By Tony Tannous
November 16th 2009 @ 5:37am
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10-man Socceroos respond when heat is on
Take a deep breath Australia. Not only are our hopes of qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup back on track, but there were signs early yesterday in Muscat of a more functional front third as Pim Verbeek tries to manage the dual role of planning for South Africa and trying to get the Socceroos to Qatar.
Down a goal and a man very early, exposed down the left hand side by the pace of Qasim Saeed on a few too many occasions, under the pump for much of the second period, a team made of lesser stuff (or is it lesser luck?) may have crumbled.
But almost every time Pim Verbeek calls upon his big guns they deliver, and this was at least a more cohesive and controlled display than we have seen of late.
There has been much conjecture about the make-up of the front third, and the signs in this game were that Harry Kewell may indeed be Verbeek’s best option, especially in games where Australia aren’t expected to be predominately on the front foot.
And, let’s face it, that’s likely to be most of the time in South Africa.
Certainly, make no mistake about the importance of Mark Bresciano to the functioning of Australia’s front third. It’s no coincidence the Socceroos were so ineffective when Bresciano wasn’t available against Holland and Oman last month.
So often he has delivered in the important games, and again he was instrumental, not only in setting up Luke Wilkshire’s equaliser with a sublime turn and cross, but his set pieces, general movement and link-up with Tim Cahill and Kewell were good.
He is a tight wide player, meaning he doesn’t hug the sidelines. Rather, he tucks in and looks to link with teammates, and Australia’s front third was more in-touch here, despite Brett Emerton having to be withdrawn to right back early after Rhys Williams’ red card.
This Socceroos front third, without a natural target-man or traditional striker, was built more to counter attack, and we saw this particularly in the second half, when Brett Holman replaced Cahill and looked to link with Kewell.
After such disappointment up front of late, at least the signs were better here. At least we had bodies getting forward, and in touch.
But let’s not get too carried away. On another night, against a team more clinical in the front third, Mark Schwarzer may have been picking the ball out of his net on more than one occasion.
Most worrying was the defensive work of Scott Chipperfield, who continues to look a shadow of the defender Guus Hiddink converted him into in Germany.
Back then his most endearing feature was his pace, which allowed Hiddink to turn him into a left-sided stopper in a three-man defence.
Knowing he had the insurance of Chipperfield’s pace at the back, it allowed Hiddink to play a high-risk offensive game.
But that pace has gone. These days, in a back four, he is being exposed too often, constantly looking out of position when called upon to defend.
Fortunately, as I intimated earlier, Oman weren’t able to capitalise on all the good work and space.
Only once did they profit, and in truth Chipperfield was fairly blameless for the build up that led to the Omani penalty and goal.
From a Socceroos free kick, deep on the left hand side, Neill played an aimless long ball up the middle. One header out of defence, a chest and nod-on header in the midfield, and one delightful in-step volley in behind a static Neill, who had barely moved from his spot after the taking the set piece, and suddenly Saeed was in behind the Socceroos skipper.
Chipperfield was up the field for the free kick and could hardly be blamed for the lack of quality on the set piece and lack of pressure on the second ball in midfield. Australia’s defensive transition was poor and they got stung.
Otherwise, Chipperfield had three men to thank. Had it not been for some wonderful covering work from Neill and some equally re-assuring defending from Craig Moore, Schwarzer may have had even more work to do than he did.
The big man was exemplary again between the sticks, helped in no small part by some woefully Omani finishing and a lack of mental strength from the hosts.
Claude Le Roy’s men had bossed many periods of both games, but came up with absolutely nothing. When the heat was on, they melted.
Not the Socceroos. Even a goal and a man down, they believed, got lucky (not least the lack of an offside flag against David Carney in the build-up to Emerton’s winner!) and got their win.
A job well done, if not always done well.
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Fisher Price said | November 16th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
When will the luck dry up?
Chipperfield should be dropped.
vladimir said | November 16th 2009 @ 10:27am | Report comment
i said before this match that chippers is past it…
was it just my poor eyesight or did i notice at least one other australian player between williams and the goalkeeper… straight red? is that luck?
Horza said | November 16th 2009 @ 10:51am | Report comment
iirc Neill was wheeling around but he was roughly in front of the far post at the time – you could argue that combined with the heavy first touch was enough to remove the clear goalscoring opportunity but it was still a fairly easy decision for the ref to make.
vladimir said | November 16th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
the penalty was an easy decision… the red card im not su sure…
Fisher Price said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Looked to me like the attacker would have had a clear shot on goal had Williams bundled him over…
Very clumsy challenge but perhaps it’ll kick-start his international career like Wilkshire’s red against the Netherlands prior to the 2006 WC.
