The Australian National Football Team General Discussion*OFFICIAL*

[Alex M]

The Aus formation depends on which part of the pitch the play is, and whether it is Ball Possession Opposition or Ball Possession.

In the Defensive Transition ( 10 sec phase of play, or one of the 4 main moments as defined by the KNVB) when we lose the ball in the attacking half the formation usually manifests as a 5-2-3.

If Aus doesn't win the ball back, and the opposition build up progresses to our defensive half/third the formation evolves to a 5-4-1. The 2 wide players drop back into a line with the DMs.

If Aus is building up from the back and progresses into central third the formation becomes a 3-4-3 flat midfield.

If Aus builds up higher again the wing backs often push up to make the shape a 3-2-5, as the wide players overlap.

Most team formations are called whatever their shape in Ball Possession is - so I'm opting for a 3-4-3. Notwithstanding, we've spent a lot of time in BPO in the last few games, hence presenting as 5-2-3 and 5-4-1.

My description of the formation against Japan was based on observations from my seat and the positions adopted when Japan were building up from the back. I would agree that Popovic's formations can be flexible, but because we were happy to sit back and watch in that game I would go with the formation in defence as the main formation. These tactics got us through qualification (and getting 4 points from Japan and Saudi Arabia is quite an achievement) but I think we need something more in the World Cup. Hopefully some of the prospects develop into very good players by then and we can be as good an attacking side as we are a defensive one..

 

[Keeper66]

I'm still not quite sure what XG is?

Is it something to do with AI goalscoring probability?

For someone who is supposedly right into statistical analysis of football games, and has supposedly read various books on football statistics, you should really know what xG (and xGA) is. It has been around for quite a few years now. As is the case for all other factual questions you ask on here, Google is your friend.

 

[NicCarBel]

For someone who is supposedly right into statistical analysis of football games, and has supposedly read various books on football statistics, you should really know what xG (and xGA) is. It has been around for quite a few years now. As is the case for all other factual questions you ask on here, Google is your friend.

Calculating it though is another artform

 

[Keeper66]

Calculating it though is another artform

Yep, I'm not saying D should know the detail of the calculation behind it, as it relies on historical data to calculate the scoring probability for every goal attempt, but for someone who seems to live and die via football statistics he should know the concept of what it means and how, in very broad terms, it is calculated.

 

[JS96]