I watched city played every week Behich 80% of time just passed it backward even when he got good opportunity to attack with space to run. I got no ideas what is in his head maybe fatigue or laziness. And defensively He wasnt good either.  I like what I see in Bos. 

Him costing us defensively isn't the problem, because his replacement Behich will cost us just as much. But at least tonight Bos was good defensively, but any left back who is so reliant on getting forward as a winger is usually weaker defensively, you basically pick your poison. 

I don't mind the Rowles idea. Would be a very defensive move though.

It's interesting according for Fotmob, Gethin Jones was MOTM at 7.8 followed by Bos then Goodwin and O'Neill. 

Typical of a pre tournament practice game. Not too intensive in order to avoid injuries.

Silvera and Duke central press unsettled their build up. I'd be interested to see that against a team like Saudi Arabia. 

Bis definitely gave it a good go. Metcalfe was a bit rusty. Silvera tried and Arnold spoke to him a lot from the side. Silvera is much better against a team who doesn't park the bus. Bahrain kept their shape reasonably well. 

Irvine had a shocking first half and the second was firmer with McGree just gliding on his feet which created space nicely. 

We've overloaded and confused ourselves at right back. Deng would've sufficed as cover. An extra engine in midfield would've been better.

It's nice we can afford now to keep Goodwin and Bos on rotation for left wing without having each go hard a full 90. Behich will start due to experience. Together they showed signs of skill but got on top of each other too. 

O'Neill walks into the side and I think with Baccus's energy next to him and putting Irvine on the 10 depending on opponent, Irvine will be less startled on the 6.

It will be interesting to see how Miller copes with small, nimble opponents. I didn't see the game so can't comment on Jones but if we're really stuck at rb then I think Baccus could do a job there. If that happens it would probably mean a midfield of O'Neill at 6, Irvine at 8 and McGree at 10.

I looked at the formation with the ball we shaped up in a 2-3-5 in possession with both full backs inverting and both wingers high and wide and a 4-4-2 without it.

I noticed Arnie doesnt like playing he's wingers inverted and at times the combinations went off at times at both sides, probably need some creativity out there McGree will help but I think we missed a trick not bringing in a more creative attacker in the squad.
I would like to see the wingers switch with Goodwin on the right and Silvera on the left if Arnie wants to go in that tactical direction with the 2-3-5 in possession.

Looking forward to the tournament! 

Can anyone tell me what special about Metcalfe? He is very average as AM. And 1 thing we know now he can't score no wonder he has been dropped for his club to the bench.

I do wonder if we'd have been better served with an Irankunda or Kuol instead of Deng or Jones despite their form issues.

We really seemed to struggle to crack packed defences and I have no doubt one of those guys in a squad of 26 could do a role off the bench for 15-30 mins in providing some x factor and creating something out of nothing.

Wasted opportunity IMO.

Having Irankunda and G Kuol available as ‘super subs’ would be most coaches dream.

Iran 2 Burkina Faso 1
Oman 1 UAE 0
South Korea 1 Iraq 0
Jordan 2 Qatar 1
Hong Kong 2 China 1

Garang Koul  He can't run past anyone in SPL what make you think he will make any difference. Didnt see much creativity from him either. Irankunda yes maybe he could be valuable as a super sub on the RW.

The Palestine coach has been killed by Israel.

R.I.P.

Edit: it was the under 23 coach

He's got a very good football brain. He's scored some good goals for St Pauli. He's been better for Australia against better opponents (Mexico and England) and has been lacklustre in friendly games where its experimentation or pre tournament (Ecuador and Bahrain). I wouldn't worry. He'll perform well. 

It was a little better than the 2019 European handball style play last night but Bahrain packing it made it difficult to get through. We were much better when stealing the ball and transitioning in space or moving the ball quickly when space presented itself. Bigger nations afford such space due their own pushes forward. 

We looked fire against Ecuador, Mexico and England by having that space. 

We'd be so much better off with Robertson, Hrustic, Kuol, Irankunda than Irvine who just belts it into oblivion or oversteps the ball. 

