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Poppa Out

No doubt an incredible achievement, even more so now with hindsight I would say.

But I don't see how that has any relevance to what has taken place with the current manager of our national team?

I guess at a minimum it proves he can win things. He has also lost five A-league grand finals with three different clubs.
 
grazorblade said:
hot take: winning the ACL with wsw, even with a lot of luck on your side is a pretty impressive achievement
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As has been pointed out the achievement was better for the state of the squad. However, both the semi and final were marred by controversy and realistically WSW but for some incredibly poor officiating should not have made the final let alone win it.

That said with the state of the squad getting to the semi was an achievement.
 
BA81 said:
I rest my case.

For the purposes of what I’m saying, it’s the same thing.
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Two points on this topic. Acl final was the only leg we were outplayed and lucky. Semi was not.

Losing a one off cup final is not really an indication of much. That's why champions are league based. On the day you get Celtic v barca.

Popa has done the same thing everywhere he has been. Generally been in contention in the league and made finals. He has done the same thing for the socceroos.

You can dislike the style (give me Ange), but football hasn't progressed past him. All recent work (glory, mv, aus) has been exactly what you expect on the tin. High expectations set, defence as a foundation, results.
 
As I've already mentioned, results can be really on thin lines so I guess we're undefeated in an official sense. In saying that both China wins were against a woeful opposition, Saudi's late goal is debateable, beating Japan in Perth was a lucky fluke given how bad we were on the ball. Saudi away was solid but with ourselves having an immense advantage at the start.

It would've been interesting to see the reaction had Indonesia scored the penalty. Bahrain away was batshit crazy but also needed better subs like Balard to calm it down. Japan away was the most astute display by coach and team.
 
JS96 said:
As I've already mentioned, results can be really on thin lines so I guess we're undefeated in an official sense. In saying that both China wins were against a woeful opposition, Saudi's late goal is debateable, beating Japan in Perth was a lucky fluke given how bad we were on the ball. Saudi away was solid but with ourselves having an immense advantage at the start.

It would've been interesting to see the reaction had Indonesia scored the penalty. Bahrain away was batshit crazy but also needed better subs like Balard to calm it down. Japan away was the most astute display by coach and team.
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Things will generally be on thin lines no matter who has this current team. I agree with you, but the other side to those thin lines.
Saudi at home we were the better team on balance of chances. Yes the late offside was tight, but on balance it wasn't a lucky result.
Indonesia chose to play, when you do this you leave space elsewhere and they were exploited. A goal can always change momentum, but we came from behind against China, Saudi and Bahrain under Popa.
Arnold got the last wc result with elite OOP. Nothing has really changed. Japan are as strong as all but a few elite teams in the world and we got 4 points. There is no reason to think that can't be replicated at a wc.

In possession has been rough. God knows it's a tough watch. But as pointed out to me by a Chelsea Mourihno fan after they beat Barca, there's nothing inherently 'better' about that style. Defence is as much football as attack.
 
Cunningstunt said:
Things will generally be on thin lines no matter who has this current team. I agree with you, but the other side to those thin lines.
Saudi at home we were the better team on balance of chances. Yes the late offside was tight, but on balance it wasn't a lucky result.
Indonesia chose to play, when you do this you leave space elsewhere and they were exploited. A goal can always change momentum, but we came from behind against China, Saudi and Bahrain under Popa.
Arnold got the last wc result with elite OOP. Nothing has really changed. Japan are as strong as all but a few elite teams in the world and we got 4 points. There is no reason to think that can't be replicated at a wc.

In possession has been rough. God knows it's a tough watch. But as pointed out to me by a Chelsea Mourihno fan after they beat Barca, there's nothing inherently 'better' about that style. Defence is as much football as attack.
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If we end up in Pot 3 and get a heavyweight in Pot 1 a European team in pot 2 and a European playoff team form pot 4. Conceivably Spain, Germany and Italy and bundled out before the 32. NZ have picked a good side for the upcoming window - who are we picking. If we lose or draw that probably puts paid to Pot 2.
 
patjennings said:
If we end up in Pot 3 and get a heavyweight in Pot 1 a European team in pot 2 and a European playoff team form pot 4. Conceivably Spain, Germany and Italy and bundled out before the 32. NZ have picked a good side for the upcoming window - who are we picking. If we lose or draw that probably puts paid to Pot 2.
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That could easily happen. All these matches turn on hundreds of small moments. One or two of these and we don't get out of the group in 22 or 06. One or two moments go differently and we don't even beat Uruguay in 05. Recoba his the target on his left foot early in Sydney and we lose again. Nothing Guus did leading to that moment, the preparation, the setup, even most of the rest of the match, has changed, but how he is remembered alters entirely.
The OOP structure is good enough to get enough points to get out of the group. Same as in 22.
 
JS96 said:
As I've already mentioned, results can be really on thin lines so I guess we're undefeated in an official sense. In saying that both China wins were against a woeful opposition, Saudi's late goal is debateable, beating Japan in Perth was a lucky fluke given how bad we were on the ball. Saudi away was solid but with ourselves having an immense advantage at the start.

It would've been interesting to see the reaction had Indonesia scored the penalty. Bahrain away was batshit crazy but also needed better subs like Balard to calm it down. Japan away was the most astute display by coach and team.
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Lot of good points made in this post, JS.

I think we were lucky in the games you mentioned too. Good summations by you of them.

However, we were unlucky in both games against Bahrain.
 
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