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Soccer Ashes thread

I’m sure the Pro-Popa fans will be happy but I haven’t seen a team like this that is so under-utilised like this current Roos team.

We made the Kiwis look like prime Barca for most of the match, I think this current team has a lot of luck on its side as well.
Another game where we snatched a win when we didn’t deserve it.

Good for confidence but going into the World Cup I want to see more, but underwhelming so far.
 
Getting Toure, Milanovic and Irankunda on suddenly meant we had someone up front who could hold the ball, stay on his feet and challenge the defenders, a creative player with pace, and an explosive player who got the Kiwi defence concerned. Surely Popovic realises that he needs this instead of the uninspired effort from Boyle and Hrustic, and Metcalfe playing in a role which doesn’t suit him. Metcalfe would be better as right wing back or as one of the two DM’s. In fact I would like to see him and Balard as the DM’s.
 
LFC said:
Yep - I was thinking that once Wood off.
Couldn’t even see when Barba did anything
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Wood is absolute top class so that makes sense.

Use of the young guys will be judged across the two matches. But still he could have started at least one or two more tonight. Need pretty big rotation next match to avoid it being a disappointment from a selection pov.

The bigger disappointment is in possession. I never like three at the back, I can't analyse exactly why, but it just always feels like you end up our numbered in midfield, unless it is played at a really high level.

He got is through qualifying, fine focus on oop given the circumstances. But he talked about wanting improvement in possession during the press conference... then we can't move the ball forward and it looks exactly the same.

The players he picked, disappointing as the selections may have been, are better than we saw tonight. They are good enough players to outplay nz, and they didn't.
 
booney52 said:
Socceroos bench better than Kiwis bench.Hopefully Segecic gets his chance in the return match
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Yep, with their full team we looked poor. Both sides made a lot of changes. We got arguably a little stronger but it is hard toi know because NZ quality dropped off and so the opponent was significantly weaker.

I did think ONiel showed that he is better than Yazbek in that role and Toure is obviously a much more natural centre forward than Boyle.
Silvera looked pretty lost out there. Miller looked better. (I am not huge fan of either Oniel or Miller but they were good tonight )
 
I think Pompey fans may be right about Silvera. He’s never really done anything for the national team and has had more than his fair share of opportunities
 
Izzo was fantastic. We don't win without him.

Bos did Bos things. I wish he had some teammates to combine with in the first half.

O'Neill made a big difference when he came on. Settled the midfield.

The energy from Toure, Irankunda and Milanovic was fantastic. It lifted the whole team and made NZs defense nervous. We need more of that.

Balard, what a touch and finish. So pumped for him.

I'd like to see Balard and O'Neill start next week. Toure for Boyle. Segecic minimum as sub.
 
CharlieYankosFanClub said:
Yep, with their full team we looked poor. Both sides made a lot of changes. We got arguably a little stronger but it is hard toi know because NZ quality dropped off and so the opponent was significantly weaker.

I did think ONiel showed that he is better than Yazbek in that role and Toure is obviously a much more natural centre forward than Boyle.
Silvera looked pretty lost out there. Miller looked better. (I am not huge fan of either Oniel or Miller but they were good tonight )
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We looked poor against their full team because we had our best players on the bench. If Popa starts with the team that finished we will walk it in over in Auckland.

Izzo had a good game especially with the Wood saves but the standouts from the starting team were Bos and Circati. I hope the Teague experiment is over.
 
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I know Boyle cops some heat but I like him.
Has been great for Hibs in both SPL and Europe and loves being positive.
Playing with his back to goal isn't his game.
Scott MacDonald also struggled in that thankless role and I always thought a MacDonald / Kennedy front Two would have been good
 
Popa will say that the changes did well against a tiring XI so don't deserve to be starting.

He's clueless.
 
Until the subs came on, our passing to advantage was poor. Always behind, stopping runs into space, so negative.
I couldn't work out if it was the pitch, or rusty players not gelling or what. But then the subs were made and it was chalk and cheese, crisp passing to advantage, every touch. Was it just my own perception or did anyone else see it?
 
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