SAP has no doubt have some benefits to our young players, not perfect either but now with the move to 9v9 until age 12 it can only be a good thing.

Any kid going through that kind of program from the age of 8-13 they will receive some good coaching and knowledge once they reach their teens.

Great performance. Defense seemed more solid overall. Shut down their fast players better. Seems more attacking than vidmar was, seemed to find a yard of extra space in the box that they didn't have in the first Thailand game

Ufuking legend! Great news to wake up to :)

Only watched twenty minutes but they looked fantastic. Great job. Now to take the next step against some good nations.

Also need a good chunk of these lads breaking through into senior sides in the next 12 months. Only two in this current side that seem anywhere near their senior sides are Liam Rose at the Mariners and George Blackwood at SFC. Need a lot more pushing through.

It was an interesting game tactically.

When the underage Oz teams play the  other teams   in AFF, they usually play a half press in Ball Possession Opposition. This is defending deep and compactly and only really actively trying to win the ball in their own half. This  has resulted in Aussie under 19s having a lot of easy ball in the defensive line and with the keeper playing as a sweeper in Ball Possession.


This time Thailand played a full press and squeezed quite intensively in the attacking half, trying to win the ball much higher up the pitch. This resulted in more pressure on the keeper playing as a sweeper and our defensive line and defensive midfield playing out when in Ball Possession.


To their credit, the Oz under 19s last night often played out brilliantly under pressure with some three and five pass sequences. The first touch, handling speed, and effective movement off  the ball creating the essential diagonal passing lanes,  was exemplary at times. Sometimes it failed, but last night, this  under 19 team, played out more effectively in limited time and space than most underage and even  Ox senior teams of past and present.

This has been major aim of FFA. It is also a major reason the FFA NC was created. All powerhouse nations in world football can play out from the back under pressure in limited time and space. 


Because Thailand were committing players forward in the attacking and midfield lines, the reward for playing through them was that there was much more space to exploit centrally and on the flanks in attack. This was because in a full press there is often more space between the attacking and defensive lines in the team shape. 

Instead of the slow patient, build ups, trying to penetrate tight compact defences, Australia was able to launch accelerated attacks with more space to exploit. The right winger's speed over  turf relative compared to the Thai left back, (was it number 14 Champas?) was decisive.

Australia probably should've been up 4-1 at half time.

There were  some issues in defence in Ball Possession Opposition.

The team shape and communication was good most of the time. As a unit the Australian team defended well with players supporting each other. The centre of the pitch was nearly always covered. If one player moved out of position to close down, a teammate covered. The distancing between and   within the lines was often optimum - 10 -15metres.

Thailand had some very skilful players on the ball. The concern in our the defence was the 1v1 defending. The full backs, struggled to jockey and tackle as effectively as required. The Thai wingers often rounded them. Central attacking Thai players also rounded midfielders too often.

The Oz penalty box defending  did not seem desperate enough, like the Thais. The Oz FBs were both good on the ball and decent passers playing out when  in Ball Possession.

Maybe Bandieras who is a converted winger may be  more effective as a left winger?

The Oz RB, number 2,  was often outpaced, and rounded in 1v1 actions against Thai opponents. He was also outmuscled on too many occasions.  Again the  Oz RB player is comfortable on the ball and may be a better central midfielder  long term?

The team unit, collective  defending often meant players putting pressure on the Thai opponents in clusters. Even though an individual was frequently unsuccessful in winning the ball, it eventually created a turnover with a  team-mate eventually making an intercept.

The shaven headed, dark, number 23 didn't seem to play last night. I like the way he puts himself about in midfield, roughing the opposition up.

The other coaching instruction may have been to stay on one's feet at all times, which rarely concedes penalties or free kicks in dangerous parts of the pitch.  

The defensive organisation was well coached by Talay, Okon, Gombau, or the bald former Roar youth coach with glasses who was sitting on the bench.

So most of the U/19 have played minutes in the A- League? Apart from Rose and on and of Blackwood who else. We are taking about offical games yes.

Not practice games.

Correct. 

When you say ball possession game are you referring to the dutch set up? The same one that couldn't get into an expanded Euro campaign but saw the likes of Iceland and Hungary get through. 

Passing unnecessarily never made sense. Ufuk found this out. 

The Dutch are revamping their curriculum after their recent  Euro debacle. They are currently studying what France and Germany are doing  well that they are not.

German, French, Spanish and Dutch curriculum are similar. The FFA NC is based on an amalgamation of these curricula. 

Surely, you must have been impressed with the Oz under 19s last night?

Uffy was definitely the brains in u16s. The team was devestaed he left.....see why?!

Always liked Ufak as a player.He was very clever..
I believe if you were a playmaker as a player that gives you an advantage as a coach.
If Ufak was the brains in u16's ,it's time to move Vidmar on.

Time to bring in a an experienced european. were talking about the future of the game here 

I agree with us.  Play makers usually have the highest intelligence on the park and the best technique.  The best coach in the world is Pep Guardiola.  Zidane ain't doing too bad either.

By the same token, the Dutch system has been successful for ages and it's only in recent times that Iceland have had success. One swallow does not a summer make. Moreover, the Dutch system has been "borrowed" heavily from in Spain, Germany and Belgium, all of which have had a lot of recent success.

I think the best way of going forward is not to think in extremes (so not "only this system" or "only that system") but to look at the strengths and weaknesses of different system (and to calibrate such strengths and weakness towards Australia's specific circumstances) and to go from there.

