Australia v Qatar
Just what did we learn from that 3-0 trouncing? Not too much unfortunately as Qatar were that bad Malaysia would have given them a run for their money.
*For all the Dutch niceties, the high ball into the box is still an effective tool against most Asian teams.
*Score early and Middle East teams will stop diving.
*The European based players can put on a show for 60 minutes after travelling across the world with little rest and even less preparation time. Fatigue in the last 30 minutes is problematic-what if we do not score by then?
*Verbeek is good enough
*The Euroroos are committed enough
What we did not learn:
*The counter-factual: could a largely A-League squad have won that match? Probably playing a more orthodox style but not with a Dutch style.
*How we'd perform when fatigued if we had to.
*How we'd perform against an opposition that played well.
The match against China at altidute in March will be a killer-not a FIFA date so again the Euroroos will have minimal time to go and prepare-the A-League boys will be out of season. A win there will be a great result, but I'll take a draw right now!
Showing posts with label Football - Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football - Australia. Show all posts
7.2.08
13.9.07
Australia v Argentina - The Aftermath
What is it with Australia always raising its game against quality opposition, and then scratching its arse against the likes of Oman and Thailand? That was a bloody good show, even if it was a 1-0 loss. Given that the team was missing some of the Olyroo boys (Burns, Djite, Milligan, Vukovic spring to mind) and some senior players (Chipperfield, Sterjovski, Emerton, Kewell, Aloisi, Cahill, Viduka) they did quite well, especially when you consider the limited ability of Graham Arnold as a coach at the international level.
Of course the current system (so called 4-3-3) leads to us lacking goalscoring threat but leaves us very organised and competitive in the middle of the park, and quite safe at the back (pity about rubbish defending at set pieces though). We were competent but were always going to lose that game. Our more 'quality' attacking players were after all missing (Kewell, Viduka, Aloisi). Even when you consider that Viduka and Kewell may very well play little no more part in future matches, and that Aloisi is almost certainly on his way out, the future is bright precisely because we have the new dynamic duo of Bruce Djite (via Togo and the US I believe....) and Nathan Burns to fill the breach. If McDonald ever bothers to play for the national he might prove himself too. Plus Jesus Christ up front looks useful in that Peter Crouch sort of way....
Still, the strikers need to receive a steady supply of passes and crosses and for that Chipperfield and Emerton need to stay involved with the national team, even if the former is getting on. Whomever takes over the helm (and perhaps it is not Advoccat after all) need not worry too much about conceding goals once they sort out lapses at set pieces but will have serious work to do in order to get the team scoring goals. And isn't that always the hardest bit...?
What is it with Australia always raising its game against quality opposition, and then scratching its arse against the likes of Oman and Thailand? That was a bloody good show, even if it was a 1-0 loss. Given that the team was missing some of the Olyroo boys (Burns, Djite, Milligan, Vukovic spring to mind) and some senior players (Chipperfield, Sterjovski, Emerton, Kewell, Aloisi, Cahill, Viduka) they did quite well, especially when you consider the limited ability of Graham Arnold as a coach at the international level.
Of course the current system (so called 4-3-3) leads to us lacking goalscoring threat but leaves us very organised and competitive in the middle of the park, and quite safe at the back (pity about rubbish defending at set pieces though). We were competent but were always going to lose that game. Our more 'quality' attacking players were after all missing (Kewell, Viduka, Aloisi). Even when you consider that Viduka and Kewell may very well play little no more part in future matches, and that Aloisi is almost certainly on his way out, the future is bright precisely because we have the new dynamic duo of Bruce Djite (via Togo and the US I believe....) and Nathan Burns to fill the breach. If McDonald ever bothers to play for the national he might prove himself too. Plus Jesus Christ up front looks useful in that Peter Crouch sort of way....
Still, the strikers need to receive a steady supply of passes and crosses and for that Chipperfield and Emerton need to stay involved with the national team, even if the former is getting on. Whomever takes over the helm (and perhaps it is not Advoccat after all) need not worry too much about conceding goals once they sort out lapses at set pieces but will have serious work to do in order to get the team scoring goals. And isn't that always the hardest bit...?
28.8.07
Australia v Argentina 11 September
So the Argies name a squad strong enough to win the WC to play at the MCG-what about us?
1. We have a lame duck coach (Arnold) who's effectively been sacked pending a new replacement (Advocaat) coming in.
2. We also give the lame duck the Olyroos role, and they have two important qualifiers close to September 11 (on either side of the match) so what will he concentrate on?
3. He can't be asked surely to use some Olyroos due to fatigue and possible injury, but if he does not give them a go, he'll get roasted. If he plays the best side, he'll get attacked for not giving youth. If he gives youth a go, he'll be attacked when they get smashed and/or an Olyroo gets injured. If he selects a mismash of European based and local league players a go (missing locally based Olyroos) he'll probably be criticised for selecting some players that actually have little chance of future selection anyway?
4. We win and he's still sacked. We lose and he's a goose. Who wants to be Graham Arnold?
So the Argies name a squad strong enough to win the WC to play at the MCG-what about us?
1. We have a lame duck coach (Arnold) who's effectively been sacked pending a new replacement (Advocaat) coming in.
2. We also give the lame duck the Olyroos role, and they have two important qualifiers close to September 11 (on either side of the match) so what will he concentrate on?
3. He can't be asked surely to use some Olyroos due to fatigue and possible injury, but if he does not give them a go, he'll get roasted. If he plays the best side, he'll get attacked for not giving youth. If he gives youth a go, he'll be attacked when they get smashed and/or an Olyroo gets injured. If he selects a mismash of European based and local league players a go (missing locally based Olyroos) he'll probably be criticised for selecting some players that actually have little chance of future selection anyway?
