Decentric said:

Have not heard the last Pod, but I'm finishing the Matt Windley and the Jake Entwhistle Podcasts.

There is a lot of material there to discuss - which I will in time.

Reading the last few comments there is a fair bit of groupthink in response to Popa's tenure.

One would think Aus has not qualified for the World Cup.

Popa's Roos have lost 3 games in the last 16 in his tenure, I think - to higher ranked USA, about 16th, and Colombia 13th.

Venezuela was a poor loss, but Popa experimented.

All the guys calling for other coaches to replace Popa, I reckon you have rocks in your heads!

In the Popa tenure Aus have played some decent teams - Indo ( with all the Dutch based players), Saudi twice, Japan A and B, Kiwis twice, Canada, USA, Ven, Colombia, Cameroon and Curacao ( with a lot of Eredivisie players and Dutch dual nationals).

Click to expand...

With all due respect - the problem is two fold.

Popa talks a big game and can put on a decent first XI or even XV - (which he usually brings off the bench) but those other 10 or 11 players offer nothing different. What is the use of having 5 subs when you offer nothing different but more of the same off the bench. We need players that ask different questions - not lesser players asking the same. Now while I think Japan is a great dark horse shot and we did well against them. But when you talk a big game you need more than plan a and plan b done worse.

Secondly - 'this buy the shirt nonsense' - play the best players when they are in form. The manager of the Socceroos is not a personal fiefdom, it is part of a continuum, don't get precious with your ego when the best countries in the world do it.

patjennings said:

With all due respect - the problem is two fold.

Popa talks a big game and can put on a decent first XI or even XV - (which he usually brings off the bench) but those other 10 or 11 players offer nothing different. What is the use of having 5 subs when you offer nothing different but more of the same off the bench. We need players that ask different questions - not lesser players asking the same. Now while I think Japan is a great dark horse shot and we did well against them. But when you talk a big game you need more than plan a and plan b done worse.

Secondly - 'this buy the shirt nonsense' - play the best players when they are in form. The manager of the Socceroos is not a personal fiefdom, it is part of a continuum, don't get precious with your ego when the best countries in the world do it.

Click to expand...

There are a lot of possibly talented at international level players who could step up, PJ. However, they lack experience and are unknown quantities at international level plus early in their careers.

We are so close to a WC, it is very late to keep trying them. Most of us had no idea Herrington could be such an instant hit.

I see no problem with Popa’s ego. Also, Popa’s recent record beating other teams who’ve qualified (Saudi ?), Kiwis, Canada, Curacao, Japan A (drew) and B, isn’t bad at all.

I’m perplexed about Popa selecting Hrustic, but few others.

Would you, and other Popa detractors, agree there have never been so many possibles for Roo selection as the present?

Amongst you collectively, were you ever happy with Arnie, Bert, Ange, Holger or Pim?

Are Aussies developing ‘bash the national team coach’ culture that occurs in England?

Really enjoyed the Matt Windley and Jake Entwhistle Podcasts.

I’m going out, but will raise some points raised by both, and Grazor, later.

Decentric said:

There are a lot of possibly talented at international level players who could step up, PJ. However, they lack experience and are unknown quantities at international level plus early in their careers.

We are so close to a WC, it is very late to keep trying them. Most of us had no idea Herrington could be such an instant hit.

I see no problem with Popa’s ego. Also, Popa’s recent record beating other teams who’ve qualified (Saudi ?), Kiwis, Canada, Curacao, Japan A (drew) and B, isn’t bad at all.

I’m perplexed about Popa selecting Hrustic, but few others.

Would you, and other Popa detractors, agree there have never been so many possibles for Roo selection as the present?

Amongst you collectively, were you ever happy with Arnie, Bert, Ange, Holger or Pim?

Are Aussies developing ‘bash the national team coach’ culture that occurs in England?

Click to expand...

I actually think that Australia with the lack of Football media is not game to ask a real question. The only ones left are gushers like Tara and Popa's team mates. There is little scrutiny now

As to previous managers Arnold's first tenure was a disaster.

