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Soccer Ashes thread

Decentric said:
As the Kiwis deployed their off the ball intensive Squeezing, Aus struggled to play out, because it was difficult for the Aussies to open passing lanes, devoid of a Kiwi being more then a metre to 2 metres away. This is very tiring too for the teams doing it. As is usually the case the Kiwis ran out of gas at 60 mins.

It was tough for the Aussies in the back third to get a player receiving the ball with their body shape facing forwards, and having a teammate opening a passing lane in space - devoid of a Kiwi closing him down.

Outside Iran's brilliant goal and astonishing free kick, I'm not sure he did a lot? Live I thought he was outmuscled a lot. It might be different when I go over the replay compiling stats. Popa publicly said he was pleased with Iran's defending.

Toure was a huge asset. His strength and pace constantly harassed the Kiwi defence. Like Duke, Borrello and Yengi, but the difference was his clinical finishing! The first goal was brilliant! He outmuscled his marker, displaying sublime skill at pace to slot home sprinting at high speed.

I'm hearing his body is struggling though. I hadn't realised he is still only 21? If he stays fit , we've found our first choice central striker. Last year he couldn't hit the side of a barn in the U23s Olympic Qual tournament.

Live I thought Circati had a poor game, by his own lofty standards after being made captain (which I predicted in a few years time, not in his 7th game). I thought he mishit a few passes and was turned a few times. It will be interesting to look at the replay.

Live, Balard and O'N looked similar, so early in the game I wasn't sure who was who?

Live, I thought Miller had a good shift. Just before Aus scored around the 57th min, when he was blamed for fluffing a ball close to our goal, I was screaming at Metcalfe to move quicker to support him to open a passing lane in space. Metcalfe just didn't see it.

Despite that, Connor M showed some more superb touches, carrying in from game 1. He made both quality assists for Toure's 2 goals.

Although he didn't get forward as much as Miller, I thought Rowles was okay at LWB. None of Bos's searing runs, but he was a tough defender for the Kiwis to round out wide.

I just wish that commentators, Harper and Thompson had the knowledge to comment on the levels of Squeezing and Pressing. It is much harder to play out when teams gegenpress with so many players entering the opposition half, like NZ did. It was well-organised too.

Popa wants his teams to defend deeper, with only a modicum of Squeezing, enabling Aus to keep defensive shape nearly all the time. The Kiwis were stretched a lot more late in both games, as those distances between their lines increased. This enabled Aus to play more effectively with the ball.
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On Metcalfe, he does get his fair share of criticism, but he is the only attacking player we have playing in one of the top 5 leagues in the world (doesn't always start) so he must be doing something right. He does have moments of brilliance, ala McGree.
 
JS96 said:
Metcalfe has a good peel and pass movement. Need to remember it was injury that kept him out of the last world cup. He was likely going to be picked. Time for redemption.
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Don't recall that, thought he was overlooked tbh.
 
Robbos said:
On Metcalfe, he does get his fair share of criticism, but he is the only attacking player we have playing in one of the top 5 leagues in the world (doesn't always start) so he must be doing something right. He does have moments of brilliance, ala McGree.
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Adds balance to the front 3 too. He can can pick a pass, keep shape, or support midfield as needed. Strikes a nice balance imo.

If we play Bos I'd consider Metcalfe on the left with him, with Irankunda on the right with Miller. Balances out defence/attack and compliments.
 
Quicky said:
Adds balance to the front 3 too. He can can pick a pass, keep shape, or support midfield as needed. Strikes a nice balance imo.

If we play Bos I'd consider Metcalfe on the left with him, with Irankunda on the right with Miller. Balances out defence/attack and compliments.
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Yes, while Toure & Irankunda got all the praise, Poppa made a point of mentioning Metcalfe, his first touch is one of the best of the Aussies & he definitely adds balance to the attack.
 
JS96 said:
Certainly in rugby league documentaries the series from the 50s to 80s at least. The issue was always the number of tests they played against England on a tour. Mixed I think. You look back at the golden era on tours and it was massive back then. I think England actually dominated the 60s or 70s the Australia came back.
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England dominated in the fifties but in 1963 the Kangaroos toured the UK and really towelled them up.Since then Australia has won about 70% of their games against the Poms.
 
I thought Metcalfe had his best game I have seen him play for the Socceroos.A left sided combination of Bos and Metcalfe looks very good.Miller and Irankunda on the right side has a similar feel.Where does this leave players such as Goodwin,Boyle,Tilio,Hrustic,Velupillay and dare I say it Arzani?
 
JS96 said:
Certainly in rugby league documentaries the series from the 50s to 80s at least. The issue was always the number of tests they played against England on a tour. Mixed I think. You look back at the golden era on tours and it was massive back then. I think England actually dominated the 60s or 70s the Australia came back.
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* Great Britain * they did have Welsh and Scottish players as well.
 
