Metcalfe - had a very good game on the ball, with 100% pass conversion rate, in terms of team possession, but broke up few attacks. Not sure if he struggles at DM these days because he is unfamiliar with DM?

Compared to O'Neill who caused 3 turnovers and made 3 intercepts from good reading of play and astute positioning, Metcalfe only made 1 intercept in his 45 mins.

In 1v1s Metcalfe was dribbled around on 1 occasion and won 2 tackles.

O'Neill has been dribbled around on 2 occasions and has lost 1 heading duel, but won 4 tackles later in the half.

Over the entire game, O'Neill executed 33 passes at 92 %, with 1 killer pass. He played 64% of those passes under close marking pressure.

Metcalfe played 83% under close marking pressure in his 12 passes by half time.

The question can be asked, did O'Neill work harder to shake his markers than Metcalfe?

Aus CBs had a much easier time on the ball than the DMs, with a low percentage of passes made under close marking pressure.

Herrington 28%,
Circati 25%,
Rowles 22%,

all had a lot more easy ball.

At half time, Rowles (plus 6) and Circati (plus 4) were the only Aussies with big plus margins in 1v1s.

Statistically, at this stage, Rowles has been the best all round player.

Circati has done very well in nearly everything, but has played some awful straight balls to team-mates under pressure. He also lost a key heading duel that resulted in the Cur goal.

* I caution fans to stop evaluating players in terms of good and bad. There are so many aspects. Some players have had good games on the ball, but poor off it, and the reverse. There is so much grey in evaluating players, as they do some things better than others, even varying from game to game..

* The second one is appraising players passing forwards. Sometimes a player can receive the ball under no marking pressure and play forwards to a teammate in space who has made some excellent runs, shaking a marker.
Other times a player passes backwards, or diagonally backwards under close marking pressure from multiple players, which is far harder to achieve than the easier forwards pass.

I nearly always marvel at the surprises that stats show up when one looks at a game slowly for the second and t third time. I'm paying a lot of attention to players causing turnovers.

I can't believe Hrustic playing as a forward, has caused more turnovers than Metcalfe playing at DM? Usually when Metcalfe plays as a forward, he causes a lot more turnovers than Hrustic, and most others.

Also, for Metcalfe to have achieved 100% passing accuracy, with many passes made in the attacking half is very good, despite having a mediocre game disturbing build ups. O'Neill has been busier as a DM in terms of workrate in possession than Metcalfe, but a lot busier in breaking up attacks.

It appears there are far better choices than Metcalfe as DM, but he is missed as a forward. I'm still astonished that Popa hasn't tried him as Right WB?

I have had access to the Cameroon game and have nearly completed passing stats.

Whereas live I thought they appeared to be a tough opponent, comparatively, Curacao stepped up from 45 min to 60 mins, Cameroon have dropped from 45 mins to 75 mins.

It is like both opponents lost concentration for periods in the game, whereas other recent opponents in Asia and previous recent friendlies have not - or - to the same extent.

Aus hasn’t had many big chances, but have had some big ones against Cam.

Cam in the second half have strung a few unpressured passes together at the back, Aus has closed down passing lanes at the right time, and Cam have played a lot of low percentage long balls in the Aus defensive half that have been intercepted.

Their Full Pressing and intense Squeezing has dropped too.

Another observation is that over a number of games in the Popa 3-4-3, 5-2-3, 5-4-1 Popa system, the 3 CBs are getting a lot of easy ball relative to the rest of the team. Ditto Ryan.

The 2 DMs are getting a lot of ball too, but a much higher percentage where they play under limited time and space.

The Aus wing backs and front 3 receive little ball in comparison, with the front 3, particularly the central striker, often having very little time and space in the attacking half.

Opposition teams are very frustrated trying to break down Popa’s defensive shape, more than Arnie’s.

A further observation backed up by stats and data, is a lot of G and G posters calling for untried young players to replace the incumbents, are turning out to be correct.

I was hesitant, as I hadn’t seen them perform at a higher level.

Based on skill sets, despite lack of experience, I can see barely any outfield Socceroos over the age of 26-27, keeping out the younger Gen under age 25.

Even McGree and Hrustic, good technicians relative to their Socceroo peers in age, have a huge number of younger technical whiz kids already as good or better technicians.

After having a pretty good look at McGree and Juric, although not quite complete, both are forcing heaps of turnovers for Aus.

Both have made timely sprints at both Cameroon ( 30 min mark, all other stats apart from passing) and full match stats for passing against Cameroon, plus Curacao all stats have been completed.

It is quite thankless work, but both are the hardest workers off the ball in the attacking line.

Also, live I thought Cameroon were a real physical handful, but at 30 mins, the Socceroos are up in the 1v1 ledger by plus 11. This surprises me.

McGree keeps winning balls in 1v1s by anticipating them more quickly than his opponents against Cameroon.

