Oz Squad for Jamaica game

[David Votoupal]

COME ON AUSTRALIA!!!

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Is it just me or has jamaica got the worst national anthem ever... it went on and on and the guy singing it was terrible.

Come on CHannel seven - blitz us with your ads - for I am ready.

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by Minkus_Swan
Is it just me or has jamaica got the worst national anthem ever... it went on and on and the guy singing it was terrible.

Marathon effort that. I would have prefered Buffalo Soldier or Get up Stand up, by Bob Marley.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

Bresciano has scored for the aussies!

1-0 20 minutes into the match.

The Aussies are on top!

 

[thewhippersnapper]

Jamaica have equalised through Lisbie.

1-1 22 mins in.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

woohoo... australia scores
30 secs later
jamaica scores

It's funny looking at the jamaican's feet from a distance.Its like their wearing yellow gum boots.

 

[mattyc2422]

BRESCIANO!

Go you Parma boy. Great effort.

 

[Portmanteau]

Bresciano has been marvellous. I'm surprised Harry hasn't go on the board yet... he's really leaving nothing to guesswork. Even Vidukes has jumped on the 'get shots off at all costs' wagon.

If the following players: Scott Chipperfield, Josip Skoko, Kevin Muscat, Steve (?) Laybutt, are part of our World Cup qualification I'm going to kick someone in the nuts.

 

[mattyc2422]

Nice goal from Harry. He's worked hard all night and deserved it.

 

[mattyc2422]

Note to Channel 7.
Quit showing this freakin' Advanced Hair ad. Enough is enough.

 

[Falchoon]

The Jamaican Anthem went longer than the game. Reminded me of the Simpsons episode at the baseball where the singer hung on to every note, the crowd falling asleep.

 

[Carmelo Anthony]

Bresciano was marvellous tonite, easily BOG. Well done to Harry too but he shouldve scored a hatrick 2nite.

Other than those 2 no one really stood out but it was a good team effort.

Shouldve won 5-0, complete domination.

Bresciano is exactly what this team needs, put him in the middle with a defensive minded midfielder next to him, with Harry and Emerton running the flanks its going to be an awesome sight.

Well done to Okon 2nite aswell, that pass to Harry was sheer brilliance and the Okon of old started to come through in the 2nd half.

 

[stmookeyj]

Originally posted by Guey_34
Bresciano has been marvellous.

If the following players: Scott Chipperfield, Josip Skoko, Kevin Muscat, Steve (?) Laybutt, are part of our World Cup qualification I'm going to kick someone in the nuts.

A little cruel on Chipperfield and Skoko there, but when we get our defenders back it is doubtful that Muscat and Laybutt will be in the mix.

As for Bresciano, gee he has really been inmpressive in these last 2 games and should be the cornerstone of our midlfield in the WC drive.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

A good win. Never in trouble after the 30 minute mark, should have scored at least 4. Oh well, signs are good apart from the back 4 which was rubbish for the 1st half.

My thoughts:

Schwarzer - Not much to do, perhaps could have done better with the goal.

Neill - Disappointing, struggled first half. Better 2nd half.

Laybutt - How is this old codger still getting a game? Missed an open goal as well.

Vidmar - OK, but we should have started one of the younger guys in defence.

Muscat - Just hacked anyone who got too close. Why Jamaica didn't attack down his side I don't know- poor coaching.

Bresciano - That performance puts into context why I was slightly disappointed about him after the Ireland game. The guy is a genuine star. What a volley! Sensational, put him in the middle!

Okon - There is life in the old man yet. Some great passes and played the anchor role to perfection.

Skoko - Didn't like his game much. How did he miss that chance with the open net when he had about an hour? Should have given Grella a run in the second half.

Chipperfield - Did little again. Not our answer on the left.

Viduka - Just a game. Held the ball up well. With Harry playing so well had no need to stretch.

Kewell - Scintillating. Incandescent. What a performance. Tore them to shreds.

Kalac - Easiest 45 minutes of his career I suggest.

Sterjovski - Not enough time to make an impact.

Martin Crowe - Needs a new hair hat.

