Socceroos draw 2-2 with Oman, save 2014 World Cup campaign

Double post

Countless times we pushed on the flanks and hit a brick wall. With no options in the middle we had to send it back to the defence and start again. A clear lack of penetration with no options inside, no one pivotal who could run into space and create opportunity, no one willing to take on their opponent. Instead we lop the ball into the middle hoping Timmy time gets a head to it. It was like we were scared of our own abilities.

It wasnt our youngsters who let us down. It was our more experienced players. Holman had a shocker as did Brosque. Why is Brosque there, why is Thwaite there. I have warned countless times that Thwaite and Cornthwaite are not good enough. As for why Kruse was taken off I am still scratching my head at that one. Tommy Oar was decent when he came on and should have started, Milligan as well perhaps and find a place for Rogic FFS, he is good enough. Tearing my hair out. Only player who can hold his head up high is Tim Cahill. Well done Tim

Jordon 1-0 Japan at HT

I wasn't too worried about Jedinak & Holland, two defensive midfielders picked in the team or their performance. Going one, then two goals down didn't help at all. Jedinak & Holland sat too deep. I thought the point of Thwaite in defence was because he can play the ball out. Well he doesn't even have to do that if Jedinak sits on top of him. The problem was trying to break down the Omani defence, our attacking players didn't have good games. Kruse is normally good but a bit of an off night & was also subbed off early. Cahill good in the air but didn't help in the build up of attacks. Brosque didn't seem to do much at all. Holman was rubbish ( then scored a goal ). Holman, Wiltshire, Mackay, Thwaite & Brosque shouldn't have been picked in the starting 11 in the first place.

Ahhh Sydney, fantastic crowd as always..

Lets get our west sydney wanderer in Ante Covic, thanks Schwarcher for the memories, now go have a beer with Bozza and Spider. RBB RBB RBB, they cry in the stands. Go the socceroos.

Was he any worse than Jedinak?one had to be sacrificed i suppose Jedinak stayed on because of his experience.Regardless you don't come out and say stuff like that to the media and keep it in house.

Yes tempo the crucial word of the night,completely non existent in the first half.We just always seem to be chasing games lately,why?.Look at how we went at Japan at Suncorp earlier in qualifying,absolutely battered them in the early period of the game,guess who was pulling the strings that night until he got hurt,Bresciano.Hate to harp on about it but two defensive midfielders is not on at home when wins are important.You need someone with vision who releases the likes of Kruse and Holman alot sooner.Bresciano obviously is the first guy in that role you would put in the side and Rogic also is that type of player.We're in deep trouble now and i've pretty much chalked off Japan as a loss,we have a game in hand on most teams so we can still qualify if we win our last two home games which i have no confidence in either.

right ArsenalFan700 he should never let a goal in from that angle

and first oman goal is just as much (if not more ) Schwarzer then Thwaite, yes , Omen player was able to run past Thwaite, but Omen player should never got the ball past Schwarzer and into the net from that angle

Referring to Holland, maybe? He was probably the worst player on the pitch.

Both goals... the more I think about them the more angry I get. They should have NOT gone in. The first one, a loop and right through the legs of Mark and the 2nd one... the 2nd one... oh do not get me started. This performance was horrible. We are expected to beat Oman, a side that had to fight to defeat India. Australia were the home team as well. Good on attack but defensively Australia is horrid. Change that and the Aussie's can go far but if you cant then forget the World Cup or even Asian Cup... Challenge Cup it is.

Bring Pack Pim lol. Anyone is better than Holger and Aurelio Vidmar.

what Young players? Kruse ? for me. it was European players (not Kruse) who had bad games, Holman, Hollend , Jedinak where bad, there passing was so bad..Holman let the ball go far to many time, he great goal and was fighting for the ball but still that just being he player rating to a 5out 10 to a other wise 2 Jedinak , Hollend look slow to Oman players Oman they brought the ball out of defense, straight to there forward with great passing each time, and did it with speed I really starting to think, we need different players playing the mid east team, we need players with speed to burn, because playing holding -passing football through the mid field with out great forwards, just lead to Australia holding the ball for 70min only to get attracts by fast pace counter attracts

We certainly lacked pace - Kruse had one of the worst halves of football I've seen in a while but redeemed himself somewhat in the second. We were struggling aerially with the lack of decent crosses, it's depressing that we had to go 2-0 down before they went up a notch. Japan will maul us if we play like we did tonight.

Yep, pointing the finger at the young players is ridiculous, most of them did OK. It was the likes of Brosque, Wilkshire, McKay and Jedinak even Holman (despite the equaliser) who were poor. So I agree with you WTF Holger. Only Cahill & Breciano (for the short time he was on) from the old guard were good. I've given Holger the benefit of the doubt until now. But now I say HOLGER OUT also.

Just back from the game. Agree Le Guen the better coach on the night. A few observations: You can confidently predict the Oman strategy of numbers in the area so why no width in attack in first half? Jedinak too deep in defence Cahill as point man too obvious, added more to the attack when dropped into the hole behind the striker. Bresciano had a huge impact on the tempo when he came on. Introduced a level of urgency missing in first half. Kruse had a mixed night but he is a gun, plenty of confidence. Build your attack round him. Oman should be given credit for their competitiveness. Yes the Omani's suffered some "injuries" but I've seen games with more. They have some skillfull players and a world class keeper. Australia lacked verve in the first half. An absence of inspiration. The early goal clearly unsettled the Socceroos. Other views?

Something along the lines of "yeah but we beat guam 7-0".

Cant wait to read what the Holger supporters have to say about this now :)