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2027 Asian Cup

dr. bellows said:
If Popa goes with the same formation, I'd like to see any one of Raphael, Younis and perhaps Velupillay paired with Italiano for the rwb spot. Gun to my head I might have a slight leaning towards Raphael, depending on club minutes and form. However, if Miller is back playing by the time the AC rolls around, I reckon Popa will go with him as one of the rwb options.
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If fit it'll be Miller and Italiano.

Rodrigues is decent back-up.

Strain has been unlucky.

Adamson a smokey.

I'd love to see Bennie there though.

Next gen to introduce are Kutleshi and Overy.
 
JS96 said:
I wouldn't be taking him anyway. He's a wrestler more than a footballer. Need to advance Overy and RBR. Bennie too.
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I understand where you're coming from as I think that Miller moves more like an Aussie Rules defender than a footballer. However in my opinion in the months before his injury he was showing that he is still improving and still somewhat off his ceiling.

Perfect pick in a squad who can play both centre defence and on the right.
 
DandyCasey said:
Will it actually be interesting tho? Hope Popa has learnt from his WC selection mistake.
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I think it will. It's wide open. Will it be RBR, Bennie, Overy, Strain, Silvera, Metcalfe, Leonard, Geria, Trewin. I'm curious who gets picked. I think it could say a bit about what Popovic has learnt and how he will approach the Asian Cup.
 
Quicky said:
I think it will. It's wide open. Will it be RBR, Bennie, Overy, Strain, Silvera, Metcalfe, Leonard, Geria, Trewin. I'm curious who gets picked. I think it could say a bit about what Popovic has learnt and how he will approach the Asian Cup.
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Would say RBR, Bennie, Overy, Leonard (can he play RB?) and Silvera will need consistent, good form to be looked at again.
 
JS96 said:
I wouldn't be taking him anyway. He's a wrestler more than a footballer. Need to advance Overy and RBR. Bennie too.
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I'd be okay with Miller as one of the 2 RCB options, providing we can find someone in the starting 11 who can provide good set-piece deliveries. Miller would be a threat in the box under those circumstances against Asian opponents. As you say, I'd like to see either Overy, RBR or perhaps Benni - depending on form over the next few months - to be selected along with Italiano as the rwb options. Miller only as an emergency option during the tournament at rwb.
 
Quicky said:
Miller is listed as an October return on Fotmob. Doubt he makes the Asian Cup. It'll be interesting to see who makes it as back-up to Italiano.
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I think now Italiano has overtaken Miller as first choice RWB.

Someone else pointed it out initially, but Italiano's jockeying and delaying of two different superb Turkish left wingers, very good at dribbling, both with blond hair, was outstanding. It was.

Italiano makes better, proactive runs to support ball carriers than Miller too. Although Miller is good to have if there is an overly rugged left side opposition player, bullying us. Miller is an aerial threat too.

Italiano has better technique on the ball.
 
dr. bellows said:
I'd be okay with Miller as one of the 2 RCB options, providing we can find someone in the starting 11 who can provide good set-piece deliveries. Miller would be a threat in the box under those circumstances against Asian opponents. As you say, I'd like to see either Overy, RBR or perhaps Benni - depending on form over the next few months - to be selected along with Italiano as the rwb options. Miller only as an emergency option during the tournament at rwb.
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O'Neill eventually took over set pieces at the WC.

We miss Goodwin's set piece acumen.
 
DandyCasey said:
Would say RBR, Bennie, Overy, Leonard (can he play RB?) and Silvera will need consistent, good form to be looked at again.
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Really liked the look of Silvera a while back for the Roos.

However, a lot of young erpayers have stepped up since.

I think I saw him play a game as a RWB where he struggled a bit for the Roos though.
 
Decentric said:
Really liked the look of Silvera a while back for the Roos.

However, a lot of young erpayers have stepped up since.

I think I saw him play a game as a RWB where he struggled a bit for the Roos though.
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That was because he had Hrustic wasting oxygen in front of him. He was also the direct dribbler type up further that would have worried Ream.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
Such a shame about Strain. He was head and shoulders our best right back and then as soon as he established himself he started getting injured.

I suspect his boat hasn't quite sailed but they're loosening lines and pulling in the gangplank.
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I beg to differ. I might have said it before, but went back over a game where JS96 listed many exact moments that Behich supposedly messed up.

JS96 was right a few times, but in doing so, Strain made a lot of mistakes!

I think Arnie's greatest mistake was overlooking Geria at RB.
 
patjennings said:
That was because he had Hrustic wasting oxygen in front of him.
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Unfortunately, it is likely to be true!

I don' t want to be unkind, but if Popa thought Hrustic was good enough as an attacker to get WC minutes, we probably shouldn't expect to go far! Recently Hrustic's off the ball efforts have improved, but they were worse a few years back.

I wish him well under Harry Kewell in the V league!

If Aus had had McGree instead of Hrustic, we could have been a bit better and could have gone further at the WC.

A lot rave about McGree's technical qualities, but they are nothing special compared to the emerging whizz kids under age 25,

BUT,

he is a superb off the ball in Ball Possession Opposition - our top causer of turnovers, h e makes intercepts, blocks, usually wins 1v1 body on body duels, and tracks back well, supporting his teammates as second and third defender in optimum places, plus he reads the game well. He is also experienced.

Hopefully, McGree is fit for the Asian Cup. He is experienced and good enough to play with the whizz kids. The tyros need leadership on the pitch. Robertson, Irank and Toure, have all shown hotheadedness.

Not sure Behich, Leckie, Irvine, Deg, et al, are quite good enough to play with the emerging Aus whizz kid gen. McGree, O'N and Souttar are.
 
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dr. bellows said:
Elder certainly would help with set-pieces. However, I don't see Elder bombing up and down the left-side in Popa's system. I think he's more of a stand and deliver type. Better suited in Arnie's teams, imo.
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I only got 30 mins to have a close look at Elder against Colombia - when the wheels fell off.

He looked okay and thought he could be close to best back up option for Bos at LWB. Rowles was a good defensive LWB option. Behich got the nod.

The LWBs have to cover a lot of ground in Popa's 5 at the back, 3-4-3.

Arnie didn't select Elder in his back 4 formations either. Not sure why Elder has had arguably harsh treatment from Arnie and Popa?
 
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I feel a bit sorry for Balard and Nisbet. Both have been promising for the Roos, but better young players are emerging with potential higher ceilings. Yazbek, Teague, Valadon and Devlin may be the same as Balard and Nisbet.

Okon Jr, Robertson, Bozinovski have improved fast recently as central mids. Maybe the flashy Sicluna too? Now there is the young SFC midfielder with African roots, who is only 16 too. I have thought Rhys Youlley looks good too.

Ditto Rowles, who has played well for the Roos. Now he has Leonard joining Herrington as another quality central defender in competition for a spot.
 
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