Matildas The Matildas Thread

[stax on the mull]

Looks like Heatley and Prior are central defenders. Carpenter on the right, Torpey left back.

 

[Pres]

Young lineup on now for AUS. Do well to keep this at 2-1.

Awesome save there Micah

 

[stax on the mull]

Top save by Micah.

 

[stax on the mull]

That's it 2-1. We didn't really have many chances. The last 3 set pieces weren't that threatening, especially that last corner from Van Egmond. Needed it closer to goal. Actually thought the corners by Catley and Cooney-Cross earlier in the match were all dangerous balls.

 

[Pres]

That's it 2-1. We didn't really have many chances. The last 3 set pieces weren't that threatening, especially that last corner from Van Egmond. Needed it closer to goal. Actually thought the corners by Catley and Cooney-Cross earlier in the match were all dangerous balls.

Any of the young brigade catch your eye stax with a view to the future?

 

[stax on the mull]

Any of the young brigade catch your eye stax with a view to the future?

What did you think of Grant? In this game I thought she did a lot of sprinting in the first half in an attacking mode. Maybe not a watertight defender but has the speed to close down space and won some balls that other players wouldn't get to.

Can't really say much about Murphy. First game in. She did one bad backpass. Who else was there. Laini Freier got a couple of touches. Be good to see her sister back. There's still some players like Vine and Sharn Freier who have got upside that aren't in this squad.

I like Prior. She's a big unit and hard to get around.

No one was really bad.

I'm usually really harsh on Raso, but I thought she had a good game. Maybe our best.

 

[stax on the mull]

Watch the Under 20's Young Matildas vs Thailand on Tues. There's a free stream on youtube.

Looks like it'll be a fairly good match up as Thailand beat Vanuatu by about the same amount as Australia beat them.

 

[Pres]

What did you think of Grant? In this game I thought she did a lot of sprinting in the first half in an attacking mode. Maybe not a watertight defender but has the speed to close down space and won some balls that other players wouldn't get to.

Yep agree with that. Rapt she got a start and was able to get through the full 90. Agree her speed is a real asset with quite a few averaged paced players in this squad.

She's forever kept out of the team in her position by Carpenter/Catley who are close to our best two players so was glad the manager started Catley as a centre back as a change-up which allowed Charli a start.

I did not see all the first half. Did Fowler have any impact?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Cooney-Cross is a witches hat in midfield, she must have a different role at Arsenal because she's always poor with the matildas. Couldn't break up a weetbix.

 

[stax on the mull]

Yep agree with that. Rapt she got a start and was able to get through the full 90. Agree her speed is a real asset with quite a few averaged paced players in this squad.

She's forever kept out of the team in her position by Carpenter/Catley who are close to our best two players so was glad the manager started Catley as a centre back as a change-up which allowed Charli a start.

I did not see all the first half. Did Fowler have any impact?

Fowler was better than in the 1st game but she never got into a position to use that powerful shot she has on either foot. This is one player that Sermanni has admitted he hasn't worked out how to use her in the best way for the team. Something for the next coach to figure out.

 

[stax on the mull]

Cooney-Cross is a witches hat in midfield, she must have a different role at Arsenal because she's always poor with the matildas. Couldn't break up a weetbix.

Who would you pick ahead of her in midfield?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Who would you pick ahead of her in midfield?

 

[stax on the mull]

Yes, that makes sense. You would pick a cartoon character.

Do you have someone who you would prefer to play midfield for the Matildas or not?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Yes, that makes sense. You would pick a cartoon character.

Do you have someone who you would prefer to play midfield for the Matildas or not?

I don't know enough about the rest of the squad as I don't watch games outside of the Matildas, but she's a witches hat in the midfield in her current role. Either she needs to change roles or be punted. That is my point.

 

[stax on the mull]

I don't know enough about the rest of the squad as I don't watch games outside of the Matildas, but she's a witches hat in the midfield in her current role. Either she needs to change roles or be punted. That is my point.

You must have some idea. Your previous comments about the Matildas were that they had the players but their coach was so bad he wasting their talents.

 

[Bradesmaen]

You must have some idea. Your previous comments about the Matildas were that they had the players but their coach was so bad he wasting their talents.

