Socceroos World Cup Qualifier Asian Play-Off Australia V United Arab Emirates

lewdogs

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We looked a lot better when McLaren came on and Leckie went to the left.
 
You never know but Peru shouldn't have much problem with us. Given some of the football we've played we don't really deserve to be in a WC. Still absolutely take it if it happens.
 

AJ_2000

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Finally due a bit of luck after the struggles in front of goal with the winner... No surprise from a set piece.

Peru should deal with us next week, but one off matches can end up in strange results.
 

corbies

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Al-Maazmi made Atkinson look an absolute mug. Arnie must have been considering dragging him after 35 mins.
 
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Match Highlights

 
May 23, 2001
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I can't believe how passive we were in the first half considering the stakes, no pressing up the field, no quick ball movement and UAE were more aggressive in the tackles than we were. Didn't see any change in game plan from previous outings to be honest.

I love Boyle - so direct and one of the few who makes things happen. Hrustic was poor early but to his credit lifted and dragged us over the line. Irvine worked hard enough.

Some problems to sort out though - Atkinson got absolutely thrashed at RB, don't know what we do there. Karacic at his best is a better option, but he can put in a shocker as well. Mooy really has jumped the shark sadly - fine to sit between the CBs if you are spraying 40m passes around the place, but his first thought is a 5m pass backwards or sideways these days. And Leckie up front definitely doesn't work, have to hope Taggart is back next week, at least Maclaren was a bit more threatening when he came on.
 

corbies

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I love Boyle - so direct and one of the few who makes things happen.
It's no surprise that the only player who has the ability to beat someone 1-on-1 grew up outside Australia. Any individual attacking attributes get completed coached out of you in this country. Its the same reason we can't produce any clinical strikers.
 
I can't believe how passive we were in the first half considering the stakes, no pressing up the field, no quick ball movement and UAE were more aggressive in the tackles than we were. Didn't see any change in game plan from previous outings to be honest.

I love Boyle - so direct and one of the few who makes things happen. Hrustic was poor early but to his credit lifted and dragged us over the line. Irvine worked hard enough.

Some problems to sort out though - Atkinson got absolutely thrashed at RB, don't know what we do there. Karacic at his best is a better option, but he can put in a shocker as well. Mooy really has jumped the shark sadly - fine to sit between the CBs if you are spraying 40m passes around the place, but his first thought is a 5m pass backwards or sideways these days. And Leckie up front definitely doesn't work, have to hope Taggart is back next week, at least Maclaren was a bit more threatening when he came on.
Half the issue is we don't have the holding mids capable of protecting the back 4. The fact that we haven't played a 3-4-3 under Arnold with the players we have is bizarre. It's pretty much the perfect formation for us.

Ryan
Degenek - Sainsbury - Souttar
Karacic - Irvine - McGree - Behich
Boyle - Rogic - Hrustic
We have 3 very good central defenders for Asian standards, no holding mid worth their salt, our two best full backs are really better suited to playing wing back and have wingers coming out of our ears.
 
Sep 22, 2011
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Just a case of let see what happens. It’s really about the back 4. Arnold can’t have a back 3 and leak awful goals on the right.
Central back 3 with 2 wingbacks could be the way to go. Mooy can be DM with Hrustic and Irvine in the middle. Leckie need to be more switched on, he’s a valuable option on the right with Boyle on the left.

Good to see goals from general play. Really wish we had Rogic though.

Ange would be having this squad go all out attack. Instead Arnold will try and be negative, on the back foot gameplan
 

AJ_2000

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Just a case of let see what happens. It’s really about the back 4. Arnold can’t have a back 3 and leak awful goals on the right.
Central back 3 with 2 wingbacks could be the way to go. Mooy can be DM with Hrustic and Irvine in the middle. Leckie need to be more switched on, he’s a valuable option on the right with Boyle on the left.

Good to see goals from general play. Really wish we had Rogic though.

Ange would be having this squad go all out attack. Instead Arnold will try and be negative, on the back foot gameplan

Mooy can't play the DM role. He's a facilitator in the front half, but lacks the defensive prowess.
 
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