I think any player can be a gun with the right environment or coach. I bet grant comes back to the a league one day as a stronger player 

The only hope I have for tonight is that crazy irrational kind of hope that only football fans can get.
At this point this would be like a League 1 team beating a premier league team in a cup semi final but crazy things sometimes happen.

I really hope to see the players at the very least up for the fight.
Take the game to them, intimidate them physically and do not lose a single 50/50 in the first 25 minutes.

We aren't going to win on skill so let's hope the occasion and the adrenalin make up for it a little.

C'mon boys!!

It’s nuts to think 3 or 4 of our best players have tedious links to Australia at best. 

Having said that I will boof bruno if he bangs in the winner

Here is my lineup:

                         Ryan

Atkinson Sainsbury Degenek Behich

               Stensness Genreau

Boyle              Hrustic             Mabil

                      MacLaren

However it won't shock me if Bruno plays instead of JMac too.

And to be honest, to me, he has the strongest claims of all of them to legitimately represent Australia.

He has lived here and become a citizen as opposed to the guys that had never even visited the country one of their grandparents was born in

Heck I think I'd start him.
I mean what has Maclaren done to show he works in the system for anything other than goal mouth action.

Not saying tap ins aren't important but Bruno knows where to be too but can also actually be a link man plus draw plenty of soft fouls around the box.

I'm confident he could bring that into the socceroos with only a week in camp as or more effectively than JMac could with years in the system.

Yeah agree. 

He's up top instead of JMAC for me. 

Also imagine the desire in bruno to perform today. Jamie 'A New excuse each week' maclaren couldnt give a fuck either way. He's probably already got a holiday book during the WC

Ha ha but yeah I agree re Bruno's motivation to perform.
I'm not confident arnie has the guts to make the call to start him though

Ugh...it's going to be so weird having to support Fornaroli!!!

Would swap Genreau for Dougall who already has few caps and more experienced. Otherwise that’s it - our best available starting 11. If Leckie fit enough he will start ahead of Mabil no doubt. 

1 minor thing going our way today is the wet track, minor leveller at this level but a help nonethless.

Mate i would say a slick fast pitch would suit the Japanese more ..... hope I am very very wrong.. Enjoy the game, have a couple of beers for us poor, AFL loving, Mel-bonites :)

Thanks, pleased I can inspire you to google such polysyllabic words :)

sadly i believe leckie will start.

No anticipation/nerves for this match or the next, which is nice in a bad way. Got my eye on the playoff.

Yep. Not one to right off the Roos but no way this patched up squad takes 6 points next 2 games.

I recon we can win tonight Japan will be happy with a draw and if we can keep the score 0-0 till half time they wont risk pushing to hard in the second half which hopefully means we can pin them in and score a late winner.

I hope we go

Ryan
Atkinson Sainsbury Degenek Behich
               Stensness Genreau
Boyle              Hrustic             Mabil
                      Aussie Brunno


with Brunno up top he can hold the ball up better then MacLaren will ever be able to and this way we can sit a little deeper and protect the middle of the park and then push forward as a group and not just Brunno on his own.

with the guys selected its not our best team by far but these guys will give 120% all game but at times watching the other games i personally dont feel that Aaron and Tom do they give up a little to much.

I actually think its a compliment without his knowing :)
emphasizes the existence re MSC as a free and responsible person determining his own development through acts of his sane mind.

If we press them well forcing errors damp conditions helps, they can't play it perfect every single play.
Plus they are likely to slide/go down more playing for frees.

Need more than beers to help you mis guided afl mel bonites........lol.........but I'll be having a couple and hopefully we give them a game that after 90 I won't be drowning my sorrows............  

That's what I was thinking. Nevertheless, I'll predict 3-2 win with a double to Bruno and late winner by Folami.

Yeah it feels almost certain we finish 3rd. Getting a bit nervy now but nothing like what I usually experience.

From an Australian perspective it is a big game and we are under a lot of pressure, but the same applies for Japan if we manage to score first.

I would happily take an early goal, then defend the rest of the game for a 1 nil shutout, but it might be better to keep a decent shape and score around 60-70 in and then defend all out for the remaining time.

We need this to be the game where one of the front 6 buries a half chance (or two) whenever it presents.

Go You Socceroos !

that has to be the worst Australian side i've seen on paper in my lifetime. things could get ugly tonight.
 

Ill take that ...... :)

I hope so bud .... Ive got a bad feeling Ill be shouting rude words at my poor tellie tonight :(

Scored tickets from a mate who couldn't go due to COVID. Will grab an early dinner pre-game, not sure whether I'll pre-drink at a nearby hotel or join the masses at that soulless booze barn near the stadium with its' plastic cups and limited beer selection.

Good score CH, we're bringing our LFC momentum for ours fingers crossed !

Yer I have my thoughts re covid, I might mask up I'm afraid to say, been quite a few infections around.

I'm about to head in to Ribs N Rumps with quite a few from my team.

Here's hoping :hehe:

Im just praying the aleague boys are more used to the flooded pitches than the japanese guys. Might have a chance.

Pretty much this. Nothing less than 110% effort will do. That’s we want to see. Passion and pride, giving everything they have for their country, win, lose or draw.

The lack of media even Football media and lack of hype for this games almost seems pre Lowy days.....