Socceroos World Cup Qualifiers Socceroos V Saudi Arabia / Bahrain

[Dixie Flatline]

We need to see the lines because the bloke looked on.

It is a sad indictment on Australian strikers that we are still playing Duke. If we had anyone half decent that actually performed for the national team we would have won that 3-0.

I'd rather have a 50 year old Mark Viduka than Mitch fricking Duke. He can't hit the broad side of a barn.

Sorely missed Goodwin's creativity on the ball in the first half. Think it was eldorado that said it, but we have a lot of foot soldiers and precious little imagination on the park, except for Hrustic's five minute cameo in the first half.

Australia simply doesn't have the skill any more. Watching Australia try to pass their way through the Saudi press was cringeworthy. Could barely string passes together in the first half. Popovic is such an uninspiring hire as manager.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Borrello and Duke FFS. That needless card to Goodwin late last game was so costly in the end.

The back 3 were solid though.

Have to jag 4 points against Bahrain and Saudis away I reckon and maybe beat Japan too.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Yengi needs to start on Tuesday, he can’t be worse than Duke and at least more mobile.

 

[giggler99]

He looked on for mine, but unsure if camera angle distorts the actual line view

I think when the ball was played he was slightly off. Still very lucky as another poster said if the flag didn't go up no way VAR overturns that.

 

[sosos]

Too sloppy in midfield. Control of the ball was terrible, although credit to the Saudis putting the pressure on.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Aussies really should have put at least 1 away tonight.. extremely fortunate at the end that goal got called offside for Saudi’s as well, dont to seem to have much quality up front tbh

 

[docko911]

We an awful team. Completely afraid to have a shot. We are hopeless in the front 3rd. We so badly need a selfish striker who will take the game on. I feel like I've seen that game played the same way for 12 months now.

Try 15+ years.

 

[docko911]

It’s amazing how bad our footballers are after 20 years of world cups and the a-league.

 

[largebus]

Dunno why Behich is on the bench. He came on and immediately caused the Saudis problems. Was a key thrust in attack in the last international window. Has to start vs Bahrain.

 

[Fabab]

That bad I switched to the cricket.

 

[RossFC]

What's going on with Irankunda? In Bayerns reserves or something?

 

[ep2018]

Win the games they should and the Saudi's will finish 2nd behind Japan, they played accordingly tonight. Just like last qualifiers.

Bahrain loss and Indonesia draw will consign us to the fourth round I feel. Should still qualify from there tho.

 

[FreoRicci]

Will we ever get a decent striker ever again?

Actually like Yengi. He wants to run with the ball. Duke is just so vanilla

 

[FreoRicci]

We an awful team. Completely afraid to have a shot. We are hopeless in the front 3rd. We so badly need a selfish striker who will take the game on. I feel like I've seen that game played the same way for 12 months now.

Yengi has the qualities . He may be rusty or poor touch, but he wants the ball. Willing to take defenders on, dribble. Australia desperately need someone like that.

 

[omgfridge]

Dunno why Behich is on the bench. He came on and immediately caused the Saudis problems. Was a key thrust in attack in the last international window. Has to start vs Bahrain.

To be fair, Behich looked meh last time he started and Bos shined when he came on. I think Bos is one of our most talented players. He did play poo tonight though, call should of been made earlier.

Time it took Yengi to come on was more my concern.

What's going on with Irankunda? In Bayerns reserves or something?

He's been playing and scored for Bayern Munich II. Popa obviously has his hard on for the a-league talent. Irankunda wasn't anything amazing his last socceroos appearances but I'd still have him the squad.

 

[FreoRicci]

Win the games they should and the Saudi's will finish 2nd behind Japan, they played accordingly tonight. Just like last qualifiers.

Bahrain loss and Indonesia draw will consign us to the fourth round I feel. Should still qualify from there tho.

Bahrain currently 0-0 with China.

Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain all on 6 points.
China 4.

Anyone can get second.
Bahrain can hold Saudis, given how stubborn they’ve been to break down.

