A heartbreaking loss to Japan on Tuesday night in Saitama will not stop the Socceroos.
After a record-setting 11-match winning streak, Graham Arnold’s men have a newly acquired and built-in confidence and belief that will stand them in good stead for the reminder of the Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign and into the short-term future.
The fruits of a great deal of hard work have been on display, all achieved under the demands of travel and primarily ‘away’ play. A new crop of players have begun to make their marks in national colours and Arnold himself looks to be coaching better than ever.
There is so much to be positive about moving ahead, yet, like many of you, I went to bed in a mighty bad mood after a late goal pinched what could well have been a valuable point for the Socceroos against Japan.
One of the best sporting truisms I’ve heard is, “When you lose, you learn” and the Socceroos’ staff will be looking intently at the areas of concern that were obvious on Tuesday night.
The Australians were poor in the first half, potentially set up incorrectly and everything appeared to be happening in slow motion. Most critically, the midfield looked a mess.
I have been consistent in my belief that the Socceroos struggle with Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic on the pitch at the same time. Equally talented players, something clunky exists between them and with neither blessed with sparkling speed, Arnold should perhaps be looking to permanently alter their roles and his use of Ajdin Hrustic.
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
Potentially the Socceroos’ most consistent player in the campaign thus far, Hrustic seems to balance up the midfield and looks like the man most likely to control it. The calls to play him more centrally more often are valid.
However, where does that leave Mooy in a 4-3-1-2 formation? As we saw against Japan, he struggles somewhat when shifted wider than his traditional central midfield slot.
The intent of bringing Hrustic into the game more frequently and decisively was met, yet the Japanese exposed the Australians’ weaknesses and lack of speed down the left on numerous occasions.
As a part of the 4-2-3-1 employed against Oman, Hrustic and Awer Mabil looked strong on the left with Mooy beginning the match on the bench. It appears wherever Hrustic is deployed, a strength is formed.
However, the logical by-product of that is that cracks appear elsewhere and Arnold then struggles to successfully plug those gaps, as he did during the first half against the Japanese.
It all forms something of a conundrum for the manager.
Seemingly certain to continue to play Mooy regularly in the future, Arnold must decide whether the formation must change depending on his selection and if so, whether Hrustic’s return to the left side of defensive midfield in a 4-3-1-2 is the most advantageous use of his talents?
A fair question is whether Hrustic could potentially play ahead of Mooy in place of Rogic, yet what would that mean for the Glasgow-based Canberran? Alternatively, if Mooy is deemed to be ineffective outside a central midfield role and Hrustic the No.1 choice in that position, are we seriously considering leaving an EPL quality player out of the Socceroos’ best XI?
Rather unfortunately, it is the stellar play of Hrustic that has created such a headache for his manager. In years gone by, Mooy was a lock at No.6 and Rogic at No.10, yet with the emergence of Martin Boyle, Mabil and Hrustic, Arnold now has more than one string to his bow.
However, it appeared the instrument Arnold was playing against Japan was out of tune in the first half. Things improved dramatically in the second when Mooy departed and Hrustic was able to get forward more frequently.
It left many scratching their heads and wondering why Mabil had not started the match and frustrated that Hrustic and Jackson Irvine were not permitted to play in the space they did during the second half a little earlier.
In the end, Japan scored two goals, both with some fortune and at one stage Hrustic appeared to have secured a point with his wonderful free kick. However, the result matters less than getting the learnings right and sending out a Socceroo team against Saudi Arabia in a month’s time that is ready to fire from the opening whistle.
Japan’s pressure on the ball did create problems at the back, just ask Aziz Behich, yet more fluency and control through the centre of the pitch was required. Getting that midfield mix right and utilising Hrustic in the best possible way should be Arnold’s main objective heading into the November qualifiers.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
are you regurgitating from the depths of your memory or from reading down the years? For my part I have vague memories of the lineups and remember the fuss when Greaves was injured. Being a Londoner I was probably prejudiced in thinking of Greaves and Hurst before Roger Hunt! - but I was a single digit child at the time so I'll blame it on that!
Nick Symonds
Guest
He was much better in the A-League. Seems to be in a slump, but I didn't realise how bad. - Newcastle Jets 2017-18 = 5 goals from 12 matches and 5 assists Melbourne City 2018-19 = 7 goals from 27 matches and 4 assists Adelaide United 2019-20 = 10 goals from 23 matches and 5 assists Birmingham City 2020-21 = 1 goal from 15 matches and 0 assists *He was left on the bench for 11 matches and missed the match-day squad altogether 4 times after 38 matches in the 2020-21 season with Birmingham City. **When in form he's the best left footed Australian player on goals per match ratio that I can think of. Others include Ajdin Hrustic, Yaya Dukuly and Cristian Volpato (eligible for Italy). - https://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/its-a-shame-former-a-league-star-riley-mcgree-stuck-in-exile-with-english-club-birmingham/eutuqpewlttl1fnkss5mmul46
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
McGree was a good box to box runner not a ball player. Relatively poor technically but good physically. However during the most recent Olympics he wasn't even good physically he was a dud. I didnt see anything really in his recent socceroo performances either, I though he was much better in the A-league a couple of years back.
