I apologise if that is what you perceived, Q? Appreciate reading the passionate comments from you and everybody else in this thread, and others, even if I perceive you are collectively, overly harsh on Popa's tenure. It is simply a question of opinions. We should embrace diversity, but there isn't much Popa love in this thread.
It's not perception. It's how you chose to articulate yourself. You basically said anyone who doesn't support Popovic doesn't know football. It's a pretty off-putting comment. You'll have had a lot of people off-side before you've even started making your point.
Strong opinions are proffered, often with many agreeing in unison on G and G. It can be interpreted as group think. It is good that posters are so passionate about the Roos.
I don't think it's group think. I think there's a wide array of opinions here. I think most would acknowledge Popovic did well qualifying us, has us defensively sound, but want us to be better offensively.
Even more so there have been some incredible opinions proffered with some pundits in the media, even with some former Socceroos. Also, some of the sage comments in the media, are then taken out of context by crap media, exemplified in Milligan and Oar's comprehensive views not being reported after what they identified as the Roos' strengths.
Oar and Milligan are smart football brains I agree. I think there's a lot to take from their comments, which weren't all rosy.
Harry Kewell, as a former great player, does not equate to being a great coach and analyst. To the best of my knowledge, HK has struggled to hold down any coaching job for a sustained period, and was even sacked from English Lower League positions. Also, to the best of my knowledge, Kewell has done a lot of his coach education in England, which tends to be inferior. Notwithstanding , HK makes some valid points. I wish Harry every success in the V League.
A bit of a tangent.
As to what should change.
I' m plagiarising Petar Petrov, a player scout who appeared on G and G Podcast as an esteemed guest some time ago. PP suggested the 5 at the back in our 5-4-1 in Ball Possession Opposition, in the back third of the pitch, needs to be converted into a 3-4-3 more quickly. I'll add, because of my KNVB training, in the Attacking Transition for Aus. This is the 6-10 second phase when a team regains possession. The Roos get into the defensive shape quickly in the Defensive Transitions comparatively, but Petar didn't say that, I did. Good work from Petar, and watching a few Roo replays, I agree.
Yes agree. This covers some of my concerns. I think we are incredibly strong and robust defensively. But we are poor offensively with how Popovic has us set-up.
It's correct we are not quick to transition into our offensive formation. It leaves our forwards isolated and unsupported. There was a good tactical analysis of our play. We were very compact defensively with our spacing 10-15m between lines. By comparison we were 30-35m from midfield to forward. Too isolated to be effective.
At that point we are relying on individual brilliance or an opposition mistake. It isn't a pathway to consistent goals.
I know many will disagree but we are beginning to find players that can be more dangerous in Toure, Irankunda and Volpato. But we failed to support them adequately.
I'll add, we need to improve our goals from pressing, counter-attacks and set pieces. We can do this and retain our defensive solidity imo. But we need to accept a little more risk for pressing and counters. And get far better with our set-pieces. It's inexcusable we aren't better at these.
One final point. We may be a 3-4-3 in ball possession but team selection counts. The 4 in midfield has at times consisted of players not suited to that formation because they're defenders. Or midfilders in the front 3 who aren't that dangerous. 3-4-3 sounds dangerous until you have Miller or Rowles in midfield (going back to qualifying here) or Hrustic in the front 3, or Irankunda or Boyle isolated at 9. We are always defensive first. Better balance is needed.
I'll also plagiarise Tommy Oar. Whilst he lauded the Aus defensive structure, he suggested the team needs to improve the system in midfield and attack when we have the ball, apart from through balls played quickly to Irank and Bos, with opposition high defensive lines in accelerated attacks. Even Volpato, receiving in less space and with balls played to feet, is an outlet.
What Oar said is we don't do enough to score by design. I agree. See points above.
After watching the three top teams, technically, IMO, Spain, Portugal and France, despite Argentina having a lot of success, and England too, the passing lanes opened in confined spaces in midfield the central attacking third, and the ability to 1 and 2 touch pass in little time and space, has been extraordinary.
Spain is the best, but Portugal almost mirrored them. Spain only has 1 effective dribbler though - Yamal on the right. France has heaps of them.
These teams are irrelevant imo. We didn't play anyone that good. We could afford to be braver vs USA, Paraguay and Egypt who are fantastic teams but closer to our level. Again I'm not saying lose our defensive steel but find balance and get better in particular areas of our offence to be a more consistent threat.
Sadly, I don't think Metcalfe, Mabil, Irvine, Behich, Miller, can do this well enough to proceed past the first knockout rounds at a WC. Hrustic can, but is a liability when he doesn't have the ball at his feet.
Agree except I think you under-value Metcalfe. I'll point out Miller wasn't at the World Cup and the others weren't really starters. Behich only because we inexplicably didn't pick a back-up RWB - and Bos was used there. Irvine maybe but we're moving past him I think.
We need the tyros Okon, Robertson, Sicluna, Bozinovski, Italiano, Bos, Irank, Toure to step up from where they currently are and move the ball faster than we currently do in possession, given the quality of opposition at WC knock out phase. I'll go into more detail in the Socceroo stats/analysis thread.
Briefly to try and emulate Spain's 1 touch passing and moving, opens up defences. Their players can often take 1 touch pass under pressure, whilst other teams need to take 2. Spanish, Portuguese and French players' body shape is extraordinary, as is their first touch under pressure. The current Roos are too far behind them ATM to progress into the last 16 and last 8.
I think we need to find better CMs to progress. But I will say we allow out-numbers in midfield which doesn't help them. We chose not to select Robertson or Balard which were mistakes.
You've mentioned before, taken to its logical conclusion, nobody should criticise the Aus coach of the day - in response to comments I've made. A point well made by you, Q. Although you've probably all had a good Popa bash over the last few weeks on here, as I've been busy watching WC replays!
What I said was I haven't seen you meaningfully criticise a current national team coach before.
On this forum, and 442/IS, I feel that both Arnie and Popa have been judged very harshly though. I agree the wheels fell off a bit for Arnie at the last Asian Cup and the first 2 games of the last round of WCQs, but a few months ago there were only about 3-5 posters on this forum who supported Popa as coach. Popa turned Aus's WCQ campaign around.
To his credit, Popa now has a team who turned out against Egypt, where if there had been no injuries, apart from Souttar and O'Neill, the rest would be under the age of 25. Popa has really renewed the team. Surely Popa deserves some love?
I'll speak for myself here. I've acknowleged that Popovic has done an excellent job qualifying us.
He's done an commendable job building our defence and making us robust, disciplined and difficult to beat.
I think he's got a lot of work to do on our offence and has done a poor job of it. See points above. He needs to improve and find balance.
On selecting young players l, yes he's done a good job looking at a lot of players. But he has applied his selection criteria unevenly. He lost Segecic and Triantis through his own mis-management. Although he seems to have adjusted since. It's a frustrating mixed bag there and he deserves credit and criticism.
I think the young players mostly pick themselves tbh although his decision on Okon and Beach were brave and justified.
My biggest concern about Popovic the coach is I think he's bullheaded and won't change his approach. I don't have confidence he can get our offence singing like he has our defence.
I hope I'm proven wrong. There is no excuse not to loosen up a little at the Asian Cup because the competition is not as high.
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I'll ask another question: Do you think we can maintain our strong defence while improving our offence? What do we need to do to improve our offence? Where can Popovic improve or change?
