When the itinerary and timeline was announced last week for the Socceroos trip to Honduras, many were surprised.
Spending four full days in San Pedro Sula leading up to the match is apparently rife with danger. Local pundits have cited the past history of teams vacating the city to avoid the media circus that can erupt.
To suggest the Honduran supporters can get a little worked up in the lead in to big matches is an understatement and distractions to the most important camp in the entire campaign are something that the Socceroos cannot afford.
No doubt, the manager, the FFA and senior players would have been consulted and something of a collective agreement reached, however, Ange Postecoglou would have had significant impact upon the decision.
If recent history is any guide, whichever way he chooses to prepare and how he sees best fit to steer the national team into this game, his decisions will be questioned, second guessed and perceived by many, as flat out wrong.
Such is the fickle current relationship between the passionate supporter base of the Socceroos and the manager for whom trust and love has slowly waned over the last twelve months.
Life can be very much about trust in relationships and getting the runs on the board. Those runs or credit subsequently excuse imperfection in future decisions or actions.
Unfortunately for Postecoglou, the public feel that any credit has well and truly dried up and no matter what decisions he makes in the next fortnight, he should expect a barrage.
He is no fool and will be prepared for what comes his way, however, being prepared is one thing, engaging in debate is another.
And that has been a significant part of the backlash that has come his way in recent times.
The concerns pertaining to selection, structure and preparation have been laid before him yet his willingness and ability to deal with the concerns in a calm and measured manner has been lacking.
A series of decisions now face the manager leading into the away leg and the calls he makes must be entirely based on that game alone.
I can’t see any logic in resting, nursing or saving anyone or anything for the home fixture.
If Tim Cahill is in the manager’s plans for game one, he must play and play for as long as required.
Potentially not able to play both matches, Postecoglou will face the music if Cahill’s absence in the second leg is costly. However he approaches the decision, it’s hard seeing him avoid intense second guessing and criticism.
The fans wanted blood after watching Robbie Kruse battle on the left side with something of an ineffective left foot against Syria. In something of an irony, it was eventually a Kruse pass which set Cahill up for the decisive header.
(AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
The Socceroos’ impotence down that side has been a concern throughout the campaign. Postecoglou has played Kruse more often than not and without Brad Smith, must decide whether to venture down that path again.
Despite Kruse and Matthew Leckie playing well in their domestic leagues, their impact and returns against teams that the Socceroos should deal with more clinically, is still an issue.
Leckie was better in Sydney against Syria and did work hard on the right, delivering the first goal to Cahill on a platter, however, therein lies the problem.
That same name keeps cropping up and until statisticians are able to pen in Tomi Juric, James Troisi and Tom Rogic on the scoresheet more often, the team will be stuck in that grey space between the cameo performances that save our bacon and the scary prospect of life after Tim.
Aaron Mooy’s start from the bench is Sydney sent social media into a spin and the unfortunate injury to Brad Smith stopped my device from exploding, as fans sought out a reason for our golden boy sitting comfortably in a tracksuit.
How Postecoglou approaches the eleven and the role that Mooy plays within it will be crucial.
In simple terms, the Socceroos looked in each other’s way at times and despite the Syrians defending gallantly and having considerable numbers behind the ball, they did push hard on the counter.
As a result there were holes galore for the Aussies to exploit, yet once again the speed of ball movement was inadequate and the clunky nature of the attack moving forward just didn’t seem right.
Personally, I see the Mooy, Rogic issue as the most significant one for the manager. To me it is those two men, both looking to possess and distribute who seem to be sharing something that each wants to make their own.
Unfortunately for Postecoglou, whether he starts with one or both, he will be hounded for his poor choice.
Despite the importance of that decision and the impossibility of pleasing us all with his selections, the defensive structure and the men selected to combat the Honduran attack will be highly contentious.
Mark Milligan was a little unfortunate with his error in Sydney and that is football to some degree. There is no such thing as a perfect defence that remains impenetrable. However, the Socceroos have been leaky at the back, tense, nervous, slow at times and haven’t filled the hearts of supporters with confidence or certainty.
(AAP Image/Matt Roberts)
The ironic cheers of a back four taking to the pitch in San Pedro Sula would be hilarious to many and not something that Postecoglou would ever concede at this point. Potentially, persisting with his methods gives us the best chance of success.