JS96 said:
Certainly in rugby league documentaries the series from the 50s to 80s at least. The issue was always the number of tests they played against England on a tour. Mixed I think. You look back at the golden era on tours and it was massive back then. I think England actually dominated the 60s or 70s the Australia came back.
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and here in lies the acceptance and relationship of The Ashs - between English and Australia - cricket obviously huge And yes Rugby League had Series's for a long time back when Internationals were very popular, I saw it stopped in 2003, there is a revival of it led to believe - again makes complete sense Oz vs England.
Hence I just can't relate this with the Kiwi's and seems I'm not alone in this debate.
Union as we know very well has the Bledisloe Cup going since the '30's - that makes sense when you check the history.

I get its about cigars ash's from a game way way back and found but yer doesn't compute.

Tasman Cup has been used in a variety of sports ie golf motor racing Oz vs NZ.
Another consideration could be The ANZAC Cup ?

Anyway just adding to topic it is what it is now.
 
booney52 said:
I thought Metcalfe had his best game I have seen him play for the Socceroos.A left sided combination of Bos and Metcalfe looks very good.Miller and Irankunda on the right side has a similar feel.Where does this leave players such as Goodwin,Boyle,Tilio,Hrustic,Velupillay and dare I say it Arzani?
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I'll have a crack out that based on my opinion.

Depth: Goodwin, Boyle
Out: Velupillay, Tilio, Hrustic, Arzani

You could swap Boyle for Velupillay or Milanovic easy enough too.

It means we should actually have an ability to bring on dangerous subs, or shock horror, make a formation/tactical change if needed.

It's a good problem. Club form and injuries into the world cup will be massive shaping the final squad.
 
Quicky said:
I'll have a crack out that based on my opinion.

Depth: Goodwin, Boyle
Out: Velupillay, Tilio, Hrustic, Arzani

You could swap Boyle for Velupillay or Milanovic easy enough too.

It means we should actually have an ability to bring on dangerous subs, or shock horror, make a formation/tactical change if needed.

It's a good problem. Club form and injuries into the world cup will be massive shaping the final squad.
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Agree with your post.Certainly Goodwin and Boyle in for their experience( though not the latter as lone striker).Milanovic if he has a good season in the SPL showed enough that he will be a handy squad member.If Silvera can get many minutes with Boro he could also do his chances no harm.
 
booney52 said:
Agree with your post.Certainly Goodwin and Boyle in for their experience( though not the latter as lone striker).Milanovic if he has a good season in the SPL showed enough that he will be a handy squad member.If Silvera can get many minutes with Boro he could also do his chances no harm.
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Interesting to see people's thoughts on Milanovic. I would expect he would need to have a huge year to go past Boyle. Will see I suppose.

Last season Boyle played played 44 matches for 20 goals and 10 assists. Probably his best ever season? Would be close. So far 10 matches, 4 goals, 1 assist. Milanovic is now playing in the same league, 6 appearances, 1 assist. Early days of course.
 
Sadly I just don't see how Boyle fits into Popa's system. So far he has looked fairly all at sea. He obviously is never a lone striker but Popa seems to be anti-wingers and prefers to pick midfielders as his 'inside forwards' eg Metcalfe & Hrustic in game one.

For me I think we could play almost exactly the same way and just move one of those CBs into midfield. How often one of the back five didn't have any passing options in front of them was borderline embarrassing. For as much as Metcalfe grew into the game the other night he's never been a forward in his life and he would be far more suited more central. But what do I know!?
 
LFC said:
and here in lies the acceptance and relationship of The Ashs - between English and Australia - cricket obviously huge And yes Rugby League had Series's for a long time back when Internationals were very popular, I saw it stopped in 2003, there is a revival of it led to believe - again makes complete sense Oz vs England.
Hence I just can't relate this with the Kiwi's and seems I'm not alone in this debate.
Union as we know very well has the Bledisloe Cup going since the '30's - that makes sense when you check the history.

I get its about cigars ash's from a game way way back and found but yer doesn't compute.

Tasman Cup has been used in a variety of sports ie golf motor racing Oz vs NZ.
Another consideration could be The ANZAC Cup ?

Anyway just adding to topic it is what it is now.
Click to expand...

TBH I don't mind it - but it doesn't need to be mentioned in commentary every 5 minutes. They don't mention it as often in the cricket.
 
booney52 said:
England dominated in the fifties but in 1963 the Kangaroos toured the UK and really towelled them up.Since then Australia has won about 70% of their games against the Poms.
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Yeah, I saw the wiki that Great Britain had a golden 50s. I'd have to loo at the familiar names for Australia in that decade and then we know the big St George side and other legends came along.
 
On my mainstream media hobby horse.

The ABC TV didn't even cover the first game in Aus.

Then in Auckland they gave a few secs at the end of the bulletin, not even showing Iran's superb goal!

ATM I've heard almost as much about England winning 5-0 against somebody, as Aus playing NZ.

And of course endless coverage about Ange and Notts Forest.

Maybe a podcast would be good getting Michael Lynch on, and others, and discuss why mainstream football media has declined in Aus?
 
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