I don't see why they keep saying the midfield cut is between Vidosic and Garcia.

Surely we can flick a DM - we don't need Grella, Culina, Valeri AND Jedinak.

Especially when Wilkshire and Williams can play in that position as well.

Keep the attacking options and drop Lowry and one DM please Pim.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article Verbeek's Fear Of Heights?
AUSTRALIA coach Pim Verbeek admitted his team struggled playing in altitude during its first warm-up match in South Africa ahead of the World Cup as he prepares to name his final 23-man squad following the 1-0 win over Denmark.

Have your say.

So it was the altitude that caused us to putting yet another shite boring effort. I could have sworn that it was Pims single style tactic of one up front and a deep midfield.

If it wasn't for Grella there would have been nothing worth talking about for the majority of that match.

Lets hope the USA game is more interesting.

Boring? I greatly enjoyed the game with the team concentrating on playing on the group with less reliance on long balls, the back line condensing the game by playing high, which meant that for Denmark to get through they had to go over the top, which was alomst impossible with the way the ball was behaving.
I enjoyed seeing the re-emergence of the Moore and Neill combination, with the first choice full backs playing as well. A very solid game defensively, then when Kewell and Emerton are back, a lot more threat up front.
I think that sort of performance will give us every chance of getting out of the group stage.

I guess it was boring if you don't care about tactics and just want lots of goals.
Why don't you forget about football rocknerd and go to AFL?

Australia is starting to become a rock defensively..which we need to be as we have no real strikers..praying for Timmy and Kenno to score every game isn't gonna cut it, but I expect Chippers and Emmo to chip in.Chipperfield was very impressive as usual as I was also heartened by the signs of a potential partnership between Kennedy and Holman.Beauchamp also looked comfortable.
Grella needs cock-slapping in the face until he realises that he is a red-card walking and could do Australia much damage with his attitude and cheap shot tackles.

..now for the very reason I just stated, taking Dario instead of Garcia is a no-brainer.Garcia is clearly out of his league and Dario has the speed and some nice attacking qualities.I hope Pim goes for the wildcard and leaves Garcia at home.

I couldn't agree more @elmarcodore. Vidosic has good pace as does Garcia and Wilkshire and Williams are more than capable in the holding midfield role. There's only two DM on the pitch so why do we need six players in the squad who can play that position?

Australians results are built on our defence, in truth we just don't have the players that are capable of playing the type of football that the likes of Holland and Brazil do so well. It would be foolish to try and do that. While it's not the best to watch we need to play to our strengths and that's what we do. I watched England play Japan and they were equally bad with poor touch and passing. For me that was the most concerning aspect from the Denmark Game. Kennedy really lacks that quality first touch. He'll only be a sub anyway IF Kewell is fit.

Vidosic should definitely be in the squad, I'm with elmarcodore, we are better off shedding in the DM position. Probably either Grella or Valeri.

Holman actually had a pretty good game when he was on in the second half. Did some good things and caused the Danish defense some serious problems.

Vidosic should definitely be in the squad, I'm with elmarcodore, we are better off shedding in the DM position. Probably either Grella or Valeri.

Holman actually had a pretty good game when he was on in the second half. Did some good things and caused the Danish defense some serious problems.

Tacttics??? the play defensive and hope to god Kennedy can gift one in? This is not a tactic its coaching for dumbies.
Bresces was played to deep and therefore ineffective and wasted. Grella is either bored or looking to move in to an acting career in action films to suppliment his cheese making after his career is over. The long ball game was attempted but it became obvious very quickly that this ball is not made for long ball games.

Kewell is still a maybe and people need to realise that he has zero game time under his belt and will be ineffective as an impact player because of this.
i'm not interested in lots of goals but a convincing game with strong domination and a show of the flare that these players have, that we saw at the last world cup, that with a quality coach can be nurtured and brought to the world stage.

As For AFL you can stick that were the good lord split you.

Deadline for the final team submissions has passed.... no news yet FFT?

Rocknerd .... you are sounding like a person that would get something out of Foz's new book.

I've read it ....90% was foz soapbox, but there were some enlightening chapters on what good football should look like. Worth the price alone. I've watched the replay three times and still enjoying my new understanding of the game, it also allows you to look at the comments and see who is full of bullshit !!!! .... get my drift??? eg it's a trial game played at altitude with a beachball in the middle of a tournament build up ????? sorry, only be offended if my comments are relevant. amen.

