World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[Muz]

Seems to be a lot of times where the ball sails over his head or he's rooted to the spot

Yeah or it just goes past him when he comes out for one on ones. A few spring to mind.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

With both scenarios remaining otherwise the same:
ME teams defeat China/Indonesia in the next window but lose to Japan.
Japan 22
Saudi 9
Bahrain 9
China 9
Australia 8
Indonesia 7

Saudi/Bahrain v China/Indonesia games in the next window end in a draw, alongside both losing to Japan:
Japan 22
China 10
Australia 8
Indonesia 8
Saudi 7
Bahrain 7

Ouch on the first one

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

As someone that has watched every minute of RC this year, they most of the time are ultra defensive too. Nizzy is utilised as a DM. Still extremely good in transition, just RC are underutilizing his creativity part of his game.

sounds like he wouldn't be the "solution" in the current Roos setup either....

 

[Muz]

Merrick is already "disrupting" the production lines of our goalkeeping stocks by excluding foreign keepers from NPL squads... we are on the cusp of greatness...

Not sure if you're taking the piss or not.

Is this true? And if so why is it bad?

 

[mkxx]

A few thoughts:

* China are perhaps best placed to finish 2nd given they've played Japan twice.
* Home games remaining: Japan 3, Australia 2, China 2, Indonesia 2, Saudi 2, Bahrain 1
* Before next window in March Indonesia play 4 matches, Saudi play 3 and Bahrain play 2 which will help them be battle hardened. We have 0.
* Ryan had absolutely nothing to do with either goal in my view.
* How many actual saves did Bahrain keeper make from shots on target? I recall one only, a tame shot from Hrustic (like the previous match!). Same old issue... we just never get actual shots on target despite people often claiming in these situations that we should have put the game away.
* Everything going our way... imagine where we'd be if it wasn't. 96' goal for Yengi, late Saudi goal disallowed against Aus. 2 points from 6 in this window is so poor but it was very nearly 0! 1 win only in 6 matches!
* Not a fan of Popovic at all - formation is rubbish, personnel decisions and changes are baffling, plus playing players out of position. Matthews, Caceres and Brattan good enough to start matches but Balard and Nisbet nowhere to be seen.

Before next window in March Indonesia play 4 matches, Saudi play 3 and Bahrain play 2 which will help them be battle hardened. We have 0.


If you're talking about AFF championship next month. 90% of these Indonesian players from Europe cant come. It wasnt FIFA day clubs wont release. Indonesia coach (Shin Tae Yong) even announced it will be Indonesia C team as their domestic league is still playing.

And Gulf cup normally Saudi Arabia don't send full strength team.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Not sure if you're taking the piss or not.

Is this true? And if so why is it bad?

Not taking the piss at all. I'ts "bad" because of all the positions on the pitch we seem to be struggling to mould players to play, goalkeeper, especially at NPL level isnt one of them... As a position, they play for longer, only take up 1-2 places in a squad of 25 at this level usually and we have FAR more deficiencies in creative, technical and striking players than we do keepers.... its a head scratchier for me.... a rule for the 4 or 5 foreign keepers nationwide in the NPL seems like an absurdism

Football Australia's new roster principles leave NPL SA Goalkeeper of the Year in limbo

Ryan Neild has been left in limbo as Football Australia’s new roster principles block him from re-signing for Modbury Jets in the NPL SA.

www.frontpagefootball.net

 

[Muz]

Not taking the piss at all. I'ts "bad" because of all the positions on the pitch we seem to be struggling to mould players to play, goalkeeper, especially at NPL level isnt one of them...

Football Australia's new roster principles leave NPL SA Goalkeeper of the Year in limbo

Ryan Neild has been left in limbo as Football Australia’s new roster principles block him from re-signing for Modbury Jets in the NPL SA.

www.frontpagefootball.net

Sure but wouldn't this help our keeper stocks. Is it a first step?

I haven't been following it that closely.

 

[vo2Max]

unless the production of our players get better then I dont expect it to get better going into the future in terms of getting results.

Hmm, I vaguely recall (back on 1442) you championing the arrival of the Z-raters from the KNVB circus when they rolled into town and turned youth development into mush.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[DandyCasey]

Surely Popa may go with 2 upfront should he continue with 3 at the back. The inverted wingers don't look very dangerous and we are lacking in midfield.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Sure but wouldn't this help our keeper stocks. Is it a first step?

I haven't been following it that closely.

Sorry as per above its like 4 or 5 foreign keepers nationwide... wha even bother making it a rule?

 

[Muz]

Sorry as per above its like 4 or 5 foreign keepers nationwide... wha even bother making it a rule?

Don't know.

I haven't sat in on the meetings and I haven't asked him. It's unlikely they're doing it just for something to do. There must be some rationale.

