Hey, you remind me of a guy who used to be on here

So based on your assessment, does that mean Arnie is then a world-class manager? 

Nail hit squarely on it's head. 

It's great that Australia progressed, but it was a solid team effort based on players digging deep and following a specific set of instructions, rather than players being of a higher ability.  It was a triumph of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts.  Around the world, those who are talking about Australia are talking about the team, not the individuals (with the obvious exception of Souttar). 

He's a goose if he doesn't take an offer.

He can always come back, probably on better terms than he's locked into at the moment

Harry mentioned in this Guardian article on the top seven players on the rise from the WC:


https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/15/seven-world-cup-breakout-stars-qatar?CMP=morningmailau_email

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he's going well. A year or two more in Scotland would be good for him. 

Let's see then, I actually thought he was younger and didnt realise he played so much for WSW

Baccus is an interesting one. I definitely think he is capable of playing at s higher level than he currently is. Eredivisie would be great but he's not super young like many of the clubs seem to prioritise and St Mirren might want too much for Eredivisie budgets. I hope he doesn't go to the Championship. Would lower Bundi be too big a leap at this stage?  He did well against Argentina.

Respectfully disagree, Keeper.

At no other standard does one get to play against the very best of the best  domestic players  from the 7 big world leagues, with Brazil ad Argentina rated similarly to the UEFA big five.

The German, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian and Argentinian national teams are the elite of the elite. Italy used to also belong to this group. Looking up a Youtube video, something like;

30 % of EPL players are English,

40% - 60% of players in Germany, Spain and France are domestic players. France might top this group with 60%, or it might be Spain?

I'd surmise Argentina and Brazil have at least  60%  domestic players playing in their leagues.

To be able to leave 150 - 180 domestic  players, per league,  as  surplus requirements  for the national teams, indicates incredible depth in those big six leagues.

150-180 Argentinians, or Brazilians,or English,or Germans, or Spanish, or French footballers, who play in their national top divisions, are not good enough for their national teams who play at the World Cup.

Essentially, England, France, Spain, Germany, Argentina and Brazil, and formerly Italy, set the very highest bar at World Cups. It is up  to other countries to strive to play at the level they do. Only five world powerhouses have, according to the 7 biggest world leagues,  made the last 16 in Qatar.

The  9 other teams who have got there with them, are better than nearly all club teams in any world league, particularly if played in Qatar.    

In the big seven global leagues on any given match day, with circa 20 clubs per league, there are at least 1600 players playing in these leagues, who aren't deemed good enough to play World Cup football.  

That is, either to be selected for their national team, or, their country is not good enough  to qualify for the World Cup.

I think a fresh approach needs to be given to attributing players' international ability, by where they play their club football in Europe.

Given recent results, outside  UEFA big five leagues, and in light of  Italy failing to qualify for the last two WCs at all; Belgium failing dismally in Qatar , like  2014 in Brazil when they play outside Europe;   Germany exiting early from Qatar; it might be prudent to reappraise Japan, South Korea  and even USA as preferable football destinations compared  to a lot of Europe mid-ranked leagues.

At least 3 club teams  from Japan or South Korea play Asian Champions' League football.

Another option might be Mexico? They exited early this time in Qatar, but they are usually a consistent team to exit group stages at WCs. 

Many mid ranked European leagues have national teams who can't qualify for World Cups , or, they can't play effectively outside the comfort of UEFA countries.

Also, as far as Scotland is a concern as a destination for Aussies,  we might be doing Scotland a favour sending Euroroos to that league in raising the standard in the Scottish Professional League?

How many players in Scotland that Euroroos  play with and against,  are proven performers at  World Cups, and , international football outside Europe?

How many coaches in Scotland have been successful as  coaches at international level? Are Scottish coaches  able to make informative  decisions  for Aussie footballers as to how they can improve their skill set for international   football?

Sign of an excellent CB. Two clean sheets at the WC and you hardly notice him.

Nah, it's the UCL or Euros 

IMO, only Souttar, Rowles or Baccus, 

I  haven't followed it much either. 

I think just this season.

I've stopped following it because there is a tenuous extrapolation between club football and international  success, particularly playing outside one's home continent for some players and teams.

In  the past, yes.

 However football is forever evolving. Italy were axiomatically considered to be a world powerhouse 5 years ago and prior. However, they have not  qualified for the World Cup in both 2018 and 2022. This is no coincidence, that failure occurs for 2 World Cups in succession.

The  world powerhouse title  is a misnomer for the current  Italy.  If  Italy can't  top its UEFA QCQing group, and is knocked out by North Macedonia, they've forfeited the title of  world powerhouse. One failure can be deemed  an aberration, but failing  WCQualification  in 2018 as well, indicates something is systemically wrong with Italian football.

Italian coaches and  domestic Italian  players in the Serie A, can't be that good ATM.

