I would have asked Livingston to release Tete Yengi. Not too sure how relegation is finally determined in SPL but Livi are a distant last currently so maybe hopeless cause. I think Tete would have caused big headaches for the Indonesians.

Sorry, Decentric... your boys flopped big time.

Pretty shit to gloat  when a young national team has  some  poor results just to score a point against another poster

localstar may look like a small minded troll creepily focused on decentric. He may look like that he missed that we have as many u23s getting starts in decent euroleagues than the previous 15 years combined, or that the individual quality and technique taken over a 12 month period is an improvement on what came before or that all 10 of the top seasonal goal contributions from u18s in the a league are current u23s to only chime in when we mess up. 

shame people don't see what a brave whistle blower he is exposing the nepotist scandal that all 23 olyroos are decentrics boys. Who else is reporting this story? The guy breeds like a rabbit

misses by two months and in a relegation battle

These people should just be banned, undoubtedly probably don't even watch the games and having just major cases of tall-poppy syndrome. Offer nothing to the conversation

unfortunatley im not sure a mod exists on this forum anymore?

Go back a page and you have Grazor saying even without Irankunda this is our best squad and the second best squad in the tournament.

Lot of negativity here from people I bet didn't even watch the games. We absolutely dominated the last 2 games (I didn't see the 1st) but through a combination of bad finishing and bad luck (I think hit the posts at least 5 times) just couldn't get the ball in the goal. Good news is this group has achieved excellent results before this over the past 2 yrs and the technical level shown even at this cup was very high. Lot to look forward to from this crop. Just wish arnie had of managed them, would have got them through to the 2nd Rd. 

The first game we didnt commit numbers forward, usually only a couple of bodies forward despite having lots of territory and possession. Interestingly vidmar said this was his tactic as he was worried about their speed. 

Similar story tho, dominated territory and possession but struggled to score. Jordan were tactically interesting wkth a half press and then a manic high press every time our fullbacks touched the ball. Normally pressing traps target the defensive mid. 

I agree if arnie or a similar quality coach had the reigns we qualify easily. Even though this is a second string squad I lay out a case on page 1 that this is a stronger squad than our last 2 that finished 3rd and 4th

I hope in future the national team coach takes the reigns of qualifying and the lead up friendly tournaments can be taken up by the vidmars of the world

Vidmar was underqualified and it showed. Despite all the missing players this campaign was a disaster . Everyone of the other teams had experienced coaches. Whoever appointed  Vidmar needs to be held accountable. This was the Olympics ffs and clearly we did not take it seriously enough . Massively ( and unnecessarily) disappointing.

3 games without scoring against non world class nations?! Says it all really. 

most care about "results" thats what counts hence the negative, normal.
Plus so many have talked up these U23's+ those MIA too much chicken before the egg.
I've watched quite a bit and as usual you see promise but come up empty when it COUNTS, past 2yrs mean moot.
They stuffed up when it counted no matter what.
Vidmar is the scape goat for many, sure he lacks experience but he isn't the blame hitting posts, not finishing and bad luck.
There is too much arrogance typically from us towards supposedly poorer fellow Asean nations that I think its high time people accept we are struggling against any NT by the look of it.

Come on man it's not about the results don't you know?

I mean one day it might be but not any time soon.

Haven't been on this  thread for a while, as I've closely scrutinised the three games the U 23s played in Qatar OQ tournament. Plus the previous 5 we played prior to the tournament. 

In terms of stats Aus dominated the  3 games, but  unlike the 5 practice games against Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, South K and Egypt, we were profligate in front of goal. Have not quite completed all stats to date such as completed passes in the last 30 mons of the Jordan game, but I think Aus dominated in:

*Possession - this equates to   territory  too, because Aus played so many more passes in both halves than any of  teams they played against. 

* Aus U 23s played far more balls into the pen box.  This stat can be skewed, because  sometimes a team can play a long ball into  the box where the opposition keeper intercepts, but the attacking team has hardly any, or very few players in support. Of the  balls played into the pen boxes. Aus also had more players in support because the build ups were often more patient, not just accelerated attacks.

Of course the accelerated attack, or counterattack, can be effective, because the team in the Defensive Transition close to their own goal, after losing the ball, can often be forced to run towards their own goal whilst trying to defend. This is very difficult. 


* Shots at goal

-Aus 15, Jordan 3.

% of shots - Aus 83%, Jordan 17%.

-Aus 25, Indonesia 6.

% of shots - Aus 81%, Indonesia 19%. 

