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Australian Dual Nationals 🇦🇺🏳️

Quicky said:
What are Robertson's numbers? He's defensively good but plays more advanced. I think you could easily play him more defensively and you'd find that player.
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he's added starch but not enough - 2.84 turnovers a game which as you say is probably should be taken in the context of playing higher on the pitch (mind you metcalf also plays high and averages an incredible 4 turnovers per 90. One of the best off the ball players I have seen since Brett Holman). Mind you with irvine out a robbo/okon midfield could work? Would be very young so will have to see how poppa feels. I suspect he plays one experienced mid and rotates through yazbek, okon and robbo?

He might also play robbo as an inside forward as he has played that role for his club (as much as I prefer him deep)
 
grazorblade said:
he's added starch but not enough - 2.84 turnovers a game which as you say is probably should be taken in the context of playing higher on the pitch (mind you metcalf also plays high and averages an incredible 4 turnovers per 90. One of the best off the ball players I have seen since Brett Holman). Mind you with irvine out a robbo/okon midfield could work? Would be very young so will have to see how poppa feels. I suspect he plays one experienced mid and rotates through yazbek, okon and robbo?

He might also play robbo as an inside forward as he has played that role for his club (as much as I prefer him deep)
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My guess is he'll go O'Neill with one of Yazbek or Robertson.
 
AUFC_Fan said:
I'm a young person and I completely disagree. I think the fact that he wasn't willing to fight for his spot is a character flaw on his part.
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I think we can all agree on that but I wonder how much of his frustration was drawn by Popovic's policies.

Yes, be professional and mature as you can be but there are other dosfhes who would've seen the benefits of man management.
 
Quicky said:
There were a few things from the Popovic interview I found interesting.

On Balard I got the distinct impression he was letting Balard miss so he can focus on NACs relegation battle. Fair play there.

He spoke about Suto being an option to play in Juric's role, which I took to be the 9. That's interesting if I didn't misinterpret that. Suto doesn't play there at club level. But is big bodied. Popovic did say he was looking at which of his wide forwards might play there, so maybe that's the answer.
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I hope that's true about Balard then. Took me ages to see Irvine wasn't listed.
 
The point about dual nationals and Popovic is actually nothing to do with the players. If Popovic is playing his ego at the expense of Australian Football then that is a problem. Without seeing his eventual squad but using this one as a guide to what we will see at the end of May we are looking at being the bottom of Group D and Popovic will be without a job come July. Two years of angst for no benefit.

If he picks a squad to 'do something special' (his words) then fair play. But to me he is regressing with this squad.
 
patjennings said:
seems to be playing a different game.
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yeah maybe a different role

the deep 6 that is tall, mobile and great at progressing the ball which so effectively covers counter attacks and can help break down a deep block.....his profile would allow us to commit an extra midfielder forward. Maybe this is cope talking, but if he has stopped playing that role at club level, he is less of a loss
 
JS96 said:
I think we can all agree on that but I wonder how much of his frustration was drawn by Popovic's policies.

Yes, be professional and mature as you can be but there are other dosfhes who would've seen the benefits of man management.
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I wonder how much of his frustration (if that's what it was) was drawn by his immaturity and arrogance in thinking he was better than those picked with him. He had a personal choice to make and chose Croatia at pretty much the first opportunity. Whilst I wanted to see him get game time to see how he progressed it's entirely possible he didn't get any because of his attitude in camp. Same with Triantis who also jumped ship at the first opportunity. You have to accept that these guys don't want to play for us. I don't think your constant criticism of Popovic on this issue is warranted and is merely an unjustified extension of your more valid criticism of his coaching style. I get you don't like him, but he is not to blame for players not wanting to play for Australia.
 
Alex M said:
I wonder how much of his frustration (if that's what it was) was drawn by his immaturity and arrogance in thinking he was better than those picked with him. He had a personal choice to make and chose Croatia at pretty much the first opportunity. Whilst I wanted to see him get game time to see how he progressed it's entirely possible he didn't get any because of his attitude in camp. Same with Triantis who also jumped ship at the first opportunity. You have to accept that these guys don't want to play for us. I don't think your constant criticism of Popovic on this issue is warranted and is merely an unjustified extension of your more valid criticism of his coaching style. I get you don't like him, but he is not to blame for players not wanting to play for Australia.
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With Triantis's it is not the case - he and his brothers always chose Australia. He never had any intention of Greece - the whole family was Australia obsessed. Something happened in camp - probably with Popovic but possibly with Okon. Having spoken to the family for years I refuse to believe there was not more to it.
 
patjennings said:
With Triantis's it is not the case - he and his brothers always chose Australia. He never had any intention of Greece - the whole family was Australia obsessed. Something happened in camp - probably with Popovic but possibly with Okon. Having spoken to the family for years I refuse to believe there was not more to it.
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Oh interesting do u have a connection to the fam?
 
Alex M said:
I wonder how much of his frustration (if that's what it was) was drawn by his immaturity and arrogance in thinking he was better than those picked with him. He had a personal choice to make and chose Croatia at pretty much the first opportunity. Whilst I wanted to see him get game time to see how he progressed it's entirely possible he didn't get any because of his attitude in camp. Same with Triantis who also jumped ship at the first opportunity. You have to accept that these guys don't want to play for us. I don't think your constant criticism of Popovic on this issue is warranted and is merely an unjustified extension of your more valid criticism of his coaching style. I get you don't like him, but he is not to blame for players not wanting to play for Australia.
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They wanted to play for Australia as they accepted a call up and travelled thousands of kilometres for it. They warranted selection and had to deal with Popovic's stupid selection policies. They had to be professional themselves but having another attractive offer, agents and families in your ear, it made their switch easier.
 
patjennings said:
With Triantis's it is not the case - he and his brothers always chose Australia. He never had any intention of Greece - the whole family was Australia obsessed. Something happened in camp - probably with Popovic but possibly with Okon. Having spoken to the family for years I refuse to believe there was not more to it.
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Remember the full media spread in camp? He was buoyant and interested. He shouldn't have defected that quickly but something has clearly happened.
 
patjennings said:
With Triantis's it is not the case - he and his brothers always chose Australia. He never had any intention of Greece - the whole family was Australia obsessed. Something happened in camp - probably with Popovic but possibly with Okon. Having spoken to the family for years I refuse to believe there was not more to it.
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Okon and Triantis were never in the same senior squad. Triantis was picked but decided not to front. He then switched. Doesn't look or sound like a committed Aussie to me.
 
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