Match stats/analysis for recent Socceroo games

[ashtongate]

Not sure, i imagine quite young. Its appeared in a few places including here

How a move 'out of nowhere' made Irankunda the player he is today: 'I was pretty upset when they told me'

Nestory Irankunda spoke about his journey from growing up as a defender, his family sacrifices and career goals.

aleagues.com.au

Stanley Matthews apparently played centre back when he was about 11. Didn't prevent him from playing right wing from age 15 to 50. Bodies and mindsets change as we age. Let Nestory play right wing, don't mess him around with hypotheticals. That recent international where Popovic had him playing as a No.10 was disgraceful.

 

[patjennings]

Stanley Matthews apparently played centre back when he was about 11. Didn't prevent him from playing right wing from age 15 to 50. Bodies and mindsets change as we age. Let Nestory play right wing, don't mess him around with hypotheticals. That recent international where Popovic had him playing as a No.10 was disgraceful.

Harry was originally a LB - I saw it on an Optus Sport feature a few years ago

 

[grazorblade]

Stanley Matthews apparently played centre back when he was about 11. Didn't prevent him from playing right wing from age 15 to 50. Bodies and mindsets change as we age. Let Nestory play right wing, don't mess him around with hypotheticals. That recent international where Popovic had him playing as a No.10 was disgraceful.

I wasnt proposing moving him, just saying he has good defensive instincts and playing cb probably helps

 

[Decentric]

Harry was originally a LB - I saw it on an Optus Sport feature a few years ago

Eddie Thompson, Socceroo coach with Scottish origins, played HK at LB to stop England getting him!

 

[Decentric]

Now I’ve had great pleasure evaluating a lot of the newer players, I’m vacillating in completing the entire match stats of the Ashes!

I know Popa’s paramount match plan though. It is keeping the central back three and the DMs with little space between their lines when the other team has the ball.

The wing backs take up a position in between the 2 lines. It is hard to penetrate.

 

[Decentric]

I wasnt proposing moving him, just saying he has good defensive instincts and playing cb probably helps

Good point, Grazor!

 

[jas88]

Nestory reminds me alot of when Doku first got to City. Was eractic and still a bit raw and needed to learn how to use the space available and make runs or a passing lane. He's now one of the best wingers in the world. I honestly believe Nestory can get to his level. Needs the coaching around him to help develop though.

 

[Decentric]

Nestory reminds me alot of when Doku first got to City. Was eractic and still a bit raw and needed to learn how to use the space available and make runs or a passing lane. He's now one of the best wingers in the world. I honestly believe Nestory can get to his level. Needs the coaching around him to help develop though.

Before I compiled the stats on the replays, was worried about his defending.

It is already a lot better than I thought it would be.

His lower Centre of gravity and nimbleness on his feet, both with and without the ball, worried the Kiwi defenders. He is already one of our best at beating players 1v1 in dribbling. His changes of direction are effective.

 

[Decentric]

At half time I have accrued the 1v1 duels for Canada v Socceroos. It was quite difficult and I had to keep looking at some 1v1 duels 3-4 times to determine a victor.

Australia has won 41 unique 1v1 duels and Canada has won 25 at the break. A few have had no outcome, so I haven't put them into the mix.

Of those duels that had a victor Australia won 62% of unique 1v1 duels. I'm not sure if this was why Canada appeared to be overly physical and seemed to start conflict? Were they frustrated they were losing the physical battle they expected to be winning?

Paul01, who is an experienced ref, thought that the ref needed a few fine tweaks, and the game could have been okay and far less niggly. IMO the Canadians seemed to spoil for a fight. It seemed quite different from the Kiwis and Asian teams in recent games.

The only individual I have recorded is in response to Mr Cleansheets claiming Rowles was outclassed by Buchanan, is quite different from G and G's famous author's perception.

Rowles contested 9 unique 1v1 duels that had an outcome. He won 7 and lost 2. This is really dominant.

He struggled in jockeying, showing and delaying, and Buchanan was fast over the turf, and nimble, but Rowles more than held his own in 50/50 tackling, strength duels and heading contests.

What Rowles did was sit tight on Buchanan, so he could not turn and run at him in space. He often tackled Buchanan, as he was receiving, or, sat off if he couldn't close the gap and execute the tackle.

Wingers v full back contests in wide areas, when wingers run at defenders out wide, they have a high probability of beating them and crossing.

Bos is the favoured G and G poster boy for Left Wing Back, because of his spectacular ball carrying and dribbling actions. However, in terms of a converted tough tackling CB, Rowles, playing LWB, in confined spaces most full backs are in for a tough time against CBs, usually the best ball winners in any team.

I think Buchanan plays in the Spanish top division - La Liga? He probably doesn't play against such rugged CBs as Rowles in LL, because CBs often aren't quick enough or mobile enough to play wide.

I saw a past article where Spanish expat players playing in the AL got together and said they struggled to match the physical strength of the domestic Aussies playing in the AL.

Over many games when I've done stats, in the past the USA were one of the toughest teams the Socceroos played in terms of body on body physical strength. I' ve had a family member on a US college soccer scholarship. They did an enormous amount of strength work, based on gridiron weight training.