Another weird stat is that it seems both Cameroon and Curacao are playing more balls into the Aus pen box, but most are innocuous and easily repelled. They have been speculative.

The balls Aus play into the Curacao and Cameroon pen boxes have had more Socceroos close to the box, rendering them more dangerous, despite being slightly less numerous.

In the Cameroon game, where I've nearly finished 1v1s, balls into box etc, as well as fully completing passing stats, up to about 73 mins, Aus have had 3 shots at goal, including Hrustic's missed pen, and Cameroon have had 4, usually innocuous.

Cameroon are starting to leave gaps, whereas Aus have been more defensively solid.

I've now done the most comprehensive stats I've ever done. I've completed the entire Colombia, Cameroon and Curacao games. ATM the G and G site is loading slowly, so this is a test post before I post a big post with a lot of data.

A G and G member has asked me off forum to compare Okon and Metcalfe in DM/ central midfield.

Central midfielders /DMs for Aus in Colombia, Cameroon and Curacao games.

Colombia 3, Aus 0.
*O'Neill - played 77 mins.
Defensive passes completed 38 at 95% accuracy.
Attacking passes 15 at 88%.
Total passes 53 at 97%.
64% of passes made under intense time and space pressure in 34 out of 53 passes.

1v1s - 13 contests, had a ledger of plus 5, winning 73%.
Intercepts 3.
Caused 2 turnovers.
High skill - 4 occasions
Poor control 0.

*Irvine played 59 mins.
Defensive Passes completed 20 at 100% passing accuracy.
Attacking passes - 8 at 100% passing accuracy.
Total passes, 28 at 100% accuracy.
75% of passes were made under intense time and space pressure in 21 out of 28 passes made.

1v1s - 7 contests, plus 1 ledger, won 60% of duels contested.
Intercepts 2.
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill - 2 actions.
Poor control 0.

*Balard - played 31 mins, plus extra time.
Def passes - 5 at 100% accuracy.
Attack passes - 6 at 75% accuracy.
Total - 11 at 77% accuracy.
Under time and space pressure - 64% in 7 out of 11 completed.

1v1s - 3 contests, minus 2 ledger, lost 100% of duels contested.
Intercepts - 0.
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill 0.
Poor control 0.

*Okon - played 13 mins plus extra time
Def Passes - 8 at 100% accuracy.
Attack passes - 3 at 75% accuracy.
Total - 11 at 92%.
Time and space pressure 5 out of 11 completed at 45%.

1v1s - 1 contest, plus 1 ledger, 100% won.
Intercepts 0.
Caused 1 turnover.
High skill 0.
Poor control 0.

Cameroon 0, Aus 1.

* O'Neill - played 82 mins
Def passes - 21 at 100% passing accuracy.
Attack Passes - 15 at 94% accuracy
Total - 36 at 97% accuracy.
Under time and space pressure - 50% in 18 out of 36 completed.

1v1s - 9 contests, plus 2 ledger, 67% won.
Intercepts 2.
Caused 3 turnovers.
High skill - 6 actions.
Poor control 0.

*Metcalfe - played 64 mins.
Def Passes - 22 at 92%.
Attack passes - 14 at 93%.
Total - 36 at 92%.
Under time and space pressure- 58% 21 out of 36 completed.

1v1s - 7 contested, plus 5 ledger, 86% contests won.
Intercepts 1.
Caused 1 turnover.
High skill - 5 actions.
Poor control 0.

*Okon - played 26 mins plus extra time.
Def Passes - 7 at 100%.
Attack Passes - 8 at 80%.
Total - 15 at 88%.
Under time and space pressure - 7 out of 15 at 47%.

1v1s - 1 contest, plus 1 ledger, 100% contests won.
Intercepts - 0.
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill - 1 action.
Poor control - 0 actions.

*Yazbek - played 8 mins plus extra time.
Def passes - 4 at 100%.
Attacking passes - 1 at 100% accuracy.
Total - 5 at 100% accuracy.
Passes made under time and space pressure - 3 out of 5 at 60%.

Curacao 1, Aus 5.

* O'Neill played 81 mins
Def passes - 25 at 96%.
Attack Passes - 8 at 80%.
Total - 33 at 92%.
Passes made under time and space pressure - 12 out of 33 at 64%.

1v1s - 12 contested, plus 4 ledger, won 67% contested.
Intercepts - 3.
Caused 4 turnovers.
High skill - 3 actions.
Poor control - o actons.

* Metcalfe played 45 mins
Def passes - 9 at 100%.
Attack Passes - 3 at 100%.
Total - 12 at 100%.
Passes made under time and space [ressure - 10 out of 12 at 83%.

1v1s - 3 contests, plus 1 ledger, won 67% contsted.
Intercepts - 0
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill - 2 actions.
Poor control - 0 actions.

