Apparently Degenek is being courted by Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.. Whats everyones thoughts on this?? should he take the money or finish the season with Red Star and potentially earn a move to a better European team?

I can see why Arnie left Giannou out now. He isn't mobile enough, or quick enough for Arnie's interchange system in the front four.

I would've thought keeping  him in the squad would be useful for a different game plan though.

In Ball Possession Opposition the formation against Oman manifested as a flat midfield 4-4-2. 




Grant............Sains..............Deg............Behich


Mabil............Amini...........Mill.................Hruse


..................Nabbout..........Ikon

Although the camera was on the Socceroo back size  a lot, I thought Aus played a 4-2-3-1 against Oman.

Opta says it was a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond.

With the heat map, showing players' most common positions in the game, Kruse tucked inside. It also showed Ikon was often advanced.

What I thought occurred in Ball Possession: 




...................Amini...........Milligan


Mabil....................Ikon.......................Kruse

..........................Nabbout 




Had Nabbout and Mabil changing positions. 

Had Kruse and Ikon changing positions.

It also had Mabil and Kruse changing positions.

It created havoc and confusion for Oman.

 Conventional KNVB  doctrine advocates swapping right and left wingers, but Arnie's interchange system in the front  is something else. Pim was impressed!  

Duke's skill on the ball and first touch was shaky, but he claims to have  improved a lot from playing in Japan - a very technical league.

He was offered a contract but is looking to go to Europe during the window.

Duke had been released by his club in Japan. 

The one I think we might see again is Mitch Duke. A very versatile player these days playing all the way down the left side and as striker. Also can play RM and RW. He has played under Arnie and knows his systems. Also fits the current speed requirement form Arnie. 

Ollie apparently likes his chances but we have a lot of options now and he is definitely back in the pack. Holland is probably behind him, always was on the Coast, and has a reputation for ignoring coaches instructions.

Fascinating  to see this squad.

It must have been late 2013.

Looking at starting players  McGowan, Oar and Holland, all a good age for international football it is interesting to observe they've stagnated and not been rated by Ange, Bert or Arnie.

Of the squad players,  the erratic Vidosic, Davidson, Duke and Bozanic, are all young enough, but have  fallen off the radar since. Davidson has the best chance of returning.

Now Jedi has retired, only Kruse is a starter from the Holger era, who is still a starter and has been one under   Ange, Bert and Arnie since.

Risdon on the wing????

To be fair Holger was moved on in 2013, it’s now 2019. International squads should have a large turnover in a 6 year period. Not that I’m making excuses for Holger, he was well out of his depth and worst manager we’ve had during my lifetime.

i was just thinking about how much the squad has changed since we stopped the rot under holger and bought in ange to reform how we were looking at the NT. i don't think we can ever underestimate just what ange did for the team. i personally i think that has let arnie have the freedom to pick the squad he wanted for the NT

so here's the squad from the last 2 games under holger - full strength at the time, we were playing brazil and then france in the build up to a world cup. 

v Brazill

Schwarzer
McGowan-----Neill------Ognenovski-----McKay
------------------------Jedinak
------------Bresciano---------Holman
Kruse---------------Kennedy-----------------Oar

v France
------------------Langerak
Wilkshire----Neill----Williams---Carney
-------------------Jedinak
-------Bresciano-----------Holland
Kruse------------Cahill--------------McKay

Squad
Davidson
Rukavytsa
Leckie
Vidosic
Irvine
Ryan
Bozanic
Thompson
Milligan
Rogic
Duke
Cornthwaite

we are a much better team going into this asian cup than last time. i also think arnie is much better suited to the nature of the role. i said it when ange was picked, and it's obvious now. 

but i also think japan is much better this time around. we should all be happy with a semi final finish really. but we should also be expecting a push for the cup.

from last nights game my starting 11 in arnies system would be

----------------------------------ryan
risdon------------degenek-----------sainsbury/jurman----------behich 
--------------------------------------milligan
--------------------------luongo
ikon/leckie/risdon-----------------------------------------------boyle
------------------------ikon/rogic-----------------nabbout

left back at the moment is our week spot. behich has not looked the same since giving up game time in turkey to warm the pine in holland.  shame, he was one of our best.  i still think zullo is criminally over looked.

sainsbury has also looked worse since going to holland

i would like to see antonis and brillante in the squad - they would work this system beautifully.

i would also like to see risdon given a run on the right wing. he has been amazing in the front third. imo having risdon and boyle on the wings would be our most creative pair.

