Socceroos vs Venezuela/ Colombia Nov 25

[huddo]

It is the reasons why he does not rate Nisbet that can be passionately questioned - without necessarily making his reasons wrong.

From what I have heard Nisbet had a lot of coaches 'not rate him' simply because of his physique. When someone gave him his chance he proved the rest wrong.

Popa obviously does not rate Nisbet and I think that is a blinkered and closed mind sort of rating - but it may simply come from Nisbet not being the type of player he wants. He is, after all, building a defensive, highly regimented system rather than a free flowing creative team. The strengths Nisbet brings to to the attack do not really suit playing in behind an isolated single forward like Popa tends to setup. Nisbet makes the various parts of a team work better in attack - that is not what Popa wants based on everything we have seen.

To use any attacking player like Nisbet effectively, Popa would either have to rejig his whole forward playing game into a cohesive attacking unit, or else jam Nisbet in a non-functioning role/position like he did when he had Irankunda out of position and have him come up useless.

I can understand why Popa does not play Nisbet and I deplore his reasoning.

As a side note - I acknowledge that Nisbet is also very good defensively even though I have concentrated on his attacking role here.

???

Nisbet was used as a DM for the first half of the championship winning year, most of his career was in the DM role. He was only moved out of the position when Balard arrived.

 

[huddo]

That is what Deg says.

Nearly every Socceroo we currently have, when interviewed is passionate about the team and the team unit.

In Popa's recent interviews, he states that every Socceroo has to be performing at as high a level, or the best they've ever played at, when playing for the Roos.

The good news is we have more depth than ever.

And for all Popa's detractors, far too many on G and G, he says there will be new players stepping forwards on the horizon who he hasn't considered at this point in time.

So you're saying those within the current system are preaching about how well they are doing in the current system under a coach that holds the power over there international careers.......interesting.

Has it been demonstrated in their games?

 

[huddo]

Titoist propaganda!

Popas dad left under Tito didn't have to deal with the breakup

 

[Alex M]

What do you think the correct number of detractors on G and G should be?

I think it depends on what they say. Some of them just seem to hate whoever has the job. Arnold had his detractors as well but the fact with Arnold is that he coached Australia to its best ever World Cup performance with arguably (at least I would argue so) the weakest man to man squad we have turned up to a World Cup with. Popovic has done a pretty good job so far, turning around our World Cup campaign which was showing signs of derailing and also spreading the net far and wide to help both prepare and encourage some of our players to stepping up in the next cycle. I would stick with him until the Asian Cup and reassess from there. We have a number of young guys with talent coming through for the first time in a while but the last lot of friendlies shows me that most of them still need more experience. I've criticised Popa's tactics in the past for being excessively negative but overall he has done pretty well since taking over. He definitely doesn't deserve the sack as some here want to see happen. I'm happy to wait and see how the rest of his campaign goes before I decide if he warrants an extension or not.

 

[RIMB]

???

Nisbet was used as a DM for the first half of the championship winning year, most of his career was in the DM role. He was only moved out of the position when Balard arrived.

I am pro-Nisbet.

Funny - I picture him always in a central or attacking mid position.

I was not putting his defensive skills down - I just think the Socceroos would be looking to him more for his creative attacking ability and upfield chasing than in a straight defensive mid sort of role.

In Roar terms - it is like us playing O'Shea in DM. He can do it and do it well but we lose much of his impact having him focussed deep.

 

[JS96]

Skills recognized by the Benfica B squad.... with a release from contract.

He was literally a clubless without a senior squad game. Released from a b squad in the reserve tier of the ninth best league in europe, and he was chosen above professionals like Balard and Nisbet, because of what? 3 under 21 games.

This whole reasoning would be laughable, if it wasn't my nation.

I know, right? He may have decent skills at times but you conspire his experience and what he can do compared to the others available and it just baffling. Well, not really, it's his dad and his poster boy image that's gotten him through.

 

[huddo]

I am pro-Nisbet.

Funny - I picture him always in a central or attacking mid position.

I was not putting his defensive skills down - I just think the Socceroos would be looking to him more for his creative attacking ability and upfield chasing than in a straight defensive mid sort of role.

In Roar terms - it is like us playing O'Shea in DM. He can do it and do it well but we lose much of his impact having him focussed deep.

Which is why he won the Jonny Warren Medal.

 

[huddo]

Skills recognized by the Benfica B squad.... with a release from contract.