David said | November 16th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Chipperfield and moor are too slow culina is also in the knife edge imo
Greg said | November 16th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
I am in two minds about Craig Moore after watch the match. He is too slow, but he was very imposing, with head and general smarts, his assist laying on his side to deny Oman was brilliant (and lucky too). If he is fit, his heading ability puts him in the starting side. Someone has to calm Lucas down (he is was very poor in my view), and Moore is the man to do it.
Carney in Chippers out me thinks.
David said | November 16th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Moor is 34 assuming he doesnt pick up ne injuries and goes to the WC2010 he will pretty much be no help to the socceroos after that, Id rather give the young Aston Villa defender a chance to stake his clam. Niell had one bad game give him a break his had dozens of good ones.
IMO we need more defenders like wilkshire his fast and good going forward plus he can cross the ball.
Carney should also replace chippers.
I believe in speed and strength if australia lacks technical ability why not try to then at least be fast, stronger and more organised in the WC
Fisher Price said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
I agree. Neill is vastly overrated except within Premier League circles.
Midfielder said | November 16th 2009 @ 10:31am | Report comment
I think we need to look at Matthew Sperio and maybe Beechs for pace at the back…
The team showed a lot of courage…
Tony playing Harry up front has its appeal in another way as well… I cannot leave Vinny out of this side nor Timmy Cahill nor Bresh, if we play Harry up front it opens the door for another mid to come in…
danny said | November 16th 2009 @ 10:38am | Report comment
i’d love to see either spira or milligan have a run alongside neill in one of the remaining asian cup qualifiers, if possible. despite his good performance on saturday, moore’s not getting any younger and could be a serious liability at south africa.
Fisher Price said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
I know you’re a Mariners fan but Beauchamp? No thanks.
Ben Somerford said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
At this late stage, Im beginning to think Moore (despite his weaknesses, ie.pace) simply is our best option alongside Neill at the back. An experienced back-pairing isn’t the worst thing to take to South Africa.
Fisher Price said | November 16th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
It is if their combined lack of pace is ruthlessly exposed.
Horza said | November 16th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
That’s bad but their experience can compensate (witness Moore’s heroics the other day) – the risk with breaking up that partnership is the junior replacement is faster but doesn’t have the eye for the game that comes with experience. We may have to drop one of them but right now our potential replacements are either playing in League One, the CSL or struggling to get on the bench at Nurnberg.
David said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Thats exactly my point we dont have anyone because no one has been given the chance i think milligan could do the job he was unfortunet in South Korea. Moor is too old no offence he is well over the hill Neill will prob get der too b4 the WC, I hate to say this because i love out socceroos but we are in serious contention of getting emmbrassed at the world cup. We should be beating teams like Oman 4-0 in-stead they should ave beat us 8-2 if swarts got injured or team would fall apart
Horza said | November 16th 2009 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
Milligan has started to settle down after a loong period of wandering the fuck around, clubless – during that time he wasn’t, and shouldn’t have been in Pim’s plans. Spiranovic is coming back off a long injury layoff and fighting to get on the bench, let alone start with Nurnberg. Kisnorbo is playing some great football at Leeds and will almost certainly get a berth, Beauchamp has dropped out of contention with his departure from Aalborg and then you’ve got Jade North in the doghouse at Incheon, Colosimo possibly and Coyne probably not. Sadly a lot of the A-Leaguers we had hopes for back in 2006, especially Millsy and Beauchamp haven’t panned out they way we’d've liked.
vladimir said | November 16th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
buck up somerford you’re an absolute joker…
K B said | November 16th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Tony,
I didn’t see the game — I couldn’t get to a location to watch on Fox… I did see the hi-lights of the goals however, and what a beaut from Brett Emerton — well done lads to come from behind, to get back into the match and win; you are all legends — even Brett Holman…
~~~~~~~
KB
David said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:33pm | Report comment
Holman played wel i think him and Harry almost made a goal out of no where
Ben Somerford said | November 16th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Thanks vladimir! I think?!
md said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Here’s something interesting for you: “We were outplayed” says Le Roy, before he deals with a clearly angry media – all faithfully and unbiasedly reported in the sort of tradition that is unfortunately passe amongst the Australian football journalist fraternity.
http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=31838&rand=nfhC0LE9vRwWnCgvwevuNO9xsw
Joe FC said | November 16th 2009 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Good analysis Tony.
clayton said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
is wilkshire making a case for a move to the midfield?
Fisher Price said | November 17th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Wilkshire should definitely be one of Pim’s two ‘controlling’ midfielders.
Emerton at RB.