 -Aus 20, Qatar 9. 

% of shots - Aus 68%, Qatar, 32%.

Australia had 60 shots at goal compared to 18 from the opposition. 

 I haven't tallied  up the balls played into the box for all three games, but Aus played a lot more balls into the box, plus Aus had more players in support to enable effective shots.

These are compelling stats. Surely, you must acknowledge the efficacy and veracity of this aspect of play, LFC? 

Then when I finally add the possession and  territorial stats, the  direction of the NC  has paid  dividends.

The major problem is goal conversion.

Australia could not score from 60 shots including 1 pen, whilst the opposition scored 1 goal from 18 shots. This is where Australia fell down, but it  doesn't  provide an accurate depiction of the entire performance.

In ratio of shots Aus had a ratio of 10:3 in in its favour. This is very  dominant.

The percentage of shots taken by Aus compared to opponents was circa 77% compared to 23% of all shots taken in the three games. 

It seems we have the opposite issue of the senior roos

The senior roos cant generate chances against defensive minded teams but tends to convert a high percentage of shots

The olyroos generate plenty of chances but didnt convert. They converted well over the last 12 months so my guess is their mental prep was poor. Arnold was asked about finishing and mentioned how much of finishing was mental prep

More data from the 3 Olyroo games.

I've also now completed recording the passing stats, but not  calculated the passing percentages in defensive and attacking halves, from all the intercepted passes - yet. In these facts of play Aus absolutely dominated possession and territory through having passed to each other so much more in aggregate totals more than the opposition teams.

The Balls Played Into The Pen Box have been completed.

Note: some balls played into the  pen box can be hit and hope longer balls, that all three teams, and  Jordan in particular played against Aus U 23s.  So often a ball can arrive in the penalty box, easily intercepted by the keeper, because the ball was hit  from a long way away with few opposition players in close  proximity to the ball. Beach intercepted plenty of balls like this.

The main advantage to the accelerated attacks, that the opposition  achieved against us, is the unfavourable body shape that defenders  have defending, whilst running towards their own goal. Aus was caught a few times, but apart from Jordan  in the 45 - 60 min mark of the match, where they had 3 decent shots at goal, Beach making  difficult saves, it didn't happen for the rest of the tournament.

Aus also played far more balls into the pen box from slower, more patient build ups in structured possession, where there were a lot of Aussies playing  closer to the proximity of the ball. Hence, there were often better chances created, apart from the fact the opposition   defenders had their body position facing forwards. It is easier to defend, apart from having  greater numbers of Aussies to negate in pass and move sequences or attacking interplay .

Balls Played Into The Box

Aus 37, Jordan 28.

Aus 52, Indonesia 19.

Aus 60, Qatar 14. 

Total  Aus 149, opposition 61. 

The total is approximately a ratio of 5:2 in Aus's favour.  In percentage  terms it is 73% to 27% favouring Aus.

The fact Aus had so many more shots indicated when they played  or moved balls into the pen box, there was a better chance to culminate the action with a shot at goal. 

After watching the games live, I felt like that.

Then after compiling all the data when one dispassionately watches the replays knowing the results, the main issue for Aus U 23s was converting all the shots created (many more than the opposition) to goals.

Recently Aus has beaten Egypt and Saudi, with the former being African Camps, or not far from it.  Aus u 23s have also drawn with South K, but lost a pen shoot out. I thought Aus were the better side against South K too. Although a tad lucky against Saudi and Egypt.

Also, you've probably made a compelling point elsewhere, Aus had 2 lead up days in camp for this event. I think I can quote you saying Robbie Slater stated that previously in Olympic  tournaments Aus had 10 days preparation.

Longer training camps make a massive difference .

The robbie slater article got piled on, he gets a lot of hate on a league reddit for being a contrarian but he had a valid point. It was a 3 day compared to a 10 day camp which would make a big difference

mind you we had short camps for the other tournaments in the last 12 months and did fine with finishing. My story would be that vidmars inexperience meant he didn't handle mental prep well
all the media being about irankunda rather than the olyroos needs to be managed so that it doesn't affect the squad mentally. Easiest way to prevent that of course is to select him in the first place ;). But a good coach can prevent that from distracting their players. Of course we can't see inside vidmars camp, but I remember a interview with arnie where he explained why the roos improved so much in finishing and said mental prep is key for finishing
He also wouldn't be used to the breaks in concentration that the feigned injuries and time wasting cause. An experienced coach knows how to prep his players for this

I'm not writing him off as a coach. I just don't think anyone should coach the olyroos unless they had club coaching experience

Interesting that jordan got the most. They felt the mlst dangerous and vidmar said he didnt commit numbers forward because he was concerned about their speed

In hindsight it was a tactical mistake by Vidmar against Jordan. His inexperience showed- albeit he had the very experienced Meulensteen on the bench with him.