He was literally a clubless without a senior squad game. Released from a b squad in the reserve tier of the ninth best league in europe, and he was chosen above professionals like Balard and Nisbet, because of what? 3 under 21 games.

This whole reasoning would be laughable, if it wasn't my nation.

On top of this, people might say it is to put him in the shop window.

But you have to ask why is it alright to put a 21 yo coaches son in the shop window, but not the bloke awarded the highest honour in Australia's domestic competition?

 

[patjennings]

37.02 kph is quick - only bettered by Usain Bolt in the AL!

And Brian Kaltak

 

[patjennings]

Yep and I think these are the players that would alleviate a lot of our issues but Popovic would stifle them anyway. It makes perfect sense. Popovic sees his system and these bokes as the wrong fit. That's probably correct. It' so frustrating we aren't drawing on our best. Robertson to be added here.

Therein is the big problem. He is using a system that doesn't use the best players. He uses his system. I am probably one of the detractors that Decentic talks about.

But the reality is unless we get a friendly draw we are likely to perform poorly at the World Cup, not only with the results but also with the style we play. Any decent team will rip us to shreds if we persist with sitting so
deep.

The end result of that will be that the Socceroos will be ignored in the MSM just like the ALM is already.

I'm not looking at the World Cup - I'm looking at the next 20 years. If we perform as badly as I expect and in the manner we are showing the sponsors will evaporate, govt funding such as it will dwindle and we will regress.

This should be the opportunity to build the game not destroy it.

 

[onedaywinners...]

Therein is the big problem. He is using a system that doesn't use the best players. He uses his system. I am probably one of the detractors that Decentic talks about.

But the reality is unless we get a friendly draw we are likely to perform poorly at the World Cup, not only with the results but also with the style we play. Any decent team will rip us to shreds if we persist with sitting so
deep.

The end result of that will be that the Socceroos will be ignored in the MSM just like the ALM is already.

I'm not looking at the World Cup - I'm looking at the next 20 years. If we perform as badly as I expect and in the manner we are showing the sponsors will evaporate, govt funding such as it will dwindle and we will regress.

This should be the opportunity to build the game not destroy it.

100%

 

[BA81]

The reality is unless we get a friendly draw we are likely to perform poorly at the World Cup, not only with the results but also with the style we play. Any decent team will rip us to shreds if we persist with sitting so deep.

The end-result of that will be that the Socceroos will be ignored in the MSM just like the ALM is already.

I'm not looking at the World Cup - I'm looking at the next 20 years. If we perform as badly as I expect and in the manner we are showing the sponsors will evaporate, gov't funding such as it is will dwindle and we will regress.

This should be the opportunity to build the game not destroy it.

And paradoxically this is what does my head in - given that FFA's whole thing for the past 20 years has been to "mainstream the game/convert the average Australian to it, by any means necessary"..you'd think they'd understand that Popa's haram-ball as a playing-style isn't exactly predisposed to capturing the imagination of the casuals tuning in ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[JS96]

Therein is the big problem. He is using a system that doesn't use the best players. He uses his system. I am probably one of the detractors that Decentic talks about.

But the reality is unless we get a friendly draw we are likely to perform poorly at the World Cup, not only with the results but also with the style we play. Any decent team will rip us to shreds if we persist with sitting so
deep.

The end result of that will be that the Socceroos will be ignored in the MSM just like the ALM is already.

I'm not looking at the World Cup - I'm looking at the next 20 years. If we perform as badly as I expect and in the manner we are showing the sponsors will evaporate, govt funding such as it will dwindle and we will regress.

This should be the opportunity to build the game not destroy it.

Exactly. I love Miller's passion but we're kidding ourselves if we're using him to build attacks up the line. No doubting Irvine's communication and positioning but he stumbles all over. All we want is to see our best out there together and then form the best team around that.

Once Balard came on the tackling and distribution lifted. Imagine Devlin out there in current form.

I used to hate having Sterjovski or Carney out there given my teenage affinity with the bigger names but these two were sharp and played really well when called upon.

 

[Decentric]

So you're saying those within the current system are preaching about how well they are doing in the current system under a coach that holds the power over there international careers.......interesting.

Has it been demonstrated in their games?

I'm saying it is good that Popa has tried so many players.

He has given many a chance, even if it is looking at them in camp without them playing on the pitch.

 

[Decentric]

What do you think the correct number of detractors on G and G should be?

