Ange Postecoglou confirms five changes to Socceroos squad for Syria World Cup qualifiers

Indeed.

Is there a reason for Mabil being axed from the squad. One minute he's in, sits on the bench, and is dropped.

My point is simply that the spin, a pejorative term for something important, is part of the job and there is no reason that he can't do it better - viz. my example of Helen Clark.

Have I achieved recognition in my fields across the Asian Continent? NO Am I considered one of the most successful of my generation (if not all time) in my field across Australia? NO If you have in your field - congratulations. That would place you amongst the Top 0.1% of Aussie workers/business people. I would rather Ange being the best manager of our players & not presenting well to the media, than vice versa. I want a manager of substance; not spin. Sure, to have both attributes would be better, but that's not who he is.

Actually, Nem, I've never been doing better. The mirror holds no fears whatsoever. And I hope it's the same for you. However, in regard to our national team coach, part of the remit is presenting as the face and leader of the team, including the coaching and support staff. In that regard, Ange is not performing anywhere near as well as he should be, and there's no reason for underperformance. Just one dimension of the role. I'm simply surprised that he doesn't attempt to do it better. I'm sure he's different with the players. He's obviously someone who doesn't work well outside a fairly prescribed comfort zone.

I've no doubt Ange looks players directly in the eye when he's managing them. His j0b is to manage players & extract the best of them. Does he have success at his job? Each person can decide for himself/herself if Ange has been successful in his chosen career. And, if for those who question whether Ange has been successful in his career, maybe, look in the mirror & ask yourself the same question.

As I said, AG, no excuse. There are a raft of trainers out there who specialise in exactly this kind of thing. Helen Clark, the great former NZ PM, for example, went through extensive training to improve her press performances. It's not Ange's job to look inadequate, lacking in confidence and plain shifty. The medium is the message.

To be fair, the eye contact or lack of has always been an issue even when we won Asian cup. I think it's just a nervous thing.

Personally speaking, I think Ange lost control of the narrative once he backtracked on his demand that players be playing for their clubs to be selected. I don't his credibility ever recovered. And yes, his press conference performances are truly dreadful. There's no excuse, either. Poor body language and poor eye contact can be easily corrected. If one of his players performed as badly as Ange does with the press, Ange would drop him. It looks very much like had Ange's best years with the Roos with the Asian Cup win. He was great in that first period, but the energy and confidence of the time leading up to the Asian Cup seems to be a thing of the past.

How Smith gets picked is beyond me it's poor signal management to all players and the team And what's with Ange during the presser he looks defeated staring down at the desk looking no one in the eye - were the lights that bright? The clue as it's been noted is the inclusion of Risdon - albeit out of season - Ange might go back to a back 4 - let's hope so - if Leckie plays as a wingback we are toast for the counter Goal! And if Ryan doesn't boot the odd ball down the field for our speedsters to run on to I'll throw the TV out the window! DO we have always have to be so predictable????

Let Leckie and Kruse play their natural (club) positions. Ditch the 3 defender formation and surprise the Syrians. They will be expecting to counter attack against a 3 defender formation.

Nemesis - Not a bad starting XI. I would only make one alteration---I would have Sainsbury as the centre back three, instead of Milligan (I'd switch them over).

I rate Sainsbury as a better ball playing defender then Neill, I also rate Moore as a better out & out defender then Neill. Neill was a good leader.

I remembered that game, Socceroos parked the bus & Neill never went further then the d at the end of the penalty area, he defended stoutly as Japan attack and attacked all night long. He never had to sprint, he just stood there defending, marshaling his troops with Og next to time. This is not Ange's style nor the type of football you really want Socceroos to play.

How does Brad Smith still keep on making these squads???

Natural home is Newcastle, 100%.

Agree. My feeling is that with the current formation works best when blokes who are natural defenders - albeit with an attacking flair - are playing wing back, than blokes who are attackers & now being asked to track all the way back. Gersbach plays the role to perfection. Behich did well, too. I think Goodwin & Risdon will both fill the role. And, Leckie & Kruse will be playing higher in attack so there will constantly be an early release wide to get in behind the defence. My only concern with the formation is the lack of midfielder who is willing to go in for the crunch tackles to win back possession. Luongo, Irvine, Milligan do this the best.

Agree. Last game I saw him play live, and one the last full stop, was that 1-1 draw with Japan at Suncorp. I thought he was well past it then, but he was top class that night. Best player on the park. He screwed up so badly not going to Liverpool because the Hammers were prepared to pay him more. How bitterly ironic that a player who arguably sacrificed his playing career for cash ended up bankrupt.

Never forgave Chippers for his constant denigration of the A League. Switzerland are welcome to him.

LH Maybe they did ....