irvine was nowhere in a play building sense and once Hrustic went off we lost any sort of link up play. Once again too disjointed and we're not picking our best players.
Popovic's set up & selections will be the death of creative football. He's got players playing out of position all over the field. Regarding Irvine, that's what you get when the coach play's 2 x #6's. I agree, Poppa out if this shite continues
 
We lack finishing. Pure and simple. It's time to pick the players that can do the job up front. For all his pressing and heart, Duke hasn't scored for ages. Last night he palmed off chances to score. Confidence thing, it seems, so time to wish him all the best and let him go.
 
We all knew what was going to happen when Poppa was first mentioned to be the next coach. A minor variation of Arnie. That's why I was so dissapointed we dint look inside/outside Aus for a more attack minded coach. It was just handed to the safest pair of hands. I personally would of liked Sampaoli, win or lose we would of been entertained.
 
We all knew what was going to happen when Poppa was first mentioned to be the next coach. A minor variation of Arnie. That's why I was so dissapointed we dint look inside/outside Aus for a more attack minded coach. It was just handed to the safest pair of hands. I personally would of liked Sampaoli, win or lose we would of been entertained.
Cheapest option.

Nothing more to it.
 
Which players fit that description?
Balard is a good example. Rowles and Bos are other examples.

Nisbett is not. Similar to Balard he had a couple of great quality seasons at Central Coast. But hasn't been able to start every week in Scotland.
Irunkunda is not. Often a bench player for Adelaide, similar situation at Bayern reserves in the fourth division. He has huge potential, but there are big flaws in his game.

Guys like Brimmer, has a stand out season but has other periods where his form has not been great. Piscopo had always been highly touted as a junior, but I don't remember anyone wanting him selected when he was at Wellington or Newcastle. A good period with Victory, fantastic, but show it to us for the whole year.

It's not a hard rule, I don't mind players like Nisbett being selected, but I'm not bothered if these guys miss selection. If someone truly stands out, they will be an easy selection (Cicati playing every week in Serie for a couple of seasons is the recent example).

To bring it back to the Popa out thread, I don't think any of these selections or non selections are mistakes and should impact on him being in the job. They are all about the same average level so he picks who he thinks can do a job in his system.
 
I would prefer Popa picked his best 11 (injuries aside) and stuck with them. I would also prefer him to see the same sort of best 11 that I do.

Cut out the horses for courses selection and say to the one group - "now I want you to play this way tonight".

I am all for Popa making our defence resilient, but I do not think we can achieve if he also picks his forwards for their defensive abilities as the key focus. We do not need high turnovers when we have a decent defensive group. The player who forces the turnover is, far too often, then the player that we would be looking to on the end of our subsequent attack to score - but they are not in position and anticipating a shot because they are back where the turnover happened. Having two number 10s to cover that situation is a loss in all other aspects of our attack and is not the best consistent form of attack we possess. Instead we can trust our players to win the ball back in the midfield and backline then our creative players have half a pitch to do something that they have the skills and abilities to do.

Nisbet is the sort of player we miss in the middle. He can keep the ball, be a creative link between other players, has awareness and vision, and also a dogged battler who gets turnovers. When he plays, his opponents have to pay attention to him all the time and he draws multiple opponents to try and control him - but is still effective under pressure like that.

Irankunda - on the right up front - will take on players, has pace, vision and an awareness of his team mates, can make a pass, and has a quick and powerful shot. He has weaknesses and is developing but what he does well will always produce good, clear opportunities at some point throughout the game when he is included in a proper team dynamic. We need that ability to create. Biggest drawback with Irankunda would be getting drawn into poor decisions and actions by ME niggling tactics and hacks.

Last night we had chances to win the game and failed to take them. We are not unfamiliar with that. How Popa now addresses the shortfall is what determines my vote for him. Duke has to go. Irvine does not do it for me. A player like Caceres, if we can't have a Nisbet, can also provide what we want if he is in the midfield to take advantage of his vision and skills. But he has to start and play regularly in the team to settle in. The piecemeal half hour or less timeslots that Popa gives the form players he brings in is a killer. If they are good enough to be in the squad on form then start them and surround them with the other players who are selected for their strengths. Play the lot of them together and see the play improve.

Sorry Popouters - I have decided that Popa stays for now but he is still on probation.
 
Balard is a good example. Rowles and Bos are other examples.

Nisbett is not. Similar to Balard he had a couple of great quality seasons at Central Coast. But hasn't been able to start every week in Scotland.
Irunkunda is not. Often a bench player for Adelaide, similar situation at Bayern reserves in the fourth division. He has huge potential, but there are big flaws in his game.