No Italian players  have played  at as high a standard as Rowles has during the last few weeks, for 5 years or more.  

How long has Behich been in Scotland for? I haven't been following Aussies Abroad as much recently as I should have.

Agree.

Turkey has a high standard league, where Behich has played a lot of his club football.

Even though they've struggled to qualify for big tournaments of late.

Honestly think Rowles deserves a move. Such an underrated player who wins the ball so much. I think playing alongside souttar makes him not stand out as much. Can’t believe we are going to have these two as our cb pairing for the next ten years. Nothing but amazing 

It might not be the highest level but I do think it's the toughest

The way players fight for the ball etc is just different to club football.

Not saying I agree with Decentric at all, it's just something I was thinking the other day.

I think it is very debateable that the highest level of football is the World Cup. Was back in the 70's, 80's and probably 90's, but probably not so anymore. I would say that club football at EPL, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga, and certainly in the Champions League, is a higher level overall than the World Cup, because with not many exceptions all the world's best players play in these competitions.

Also, there is a significant body of opinion that the Euro's is a harder competition to win than the World Cup, and has a higher level of football.

This is not to say that the World Cup is not a very high level competition, it very much is, but it is strongly arguable that it is not the highest level. It is a simplistic argument, which you are essentially putting forward here, to say that because the best national teams from each region across the world are competing, the World Cup is therefore the highest level of football.

There's a chance that some players who make a move that's above their actual ability might warm the bench and not get game time before next year's Asian Cup.

I think Duke, Goodwin and Irvine will probably remain with their current clubs. Italy has been a destination where players have been able to extend their careers but I think it's unlikely for any of them. Middle East sure but Goodwin has already had a crack there. Maybe MLS? We don't seem to have had much of a presence there although I notice a few Kiwis have in the past. I'm not sure that Goodwin or Irvine would want to move. Don't know about Duke. 

hope Goodwin goes middle east or china deserves to get a big payout.

Mooy had his shot at Europe too. Then got better and played in the EPL. Goodwin is definitely good enough to move to a better league (not claiming EPL).

Yep, Duke is going to replace Haaland at Man City.

Goodwin and Duke have achieved what many players playing in the UEFA  big five leagues and the big two South American leagues have not.

They've scored goals at the World Cup.

Goodwin has scored against Argentina and France.

Most forwards and wingers around the world who play professionally aren't good enough to play at the World Cup, let alone score against previous World Cup winners and current World Champions.

Agree about age though. At ages 29, 30 and 31, clubs often don't like recruiting players.

The highest level is the World Cup.

If any player has a good tournament  at the WC, no club level should be beyond them. 

Only 32 CBs will play in the last  16 of Qatar. Most CBs playing in the world's  best seven leagues aren't still playing in the knock out stages of Qatar, they have been eliminated before the last 16, failed to qualify for the WC, or have been deemed  not good enough  to be selected for their national teams.  

I'm not as obsessed with the status of a league where footballers play. Th  style of football is important.

Belgium, has players that according to their club careers, are fantastic club players and good at qualifying  for big tournaments, World Cups and Euro Champs, when they play in Europe.

Yet Belgium are mentally fragile and underachieve playing outside Europe. They aren't resilient. Germany and Denmark also failed to progress from the group stages, with fantastic teams on paper, according to their illustrious club careers.

Is  Italy, ostensibly with a big 5 UEFA league, a good destination?  Despite having a supposed big league based on reputation, the national Italian  team has failed to qualify for the last 2 World Cups in succession!  They were knocked out by North Macedonia after failing to top their group. It  isn't  a good look as a football club destination. 

Think of the scenario like this.

There are 5 big UEFA Leagues and 2 big South American Leagues. Axiomatically they are recognised as the big seven leagues in the world.

if we suggest 15 players play weekly for each club, in any given week in each of these leagues, with 20 clubs, 300 players play on a   weekly basis.

That equates to 2100 players playing weekly in  the big  7 world leagues.

The World Cup only has 32 teams. If  there are 15 players per nation at the World Cup who get game time, only circa 480 footballers  worldwide play at the World Cup. So at least 1600 players in the big 7 global leagues don't play at the World Cup.

What we want are resilient players able to perform in culturally diverse settings anywhere on the globe. Not necessarily feted UEFA club players, who can't cut the mustard when they play outside Europe. They might he a bit soft in terms of mental strength . Performing  in developing countries with cultures that are alien to some European star club footballers, is paramount.

Souttar should be able to get a move. I hope he doesn't take too much and end up on the bench because of it. 

Rowles could make a move too. Again hope he does try and take two steps. But is probably playing below his level. 

A lot of our other players gave been tried at higher level and not been able to cut it. With a good portion around 30 I'd say there will be few other moves. 

He went to PSV but never kicked on once he signed for them.

Souttar will get interest for sure, not sure of others maybe Goodwin even though he's 31 it might be too late for him.