Roar Guru
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Crystal Palace captain and Socceroos defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak scored his first Premier League goal in a desperate match against West Ham at Upton…
A-League under the microscope in Brazil?
So if Australia loses all 3 games, the A-League is bad???
A-League under the microscope in Brazil
Its a transition period and there will be some hurt, especially for us fans.
Optimistic yes, realistic yes and I hope the young Socceroos do well.
And its the bottom of the curve, things will get better and if we get some honourable losses in Brazil, and with a bit more preparation time we will give the Asian Cup an almighty shake.
But this team has barely played together, hardly knows each other or even spoken to each other ever before and we have a 10 day camp and 2 practice games before the World Cup starts. How many years have the Spanish or Dutch teams been playing together and at what level?
The regeneration phase should have started 4 years ago, straight after we got thrashed by Germany at South Africa.
Postecoglou's squad gives us reason to believe
Mike, I don’t think Ange employs long ball, lone striker tactics and Kennedy won’t get much game time, particularly with his chronic back problems.
He will be especially looking for a high defensive line, pressing game and then fast counter attacking midfielders to outnumber the defence caught out of position.
I can’t see the Socceroos dominating possession and having the luxury of many free crosses into the box.
Postecoglou's squad gives us reason to believe
Mat Ryan played for the Plumpton/Oakhurst Eagles Football Club, as did Timmy Cahill, deep in Sydney West heartland.
Postecoglou's squad gives us reason to believe
Reasons to believe we are heading in the right direction, yes, but from our lowest position in the FiFA rankings for a decade, so nowhere to move but up, realistically.
There’s a warm glow of optimism whenever Ange does the talking, but what exactly does that guarantee in the world of football, Mike.
Yes there have been upsets and yes NZ went through the last WC undefeated and sent the Italians home, even though they didn’t progress themselves, but realistically and on paper, how can we hope to even get a point or even a goal in these 3 epic tests of our football ability.
If we loose badly, it will send us back into the slide.
Yes, who better to face the hungry footballing lions and the inevitable mauling, than self-confident Ange and yes miracles do happen in this game and more often than you can imagine, but this young, inexperienced, under-prepared and unknown Socceroos combination faces the biggest challenge it has ever faced.
But really, nothing wrong with that either, there’s a volume of things for them, and us, to learn.
Postecoglou's squad gives us reason to believe
He said “optimistic, but realistic”, which is fair enough for the CEO of a company.
That translates to we haven’t got a bloody hope, but he’s not going to say that publicly, is he.
Gallop optimistic about Socceroos' chances
Ange himself is the biggest unknown factor.
He has never coached a World Cup game and never coached against these teams, whereas opposing coaches have hundreds of games experience against much better countries than us. Whatever tactics Ange employs, they will counter them within minutes.
I’m a great Aussie and Socceroos fan and will be thrilled if we jag a win or even a draw, but lets be realistic, this is the biggest challenge a young, inexperienced and under-prepared Socceroos team has ever faced.
Unknown factor could be the Socceroos' prize asset
They should have won it.
They were the better team and were leading 2 – 0 and then an own goal by Aussies and a slip up in defence.
[VIDEO] Ono inspires Wanderers to famous ACL win
Quarter finals first leg not till 19 August.
Hope you have a coach and some players by then AZ
[VIDEO] Ono inspires Wanderers to famous ACL win
Great goal from Santalab under pressure to seal a quarter final birth and at least another $150,000 US prize money.
There were 8 Hiroshima players in or around the 6 yard box when he scored.
Incredible!
[VIDEO] Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Asian Champions League live scores, blog, highlights
A-League Premiers and Grand Finalists on debut.
Asian Champions League Quarter Finalists on debut and who knows how far they can go.
Very impressive start from Popovic and his team.
[VIDEO] Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Asian Champions League live scores, blog, highlights
Fantastic win.