And we took a while to get Pim who I thought navigated us through Asia pretty well. The Germany game was a disaster but he was still unlucky not to get to R16

Holger was awful.

Ange I was disappointed with the way he approached thw World Cup- most weren't but we were never going to beat that group by trying to match them. Essentially he treated the world Cup as a warm up for the Asian Cup.

Bert might be a good manager but didn't do his homework on Australia.

Arnie's second tenure was much better.

Popovic qualified us. Yet to do anything and to the way I look at it is likely to keep it that way.

I'm not talking about young guys necessarily but guys that help us become multi modal. He has a good core but it falls away quick. Beating the teams you mentioned won't get you out of our group.

We may scrape out on the quality of the top 15 or 16. But that's it. We have an even group. Our best chance ever to top a group. Picking 10 or 11 to make up numbers and not change the game is a wasted opportunity.

BTW Pim was genuinely nice guy when you got to talk to him. Completely different from the way he ca me across in the media. He was someone the Australian football media did give a hard time to.

[th]
Frank Farina

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[td]
2000 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2001 Confederations Cup – Third place
2002 OFC Nations Cup – Runners-up
2004 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2005 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Guus Hiddink

[/th][td]
Netherlands

[/td]
[td]
2006 World Cup – Round of 16

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[td]
2007 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Rob Baan (caretaker)

[/th][td]
Netherlands

[/td]
[th]
Pim Verbeek

[/th][td]
Netherlands

[/td]
[td]
2010 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Han Berger (caretaker)

[/th][td]
Netherlands

[/td]
[th]
Holger Osieck

[/th][td]
Germany

[/td]
[td]
2011 Asian Cup – Runners-up

[/td]
[th]
Aurelio Vidmar (caretaker)

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[th]
Ange Postecoglou

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[td]
2014 World Cup – Group stage
2015 Asian Cup – Champions
2017 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Bert van Marwijk

[/th][td]
Netherlands

[/td]
[td]
2018 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[td]
2019 Asian Cup – Quarter-final
2022 World Cup – Round of 16
2023 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Tony Popovic

[/th][td]
Australia

[/td]
[td]


[/td]



RHand column is win % ratio.....
++ oh dang can a mod correct the above please ????
From this link

D, Guus is the only coach I recall who had not copped flak/bashings from supporters, pretty obvious why and short term.
Pretty much agree patj on your summary.
Pim I agree once known was a OK guy but he copped it being blunt in some presser's over his tenure that some I agreed with but people hated hearing the truth - he had so much pressure due to the highs of 06 on, I think he managed it pretty good under the circumstances.
Holger typical german - pragmatic terrible personality - managed too long it was sinking.
Funny re Ange, something like his last couple of EPL seasons, won a Trophy ! I couldn't stand his stubborness in the WC playing 3 at the back !
BVM, came in at the death, nothing much to talk about imo but that he should have played Cahill more from memory ????
Popa, imo he has done nothing more than most previous gaffas of ours, qualifying most times has been a massive challenge and I suppose rightly so - our expectations are high and our opponents have lifted more than us - we get through by the skin of our teeth, happy as from a viewing perspective but its frigging nail biting.
In part is it "selections" that adds to the struggle ?
Tactics ?

D
"Would you, and other Popa detractors, agree there have never been so many possibles for Roo selection as the present?"

To me it shows the amount of spots that are not locked in by past players hence the many possibles.
Also not many are dynamo's in the big picture, players that ask questions as patj quoted, lack of X - we got many workers/generic sound players.
What patj quotes re selections make sense.
Quantity does not mean quality - sure we need the balance but thats what we lack.
We will rely on Bos/Irankunda/Toure for the X plain and simple IF and when on together that is unlikely.