Nick Symonds
Guest
I've been thinking about McGree, but you mentioned him first. Others to consider in the future as pivots: Stefan Mauk Cameron Devlin Tyrese Francois Zach Duncan Sebastian Pasquali Isaac Danzo Alex Robertson - Tyrese Francois Football Skills 2 | Fulham Football Club | Grey Sports Group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ1GbLHM4q0 Alexander Robertson #93 ► Manchester City Player ᴴᴰ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8FB8WzBT8g
Punter
Roar Rookie
One of the biggest errors because Geoff Hurst got the hat trick. 'Greaves dropped out of the quarter final against Argentina, injured, and Geoff Hurst, who replaced him, headed the winning goal. So Hurst and Hunt remained the English strike pair for the semi-final against Portugal, and though Greaves was fit to play in the final, it was to Hunt and Hurst that Ramsey turned.' Roger Hunt was always in the team & it was his tireless work that create room for his fellow strikers, so the choice was between Jimmy Greaves, the greatest goalscorer of his generation or Geoff Hurst, who went on to be the only person the score in a World Cup final!!!!
Punter
Roar Rookie
Wow, what are players like Silva, Sterling, Foden & Marhez at Man City, Greenwood , Jadin Sancho, Bruno at Man United, Salah, Mane at Liverpool. Hazard, Modric, Bale at his best at Real Madrid. What about Fati, Pedri, Gavi at Barcelona, never heard of them, well in are 18 years old & already Spanish Internationals, Grietzman & Felix at Athletico Madrid? Messi, Neymar, Mbappe & Di Maria at PSG. What about Ronaldo in his first stint at Man U? If these guys aren't dribblers, “ball-players” one who’s skill sets were immaculate on the ball, control, first touch, and above average passers of the ball, but most importantly a ball-player who was capable of defense splitting passes Then I watching some other game
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
Why is nobody talking about McGree? I'd like to see him and Hrustic in the side, and leave out Mooy and Rogic altogether.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
After the Japan game a complete cleanout is needed from coach to players.
jbinnie
Guest
Para - A simple look at Wiki will tell you West Ham at that time were never better than a mid league team. Their positions for 63/64 were 14th, 64/65 9th, 65/66 12th, 66/67 16th, and 67/68 12th. The league at that time consisted of 22teams. Cheers jb
Will
Guest
Well after the last game against a decent opponent, it answered to me you cant. Out of the 3 players, Hrustic is the only one that's mobile enough to play in all 3 lines even out wide if needed. Whilst Mooy and Rogic like the ball played at feet they sub par in off the ball movements and probably a reason why Ange played a 3-4-2-1 in trying to fit both in the same line up. If we play all 3 we lose the balance in not only a build up play but also 1 can only press when we lose it as well which means someone like Irvine has to take more responsibility when we lose it except he's technically not as good as those 3 players too. If I was build the midfield around I would have Hrustic as my centre point either as a No.10 or No.8 in a 4-3-3, and have Genreau along with Luongo as the two No.6s, even Metcalfe or Devlin could be good options down the track. I think the likes of Mooy and Rogic I would be moving them on after the World Cup or the next asian cup in 2023 and evolving the side with players that are able mobile enough who could play in between the lines but whom also can help is in our pressing. Instead we relied on the former 2 players so much that we needed players that could move and play off the ball and often than not in effected our general play with the likes of Kruse, Leckie and small extent Arzani at the World Cup. The question will be the next coach after Arnie? Hopefully Football Australia look to bring a new coach in that has a different but more modern tactical outlook towards how we want to play our football going forward.
Wes Flanagan
Guest
With 5 available subs this may not be the worst idea
Wes Flanagan
Guest
I believe he is seeing some good game time and playing well under Ange
jbinnie
Guest
Stuart - The origins of the "Dutch Curriculum" we use today are actually based on the findings of an investigation into the coaching of youngsters in the lower echelons of our game. This all encompassing investigation took place in the early 1970's at a sports university in Loughborough ,England. The findings were quite clear. Up to the age of 11/12 a kid's main interest was having fun and the "coaching" had to reflect this attitude by designing short, sharp exercises where the ball was used in control education. At the same time they suggested some revolutionary items, eg Small sided games on small pitches, no rewards for playing in an organised competition, in the brief "rest spells " the finer points of the 5 skills be emphasised, all of these subjugated under the main aim of "having fun". They also found that psychologically a youngster's comprehension of the game began to change ,becoming aware that he or she was playing in a team sport and therefore the "skill" of "winning the match" was introduced with positional play, strategy and tactics introduced into the coaching programme. So the move to larger teams on larger pitches and an upgrading of the coaching qualifications needed to continue the education. It is in this area that we in Australia have ,missed the point completely. In my travels around lower echelons of the game I have seen coaches living what I term the 'Alex Ferguson dream", marching up and down the side-lines, shouting and gesticulating at their charges out on the field, players who are trying their best to carry out the instructions they were given pre-game. This game you witnessed at under 15 level is a classic example of this with 2 teams of 11 kids, out to please their coaches or/and parents, while using tactics completely opposed to the basics of the game, win, win, win, at all costs using tactics not based on the skills set of the players on the field but using tactics learned from watching some of the best players in the world on today's worldwide media. Will we ever learn? jb
Nick Symonds
Guest
Robbie Kruse 2 goals from 30 matches over the last two seasons at Melbourne Victory (1 in 15) Ajdin Hrustic Zero goals from last 17 matches over last two seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt (1 in 17)
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Jimmy Greaves got injured and Hunt was his replacement in the semi final. Sir alf simply decided to keep the same side for the final. Great pity for Jimmy Greaves who hadn't hit the bottle at that time and was supremely gifted...but the result always vindicates the selection!
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Stuart - Bobby Moore was the captain and Centre Half along side Jack Charlton. West Ham, Leeds and Man U, they were the dominant teams in that period if my memory serves me correctly. I'm sure JB could add a lot more to this thread.
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
Hi Andy, do you know where Dom Costanzo and Kur Kur are going? Cheers :thumbup:
Stuart Thomas
Expert
A damn good 65 minute man. Could be his future.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'd hope his goal scoring stats are worse that Kruse, it would be weird if they were better considering the positions they play.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Wow. Harsh?