Match stats/analysis for recent Socceroo games

[Decentric]

South Australian bias!

I'm not a South Aussie, but I've been impressed by Izzo's shot stopping.

 

[Decentric]

Djita and Owens basically say yes to any suggestion on the air to sound positive. The Paramount group think is insufferable. We need a Bozza rant.

I respectfully disagree, JS.

I think Paramount /Ten have really nailed their pundits.

Former pro footballers/coaches Brosque, McBreen, Milligan, Archie, Paartaluu, Phil Moss, Grace Gill, plus sideline reporters Scotty Macca, Oar and Jacob Burns, have been good. Harper is good, but needs to update his contemporary football knowledge.

 

[Decentric]

Beach looked to have good disposals off the ground tonight. Maybe he is a consideration for the second or third Keeper role.

It was impressive!

 

[Decentric]

These stupid short goal kicks across the 6 yard box do my head in. It'll eventually go back then long.

They are probing for an outlet.

 

[LFC]

D
You not reading my comments clearly re GK sweeping.
I actually never quoted any our other options.
I’m all for Ryan staying start up I’m fine with that I just dont see him ooozing confidence good body language with his own sweeping.
That’s my pov.

 

[Keeper66]

Excellent post, PJ.

The other keepers with superior sweeping skills to Ryan, endorsed by LFC and Keeper66, are not available for Aus selection.

As I accrue stats, I sometimes like to support posters who have called for selection of new players who haven't been selected, who have performed well when they haven't been selected.

However, I don't think we have any other Aus goalies who are good shot stoppers, who are anywhere near as good as sweepers as Ryan is.

For some of our older players, there are some genuine naysayers. They undervalue experience. Having said that, I welcome different opinions. I'm quite excited about new players Balard, Irankunda, Mo Toure ( we now have two brothers in the Roo team), Italiano, Yazbek, and of course Bos and Circati, have really stepped up.

Also, Izzo has made some siuperb saves!

Another stat which I haven't compiled is Iran has just been recorded at 36.7kph as the fastest payer over the turf in the English Championship! Wonder how Iran compares in pace to Bos?

Leckie and Kruse were both our previous fastest at 35 point something speed, but they never hit 36 plus!.

Just so you are clear about this Decentric, I didn’t “endorse” other goalkeepers. I was using them as comparison points in evaluating the skills of Mat Ryan, and hopefully you noticed that I compared Izzo’s skill set in there as well.
And to further clarify, at no point over the past 10 plus years have I ever said that Ryan should not be the first choice keeper. He has been clearly our best choice since he came into the team. I have critiqued him on occasion where I thought he has deficiencies, and this is compared to other top goalkeepers, not exclusively Australians.

 

[Keeper66]

They are probing for an outlet.

They are asking for trouble.

 

[Decentric]

D
You not reading my comments clearly re GK sweeping.
I actually never quoted any our other options.
I’m all for Ryan staying start up I’m fine with that I just do see him ooozing confidence good body language with his own sweeping.
That’s my pov.

I thought you suggested 3 world class keepers as having superior sweeping skills to Ryan?

Or was it Keeper 66?

You, or K, made valid points.

 

[Decentric]

They are asking for trouble.

Some of the gegenpressing from opposition teams has been really good, but Aus is improving at playing out.

The younger players selected are displaying this.

I think Aus needs to mix it up.

 

[Decentric]

Just so you are clear about this Decentric, I didn’t “endorse” other goalkeepers. I was using them as comparison points in evaluating the skills of Mat Ryan, and hopefully you noticed that I compared Izzo’s skill set in there as well.
And to further clarify, at no point over the past 10 plus years have I ever said that Ryan should not be the first choice keeper. He has been clearly our best choice since he came into the team. I have critiqued him on occasion where I thought he has deficiencies, and this is compared to other top goalkeepers, not exclusively Australians.

If you haven't criticised Ryan much, I've probably lumped your views in with many other opinions.

There are many Ryan detractors on G and G and formerly 442.

I'm gobsmacked!