The Jamaican National Anthem - Bloody dreadful - I think they were trying to bore us to death.

 

[year of the roo]

very happy with the performance last night from a side that was missing a lot of quality players against a side at full strength who is higher ranked.

as soon as kalac replaces schwarzer as #1 keeper, grella and bresciano play in the centre of midfield, and moore and popovic can play in the centre of defence, the socceroos will start to really put away sides like jamaica. the 2-1 score line was not indicative of the socceroo domination last night.

someone said kewell should have had a hat-trick, but he really could have had 4-5 goals with a bit of luck. great game by him and bresciano especially.

 

[Weaver]

Schwarzer - should have done better on the goal. His big weakness is making the first save but only padding the ball back into play to give a 2nd chance to the strikers. He should have stopped that shot dead. Other than that had nothing to do. Remins me of Tim Flowers who had that problem for ages.

Neill - rock solid. All the Jamaica attacks were going to be from Benjamin and later Gardiner down his side and he dealt with eveything. Got forward to support the attacks. The right-hand side looks great for Australia.

Muscat - had nothing to do. Managed to stay on and not draw a yellow. Couple of times he got the ball he just hoofed it forward. Thankfully he is just a fill in. Considering how little he had to face he should have pushed forward more. Inability to use his left foot was obvious.

Vidmar - Stood up to the physical stuff and did OK. Apparantly playing at centre back for Cardiff and a Vidmar-Moore combination might be OK. Is a little slow but reads the play well and his distribution is good.

Laybutt - Is a slow plodder and his passing is bad. Received heaps of protection from the midfield and the outlet pass was easy because Okon, Kewell and Skoko would come for the ball under no pressure. We really need a super-speedy central defender.

Okon - Superb. Those raised on English football want forward-forward-forward up and at them style footy. Okon is more continental. Controlling the pace, playing sideways and backwards to keep possesion. Stroking the ball around well. He dictated the tempo of the game and his pass to Kewell was an absolute peach. Where Okon lets us down is when the opposition pressures him and hurries him or when we need to up the temp and score a goal and he is still playing at 3/4 tempo.

Skoko - A little dissapointing. Worked his socks off and got stuck in. Gave it a way a little and committed some unnecessary fouls. His shooting for goal was deplorable. Really the Okon-Skoko combination is not right. A playmaker who won't go forward and a defensive specialist who can't create doesn't quite work. Maybe even Okon-Kewell or Skoko-Emerton in the middle.

Chipperfiled - tried hard but looks out of his depth. He hasn't got pace, his crossing is poor and he can't dribble or shoot. We really offered nothing down the left.

Bresciano - was great and only Kewell was better. Ran hard, covered the whole pitch, got forward to shoot and put crosses in, and tracked back well. The combinations will Kewell and Neilll were great. We need to find a way to get Kewell, Emerton and Bresciano into the same team. I would like to have seen Kewell rested with 20 to go and Bresciano given the Kewell role, might have learnt something and found a way to cover for Kewell

Kewell - worked so hard, took a good goal, dragged defenders and midfielders all over the place and really inspired us. Hit the post and missed another couple by inches and drew some good save from a goalkeeper who did quite well. When Kewell drops back into midfield it creates 3 on 2 which gives Okon the time he needs, also makes it easy for the defenders to bring the ball out. Only problem is that it leaves Viduka isolated and with 2 to beat. Makes it more important that Okon is there to hold the ball up.

Viduka - will always be living on scraps with Kewell the go-to guy and being left one-up and the slow build-ups. He is there to lay the ball back and keep the defenders honest and wait for a half chance or two. He was good without being superb but it is a hard system for him to shine in.

Kalac + Sterjovski - Kalac touched it once and Sterjovski had 10 minutes when we were not interested in going forward. Would have been good to see some more players given a go. Perhaps Farina could have gone to 3-4-1-2 we were dominating so much. I suppose Milicevic, McKain and Holman were just with the squad for experience and were always scheduled for the Turkey match.

 

[mattyc2422]

It was a less than convincing win for Australia. My man Bresciano was in form. He rode the bench for most of Parma's season last year with some other guys ahead of him but he should get some more chances in the Serie A this coming season with a few guys leaving.
He'll be vital to our WC qualifying.

