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Poppa Out

maybe so but your also influenced in the first place how your treated - we could assume oh he wants to play for Croatia but there is always underlying reasons we would never know.
Same applies people banging on about Volpato.
I feel for his situation - judged, criticised is all and good but what do we know how he was treated here originally and his parents.
Having been involved for many many years at Rep levels etc you expect politics but at times its down right crap how your kids are treated and what and how your told, lied to.
I wouldn't be surprised how WSW/SFC treated them way back then and you got to wonder why did Roma sign him up within a few months for 3yrs whereas these donkey clubs by passed him probably with another few kids who got through not as worthy or possibly the TD's didn't like his style.
He's a loss to us at present and likely forever.
 
maybe so but your also influenced in the first place how your treated - we could assume oh he wants to play for Croatia but there is always underlying reasons we would never know.
Same applies people banging on about Volpato.
I feel for his situation - judged, criticised is all and good but what do we know how he was treated here originally and his parents.
Having been involved for many many years at Rep levels etc you expect politics but at times its down right crap how your kids are treated and what and how your told, lied to.
I wouldn't be surprised how WSW/SFC treated them way back then and you got to wonder why did Roma sign him up within a few months for 3yrs whereas these donkey clubs by passed him probably with another few kids who got through not as worthy or possibly the TD's didn't like his style.
He's a loss to us at present and likely forever.
It's a fair point.

Sydney Olympic told a then teenage Tim Cahill that he'd be too small to make it in the professional game, he then heads to England and ends up going on to be the greatest Socceroo of all time.
 
It's simply too late to revert to a back 4 I find. The system just about works. It does suck with what we sacrifice further up but the extra cover has proved immensely effective.

It's also not to say we don't or can't attack. We had a lot of breaks against Canada only to be complacent. More kill is needed.
 
Popovic - Players are called up to their first Socceroos camp for experience, not to get caps

Also Popovic - here you go Italiano, you can start in your first camp even as a late call up
 
It's simply too late to revert to a back 4 I find. The system just about works. It does suck with what we sacrifice further up but the extra cover has proved immensely effective.

It's also not to say we don't or can't attack. We had a lot of breaks against Canada only to be complacent. More kill is needed.
I'd have preferred a back four but it is too late now. The back 5 at least has made us very resilient defensively. I think counter attack and set pieces are good offensive options for us given squad strengths/weaknesses.

I thought early in Popovic's tenure the balance wasn't right, especially up field. We were already so committed to our defence, then we were picking a number 9 whose sole focus seemed to be to press - more defense. Very defensive or deficient centre mids too.

I think we look far more dangerous with Toure and Irankunda in our front 3. I'm comfortable the balance is better, and we're more dangerous.

The next bit for me is a midfielder that can progess the ball forward between the lines. I'm encouraged Robertson has been in the squad, and discouraged that Luongo hasn't. I think that will help, better with both though.

The last bit is having better squad depth and dangerous sub options. I reckon Segecic is a must. If McGree returns from injury we look good. I wish we were looking beyond Duke at 9.
 
Popovic - Players are called up to their first Socceroos camp for experience, not to get caps

Also Popovic - here you go Italiano, you can start in your first camp even as a late call up
This, 100% spot on. Popa logic.
 
I'd have preferred a back four but it is too late now. The back 5 at least has made us very resilient defensively. I think counter attack and set pieces are good offensive options for us given squad strengths/weaknesses.

I thought early in Popovic's tenure the balance wasn't right, especially up field. We were already so committed to our defence, then we were picking a number 9 whose sole focus seemed to be to press - more defense. Very defensive or deficient centre mids too.

I think we look far more dangerous with Toure and Irankunda in our front 3. I'm comfortable the balance is better, and we're more dangerous.

The next bit for me is a midfielder that can progess the ball forward between the lines. I'm encouraged Robertson has been in the squad, and discouraged that Luongo hasn't. I think that will help, better with both though.

The last bit is having better squad depth and dangerous sub options. I reckon Segecic is a must. If McGree returns from injury we look good. I wish we were looking beyond Duke at 9.
Agree with all except the bit about Duke. He shouldn't be a starter and Segecic should be in the squad but I still would have Duke in front of D’Agostino, Arzani and Hrustic and Borello who didn't make it. Find someone to push him off the plane and I'll agree with you.
 
Agree with all except the bit about Duke. He shouldn't be a starter and Segecic should be in the squad but I still would have Duke in front of D’Agostino, Arzani and Hrustic and Borello who didn't make it. Find someone to push him off the plane and I'll agree with you.

I think centre forward is wide open outside Toure, and the depth should be picked on club form.

At the moment I'm thinking along the lines of Sapsford, Stama, Botic.

There are a bunch of others that could put their hand up as club seasons progress.

I'd have Duke in the pack with Daggers. Borrello not there.

Hrustic, Arzani etc. are competing for a different role out wider the way I look at it.
 
I think centre forward is wide open outside Toure, and the depth should be picked on club form.

At the moment I'm thinking along the lines of Sapsford, Stama, Botic.

There are a bunch of others that could put their hand up as club seasons progress.

I'd have Duke in the pack with Daggers. Borrello not there.

Hrustic, Arzani etc. are competing for a different role out wider the way I look at it.
🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮
 
Now Popa has won 8 games and drawn 3 from 11 games in charge.

I’m frustrated watching Aus Squeeze moderately, whilst the opponents Squeeze intensively, which often cedes possession advantage to the likes of Canada.

Yet Popa’s results are the best in history ATM.

Izzo saved Popa’s record with his performance against Canada.
 
Now Popa has won 8 games and drawn 3 from 11 games in charge.

I’m frustrated watching Aus Squeeze moderately, whilst the opponents Squeeze intensively, which often cedes possession advantage to the likes of Canada.

Yet Popa’s results are the best in history ATM.

Izzo saved Popa’s record with his performance against Canada.
The irony being that it’s during WC time when “mainstream 🇦🇺”(the very demographic whose attention the FFA has lusted after for the past 20+ years) actually feigns interest in the game…and they’re gonna get bored asleep in tears watching this dross sh1t be served up by Popa👎🏼
 
Agree with all except the bit about Duke. He shouldn't be a starter and Segecic should be in the squad but I still would have Duke in front of D’Agostino, Arzani and Hrustic and Borello who didn't make it. Find someone to push him off the plane and I'll agree with you.
Agree with your agree. So who are the options for our no.9 at the moment and for the coming World Cup cycle?.(Only 8 months now:): Mo Toure, Kusini Yengi, Mitch Duke, Noah Botic, Nishan Velupillay, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Zac Sapsford, Archie Goodwin, any others?
Players who might be options but I'd rather not have to rely on them: Brandon Borrello, Adam Taggart. We have plenty of attacking players, especially wingers, but most of them would be wasted as striker because it's a different skill set. We're short on true 9s and 10s but we've got 8 months to find them. Hopefully Mo Toure keeps going from strength to strength because his synergy with his good Adelaide mate Nestory Irankunda is magic. And I reckon Segecic will make a great 10. But maybe a true 10 is a luxury Poppa doesn't think we can afford.
 
I wouldn't mind seeing Archie Goodwin get a look. Maybe not playing at the level of others but looks to be a true goal poacher. 13 games in 26 matches last season
 
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