silver lining if you replace villupilay with irankunda it is pretty close to our best squad out of players available and we have played some beautiful football against good opposition

Incoming individual inside port threads on each player, club background, number and quotes to spam the place up :D

It used to be great when new users commenting on the article would be brought straight to the forum

now its 2 pages of spam before you go back to our threads :D

A quick glance, we have a comparatively younger side compared to Japan and South Korea. 

interesting, makes it more meaningful if we win

We have to finish top of the group. For all the drama about squad selection, we still have the 2nd best squad. Just going off fotmob scores (not claiming these are the best players) our best outfield is

-talbot (6.71)-jake GR (6.79)-jcp(7.02)-farrel(7.55)

———holman (7.22)-teague (7.12)—

————jelacic (6.99)———

—-brook (7.04)-kuol (6.66)—milanovic (7.47)-

which gives an average of 7.06. This would have them equal first on the a league table (ccm fotmob rating is 7.06)

South Korea I’ll play a franken 3-6-1 formation to get their best players in the same 10 as most of their players have never played a senior game. I also have to include their mls and efl player to make a full outfield team

——-—Cho Hyun Taek (6.3)-Lee Tae Seok (6.95)-Hwang-Jae-Won (7.23)———-

-Hoo (6.45)-Yun Sang (6.41)-Jin (6.69)-Jun ho(6.77)-sang yun(6.45)-jeong(6.92)-

—————-————-—-Lee Jun-Young(6.08)————————————————

average=6.63 which is below last place on the k league table

Japan’s team is simply outrageous

—-Handa (7.05)—nishio-(6.8)-suzuki-(7.22)-takai(6.89)

—-—Tanaka(7.62)-Matsuki(7.32)-Hirakawa(7.45)——-

——-—fujio (7.13)-araki (7.46)-Hosoya(6.58)————

average=7.15 which would have them 2nd in the j league. So if we face Japan it would be like an asian champions league match. We have won such matches against top japanese opposition but it is hard! We have to win the group

Teague is better than D'Arrigo and Jelacic adds an attacking midfield option. I think in a round about way it's strengthened the team. On paper at least. 

I'd have gone with another CF over a LB. Probably Waddingham instead of Mauragis. But not to be. 

Cool analysis. So we'd be hoping to see Japan later than earlier.

I don't mind our 11 you put forward but I'd go Toure at CF (If he's good for 60mins) and G. Kuol at RF. If Toure is better as a sub go A. Kuol.

Yeah and probably popa at cb over jcp

Would like to meet japan after qualifying

Still wish we got to see this outfield:

Italiano-Circati-Triantis-Bos
                Nieuwenhof
           Robertson-Volpato
       G. Kuol-Toure-Irankunda

Would be a medal chance if we make it

For on  the ball quality I'd have Voladan, Youlley and Segecic in midfield, all with quick handling speed, but Jake Hollman is pretty decent with the way he accelerates quickly away with his first touch and gets his head up from the ball too, scanning the field of  play as he ball carries or dribbles.

Not sure Italiano is the  best with the ball at his feet at RB? Simmons from WSW is pretty good. 

Villupillay is similar quality on the ball to  Milanovic at LW, but can't score.

Jelacic is now in the squad, and has that brilliant fake left outside step over, then the left foot body swerve action, that upends so many defenders in the AL. 

I have Natta in my  first eleven, but from your stats, he is struggling to win as many duels as Matthews and GR as CBs.

Jelacic is simply a massive inclusion, really missed his skillset in this squad, a midfield who can dribble. Segecic is solid but I think Jelacic could arguably start, but I think Segecic's intensity and constant pressure is very valuable, similar to Alou at ST. 

No offense to D'Arrigo but I wouldn't have selected him in the first place, but he is a good leader obviously and solid tackler. I think we will find leadership in a lot of other players though. 

I think this is an improvement, we kinda got hit by the Tilio exclusion but welcome the Jelacic inclusion a lot.

Yeah alls well that ends well hey. Jelacic is great against a deep block

voladan apparently was injured for quite a while like bernando, so might end up being a late bloomer. 

This is probably my 11 as well, maybe could argue with G.Kuol/Tilio and maybe Italiano/Simmons but every other position is quite secure. Would be such a great moment for us who have followed all these players for a long time, especially this group which has struggled to represent Australian teams for all different reasons, some never playing for Australia, some injured, some unavailable etc etc. Would be amazing just to have all our best Australian eligible talent just come together for a few weeks to show us the future of Australian football and the elevated potential for just a tournament. Poetic. I'm hoping that tournament is the Olympics. I know I'm asking for too much... one step at a time!

From watching five  of the full videos, and now I'm familiarising myself with  all the U 23 players, so many who were previously unfamiliar, I've never been more  confident going into a tournament as with this group of U 23s.