4. We win and he's still sacked. We lose and he's a goose. Who wants to be Graham Arnold?
14.8.07
A New Direction?
The decision to get Advocaat as the new socceroos coach from January 2008 heralds a new direction in thinking at the FFA. In one fell swoop, they have answered a lot of nagging questions (well, to me anyway).
(a) Are they looking for a Hiddink-like figure?
*No, Advocaat ('Aussie Dick' anyone?) is no Guus. He's gruff, opinionated, and by all accounts, a bit of an asshole. He's not the wonderful man manager Guus is (but Guus started out life as a child psychologist, perfect for coaching footballers....).
We'll never replace Hiddink-time to move on. He's a no-nonsense man so Lucas Neill will learn to shut his trap...
(b) They have a set system in mind
*I think so, with Baan the technical director and now Advocaat in charge of the national team. The Dutch style might suit future generations of Australians once it immerses itself into the grassroots. It is after all a system that meshes together a physcal approach with skills and movement, and here we have physique and movement.
(c) Will they take the WC2010 qualifying campaign seriously?
*This was no doubt answered by the dismal performance oat the AFC championship. Rumour had it that a big name coach will join up later in the piece-now we'll have one for rounds 3 and 4 of the qualifying campaign.
I doubt he's the best candidate but he's the one on the shortlist that can start in January 2008 and has experience in Asia with Korea. And Korea did not do too badly in Germany, and don't forget Hiddink had the Korean team in camp for months before their semi-final performance in 2002. He's not useless.
Will Arnold have a role? I suspect so, at the start anyway-it'll be interesting to see if Verbeek joins up with him again as his assistant. If so, I expect Australia to have a rather inflexible system as Verbeek showed little interest in making tactical alterations at the AFC Championships. The Dutch under Advocaat also showed little flexibility (certainly no total football) at Euro 2004.
The decision to get Advocaat as the new socceroos coach from January 2008 heralds a new direction in thinking at the FFA. In one fell swoop, they have answered a lot of nagging questions (well, to me anyway).
(a) Are they looking for a Hiddink-like figure?
*No, Advocaat ('Aussie Dick' anyone?) is no Guus. He's gruff, opinionated, and by all accounts, a bit of an asshole. He's not the wonderful man manager Guus is (but Guus started out life as a child psychologist, perfect for coaching footballers....).
We'll never replace Hiddink-time to move on. He's a no-nonsense man so Lucas Neill will learn to shut his trap...
(b) They have a set system in mind
*I think so, with Baan the technical director and now Advocaat in charge of the national team. The Dutch style might suit future generations of Australians once it immerses itself into the grassroots. It is after all a system that meshes together a physcal approach with skills and movement, and here we have physique and movement.
(c) Will they take the WC2010 qualifying campaign seriously?
*This was no doubt answered by the dismal performance oat the AFC championship. Rumour had it that a big name coach will join up later in the piece-now we'll have one for rounds 3 and 4 of the qualifying campaign.
I doubt he's the best candidate but he's the one on the shortlist that can start in January 2008 and has experience in Asia with Korea. And Korea did not do too badly in Germany, and don't forget Hiddink had the Korean team in camp for months before their semi-final performance in 2002. He's not useless.
Will Arnold have a role? I suspect so, at the start anyway-it'll be interesting to see if Verbeek joins up with him again as his assistant. If so, I expect Australia to have a rather inflexible system as Verbeek showed little interest in making tactical alterations at the AFC Championships. The Dutch under Advocaat also showed little flexibility (certainly no total football) at Euro 2004.
11.10.06
Australia v Bahrain
Had to lecture so missed a chunk of it but overall, there's very little to learn. Bahrains largely U23 side did what everyone expected and 2-0 or 20-0, it doesn't matter. Might have been good to see the team more deadly, but a win's a win. Craig Foster tried to say a few things but was struggling really since there was precious little pressure on the side.
Had to lecture so missed a chunk of it but overall, there's very little to learn. Bahrains largely U23 side did what everyone expected and 2-0 or 20-0, it doesn't matter. Might have been good to see the team more deadly, but a win's a win. Craig Foster tried to say a few things but was struggling really since there was precious little pressure on the side.
8.10.06
Australia v Paraguay 7 Oct 06
Another match showing the limitations of the national team. For far too long the bandwagon has rolled along, making the uninitiated think the Soccerroos are the best side in the universe. We struggle to break down massed defences, as shown in the Kuwaiti match as well. Perhaps Graham Arnold isn't good enough, as some suggest, but I think he is quite adequate for the job right now leading to the Asian Cup. The squad simply isn't as good as made out. A genius took us into the last 16 of the World Cup and Grosso's antics notwithstanding, could have gone even further.
But it's time to get over it. Junior world cup results lately indicate the pool of talent is a little bit drier today. The lack of a junior and/or reserve league in Australia has negative long term implications. We have quality midfielders but need to quickly find yound defenders and strikers who can step up-Patrick Kisnorbo in particular needs a call up. Let's see what he can do.
Another match showing the limitations of the national team. For far too long the bandwagon has rolled along, making the uninitiated think the Soccerroos are the best side in the universe. We struggle to break down massed defences, as shown in the Kuwaiti match as well. Perhaps Graham Arnold isn't good enough, as some suggest, but I think he is quite adequate for the job right now leading to the Asian Cup. The squad simply isn't as good as made out. A genius took us into the last 16 of the World Cup and Grosso's antics notwithstanding, could have gone even further.
But it's time to get over it. Junior world cup results lately indicate the pool of talent is a little bit drier today. The lack of a junior and/or reserve league in Australia has negative long term implications. We have quality midfielders but need to quickly find yound defenders and strikers who can step up-Patrick Kisnorbo in particular needs a call up. Let's see what he can do.
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