 

[piedi sporchi]

At the same time as new players have done well in the data collated, so have players like O'Neill, who has been unpopular with G and G posters.

So has Metcalfe. Another unpopular player on these boards. A lot of the stuff he does well - having good vision, game sense, stamina in tracking back to keep the team shape compact in defence, first touch under pressure, ball winning, causing turnovers - goes unnoticed.

really enjoyed your analysis re metcalfe and o'neill. my inexpert eye has often barely registered them, would you have said similar about Brett holman? cheers

 

[Decentric]

really enjoyed your analysis re metcalfe and o'neill. my inexpert eye has often barely registered them, would you have said similar about Brett holman? cheers

I used to rave about Brett Holman doing lots of excellent work that was difficult to observe - before he started scoring regular Socceroo goals!

The poor bloke knew he was the most hated footballer in Aus! Once he started scoring Socceroo goals, fans started liking him.

 

[grazorblade]

I respectfully disagree, JS.

I think Paramount /Ten have really nailed their pundits.

Former pro footballers/coaches Brosque, McBreen, Milligan, Archie, Paartaluu, Phil Moss, Grace Gill, plus sideline reporters Scotty Macca, Oar and Jacob Burns, have been good. Harper is good, but needs to update his football knowledge.

I would like someone with more passion, Foster/robbie slater/Bozza got excitable in the comm box. Even if I disagree with them, you need that balance between heart and head. It's a bit too calm and chill at the moment imo

 

[Decentric]

I would like someone with more passion, Foster/robbie slater/Bozza got excitable in the comm box. Even if I disagree with them, you need that balance between heart and head. It's a bit too calm and chill at the moment imo

Too many big egos in that era.

They all said some really stupid thing at times that would have go them sacked elsewhere in bigger football nations with more mature media, although it might be rated as good, sensational TV.

At least Fozzie updated his coach education. The others needed to.

Much prefer the more current erudite discussion on Ten. The pundits have all come through a more contemporary epoch in coaching and playing.

 

[grazorblade]

Too many big egos in that era.

They all said some really stupid thing at times that would have go them sacked elsewhere in bigger football nations with more mature media, although it might be rated as good, sensational TV.

At least Fozzie updated his coach education. The others needed to.

Much prefer the more current erudite discussion on Ten. The pundits have all come through a more contemporary epoch in coaching and playing.

you do need the ego to get that passion and excitablity. Football does run on passion and without passion its a dry product. You might get more dumb opinions, but its worth it to be honest

 

[Decentric]

Now after procrastinating lately, I've counted up some cold hard data and started calculations.

Canada versus Aus had 147 unique 1v1s - this is a really high figure for international football and more like the AL of 2009 -2010.

Or in international terms more like the Socceroos playing Uruguay - the hard men of South American football in 2005.

This means the ball was in the Transitions a lot - Defensive and Attacking. Also, known colloquially as the Contested Ball Phase. This is when the ball isn't in clear possession by either team.

There were 136 duels that had a clear outcome. 11 unique 1v1s had no clear winner. Of those 136 unique 1v1 duels, Australia won 85, Canada won 51.

Australia's winning percentage was 63%. Canada's was only 37%. This is a an approx ratio of 3:2 or 6:4 to Aus.

So no wonder Canada were so stroppy. They lost the physical battle by some margin. I'm up to about 70 odd mins, so a few players have been subbed off. They have final figures.

Italiano - I felt like he had a good game against Canada. However, his 1v1 ledger was 0 or neutral from 10 duels contested. He won 5 and lost 5. He was subbed off after 56 mins.

Full backs have the difficulty compared to CBs and DMs of having to try and negate wingers from running at them with the ball at their feet in wide areas, then crossing. Someone has to be culpable for failing to stop opposition wingers from crossing into the pen box.

Italiano
2 heading duels contested - won 1, lost 1.
1 tackling duel contested - won 1.
4 body on body/strength duels contested - won 3, lost 1.
3 times he was dribbled around, most likely conceding crosses.

Italiano made 1 intercept.

