Age should only ever become an issue if there is nothing else to separate the players when picking them, or it is an experimental match. There is no too old or too young, just in the best squad or not in the best squad. As GA said, it's not about incumbents having a right to be there, it's about form, but at the same time Archie's current NT form makes it impossible for him to be dropped.

Archie to me fits the role of scapegoat ATM from fans looking to vilify a player. He is similar to Jade North in the eyes of the fans.

Brett Holman fulfilled this role a few years ago.

Archie is a great combination player in the attacking third. His off the ball movement, and, passing and moving in attacking combination play is excellent. McDonald is pretty good at this too, but can't beat players like Archie can.

Weird isn't it? The guy has scored 3 goals in 3 goal games for Australia, but has scored 1 in 14 for Victory! He doesn't seem to be losing form/ability like other players of his age.

He was involved in a lot of effective combination play that resulted in goals, even if he was a little profligate with his scoring chances.

Osieck has also stated that Archie doesn't seem to need time, like most other players, to get into the game.

We also don't see the team train on a regular basis either to evaluate how players are performing in camp, or fitting into the team in general and follow different game plans.

Doing half of that. Fluffing chances, but has at least 3 assists to his name in 4 HAL matches. Could've had 4 assists, as his cross lead to the Rojas goal against Adelaide. Don't think that would lead to an assist stat...as before it made it to Rojas the cross hit Boogaard and then the cross bar.

All that cross comes down to in the end is a dangerous ball. :lol:


And yet, now all 4 of them are in the squad to take on South Korea. Time for Ruka to actually perform and fingers crossed that we get to see Leckie and Babalj hit the pitch.


And I could easily say, would Oar's cross looked so pin point if Archie hadn't actually made the run to get in between the two CBs? Beautiful cross, but the run would've meant it was a nothing ball. Just like Archie's run wouldn't have of been useful if there was no cross.

6 of one, half dozen of the other.


Obviously not watching him actually playing for MV.

Edited by Ali07: 9/11/2012 01:50:09 PM

Single handedly destroyed Sydney last night.
One of the best individual performances I can recall from any A League player.

That's a quadruple hat trick, plus one.

Thanks for that.

This season I think he's played the best I've seen him play. But he's been a winger and thats what I've always seen him as. His finishing can be very erratic, but as a winger he's been good.

Now I get to post this!

^ LOL

I sure miss Cup Fever...

Was writing up a quiz for the participants to name 6 English national team players born abroad. Could name a few foreign born Roos but was very surprised and wouldn't have named Thompson who was in fact born in NZ.

He was actually wanted by the NZ coach before Australia selected him. He waited thinking he'd get the Aussie call up, which he did. I believe that he was also eligible through his mother for an Island nation, who wanted him as well. He made the right choice!

PNG

Cheers, thanks.