USA should be physically imposing tomorrow.

 

[Decentric]

I'm at the 69 min mark of Canada v Aus.

I'm at the 10 min mark of Aus v USA.

As I stop Paramount Plus replays every few secs or so to record the stat info, I get about a 4-5 sec period where the screen darkens a bit until it regains full brightness. This makes it difficult. It is hard work.

These two games have been particularly hard going, particularly on the small TV my better half banishes me to whilst she has the premium TV! Ha ha.

Watching the AL this weekend on screen, most teams sit back off the ball in Squeezing. Whereas Indo, Japan, Saudi, Kiwis, Canada and the USA have intensively Squeezed us in their Full Pressing when we had the ball.

So in the AL players have much more time and space on the ball. It is easier for teams to maintain possession than when Socceroos have played all of our last opponents, apart from China.

I stopped recording individual passing stats for the Socceroos.

Why?

Because most Asian teams we played against in the past sat back in a Half Press or Partial Press. Also, known colloquially as a Deep Defensive Block.

Aussie CBs, FBs and DMs had lots of easy, unpressured possession with few opponents closing them down. They had huge numbers of uncontested passing stats. It proved nothing.

Conversely, the Socceroo attacking Mid, Central Striker and Wingers had just the opposite. They were surrounded by multiple opponents, with hardly any time and space on the ball. The Central Strikers hardly touched the ball and nearly every pass was difficult.

Now so many teams frequently have 7-9 outfield players in the Aus half, Gegenpressing, so the Socceroo CBs, FBs and DMs are having to pass with space closed down quickly. They are under constant pressure.

In these recent games a few times there have been some extraordinary passing and moving sequences from Aus - on occasions. They've broken through the Gegenpressing with superb passing and moving sequences, but not often enough.

It has occurred on the right side of Aus. Against USA, it has involved Geria ( already culpable for coughing up possession from one poor first touch), Circati, Italiano ( improved since Aus u23s), O'Neill and Metcalfe. Most of these are a younger gen of Aus players.

Also, I'm blown out with how slick USA are on the ball. I take my hat off to them. Last game I did involving USA was some 14 years ago. They've improved out of sight - technically. The worst thing this team has done against Aus, is make a few unforced errors.

One surprise at the 10 min mark is Aus are up - 8 won, 4 lost in the 1v1 ledger - having ledger of plus 4. I'm expecting USA to win the 1v1s by the end of the game.

From what I've read, both Canada and USA think Aus is an overly aggressive team!

 

[Decentric]

I tend to add things from observations as I go.

I thought Italiano’s selection was a mistake. I’ve got that wrong!

Being shorter than most, he is nimble on his feet compared to the lumbering Miller. He jockeys, delays and shows better, and is harder to dribble around, because he recovers more quickly.

In the Young Socceroos his technical quality at the time was lower than most of his teammates. Of course they are products of a more technically adept generation. Italiano has improved on the ball.

I’ve never been convinced by Karacic, or Strain, after inadvertently looking at him more closely, in order to study Behich from JS’s appraisals.

I think Italiano may be the real deal as a RB or wing back. Of course Miller has more aerial prowess, but he could also play Right CB in a back three.

Circati can be exposed when he goes wide to take on pacy wingers. The Parma man could be more suitable as Central CB in a back three?

 

[Decentric]

The USA could go a long way in big comps.

However, they make a few team mistakes.

1. They consistently pass straight balls from the Full Backs to Wingers. Instead they should pass diagonally into a midfielder, who then passes to a US winger with a diagonal pass.

A winger receiving a diagonal pass has better body shape to play forwards. If they receive a straight ball, wingers have to run onto a through ball, or receive in front of a defender with a body position conducive to playing backwards.

 

[Decentric]

I’ve just rewatched the game catching up to the 10 min mark against USA.

Watching live the US appear to be dominating possession. Australia are sitting back in their Squeezing - most of the time. Conversely, the USA is Squeezing Aus more intensively when we have the ball. This forces Aus to play in less time and space in possession.

Perplexingly, the stats are showing just as much possession, despite Aus having to work harder to keep the ball.

There has been a lot of disquiet amongst many G and G posters with our older players. They will be pleased that a new younger Gen is supplanting the older Roos.

It seems Bos, Circati, Iran and Toure have a superior skill set. Even Metcalfe and Italiano are shaping up similarly.

 

[Decentric]

I have hit the 18 min mark against USA - with a lot of rewinding involved.

Have to mention two scintillating pass and move Aus sequences in left midfield of a calibre rarely seen in senior Socceroos prior. At both 16 and 17 min marks two 7- 8 pass sequences involving Bos, Balard, O’Neill, D’Ag ( who until the last 3 mins was having a shocker), Boyle and Burgess.

The ball movement was just too fast for the USA intensive Squeeze to close down. I’ve seen this occur with younger Aus underage national teams, but against teams nowhere near as good as USA seniors off the ball.

