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Aussies abroad šŸŒšŸ¦˜

JS96 said:
And we're glad to have those results. However, this is like using some software and not deploying the tools to make things easier.

I think we're pretty vulnerable if things don't work out when O'Neill isn't delivering. Triantis has the better long term prospects as well. We'd kill to see how a Triantis Balard midfield would go. We're just asking to see it. Playing these guys should keep the others motivated.

Different games but if Triantis does start to reach club heights then we'll want to see how best we can get that in a gold shirt too.

You list a good criteria. I ask myself how Popovic has applied that to Miller, Brattan, O'Neill, Boyle, Duke, Taggart while ignoring many other decent, hungry options. I suppose this cohort are mostly more experienced or were already in the set up. Lord knows they're not our best with a ball.
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Disagree about Oā€™Neill.

After having a really good look at him compiling stats he has been very good whenever he played against Indo, China, Japan 2 and Saudi.

Fantastic ball winner and was effective at breaking up attacks. Excellent defensive positioning too.

Apart from Brattan, all other players youā€™ve criticized have played significant roles in Aus qualifying directly.

I am perplexed about Nisbetā€™s dropping though?

Popa has also stated Balard is on the cusp of selection - or - has been unlucky to be dropped.

I like the fact Popa uses a big squad, with plenty of rotation.

Also, when it comes to out and out quality, Popa rushed Circati into the team. This Serie A player is a different calibre.
 
JS96 said:
A bit convenient we had a GG around some of those players.

I want to see a lot of those mids you mentioned. This is where Irvine needs to be on the bench for some of those friendlies coming up. Start some different ones with Teague to see how it works. Tbh we know enough about Teague now. China great while the others less so. I think he's shown all he can that we know he'll be a handy squad member.
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Weā€™ve never, ever had the depth of quality in central midfielders that we have now, JS.

About 10 young players a lot better than Irvine was at the same age. Hopefully, they progress like him until their early 30s.
 
Mr Cleansheets said:
So is Triantis.

He is the Ferrari to Teague's Vee Dub.
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So why is Popa walking Circati into the team, but not Triantis?

In club football Circati plays quality opposition every week, in a position, CB, that the Italian league has high calibre compared to even other UEFA Big Five CBs.

Triantis falls down in some of those 7 selection criteria I suggested. And - others are a bit better overall in those 7 criteria.

Popa has evaluated Triantis playing with and against other Socceroos on the training ground.

Apart from Celtic and Rangers, Triantisā€™ opposition at club level is much lower quality than Circatiā€™s in Italy.
 
JS96 said:
A bit convenient we had a GG around some of those players.

I want to see a lot of those mids you mentioned. This is where Irvine needs to be on the bench for some of those friendlies coming up. Start some different ones with Teague to see how it works. Tbh we know enough about Teague now. China great while the others less so. I think he's shown all he can that we know he'll be a handy squad member.
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a lot of the gg were given minutes in friendlies before they reached any heights i believe?
Kewell u18
Bresc at u21 when still an average player in seri b
Viduka u19 while still in nsl
Aloisi u19 while in seri b

We don't have to wait until someone is a world beater before starting to bring them into the system in case they reach a good height
 
Decentric said:
So why is Popa walking Circati into the team, but not Triantis?

In club football Circati plays quality opposition every week, in a position, CB, that the Italian league has high calibre compared to even other UEFA Big Five CBs.

Triantis falls down in some of those 7 selection criteria I suggested. And - others are a bit better overall in those 7 criteria.

Popa has evaluated Triantis playing with and against other Socceroos on the training ground.

Apart from Celtic and Rangers, Triantisā€™ opposition at club level is much lower quality than Circatiā€™s in Italy.
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What had Teague done though to place him above Triantis, Balard or Nisbet. He has played in the last two ALM Grand Finals. In one Nisbet was the MOM. In the other a winger player as a CM was the MOM.

Teague should be considered as a squaddie at best. We have better players both older than him, his age and younger.
 
Decentric said:
Disagree about Oā€™Neill.

After having a really good look at him compiling stats he has been very good whenever he played against Indo, China, Japan 2 and Saudi.

Fantastic ball winner and was effective at breaking up attacks. Excellent defensive positioning too.

Apart from Brattan, all other players youā€™ve criticized have played significant roles in Aus qualifying directly.

I am perplexed about Nisbetā€™s dropping though?

Popa has also stated Balard is on the cusp of selection - or - has been unlucky to be dropped.

I like the fact Popa uses a big squad, with plenty of rotation.

Also, when it comes to out and out quality, Popa rushed Circati into the team. This Serie A player is a different calibre.
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O'Neill has steadied but why can't we get some games with Balard and Triantis to then compare and maximise our options? The next 4 games are a great chance. If we start Irvine, O'Neill, Teague and Metcalfe all the time I'll be frustrated. I get they're different roles but it's the mixing and matching.
 
patjennings said:
What had Teague done though to place him above Triantis, Balard or Nisbet. He has played in the last two ALM Grand Finals. In one Nisbet was the MOM. In the other a winger player as a CM was the MOM.

