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2026 World Cup Squad

Mr Cleansheets said:
The squad is absolutely crying out for the likes of Balard and Nisbet - players who can hold the ball and pass out of midfield.

Just imagine if we had those two instead of O'Neill and Okon...
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Balard did nothing wrong when on the pitch. Popovic is just so foolish. We also wasted time in Teague. It's undeniable he has a chip on his shoulder after losing to the Mariners.
 
JS96 said:
Balard did nothing wrong when on the pitch. Popovic is just so foolish. We also wasted time in Teague. It's undeniable he has a chip on his shoulder after losing to the Mariners.
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That's genuinely how it feels although I find it hard to believe that a NT coach who gets judged on results would hold grudges against players just for being better than his players in a different context.

It's not a grudge, it's just stupidity. Especially re Balard who has already done a job for him.
 
jimshady said:
I don’t agree with a lot of Popa decisions, nor do I like the mariners, so I get why he’d be like that…. But nah not buying this conspiracy.
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It's not a conspiracy, as I just said... it's stupidity and poor judgment. Balard and Nisbet both deserve a place in the squad and the midfield shortcomings could not have been plainer in the last two matches.
 
JS96 said:
Balard did nothing wrong when on the pitch. Popovic is just so foolish. We also wasted time in Teague. It's undeniable he has a chip on his shoulder after losing to the Mariners.
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I think that's a big myth and very inaccurate and unfair. His favourite players in qualifying were Miller and O'Neill who were both Mariners.
 
Quicky said:
I think that's a big myth and very inaccurate and unfair. His favourite players in qualifying were Miller and O'Neill who were both Mariners.
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They were long gone from the Mariners when CCM won the GF vs Victory in 2024.

It's the best players from that treble winning CCM side that have been (largely) ignored by Popa - mind you, as I said, it's not a grudge or conspiracy... it's poor judgment.

Balard, Nisbet and Robertson are much better than some in the current squad. And their absence in midfield is clearly costing us.

As for Triantis and Segecic... FFS
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
My point is that midfield is very obviously our weakness right now.

Just imagine if we had Balard, Nisbet, Triantis, Segecic, and Robertson fairly vying for places in the squad?

O'Neill and Okon would be nowhere near it (and neither would one or two others).

Midfield would be a strength.
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Midfield would still be a pretty big weakness tbh

Of those 4 only triantis would compete for a starting spot
 
Quicky said:
I think that's a big myth and very inaccurate and unfair. His favourite players in qualifying were Miller and O'Neill who were both Mariners.
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A fair point but not during his tenure. O'Neill was so briefly at the Mariners that I forget.

We'll never know but I'd like to see the coach's analysis or data that says those midfielders should be ahead. What is it based on?
 
grazorblade said:
Midfield would still be a pretty big weakness tbh

Of those 4 only triantis would compete for a starting spot
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I'd like to think Balard would be capable of starting. To think Caceres got a ME away qualifier and Balard only got NZ.

O'Neill came in when there was something of a vacuum after Mooy and then he got complacent. We need to bench people to get them motivated. Irvine made a decent proportional contribution yesterday. Fresh mind against a tiring team is better for him.
 
Italiano really doesn't fill me with confidence. I think our opponents will view him as a weak link to be exploited. My ideal first 11 from this squad would be:

Ryan
Circati Souttar Burgess
RWB Metcalfe
LWB Bos
Devlin Irvine
Volpato Toure Irankunda

I also reckon we need to control our temperament a little. Things have kicked off at some point against US, Mexico and Switzerland (and Colombia from memory). As Mr Pink says "we're supposed to be fucking professionals".
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Not sure if serious.

Okon and O'Neill ahead of Robertson, Segecic, Balard and Nisbet?

We're watching different games.

And so is Popa.
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Segecic cant play cm in a 353, he is a forward. Balard is weaker than any of those players, nisbet playing that deep in this system would be too big a risk and has spent 2 years playing at a low level. Robertsons ommission was a surprise, at least as a change up he brings something different
 
grazorblade said:
Segecic cant play cm in a 353, he is a forward. Balard is weaker than any of those players, nisbet playing that deep in this system would be too big a risk and has spent 2 years playing at a low level. Robertsons ommission was a surprise, at least as a change up he brings something different
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Balard never put a foot wrong in the few games he's had. His omission is a major mystery for me.
 
grazorblade said:
Ill have to rewatch his games against canada and usa but from memory i think he struggled with the physical level of the opponent.
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Didn't he score the winner in his debut?

Very solid tackler and forward passer in all his NT games.

Has been occasional captain of NAC albeit in a relegation season - but relegated sides frequently have players too good to go down with the rest of the ship.
 
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