* Okon - played 45 mins
Def Passes - 7 at 100%.
Attack passes - 13 at 93%.
Total - 20 at 95%.
Time and space pressure - 11 out of 20 passes at 55%.

1v1s - 6 contested, plus 2 ledger, won 67% contested.
Intercepts 2.
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill - 2 actions.
Poor control 0 actions.

* Robertson played 8 mins.
Def Passes - 7 at 100%.
Attack passes - 4 at 100%.
Total - 11 at 100%.
Time and space pressure - 8 out of 11 passes at 73%.

1v1s - contested 2, 0 or nuetral ledger, won 50% contested.
Intercepts - 0.
Caused 0 turnovers.
High skill - 1 action.
Poor control 0.

I'll add heaps of interpretations.

For the central midfielders even though he was on the pitch more than the others, O'Neill makes more Intercepts from good reading of the play and defensive positioning, than the other Aus DMs.

O'Neill also causes more Turnovers. This can be caused just by being part of a team unit, or, simply pressing a player at the correct time.

Metcalfe had a better game as a DM against Cameroon than Curacao. He was less involved in build ups, and didn't break up attacks, like he did against Cameroon.

One can look at Okon and Metcalfe's data playing equal time in the same position against Curacao.

I was quite surprised how much central midfielders have to play the ball under time and space pressure, compared to Centre Backs?

Whether it helps to have 3 CBs , instead of 2, I'm not sure?

Whether Popa puts great pressure on 2 DMs in his 3-4 -3, 5-4-1, 5-2-3, compared to DMs and an AM in a 4-3-3 I'm not sure? Ive never compiled stats where passes played have a stat of players playing under time and space pressure.

Of course if a DM more actively shakes markers and creates space to play in, a player plays under less pressure.

Roughly speaking even against Colombia, who were far more effective at keeping the ball for sustained periods in the Aus defensive half, than Cam and Cur, they played roughly only 5-7 effective balls into the Aus pen box out of 27-29 played. I was quite surprised?

Curacao and Cameroon also played a lot of speculative balls into the Aus pen box that were easily repelled. Conversely, when Aus played balls into the Cameroon and Curacao pen boxes, they seemed to have more supporting players and had a greater percentage of effective balls that resulted in shots at goal or forcing rushed clearances or corners.

Against Columbia, unless I lost concentration, Aus only played about 7 balls into the Colombian pen box, but 4-5 were effective.

Also, despite what I think resulted in Aus easily wining total 1v1 duels in all 3 games, Colombia were able to win more 1v1 duels, than they lost against our attacking players.

I couldn't believe it, but Rowles had a minus 1 ledger - always a top ball winner at CB, and even in his other games as a Left Wing Back. Against Colombia he had a minus 1 ledger out of 11 duels contested playing at left WB. Of course he more than held his own in heading, tackling and body on body duels, but was dribbled around and beaten for speed by quick, skilful Colombian wingers.

grazorblade said:

Thats a high ratio of attacking to defensive passes from okon!

Click to expand...

Which game?

I must admit looking at the DMs, compared to 2009 - 2012 ish, when I used to do stats, the completed passing stats in the defensive half were much higher from Aus players than 14 years ago. There were so many scores of 100%, or high 90s by the Socceroo DMs in the last 3 games.

One can be more risk averse when passing in the attacking third. Failed passes don't have the same consequences.

It really surprised me against Colombia, who are a very good team, that the Socceroo DMs kept the ball well defensively, despite being starved of the ball at times.

Notwithstanding, Aus is not creating lots of scoring chances.

grazorblade said:

Cam and curacao his ratio of attacking passes to defensive are high

Click to expand...

Okay.

Both Cam (after 50 mins) and Cur (after 60 mins) lost their defensive shape a bit.

They were easier to play through.

JS96 said:

And there it is. Look at all the defensive passing by O'Neill. He's got options forward but doesn't use them.

Good on Okon for going forward. He had the later stages of matches when they open up as a benefit but at least he can look forward.

Trewin sort of survived against Colombia but it felt like a stale and scared performance. I just can't see these guys being the difference in a world cup game compared to Robertson or Herrington. We need the absolute classiest out there.

Click to expand...

Trewin played pretty well, even at Right Wing Back, but was culpable for one of the goals against Colombia.

JS96 said:

And there it is. Look at all the defensive passing by O'Neill. He's got options forward but doesn't use them.

Good on Okon for going forward. He had the later stages of matches when they open up as a benefit but at least he can look forward.

Trewin sort of survived against Colombia but it felt like a stale and scared performance. I just can't see these guys being the difference in a world cup game compared to Robertson or Herrington. We need the absolute classiest out there.

Click to expand...

O’Neill played a lot of balls under pressure against Colombia who condensed space well in midfield. He sees forward passes and makes them at the right moment. I can see why Popa likes him so much.