Edit. Just read the article you posted. Seems harsh.

 

[Barca4life]

I'm not defensive. You're blaming the FA. I said, how? all the coaching and the curriculum is supposed to address this and then you said, they didn't go through the system.

So again, how is it the FAs fault?

It's their responsibility to make the national team strong but also it's in their best interests as well, not just with the prize money on offer for qualifying but also for the other tangibles that are involved with it.

In my opinion I don't think they have done a good enough job or have invested enough to improve it, for those their plans they did with the curriculum and SAP then how has it not filtered into the national team what does it say about our talent ID and player pathways into senior football?
Also our national youth team record for qualifying for world cups and Olympics has been under par again it so why haven't we improved on that front, how could you bring in talented young players if they haven't been exposed to the high levels of international football? Are we going to continue to blame on Asia's improvement but not ask hard questions on ourselves?

Also how many TD's we had along with the way starting with the dutch TD's and then a few others what impact they have made?

Overall it's ok to ask questions because I care but if you think the FA is not entirely responsible for the current crop of the national team right now then it's your own opinion which I respect.

What's the saying you cant harvest your own crop if you don't help it grow it and nurture it properly.

 

[Barca4life]

Hmm, I vaguely recall (back on 1442) you championing the arrival of the Z-raters from the KNVB circus when they rolled into town and turned youth development into mush.

Correct me if I am wrong.

well I will happy to eat my humble pie if im proven wrong but you dont need to troll me or others to prove your point lol.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Don't know.

I haven't sat in on the meetings and I haven't asked him. It's unlikely they're doing it just for something to do. There must be some rationale.

Is it though?

 

[zimbos05]

Mate, a couple of rounds of rondo is not going to magically improve their first touch skills. They're supposed to professionals after all.

Maybe it's the higher tempo of international football that puts more pressure onto them than they normally would at club level.

Who said anything about rondos. A rondo might be the Skill intro, but not the skill training or the skill game. If the coach is setting up the training properly, they'd be working on that skill throughout the full training by way of a well designed training that meets all the criteria of the 3R's and the training observations.

There is no excuse for a poor first touch at international level. Not for players who are meant to be doing this every day.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Who said anything about rondos. A rondo might be the Skill intro, but not the skill training or the skill game. If the coach is setting up the training properly, they'd be working on that skill throughout the full training by way of a well designed training that meets all the criteria of the 3R's and the training observations.

There is no excuse for a poor first touch at international level. Not for players who are meant to be doing this every day.

Absolutely.... the difference in technical fundamentals was SO bloody obvious especially in the Saudi game....

 

[Muz]

It's their responsibility to make the national team strong but also it's in their best interests as well, not just with the prize money on offer for qualifying but also for the other tangibles that are involved with it.

In my opinion I don't think they have done a good enough job or have invested enough to improve it, for those their plans they did with the curriculum and SAP then how has it not filtered into the national team what does it say about our talent ID and player pathways into senior football?
Also our national youth team record for qualifying for world cups and Olympics has been under par again it so why haven't we improved on that front, how could you bring in talented young players if they haven't been exposed to the high levels of international football? Are we going to continue to blame on Asia's improvement but not ask hard questions on ourselves?

Also how many TD's we had along with the way starting with the dutch TD's and then a few others what impact they have made?

Overall it's ok to ask questions because I care but if you think the FA is not entirely responsible for the current crop of the national team right now then it's your own opinion which I respect.

What's the saying you cant harvest your own crop if you don't help it grow it and nurture it properly.

Hang on. These are questions to be asking Decentric, your mate who you've defended a 1000 times, not me.

Besides which you've been banging on about the new system for near on a decade on 442. Now you think it's all the FA's fault and everything needs to be turfed.

 

[Muz]

Who said anything about rondos. A rondo might be the Skill intro, but not the skill training or the skill game. If the coach is setting up the training properly, they'd be working on that skill throughout the full training by way of a well designed training that meets all the criteria of the 3R's and the training observations.

There is no excuse for a poor first touch at international level. Not for players who are meant to be doing this every day.

Or...

Maybe it's the higher tempo of international football that puts more pressure onto them than they normally would at club level.

Because, let's be honest, most of our players are 2nd stringers in the lower leagues of wherever.

 

[vo2Max]

well I will happy to eat my humble pie if im proven wrong but you dont need to troll me or others to prove your point lol.

Get a grip, champ.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Hang on. These are questions to be asking Decentric, your mate who you've defended a 1000 times, not me.

Besides which you've been banging on about the new system for near on a decade on 442. Now you think it's all the FA's fault and everything needs to be turfed.

everyone is entitled to change their minds dude..... its pretty clear what isn't working... No wonder our "star" players are playing in spud leagues overseas....