If the Aus u 23s lose games, it will be from underperforming, or, having  excessive bad luck.

I'm seeing playing out from the back in these five games  in the back third , on both flanks, where there are 4- 5 rapidfire passing and moving sequences in neat triangles - that I've not seen the senior Socceroos do in recent times. Not sure if I've ever seen it?

The back left third of the pitch has been stronger in this aspect than the right flank, until I just saw the recent U23 Qatar game for the second time. The Qatari Squeezing was only moderate, but a combo of Brook, Trewin, Talbot and Nieuwenhof, were responsible for  some from very slick football on the right  defensive flank, playing through the Qatari press.

On the left flank in the back third a range of players have done this effectively -  Perkins, Natta, Teague, Valadon,  Farrell, Mauragis, Milanovic, Villupillay, et al, in different games.

These U 23s are quicker to open passing  lanes to support the player on the ball, and have quicker handling speed to play this impressive rapidfire passing, than the senior Socceroos.  It is difficult for the opposition to close down and disturb these build ups.

Whereas the senior Socceroos are often technically inferior to the bigger Asian  nations - South K, Japan, Saudi, Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar- this U 23 cohort is just as good technically, possibly slightly worse, or even a bit  better, depending on the team. Hence, they don't have to rely on vastly superior implementation of tactical game plans, better organisation, mental strength,  better conditioning, better communication, better teamwork, to redress the technical inferiority  that the senior Socceroos have.

When teams like Egypt, Saudi or South K, have had similar quality technicians, or even possibly better, the defensive organisation, communication, team cohesion, is superior for Aus. U 23s. They don't have to overcompensate for the technical deficit the Socceroos seniors often have.

  

From watching  the  past 5 full games against Qatar, Saudi, Iraq, Egypt and South Korea,  from the players  Vidmar has selected and who are available, I'd be tempted to go with  the following  line up.

Talbot .........Perkins........Natta......Farrell

...........................Teague
.............Segecic...............Jake Hollman

Brook................Toure..................Milanovic

From players not available,  I'd have Circati as a CB, and I think Farrell is as good or even better as a LB than Bos, who I'd play at LW if available.

When Italiano is on the pitch, he is never involved in the slick rapidfire pass and move football than when Talbot is on the pitch. Having said that, Italiano is solid positionally and a good ball winner.

Nieuwoenhof definitely gets into my best team, shading Teague as number 6 or DM. However, even though he has just played senior Socceroos football, I don't think Yazbek has as good an all round skill set as Teague, Nieuw or Jake H.

Volpato I disregard, because he may never play for Aus. If he isn't that keen he is never going to have the mental strength of the others. Plus he is supposedly a big 1 metre 88 cm Attacking Mid. About the only players this tall in this position who have excelled were Mikel Ballach, for  a short time, and the great Zinedine Zidane. Is Volpato going to be nimble enough?

Robertson looks a class act - but I've only seen him play a cameo for the senior Socceroos in a friendly.

I've put Brook and Milanovic in as wingers, because as another member of this forum reminds me off  forum, we need scorers. Both  the WSW players have scored quite a few recent goals.

I'd also play Irankunda if selected.

Reckon im 90 percent sure volpato is playing for us. Techically he is very strong

Good to hear that we have added technique to our traditional strengths rather than replacing lur traditional strengths

Also why jcp at cb rather than natta, popa, jgr or triantis is available?

"Is Volpato going to be nimble enough", lol he isn't a mythical creature he is a fully-fledged player that most of us have seen and more importantly the scouts and clubs have seen to know that obviously he is nimble enough if he is starting in the Serie A against the likes of AC Milan. I've said it before that he reminds me of Jelacic with his trickery and agility so hopefully that helps to answer that question. 

Also, I think the 188/187cm is overblown, he is probably closer to 183-185cm, he doesn't look big when he is on the pitch, in fact he looks smaller than most of his teammates.

Here's some clips of Alex Robertson to help boaster your grasp on him.

https://x.com/Pompey_Goals/status/1745714909143298397
https://x.com/Pompey_Goals/status/1731414084279492887
https://x.com/Pompey_Goals/status/1723785436957466654
https://x.com/Pompey_Goals/status/1718533873913512267  

Also, I'm not sure if you have ever watched Bos at his spell in the A-League but he was Young Football of the Year and clearly one of the best LB's the league has seen and yes Farrell is good but offensively he isn't what Bos is. Bos is very fast, powerful, great dribbler, powerful shot, good passer and crosser, very dominant force on the left. Everyone who watched Melb City last year knows what he was and how he was essentially their best player. Don't forget about what Bos did against Argentina on starting debut. Bos is a player, who in a year or two will be in the EPL, undoubtedly. I really like Farrell and think he is an important player going into this tournament but nobody is starting Bos over him, especially not Vidmar. 