There were moments during the Confederations Cup where initial doubters of the more aggressive set-up, designed to construct a Socceroos defence that could compete with the best of the best, may have doubted their instincts.
However, as the qualifying campaign has continued, their gut feeling has proven correct and the Socceroos have looked sloppy.
It appears most likely that Trent Sainsbury, Milos Degenek and Matthew Jurman will be the men once more for the Australians, all good pros and giving everything for their country.
Sadly, the manager could throw Stuart Thomas, Nick Kyrgios and Semi Radradra in there and probably cop the same amount of criticism.
The Australians will face four torrid days of pressure in the build-up, the manager will sit for hours attempting to formulate a plan to bust open the Honduran defence and find the perfect eleven capable of completing the test.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall as those decisions are made, the inner sanctum for these matches would be an extraordinary place to be.
Being at the heart of the decision making process at a potentially historic moment for Australian football is a privilege.
A privilege that the manager will experience again this week. Unfortunately, whatever direction he chooses or decisions he makes, they will be wrong.
Football-Lover
Guest
On the other side of the coin the Soccerroos are at a worst disadvantage because they have to do two 24 hour trips to Honduras' one. We will have probably four disruptive/sleepless nights on top of a very physical and hard fought game. The Hondurans in return won't experience this in Sydney. I love the suggestion of one of the contributors to stage our return leg in Perth. Just brilliant, to make it as hard as possible for the opposition. But regretfully the FFA,our decision makers are not football people,they have business souls thus preferred to chase the money thus scheduled this crucial game in Sydney. Sadly missing an opportunity to provide the Socceroos even an extra bit of support and the message this would have sent to the coach/team would have been priceless. And the message sent to all the supporters would have been "yes FFA has finally got it,and they are behaving like a seasoned football country". The more I think about it the more I know the current leadership team at the FFA have to go........they have to be replaced...even by the despised FIFA.
matth
Guest
Completely agree with that.
matth
Guest
It's actually the most open tournament in a while in Rugby League (although the Kiwis did win in 2008). Australia still very short odds to win, but there is more competition for semi final and final spots than before. So the race for second should be interesting.
matth
Guest
"RL World Cup about to start. Wonder if any Aussie goes to the RL website cheering for Australia to get beaten?". I can tell you that there has been heaps Nemesis, mainly Rugby Union supporters who are offended that Rugby League can have a world cup, given the niche nature of the sport. So you are not alone on the football tab, although I note it tends to be AFL supporters who get on and bait the football fans.
Fadida
Guest
Agree Punter. The days of a talentless, physical striker running around and elbowing, kicking people are thankfully long gone. It's amazing that Sydney didn't find better cover. The cap should be lifted to prevent clubs having to go for cut price options like Simon
Redsback
Guest
The threats in the places you have listed are entirely different to that posed by football fanatics in South America. I don't expect the Socceroos to be checking out the local markets there and to get kidnapped or shot. The bigger issue will be sleep depravation. How will the FFA and FIFA stop fireworks from being let off outside their hotel each night they are there between midnight and 6am. Do you expect the local police will stop them? They will probably take selfies lighting the fireworks themselves. What is worse is that the media have given them the blueprint of what to do. I've had a look and this game is in the news every day in Honduras. Including analysis of our opinions that the place is a tip.
Redsback
Guest
How do you feel if you go about 4 days without proper sleep plus having interrupted sleep and an international flight over. I have never been to Honduras, so I don't want to make unreasonable comparisons, but Montevideo was a nightmare and it is in the top 5 most European cities in South America (with BA, Santiago, Rio and Sao Paulo). It's quite civilised and it was a nightmare there. Giving the other guy a fair go is not.common in most parts of the world and this smacks of amateurism. They should be flying in the night before the game from Miami. If nothing else, it would breakdown the flights to Honduras (most of which will probably have to go via Miami anyway). They could stay in a proper 5 star hotel and no one would have a clue who they are. The decision is unfathomable.
