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Poppa Out

I was as happy as anyone with the Turkiye game last week. That was the best i have seen us play under Poppa. But I was not getting to carried away until I seen that performance again. After this US game, I see that Turkiye was an exception not the rule. I'm still in the Poppa out camp and im not happy he is staying on until the Asian Cup. With this team we have chance of winning it, but not with Poppa in charge.
 
riquelmes_laces said:
Who do we go to whose more tactically flexible/balanced?

Kevin Muscat?
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Even as a Vuck, it’s a fuck-no from me.

We need a well-credentialed foreign coach who understands the assignment; may the FFA admin circa 9 years ago forever rot for having turned down Bielsa for the ‘Roos job👎🏼
 
BA81 said:
Even as a Vuck, it’s a fuck-no from me.

We need a well-credentialed foreign coach who understands the assignment; may the FFA admin circa 9 years ago forever rot for having turned down Bielsa for the ‘Roos job👎🏼
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I think Bielsa gets 0 out of 9 points to be honest.

The Bielsa/Postecoglou system doesn’t scale in a knockout competition where the opposition is superior.

In fact the irony is this is the first time where we’ve not had a superpower in our group.

I probably agree it’s hard to find an Aussie coach with the profile and understanding to get the most out of these boys.

If we go European/Sth American it should be someone with the tactical flexibility to understand different situations of game state and respond accordingly as opposed to being so dogmatic towards one singular philosophy.
 
BA81 said:
Even as a Vuck, it’s a fuck-no from me.

We need a well-credentialed foreign coach who understands the assignment; may the FFA admin circa 9 years ago forever rot for having turned down Bielsa for the ‘Roos job👎🏼
Click to expand...
They couldn't afford him. Not to say that they would understand why you get a coach like Bielsa.
 
Roger Schmidt Could be worth a punt. Currently residing in Japan, so he is based within the confederation.

Otherwise Ralph Hasenhüttl.

Thats sort of profile of European coach is what I’d go for if I were on the hunt.
 
This is an AI summary drawing on transfermrket as a reference. It describes Muscats preferred formation and tactical characteristics. This is a system I think would fit our players and Australia's sporting mentality better than our current approach.

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Kevin Muscat has been remarkably consistent tactically across his coaching career. If you had to pick one “Muscat formation”, it would be 4-2-3-1 — but the more important constant is his aggressive positional play, high pressing, wide attacking fullbacks, and quick vertical attacks rather than the formation itself. Transfermarkt lists his overall preferred formation as 4-2-3-1.

Current preference — Shanghai Port (2023–present)​

Primary shape: 4-2-3-1
Secondary variations: 4-3-3 and occasionally 4-1-4-1
Typical Muscat traits:
  • Build from the back but progress quickly
  • Double pivot controlling transitions
  • Fullbacks pushed high and wide
  • Front four rotating aggressively
  • High defensive line and intense counter-press
At Shanghai Port he has largely kept the attacking identity he developed in Japan while adapting to Chinese Super League personnel.

Historical evolution​

PeriodClubMost common shapeTactical identity
2013–2019Melbourne Victory4-2-3-1High possession, wide overloads, aggressive pressing
2020Sint-Truidense V.V.4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3Tried to maintain possession style but with more caution
2021–2023Yokohama F. Marinos4-2-3-1 → fluid 4-3-3Very attacking, inherited and evolved the Ange-style structure
2023–presentShanghai Port F.C.4-2-3-1Vertical attacking football with structured pressing

His tactical influences​

Muscat’s football is strongly associated with ideas from Ange Postecoglou because he worked under him and later succeeded him at both Melbourne Victory and Yokohama. But Muscat generally:

  • keeps more defensive structure
  • uses a clearer double pivot
  • is often more direct in transition
  • values control through positioning over pure risk-taking
One line often associated with his coaching philosophy was effectively: if Plan A isn’t working, execute Plan A better — reflecting his preference to refine a dominant system rather than switch formations frequently.
So in shorthand:

**Muscat football = 4-2-3-1 + high press + attacking fullbacks + vertical possession.**
 
This is the AI summary for Mark Milligan

---------

Mark Milligan is still early in his senior coaching career, so there’s less historical tactical data than for long-established managers. But there is already a fairly clear pattern.


Current preferred formation: 4-1-4-1​


As head coach of Newcastle Jets, Milligan’s listed preferred formation is 4-1-4-1.

Typical structure:


ST<br>
LW CM CM RW<br> DM<br>
LB CB CB RB<br>
GK<br>

What that usually means in practice​

  • Single holding midfielder (No.6) shielding the back four.
  • Two advanced central midfielders pressing and supporting attacks.
  • Wide players starting high to create overloads and transitions.
  • Defensive shape can flatten into 4-5-1 without the ball.
  • In possession it can resemble 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 depending on fullback positioning.

That setup fits Milligan’s own playing background as a defensive midfielder/centre-back and aligns with his comments about wanting a high-energy, attacking identity with strong structure.

Historical tendencies (small sample caveat)​


Because Milligan only moved into senior head coaching recently, there isn’t a long managerial dataset yet.

2025–present — Newcastle Jets​


Primary: 4-1-4-1
 
Quicky said:
This is the AI summary for Mark Milligan

---------

Mark Milligan is still early in his senior coaching career, so there’s less historical tactical data than for long-established managers. But there is already a fairly clear pattern.


Current preferred formation: 4-1-4-1​


As head coach of Newcastle Jets, Milligan’s listed preferred formation is 4-1-4-1.

Typical structure:


ST<br>
LW CM CM RW<br> DM<br>
LB CB CB RB<br>
GK<br>

What that usually means in practice​

  • Single holding midfielder (No.6) shielding the back four.
  • Two advanced central midfielders pressing and supporting attacks.
  • Wide players starting high to create overloads and transitions.
  • Defensive shape can flatten into 4-5-1 without the ball.
  • In possession it can resemble 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 depending on fullback positioning.

That setup fits Milligan’s own playing background as a defensive midfielder/centre-back and aligns with his comments about wanting a high-energy, attacking identity with strong structure.

Historical tendencies (small sample caveat)​


Because Milligan only moved into senior head coaching recently, there isn’t a long managerial dataset yet.

2025–present — Newcastle Jets​


Primary: 4-1-4-1
Click to expand...
How did you generate these?
 
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