Yeah Irankunda over Brook, easily. Definitely a debate between G.Kuol, Tilio and Milanovic, all bring different qualities. 

I agree with the Yazbek comment, I don't think he makes my Olympic team. 

Toure, Botic and Kuol is another argument to have. Obviously Toure has the highest ceiling in this team but there's an argument to be made for the other two and consistency. 

I think the top 5 players we have are:
(No Order)
Robertson
Volpato
Irankunda
Circati
Bos

Next tier: 
Garang
Triantis
Nieuwenhof
Toure
Tilio

So if those are our 10 best players, we are missing 8/10 of them. 

Something I forgot to consider was the fact that preseason does exist and the Olympics will be during the preseason for some clubs and others are doing offseason tours etc. 

That's where the likes of Volpato and Irankunda could get lost in those games rather than the Olympics. I think both are 50/50 chances of playing at the Olympics. The others are more likely. 

Irankunda did state and it was also reported that he it depends on if Bayern want him to come to the US for their offseason tour. Obviously they will want him there but it just depends on if they allow him to play in July/August for us. I think even though we have other really top players at this level, at the Olympics Irankunda is still going to be our biggest weapon, the attention he draws is huge and understated, he draws multiple players every time he runs. We really need him there. 

Didnt realize volpato was 10 cm taller than jelacic!

In the end he is one of 3 zobe 14 specialists at any level ive seen and finding space and being effective when in between the two lines of a block of 8 is his speciality which is pretty rare, even if he is weirdly tall for a creative 10

I agree with decentric about farrel, he is a massive statistical outlier in defence, much more so than sainsbury, devlin and baccus, he could be in jedis category off the ball but unlike jedi he is excellent in circulation football. Bos is dominating in belgiun on the ball at lb but is improving in defence. He isnt a bad defender, but it is a growth area. I agree he will probably be in a big 5 club after the end of next season

So if you play farrell and bos down one edge you will create a lot and concede very little

If we are chasing the game sub off farrel, shift bos to lb and put a winger on. Having farrel and bos in the same squad allows u to shift gears, a luxury we havent had since chipperfield and emerton were in their prime. Hopefully we can have similar optuons on the right soon

I guess so, our LW position is weaker and Bos could probably just walk right in. You just don't get the best of Bos at left wing but it's also mostly u23 level so it should be fine. 

Bos and Irankunda on the wings with Toure in the middle and Volpato, Robertson, Nieuwenhof backing them up is pretty insane.

Yeah would love to face an easy opponent and blast them away with that front end

One of my frustrations is when how the coaches use the most creative players in the team, I noticed Segecic was playing on the wing when someone like Velupillay was playing centrally its risk adverse but im not so sure it help us.

Its going to be interesting what the line up Vidmar chooses for this tournament and what changes he makes in the game if we are down in the game, a true test of he's coaching ability.

Right back is an issue across age groups in the NT. I'm not that impressed by Talbot from what I've watched. I liked Italiano in the Maurice Revello tournament. But that spots undoubtedly a weakness.

This is out of the box and quite possibly very silly but I wonder how Farrell would go at RB? Theres opportunity there

I've just looked up his age - 21.

He desperately needs to improve his ball winning skills and workrate off the ball. His reading of the game is adequate though.

Magnificent short passer and mover though. Voladon could be useful as  a controlling midfielder, a bit like Pirlo, but needs a rugged ball winner as a twin DM.

An idea how long he was injured for, Grazor?

Hope Valadon is late bloomer. Lovely technician on the ball.

Interesting idea, Quicky?

Before the game against Jordan, which is easily the worst game I've seen Farrell play  by his pwn lofty standards, I  thought he was at least the equal of of Bos as a LB. I would have moved Bos into the LW position to accommodate both in the same U23 team, at full strength.

Italiano - rugged ball winner and not bad going forward as a RB. Can't believe he is only playing Bundi 4 though?

Talbot - a better technician on the ball going  forwards as on overlapper and underlapper, with some neat off the ball movement. The Jordanian LWer turned him inside out a few times. He also has a funny running action - not like a professional athlete. I should watch more full Melb City games as opposed to highlights to appraise Talbot. He is a clever player.

However, Farrell is a monster - a potential Socceroo great and best LB ever. It might be a case of who out of Bos and Farrell is more capable with the  right foot and using the right side of the body as to play one of them at RB?

Given Farrell's height and aerial ability, I've also thought of playing him at left CB.

well might as well upload the replays, not that I'm particularly thrilled to watch them :(
LIVE | AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ | Group A | Australia vs Jordan (youtube.com)
LIVE | AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ | Group A | Indonesia vs Australia (youtube.com)