Socceroos The Socceroos Thread - The Boss Tony Popovic

[Zidane98]

Also, despite the bad start we are now second thanks to the Saudis getting done at home by both Japan & Indonesia (draw).



We should be aiming to shithouse a draw away to Japan and then beat the Saudis at home. If that were to happen and results went our way elsewhere we'd be sitting pretty for direct qualification.

Bit of a different feel to when we were 1-0 down vs China after dominating most of the game and copping a sucker punch. Felt like a loss, with the Saudis getting a draw, would have seen auto qualification unlikely.

 

[RedStarUncle]

Robertson is a must going forward after FIFA sorts his paperwork.

A midfield of Luongo/Metcalfe/Mcgree actually looks pretty good with options of Robertson, O'Neill, Bacchus, Hrusjtic & Irvine a pretty decent mid on paper. All playing at a decent level in Europe.


For Japan away I'd line up as follows:

-----------------Gauci--------------------

Miller-------Souttar---------Rowes---------Bos

---Irvine---------Oneill-----------McGree

--Goodwin-------Dukey--------Irankunda


Think we looked much better with Bos on at LB. If I were Popa I'd switch Goody to the left side later on in the game and bring on Velupilllay on the right to run at them. He will be on a high after scoring.

I believe Stama would be a better bet up front but in the case of Japan away Duke knows them and is familiar with Japan so I'd start him.

It took a while to get going, but overall I liked the 3-4-3. Miller was good and in particular when Bos came on he was dangerous in the wing-back role.

So I'd be sticking with it against Japan. But start Bos ahead of Behich, McGree ahead of Irankunda, and then I can't decide on Geria, Deng, or Burgess - Deng looked a bit out of sorts but he does have the local experience and Geria looked good against China but might be a relative risk with less international exposure.

Gauci
Deng-Souttar-Rowles
Miller-O'Neill-Irvine-Bos
McGree-Duke-Goodwin

 

[jhong]

Blokes been in charge 5 min. reckon 2nd spot is up for grabs .

 

[Zidane98]

Blokes been in charge 5 min. reckon 2nd spot is up for grabs .

It's ours if we get 6 pts in Nov.

 

[Zidane98]

Saudi Arabia game sold out already.


Perhaps this was a fixture that should have gone to Docklands in rectangular configuration. Not like there's anything on there at the moment.

 

[Zidane98]

Squad in. Interesting no Irankunda. Focused on getting into Bayern first team?


When will Robertson issue be resolved? We need him.


Id line up as follows vs the Saudis


----------------------Gauci--------------


------Geria-------Souttar-------Burgess


--Miller-------Irvine--O'Neill---------Bos


---McGree------Boyle-----Goodwin



Ryan
Degenek
Behich
Rowes
Yazbek
Hrujstic
Balard
Yengi
Velupillay
Yengi
Duke


Notable absentees:


Circati (long term injury)Robertson, Metcalfe, Luongo & Irankunda.

 

[Zidane98]

Why is Rhyan Grant getting a game? Surely the time for players like Grant, Duke, Brattan is done.

 

[Zidane98]

Balard is going great guns in Netherlands. Could be a surprise starter.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

Grant? You've got to be kidding.

 

[AJ_2000]

Notable absentees:


Circati (long term injury)Robertson, Metcalfe, Luongo & Irankunda.

‘Respect the shirt’: Status quo squashed as Popovic issues Socceroos selection statement

‘Respect the shirt’: Status quo squashed in Popa Socceroos selection statement

www.foxsports.com.au

Explains some of this missing folks

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Grant is the WTF selection, so long as he doesn’t start like Bratten did (who has been banished after one squad, reckon in five years time people won’t believe he started against Japan, similar to Archie v Uruguay in 2005 in Montevideo.


Geria been very good since coming in so surely starts Thursday.

Balard might partner Irvine, that spot is up for grabs. Looks like Bacchus on the outer, fine with that. Still surprised Irankunda not in the squad, need to keep exposing him even if it’s limited.

The Robertson situation is just weird, surely a journalist can get in front of him or his manager to give us more clarity.

Going to be a massive game, reckon the crowd will be right up for it, especially when the Saudis start rolling around after 5 minutes.

 

[foxdog50]

I don't mind big Milos D, but his not even getting a games for his club? Yes his been injured, but is fit and not getting a game

 

[Topkent]

I don't mind big Milos D, but his not even getting a games for his club? Yes his been injured, but is fit and not getting a game

Lol if that was the criteria Souttar wouldnt be getting a game nor would most of our best players

 

[RedStarUncle]

Lol if that was the criteria Souttar wouldnt be getting a game nor would most of our best players

Souttar a regular starter and popular addition to the Sheff Utd squad? Doing quite well since moving on from the Leicester bench.

 

[Topkent]

Souttar a regular starter and popular addition to the Sheff Utd squad? Doing quite well since moving on from the Leicester bench.

He wasn't for 2 years at Leicester and still got games for Australia. People want irankunda in the squad and he doesn't play

 

[foxdog50]

Lol if that was the criteria Souttar wouldnt be getting a game nor would most of our best players

But Milos is not even named on the bench...

 

[Zidane98]

Grant is the WTF selection, so long as he doesn’t start like Bratten did (who has been banished after one squad, reckon in five years time people won’t believe he started against Japan, similar to Archie v Uruguay in 2005 in Montevideo.


Geria been very good since coming in so surely starts Thursday.

Balard might partner Irvine, that spot is up for grabs. Looks like Bacchus on the outer, fine with that. Still surprised Irankunda not in the squad, need to keep exposing him even if it’s limited.

The Robertson situation is just weird, surely a journalist can get in front of him or his manager to give us more clarity.

Going to be a massive game, reckon the crowd will be right up for it, especially when the Saudis start rolling around after 5 minutes.

That was a real head scratcher. Surely Ryan Teague was a much better selection and has a future in the Socceroos. Brattan won't be a part of the world cup squad in 2 years time so I really don't see the point in his selection.


Balard is killing it in Holland. I reckon he might actually start. Could go with O'Neill/Irvine/Balard.


Too much is being made of Robertson who is currently out injured.


Long term a midfield of Balard/Robertson/Metcalfe would be the way to go. With Irvine/Luongo/O'Neill as options.

 

[cairo tiger]

poor result last night we are going backwards

 

[Topkent]

poor result last night we are going backwards

We barely made the last world cup lol

 

[Cromulant]

We barely made the last world cup lol

Yep

I would say weve stood still (effectively going backwards) while the smaller nations have progressed.

 

[giggler99]

Popovic is the king of draws! Just look at Victory last season.

 

[Hamingja]

What a wild group. Australia 2nd with 7 points. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th all on 6 points.

 

[giggler99]

What a wild group. Australia 2nd with 7 points. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th all on 6 points.

Insane group!