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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Barca4life said:
Popa is a club football coach, so he’s going to put he’s system of play first and see who can fit into it, a lot of he’s selections reflect it heck Arnie was the same too when he’s was coaching the team.

An ideal world there would be a universal style of play for all national teams to follow so when you bring in players that can fit into the system without compromising the players.

Which is why Spain have been very successful by doing this, what is ours I think the Australia u20 side may have given us the blueprint forward for all teams to follow if the processes are there.
What is the the FA going to do about it? Because this is important for the future.
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You build a system around the quality of the players available, not the other way around. At least that's the case for Australia because of our shallow talent pool.

Also, remembering, the low level KNVB grifters who flocked here in numbers 15 - 20 years tried this and failed massively. The skilful kids were replaced by robots.
 
vo2Max said:
You build a system around the quality of the players available, not the other way around. At least that's the case for Australia because of our shallow talent pool.

Also, remembering, the low level KNVB grifters who flocked here in numbers 15 - 20 years tried this and failed massively. The skilful kids were replaced by robots.
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If you build a system first then you are picking players that can fit into it which is what Popa is doing.

If you have the quality of players that developed throughout the youth teams then you pick a coach that can suit the players.
 
vo2Max said:
You build a system around the quality of the players available, not the other way around. At least that's the case for Australia because of our shallow talent pool.

Also, remembering, the low level KNVB grifters who flocked here in numbers 15 - 20 years tried this and failed massively. The skilful kids were replaced by robots.
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There is enough quality and diversity in our players we could choose a different system easily enough. I'd say Popovic has done a good job of picking a system that doesn't fit our players qualities, though injuries have played a role there.
 
Barca4life said:
If you build a system first then you are picking players that can fit into it which is what Popa is doing.
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And discard the rest. Exactly what happened in the Ham Burglar years. I defer to my previous comment re talent pool.
 
Quicky said:
There is enough quality and diversity in our players we could choose a different system easily enough. I'd say Popovic has done a good job of picking a system that doesn't fit our players qualities, though injuries have played a role there.
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That's not my argument.
 
I think the conspiracy theory / chip on shoulder is a bit over the top. Popa is as competitive a bloke as you will ever come across, and he picks the players who he thinks will get him the results. The players left out are at best marginally better than those selected I say this personally preferring Balard, Irankunda and Toure were picked for this squad, I thought they had done enough, but it is marginal, not head and shoulders compared to the guys selected.

Everyone has to be honest and admit they like these guys primarily based on the level they are playing at, and media reports. None of us are watching these guys week in, week out to say one is better than the other (I doubt even the most committed of our Aussie Abroad followers have watched even half of Balard's 25 appearances). SPL, Eredivisie, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, these leagues are all probably an approximately equivalent level and the teams are all mid table teams, not the big clubs. If Nisbet was starting in La Liga, or Balard was at Ajax, or Irankunda has played 30 matches with 20 G/A, this is a different story, but they aren't (not yet).
 
jas88 said:
Do you think he will change if we confirm qualification? None of our best young prospects are suited to this system.

I think if you could get Kuol/Irankunda/Yengi to press intensely a gegenpress/counter attack 433 system would work well for us.

Really liked Irankundas response on social media -

Maybe this is Poppas plan after all? Push the young kids to keep going.
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Poppa is a spud
 
Cunningstunt said:
I think the conspiracy theory / chip on shoulder is a bit over the top. Popa is as competitive a bloke as you will ever come across, and he picks the players who he thinks will get him the results. The players left out are at best marginally better than those selected I say this personally preferring Balard, Irankunda and Toure were picked for this squad, I thought they had done enough, but it is marginal, not head and shoulders compared to the guys selected.

Everyone has to be honest and admit they like these guys primarily based on the level they are playing at, and media reports. None of us are watching these guys week in, week out to say one is better than the other (I doubt even the most committed of our Aussie Abroad followers have watched even half of Balard's 25 appearances). SPL, Eredivisie, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, these leagues are all probably an approximately equivalent level and the teams are all mid table teams, not the big clubs. If Nisbet was starting in La Liga, or Balard was at Ajax, or Irankunda has played 30 matches with 20 G/A, this is a different story, but they aren't (not yet).
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Marginally better?

In the 2 years Teague's MV team played Nisbet's CCM, MV didn't win once. Nisbet beat out players like Germain, and Lolley for the JWM. He was integral in the leagues only continental treble. At the moment Ross county, a team that are a perennial religation battling team are now sitting 2 points off the top 6, and 6 points off their best finish in the league (which is even more remarkable noting the distribution of points in the league this year).

Similarly Balard has been integral in stabilizing a newly promoted side in the Eredivisie; has been recognised in league wide team of the weeks, his team even beat Ajax earlier this season.

And what is Teague doing, playing for MV, his only foray in to the international leagues was 4 years ago where he played in Portugal's liga 2, and was part of a team that ended in a religation battle.
 
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vo2Max said:
You build a system around the quality of the players available, not the other way around. At least that's the case for Australia because of our shallow talent pool.

Also, remembering, the low level KNVB grifters who flocked here in numbers 15 - 20 years tried this and failed massively. The skilful kids were replaced by robots.
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Which skillful kids did we have 15-20 years ago?
 
watching WSW v Victory

Alex Gerbach (WSW) I can tell he is a great LB. Wish he could help us in this window. Millanovic is also great

Arzani got some skills but he isnt fit, couldnt press, or defend.

Borello and Vellupiillay are fine

Ryan Teague- I didnt see anything spacial about him.in this game.

Feel like the coach didnt pick the best players from A League.
 
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The irony is the players that were picked played excellent tonight by scoring or assisting lol.

Arzani, Velupillay and Borrello.
 
Barca4life said:
The irony is the players that were picked played excellent tonight by scoring or assisting lol.

Arzani, Velupillay and Borrello.
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And Teague? The first 3 WSW goals came from players unmarked in the DM positions (not taking anything away from WSW).
 
huddo said:
Popa has built a national team around the spine of currently the 5th best team in the Aleague!
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I don't like Popovic's squad and don't agree with Teague or Arzani's selection. But 3 players out of 26 is hardly the spine of the NT.
 
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