Vidmar tended to use Talbot at RB to overlap and underlap and join the attacks against Jordan, whilst deploying Farrell to move inside to create a back three. In other games he used both FBs to bomb on.

Whilst talking about Talbot he has a superb first touch  at times, but isn't as rugged a ball winner as required for RB. The bustling  Italiano  is a rugged ball winner in spades, but isn't the technician that Talbot is on the ball. Also, despite Farrell's underperformance, he also has a terrific first touch under pressure.

 As I've said before, Farrell's form was really disappointing by his own very high standards.  Against  Jordan  he wasn't given the same  licence to bomb on as at CCM and in the previous Aus U23 game I saw him play against Saudi. Farrell was used as a defensive LB against Jordan, and still had a more defensive role against Qatar.

Prior to the  Olympic tournament I thought Farrell  was the best outfield player  in the U23 Aus team, including all the UEFA players not released, and at least as good as Bos at LB.

Haven't seen the article where Arnie says composure in front of goal comes from coaching confidence and experience, but will  take your word for it. You've made the sage point that the senior Socceroos tend to to have a high conversion rate for  not many chances created, whilst conversely the Under 23s have just played 3 games and not converted  from a plethora of 60 chances created!   Creating chances is paramount.

Apart from the Goodwin/Souttar avenue to goal,  plus some new  needed Hrustic creativity, and the odd  Irvine strike, the senior Socceroos structured possession in the attacking half, needs a resurgence with new blood.

Plenty of the U 23s  can execute this slick attacking interplay,  clever inducement of third man runs,  rapid-fire pass and move sequences in neat triangles and diamonds, quick off the ball movement to open passing lanes more quickly than  the seniors, quicker handling speed on the ball, superior first touch in limited time and space, ability to pass accurately under pressure - that the senior Socceroos need to improve  break  down deep defensive blocks. 

Most  of the time the opposition in the three games played Half Presses, with a modicum of Squeezing Intensity. Australia, conversely, deployed 3/4 presses, and Intensive Squeezing ( Gengenpressing) to   cause opposition turnovers in the  Aus attacking half and Jordan's defensive half.

All three teams struggled to accrue passing sequences of 3 - 4 as they played closer to the half way line and left their defensive third. The closing down efforts and timing, plus Vidmar's coaching, from Jake Hollman, Brook ,Villupillay, Milanovic, Toure, A Kuol, was superb.

Because of this all three teams resorted to time wasting tactics to give themselves a breather and rest, and stop Aus playing at  a high tempo - of winning the ball back quickly - and - either  moving forwards in accelerated attacks when able to, or building up pressure in 5-10 pass sequences from high up in the  the Aus defensive half, and deep into the opposition  half. 

In the previous 5 games against Egypt, Saudi, Qatar, Iraq and South K, the likes of Toure, the Kuols, Brook simply banged goals in.  Did Milanovic too? There were so many goals  scored I cant remember who scored them all.  Having said this, the  Saudi and Qatar defences in particular seemed fragile and disorganised, plus some  shoddy goal keeping.

 Jordan had a very good 15 minute spell from 45 mins to 60 mins, when they created  some really  good 3 chances  and tested Beach.

They also had more players in support for when the ball was played into the the pen box. Most of the rest of the game they would play a speculative long ball that reached the Aus defensive pen box, with no, or few players, in support - hence an easy intercept for Beach. 

A greater percentage of Aus balls played into the Jordanian defensive pen box had a number of Aussies in support. Notwithstanding, there was some excellent last line defending from all of Jordan, Indonesia and Qatar though. Without counting them and having accurate data , I felt that Aussie players in the opposition pen box should have won more 1v1 duels. Of course it is tough when one has a disadvantageous body shape compared to the defender, but were we as desperate as the opposition defenders?

Creating 60 scoring chances compared to the opposition's 18 indicated we were effective in the attacking pen box, despite not scoring from any of them.

Also, some excellent keeping took place from all three opposition keepers as well. 

I feel for these guys being labelled as failures, BOH.

They will just have to make amends as senior Socceroos.

Aus dominated the game against Jordan too, which wasn't as apparent from first viewing. 

