You've just depressed the shit out of me Harry cos I agree.

I see what you mean. At the same time hardly any of our players emulate their very good club form at international level against teams mostly of or lower the standard they regularly play in.

If we had a coach and system that got the best out of our current players we'd be going much better. Less of a slow possession based game with hardly and movement or creativity to an aggressive, coherent attacking and defensive unit. We hardly ever counter and always pass it back and slow it. We have the players in every position who can use the 5 seconds of transition to go forward and create chances. That's all I'm asking for. 

100%

people I don't think understand the advantage you gain by having guys constantly playing and training together.

Grella & Bresc both at Parma
Emerton & Neill at Blackburn.
Dukes and Schwarzer - how valuable would be to have a target man playing with his national keeper every week? its huge....Harry had also played with dukes for years and knew the way he played and how to complement him.

So the right side is sorted week in week out playing together.
The long ball to dukes is sorted.
The midfield pairing of Grella & Bresc was sorted - playing every week they know when to go and when to stay etc. 

This extra chemistry these players had in 2006 was massive in getting us to the last 16. 

The fact Devlin and Atkinson are not first on the team sheet is bizarre as they are troublesome positions for the future.

Amazing there's no news on arrivals, team meetings etc only two, yes TWO days out from our next WC Qualifier. There seems to be conspiracy against any news of the Socceroos and football in Australia. To me it shows how big an issue that it was to get the 10 deal up. It will be interesting how TEN react to all the naysayers rubbishing the deal and the presence on the FTA channel. Let's hope that the powers that be have the guts of their convictions to ride out the storm. Be assured, the AFL and NRL juggernauts are afraid of the traction that we will get over time.
It is a pity that JJ seems to be enamoured with the APL and is not pushing for the NSD and promotion/relegation which would take the fight to the AFL and NRL.

LOCATION LOCKED IN 🏟

Stadium Australia will host our March 24 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Japan!

#AsianQualifiers #AllForTheSocceroos

Mate, apologies, I am similarly depressed. Regardless, notwithstanding that I am away on holidays at the beach with my family, I’be told them there is only one thing we are doing Thursday night … watching the Socceroos!

Fair points.

That is depressing - but my view is even more depressing. I think we will qualify - probably as 2 but maybe as 1. The 3rd place will not make it to Qatar. Sadly the best teams in Asia are actually going backwards. Iran and South Korea are making an easy run for the Qatar but neither has been convincing. Japan are a shadow of their former self. I expect that Saudi Arabia will miss out form our group and a poor australian team to make it. 

But I also expect none of the 4 Asian qualifiers (5 if you include Qatar)  having any impact at the World Cup.     

We need a decent win tomorrow night, while also needing a favourable result in one of the other matches as well.

Japan vs China at 9pm Melb time, or Saudi vs Oman at 415am Melb time. 

https://ultra.zone/2022-FIFA-World-Cup-qualification-AFC-Third-Round#group=b

Really have to hope Australia can win both in this window and see some slip ups but it's so precarious. Main thing is win both and see what happens giving a chance in the final games. Playing with the table is fun and scary. Some kind of miracle where Japan lose both home games and Australia win is inconceivable. Oman can be tricky so here's hoping they push Saudi. China last throw at dice so they'll go all out.

The best thing Australia can do against Vietnam is be relentless. Don't underestimate but really do the best to set up a better GD for the later equations.

Left back should be Craig Goodwin not Joel King with Behich stuck in Turkey. 

Goodwin is no LB. Give King a chance.

Bet Arnold wishing he picked Gersbach now

More realistically, if Japan draws one of those games and we beat vietnam and oman we would be one point ahead of them (us on 17 points and them on 16). Which would mean we would need to beat an already qualified saudi  and draw with Japan

Or better still in that situation where we entered the last two games one point ahead of Japan, all we have to do is defeat Japan and we are through.

Arnold holds the low performers dearly. If at all then they need to be dropped for those who are performing much better only to give them the hunger again. Complacency from those with essentially guaranteed spots.

I'm assured if all those names mentioned (it's a long list) came in, it'd see a lot more drive in matches. By that I think I mean fewer sloppy errors and better concentration on which option to play. 

If only we didn't shit around against China.

Even that bloody Saudi game we should have won. That's 4 points more there and we're pretty much in Qatar.

So frustrating.

