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2026 World Cup Squad

Quicky said:
It's depressing but true. I wouldn't even have O'Neill in my squad.
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If Aiden O'Neill were to make the World Cup squad then it should be as a defensive midfielder as opposed to being at central midfield especially after his poor form playing there during the 2024 Asian Cup, and you'd think that Popovic would ideally build on the lessons learnt from previous major tournament cycles going into this one.
 
patjennings said:
it was more aimed at Mono about Puskas. Nisbet of course is not in the same conversation - just pointing out that people can get past the height with some players
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Mate by the time I met Puskas his width was greater than his height... hahahahaha could still ping a ball to the top corner from 40 yards out without taking his hands out of his pockets though :)
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
I think Nisbet would be more likely to get a move and subsequently game time in the Championship compared to Balard assuming that NAC Breda stay up next season but even if he is just getting training and limited minutes it will still be good for his development to be playing at that level.
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I would much rather him play minutes than sit on the bench in the championship. Statwise he has been good for Roda this year, Fotmob thinks their second best player. If anyone has actually watched him play I would be interested in how he has looked. Last year he was rated middle of the pack for a terrible Ross County side (who now sit bottom in SPL2 interestingly).

Is a good player on a mid table Eredivisie 2 team someone a champ team would want to pay a fee for? I'm not convinced. I still expect an Aliga side to come in and pay overs for him to return. Depending on who it is, he may be win another title or may just be a good player. But it seems reasonable to think his career high was the JW medal and back to back titles. This situation was perfect for him, an important player in a strong side.

On the height part, he is short even for those guys mentioned.

All this is to say it always surprises me when people think he would be a difference maker for Aus. Some kind of potential to be unlocked for the national team.
 
Nisbet
1775695151943.png

Jari Vlak from ADO Den Haag
1775695225780.png

Nisbet measure below average for players in midfield (not attacking midfield) for all but possessions and chance creation. There is obviously a huge amount of context with this stuff. No one is actually watching him play to be able to provide that context. But if he were elite for the league, carrying his side up the table, this would be demonstrated much more clearly in the stats.

For example here is Irvine
1775695901028.png
Higher quality of player he is being compared to (see below). Elite in the air, very strong defensively. Maybe surprising strong with his attempts on goal. This broadly reflects the type of player he is but also highlights where he is very good. Remember he plays for a relatively rubbish team struggling to avoid relegation, but still measures extremely highly in areas of strength.


1775695256420.png
For context about what this is measuring.
 
Cunningstunt said:
I would much rather him play minutes than sit on the bench in the championship. Statwise he has been good for Roda this year, Fotmob thinks their second best player. If anyone has actually watched him play I would be interested in how he has looked. Last year he was rated middle of the pack for a terrible Ross County side (who now sit bottom in SPL2 interestingly).

Is a good player on a mid table Eredivisie 2 team someone a champ team would want to pay a fee for? I'm not convinced. I still expect an Aliga side to come in and pay overs for him to return. Depending on who it is, he may be win another title or may just be a good player. But it seems reasonable to think his career high was the JW medal and back to back titles. This situation was perfect for him, an important player in a strong side.

On the height part, he is short even for those guys mentioned.

All this is to say it always surprises me when people think he would be a difference maker for Aus. Some kind of potential to be unlocked for the national team.
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Roda are still in a playoff spot. Third to eighth make the playoffs but Jong PSV are sixth and reserve teams can’t go up (since PSV are already in the Eredivisie) so instead of them the ninth-placed team (Den Bosch currently) will also make it.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Roda are still in a playoff spot. Third to eighth make the playoffs but Jong PSV are sixth and reserve teams can’t go up (since PSV are already in the Eredivisie) so instead of them the ninth-placed team (Den Bosch currently) will also make it.
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The dream would be for him to take them on a play off run and get promoted. I believe they would then have to also beat the 16th placed team as well?
Even if he did this, realistically he needs to get them promoted and then if he plays well at the higher level he will come into contention.
 
