players are A-League standard too, and that wont cut it on an international stage. 

He does the worst thing imaginable in his position... He picks and plays favourites.

A good coach would have more of the players we have. 

Agree. Starting with Duke as striker is the prime example. But his terrible management of substitutions as well. Grant was clearly struggling from the 75th minute, and you have Atkinson who could've provided some spark from defence. Tilio and Folami could've come on sooner. Would've even thrown on D'Agostino instead Jmac who's in much better form.   

these are good points......be it GA but also the cattle.
We don't have players in top flight football, till we have a core doing so we will always battle.

You can add 2008 Beijing Olympics failure to this list

Farina wasn't that bad

Easily the worst coach, said if from the start, A-League standard at best.

He's up there with Frank Farina. 

Although the current crop of players produced by the A-league are the worst we've seen since 1985.

Looks like you where right.

Plays Duke and King in the starting side against the best team in Asia in a must win game. 

Two players who have never dominated an A-League get given that opportunity. Jobs for the boys 

On a tactical and player selection that's a yes, with the levels of Farina from 2002-2005 on that front. 

He is, at best you could say he is the equal worst manager we have ever had. He is to blame for his failures the first time he had the job. Those who selected him are to blame for the his failures the second time he had the job (now). 

Oh no...

Good managers can have a multiplier effect on the skill and quality of the players. Arnie can't do that. This is why players like rogic can look plodding and lost for the NT. Good players can solve challenges posed by other teams and make their own. Arnie can not respond, often waiting until the 70 or ,80th minute to sub even when we are looking obviously unlocked. He rarely surprises in his team formation or strategy, meaning we are often responsive. He also plays favorites and players out of position. Sure we have had better generations of players, but Arnie isn't helping the situation either

Was twenty-something and flew to Melbourne from Perth for that one. How depressing. Really thought it was our time. Venables had us undefeated for so long - a long list of qualifiers and friendlies - and we didn't lose that game either - just the unfairness of being part of OFC (good riddance!).

You're right though, 2006 was an unexpected surprise - and having suffered not just Iran, but Argentina, Scotland and the previous Uruguay experience - it was sweet.

Was also at the MCG in 2001 for the win against Uruguay. Everyone was so excited after the game but I was despondent because I knew 1 - 0  wasn't enough. I stupidly booked my Ansett flight home timed with when the return game was in progress. Had my parents taping the game for me but the Captain announced the score when we touched down in Perth. Obviously didn't bother watching.

I was 10 at the time and it was the first game I remember watching live on TV with my friends. Even at that age it was gutting.

Honestly though it made 2006 that much sweeter

Holger Osiek team beats the Saudi away 3-1 and 4-2 in Melbourne. Also drew a very strong Japan 1-1 away and 1-1 at home.

@ Barca4Life

So,  according   to  that   article ,  FA   won't  even  consider   replacing   Arnie   until   after   there   is   no  chance   of  us  qualifying ??

so   proactive ...

As for Arnold, I don’t know if the worst ever but he really is not up to it regardless of the cattle.
After every game he says “ look..we fought hard...and bla bla bla...I have every faith in these boys.”

never has any analysis or constructive comments...come on Arnie give us something to makes us believe you know what your doing.

hes to wrapped up in the emotion of the game, cussing and yelling and pacing up and down.

Get that shit out of your head and focus on the game and what we need to do, what’s working, what’s not, do opponents have a weakness, how can we exploit it, are we in control of the middle of the park etc etc.

thats the stuff I want to hear him talk about and sort out.

That Venables side was decent...I can still see Bosnich sitting in the ground thinking what the f..k just happened, much like the rest of us.
We got carried away thinking 2-0 was gonna do it....Iran did not tho....Still focussed on the game while we were in dreamland.

All the Mid East countries have risen up and are now like Iran Were then, focussed, skilled, and importantly fight for a result.

My issue is the key reform stuff JJ and the FA want to implement, but whether it’s just the lack of interest from the stakeholders or not it’s simply not good enough.
We compete in a very competitive global game especially in Asia and we need to be doing a lot better if we want better results. 

100%. Look what Bert Van M did with Roos in 2018 - only 1-2 loss to France. If Arnold coached that game would have been 0-3+ loss. 1-1 Denmark - again BVM made Roos competitive against 2 classy European sides

In the first 5 minutes alone we had 4 golden chances.

Yep, while the cattle are of course not as good as those from the Golden Generation, I strongly believe a better coach could definitely have achieved more with the current group that is available. A good coach will produce a team that is better than the sum of its parts, I think the teams Arnold selects are worse than the sum of its parts. And I think Arnold's selections have often been poor as well.

I know Gyfox, you are 100% right... still hurts like buggery though, would have loved to see that squad in France....

So what's with the hold up here? Why can't they make changes now? No wonder nothing gets done in the game...

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/arnold-safe-but-fa-says-change-needed-or-socceroos-will-continue-to-suffer-20220209-p59v5m.html

If we had taken our chances in the first 60minutes the last 25 minutes would have made no difference.  We would have qualified.

EVERYONE would have loved to see that team make it mate...... still can't believe those last 25 mins....... 

I think it was better than the 2006 team, a young kewell and viduka dominating for leeds, we still had vidmar and moore at rangers in their peaks. Bosnich at Man utd, Zelic still kicking it around in germany, lazza ripping it up in England and you had Aloisi and Skoko off the bench. Everyone of the was playing regularly in top leagues in Europe. It would of been good to watch.

> Falling for Remote Control's bait