Roar Guru
Joined April 2018
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Stats hungry sports nerd fancies any code with a ball and boots. Football being a prime example of this. I love the A-League as much as a mother could love a child who graduates to become a middle manager at a bank. Follow me on Twitter @ljgillard
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It’s the grand final of the eternal 2019-20 A-League season and the two best teams in the land, Sydney FC and Melbourne City, face…
It’s a remote finals chance six pointer as Western Sydney Wanderers are 'away' against Western United FC at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah on…
The Western Sydney Wanderers need a win to keep their slim finals chances alive when they take on the high flying Wellington Phoenix at…
Adelaide United will hope to put pressure on the top four as they take on the Central Coast Mariners at home at Coopers Stadium…
The Sydney FC juggernaut rolls on, and this time it’s the Brisbane Roar who hope to avoid a trampling on Friday evening at 7:30pm…
It’s desperation stakes in the Big Blue as Sydney FC travel to AAMI Park to take on a spluttering Melbourne Victory. Join The Roar…
It’s the Farewell Marco Kurz Derby as Melbourne Victory travels to Coopers Stadium to take on Adelaide United on Friday evening at 7:30pm (AEDT).…
FFA Cup Champions Adelaide United return home to host Western Sydney Wanderers FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday evening, 7:30pm (AEDT). Join The Roar…
Match result An arm wrestle at Bankwest stadium ends with a point a piece, as a late Aaron Calver header earned Western United a…
Match Result Melbourne City were far too classy away from home against the Newcastle Jets and were deserved winners. At times it was like…
Melbourne City are flying high and on top of the A-League ladder (thanks in-part to alphabetical order), and will be eager to consolidate that…
Sydney FC are reeling after being sucker-punched in last week’s derby, and will be eager to get back on the winner’s list against the…
Both Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory will look to get their first wins of the season at Suncorp Stadium in their Round 3 A-League…
Melbourne Victory welcomes Western Sydney Wanderers to Marvel Stadium for their Round 2 clash on Friday evening, 7:30pm (AEDT). Join The Roar for live…
Adelaide United take on reigning champions Sydney FC in week 1 of the 2019/20 A-League season at Coopers Stadium this Friday at 7:30pm (AEST).…
A final-round thriller as old rivals Collingwood and Essendon butt heads on Friday night at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores and…
It’s a Friday night match up the AFL schedulers would rather forget as Melbourne takes on Sydney at the MCG. Join The Roar for…
It’s a final roll of the dice for the Hawthorn Hawks when they take on the GWS Giants in Canberra at the University of…
It’s fourth vs fifth on the ladder as two Victorian heavyweights Collingwood and Richmond meet at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores…
Match result: The Bombers took the game by 21 after a brilliant second half that reversed a five-goal deficit in the second quarter. Essendon…
Did I mention BEN HALLORAN ?
(still getting the hang of the new layout)
It’s time for City to aim higher than Warren Joyce
They don’t actually own McGree either…. so they won’t get a payday for him if he does develop nicely for them and then move to Europe. Atkinson is probably their best local hope – in raw, sterile economic terms.
They might want to develop Atkinson into a midfielder – now that he’s back get him into the role Baccus is filling. Or he withers on the vine. Hopefully they have SOME plan for him.
It’s time for City to aim higher than Warren Joyce
Also – BEN HALLORAN. I don’t know what went wrong there guys :-\
It’s time for City to aim higher than Warren Joyce
1) I wrote “the brand can afford”, as in brand equity not $$. For the same money they are actually paying Joyce I’m sure they could have found a coach with better credentials. Markus Babbel – by way of example – can at least point to getting Hertha Berlin promoted from 2 Bundesliga as an example of him getting good results from a group of professions. Joyce can’t do this.
2) Good or bad, Heart were a club in the A-League of which we are all invested (in the very least, emotionally). By giving up Heart to the City group we are utterly entitled to see their investment improve the quality of the A-League. I think the start was strong but they have devolved since Joyce was appointment, which also coincides with a lack of direction with recruitment. Yes they have invested well in the Academy and the W-League. Overall we’re net positive – which makes the Joyce selection all the more puzzling/disappointing.
It’s time for City to aim higher than Warren Joyce
**BEN HALLORAN**
Not sure what went wrong there guys :\
It’s time for City to aim higher than Warren Joyce
If it’s any consolation, it is an issue that effects other nations.
Switzerland basically had no teeth in their round of 16 game against Switzerland. So many balls whipped into the box that were cleared with ease by the Swedes.
Germany look ineffectual in games were Timo Werner doesn’t show up (which was, basically, the entire tournament).
Most countries would KILL for a player like Lukaku who can link play as well as convert.
What the stats say about the Socceroos' failure to convert
Ahh Robbie Kruse…. the most blameable man in world sport.
What the stats say about the Socceroos' failure to convert
Yes this one – appallingly bad penalty!!
Russia vs Croatia: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, scores, blog
That first Russian penalty – Smolov I think (?) – WHAT was he thinking there!!??? A panenka hit into a corner??
That has to be one of the brain fades of the cup.
Croatia vs Russia: Match report
There was one on FourFourTwo about getting the fullbacks too far forward…. that effectively created Peru’s two scoring chances.
….. I can’t find the article though – and the article I THOUGHT contained this argument doesn’t.
Perhaps it came to me in a fevered waking dream as a byproduct of sleep deprivation.
What the stats say about the Socceroos' failure to convert
I reckon the early Peru goal pretty much ruined BvM’s game theory RE Arzani. It was clear in this selections that he was probably hoping to get to the hour mark and then go for it with an open game. Therefore we needed to still keep our defensive shape until the hour.
After that early goal It closed the game down and diminished the impact Arzani might have had.