Given where we were after 2 Arnie ( who I also supported as coach) games in the last round of WCQs, I think Popa did a remarkable job to turn the Roo campaign around. There was an element of luck, but Popa lost none of those last 8 games.

I'm not even sure what the record is now, but I think the Roos won 5 and drew 3. Or was it won 6 and drew 2?

Surely, that is a major achievement? Qualifying directly to the World Cup in a tough Asian group?

I'm surprised there is so much criticism of coach with such a good record in big, key games on G and G?

There has been an element of luck, which has disappeared a bit in the last 3 friendly games against USA, Ven and Colombia, but Popa has also tried many new, and quite young players in these friendlies. Fair play to him.

So given his mathematical success, which is immutable, and irrefutable, I'm surprised he has so many detractors on G and G?

Mind you, Arnie had a lot of detractors too, but his tenure was probably before the inception of G and G. In general, G and G posters are quite positive and tend to be proactive as opposed to being reactive.

I can go back as far as Pim Verbeek and consider he had far too many detractors too, given his relative success.

I'm wondering if sports fans in general are more negative than the general pop?

I also follow cricket too. Offline in person (and I know a lot more cricket fans, than football in person, through Cricket Tas Members), I think cricket fans in person may be more positive than online cricket fans.

Whirlpool has a huge cricket forum. Gee, a lot of them are negative!

 

[Decentric]

Exactly. I love Miller's passion but we're kidding ourselves if we're using him to build attacks up the line. No doubting Irvine's communication and positioning but he stumbles all over. All we want is to see our best out there together and then form the best team around that.

Once Balard came on the tackling and distribution lifted. Imagine Devlin out there in current form.

I used to hate having Sterjovski or Carney out there given my teenage affinity with the bigger names but these two were sharp and played really well when called upon.

Devlin could have improved?

He struggled when playing in earlier Socceroo games.

Sadly, Scottish league excellence isn't an indication of skills that extrapolate to international football success though.

 

[Decentric]

Therein is the big problem. He is using a system that doesn't use the best players. He uses his system. I am probably one of the detractors that Decentic talks about.

But the reality is unless we get a friendly draw we are likely to perform poorly at the World Cup, not only with the results but also with the style we play. Any decent team will rip us to shreds if we persist with sitting so
deep.

The end result of that will be that the Socceroos will be ignored in the MSM just like the ALM is already.

I'm not looking at the World Cup - I'm looking at the next 20 years. If we perform as badly as I expect and in the manner we are showing the sponsors will evaporate, govt funding such as it will dwindle and we will regress.

This should be the opportunity to build the game not destroy it.

I agree the Squeezing intensity needs to increase - IMO.

Popa may have a reason why Aus's Squeezing is only moderate, and why he wants to retain shape all the time and minimise intensive Squeezing.

I also argue that an experienced pro coach , like Popa, knows a lot more about football, than most fans on a forum - most of us who haven't coached at semi-pro or pro level. Or played at the semi-pro or pro level.

I've known you post for a long time, PJ. I don't regard you as a negative, reactive poster. You might be a bit more subjective about the quality of the players from your club though!

 

[LFC]

I agree the Squeezing intensity needs to increase - IMO.

see below

Popa may have a reason why Aus's Squeezing is only moderate, and why he wants to retain shape all the time and minimise intensive Squeezing.

pretty obvious not over doing pressing for he doesn't want to leave half our side of pitch exposed let alone half - we'd be countered and exposed like cat on a hot tin roof.

I also argue that an experienced pro coach , like Popa, knows a lot more about football, than most fans on a forum - most of us who haven't coached at semi-pro or pro level. Or played at the semi-pro or pro level.

the most qualified suffer failures and hurdles - part of going through course's and being paid to get results, granted, though some here make far more sense than what we see the Pro is putting out.

I've known you post for a long time, PJ. I don't regard you as a negative, reactive poster. You might be a bit more subjective about the quality of the players from your club though!

pj isn't a one eyed CCM fella thats for sure even though he bleeds yellow and black haha

 

[jas88]

A ball playing DM with the physicality to play against top nations? In Australia? Nah mate this is Australia pass the fucking ball sideways or backwards and shut up.

 

[patjennings]

I agree that both Pim and Arnie were criticised far too much by the media that was then echoed by fans in general. Conversely once Ange managed Brisbane he could do no wrong. Poppa seems to be getting the same treatment generally by the media