My feelings from watching Italiano play compared to Miller, is he is more nimble on his feet and harder to dribble around whilst jockeying, showing and delaying. However, he has been dribbled around 3 times against Canada.

I also thought Miller is a more robust ball winner, but Italiano contested 7 of those duels - tackling , heading and strength - and won 5. So against Canada the 1v1 results don't support my impressions on Italiano.

Rowles also came off at 56 mins.

He has a plus 6 ledger in 1v1 duels. Quite a few have condemned his performance against both the Kiwis and Canada as Left Wing Back - or- have said he is on the downward slide.

He was dominant against the Kiwis at left Wing Back with a 1v1 ledger of something like plus 14! A record!

Moving a rugged ball winning CB to Wing Back one would expect a real strength of a CB, is heading, strength in body on body duels, and tackling.

Rowles' direct opponent against Canada was some Spanish star winger from La Liga - but he was easily beaten in 1v1s by Rowles. One would expect an ace winger would dribble around Rowles a lot and cross into the box. He only did it on 1 occasion.

Of Rowles 1v1s break up
4 heading contested - he won all 4.
2 tackling duels contested - he won 2.
3 strength /body on body duels contested - he won 2 and 1 had no outcome.
1 speed duels contested - he lost 1.
1 occasion he was dribbled around.

A plus 6 ledger in 1v1s is really good. It probably contributed to Canada's frustration.

Rowles
Had 1 poor first touch, losing the ball.
Made 1 clearance.

Rowles major contribution was defensive. Didn't accrue passing stats, but he looked steady on the ball. He, in particular, was closed down quickly by Canadians when on the ball. He often had little time and space on the ball.

 

[Decentric]

Balard came off at 56 mins too against Canada.

Against a rugged physical opponent, Balard did really well.

He contested 8 unique 1v1 duels and won 7, losing 1. A ledger of plus 6. This is excellent!

They were:
1 headed duel contested - he won it.
1 tackle contested - he won it.
4 strength/body on body duels - he won all 4.
2 speed duels - he won 1 and lost 1.

Balard had 1 poor first touch, coughing up a ball.
Made 2 clearances.
Made 1 intercept form good reading of play.
Made 1 block.

He looked okay on the ball too.

 

[Decentric]

At 73 mins Duke replaced Toure against Canada.

Usually forwards are in the worst position to gain a plus ledger in 1v1 duels.

They often have unfavourable body shape, unless they are taller than the opposition marking CBs.
The CBs are usually the best ball winners in the opposition team.

Toure contested 14 unique 1v1 duels. 1 had no outcome. The other 13 did. He won 9 out of those unique 13 duels.This is pretty astonishing for a central striker!

The Canadian central striker also caused a constant physical threat against the Aussie CBs, as did the Kiwi central striker. Was it Wood?

Toure's breakdown.
He contested 7 heading duels - winning 5 and losing 2.
He contested 1 tackling duel - losing it.
He contested 3 strength/body on body duels - winning all 3.
He dribbled around a Canadian - on 1 occasion.
He contested 1 speed duel - and lost it.

So with Rowles, in a vulnerable position against a Canadian star player, Balard and Toure, the latter in a position which is usually dominated by CBs, Australia easily had the ascendancy over Canada in 1v1s, because CBs and DMs usually win their 1v1 duels.

Toure also had 1 very good first touch.
He caused 1 turnover.

So even if Toure isn't scoring goals, he is quite a physical presence and menace around the opposition defence.

 

[Decentric]

I would like someone with more passion, Foster/robbie slater/Bozza got excitable in the comm box. Even if I disagree with them, you need that balance between heart and head. It's a bit too calm and chill at the moment imo

I like Slater the most. Love to have a beer with him!

My favourite phrase from Bulldog when shooting for goal, ‘He gave it some violence’.

Ha ha!

 

[Cunningstunt]

I would like someone with more passion, Foster/robbie slater/Bozza got excitable in the comm box. Even if I disagree with them, you need that balance between heart and head. It's a bit too calm and chill at the moment imo

The producers at Fox used to put Zelic on games they considered boring because he was a nutcase. I don't know if he ever realised it.