Incidentally if you look at the heat maps and compare them in the Denmark and Peru games, the only real difference was that our fullbacks got higher up the pitch. Alas Peru’s two goals were manufactured in the wide spaces. I’ve read analyses that he could have been MORE defensive against Peru to get to the 60th minute at 0-0… and that theory definitely has legs.
What the stats say about the Socceroos' failure to convert
Ultimately you create chances to shoot which are converted or not. You’re right – we converted none. The question is – is that because our play was poor, our chances made were low quality or do we just need to find better forwards?
Those questions will be important for Graham Arnold to have answers for – especially as he generally favours the same 4-2-3-1 that BvM employed.
What the stats say about the Socceroos' failure to convert
MATCH SUMMARY
Sweden win this game with a lucky strike from their star Emil Forsberg in the 66th minute that took a wicked deflection off Swiss defender Manuel Akanji.
It wasn’t a pretty game, and both teams battled to impose their style and create meaningful opportunities. Neither side was able to emulate their brighter moments from the Group stage; in particular Switzerland who struggled to create value out of their overwhelming weight of possession (68% vs Sweden’s 32%).
This wasn’t a vintage Swedish forward performance by any means, but their goal was well taken (albeit very fortunate). Forsberg drifted in and out of this game but was able to find enough space for the shot which turned out to be enough to settle this match.
Swiss didn’t seem to be equipped or set-up to exploit the enormous weight of possession they had. Sweden was always going to give the ball to Switzerland, but the Swiss wasted their possession by trying too often to whip crosses into their smaller forwards – Drmic for much of the game – who was never going to be able to outjump or outshine the big Swedish defenders.
The second half in particular was a real test of Swiss skill and patience, as the Swedish midfield block – martialled by Albin Ekdal – allowed little space or time on the ball for the creative Swiss midfielders to put through their forwards into dangerous positions. Switzerland had 11 corners in this game, but each one was cleared with relative ease by the Swedes who had enough bodies in the box to also block the countless shots from those clearances. Goalkeeper Robin Olsen was tested, but was imperious in goal and is in red-hot form in this World Cup.
Ultimately the story of this tournament for Switzerland was indeed their inability to capitalise on their approach play, and the absence of a top shelf forward capable of finishing off the great work of elite midfielders like Shaqiri and Xhaka. This game will be used as exhibit A for that analysis in Swiss post mortems. In the end the Swiss striker – Drmic – next to no impact in a game dominated by the Swedish central defenders Lindelof and captain Granqvist.
The best – and only real – chance came from Dzemili in the first half and after that was skied over the bar after some clever approach play. Alas for Switzerland they were unable to create another chance like that for the rest of the game.
Breel Embolo – who came in that second half – offered some run and industry on the left hand side – getting into the box in a handful of cases but ran into a wall of Swedes on each occasion. On reflection starting with Embolo added a ground-threat to the Swedes and put them on the back foot, but this was a poor tactical game for Swiss manager Vladiimir Petkovic who’s plan A was nullified with ease by the Swedes.
There will be dancing in the streets of Stockholm tonight. The Swedes are into their first quarter final of a World Cup since their Semi Final run in USA 1994. They will now face the winner of today’s late game between England and Colombia.
The big concerns out of this will be Emil Forsberg, who looked ginger coming off late in that second half, and seems to have picked up a knock. Right back Mikael Lustig of Celtic will definitely miss after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament, but one feels that Forsberg’s spark will be harder to replace than a defender.
But Sweden go through tonight in an armwrestle – and a bit of a let down after the excitement of the other knockout games in this World Cup – winning 1-0.
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
FULL TIME
SWEDEN wins this 1-0!
There’s late drama as a penalty to Sweden is overturned by VAR as the challenge was made just outside the box – but it’s immaterial for the Swedes. Toivonen batters his free kick, and it’s saved, but the referee calls fulltime seconds later.
So Sweden go through here into a Quarterfinal, and will face either England or Colombia.
Switzerland had their chances but were toothless in front of goal and could not break down the Swedish defense with any great intelligence.
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
94′ – PENALTY TO SWEDEN! and a RED CARD to Lang!
The Swiss have everyone forward and Olsson breaks and Lang takes him down when he’s through on goal.
VAR reviews the location of the challenge and it’s just outside. The red card stands but it’s a free kick now inside the D
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
93′ – Everyone is back here for Sweden! A clearance hits the ref and plays Embolo in but they still can’t produce any quality with the final ball!
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
92′ – Shaqiri runs the wide right space with urgency but his cross goes nowhere. They haven’t learned a thing in this game!
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
91′ – SAVE FROM OLSEN! Fantastic save! Seferovic gets his head on the end of a cross but his low shot is stopped with command from the Swedish keeper.
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
3 minutes of extra time as we pass the 90 here in St. Petersburg
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
The Swiss are going home if they can’t find something here!
The Swedes are milking the clock for everything they can. Another SUB for them as Berg goes off for Thelin
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
87′ – The pressure is intense here from Switzerland but they cannot find a an avenue to goal.
Sweden break and win a CORNER but it’s largely an excuse to waste time for the Swedes
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
85′ – Switzerland are PEPPERING the Swedish goal here to no avail! Their 11th CORNER was cleared by Olsen before another long range shot from Rodriguez is BLOCKED by a sea of Swedes
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
There are 6 minutes + left here for Switzerland in this tournament if they can’t find the equaliser!
Sweden vs Switzerland: 2018 FIFA World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
He has said in interviews he would like to play in the A-League…. he also said, on the night, that now that he’s earnt some celebrity he’s eager to show everyone what he’s made of on the pitch.
Who knows? He may have what it takes to join an A-League club. Right now he faces a long road back to health and fitness.
Hakeem saved! A memorable night in Pascoe Vale