LFC said:

​

2000–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007
2008–2010
2010
2010–2013
2013
2013–2017
2018
2018–2024
2024–present

[th]
Frank Farina

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
58

[/td][td]
34

[/td][td]
9

[/td][td]
15

[/td][td]
58.6

[/td]​

[td]
2000 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2001 Confederations Cup – Third place
2002 OFC Nations Cup – Runners-up
2004 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2005 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Guus Hiddink

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
13

[/td][td]
8

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
61.5

[/td]​

[td]
2006 World Cup – Round of 16

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
14

[/td][td]
5

[/td][td]
4

[/td][td]
5

[/td][td]
35.7

[/td]​

[td]
2007 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Rob Baan (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
100.0

[/td]​

[th]
Pim Verbeek

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
33

[/td][td]
18

[/td][td]
9

[/td][td]
6

[/td][td]
54.5

[/td]​

[td]
2010 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Han Berger (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0.0

[/td]​

[th]
Holger Osieck

[/th][td]

Germany

[/td]

[td]
44

[/td][td]
23

[/td][td]
10

[/td][td]
11

[/td][td]
52.3

[/td]​

[td]
2011 Asian Cup – Runners-up

[/td]
[th]
Aurelio Vidmar (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
100.0

[/td]​

[th]
Ange Postecoglou

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
49

[/td][td]
22

[/td][td]
12

[/td][td]
15

[/td][td]
44.9

[/td]​

[td]
2014 World Cup – Group stage
2015 Asian Cup – Champions
2017 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Bert van Marwijk

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
7

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
28.6

[/td]​

[td]
2018 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
72

[/td][td]
41

[/td][td]
13

[/td][td]
18

[/td][td]
56.9

[/td]​

[td]
2019 Asian Cup – Quarter-final
2022 World Cup – Round of 16
2023 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Tony Popovic

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
6

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
50.0

[/td]​

[td]


[/td]



RHand column is win % ratio.....
++ oh dang can a mod correct the above please ????
From this link

List of Australia men's national soccer team head coaches - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

D, Guus is the only coach I recall who had not copped flak/bashings from supporters, pretty obvious why and short term.
Pretty much agree patj on your summary.
Pim I agree once known was a OK guy but he copped it being blunt in some presser's over his tenure that some I agreed with but people hated hearing the truth - he had so much pressure due to the highs of 06 on, I think he managed it pretty good under the circumstances.
Holger typical german - pragmatic terrible personality - managed too long it was sinking.
Funny re Ange, something like his last couple of EPL seasons, won a Trophy ! I couldn't stand his stubborness in the WC playing 3 at the back !
BVM, came in at the death, nothing much to talk about imo but that he should have played Cahill more from memory ????
Popa, imo he has done nothing more than most previous gaffas of ours, qualifying most times has been a massive challenge and I suppose rightly so - our expectations are high and our opponents have lifted more than us - we get through by the skin of our teeth, happy as from a viewing perspective but its frigging nail biting.
In part is it "selections" that adds to the struggle ?
Tactics ?

D
"Would you, and other Popa detractors, agree there have never been so many possibles for Roo selection as the present?"

To me it shows the amount of spots that are not locked in by past players hence the many possibles.
Also not many are dynamo's in the big picture, players that ask questions as patj quoted, lack of X - we got many workers/generic sound players.
What patj quotes re selections make sense.
Quantity does not mean quality - sure we need the balance but thats what we lack.
We will rely on Bos/Irankunda/Toure for the X plain and simple IF and when on together that is unlikely.

Click to expand...

I think I have a clean version of these stats somewhere here - will have to find it

NicCarBel said:

I think I have a clean version of these stats somewhere here - will have to find it

Click to expand...

I thought I did somewhere - but no, was just me sharing the same link you did

Got this link but not sure how valid it is :

Popa does ok at WC he'll be carrying on for the AC Quicky.

LFC said:

Popa does ok at WC he'll be carrying on for the AC Quicky.

Click to expand...

He absolutely will - but let him do it first.

If he plays to the teams strengths and they do well he may even be a shot for the Crystal Palace job.

