Rowles has done ok since Arnie moved on from Sainsbury & Degenek. I haven't seen a lot of his games for Hearts recently, but judging by their fans, he's been in shocking form at club level & a lot of them constantly complain about him being selected on game day, let alone when they lose. I think for the time being, the back 4 should be:

Strain........ Circati........ Burgess......Bos

Yes, lots of complaints from Hearts fans about Rowles. The overall consensus seems to be that he is too weak to play as LCB in a back four and is being targeted and bullied by strong opposition strikers. The feeling seems to be that he is much more comfortable and performs better as LCB in a back three where he is further away from the goalmouth.

Being reported that Atkinson is out for 2 months.

That's mostly an issue in Scotland where refs don't give players as much protection and you can get away with being much more physical 

Good opportunity for Strain and Miller to get some Socceroos exposure. 

Rumour in French media that Kisnorbo will be sacked early next week. 

He's done well to last so long.

Troyes have dived since he come on board.
How many wins has he had at the helm?

Segecic with first hour in tonight's game and has played full games the last 3. A solid start.

Triantis bench. Definitely needs a January EFL loan to get playing. League 1 or 2 perfectly fine at this age. 

Huuuugggeee 2. Bundesliga game for St Pauli tonight (5.30am Sydney time) against the relegated Hertha Berlin. Hertha Berlin finding form and St Pauli have not lost a game since the start of the season. St Pauli featuring in the top 2 Bundesliga timeslot again this week. Irvine potentially back, but I doubt he will play, so another opportunity for Metcalfe to stamp his place in the squad. Always really difficult for Metcalfe because Jackson Irvine is the Captain and the coach has already said a number of times. that he is always first pick for the team. I think that is why Metcalfe was playing out wide/wing/RM. Others have also said it but I agree, he is wasted on the wing. 100% an 8/10 midfielder.

Supposedly 12 - 15K St Pauli fans heading to game. Crowd expected to be 50 - 60K at Hertha.  

Metcalfe and Irvine (if fit) should be in the Socceroos Squad for England for sure. 

Hürzeler: "Our fans are a big plus for us in the league" - FC St. Pauli (fcstpauli.com)

Football is a physical sport. I would much rather over physicality football, than cheating , diving little bastards, whole roll around like they have been shot. He is rather soft though, as was seen in the Europa league qualifiers.

You are entitled to your preferences, but in the end the international game is way less physical than the spl, so the spl gives poorer preparation to international football compared to similar quality leagues (with the occasional exception like the second game against equador)

Rowles has done very well for us and would probably do well in the eredivisie

I have zero interest in international football. Wish it would bugger off.

At Hannover Wiesbaden today. No Iredale and the tradition of missing AA in Hannover continues. Seems to be the first reserve. Coach might be a bit mad about the late shot in Paderborn. 

This thread is about international football 

Not as such. I mean internationals between countries, not clubs.

That sucks mate, you've been following him closely for ages. He's another one we need to start hitting the back of the net after a promising start 

the only reason most of us give a stuff about any of these clubs is because socceroos or future socceroos play for them. Definitely an international football thread

Yeah I've seen a few here but Kruse was always injured. 

He's essentially first reserve but had he finished that late chance against Paderborn... A 3rd division loan would be good for the rest of this season. 

Goal McGree on 5min 

McGree double on 12min

hearts are up 1-0 with 10 to go

some interesting stats about hearts. They move the ball more than most spl teams and their games have around 600 passes per game, including this game, well above the average

they so far the best defense in the league (which makes the criticism of rowles odd)

They are probably a team that are evolving into a more modern one. Curious if the fans will have the patience to see them transform styles. It will be painful going as they have at the moment the worst attack in the league but should improve as they get used to keeping the ball on the deck more than a usual spl club

kuol starting

robertson and mcgrree player of the match for their teams

robertson with an assist and mcgree with a brace

Friendlies are for testing to see how players go. I don't think we're in any place where a 6:0 defeat risks Arnold's job. What I want to say is it could even be a time to give Robertson a start against a much higher opposition. 

England play Italy a few days later so I expect Australia will face Watkins and Bowen who are actually as if not more lethal than their regulars. 

I say go for it and play the most in form players. Strain, Robertson, Circati among others. 

Metcalfe starting. Irvine on the bench. 

A team based on pure club form is probably like this

-------------ryan-----------

-miller/strain--circati-burgess-bos
--------------------metcale-luongo-------
-----------------------------genreau---------
--------------mcgree-----boyle----goodwin

That is an 11 I'd like to see. It's got to be practiced. I'd be very keen to see if the apparent sharpness could work well amongst a group. 

What I don't like is the second NZ is going to be treated as a training session when I'd much rather the England game really be used to get some of the more pressing selection questions answered. 

O'Neill came on for final 20 in a 2:1 win. Kuol off at ht.

Bilokapic with a xleansheet but AMB still benched. Toure not off bench. Troyes with a late late conceded goal to lose and that's Kisnorbo surely gone. 

Irvine on for Metcalfe. 

That's about right. I'd love to see that.