Zambia game part of kirin cup challenge but it's only Wikipedia. 

Also I think we have agreed to an away game against South Korea in June with the possibility of it being an under 23 or B team selection

Interesting scheduling for Zambia given that WCQ are scheduled for November 14 and 19, maybe Japan and other top seeds will have a bye on one of the 2 matchdays and a home game on the other

Bloody Japan and their organisation. Kirin Challenge games against Jamaica and Canada in March then June vs Honduras and Croatia and then a Copa America invite. They've scheduled a game against Zambia in November FFS. FFA 'Should we arrange for another fuel promo in the middle of the AFL season?'

Squad number changes from the world cup.

3 Gersbach> Meredith
4 Grant> Cahill
9 Maclaren> Juric
12 Langerak> Jones
13 Jeggo> Mooy
14 Boyle> Maclaren
15 Ikon> Jedinak
17 Amini> Arzani
21 Mabil> Petratos

Arguably Nabbout but i really dont fancy him

When is the squad announced?  

I look forward to Rhyan Grant being included & the forum going into meltdown.  

Agreed

Have to say McGree has been great this season - think he's shown real leadership for City and he has qualities not dissimilar to Mooy IMO. Not Mooy's range of passing obviously but he has surprised me with his strength on the ball and ability to dictate...not sure if he'll make the cut for the AC but certainly one with a good future for the NT

Most people think grant will make it as a backup RB. Most likely pushing Deng out.
I would also like to see Williams in.



Ryan
Vukovic
Langerak

Sainsbury
Degenek
Williams
Risdon
Grant
Behich
Gersbach

Milligan
Antonis
Luongo
Mcgree
Irvine
Rogic
Ikonomidis

Petratos
Goodwin
Mabil
Boyle
Leckie
Nabbout

New Signing

Your squad looks pretty good to me.

I’m not quite sure who you’ve left out other than the ones you’ve explained?

Giannou for mine has to be included. He offers a point of difference from our other attacking options and as per Josh Kennedy his size may make a genuine difference for us.

My squad as it stands:
Ryan, 
Vuka,
Langerak
Risdon
Deng
Behich
Gersbach
Sainsbury
Degenek
Milligan
Luongo
Irvine
Antonis
McGree
Rogic (if fit)
Petratos
Mabil
Ikonomidis
Leckie
Boyle
Goodwin
Giannou 
Maclaren

I considered including Lowry based on his great form this season and leadership qualities but i fear the speed and agility of the asian teams may leave him floundering a bit. I'd have also included Rhy's Williams only im not sure of his current fitness and form playing in the middle east.

Kilkenny is probably only an injury away from being included for my squad. His range of passing and defensive qualities have been top notch. I dont rate Amini so i havent included him at all.

Kruse has been left out quite simply because i dont think he offers enough of a goal scoring threat and when we are struggling to score goals i think it is more important that we have more options in front of goal. Also the form of Ikonomidis at present makes it near on impossible to leave him out.

Giannou's inclusion i have explained above.

I thought I had a 23 squad named easily, then other posters suggested about a dozen players I'd forgotten about!

I think it will be very difficult for Arnie.

Yea they said on the footbald podcast it’s tuesday or Wednesday.
Also, arnie is naming just a 23 man squad which I found interesting

Tuesday or Wednesday

Anyone know when the Asian Cup squad announcement is?