Redsback
Guest
It can easily take over 24 hours. At a minimum, they have to switch in Santiago and Latam and Qantas fly more flights direct to Sydney (and now Melbourne) than those that stop in NZ. Alternatively, they will have to go backwards to Buenos Aires and fly with Air New Zealand. It doesn't have daily direct flights. Last thing they would want to have to do is to fly Lima to Santiago to Sydney and back to New Zealand. I see that New Zealand is playing the game out of Wellington. This is an inspired move. Frankly, to take full advantage of having a charter flight, we should be playing the game out of Adelaide or Perth to make their flight over that much harder. How is it that New Zealand can see this - playing the game out of acity that is more difficult to get to - and Australia cannot?
reuster75
Guest
FIFA won't allow happened in Uruguay in 2001 to happen again. They are very strict about any hint of outside interface with a match including the build up. Any country where a Uruguay situation happened would face heavy sanctions. This is what Alex Tobin mentioned recently in an interview on the box to box radio show.
chris
Guest
100% agree on Leckie. Will be sorely missed in the first leg.
punter
Guest
I'm glad you do Fad, I get a lot of grief from some fellow SFC fans, when I try to tell them that the A-League has moved on from the likes of Simon, especially when you are the reigning double winner. Surely we could blood a youth player.
Fadida
Guest
I'm glad Punter. I get the same level of humor watching Matt Simon!
Fadida
Guest
Some would say it was like for like Angry Kossie!
Angry Kossie
Guest
Fadida, you know that I’m no coaching expert, but I think Ange is at the game tonight looking at Clisby for Smith’s spot!
northerner
Guest
Actually, you're right about one thing. "Everyone on this forum knows nothing about what security measures have been taken." That includes you, pal. So I have no idea why you so confidently assert that everything is just fine. You don't actually have a clue whether it's fine or not. You're just relying on authority. Me, not so much. Amazingly, in the world of democratic societies and free speech, one gets to question authority, not just by writing letters to the FFA or DFAT but by actually, you know, asking questions in a public forum. Do I know what advice DFAT gave to the FFA, no I don't; do I know whether the FFA listened to DFAT, no, I don't. And neither do you. Are these not valid questions, and if not, why not? Your opinion is that everything the FFA and Ange do are beyond the questioning of mere mortals who don't run football associations or national teams. I regard that as the laziest option of all. My opinion is that everyone and everything should be up to scrutiny. It is also my opinion that websites like the Roar are designed for people to ask questions and raise issues. Otherwise, why not just rely on press releases from the FFA? Why bother at all with a comments site?
Nemesis
Guest
" Are we no longer allowed to question the powers that be? When did that happen?" Of course you can. So, why don't you do that? Write a letter to the FFA &/or DFAT and ask them what measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the AUS National Team. Then, you can write an article using the facts obtained from your research & you can form an opinion, using those facts, about whether the measures being taken by FFA & DFAT are appropriate, or inappropriate. Right now you, I and everyone on this forum knows nothing about what security measures have been taken. No facts. Just hot air. But, I do know the FFA has organised trips for the Women's team, Men's team & youth teams (men & women) to countries that are considered high risk by DFAT including: Yemen, North Korea, Syria, Bangladesh, etc. And, I know the teams have returned home safely on all occasions. As Ange said the other night: I want discussions about football, but I won't put up with lazy & ignorant opinions.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
It feels all wrong. We really should be arguing about something nonsensical.
northerner
Guest
And I'm saying, you know nothing about security issues yourself so why do you think you're qualified to tell other people to they're not qualified to comment.? You have a habit of trying to shut down conversations on the grounds that those commenting don't have the necessary expertise, and frankly, it's an unattractive habit. People are allowed to have opinions, based on their own experience and a bit of research. Not everyone thinks the government or the authorities necessarily know best. And not everyone believes that, given the best advice available, the FFA or Pepsi or United Fruit or Rio Tinto will still make the right decision. I can think of quite a few examples to the contrary. Are we no longer allowed to question the powers that be? When did that happen?
punter
Guest
It's Ok to disagree, we disagree on lots of things, but nice to actually talk football. You have to understand the reason why most of the British teams no longer perform well in the world cup is that they cannot have possession under pressure, this is a common issue amongst many countries, apart from Australia, outside of those that have always treasured possession.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
We'll agree to disagree. I call it tika taka, but the difference is: we can't maintain possession while under pressure. It was clear against Syria, for when they were down in the dying moments, they could win the ball off us. This was unacceptable. Tika taka football is the ability to maintain possession under pressure. Whilst I agree we are not good enough to play this style, I don't think Ange would agree with you and THAT's precisely the problem. "The old saying practice makes perfect." Perfect practice makes perfect. Perfection is unobtainable though. A paradoxical conundrum of the highest order.