Four vacant international windows to fill with fixtures: March 20-28, June 12–20, September 4-12 and October 9-17.

Talk of homecoming games and Perth next year at some point. Despite the many unavailable teams due to their Nations League there are still slots to get some big teams which the FA is looking at. 

With most of the UEFA teams out, could be a good time to lure some countries from federations we don't often play against - USA, Canada, Nigeria, Egypt etc 

Gulf Cup on. Oman and UAE seem serious while Qatar have rotated a bit and Saudi using it for their youth players.

I'd like Egypt, an African powerhouse who rarely qualify for WCs but do well in African Champs, and Mexico.

When did we last play Iran - 1997?

For easier opposition and blooding some young players - Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia - could be prospective opposition.

I'm still gobsmacked we finished 11th in the Qatar World Cup.

Who would have predicted it  in March last year?

I don't think any of us did. Now to carry that through the Asian Cup. 

It was nearly this time last year we went into the Vietnam game knowing that we had to wait for the others to play and see what was next. Cue the China game and then it was really dark. Twice now Japan have lost the opening game but after a few rounds we're the ones doing all the math to see if we can scrape in. New qualification system will be different but for the love of god can some group opponents please play out a draw?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUo6-9VK78M

Wonderful goal by Strain. I think we need to play the players with the best all round package. Strain probably fits that bill at right back. Degenek was excellent defensively. Karacic got up and down alright. The same goes for midfield. While it depends on the type of game, certain players can do a lot more with the ball while also being able to tackle. He's way off it now but Genreau looked to be one who could go box to box. Devlin certainly can too but he isn't the best passer. Baccus has the flair and tank. It shows how much Irvine is standing in the way of progression in this area. I'd like Arnold to explore combinations that work in both directions of the pitch.

Same here to be honest. And it was not without merit.

Still nothing on games in March except whispers of a Perth game. I think that might be a nice send off for Sainsbury. I suspect something like a Perth and Melbourne set up but even just two games in Perth would be fine. Maybe we can invite Malaysia down for one. CAF have AFCON qualifiers. CONCACAF have Nations league and UEFA has Euro 2024 qualifications.

Japan have the Kirin Cup in March and June but I don't think we'd want to not come home for two windows.

Rare, free opportunity to watch Devlin, Rowles, and Atkinson play for Hearts this morning. Rowles is obviously a known quantity to us all, but it was interesting to see Devlin play. He's no pirlo on the ball, but he seems to have a better touch and pass than Irvine, and is an absolute terrier off the ball - never stops running and tackling, and he wins it up the pitch in dangerous positions a lot - it's lead to numerous goals from the highlights I've seen of him over the last few weeks. I think he's definitely worth a run in the side and it's a shame we never saw him in Qatar. 

Thanks for the report.

In  Devlin's brief appearance for the Socceroos,  I thought Devlin had an assured first touch, plus quicker handling speed and better technique than I thought he would have.

I know he is a renowned ball winner.

Even though Irvine performed to the best of his  abilities  in Qatar, I think he is a little below the  recent  standard required ( passer and mover in tight spaces, first touch, handling speed, etc) required for a central, international midfielder for the Socceroos.  He has compensated in other areas though , but we need players the technical  calibre of Mooy, Milligan, Bresciano, Grella, Culina, as a given for this position.

There are so many good young Aussies playing in this position too.

Also the fact that our 4 goals ,including the goal against Argentina,came from open play.

Game against Malaysia would love to see... 

                    Langerak
Strain     Circati      Rowles    Elder
            Bacchus   Genreau
   Kuol            Kalik       Volpato (pipedream)
                     D Juric 

Since when are we playing Malaysia? 

FA read this thread so we may end up playing Malaysia.

I'd like a test mid of Baccus Kalik and Niewenhof 

Wouldn’t really surprise me if FA did read this forum - but how do you know they do?

I'm sure there are some occasional observers from here. At the same time I doubt they'd care all that much. 

Looks good, only change I'd make is Bos for Elder and Devlin as one of the DMs. Genreau has barely any game time in France ans Devlin deserves a chance from his consistent minutes and performance for Hearts 

Germany just announced games against Peru and Belgium in Mainz and Köln respectively.

Looks like everyone else had Euro qualifying. Can't really think who we can arrange for March except Asia. 

Usually the Europeans will have some teams on a bye each matchday but it would mean playing in Europe.

Other than Peru some other South American teams may have their teams free for the March window.

This might be the time to miss a window while making sure the team has good opposition arranged in the lead up to qualifiers starting in November.

Arnie re-appointed

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/graham-arnold-reappointed-socceroos-coach-following-memorable-world-cup-campaign/news-story/318b0b7a1f8df107bf25d5c407bf9d7e

Got it mostly right when it really counted. I'd love to know the causes of the dip in qualification when the squad didn't even seen to want to be out there. Was it just a typical rough patch or was there much more behind the scenes?

Didn't it coincide with the two times he had Covid and couldn't be with the team.

Fantastic news!

I think it was the case with the Japan and Saudi games in succession in March that Arnie had COVID and couldn't be  with the  team,  but we drew against China, and was it Oman?

 Socceroo players said not having Arnie affected morale against Saudi and Japan.

Long term it  didn't  matter one iota. We finished 11th in the World Cup and were the second best Asian team outside Japan in Qatar.  I think the 20 WCQ games for Aus created a battle hardened unit used to playing in tough conditions in  matches that count. Conversely, Denmark had an easy 10 game WCQ campaign - against moderate UEFA opposition.

What amazes me, is with  the few people I'm mates with who are interested in football off forum, hardly any of them seem the slightest bit excited how well  the Socceroos did.  It was  wonderful  to come onto this forum and see how ecstatic everyone was about the results and performances of Aus at Qatar 2022.

I've got a lot more  mates who are cricket tragics,  who don't  follow football outside the World Cup, but they were  much more excited about Aus's progress in Qatar.

The final two games were hard times. Arnold was at Saudi away as I remember the interview Was it Vietnam home that Arnold was also sick? You could see the team morale dip with the Souttar injury. I think the downward spiral of Sainsbury, the Rogic rift mystery and poor form across the squad led to some tough times around the Nov-Feb period. 

The team's structure totally changed when Taggart got injured after Japan away. Up until then the team seemed organised and knew what to do then Saudi home saw panic ensue with Leckie up top. Thankfully the chance rectify it and then on the world's biggest stage is just reward for investing in the correct people. Rowles, McGree, Duke and Goodwin became reliable mainstays

Where do people view Kuol's best position long term? Right forward? Centre forward?

Right winger probably. He was superb for Mariners even in midfield areas- he’s more than just an ‘upfront target man’. Brilliant at crossing/passing as well as creating his own chances in box to strike at goal.
only time will tell though 

Wouldn't call it a pipe-dream, probably is against Malaysia but I suspect that they will play in one of the next windows, especially the window in June, once the seasons are finished. Arnie said he wants to reward the players who played the WC for the first window so I wouldn't expect too many new players but after that I think it's all systems go.