Teague should be considered as a squaddie at best. We have better players both older than him, his age and younger.
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Handy type but was embellished by a poor China then looked rough the last window. We've seen pretty much everything he can offer and he is a good quad member but why can't we do it with others like that? On league level and merit he's a gallant third compared to Triantis and Balard who either play at higher leagues or have the arguable better trajectory.
 
grazorblade said:
a lot of the gg were given minutes in friendlies before they reached any heights i believe?
Kewell u18
Bresc at u21 when still an average player in seri b
Viduka u19 while still in nsl
Aloisi u19 while in seri b

We don't have to wait until someone is a world beater before starting to bring them into the system in case they reach a good height
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Bresc with hair :D
 
WhatAmIWatching said:
I tend to think that because Teague had played under Popa at MVC, he gets a jumper.
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I think there is a lot of truth in that since he seems to want to implement a complicated style by international standards, but Teague is pretty good. If he plays regularly belgium at his age thats probably on par with triantis
but their profiles are very different so they wouldn't realy be competing with each other. I suspect Triantis is more competing with Irvine who has a more defensive profile but also chips in with goal contributions. I think he is also competing with Okon jr who would play a similar role

they both should definitely get regular minutes off the bench. If nothing else I think Irvine's injury was partially caused by burnout and we could have rested him more late in games
 
Decentric said:
So why is Popa walking Circati into the team, but not Triantis?

In club football Circati plays quality opposition every week, in a position, CB, that the Italian league has high calibre compared to even other UEFA Big Five CBs.

Triantis falls down in some of those 7 selection criteria I suggested. And - others are a bit better overall in those 7 criteria.

Popa has evaluated Triantis playing with and against other Socceroos on the training ground.

Apart from Celtic and Rangers, Triantisā€™ opposition at club level is much lower quality than Circatiā€™s in Italy.
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But we're not comparing Triantis with Circati. We're comparing him (and Balard) with Teague, Brattan, O'Neill, Metcalfe and Caceres.

I've seen Triantis play in Scotland numerous times. He's the best player in the league (and was one of four nominated as such).

Circati is in a much better league but he is very far from being the best player in Italy.
 
I find it strange that people are criticised for questioning Popovic. Everyone questioned GA who has gotten results in the ALM and the World Cup but Popovic who has in 11 years won 2 Premierships and 1 Australia Cup with what on many occasions were if not the strongest squads at least close to them.

Arnold had 7 years and won 2 Championships, 3 Premierships & FFA Cup. 3 of those years were at CCM where each year he was tipped to finished low in the ladder or in last.

Popovic has the job and has qualified us but he has a long way to go to match Arnold. I hope he does but I'm not an instant convert to him. He needs to develop the squad because most of the squad he picks now and given his setup means that we will struggle at the World Cup.

The good part is that is quality outside the squad and the younger squads.
 
JS96 said:
No promises should be made but Triantis looked dejected after the China game. It was good for Teague to play but the whole merit and form thing is contradictory. Triantis could be mature and professional enough to deal with it but Popovic toying with him and Balard isn't good either.
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Yeah exactly this. Triantis dominating for Hibs & Ballard performing exceptionally well in the Eredivisie and neither one of them gets a debut under Popovic - he only plays his lads. Same can be said for Botic, Milanovic & Segacic not being selected in the squad - but no he goes for Taggart, Borrello & Cecaras.
 
And let's not forget Irankunda.

He is easily our best disruptive player in the front third, so what does Popa do? Play him out of position and then hook him at half time.

I suspect they had words, because there is no other explanation for his non-selection since China.
 
SocceroosFan said:
Yeah exactly this. Triantis dominating for Hibs & Ballard performing exceptionally well in the Eredivisie and neither one of them gets a debut under Popovic - he only plays his lads. Same can be said for Botic, Milanovic & Segacic not being selected in the squad - but no he goes for Taggart, Borrello & Cecaras.
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Totally forgot Caceres. I get others are in front of him but picking him and not using him is a wasted selection. Normally only around 16 of a squad actually play in a window so many are just add ons.
 
JS96 said:
Totally forgot Caceres. I get others are in front of him but picking him and not using him is a wasted selection. Normally only around 16 of a squad actually play in a window so many are just add ons.
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yeah if someone is over 25 they should be there because they are in your best 11+subs. Have more positions for young subs
 
I am taking the last few squads with a grain of salt, as they were basically must win games it was about finding people who can put the defensive effort in. But I also expect he will mix it up significantly for these friendlies we need to see these younger guys given a chance and have a look at what sort of options we have for the WC and how we want to play.
 
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