It shits me that we've got good attackers but not one regular goalscorer. 

Easy. It's entirely possible for any five other runners up to rack up maximum points and a higher GD than we will in our group, such as Syria or China against Philippines, Maldives and Guam, Iraq v Hong Kong and Cambodia, Oman v Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Tajikistan or Kyrgyzstan v Myanmar and Mongolia, North Korea v Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka, or Uzbekistan or Saudi v Palestine and Singapore.

The last thing I want to to have an "I told you so" moment, but the "she'll be right" attitude of many as regards the dice throw of getting a best runners up spot alarms me.

I don't think you did the maths correctly. If Jordan got full points against Kyrgyzstan they would have finished on 21 points too, and qualification would have gone to the lottery of GD.

This time our group doesn't have a team we can count on to take points off Jordan.

Leckie, Borrello, Mabil and Ikon at this stage with Leckie as the only lock.

Arzani could easily break into the sde when he's fit and playing again, probably at the expense of Ikon.

Nabbout would be my 6th choice.

Hrustic can play play out wide too so it will be interesting to see whether Arnie sees him as a winger, a AM or a CM.

I honestly can't see the likes if Goodwin, Boyle or Duke winning many more caps.

So we would have qualified to the next stage with 4 points to spare. We don't even need to win the group to qualify, usually 3 games where you have dropped points is still enough to qualify.

It is not a walk in the park......we are now out of the park. Even if Jordan finish above us (which they won't) we will still qualify in 2nd place. There is no way we aren't winning the 4 games v Taiwan and Nepal and the home game against Kuwait. That is 18 points plus the 2 games v Jordan still in hand. Even if we only got 1 point from the Jordan games (which again won't happen) It would be a one in a thousand chance we missed on 19 points. Try drawing up a scenario where we miss on 19 points and can't finish in the top four or five 2nd place teams. The probability of us missing now in this phase is minuscule.

You're talking about where we should be, I'm talking about where we are.

it wasn't a walk in the park but it should be. Jordan FFS.

Just having a look at last time's results: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_AFC_Second_Round#Group_B

I don't think people appreciate how much we benefitted from having a plucky, much improved Kyrgyzstan in our group which took points from Jordan away (something we've never achieved) and beat them at home.

If another team was in Kyrgyzstan's place and lost both games against Jordan (as Kuwait most likely will) then Australia would have ended up level with Jordan on 21 points with only the relative lottery of GD to separate us.

Our group does not have a team of Kyrgyzstan's quality or character as a third-seeded team, and we can expect Jordan to get maximum points home and away in games not involving us.

Anyone who thinks our current stage of qualification is a walk in the park needs this recent history lesson.

There is good competition for spots there, its still to close to call for me, although I don't think Ryan Williams has done enough to be on equal footing with the others. Iredale is looking promising and Dykes has also shown potential.

Currently I'd say Leckie, Arzani, Borrello and Mabil. Boyle has done OK so far but I need to see more. Ikon is immensely talented and should also always make the squad. We're so blessed and hopefully they can serve Taggart and Giannou. In thrilled about Iredale, Dykes and Folami. Despite the level they're at, they're beating the keeper. Finishing is so important. 

I'm not concerned at all. There will be matches where they'll start him over Propper or Stevens. He'll hopefully create an awesome link with Groß in training. A shame Trossard is injured this weekend. Neither Trossard or Groß have caps. Did their grandmothers have a fling with any Australian soldiers in the 40's? :D

what would people have as our 4 best wingers? if everyone was fit and healthy. 

Id have Arzani, Boyle, Leckie as easy locks

however for the 4th Id be torn between Borello, Mabil, Ikon, Ryan Williams and Nabbout. 

Nabbout would be my 4th choice as he could always play the number 9 role as well. 

"Didn't do anything" is a bit of a stretch. He was quite solid, thought he linked up well with Behich. Regardless, Ikon is a gun, and will play in a bigger league soon enough.

Are you kidding? Borrello has played and started all 4 competitive matches for a top 6 bundesliga club, averaging more than 70 minutes a game as a 24 year old. that is hardly a few minutes in a crap team and hardly the worst player on the pitch. And he did that after being out injured for pretty much the whole season previous. Borrello was a gun at brisbane and deserved a move to a bigger league, he impressed in Buli 2 in his first season before getting injured enough to get a transfer to a bigger club (despite being injured and grounds for a termination in the transfer). I think that is enough to warrant some acclaim. He is not a showy player (and he is definitely not a showy personality) but he is definitely a gun player and worthy of consideration for the roos. 

Mooy will absolutely be getting game time at Brighton - no need to worry about that. He just joined on deadline day so was behind the 8 ball a little. 

Not everyone was.

Your first point means absolutely diddly squat. Oscar crino played NSL entire career but Richard garcia played many premier league games... who was the better player??

This! Borello suddenly being acclaimed as this great player when in reality his just managed to get on the pitch a few times as the worst player for a fairly crap bundesliga side. He's more or less the same player as the emd of his time in the A league. Just caise a guy gets his break in a big leagie doesnt suddenly mean he's becime a better player... take mooy for example. Everyone was doubting him at melb city that he could be premier league just because his dominant form was 'only A league'. A gun is a gun... doesnt matter the league. If anything mooy has regressed substantially compared to his 2014-15 and 2015-2016 form. 

Didn't realise BVM was coaching the UAE nowadays, I had read he was retiring after the 2018 WC, but maybe that's exactly what he's done lol

Borello didn't do anything against Kuwait. Who's to say Ikon couldn't play in the Bundesliga? 

Well ones playing Bundesliga ones in the A-League. 


Joining so late he was always going to need take to break into the first team. If hes still only getting 5 minutes in January then Id be worried

Bit concerned Mooy isn't getting game time at Brighton.

Who is a better player between Ikon and Borello?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2003/feb/12/minutebyminute.sport

What a fun read. Memories. 

Isnt that a function of the market? If FTA wont pay to show it how can it end up there?

Its not a game of national significance (anti-siphoning if it still exists) so if the market wont pay thats just plain old economics. 

I agree its a shame that there isnt sufficient demand to convince a broadcaster it worth stumping up the money for though. 

The fact that it’s not on FTA is terrible especially in this era.

Haven't noticed any commercials on Fox regards the game to date.
My Football Live app and I expect kayo as mentioned.

Apropos of nothing FootballNSW policy is games to be abandoned 37 degrees or higher.   

Apparently it's not on FTA, so only Fox/Kayo.  There should hopefully be a Kuwaiti stream, I'll post it in here before kickoff.