Yep, most times Gustavsson has gone to 3/5 at the back, the team has lost all shape and invited pressure on themselves. Fortunately last night it was very late in the game and 2-0 up, and the Danes had run out of ideas. But the two most recent games where I can recall it almost backfiring were the friendly against France and the Ireland match. But I don't think he will change, I agree he is clueless.

Before the tournament started I said in a post that the Matildas had to reach the quarter finals at least.This has been achieved despite many having reservations about Tony G's coaching,including myself.Anything more is icing on the cake and we can now dream of a WC final though the road will not be smooth.

Standout players for me have been Foord,especially since the move to LW,Cooney-Cross who is the quiet achiever,Fowler who in Sam's absence has started to shine especially after a nervous start against the Irish,Raso with her finishing and being in the right spot to take advantage,Hunt who rarely looks flustered and to my surprise Van Egmond whom I had written off but has done some very clever passes.Gorry is the relentless terrier and breaks up opponents' play but often her passing is wayward but she is needed because of her energy.Catley,Carpenter and Kennedy have been more than adequate and do the little things well ( covering and supporting each other in defence)Arnold has not really been tested since that less than stellar game against Nigeria.

your on the money Booney can't disagree on the above.

I am pleasantly surprised having watched quite a bit now for originally I put my hand up I wasn't that invested for last WWC I thought meh but the improvements is for all to see.
Kerr out has been a god send for our own to "lift" even more and Booney points out the standouts for me that other times I've watched countless fundamental errors as passing or lack of control, misjudegment etc that is way less atm.....
Look forward to the coming game and TG better go for it, no conservatism now for its make or break - I just hope he hasn't burnt out some, especially the backs.

The Matildas' win over Denmark reached 6.54 MILLION people on Channel 7.

It is officially the most watched TV event of the year and had a higher viewership than every State of Origin match & last year's AFL Grand Final 

The two goals scored against Denmark involved excellent attacking interplay,  before the clinical strikes of Foord and Raso. 

Your method didnt seem to help Denmark much. 

cheers, semis would be a pass mark then at home. Nearly there!

Great to be at the game last night with the family.  Great atmosphere.    

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Think pass mark was finishing above world ranking of 10 and they have done that. 
TG also now at 47% win percentage, start of last year he was below 30%.
staj 56%

We'll be playing France. France with a training run. I think it's a bit of stage fright for Morocco. Did Colombia rotate much against Morocco? 

Everyone is asking me to go out watch Matildas Saturday night. No thanks I'm watching at home way to tense to watch in public. 

yes johnszasz I reckon first time big game blues for Morocco but kudos to them obviously.

MCG I'll be at a last round minor prem game for my no2 talk about double edged tense times so I'll end up somewhere with the Mrs's at a pub close by but damn the timing is a biatch !
Say my local game is a minor prem win then to consider rushing off to watch the Matildas, looks like mobile live will be on no matter in between things ahaha

They didn't even have Chidiac warm up at 60. Only Vine, Kerr and Polkinghorne did a proper warm-up. Then later Grant and Butt (I think). Chidiac wasn't even in consideration. Chidiac would have been my sub for Van Egmond too.

I posted in the other match thread my coming game thoughts and in hindsight and seeing mentions here as we've made this game is TG's biggest test full stop period.
Renard is no dummy, infact one the best womens gaffas involved now imo.
He makes changes at HT when he sees the need, and likely will introduce a change long before TG's current train of thought.
This is crucial what this bloke thinks come HT let alone 60 mark not at the 85th min depending the game.

I hope he isn't the main subject for the wrong reasons post game.

Agree.

I'm worried about what spud TG will do if we're trailing in the second half.

We have players that have barely gotten a run and he doesn't seem to have a clue when to put them on.

So TG is a spud, a dud and doesn’t have a clue and yet here we are in the quarterfinals. I don’t know who has been coaching them up to this point but according to some it can’t be Tony Gustavson.

I managed to snag a ticket for Brisbane. Pumped. 

Sure. And that's a fair crack at me given his performance to date which, as we all know, is all that matters. 

I've said previously he's done well to blood new talent, he got the setup right by moving Foord out left against Canada amongst other things. Kennedy at the back has been great and he finally realised Polkinghorne is a liability.

My concerns are we were lucky not to draw against Ireland with a sub-par performance which we didn't rectify against Nigeria.

Against Nigeria when we were losing he brought on a defender in the 82nd minute and a 'game changer' in Chidiac at the 86th when we were chasing the game. Ridiculous.

Against Canada when we were 3 up and we had a perfect chance to get some minutes in the legs of our subs and the spud shanked it again.

Following the Canada game we had used 14 out of our squad of 23. With Vine and Chidiac coming on for fuck all minutes whilst leaving others like Yallop and Grant on the bench despite having ample opportunity to do something about it.

I'm not the first person here to voice my concerns. I hope they pine the French and I hope that when push comes to shove and we need to chase the game he can pull a rabbit out of his hat.

More than happy to sit here and cop it on the chin if I'm wrong.



Here's a question for you. Do you think he has gotten his game management and subs right?

Arnold
Carpenter - Hunt - Kennedy - Catley
Raso - Gorry - CooneyCross - Foord
Kerr - Fowler

Vanegmond beside the striker is ok, having her higher up the field covers her atrocious defensive capabilities, her in the Gorry or cooney cross role would be a disaster. 

I’m no technical expert I just enjoy watching football. Everyone has an opinion but I just see what is in front of me and, as I said, he’s got us this far and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

Kerr in for Van Egmond is just a no brainer. 

People will make the "don't change a winning formula" argument. but its fucking Sam Kerr and its a fucking world cup quarter final against a higher ranked opponent. 

Perfect.

Kerr has to start.

Yep, yep and yep from me..... except for Polikinghorn... :)

442 counter attack is the best way for Matildas

I am in section 310 close to the goals, how about you ?

I'm not sure Kerr is up for a full game. She didn't warm up until 60' and pretty sure went down the tunnel for a jab before coming on. That moment she collapsed/slipped felt like that calf gave way. If she is actually fit enough to start 100% she should but I'm not convinced. 

It was interesting that she was rubbing her groin as she walked away from that collapse.

Mad stats here. Gorry covering almost 11km per game. Fowler not far behind.

Fowler with the highest match with 11.7kms vs Canada.

https://keepup.com.au/news/world-cup-matildas-france-game-time-distance-covered-sports-science/?fbclid=IwAR3LQOsWzx1o7ARY7Qo7M5ONE9MDqnHxTqwke2tI8uMoiZOQb76GGeMpUHE

Raso the fastest which surprised me.

Simon also looks to be an option now, would be a good fowler replacement late on.