Ipswich ahead so still equal 2nd on points and putting pressure on leeds

Crucial late lead for Ipswich while Southampton trail Millwall. It's the lower half of the table winning today A late Portsmouth winner at Charlton would be massive here with 2nd and 3rd losing.. 

Yengi with an assist

Neiwenhof hearts highest rated on fotmob. 7.4 winning most duels and creating, nothing to be sneezed at with a flogging

One of Tilio, Chipperfield or Milanovic could play the number 10 as well. Need 6 midfielders so that's Yazbek, Jelacic, Hollman, Teague, Nieuwenhof and one of Tilio, Chipperfield and Milanovic (they don't have to play the 10 but they can just substitute and bring an extra attacker). So realistically you drop one, I also had Peupion and Velupillay on my list but I'd probably drop both. I think they'd drop Chipperfield even though he probably deserves a look. I personally would drop Brook because I don't trust the form and I think all other aforementioned players have a higher ceilings in-game but I'd doubt they would after his form. But frankly, I think Milanovic is much more useful player than Brook.

Our 9 options are looking very thin right now too. We have Kuol and Toure who seem to get injured a lot and Toure is still injured and Kuol has had some good form in patches. Then Botic who was underwhelming all season until the last few weeks and then you have a late comer in Waddingham who I think is probably too young and inexperienced for this team. I'd go Toure and Botic but it doesn't instil too much consistent hope. 

I've seen blitz twitter videos and while they look off pace there isn't anything criminally wrong by the looks of it. 3rd goal I don't think Rowles can gradually grow 10cm taller. I'll  have to have a better loo tomorrow. Happens almost always that big league teams just maul visitors. While not to the level we'd hope, it's not exactly out of character. 

yengi assist?

oh tete

Job done for Ipswich today. Only 6 points from Leciester now. 6 points can diminish pretty quickly with the football to play but surely Leicester aren't going to finish 3rd.

7.4 in a battering like that is high! Well done.

so I've only watched 12 middlesborough games due to issues finding a stream at times and their games being on at the same time as other osaussie games

what do people think is their issue and how to fix it?

They are clearly pretty strong when defending deep and hitting teams on the counter, they are good in a blow for blow match, but if they dominate possession against a team the generate almost no chances and are very fragile on the counter

part of it is mental. Often when they concede a chance on the counter, their passing becomes too conservative to break down a deep block, so it becomes the worst of both worlds where they have numbers forward opening them up to counter attacks yet are completely ineffective in attack.

One option is to try and find more technical players in the final third and try and score more goals than you concede on the counter. The other option is to get defenders who are good at defending in transition. In particular playing inverted fullbacks which gives a bit more defensive stability - you can push counter attacks wide by having a fullback or two central when losing the ball. Then if you improve the defence, the attack can have more confidence to take more risks. I prefer this option personally which would mean looking to buy better fullbacks and a quality 6 or 8

nearly a goal from bos there

Has Liam Chipperfield ever expressed an interest in playing for Australia? So far all his representative football has been with Switzerland. I'd read he favours Switzerland. I'm all for changing his mind but I don't think it's as simple as selecting him and having him come. 

lol yes he has

7.9 Rating for Bos as Westerlo's best player again and in general. Wouldn't be surprised if he secures a move from this team in the off-season. 

I'm happy to be corrected. I know Chipperfield just received his Aussie citizenship but I'm not aware of any statements that he's interested in playing for Australia. Do you have any you can share? 

Here's an article from 2022 about it: https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/son-of-socceroos-legend-wants-to-play-for-switzerland-575949

That's a while ago now so hopefully things have changed. 

Scott and Liam's mum both said that he wants to represent Australia and the whole point of him receiving his citizenship was so he could play for the Olyroos in April. He would've been in contact with Australia and he was told a cutoff date of February for him to be eligible. Alison Byrnes MP reached out to make his citizenship a priority to beat the deadline and was granted citizenship.  Pretty clear of his intentions. 

Harry Kewell's Marinos won their opening league game. They scored two very late goals to win the game 2-1. Didn't watch the game but seemed like they dominated with almost 70% possession. Conceded early and were chasing the game the whole time before they finally broke through.

Could be a lot worse. Here's hoping Harry can finally prove himself as a manager and have a really great spell with them. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TqFP3ouVz4

Hearts highlights. People seriously pinned the first goal on Atkinson, delusional. The 4th he and the rest needed to belt it away. The entire defence was rabble. The 4th goal saw Rowles blamed. He'd been subbed off. 3rd goal Rowles should have gone with the man but he must have felt he'd played his man offside only for the left back to be deeper. The 2nd goal needed much better communication but I think Atkinson chose the right man to mark albeit for a nicely taken goal from the deeper Rangers player.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBQuFAzywpQ

Boro highlights

Goals not as bad against Glover as I thought. First one he needs to push was harder and more to the side. Online descriptions made it sound like he'd fumbled it straight forward Unlucky straight into the scorer's path. The second, you can reach but watching all the EFL goals this weekend plenty like that have gone in. 

Amazing news for Australia. Why didn't you respond with that earlier? My question was sincere.

Wonderful article on kuol

This sub thread is one few informed threads on osaussies rather than the usual "dur... why isnt he playing in the epl? Will be back in the a league soon" trollop aussie fans dish up without watching osaussies play. So nice to see an informed thread

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/how-manchester-united-s-sale-could-leave-socceroos-young-gun-out-in-the-cold-20240221-p5f6th.html

2nd against glover was practically unsaveable. Insane to blame him for that? Side net across the keeper is a goal every day

Francois starting for VB. Let's hope he kicks on - he's another DM option for the Roos.

Denmarks elo is only just behind the eredivisie and the jupiler league. Nothing to be sneezed at and we have few specialist 6s (not sure if he is a specialist or not)

89 minutes for tyrese in a 2 zip win

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24138975.michael-carricks-message-middlesbrough-goalkeeper-seny-dieng/

An article about the middlesborough gking situation

Ryan starting against Ajax. 

Big pressure on him.  With Yokohama F Marinos, anything below the top 3 will see as a failure.

Nice low save by Ryan. AZ poised with a nice early goal.

Oniell starting against the top team in belgium

An away game too. Could be fun to watch

Eposito in the bench for lecce

Could have another Circati situation on our hands. He impressed me in the Young Socceroos (U20's) and seemingly impressed in Lecce's Primavera side to get given this opportunity. The U20's look really strong heading into the U20 Asian Cup Quals this year and U20 Asian Cup/World Cup next year