Our wide backs are expected to be attackers also so that won't work.

Predicted! The Socceroos' 2026 World Cup starting XI - FTBL | The home of football in Australia

So Arnie has done away with the inverted fullbacks? It would appear inverted was used against deep block opponents while we attacked much more and better against SK.

I have wondered if any of our CBs could play RB?  That balance seems off to me though. It feels like it is too defensive and lacks mobility. 

I mean I did say it depends on the opponents (hope that comes across in a playful tone). I felt Degenek was just so sturdy at the WC that it added a lot of extra security. With our ever improving wingers and midfield distributors we could sacrifice attack for a stronger defender.

It's nice to have so many options but it's a big headache.

I think he is trying a number of ways to avoud getting hit on the counter. 3 5 2 in possession has replaced inverted fullbacks

Since we have a lot of cbs it makes sense to go 3 at the back rather than have full backs tuck in to brace for the counter, but the results have been similar

Due to the lack of numbers forward and the lower technique of many of our players we convert few touches into the penalty area into shots on goal

What has been excellent has been the ability to convert shots on targets into goals. We have had outrageously good finishing in the arnie era for some reason

OFC Cup of Nations is on. Pot 3 Vanuatu beat Pot 2 Solomon Islands 1:0. 

OC WC qualifying has 1 automatic spot which you'd expect NZ to get while an intercontinental playoff spot is also there. 

In possession 
                          Ryan

       Circati.     Souttar.    Burgess
                        Baccus
              Irvine.                               Bos
Irakunda.                   Hrustic
                Yengi.           Duke

Out of Possession 
                           Ryan

       Circati  Souttar  Burgess.  Bos
                   Irvine.      Baccus
     Irakunda.                          Hrustic
                     Yengi
                                 Duke
We have wide players like Boyle,Arzani etc that can play right side and we have players who can invert like Mcgree , Goodwin and maybe Robinson  to open the channel for Bos.
For those that remember France 98 Thuram played CB for Parma and RB for France that would allow Lizarazu at LB to bomb forward.
Pretty sure transfermarket states Circati plays RB,RCB and LCB.
Circati will be the future CB but if he can get plenty of games on the right before Burgess who is 28 drops off that would be great.

Nice ideas SpongeBob. I'd like to see a midfield of O'Neill, Robertson and Nisbet/ Nieuwenhoff. Iredale for Duke and somehow including Goodwin would be good. I like in particular how the right back situation is solved quite well there.

Jeez, Aiden O’Neill is a player I had completely forgotten about.

Suspended or injured since Asian Cup so he wasn't available each window. Massive season ahead in Belgium I think.

Therein lies the problem with Bos.(disclaimer - I haven't watched him much recently).  Kisnorbo and Rado both liked his ability on the ball but both hated the way he ignored the channel runs and played across field dragging defenders with him before passing to someone that was, after him dragging the defenders across, now covered. Haven't seen him OS so hopefully that is no longer his go to move.

Bump

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/that-is-diabolical-allianz-stadium-savaged-over-farcical-nrl-scenes/news-story/63235438f0261004e7209640ca1e560b

https://youtu.be/nRWZD3ZJG04?si=q4nhVLbt12yTJymJ

Concerning given we may have some qualifiers there. Commbank was bad for the Saudi game too. 

So I reckon the next socceroos squad judging by the start of the season 

Izzo 

Elder circati souttar karacic 

Baccus

Robertson Irvine 

Metcalfe taggart? (Every other striker is injured) Silvera

This is including injuries from the weekend 

I think yengi and toure are due back this weekend and iredale has been starting. Duke has gotten game time at the top of the j league too. Ryan probably has a season of low game time before he starts losing his timing and touch. Karacic isn't a bad shout for rb. I'm keeping an eye out on italiano (who is weirdly playing lb but whatever). I'm guessing we go 3-5-2 though based on recent games

-------------------------ryan-----------------------
------------souttar---circati---rowles----------
-----------------O'Niell-Irvine---------------------
-----Metcalf---------Mcgree----Goodwin-----
------------------Duke/Iredale-Yengi-----------

Subs(5) Robertson, Irankunda, Toure, Iredale/Duke, Silvera

We'll be right. Quite an extension of options and now Robertson is playing again too. Main race is Bos. Behich shouldn't be included but he will be. Goodwin playing in pre season. Silvera much sharper than at Boro so that's a bonus.