Both sequences ended 1)with D’Ag putting a killer pass to Boyle - who was outmuscled and outpaced. Then 2) Burgess put a speculative ball through for Boyle - with the same result.

I don’t want to be too harsh on Boyle though. He has made timely intercepts, blocks and caused turnovers - hard to see live.

The younger Aus players are pushing the bar up.

 

[socceroosmad]

Harry was originally a LB - I saw it on an Optus Sport feature a few years ago

I remember watching Harry's Socceroos debut in an away friendly v Chile. He was 17 but like Irankunda he was already getting plaudits. Played at left fullback and tore up and down the line all night

 

[Decentric]

I remember watching Harry's Socceroos debut in an away friendly v Chile. He was 17 but like Irankunda he was already getting plaudits. Played at left fullback and tore up and down the line all night

Welcome to the forum, SM.

I can't remember seeing you post before?

 

[grazorblade]

I remember watching Harry's Socceroos debut in an away friendly v Chile. He was 17 but like Irankunda he was already getting plaudits. Played at left fullback and tore up and down the line all night

Wish i could get the replay somewhere!

Apparently jonny warren yelped out that is better than roberto carlos

 

[Decentric]

I'm at the 45 min mark of the Aus v USA game.

Once again, I reiterate how much the US have improved technically from the last time we played them and I recorded stats in about 2010. From the 30 odd min mark to half time they had so many long sequences of passing - up to 20 - 30. This occurred whilst starting at the back and gaining territory, often culminating in a shot at goal. The Aus defensive shape in Ball Possession Opposition often held too. It alternated between 3-4-3, 5-2-3 and 5-4-1. The usual under Popa.

Circati has been tested more than almost any of his previous games to date with the Socceroos. Ditto Geria has also really had his hands full. Christian Pulisic caused big problems for the Aus defence, until he was subbed.

The pleasing thing is that Aus has had 3 superb passing sequences in the first half. Because of the US sometimes gegenpressing, Aus has been good enough to pass and probe at the back, then break the gegenpress quickly, advancing forwards to exploit the space between the many Americans in the Aus defensive half and the US defensive line, or the space behind the defensive line and the US goal.

The newer Socceroos for the most part have faster handling speed. This contributes to faster Aus ball circulation. These aforementioned sequences need to occur more frequently against teams the quality of the US though.

As Aus usually opted for a Half Press. That is, only really worrying about regaining the ball as it crossed into the into the Aus defensive half in BPO, the Americans had more trouble penetrating the space between the Aus defensive and midfield lines. They did it a few times though, one of the instances resulting in Wright's goal.

Each time Aus played the ball through the lines in the build up with these slick passages of play, Boyle was either outmuscled or outpaced on 2 occasions to terminate 2 promising attacking sequences.

The other impressive back to front build up resulted in D'Agostino taking a shocking first touch and Aus lost control of a superb ball into the box.

 

[Decentric]

Once again, Italiano has been a surprise for mine.

In the Young Soccceroos I thought he was very physical, but lacked technique compared to his cohort. I expected little progress from there on. Once again it is so hard to predict long term progress, whether players stagnate or improve.

Italiano appears to have improved.

How?

*He has received with the outside of his foot, taking the ball into space and away from his marker/s. At the same time he has shielded the ball, blocking his opponents.

*Again Italiano is difficult to wrongfoot. He has been up against some very good US dribblers and ball carriers. His jockeying, delaying and showing has been effective, whilst being nimble on his feet.

*He has only had 2 unique 1v1 encounters and won both - 2 tackles.

*Italiano has made 2 superb first touches in the first 45 mins.

*He has made 1 timely intercept from effective reading of play.

*Italiano has also been quite tidy on the ball in limited time and space.

*His handing speed and first touch under pressure have improved.

To be frank I've been unconvinced with Geraint Jones, Strain or Karacic to date as RBs. I think Italiano may be emerging as a decent RB, or Right WB option.

 

[grazorblade]

Once again, Italiano has been a surprise for mine.

In the Young Soccceroos I thought he was very physical, but lacked technique compared to his cohort. I expected little progress from there on. Once again it is so hard to predict long term progress, whether players stagnate or improve.

Italiano appears to have improved.

How?

*He has received with the outside of his foot, taking the ball into space and away from his marker/s. At the same time he has shielded the ball, blocking his opponents.

*Again Italiano is difficult to wrongfoot. He has been up against some very good US dribblers and ball carriers. His jockeying, delaying and showing has been effective, whilst being nimble on his feet.

*He has only had 2 unique 1v1 encounters and won both - 2 tackles.

*Italiano has made 2 superb first touches in the first 45 mins.

*He has made 1 timely intercept from effective reading of play.

*Italiano has also been quite tidy on the ball in limited time and space.

*His handing speed and first touch under pressure have improved.

To be frank I've been unconvinced with Geraint Jones, Strain or Karacic to date as RBs. I think Italiano may be emerging as a decent RB, or Right WB option.

his stats in austria have improved by a big margin in the last 12 months

he tends to be more attacking, even for a relegation battler, than he is for the NT. Probably will see that side of him soon