Guys like Brimmer, has a stand out season but has other periods where his form has not been great. Piscopo had always been highly touted as a junior, but I don't remember anyone wanting him selected when he was at Wellington or Newcastle. A good period with Victory, fantastic, but show it to us for the whole year.

It's not a hard rule, I don't mind players like Nisbett being selected, but I'm not bothered if these guys miss selection. If someone truly stands out, they will be an easy selection (Cicati playing every week in Serie for a couple of seasons is the recent example).

To bring it back to the Popa out thread, I don't think any of these selections or non selections are mistakes and should impact on him being in the job. They are all about the same average level so he picks who he thinks can do a job in his system.

From what I have read, Ross County fans seem to think Nisbet is decent but nothing special.
 
From what I have read, Ross County fans seem to think Nisbet is decent but nothing special.
I think Nisbet's greatest strength is that he is a decent team player and improves the players around him with his contributions.
 
What could poppa of done different?
Velupillay was a positive in terms of what he can offer on the right. Keeping that sort of attacking, creative player on the right is a start. Irankunda, Arzani, DeSilva - that sort of player as the key feature of the front right player.

A genuine striker, preferably in form, played all game as a striker rather than having a defensive harrier who can think about taking a shot. Forget the high turnover as attack option number 1 and have a proper creative/attacking midfield selected to feed the forwards for a change.

Play a single number 6 in front of a back 4 and pick/use a real central midfielder to fight for the midfield and give us three paths forward - both wings and the middle. Choose players for their positions on the field and instruct them to play the roles that earned them selection.

Not have Behich in the squad (but that is just my personal bugbear).

The game was winnable with the players we had on and some luck. The game was winnable outright with better selections in the front half.
 
He's been there five minutes. Let him settle in and he'll take the SPL by storm.
I do worry about him in the spl

how many times has one of a physically light weight players who are technically focused done well there?

Our biggest success story of a technician going there is rogic, but even he seemed to not reach his potential and seemed to go backwards technically while there
 
I do worry about him in the spl

how many times has one of a physically light weight players who are technically focused done well there?

Our biggest success story of a technician going there is rogic, but even he seemed to not reach his potential and seemed to go backwards technically while there
We've had plenty of good players in the wasteland of Scotland.

I agree Rogic went backwards in the SPL but plenty didn't. Viduka, Moore, Vidmar, McDonald, Mooy... there are a fe there right now doing alright, especially the Hoff (injured) and Strain
 
I do worry about him in the spl

how many times has one of a physically light weight players who are technically focused done well there?

Our biggest success story of a technician going there is rogic, but even he seemed to not reach his potential and seemed to go backwards technically while there
Nisbet would be so much better off in the EFL or on the continent. Scottish players move away for higher technical levels, why shouldn't ours? Devlin is made for SPL but Nisbet isn't
 
We've had plenty of good players in the wasteland of Scotland.

I agree Rogic went backwards in the SPL but plenty didn't. Viduka, Moore, Vidmar, McDonald, Mooy... there are a fe there right now doing alright, especially the Hoff (injured) and Strain
That's true, though Mooy went at the end of his career, Moore and Vidmar were hardly technicians. But it is fair to say Scottland wasn't bad for our strikers. Hopefully Stama does well there
 
Nisbet would be so much better off in the EFL or on the continent. Scottish players move away for higher technical levels, why shouldn't ours? Devlin is made for SPL but Nisbet isn't
The AL is a pretty physical league and Nizz was voted the best player in it last season.

He just needs to adjust to the softer pitches and faster pace of Scotland and he'll be fine.
 
Nisbet would be so much better off in the EFL or on the continent. Scottish players move away for higher technical levels, why shouldn't ours? Devlin is made for SPL but Nisbet isn't
Scottish players move away for more money rather than higher technical levels.

The average wage at Ross County is £1091 per week.
The average wage for English League One is £4753 per week.
 
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Velupillay was a positive in terms of what he can offer on the right. Keeping that sort of attacking, creative player on the right is a start. Irankunda, Arzani, DeSilva - that sort of player as the key feature of the front right player.

A genuine striker, preferably in form, played all game as a striker rather than having a defensive harrier who can think about taking a shot. Forget the high turnover as attack option number 1 and have a proper creative/attacking midfield selected to feed the forwards for a change.

Play a single number 6 in front of a back 4 and pick/use a real central midfielder to fight for the midfield and give us three paths forward - both wings and the middle. Choose players for their positions on the field and instruct them to play the roles that earned them selection.

Not have Behich in the squad (but that is just my personal bugbear).

The game was winnable with the players we had on and some luck. The game was winnable outright with better selections in the front half.

It's a shame Vellupillay is injured. Should have started v Barhain.
 
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