Socceroos 2018 WCQ THREAD-v HONDURAS FOR SPOT IN RUSSIA (Dates TBC)

[Loonerty]

When did this fascination with managers using a back 3 happen? Everton & Arsenal have tried and failed with it, Australia is disgusting with it.

I just don't ever see it work and yet managers continue to use it?

Because Conte made it work.

A guy who has always made it work. What a shock that it doesn't translate when other managers don't use it.

Bizarre tactics from Ange.

 

[mcgarnacle]

We should get past Syria. The CONCAF team will be very tricky.

they 'should' qualify directly!

 

[Great8]

Think October/November. We qualified against Uruguay2005 in mid-November. So probably about right

Will be played on October 5th and 10th, I would guess probably in Oman but hoping Malaysia
Winner will play the 4th placed CONCACAF on November 6th and 15th

 

[HODGEYROAD]

We are lucky it won't be a trip to Raqqa.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Load of shit Saudi Arabia got to play Japan when it meant nothing to them.

why is it a load of shit? There were 9 other matches in this round of qualifiers to be in control of their destiny, like Japan were.

Japan and Saudia Arabia got 6 points out of Thailand too. Thailand got 2 points out of this whole 3rd round campaign....1 of them off AUS.

Frankly, Ange has tried to play wonderball with a bunch of plodders and crazy starting XI selections. And the same old problems exist with scoring goals. The shoe-horning of players into wingbacks (Gersbach is the only recognised one) has been a massive failure, as has the insistence to play out from the back at all costs.

He needs a game plan that suits the personnel.

 

[Hauker]

Well what a nightmare. Footy gods toying with us again.

 

[Pykie]

At the end of the day, if we don't qualify it's squarely on Ange's shoulders imo.

We don't have the best team we've had in the past 20 years, but I'd argue it's better than the one we had at Rio. We've got more players in top leagues than we did back then.

This 3 at the back formation has (almost) cost us a spot at the WC. We just don't have the correct players for it and we are so easily scored against by absolutely inferior opponents, it keeps them in the game.

Thailand had around 3 or 4 positive movements, they all could of resulted in goals tbh, it leaves us far too exposed at the back.

The Confed Cup was essentially a poisoned chalice, we'd played like absolute dogshit up to that point with 3 at the back, Ange had even reverted back to the old system (the one we ****ing won the Asian Cup with), but 1 or 2 decent performances against top international sides with that formation gave him the confidence to use it in the run home.

Playing players with zero club football continually in the side, Kruse hasn't scored at international level for 2.5 years and Brad Smith over Gerbach (who has performed fantastic for the side every time he's played) is absolutely criminal.

I mean, why use it AWAY to Japan when you only need a point and then a home win against Thailand?!? Absolute madness.


FFA doesn't have the balls too, but if we had any standards at all, Ange should be given his marching orders this morning. Bring in Graham Arnold for a short stint if need be.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Well done Saudi Arabia, deserved to go through.

We should've put 6-7 past the Thai's last night so only ourselves to blame, pathetic.

 

[John H]

Congratulation to Saudi Arabia. When it comes to Syria, it will be a easy match. The only threat from Syria comes from one payer, the star striker who have scored the most goals in Syrian football history, Omar Al Somah, 1.93 m tall and plays for the Saudi club Al-Ahli.

 

[Big_Luch]

Can't believe the critics of ange, on paper this is the worst socceroos side I've ever seen.

Late 90s had Okon Zelic Muscat Vidmar Bosnich etc, early 00s had prime Kewell Viduka Neill Moore Popa Emerton etc even the late 00s had Cahill Wilkshire Neill Holman Kennedy.
This team has Mooy and Rogic that's it. It's incredible this team can even win games let alone dominate sides.

More than enough talent to get wins against uae, Thailand and iraq away.

If those 90s stars qualified through Asia we would've been done months ago

 

[Pykie]

I have worked and lived and traveled around Saudi Arabia for 4 years, great people. The misconceptions we westerners have about the people and about the country are incredibly sad and frustrating to me.

I've worked there for a period, my sister was a teacher there.

I'm not sure there's many misconceptions tbh.

A country where a female can't; get a drivers license, go to the doctor alone, have a child out of wedlock without being arrested is an international backwater.

The Saudi men are absolute pigs, they'd put a woman to death in their own country for being r*ped and impregnated, then travel to places like Morocco on holiday and hit as much gear/alcohol as possible and knock up every local in site, then return back home, clear conscience. They do the same when they travel to Abu Dhabi to an extent.

 

[Big_Luch]

Japan and Saudia Arabia got 6 points out of Thailand too. Thailand got 2 points out of this whole 3rd round campaign....

3 of their 6 goals vs us aswell.

 

[Satan]

Totally shocked

 

[hey shorty]

Congratulation to Saudi Arabia. When it comes to Syria, it will be a easy match. The only threat from Syria comes from one payer, the star striker who have scored the most goals in Syrian football history, Omar Al Somah, 1.93 m tall and plays for the Saudi club Al-Ahli.

Thailand only had 1 threat, and he wasn't even the one to score.

We are in trouble even if we get through.

 

[Great8]

I'm in KL for a week in October but don't get there until the 12th

 

[Gavin Excell]

Honduras playing USA currently. Loser be in the mix for the 4th spot v Australia /Syria

 

[iluvparis]

In a year we have suffered the sad passing of Les Murray, I feel it would be only fitting if we lose a qualification playoff to an American team on away goals.

How many playoff losses did poor Les and Johnny W have to sit through with tears in their eyes

 

[Punt Road Feral]

We got what we deserved.
Over the course of 10 games with 5 at home you have plentiful chances to create your own destiny.
At the end of the day we are a mediocre international side with major flaws in our tactics.
Should be able to get passed Syria but playing in Central America will be a challenge in itself. Regions where even Mexico or USA struggle in away countries in hostile conditions.

 

[kaiserchief13]

#Angeout

He had his chance and he blew it

 

[Total_Juddshanks]

Well that's the answer isn't it
Let's not have talented youngsters in the squad- let's fill the team with Aboriginals.

Ok let's not look at a racial group who are massively overrepresented in the quickest and most skillful AFL players and seriously underrepresented in soccer.

Everyone gets a bit queasy talking about race and physical performance, but if you look around the world at different sports (say basketball, swimming, distance running, sprinting) it's obvious that some racial groups just tend to have more individuals with natural physical ability of certain types. If you look at what proportion of the quickest and most skillful AFL players are aboriginal, it's pretty obvious they have some genetic advantages in terms of fast twitch muscle fibres and hand/foot/eye coordination which soccer is failing to draw on.

 

[The_Todd07]

Honduras up 1-0
Live ladder has us playing the US if we get past Syria

 

[Great8]

why is it a load of shit? There were 9 other matches in this round of qualifiers to be in control of their destiny, like Japan were.

Japan and Saudia Arabia got 6 points out of Thailand too. Thailand got 2 points out of this whole 3rd round campaign....1 of them off AUS.

Frankly, Ange has tried to play wonderball with a bunch of plodders and crazy starting XI selections. And the same old problems exist with scoring goals. The shoe-horning of players into wingbacks (Gersbach is the only recognised one) has been a massive failure, as has the insistence to play out from the back at all costs.

He needs a game plan that suits the personnel.

I do think if possible all games should be played at the same time

 

[Great8]

#Angeout

He had his chance and he blew it

Yep, if we turf him now we may salvage our hopes of qualifying. Won't get through with him in charge

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Come on USA, lift! Mind you if they lose to Panama they might miss out altogether.

 

[Brad Goodman]