World Cup Qualifiers

[NewConvert]

20 hours ago, jw1739 said:

Irritates me when Arnold is moaning about the facilities he had to use in Sydney.

Play internationals where you can use existing proper facilities for training. Why couldn't they use Central Coast's "Centre of Excellence" - it's only in bloody Gosford up the road? Even play the match there - perfectly decent stadium and facilities.

Play in Melbourne. Use the so-called "Home of the Matildas" or Casey Fields. And I think Adelaide are building or have built their own facility now. 

Continual calls for more funding are fine, but surely use existing facilities where they are perfectly adequate? City, CCM and Adelaide are producing the youngsters so I can't see why there can't be cooperation and common sense. The game is bleeding money so don't waste what we've got.

 

Maybe a question of ownership and availability. Assume that CFG allow the Socceroos/Matilda's to train at Casey then that means that the ground is not available for CFG teams/staff plus the additional upkeep. For CCM who are playing in Asia, they need the ground more often as would any team playing in Asia.

Is it solvable, yes. It would require a negotiated settlement by Football Australia and the owners of the ground.

[jw1739]

4 hours ago, NewConvert said:

Maybe a question of ownership and availability. Assume that CFG allow the Socceroos/Matilda's to train at Casey then that means that the ground is not available for CFG teams/staff plus the additional upkeep. For CCM who are playing in Asia, they need the ground more often as would any team playing in Asia.

Is it solvable, yes. It would require a negotiated settlement by Football Australia and the owners of the ground.

I think there are a number of pitches at Casey. For example, the recent VPL1 match was on "Pitch no. 4." 

And you didn't mention the so-called "home of the Matildas." What state is that it? Who uses it?

Of course I don't know the detail, but where there's a will, there's a way. There are plenty of hours in the day. It just seems to me to be out of order to be bleating for more money to be given to the game when an integral part of it has just wasted $140m. I know it's a different part of the game that's done the wastage, but to me that doesn't matter, and it just emphasises how there is lack of unity in the game to make that excuse. For me it's just the same as the continual wastage of money by different levels of government, all blaming each other. It's still taxpayers' money, and in football already the registration fees for junior players are sky high.

As a football fan and a taxpayer I don't believe the game deserves any more. Put its house in order first.

In APL something like 40% of the staff lost their jobs was it? But I'll bet not a single cent was taken off the 8 directors and they're still there soaking up the dollars for fuck all.

Edited March 23 by jw1739

[D.B. Cooper]

So as you’d hope we got through that weak group we were in without a hitch. 
Next is the third round where there will be three groups of six each and the top 2 of each qualify for the World Cup (which has been expanded). Those that miss out still get another chance.

anyway topping our group means we should get a good seed into that round. With 6 “better” teams in Asia right now this means we shouldn’t have to fight for a spot with one of those other 5, something we’ve struggled with in the last few years.

[jw1739]

13 hours ago, D.B. Cooper said:

So as you’d hope we got through that weak group we were in without a hitch. 
Next is the third round where there will be three groups of six each and the top 2 of each qualify for the World Cup (which has been expanded). Those that miss out still get another chance.

anyway topping our group means we should get a good seed into that round. With 6 “better” teams in Asia right now this means we shouldn’t have to fight for a spot with one of those other 5, something we’ve struggled with in the last few years.

I admit to not following the NT closely, and generally when I've watched a bit the football doesn't look too pretty. However, one thing I have to say is that Arnold does seem to be able to get the best out of the squad that he has on hand.

The opposite is what irked me so much with our two performances as a club in the AFC Champions League. We just seemed so unwilling to change our style or mindset. So disappointing.

[belaguttman]

Of dear, more Arnie-ball. I think that we actually have a better team this WC cycle, particularly when we get Leckie back, but, the coaching....

We play well against strong teams as Arnold's tactical management suits a counter-attacking style but we struggle when we play with the ball as there are just no movement patterns to break down deep defending teams,

There's still time to change the coach

[NewConvert]

10 hours ago, belaguttman said:

Of dear, more Arnie-ball. I think that we actually have a better team this WC cycle, particularly when we get Leckie back, but, the coaching....

We play well against strong teams as Arnold's tactical management suits a counter-attacking style but we struggle when we play with the ball as there are just no movement patterns to break down deep defending teams,

There's still time to change the coach

Unfortunately I did not get a chance to watch the game so I can't comment but Arnold does have his limitations. The problem is finding a good coach that can make players jell when they are all living in different parts of the globe.

[NewConvert]

Half time vs Japan. Well, Japan have dominated the game being played mostly on the Socceroos half but they have not been given a clear opportunity - maybe one which was completely scuffed. Bos is having a good game having been beaten only once but at the same time he has beaten his counterpart numerous times. Brattan is out of his depth and to be fair O'Neill had a poor game against China. Our forwards, have not had any shots purely because they are extra defenders.

My major concern is that the team cannot string more than two passes. Slow, inaccurate and predictable - easy pickings for the Blue Samurai to intercept.

[NewConvert]

And in the end it was an entertaining game but some irony in that both goals were own goals.

And I will temper my comments on A-League referees after watching the Kuwaiti referees last night.

[kingofhearts]

21 hours ago, NewConvert said:

Half time vs Japan. Well, Japan have dominated the game being played mostly on the Socceroos half but they have not been given a clear opportunity - maybe one which was completely scuffed. Bos is having a good game having been beaten only once but at the same time he has beaten his counterpart numerous times. Brattan is out of his depth and to be fair O'Neill had a poor game against China. Our forwards, have not had any shots purely because they are extra defenders.

My major concern is that the team cannot string more than two passes. Slow, inaccurate and predictable - easy pickings for the Blue Samurai to intercept.

Spot on analysis.

Overall I am happy with a draw but fmd our midfield struggled the whole game to create any opportunities to score. 

[belaguttman]

1 hour ago, kingofhearts said:

Spot on analysis.

Overall I am happy with a draw but fmd our midfield struggled the whole game to create any opportunities to score. 

The big problem was Japan's excellent and persisting midfield press, along with our poor first touch. Both teams were setup to nullify the other, our midfield diamond in our defensive shape shutdown their passing lanes and forced them wide where our CBs effectively dealt with all (but one) balls into the box. Japan effectively stopped us getting any fluency in our game. We played with much more purpose than under Arnold.

The most positive thing is that we now have several local coaches who are more then capable of stepping into the role Arnold vacated. We really are missing a quality number 9 though

Edited October 16 by belaguttman

[NewConvert]

7 hours ago, belaguttman said:

The big problem was Japan's excellent and persisting midfield press, along with our poor first touch. Both teams were setup to nullify the other, our midfield diamond in our defensive shape shutdown their passing lanes and forced them wide where our CBs effectively dealt with all (but one) balls into the box. Japan effectively stopped us getting any fluency in our game. We played with much more purpose than under Arnold.

The most positive thing is that we now have several local coaches who are more then capable of stepping into the role Arnold vacated. We really are missing a quality number 9 though

Agreed on the #9 and an attacking mid-fielder. I feel that Irankunda could become the player needed but he gets extra attention so he needs support.

I have to say that I would not have selected Souttar as his previous performances did not merit selection but he was solid. I was concerned that the Japanese pace would outlast him but that was not the case as they were forced out wide. For the next window I still would consider bringing in Jake Girdwood-Reich who is now at St Louis.