Glover was pretty terrible v Sunderland- fumbled a fairly straight forward save to his near post and caught out of position too few times. Not NT standard really

Glover is a calamity. Too many big errors. 

Where does Nisbet fit in the pecking order? That Asian Cup squad didn't have Robertson, Genreau Devlin, Nieuwenhof, Volpato, Kalik all missed. 

Think Paul Okon Jr is the most talented 6 we have right now at any age-group from what I've seen. Obviously won't get picked unless he starts getting minutes at Benfica or loaned out but I'd say by the time he is 21, he'll be a Socceroo. Also think behind Nieuwenhof and Teague he is the third option for the Olyroos. Technically better than both but very inexperienced just turning 19. 

Honestly, he's technically better and smarter than Irvine and Baccus. Rereading that it's almost ridiculous to even question it. He's near O'Neill on ability but without Euro experience. I won't let that red tarnish O'Neill. I think Kalik is massively overlooked. A good football brain. Robertson has the higest ceiling.

Mabil?

Meanwhile we have the team to play guus ball at the u23 asian cup

He liked to switch between a defensive 343, to a 451 which was the bulk of his play and añ attacking 343 with all 3 in the front 3rd strikers and 2 wingbacks in the back 3. The attacking 343 couldnt be maintained for more than 15 minutes as your wingbacks are running themselves into the ground tracking back and joining the back 3 and was used to chase a game. Chipperfield and emerton were our secret weapons in 06 since they could play up or back or im between and had huge engines. Bos and bovalina are very similar and we have a bunch of strikers

Defensive 343

‐------circati-triantis---popa-----
----------------teague------------------
-bovalina------------------farrel-----
------------------holman--------------
------milanovic-a kuol-bos-----

Moderate 451

---bovalina-circati-triantis-bos----
--------------teague-neiwenhof--------
----malinovic----holman----bos------
-------------------a kuol---‐-------------------

-attacking 343


-------bovalina--circati---bos---------
----------------teague-----------------------
---tilio-------------------milanovic-------
------------holman-------------------------
---irankunda--a kuol--g kuol-------

Replace with your favourite players. But having wingers that can play as wingbacks or even wingers, loads or strikers and wingers, we could utilizes guus's famous tactics

Simmons ahead of Bovalina. Yazbek probably starts, considering he was in the Asian Cup squad. Brook in good form ATM as well. Wouldn't mind seeing how Irankunda would go as a Striker in this tournament. Garang looks like he's improved since he's been in the Netherlands, so he's got to be there. It's going to be hard to fit them all in the squad!!! 

https://www.espn.com.au/football/story/_/id/39521920/predicting-socceroos-2026-world-cup-squad

Bos would need to work a lot harder in the moderate formation.

After watching Melbourne VIC v Western UTD. Daniel Arzani must be included in the Socceroos squad. The guy is so skillful with the ball. We lack this type of player in the Asian cup.

He is growing back into form isnt he

Also defending well. As long as he is a weak finisher you need to balance him with a goal scorer at left wing. So definitely dont play bos on the left if u play arzabi on the right

Victories goal issue probably come from vellupilay and arzani being much better in setting up chanced than finishing them

He does seem to have an engine in him tho

Agree Arzani is worth a look in again, the hard working style of football in Popa Ball might convince Arnie with hes similar style of coaching that he worth a look in the front third area.

There is a fair bit of understanding of football formations in different parts of the pitch in this post.

Popa is renowned as a a strict disciplinarian. He might be just  the sort of coach Arzani needs .

Apparently he is a perfectionist and a bit volatile. He needs careful management.

Haven't seen Bovalina much - yet.

I'm very impressed with Simmons from what I've seen live and on TV.

I could have written this post - word for word!

Reports of Hrustic and Taggart rejoining. Warranted. I hope for:

Ryan, Gauci, Thomas

Talbot Simmons Souttar Circati Burgess Rowles Bos 

Irvine Hrustic Nieuwenhof Nisbet Metcalfe McGree 

Taggart Yengi Iredale Goodwin Tilio Boyle Arzani

I'm not so sure about some travelling across the world to play less and need 2-3 weeks to get back into their club side. While a very important stage of the group, if we win the first game we have a great chance to rotate for the second. Miller and Atkinson will be named but I'd rather try some local right backs. I think Gauci is and isn't worth bringing. He's got to play in one of the two games at least.

Expect for game 1

                              Ryan
     Jones  Souttar  Burgess  Rowles
                     Irvine  Baccus
        McGree     Hrustic   Goodwin
                        Duke

Hope for

                            Ryan
        Atkinson  Souttar  Rowles  Bos
                           Irvine
                   Nisbet  Hrustic 
               McGree   Yengi   Goodwin

I think my hoped side sees an overload on the left where Bos, Goodwin and Hrustic might smother each other. I like that McGree and Hrustic can move around. Metcalfe and Borrello too. I just want to see how our technical best go together. It could be Lampard, Gerrard nightmares but at least we'll know. Maybe more conventional to win the first game and then try in the second. We should win both and hopefully Bangladesh can peg Palestine back so we really know we can try things out.    

Almost every player in the second side is a player fun to watch

At home he might be more adventurous. I suspect metcalf will start tho

Arzani has had some recent tougher games where the  opposition have marked him more closely, being tighter on him, in order to stop him receiving the ball with his body shape facing forwards and running at them.

However he has still worked well in tight spaces, made  effective blocks and put some excellent crosses into the pen box. He never seems to play a full game.

It seems like Arnie is relying on experienced players. 

Given the team has been shown up in struggling to beat deep defensive bocks, he needs to try new players who can do this - even if they only get 30 mins. Arnie knows a lot  about his  players in the Asian Cup tournament, but needs to find some new solutions.

Glad Nisbet has been given a go. 

Haven't seen  Patrick Yazbek play yet. Not sure what his qualities are?

Good to see some European players in camp already.

Possible that they're part of a potential jersey launch tomorrow...

Unique and nice to have two games at home. No excuses to get 6 points. Palestine should get 6 against Bangladesh.

Someone explain to me why yengi probably won’t start despite scoring lots of goals this season for Portsmouth and winning a penalty against Uzbekistan 

Goodwin has been ruled out for the first game. Should be fine for the second.

males in their 60’s like Arnold are creatures of old habits that don’t like change - even a progressive one. Plus Duke is an old mate of his 😉

Glad to see Nisbet finally receive a call up.

In  the pre- game  Lebanon  videos on Football Aus , which others have seen too,  Arnie contends  experience in the Socceroos in big tournaments has been paramount.   He advances experience  as rationale as to  why the likes of Nisbet hasn't been selected earlier, and how many new players he blooded at the Asian Cup.. Arnie maintians that there may be only one session  with the entire team to prepare for the first Lebanon game. Fair enough.

To replace an injured RB, Miller, with an Attacking Mid, Nisbet, is surprising? Still I'm glad he has done it. I hope Nisbet gets a good 30-40 mins. I want to see how he  performs against a likely deep defensive block/ Partial Press  from Lebanon.

Also, saw Arnie laud Stametopoulos's  performances with Jets.  He thinks Stam is likely to be called up in the imminent future - which is good to hear.

Moreover, given Taggart's previous Socceroo experience, he has called him up for scoring similar numbers of goals in the AL.

In another video, Taggart, claims he was often injured when playing  in Asia when Socceroo squads were called up in recent years. AT suggests it has been easier at Glory, with more assured selection.