Unfortunately due to not having foxtel, I couldn't watch it live, but it seems the socceroos are playing fine, given the makeup of the squad.

We really don't have a world class striker, and unless we have Bresc, Cahill AND Kewell on the pitch, not a world class attacking midfeild either. Playing solid defense and trying to get what we can going forward is probably the best we can hope for in that situation.

Hopefully with Kewell, and Emmo back, it might provide us a bit more up front. Who does Emmo coming back put out though? I hope not Wilkshire, as he has been one of our best in recent times.

Yeah doesnt have to be public phutbol.

Interesting Culina is being played on the right for some of the game. What tactical variation does that give us? It seems it paves the way for a change to 4-4-2 if we are behind, leaving grella as the only holding midfielder, Cahill, Kewell upfront, with Bresc., Emmo, Culina, completing the diamond? Any thoughts?

Socceroos squad announcement delayed June 2, 2010 - 9:51A

The Socceroos' final 23-man World Cup squad will be named tonight as coach Pim Verbeek prepares to cut five players from his line-up.

The final list had to be submitted to World Cup organisers this morning but the Dutchman has held back on his public announcement so he can inform players personally and consult with medical staff over any injuries arising from yesterday's 1-0 friendly win over Denmark.

Read more at our World Cup website

With Eugene Galekovic, Tommy Oar and James Holland already told they're out of the final squad, Verbeek will need to cut two more players when he announces his selection at a press conference from approximately 7.30pm AEST.

http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/socceroos-squad-announcement-delayed-20100602-wwkx.html

True, but this is the World Cup you talking about, its about results!!! thats the key isnt it???
Also we are never going to dominate teams,even in Asia like were are not Brazil Spain etc, we dont have the players with a high techical level to keep the ball for long periods and create chances like that, we just have to face the reality of us as being a counter-attacking team!!! And hope to god we can get the results to get past to the next stage.[-o<

I generally as a rule don't read books on football, they take all the fun out of it. Perhaps you can explain to me how holding the ball at the back pushing it to mid field releasing it down the wing for a quick cross aimed at Kennedy or Cahill is Entertaining? the fact of the matter is some peopel think this is good football other don't. I'm one that doesn't.
Uncle Guss' style was attractive, entertaining and drew on the collective strenths of the team. Pims is bassed on the division 5's of the local amatuer club (although my old team rearely used the left).

For those of you who think we should ditch a DM, remember that playing against Germany and Serbia it is more than likely we will pick up a few cards in this position which could lead to a missed game. We need cover in those spots moreso than others.

Just a wild guess , but it would not surprise if its R.Williams thats cut. Not sighted over last 2 games & came in with an injury concern.

soz ,wrong thread :oops:

Edited by jg: 2/6/2010 01:19:16 PM

Anyone else think our team plays far better without Cahill?

Watched the whole game and was very impressed, not at all bored because I like football, not handball sports. The team looked world class in all positions. Verbeek has achieved his aim of teaching effective 4231 and now can use the 433 with Culina on the right/centre of mid and Emerton and Kewell/Ruka striking when he has to chase. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Guus-style 352 now and again as well. The attack is reliant on Emerton, Kennedy, Kewell and Cahill working together and we will see a lot more effective attacking against Germany while we keep rock solid defence. We now have more players who can take on defences alone or in combination and Kennedy was again an excellent striker who took his chance and cooly slotted home. Verbeek and the team reacted to the ball and pitch and denied the Danes the kind of freedom they had at Loftus Road. Only downer was Grella who once again was too aggressive and is a danger to the whole team if he gets red.

Without Cahill we play the ball direct at Kennedy.

With him the ball goes along the carpet.

One way or the other, it doesn't work with both of them on the park. I'd rather have Cahill there.

No. We played better in the second half, but it wasn't because he was off the pitch.

You'll find that a lot of teams will know Tim Cahill is a major threat, and will dedicate a lot of manpower to keeping him quiet. Then it's just up to the other boys to make use of the space.



Edited by imnofreak: 3/6/2010 12:34:54 AM

Depends on how defensively apt the opposition is tbh, imno.