Australia has to go in with the mentality of winning every game. Shouldn’t lose at home. V Bahrain and Saudis at home - only 1 point. That’s horrendous

 

[FreoRicci]

To be fair, Behich looked meh last time he started and Bos shined when he came on. I think Bos is one of our most talented players. He did play poo tonight though, call should of been made earlier.

Time it took Yengi to come on was more my concern.


He's been playing and scored for Bayern Munich II. Popa obviously has his hard on for the a-league talent. Irankunda wasn't anything amazing his last socceroos appearances but I'd still have him the squad.

Irankunda is needed though.

Actually, Popovic somehow being convinced Duke is still the number 1 forward is crazy. Did Arnold call him or something? Guy is shit, has always been shit, and offers nothing up forward

 

[omgfridge]

Irankunda is needed though.

Actually, Popovic somehow being convinced Duke is still the number 1 forward is crazy. Did Arnold call him or something? Guy is shit, has always been shit, and offers nothing up forward

Yeah I agree mate lol

We 100% need to move on from Duke.

 

[FreoRicci]

China just won 1-0.
That’s Australia, Saudis, China on 6 points.
Bahrain on 5.

Very intense group

 

[Hamingja]

I'm not sure what people are expecting from Popovic. We've seen more than enough of him at A-League level (and ACL level for that matter, which is probably even more relevant) to know who/what he is.

People thought we went through boring stretches under Verbeek and Oisek, you haven't seen shit. The entire basis of Popovic's philosophy is that you grind as hard as you can for as long as you can, and you just eek out the results that you need.

My very confident prediction is that we're going to directly qualify for the World Cup out of this group, but we're going to look like dogshit doing it.

The talent is just not there to actually try to play football.

Playing staunch defensively with direct football / chaos ball is actually our optimal strategy with this group of players.

Physically bullying smaller Asian opponents, playing for set pieces, from open play going wide and getting players into the box and shelling crosses in hoping for a good break of the ball is the best chance for us to score a goal.

Rangers got to a Europa final doing that. It's actually a culture shock for the opposition because they are not used to teams doing that these days.

It's not ideal but until we can actually develop a player fit to tie Brett Emerton's boots let alone Kewell, Viduka, Cahill, Bresciano etc that is all we have got.

 

[AJ_2000]

China just won 1-0.
That’s Australia, Saudis, China on 6 points.
Bahrain on 5.

Very intense group

It just gets more and.more clogged.

5 games in with only one one is wild to still be in contention

 

[AJ_2000]

The talent is just not there to actually try to play football.

Playing staunch defensively with direct football / chaos ball is actually our optimal strategy with this group of players.

Physically bullying smaller Asian opponents, playing for set pieces, from open play going wide and getting players into the box and shelling crosses in hoping for a good break of the ball is the best chance for us to score a goal.

Rangers got to a Europa final doing that. It's actually a culture shock for the opposition because they are not used to teams doing that these days.

It's not ideal but until we can actually develop a player fit to tie Brett Emerton's boots let alone Kewell, Viduka, Cahill, Bresciano etc that is all we have got.

I'd advocate for developing a long throw technique for set pieces. Get em quaking in the box

 

[Zidane98]

He was definitely offside if they judge him to have affected the play. Say he wasn't there does the keeper save it? I don't think so. Very lucky

Doesn't matter. Was in the line of sight of the keeper so must be offside. Also goes between his legs.

It's offside.

 

[Zidane98]

Team vs Bahrain away

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

------Geria------Souttar-------Burgesss


-Miller-------Balard-----Irvine---------Bos

---McGree-------Yengi--------Goodwin


Please, please do not start Duke up front.


This side needs Metcalfe & Robertson badly, even Luongo would make a huge difference. Mohamed Toure also should have been in the squad starting and scoring regularly in Denmark.

Going forward CF options should only be Yengi, Toure & Boyle.

I just don't see the need to play Dukey anymore. I really don't.

 

[ioppolo]

China just won 1-0.
That’s Australia, Saudis, China on 6 points.
Bahrain on 5.

Very intense group

Good result for us, keeping Bahrain from taking a two point lead.