Can’t wait for this game. Can only imagine the home pressure applied to the Japanese right now, we’re probably the last team they wanted to face. A loss against us would leave them in a very desperate situation. Should be a cracker.

Kenny Dougall literally plays 90 mins every week in the Championship at CDM, so he would be ahead of Genreau/ Jeggo in my book. I'd also start Karasic over Grant & Boyle over Rogic, with Mabil as "Striker" in that formation. Plus I can't leave Harry out of the team either

genreu though is in a promotion chasing team in an equivalent league so might have eeked ahead

Quite like this team. The only small issue is that Irvine does give us a little extra up front.

I've done that my whole football career (and continues in the O45s).

Also pays to be mates with teh ref - let the other team do the yelling.

Yep.  I've even passed on that proud tradition to the kids that I have coached.  :D

agreed, it is a first that I can recall for us.

Japan despite the lack of form (injuries as well) 2loss's 1 win 3rd round know this game is a must win for them as all can see.
Every single game against them over the years we're like half a yard slower (be great not this game) and I expect them coming at us 200miles an hour and look to play around us to pull us open in the middle in the hope for many balls coming back inside us in and around the box for one of them open for the shot.
I'm sure we're all keen to see our starting line up, I'm not so sure seeing some line ups in here having Mooy @ CM but thats my train of thought.

Can't wait for the game and rippa @ 9.14pm.

Possibly true, that he is a diversion, but we've scored  from no  set pieces in this WCQ round - having played three games.

It was interesting Adrian Deans, an Inside Sport analyst ( is he any relation  to Craig Deans A L coach?) also identified what I've been saying for a long time. 

Harry is a horses for courses selection IMO.  He  isn't nimble enough to change direction quickly against nimble, skilful  attackers.

 I'm  going to sub Ikon for Rogic in this line up.

He gets through more defensive work.

Hrustic and Ikon can swap sides too.

I'm not  familiar with KD's skill set - yet. I haven't seen him play enough.

He could be an option though. He is quite experienced being aged 29 ( I think ) too , although not at international level.

If he has been quite disciplined and has intense concentration powers being able to hold effective position against teams enjoying sustained periods of possession, it would be a useful attribute. 

Didn't realise they were so close to top of the ladder?

It would be great if they could be promoted. 

Genreau is way may flexible midfielder who could play in all 3 lines, whilst Dougall is an out and out No.6 but we know Arnie likes a ball winner No.6 but Genreau gives more flexibility in how he wants to set up.

Again its good to have options.

It is.

Game is on Ch 12 (10 Bold) and 10Play online 

It's a very interesting equation we have. Main thing is to avoid defeat. Typically we've always been fearful of how Japan will destroy us but it's never really turned out that way. The 2014 campaign games were very odd. 2017 away was typically stupid with wasted chances and lapses of concentration.

Tomorrow I think it'll either be 1:0 or 4:0 for Japan. Japan has always been the team we've ignored as we know we'll be fine if we beat everyone else. Now it's actually Saudi in that spot so this game is absolutely crucial. They all count but they seem to have different weighting. 

Wish we had some friendlies against strong teams to see 

                      Ryan 
   Degenek Sainsbury Souttar
Karacic                               Behich
          Mooy Irvine Hrustic
            Boyle           Mabil
                

nah arnie had the right lineup vs oman

maybe mooy will start but he is out of form with no clubs games atm.  i'd like to see him in the #10 just to save him the work rate. imo he was always better as a #10.

personally i'd take karacic over grant.  he looked the goods when he came on.

taggart has actually been pretty decent. just not finding the back of the net.  the shift into a bigger lad with duke coming on later in the match seems to be worklng pretty well for us.  it's a really good sub and he's a handful for tired defenders to deal with.

Rogic off the bench, please!!!!!

What's wrong with playing this formation tomorrow? I'd have Harry in the middle, like he plays for Stoke & I'd probably have Hrustic in the middle, but that's probably our strongest 11 

First in fact in ligue 2

It's would be a very interesting case study. Japan will attack regardless but could this extra cover hold them out? We're in a good spot that we can play our usual way and nearly play on our own terms. Such an interesting match up for a change. Normally we're in dire straits and desperately need the result.

Losing this and seeing Saudi win will pile the pressure on again. Just avoid defeat and reassess. 

I love the fact that we have options in the midfield, Mooy, Rogic & Hrustic & then Irvine, Jeggo & Genereau all different types of players, we are slowly maturing as a football nation.

Generau was not on the bench against Oman. So not sure if his playing against Japan 

Good lineup and agree with Ikon instead of Rogic.  This sort of game will call a little graft in midfield to be honest.  Depending on how things are going Rogic can play the last 20 minutes where he would more effective in gliding through tiring defences. 

Gonna be a loooong day waiting for this game (and hopefully a good result)

Yep, and I'll already be smashed by kick off. Probably have to wait till morning to find out what happened...

haha so true.
Waiting waiting.

I was listenning to GA on the main sport news last night.
He was quite relaxed good to see and in the big picture this is a huge game for a number of things.
He quoted why can't we think of 12 in a row from memory despite our history against them.
It’s been more than a decade since the Socceroos last beat the Samurai Blue - in a 2-1 qualifying victory at the MCG under the late Pim Verbeek - but they’ve never been able to beat them on Japanese soil in nine attempts stretching all the way back to 1994.
This played in Japan is the big test with their own crowd capped I think.
He giggled when told the crowd is restricted to "clapping" only - he quoted won't effect us we never understand their chants anyway smugly and that it would be more noticable to the Samurai Blue players that is true.
Knife edge game for Moriyasu as well, word is he'll be gone not getting the result this game.

A draw as some say would be great But I can't see it being level all game, there's too much riding on it for Japan, we can't afford to play the % game and let them come at us upon reflection, we can't play park the bus.

Be interesting the aussie hoops supporters on Kyogo, hope Sains/Souttar tag team give it to him might I add, gonna need to shut him down as much as poss.

What a statement a win would make. So many possibilities in this game and the Saudi one later that what looked like an easy group could suddenly be in the mixer again. Even Vietnam could jag a result and upset the pundits. As someone said, a couple of draws in the other games tonight would be great. A victory at their home would be fantastic!
At about the 81st minute of the Omani game I felt the pressure ease, even though we didn't score the third until the 88th minute. I would like an earlier 2 goal buffer this time, and even then I think I will still be nervous.

What formation is best to start with? 442 would be better defensively? Or is the best defence against a desperate opponent to attack?!