Kewell was very good. Didn't take all of his chances but he looked dangerous. Really should have converted.

Guys like Vidmar, Muscat, Laybutt, Chipperfield and to an extent, Skoko were ordinary. I would have liked Farina to use the bench more.

Can't complain with the win. Can complain with the length of the national anthem.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

I think we played very well.

We just didn't put away our chances.

I think the shots at goal was something like 22-6.

And we were missing 7 players.

 

[tribey]

That was a pleasing performance, although we should've scored 7 or 8... I mean 9 corners and over 20 shots on goal... that's a shellacking.

Biggest disappointment was Farina's team selection and lack of substitutions. Kalac has to play ahead of Schwarzer who is SH|T. We are wasting poor Vince Grella.

My player ratings:

Schwarzer: 5. Was OK... Nothing special. Made an OK save immediately before Lisbie's tap-in that he should've done more to divert away from danger. Has to be dropped for Zeljko.

Muscat: 4. Nothing more than a clogger and a hack.

Laybutt: 6. Grew in stature as the game went on and looks like he still has something to offer us if he can concentrate on his game and continue his development.

Vidmar: 4. Awful. Love him to bits but he's too old, too slow and not international quality anymore. How he wasn't subbed for McKain or Milicevic is beyond me.

Neill: 7. Was fantastic defensively but was often too eager to get forward - leaving us exposed for Jamaica's goal. Will be able to leave his post and support the attack with confidence once Moore, Foxe and Popovic are back on board.

Chipperfield: 5. Mediocre game from Chippers... found a lot of space but did bugger all with it. Behind Lazaridis and Tiatto in the pecking order if everyone is fit and available.

Skoko: 6. Had an OK game but we were playing Jamaica. Was invisible in the first half and only came into his own once the Reggae Boyz were done and dusted in the last 20-25 minutes. Bresciano has to start ahead of him in the middle when Emo is available.

Okon: 7. Hmmmm. A very big hmmmmm. It took him a good half to adjust to the pace of the game, was caught in possession and afforded too much room to the Jamaicans in midfield - but... late on once he was comfortable that slide-rule passing came out for all to see and that through-ball for Kewell's winner was a thing of beauty. Maybe it's time for Okon to move into defence as a sweeper alongside Moore and let Grella take over his role in midfield. Still has something to offer us.

Bresciano: 9. Oh my god. We have another out and out champion on our hands. His passing, his workrate, his corner-taking, his movement, his creativity and his finishing were all first class. Back to back stellar performances in the Australian shirt... has to be first choice attacking midfielder now.

Kewell: 8.5. What can we say? Harry's Harry. Only negative for me was that he could've had a hattrick but ended the game with only 1. Top-drawer player and with him in the team we're a threat to anyone on our day.

Viduka: 7. Was afforded incredible space by the Jamaicans and probably could've had a couple on another day. Solid performance.

Subs:

Kalac: 7. Is it just me or did the defence look 100% calmer with Zeljko behind them instead of Schwarzer? Made one save from a shot straight at him and his distribution was good.

Sterjovski: NR. If you're going to be subbed on you'd expect more than 6 or 7 minutes to show your stuff.

 

[Catman]

A workmanlike win which was never in doubt. Should have been 4 or 5-1.

Schwarzer worries me. I've never been impressed with him and he should have never spilled the ball for the Jamaicans goal. A drugged up Mark Bosnich would have been better.

Defence had little to do in the 2nd half but were cut up often in the 1st half by the impressive Ricardo Fuller (Can see why Reidy wanted to sign him). Laybutt looked out of his depth and Muscat looks past it. Even Lucas Neill struggled which was disappointing considering how well he played against Ireland.

Harry was great and deserved more than one goal and Bresciano was sensational down the right. Skoko was so-so but Okon was very good. Maybe his game last night was a reminder to Peter Reid that he can still play.

Was disappointed that more of the youngsters didn't get a go. Jamaica had given up half way through the 2nd half and it would have been an ideal time to give them some game time.