I think Riley mcgree will be our most important player by the World Cup 

Ball lands of Jeggo's arm. Tough call that yet we had to seal it with a second goal. That Boyle cross behind the Saudi keeper. Geez. Can't believe we couldn't shut up shop in Japan. I admittedly got greedy when we countered with 10 to go but then started fearing it. Close run thing yet massive implications. Campaign probably peaked around 10min before end of Japan game. Interesting is the number 1:0 results and it just doesn't matter because it's all about the result. Same in UEFA with big teams winning 1:0 in the far East of UEFA.

Provided Australia beats Oman I think it's best Japan don't win against Saudi. I think there's a real chance of two draws next week changing nothing.

If Australia can beat Oman then it's 17 pts.

JAP-SA 
JAP W
S:19
J :18
A:17

The least ideal but most likely. This would pile the pressure on meaning Australia would have to avoid defeat to have any chance but with Japan hosting Vietnam on the last day, their victory in that would see our Saudi game become a dead rubber provided Saudi doesn't lose in China. Something crazy could be Australia lose to Japan but Saudi have a shock loss to China meaning an Australian win away on the last day would be enough on GD.

D
S:20
A:17
J:16

This seems ideal leaving 2 slots potentially open if China can beat Saudi. A draw for Saudi in China would be enough regardless of the Australia Japan result. At the same time Australia would have qualification right in front of them on offer at home so I can't see anything more motivating than that. 

SA W
SA:22
A:17
J:15

This one seems insane to think it's still possible but it is. This would allow Australia to draw vs Japan and then draw in Saudi and likely get 2nd on GD not to mention just beating Japan outright would have it all done.

Colombia haven't scored in 6 games. Interesting. Very tight for the 5th place. They've got 2 easier games at the end. Ecuador have done very well and are almost there.

Canada doing amazingly in qualification. Unbeaten after 10 games. Nearly qualified with 4 games to go. 

I think someone has already mentioned this, but surely Folami has done enough to earn a call up. I think he’d be a better option than Leckie.
Folami consistently dribbles past players, has great control in tight situations and creates lots of scoring opportunities for others, as well as scoring himself.
I’m not saying he should start for the Roos, but what a great option to have off the bench, running at tired defenders.

That USA & Canada rivarly will be good to watch over the next decade real quality coming through in both teams. Hopefully we can replicate it one day.

He started showing good signs last season, but this season he's gone to another level - especially the last 2 games - it's all starting to click for him. He's keeping Kruse & Ikon on the bench as well, which shows that Popa rates him. While he's in this form I'd be picking him for sure. And why wouldn't you start him, he's playing out of his skin

This country, obviously, has way to many quality players. Why doesn't someone start a petition to FIFA to allow OZ to have 3 senior NT's.O

I realise you’re joking…but it shows the opposite. Nobody killing it in a big league so we need to grasp at straws and try to draw some hope from young players showing “potential” in the A League.

Also, Leckie is past it so may as well go for younger options.

I hate these post game interviews about how disappointed they are. Do it in game time and be organised beforehand to but your best foot forward! The next window must see Atkinson and Elder. I think Luongo urgently needs to be recalled. Dougall and Holland for midfield. We don't really have much to lose with the writing on the wall. Start Ruka up top. Hrustic Rogic McGree.  Arnold won't do any of this.


                           Ryan
Atkinson Sainsbury Degenek Elder
               Holland Dougall
           McGree Rogic Hrustic
                     Ruka

Correct.
And well articulated CH.
The important point here is that our game isn't now in trouble.
Assessments based on National Team performances is not the measure, but an end result.
Our game was already in trouble.
Many have brought this to our attention, myself included, for the last 15 years.

The NT results and performance, all around the World, goes hand in hand with the performance of  a nations National Football Competitions and the units that make up that competition are CLUBS.
The more CLUBS a nation has that are strong in finding and developing TALENT, then moving that TALENT on to a higher level domestically or internationally, the stronger your National Team will be.
For selection in any National Team, is a process of selection, of the best performing players from CLUBS.

Whats happened to us is we have deviated from the Global Standards and adopted LOCAL standards.
The A-League, the NPL, the ALW, the AL Academies, the NTC programs, the Emerging Matildas Programs etc are NOT NORMAL FOOTBALL STANDARDS.
The National Federation and State Federations and Local Associations have invaded this space and its not their role.
When you get all this wrong, the end result is an under performing National Team. I have seen very little improvement the last 25 years.