Constant adaptation and synthesis. So, for instance, I like the insistence on dominating the opposition with possession. But that possession needs to be meaningful. It needs to be used to stretch them until a weak link is revealed and then to pounce very quickly. This doesn't we're not playing at a fast tempo, just that we vary our tempo from slow to fast and use that as a weapon. But, also, we need to encourage individuals to learn and to try 1 vs 1 maneouvres. If this means encouraging a bit of selfishness, especially at youth level, so be it. We look threadbare when they have to do something which the system hasn't taught them to do.

Finally, while we don't want to do everything like Iceland... the way they defend was very good. Same with Wales. Why can't we bolster our defence by having three central defenders? It gives our wingbacks far more licence and things don't go quite so tits up when they lose possession (which is something we should be mindful of given their youth and defensive shortcomings), it also plays to Leckie's strengths.  Why can't we focus on getting our set-pieces and throws right (just like Iceland)? They make the most of their aerial strength. We have Cahill,Jedinak and Irvine and Mooy delivering. We, realistically, have the potential to be one of the best in the air in world football.

Borrow from the experts. But play to our strengths. This is what Guus did and why he is the best we have had to date.

Another noteworthy performance in Australia's under 19 final performance was the Oz keeper's sweeping in the back part of the pitch. He provided the extra player to  provide numerical advantage so often. His distribution was also very good.

The Thai keeper made some excellent saves, denying powerful shots from George Blackwood on about 3 occasions.

Even though Blackwood was top scorer in the tournament, he should've converted more goals. His role in build ups and holding the ball up was good. He has played a lot of minutes for SFC,  but now looks set  for some lengthy bench sitting with Bobo's arrival.

Which is a pity , more young lads should get a chance in A league .
Good kid hope he kicks on

Is there anything the FFA can do to incentivise promoting youth among A-League sides?

Artificial measures may be needed. to address this.

More HAL teams,less imports ,a second division with loans from HAL teams and extended benches for yoth only are some options to give youth more of a go.
Most of the players in the u19's a good enough to be regular players in the HAL,but there just isn't the space.
ACL normally gives youth game time as part of squad rotation and as last year showed,youth for MV amd SFC were able to hold their own.

We really need more teams.

less imports, the quality of the league has improved enough now 

I want to see a second division introduced (along the lines suggested by Benjamin). And eventually for it to transition toward p/r (but not immediately). Also academies associated with A-League clubs from about U9s. And a better way of interacting with Indigenous Australians. Can't begin to emphasise how much good this would do.

Also to find a way of rewarding A-League clubs which promote youth. Not sure how to do that. But surely other sports have done that.

But I don't think there should be fewer foreign players. The quality of the A-League would be too heavily diluted. The overseas players bring a lot. It does more good than not for young Aussies to be playing with and against the likes of Fornaroli, Finkler, Broich, Delpierre, Rojas and so on.

Just a couple of quick points as Decentric has already mentioned some of what I was going to say:
*the keeper seemed much more comfortable in this game against the Thai than last time. He came out more and looked more confident doing so
*Although the defense was generally better they repeatedly gave away free kicks in very dangerous positions. This game though their positioning was better
*Really liked how we mixed up our attacks. We moved at pace at times, through the middle and at other times stretched it wide. I liked how players received the ball and looked to move it forward, instead of always playing the 'safety first' sideways or back pass. We were not even afraid to do something as 'old-school' as playing a long ball down the line, boring I know, but can work, especially if they are thinking we will play Dutch style short passing.
*The physical jockying in the middle of the park was great. A thai player would receive in the middle and would often be pounced by 2 Oz players, if they got passed them then their pass would be disturbed etc by a 3rd Oz player.
*The Thai had some fantastic tight ball control. We've obviously improved, but they were good. Liked that our players backed themselves in 1v1 more than youth sides of old
*The Thai also had some great first touch. There were too many times we coughed up possession after a poor first touch 
*We scored the first goal of a corner, all the others came from play. This is great. However, there didn't seem to be a dead ball specialist, and often our corners were wasted.
*Loved the Thai TV graphics on players. Steve got a yellow, and Kye was subbed at half time, very relaxed and informal. Nice
There is probably more, but lacking a lot of sleep right now

The question i asked is why did the young socceroos(u19s) did so well and the joeys (u16s) did really badly?

Ok its obvious its the AFF Cup is a different competition and not the AFC Cup but still won more convincingly and played better football than the Joeys.

Is it down to the preparation, coaching, the players selected or player levels change from time to time as they get older?

Contrast in 2014 if i remember the joeys did very well and the young socceroos were hopeless in the AFC Championship under the same coaches except Paul Okon is now with the Mariners.

http://www.inter.it/en/news/54755/piscopo-receives-australia-u20-call-up

Great news. Where's the full squad.

Would love to see a 4-2-3-1 formation with Piscopo and Blackwood rotated up front. Armenakas as CAM. Brimner as one of the CDMs and the other is Caletti (I can't remember if he plays that position). Then Arzani and Derrick on the wings. Deng in central defence. Not I suppose DDS could also play and that would be great (if it won't put his club side out too much).

If Australia qualify for the tournament then p'raps bring O'Neill into the squad, too. Not sure though because his main focus should surely be the Premier League. His opportunities with Australia will come.

I watched all the Aff under 19s matches and during the coverage was looking out for Josep Gombau. When he was appointed as Olyroos coach, it was outlined in the press release at the time that Gombau helps Okon (now Talay) with the Young Socceroos.  I am pretty sure he was sighted on the bench? I would of thought he would of definitely been there since Ufuk has been there for barely a month.

Quick flick , so you want to get rid of Kuzmonoski , Champness , Rose , Shabow ,and Maia ? Replace them with Arzani , Derrick , Caletti , Armanakas and Brimmer , Why?
Are they better?

I did see him on the bench.