I think Asian refs need to take stock of time wasting tactics - slow to take goal kicks, throw ins, free kicks, play acting over fouls feigning injury, arguing with ref  decisions -  - all designed to slow down play against the current Aus, and I'd surmise Japan, South K, Uzbek and Saudi to frustrate them - the better footballing teams.

There was one Aus ref at the 2015 Asian Cup in Aus - Ben ? someone. He said he was going to sort out  Asian teams used to time wasting - and it was all about him showing  teams  who was boss on the pitch! Ben gave a red card to an Iranian star player early in the game.  Iran promptly lost to Iraq playing a man down and were bundled out of the  comp.

In the AL Ben always laughed at players arguing with him - and did the  same in the Asian Cup. He would make a  decision, turn his back on players arguing with him whilst laughing, call play on, or even give a yellow card for dissent and still laughing at payers. It was hilarious to watch! 

We need more UEFA refs officiating in Asia, who would soon put a stop to time wasting tactics - and  issue cards for players feigning injury who aren't stretchered off  the pitch quickly enough. 

.

I've completed all the stats for passing, possession, etc.

The first Game AUS U 23 v JORDAN.

*Passes in the defensive half.

AUS 217 passes successfully completed at 97 % accuracy. JORDAN had 25 passes completed at 83% accuracy.

*Passes accrued in the attacking half.

AUS completed 279 passes at 86% accuracy. JORDAN completed 74 at 84% accuracy.

* Total passes for the whole pitch.

AUS completed 496 passes at 93% accuracy. JORDAN completed 99 passes at 84% accuracy.

*Based on completed passes, AUS had 83% Possession , JORDAN had17%.

*I also listed players who achieved 15 metre ball carries, often in space, which can effect possession stats. 

Aus had 16, JORDAN 9.

*With shots on goal AUS having 15 shots to Jordan's 3, it was a very dominant performance by Australia  despite it being  a 0-0 draw.

 

AUS V INDONESIA U23s.

* Defensive Half passing stats.

AUS 172 passes completed at 95% passing accuracy. INDONESIA completed  67 at 92%.

* Attacking half completed passes.

AUS completed 198 passes at 88% accuracy. INDONESIA 89 passes at 83%.

* Overall passing stats.

AUS completed 370 passes at 91% passing accuracy.  INDONESIA 156 passes at 87%.

* Based on completed passes AUS had 70% possession, INDONESIA 30%.

* I also recorded 15 metre ball carries, which can effect possession stats.

AUS had 26, INDONESIA 10.

Shots at goal : AUS 25, INDONESIA 6.

So Aus's possession stats were probably a bit above 70 %.

Wit so much time in the opposition half with AUS having 198 passes in the attacking half and INDONESIA only having 67 in their own half, Aus dominated  territory too.  

With the shots at goal disparity, Aus U 23s should have won this game easily. 





 

AUS v QATAR U23s.

* Defensive half passing stats.

AUS completed 218 passes at 97%. QATAR 52 passes at 89%.

* Attacking half passes.

AUS completed 275 passes at 92%. QATAR 40 at 77%.

* Totals passes for whole pitch

AUS COMPETED 493 passes at 94%. QATAR 92 passes at 83%.

* Possession based on passes.

AUS had 84% possession, QATAR had 16%. 

*Ball carries  of 15 metres plus - AUS 11, QATAR 10.

* Shots at goal - AUS 20, QATAR 9. 

I've just said to someone off line, this is the most dominant I've ever recorded stats for any Aussie teams after 6 odd years doing it from 2008 - 2014 for the senior Socceroos. 

Except with 60 shots at goal over the 3 games by AUS, compared to 18 in total by JORDAN, INDONESIA AND QATAR combined over the  3 games, it is the worst shooting performance ever!

Later I'll go into more posts about who had how many shots at goal for AUS U23s.

What was the reason why they couldn't score a goal in any of the games, was it down to the quality of the chance creation or shot creation?

Once again an Australian team struggling to score and break down a low block defence, something for Ernie Merrick to fix as the disruptor going forward.

60 shots to 20 usually means 3-5 goals for and 1-2 goals against. Given we had some big chances and a penalty it is fair to say the finishing was poor. They weren't poor finishers at club or in pretournament games. So either it is poor mental prep or a poor luck. Given the inexperience of the coach my money is on poor mental prep

i think we have the opposite issue of the senior roos who manage very few shots and chances but do manage to finish consistently well. Arnie's man management and mental prep is first class. If our socceroos ever had their finishing decline they would get ordinary results quite quickly