Great stuff Wanderers played very well and dominated the game and the possession. Clearly the better team and made A-League and Australia feel proud.
Absolute smashing goals from Cole and Santa. 2-0 just what they needed.
On to the Quarter finals, which aren’t until 19 August and by then WSW will be without Ono, Hersi, Trifiro and maybe Coach Poppa and others.
Great win. Enjoy it you Wanderers, no excuses, you were the better team.
[VIDEO] Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Asian Champions League live scores, blog, highlights
OFFICIAL SOCCEROOS PARTNERS
QANTAS Nike Hyundai Westfield NAB Cenovis Foxtel Fox Sports SBS Sony tab.com.au Australian Government NSW Sydney Destination NSW
The FFA has plenty of good Socceroos sponsorship and QANTAS is still a partner but have declined the naming rights as they said they would, because it conflicts with their sponsorship of the Wallabies and other national sporting teams. It is after all our only national airline and carries plenty of Aussie sportsmen and women.
Gallop said the FFA will still make a profit from the WC Qualification, even if we don’t go past the first round, but was hoping to unveil a new major sponsor with naming rights by the time of the farewell game against SA to add some more icing on the cake. Personally, I prefer the Socceroos didn’t have a naming right.
I just hope its not Jim’s Plumbing or Clive Palmer United. 🙂
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Mid, I agree and don’t think he missed any better players and he’s gone with the best we have at this point in time.
Its the way they come together as a team that will determine how well we do.
After Germany 06 and SA 2010, I think we might deserve a huge slice of luck.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Bratten maybe unlucky.
Juric next time or the Asian Cup. Ange doesn’t play long balls and lone strikers.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
LOL
You forgot Hoppy the team bus.
Only one of them can use their hands at any one time.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Former Socceroo captain Wade’s a regular on ABC radio and will be a co-commentator for the WC.
I’m a passionate Aussie and passionate football follower, but I must agree with Wade’s assessment of our chances.
I wouldn’t use words like “smashed” or “hammered” though.
I expect them to be very praiseworthy losses and I’m sure Ange and the boys will do Australia proud.
My biggest worry is that Ange will get snapped up by another club or country and not lead us into the Asian Cup.
Postecoglou to punt on youth for World Cup
I think we all agree and its a world cup so you’re going to get involved even if Australia is not in it.
I’m sure if we lose any I won’t be bashing the coffee table at 2AM shouting “WE WERE ROBBED! WE WERE THE BETTER TEAM AND SHOULD HAVE WON!”
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Maybe they pick 30 so they can have 2 teams with a few reserves for the trial training games 🙂
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Yes, Ange usually picks the team to suit his tactics. There is no guarantee that any of the forwards other than Tim Cahill will actually get on the field, as he usually plays without an out and out striker.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
That will happen anyway Nick,
if any of the 30 or 23 are injured or pull out for some reason they will be replaced right up till kickoff time.
If you already know you are not going to Brazil, you won’t compete as hard at the camps will you and maybe even deliberately injure one of your team mates so you can take their spot . . . 🙂
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Troisi is a great player and will be seriously considered.
A lot of Ange’s assessment will be based around stress testing and psychological strength and coping with adversity. He said this morning that he will be assessing them “both on and off the field”.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
Yes and the wages continue to grow, so they can have a good standard of living as well and be close to family and friends.
A young man like Ibini would be doing a lot better than the mates that he grew up with in Western Sydney.
Socceroos' World Cup squad for Brazil
No, you wouldn’t change the team in the middle of the tournament. I meant start planning for the transition.
After doing so badly it was obvious Verbeek wasn’t the right fit and a search for a new coach should have started then.
That was the time to make wholesale changes and start blooding the newer generation and give them confidence.
Selecting a wholly new look team and manager 3.5 weeks out from the WC and giving Ange 10 days and 2 practice games to put together a team to beat Chile, Spain and Holland in a world cup tournament is not ideal.
Postecoglou's squad gives us reason to believe