LFC said:

​

2000–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007
2008–2010
2010
2010–2013
2013
2013–2017
2018
2018–2024
2024–present

[th]
Frank Farina

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
58

[/td][td]
34

[/td][td]
9

[/td][td]
15

[/td][td]
58.6

[/td]​

[td]
2000 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2001 Confederations Cup – Third place
2002 OFC Nations Cup – Runners-up
2004 OFC Nations Cup – Champions
2005 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Guus Hiddink

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
13

[/td][td]
8

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
61.5

[/td]​

[td]
2006 World Cup – Round of 16

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
14

[/td][td]
5

[/td][td]
4

[/td][td]
5

[/td][td]
35.7

[/td]​

[td]
2007 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Rob Baan (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
100.0

[/td]​

[th]
Pim Verbeek

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
33

[/td][td]
18

[/td][td]
9

[/td][td]
6

[/td][td]
54.5

[/td]​

[td]
2010 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Han Berger (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0.0

[/td]​

[th]
Holger Osieck

[/th][td]

Germany

[/td]

[td]
44

[/td][td]
23

[/td][td]
10

[/td][td]
11

[/td][td]
52.3

[/td]​

[td]
2011 Asian Cup – Runners-up

[/td]
[th]
Aurelio Vidmar (caretaker)

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
1

[/td][td]
1

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
100.0

[/td]​

[th]
Ange Postecoglou

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
49

[/td][td]
22

[/td][td]
12

[/td][td]
15

[/td][td]
44.9

[/td]​

[td]
2014 World Cup – Group stage
2015 Asian Cup – Champions
2017 Confederations Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Bert van Marwijk

[/th][td]

Netherlands

[/td]

[td]
7

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
2

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
28.6

[/td]​

[td]
2018 World Cup – Group stage

[/td]
[th]
Graham Arnold

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
72

[/td][td]
41

[/td][td]
13

[/td][td]
18

[/td][td]
56.9

[/td]​

[td]
2019 Asian Cup – Quarter-final
2022 World Cup – Round of 16
2023 Asian Cup – Quarter-final

[/td]
[th]
Tony Popovic

[/th][td]

Australia

[/td]

[td]
6

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
3

[/td][td]
0

[/td][td]
50.0

[/td]​

[td]


[/td]



RHand column is win % ratio.....
++ oh dang can a mod correct the above please ????
From this link

List of Australia men's national soccer team head coaches - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

D, Guus is the only coach I recall who had not copped flak/bashings from supporters, pretty obvious why and short term.
Pretty much agree patj on your summary.
Pim I agree once known was a OK guy but he copped it being blunt in some presser's over his tenure that some I agreed with but people hated hearing the truth - he had so much pressure due to the highs of 06 on, I think he managed it pretty good under the circumstances.
Holger typical german - pragmatic terrible personality - managed too long it was sinking.
Funny re Ange, something like his last couple of EPL seasons, won a Trophy ! I couldn't stand his stubborness in the WC playing 3 at the back !
BVM, came in at the death, nothing much to talk about imo but that he should have played Cahill more from memory ????
Popa, imo he has done nothing more than most previous gaffas of ours, qualifying most times has been a massive challenge and I suppose rightly so - our expectations are high and our opponents have lifted more than us - we get through by the skin of our teeth, happy as from a viewing perspective but its frigging nail biting.
In part is it "selections" that adds to the struggle ?
Tactics ?

D
"Would you, and other Popa detractors, agree there have never been so many possibles for Roo selection as the present?"

To me it shows the amount of spots that are not locked in by past players hence the many possibles.
Also not many are dynamo's in the big picture, players that ask questions as patj quoted, lack of X - we got many workers/generic sound players.
What patj quotes re selections make sense.
Quantity does not mean quality - sure we need the balance but thats what we lack.
We will rely on Bos/Irankunda/Toure for the X plain and simple IF and when on together that is unlikely.

Click to expand...

Incredible, detailed post, LFC!

Fair play to you!

I've got to go out, but credit to G and G FC with all the threads and interesting Podcasts, I can't keep up to them, plus doing the current exhaustive , but very satisfying stat analyses of Socceroo games, and, keep up with current AL games.

I thank Jake E, the scout, in his Podcast with Grazor. Despite critiquing one aspect of Jake negatively in the Socceroo Match Stats/Analysis thread, I have acquired some different interesting angles into analysing new, or augmentative facets, of players.

Oh no is this going to be hard to listen to? Always thought the lack of transfer system is on one of our biggest failures

Why did share that in here? Hahahaha