Yeah, the squad we had. And he was, don't you remember the abject performances?

 

[stax on the mull]

Yeah, the squad we had. And he was, don't you remember the abject performances?

Sure I do. As you predicted we wouldn't get out of the group stage of the World Cup at home. But which midfielders have we lost since then? I can't think of any. Who do you have in mind as starting midfielders?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Sure I do. As you predicted we wouldn't get out of the group stage of the World Cup at home. But which midfielders have we lost since then? I can't think of any. Who do you have in mind as starting midfielders?

Ah you're going to be a stubborn arse, nice.

 

[stax on the mull]

Ah you're going to be a stubborn arse, nice.

Not at all. Regardless of how you put it, you're saying one player in our midfield needs to be replaced because she's no good. I disagree that she's no good but you could at least look at the squad and pick someone better.

 

[jhong]

Just treading water atm . Need to sort out who the coach will be . Either let Tommy have the gig for the Asian cup or pull the finger out and find someone. Maybe no one wants the job , the team is clearly in a transition period . Probably last hurrah for a few players as well . Just having the team together for a week or so is probably of more value than the results , although I think we’re a chance against Colombia.

 

[Pres]

Fowler was better than in the 1st game but she never got into a position to use that powerful shot she has on either foot. This is one player that Sermanni has admitted he hasn't worked out how to use her in the best way for the team. Something for the next coach to figure out.

This seems to be a perennial problem for club and country coaches with Mary. Have heard her City manager opine similarly.

I listened to a pod interview with Karly Roestbakken before the Olympics where she was convinced that the #10/attacking midfielder position was the best use of her talents. Particularly with Hayman playing as a genuine striker. But who knows?

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Just treading water atm . Need to sort out who the coach will be . Either let Tommy have the gig for the Asian cup or pull the finger out and find someone. Maybe no one wants the job , the team is clearly in a transition period . Probably last hurrah for a few players as well . Just having the team together for a week or so is probably of more value than the results , although I think we’re a chance against Colombia.

This is the biggest issue at the moment with the Matildas. Sermanni is keeping the seat warm for the permanent coach, but this is the longest running search for a coach I've ever seen. Unsurprised that the Matildas are playing such insipid football, because there's currently no identity from the head coach since the Matildas don't have one.

There's also a longer term trend that most of the football powerhouses are now investing into women's football, and Australia will be left in the dust. Hosting the 2023 World Cup was Australia's best chance of winning silverware, and now the countries in which football is the national pastime have caught up and are going past Australia. The fact that we're relying on 36 year old Michelle Heyman to score goals in the absence of 31 year old Sam Kerr should be ringing alarm bells very loudly.

I haven't seen Colombia play since the World Cup finished, but they have some world-class players on their roster and they have pace to burn. I can see them putting Australia to the sword, but I can also see Australia scoring quickly against Colombia, as it depends on which Colombia turns up.

 

[stax on the mull]

Mayra Ramirez who plays with Chelsea is a bully striker who will be hard to match up on. She's kind of been Kerr's replacement. Linda Caicedo who plays for Barcelona and scored the goal of the tournament in the 2023 World Cup against Germany is another one to watch out for.

 

[stax on the mull]

The fact that we're relying on 36 year old Michelle Heyman to score goals in the absence of 31 year old Sam Kerr should be ringing alarm bells very loudly.

This is true, and she's been our only scorer so far. I guess Heyman will get more time against Colombia because she's only come on as a sub so far - but I think it's the reason (looking to the future) why McNamara started against USA and Laini Freier was selected only after a handful of starts for Brisbane - and maybe why Gielnik wasn't selected, albeit she's younger than Heyman.

I just noticed the Western United striker Kahli Johnson who is the equal lead scorer in the A League on 8 goals (with Gielnik) has signed to play with Calagary in Canada and will be leaving before the end of the season.

 

[stax on the mull]

Speaking of young strikers coming through Sienna Saveska has scored a hattrick in a very competitive under 20's game vs Thailand. Score is 4-2 with about 15 minutes to play. Saveska is equal 3rd on the A-League women leading goal scorers so far this season on 7 goals playing for what was the bottom team WSW until the last round.

5-2 it finished. The last 2 goals and the 1st were well constructed goals.