To be fair Tilio was good last night when he came on and he is offering just as much as Kuol would. Irankunda is a different level to both but I don't mind him staying at his club. But for now Tilio is the super sub

I felt quite buoyed by seeing Tilio come on. He's rusty at club level but he'll beat a man 100 times more than Leckie will. Give it 2-3 years and we'll hopefully be past the stumbling bunch of Leckie, Irvine, Behich and Maclaren. This is the technically inept generation. Lots of heart but compared to the next batch coming through, way behind technically. 

Just realised that was O'Neill with the ball to Goodwin for the second goal. He's got to start against Uzbekistan of all group games. 

My 11 for India game.

                        Gauci
Atkinson  Souttar Burgess Bos
              Baccus Yazbek
      Boyle     McGree   Goodwin
                       Fornaroli

Main thing is get a comfortable lead as early as possible and then get the vital players off.

I think Millers strength albeit against technically better Syrians makes Atkinson the better choice.

Burgess doing alright. I think Rowles has the smarts for the two bigger games. Build Souttar fitness and Bos experience. Behich will surely start the bigger ones. 

I think we can afford to start Yazbek here to conserve Irvine and O'Neill who'll have massive games later. Fornaroli needs a first goal to get the monkey off the back. Hopefully we can give Yengi or Iredale half an hour. 

Metcalfe isn't a slick pass and mover in tight spaces we need to play through the lines in central midfield  like Mooy, O'Neill, Baccus, Hrustic, Milligan, Culina, Grella, Bresciano, etc, bu the has a lot of other sttributes.

In an early shot on goal, he demonstrated the effective La Croqueta dribbling technique ( inside left, inside right - or inverse), beating 1-2 opponents before his shot. 

Metcalfe is effective off the ball in closing down space, and contests ball after ball causing opposition turnovers. 

He tackles and heads well - creating a lot of contests. He is an effective offensive header too - hitting the post against England.  He is a muscular presence -not like Boyle who is knocked off the ball a lot. 

Metcalfe has a terrific engine - getting up and down the pitch. He keeps the defensive shape compact when the opponents launch accelerated attacks. Then    he is able to move quickly into attacking positions in our Attacking Transitions.

Was at the game O'Neil and Bos we're impressive and back 4 solid. Irvine was was good also. When Tilo and McGree come on gave us more creativity and look alot more dangerous bit of X factor. Gauci tall lad alot of talking and directing to. Southar should be playing epl. Maybe missing a creative playmaker for me.

I'm very impressed with O'Neill.

The new Grella,  Mooy, Milligan in defensive central midfield.

Not sure about that no resting players at the tournament don’t underestimate anyone best side plays.

Irvine was running the show yesterday was really good his essential for us.

You poor bloke if you live there! 

 I lived in Kuwait nearby.

Tilio impresses me as a neat pass and mover in tight  spaces. He has very fast feet. He dribbles well, and runs with the ball  effectively, whilst  keeping his head up with the ball at his feet, more  than most previous Aussie wingers - which is hard to do.

If Celtic don't want him, he needs to play regularly somewhere. Tilio could possibly be a starter as right winger. I think he has overtaken Boyle.

I always though Irvine wasn't quite good enough until the Qatar World Cup.

I'm really impressed at his age, he seems to be improving (whilst some players are on the decline). I think Duke and  Goodwin are improving too - late in their careers.

Irvine is a very intelligent player. Ditto Goodwin and Duke.

Ta.

Can't believe Hong Kong beat China? China should be the best team in our region!

This has always come back bite us. 2018 BVM was an idiot not rotating. 2022 was a little better but it was more injuries forced Arnold's hand. By Argentina we were spent. 

Irvine was better second half but watch the number of duels where he'll just lob it forward to no one or played a pass that was less than ideal. Robertson already shows very quick instinct to foot the ball into the right spaces. I think Irvine is best as a 10 and can press and make late runs in attack it do we really want to use our 10 position for him?

He could be something from the bench. More for impact or closing down a game. You could see his frustration with his performance. He clearly was at ease with McGree around him. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/xkI06Gxp1F8?si=bS5J14wm9DrqEcyr

Full game. Seems to work outside Australia only.