We're going to suffer immensely with this midfield. They're just too immobile and happy to pass the ball to the side or back. Popovic is banking on their other qualities to win the midfield battle but if we lose that we're in trouble. Okon is 3rd in line with the same dull, casual play. He's too silly on the ball in risky build up situations.
 
Aiden O'Neill is regularly bagged on this forum but he is playing the role Popa wants him to do which is as a defensive screener for our CBs and for our wing backs when they are high up the field.Barring injury he will definitely be on the plane and I have no issues with his selection.

Nisbet's lack of height certainly won't win many aerial duels but the rest of his game would be suited to the Soceroos.He is difficult to shift off the ball as he actually has good upper body and thigh strength.He works hard in defence and and can put those passes in which strikers love in behind defenders.I am sure Toure and Nestory would love to play with this bloke.
 
booney52 said:
Aiden O'Neill is regularly bagged on this forum but he is playing the role Popa wants him to do which is as a defensive screener for our CBs and for our wing backs when they are high up the field.Barring injury he will definitely be on the plane and I have no issues with his selection.

Nisbet's lack of height certainly won't win many aerial duels but the rest of his game would be suited to the Soceroos.He is difficult to shift off the ball as he actually has good upper body and thigh strength.He works hard in defence and and can put those passes in which strikers love in behind defenders.I am sure Toure and Nestory would love to play with this bloke.
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yer I agree re his body use and ability - least he's mobile as well.
JS96 just mentioned re the midfield being immobile - lets not forget who else will be walking in - Irvine, ok he's a cleaner/sweeper puts in but he ain't no jockey nor great ball distributer 33yrs young :)
 
booney52 said:
Aiden O'Neill is regularly bagged on this forum but he is playing the role Popa wants him to do which is as a defensive screener for our CBs and for our wing backs when they are high up the field.Barring injury he will definitely be on the plane and I have no issues with his selection.

Nisbet's lack of height certainly won't win many aerial duels but the rest of his game would be suited to the Soceroos.He is difficult to shift off the ball as he actually has good upper body and thigh strength.He works hard in defence and and can put those passes in which strikers love in behind defenders.I am sure Toure and Nestory would love to play with this bloke.
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If we play O'Neill he needs a different partner than Irvine. Collectively they don't offer much in terms of progressing the ball.
 
Quicky said:
If we play O'Neill he needs a different partner than Irvine. Collectively they don't offer much in terms of progressing the ball.
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The only benefit they have together is they are able to kill the game for long periods as they can give your team a lot of control like they did in the first half against a very good columbia

Can turn the game into a very cagey one with few chances. Hopefully not our tactic but it is a tactic haha
 
Quicky said:
If we play O'Neill he needs a different partner than Irvine. Collectively they don't offer much in terms of progressing the ball.
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Im a huge believer in this, not specifically O'Neil and Irvine although I agree, more so that some players NEED their "twinsie" to perform better on the pitch... Especially spine players, DMs, CBs, who rely on the instinctive coverage from their mate and seem to go all to water even when playing with a more capable player....
 
grazorblade said:
The only benefit they have together is they are able to kill the game for long periods as they can give your team a lot of control like they did in the first half against a very good columbia

Can turn the game into a very cagey one with few chances. Hopefully not our tactic but it is a tactic haha
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I think it is our tactic.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Im a huge believer in this, not specifically O'Neil and Irvine although I agree, more so that some players NEED their "twinsie" to perform better on the pitch... Especially spine players, DMs, CBs, who rely on the instinctive coverage from their mate and seem to go all to water even when playing with a more capable player....
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Yeah there's nothing quite like chemistry.
 
Congrats to Mitch Duke for announcing his retirement after the 2026 World Cup. Allows for the regeneration needed for the next cycle with the 2027 Asian Cup in January. He has led the line well, and scored a memorable World Cup goal against Tunisia in 2022. Well played lad!!

I suspect that he has been given the nod for June, as he'll need to do some individual work post the A League regular rounds completion (for him) on the 25th April.
 
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