Anyone know if there are any more friendlies planned for the upcoming months, because we appear to be developing a good structure and it would be a shame to see it's development stagnate without regular matches.

 

[tribey]

Just regarding Okon... a lot of people have called his performance very good or superb... i completely disagree, I'd say it was just a little bit better than mediocre (hence my 7 out of 10 - mainly for the assist) and we can take heart from it.

Looking at the full 90 minutes he was caught in possession a lot, tried a lot of passes and flicks that didn't come off, flew into a few ridiculous challenges and generally gave the Jamaicans too much room in midfield and didn't shield the back 4 at all.

On the plus side his passing did improve and he looked far more comfortable as the game went on - and as I said - his thruball for Harrison K was a thing of beauty.

All said - it was Jamaica. If Paolo gives the ball away like that against Uruguay, France or Brazil we're dead.

 

[Ray Nolan]

A good performance by a makeshift Socceroo side, but again we come up against the same problem - creating loads of chances but not sticking enough of them in the onion bag. I thought Frank should've been far more experimental with his line up and substitutions - obviously playing for the win more than anything. Anyway my ratings:

Schwarzer 6: Not much to do really, I didn't think he was at fault on the goal, he did well to get low and get a hand on the first shot, just very unlucky it fell straight to Lisbie.

Neill 7: Defensively fairly sound, but he was caught out of position on their goal. Getting forward is a main strength of his but he mustn't neglect his defensive duties in doing so. Still, a good game, has now got his name in stone at RB.

Laybutt 7: Great performance by Steve after so long in the wilderness, hardly put a foot wrong and deserves the plaudits for doing the hard work. I'm sure he will continue to get better the longer he is with Mouscron. Now puts his name in the mix as a back up to Moore & Popovic.

Vidmar 6: Serviceable & solid as always, did nothing wrong, but did nothing spectacular.

Muscat 4: Out of position and it showed, no link up with Chipperfield and really did nothing of note. Didn't even manage to put his foot through anyone from memory!

Bresciano 8: Marco has got to get a regular spot in this team somehow! Great to see him get his 1st goal for Australia and his link play with Kewell & Viduka was excellent. Provides another option going forward and so good on the ball. Fantastic performance

Okon 7: I thought Paolo played very well, you can just see the lift in his confidence now he's left Leeds. His passing was generally excellent and his work in front of the back 4 was good. Gave the ball away once or twice but nothing major.

Skoko 7: I think Josip got the message after the Ireland game & Bresci's performance. He has to get forward and he did on this occasion, it was his best game in an attacking sense in a long time, certainly added something extra in attack.

Chipperfield 5: Back in his familiar position but not as effective on his flank in comparison to Marco. Not helped by having Muscat's non-existant link play behind him. I think his lack of pace in comparison to Lazaridis & Tiatto goes against him. Spot in the team must be a bit shaky

Kewell 9: MOTM for sure, the only downside was he should've had a hat trick. Took his goal very well, great running from deep, superb on the ball, great interplay with Bresciano & Viduka. We are a 50% better team when he plays.

Viduka 7: Again Mark's work around the box and off the ball was very good, he held the ball up very well and his interplay with Bresciano and Kewell was very good. Shame he couldn't bag a goal, needs to get more clear goalscoring opportunities.

Subs:

Kalac 7: Didn't have much to do but he did it well.

Sterjovski n/a: Not enough time, but nice to see him get a run after missing the last squad.

Here's hoping it's not too long until our next game, it's been great too see the boys in action over the last couple of weeks.

 

[Harvs29]

i am quite surprised at how highly a lot of people rated lucas neill's game. I thought he was given a touch up in the first half but settled better in the second. not one of the better games i have seen from him.

Bresciano was the standout on the night for me.

Would have liked to have seen Grella. (I missed the first couple of minutes and thankfully by the sounds of it the Jamacian anthem to boot, was Grella on the bench?)

 

[Slax]

I was actually disappointed in Okon's game. Although he played some great balls through he also gave away possession a few time in midfield quite easily.

5/10.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

How **** was Viduka??

Bresciano will be a very very good player in the future and along with Kewell they were the stand outs.