Plus his breaking up of attacks through making intercepts and causing turnovers. His defensive positioning is good.

He is a dominant 1v1 ball winner too.

I haven’t really looked at his assists and assist chances - or compiled them from all the data - yet.

Okon has played some opportune minutes against Cam and Cur. He also played against Colombia when they were right on top late in the game. He doesn’t make the intercepts and cause turnovers that O’N does, which one would expect early in a career. He did against Cur.

Balard struggled a bit against Colombia, having done well before in previous games.

grazorblade said:

Cam and curacao his ratio of attacking passes to defensive are high

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing it out.

If one looks at the 3 CBs in the Curacao game;
Herrington 28%
Circati 25%
Trewin 22%,

of the passes they completed these low percentile passes made were under time and space pressure. The 3 Roo CBs were able to play 70 - 80% of their passes uncontested. I think Circati played 3 shocking straight balls to teammates under pressure too, which one doesn't expect from him.

The Socceroo DMs/central midfielders in the same game
O'Neill 64%
Metcalfe 83%
Okon 55%
Robertson 73%,

had far less instances where they could receive and play devoid of time and space pressure like the 3 CBs.

Central midfield can be tough to receive and play in Popa's 3-4-3, as opposed to a 4-3-3 defensive midfield triangle.

Okon had more time on the pitch when Curacao dropped deeper in a Half Press and became less organised. He was able to play in less time and space pressure than Metcalfe in the first half, when he replaced him.
To have to play 83% of one's passes under time and space pressure, or 5 out of every 6 passes at 100% accuracy is pretty astonishing for Metcalfe. Was this due to less efficacy shaking markers to create space and open viable passing lanes?

However, compared to the Cameroon game where Metcalfe played DM too, whereas he played Right Wing against Colombia, Metcalfe contested few 1v1s ( unlike O'Neill who contested a lot), and broke up no attacks against Curacao. Okon broke up more attacks by making 2 timely intercepts from reading the play well.

So to sum up, Metcalfe had a far better game at DM on the ball than he did off it against Curacao. Against Cameroon he won many 1v1s out of 7 contested with a plus 5 ledger, and was as busy as O'Neill with less time on the pitch.

In 1v1s against Curacao, Metcalfe contested 3, winning 2 and losing 1, at 67% of duels contested won.
In 1v1s against Curacao, Okon contested 6, winning 4 and losing 2, at 67% of duels contested won.

Okon contested twice as many 1v1 duels as Metcalfe at DM against Curacao.Was this because Metcalfe tended to hold team shape and stay on his feet instead? The only thing is Okon broke up 2 attacks with timely Intercepts. Neither player caused any turnovers, like O'Neill did making 4.

In the Curacao game I awarded 2 actions where Okon displayed consummate skill, whereas Metcalfe achieved 0.
Yet against Cameroon, Metcalfe had 5 instances of consummate skill at DM, whilst O'Neill had 6. Okon had 1 in his 26 mins on the pitch against Cameroon.

Not on 1 occasion in both games against Cameroon and Curacao did O'Neill, Metcalfe and Okon lose the ball due to poor control playing at DM - which is very good.

One problem we have is central striker.

Toure has done quite well both off the ball as a physical presence, and creating shots at goal.

He had 2 shots against Colombia, a tough team. Toure is doing the job, but who is the back up 9?

Juric had 0 shots at goal playing central striker against both Curacao and Cameroon. Unless I missed something?

This is cause for concern. Juric was able to win no heading duels in aerial balls played into the general direction of the pen box and create a headed shot. He won some heading duels outside the pen box though. Juric also demonstrated skill and made the assist for Mabil's goal.

Like Toure, Juric holds the ball up well.

Iran - even with his short stature he has a great leap and can contest heading duels! Even playing at central striker, like Mabil, Iran was able to get into scoring positions.

The goal Mabil scored playing wing against Curacao, was superb. He had a split second from Juric's back heel, reading it well, and scored a tight goal.

As a winger Mabil though causes far less Turnovers than McGree ( the best) Juric, and Toure, in the attacking line. Ditto Metcalfe when he plays in the front 3.

Bos's 2 goals against Cam and Cur were well anticipated, with the Cur defence being stretched and Cameroon making a mistake from relentless pressure late in the game.

Iran's 2 goals, were from superb dribbling and a shot which the keeper fluffed against Curacao, and another well timed run and superb assist, killer pass from Nishan V. Was that a Cur keeper mistake too?

Against weaker teams, Yengi was doing well for the Socceroos. Not sure what has happened in his club career? Whatever, he was scoring and creating a physical presence for the Roos.

Not sure what Duke's scoring ratio is for the AL and ACL? Great worker off the ball, but so is Toure who has greater predatory instincts in the pen box.