Balards another player i forgot who will be fit, yazbek another

Pompey analysts claim silvera could play in the epl if he can improve his decision making. They also warned that fans may get on his back if he doesnt convert chances soon, as they may not appreciate that he is getting isolated and doubled up in defence

The list of midfielders on the wiki feels thin. We've selected many more defenders of late. It's not like Mabil is a bad extended option either. Arnold has done well to expose so many to the set up.

https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-and-paramount-australia-agree-historic-multi-year-multi-platform-media

Football Australia and Paramount+ today announced a landmark multi-year and multi-platform agreement to broadcast an extended package of CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ games on Network 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, through to 2028.

https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-and-paramount-australia-agree-historic-multi-year-multi-platform-media

Football Australia and Paramount+ today announced a landmark multi-year and multi-platform agreement to broadcast an extended package of CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ games on Network 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, through to 2028.

I dont see the dollar value in the article?

• Paramount Australia (parent company of Network 10 and Paramount+) will be the home of the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos in Australia, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ being hosted in Australia and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
• More than 100 international football games featuring either the CommBank Matildas or Subway Socceroos will be telecast live with at least 50 games on free-to-air television.
• In addition, Paramount Australia have acquired exclusive rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, in a deal brokered in partnership with IMG.
• New package also includes all CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ friendly matches, all AFC Tournaments (including AFC Asian Qualifiers™), and the Australia Cup Finals through to 2028.

Under the agreement, Network 10 and Paramount+ will become the exclusive home to all Australian Women’s Senior National Team matches for the next four years, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, up until the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, and the Men’s Senior National Team matches including all AFC Asian Qualifiers™ (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round) except the FIFA World Cup 2026™

The full list of rights included in the agreement are:

• AFC Asian Qualifiers (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round):
  • 5 Sep 24 - Australia v Bahrain on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 10 Sep 24 - Indonesia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 10 Oct 24 - Australia v China PR on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 15 Oct 24 - Japan v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 14 Nov 24 - Australia v Saudi Arabia on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 19 Nov 24 - Bahrain v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 20 Mar 25 - Australia v Indonesia on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 25 Mar 25 - China PR v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 5 Jun 25 - Australia v Japan on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 10 Jun 25 - Saudi Arabia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
• FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ (15 matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ (six matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ (all matches exclusively on Paramount+).
• AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026™ and 2028™.
• All CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos International Friendlies 2025 to 2028 (15 CommBank Matildas Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+ and 10 Subway Socceroos’ Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• Australia Cup Finals 2025 to 2028.

So away qualifiers exclusively on Paramount which will catch out a lot of people who don't have it. 

It was the case last round that games not in Australia didn't end up on the FA Youtube feed for international audiences. See what happens this time. Paramount still works with Aus VPN but the USA Paramount is totally blocked off so it won't take much to flick a switch.

Yep - anti-siphoning list only covers now (for both mens and womens):

• World Cup finals games involving Australia
• The World Cup Finals (as in.. the final, mens and womens)
• Home World Cup Qualifiers
• Matches at the Olympic Games (covered under the Olympics, not under Football)

Found Rugari's article on the TV rights deal this morning in Fairfax to be disappointing. Suggested that the dollar value is much lower than the $200m floated around and that no one made a serious offer other than Paramount. In particular, he said something along the lines of Channel 9 not making a serious offer.

I find it interesting that Nine claim to have not been interested in the rights given that (1) the Matildas sell out every stadium they play in at the moment and have just smashed, and I mean smashed, Australian TV records (2) the Socceroos have just come off a very successful world cup which drew large exposure and tv audiences and (3) Channel 9's share price has declined 32% in the past 12 months, or 31% in the past 5 years, when using the same old tired formula / approach to entertainment and sport. 

Maybe Nine should be reconsidering their approach and their investment in Rugby League / Union.  

I appreciate that the A-League is struggling for crowds / tv audiences at the moment, but that is very different to what the national teams are putting forward. 

Reminds me of the A-league announcement with paramount a few years ago. 

If there isn't a figure given, then it's usually a lot less than the rumoured figures. 
It's a figure that would sound disappointing if officially released. Therefore don't mention it, and let the rumours swirl around. 

I'm not surprised that 9 couldn't care less. But I am surprised that 7 didn't have a crack, considering they had all-time ratings with the Tillies. Very weird.

7 were too smart perhaps? 
Got a good deal when 10 didn't want it. 

Punted on a home WC. 
Games in prime time. 
Matildas expected to do well at home. 

Asking price to high now perhaps?
More surprised 10 didn't want it last time.