Maybe just maybe Lucas you shouldn't have written off our chances right from the start before the ball was even kicked. That's not the Australian way mate!!


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article Skipper: Belief And The Basics?
AUSTRALIA must get 'back to basics' and maintain their World Cup belief ahead of a must-win game against Ghana, according to captain Lucas Neill.

Have your say.

Unfortunately, Lucas was one of the worst players on the park for us. I think in all four German goals he completely lost the person he should of been marking letting them have a free shot at goal.

Luca$h was too busy putting his hand up for offside and complaining when it was him that was keeping everyone onside. Acted like a little sook when decisions didn't go his way or the offsides weren't called.

Back to basics eh? Learn to defend then.

more time required training and less time on the promotional shit, ads and the like

I must admit Neill was never my first choice for captain. Too much of a nancy boy!!

The 'back to basics' call has always sounded a death knell to me. That normally means, 'the coach doesn't have a clue and we have to figure it for ourselves'. Don't get me wrong, I was a Pim supporter. . . . right up until the 8 minute mark early Monday morning.
Figure out Lucas, it's not the fact you lost, it's the way you lost that has everybody completely pissed off.

True that padfoot. The obvious points were:
The defense pressing high up against a speedy, very tenchnical team
The free man Germany had in the midfield
Key mistakes or dodgy decision that led to goals.

Let's get back to basics and that's beginning with you talk less and actually walk to walk

What do you get when you put Pim in charge of the socceroos? A f@*king joke!

Defense was terrible. Neil should have been more accountable for his man instead of yelling at the linesman. Every through ball was precision perfect by Germany. Moore is also past it. Should have been Ognenovski stopping. Very poor decision by Pim to completely overlook poor Sasa,

Basics rules

#1: when after a friendly match, you are to analyse the game and figure out where you went wrong and where you can improve (high back line? Got ripped apart by USA, lets try it again against Germany!!!)

#2: when playing a top 3 team, you use a tried and true method of approach that the team is comfortable with with players in familiar positions, park the bus as you are accustomed to and try to minimise the damage, perhaps even sneaking in a goal.(hey, I'm going to trick them and play a 4-4-2 with no strikers and everyone in an unfamiliar position...genius!)

#3. Use the players you have, not decide to play a 4-4-2 for the first time in 2 years and not play any of the 2.5 strikers in your squad.

we need an inspirational leader

this guys attempts at modesty come off as weak and lacking conviction. it's not the australian way at all.

This is what Lucas should have said.

Anth well written speech!! But unfortunately Neill hasn't got the balls to say it! If you are looking for a hero look elsewhere!!

It's quite hard to comment on how good a captain Lucas is. His role as a leader is mostly behind the scenes, we can't really see it. As a player his performance could probably be better, but as a captain? maybe the players rate him?

Who knows Vaughn2111
All will be revealed post WC when the shite will hit the fan!!

For my money senior roos such as Kewell, Schwartzer and Emerton need to step up and provide leadership.

A clear message should be sent to Neill, Moore and Chipperfield by not selecting them for the next match. It is time to give the fringe players an opportunity to fill the performance vacuum.

Can't wait. I think a lot of our questions will be answered in that process

And further disrupt our team? The only 1 who I agree with is Moore. Chippers is doing well and Neil is captain, it would be obsurd to change these guys around. It is Pim's mistake for not giving the fringe players more of a go pre-WC, too late now.

I'd be interested to hear your reasoning for why Moore should be made the scapegoat for what happened against Germany. Maybe I don't have a clue but it seemed to me that while no defender had a good game, Moore completely showed up Lucas Neill in central defence. As the match wore on, it was only Moore's desperation and reading of the play that prevented us from going down by 5-0 or worse.

I'd also like you to show how Chippers is doing well when he completely crumbled under immense pressure and provided a saloon passage for any German raid down the left flank.

I agree that we cannot afford to significantly disrupt our side, so the only major change I would make is to drop Grella to the bench. Vince has now had four dreadful games in a row and was completely overwhelmed against Germany. He looks like a player who has just about given up.

This is one option for a starting side against Ghana:

GK: Schwarzer
DF: Wilkshire - Neill - Moore - Carney
DM: Culina - Valeri
MF: Emerton - Holman - Chipperfield
ST: Kennedy

Are we seeing a Tulio Tanaka type situation with Japan....??
If it is, I cant say I blame them. C'mon boys. Heads up!!!!