The Australian National Football Team General Discussion*OFFICIAL*

[Decentric]

What's the point of even talking about Triantis? He has chosen to represent Greece if given the chance.

I've simply dismissed Triantis. The Socceroo shirt doesn't mean much to him.

I'm sure he won't be the last dual national to overlook Aus. I'm confident he won't be missed over the next few years, unless he inexplicably kicks on more than his peers? There is plenty of depth in younger players playing in his position.

 

[grazorblade]

I was hoping to read a few more positive posts from some of Popa's naysayers for selecting newer players Segecic, Kalik, Botic, Milanovic, Balard, plus Irankunda and Matthews who've only played limited minutes.

Circati is still young, but is possibly already the best player in the team. Silvera and Toure haven't played many minutes either.

Popa is looking at a range of emerging players to create depth.

Is Souttar injured?

Positive posts in the soccer ashes thread and on the pod

 

[jas88]

I always said I think Pops will experiment more once we qualify interested to see if he tries a 4-2-3-1? or stick with 3 defenders?

 

[grazorblade]

What's the point of even bringing up Triantis? He has chosen to represent Greece if given the chance.

yeah have to forget about him in the end, only relevant for the conversation on whether poppa screwed up

personally its hard to see a role for him outside the game against indonesia - so probably should have had him on the bench for some late minutes

I think the screw up was in the second round of qualifiers as I hinted in the pod. But poppa wasn't coach then

in any case we should cap young dual nationals in that second round next time

 

[grazorblade]

I've simply dismissed Triantis. The Socceroo shirt doesn't mean much to him.

I'm sure he won't be the last dual national to overlook Aus. I'm confident he won't be missed over the next few years, unless he inexplicably kicks on more than his peers? There is plenty of depth in younger players playing in his position.

I think its possible to feel 10 out of 10 for 2 countries. We don't know if this was him not caring or him just caring about Greece more

I don't think we have a lot of depth in his position. We have a lot of depth in central midfielders, but struggling to think of another tall technical defensive mid apart from him and okon so I suspect he will be missed when we want to break down a deep block and play a couple of shorter attacking mids further forward but still have someone who can play that safe role out the back and provide enough defensive cover committing so many players forward
at the moment we usually are forced to have an extra player in the rest defense which makes it awkward to break down a deep block. As I said, Okon is the only one with a similar profile I can think of right down to kids born 2008, so a huge loss if he is injured

 

[patjennings]

I was hoping to read a few more positive posts from some of Popa's naysayers for selecting newer players Segecic, Kalik, Botic, Milanovic, Balard, plus Irankunda and Matthews who've only played limited minutes.

Circati is still young, but is possibly already the best player in the team. Silvera and Toure haven't played many minutes either.

Popa is looking at a range of emerging players to create depth.

Is Souttar injured?

Souttar has an achilles injury I believe. I'm very happy with the squad but realistically you would think Souttar, Ryan, Irvine after injury recovery and I would hope Luongo (at the very least) will be picked for World Cup. Why were only 25 picked?

TBH - though I realise we need to blood keepers in the national team if they are the best after Ryan I hope he stays around for a long time. Our keeper stocks which always seemed tp be very string are decidedly thin these days.

 

[patjennings]

I thought Okon was 20 and Triantis was 24?

I'll rephrase that. At Okon Jr's current age, he was better than Triantis was at that age.

Thanks for the birthdates!

I'll rephrase that. Okon Jr is now 20 years and 7 months and has not played a senior competitive game but has the potential to be better. At 20 years and 1 month Triantis had played a full season and won the ALM championship.

Triantis has made his decision so that is a moot point now.

 

[grazorblade]

I'll rephrase that. Okon Jr is now 20 years and 7 months and has not played a senior competitive game but has the potential to be better. At 20 years and 1 month Triantis had played a full season and won the ALM championship.

Triantis has made his decision so that is a moot point now.

Was told off forum that the reason we struggle to produce dms is because our elite youth are going through a period where they are dominating their opponents, i guess around 15ish

So the 6 isnt really learning to develop under pressure

Triantis was an accident because he was misprofiled as cb and moved to dm. Okon was developed overseas. So it really is a problem position

 

[JS96]

I was hoping to read a few more positive posts from some of Popa's naysayers for selecting newer players Segecic, Kalik, Botic, Milanovic, Balard, plus Irankunda and Matthews who've only played limited minutes.

Circati is still young, but is possibly already the best player in the team. Silvera and Toure haven't played many minutes either.

Popa is looking at a range of emerging players to create depth.

Is Souttar injured?

Souttar just building strength and doing ball work. Thankfully it's only September 1. Maybe mid October he'll get some practice games?

 

[grazorblade]

Souttar just building strength and doing ball work. Thankfully it's only September 1. Maybe mid October he'll get some practice games?

heard it will be near the end of the year

he came into the last world cup cold and was brilliant. Wouldn't be against him doing it again

 

[Decentric]

Positive posts in the soccer ashes thread and on the pod

Is there another Podcast after 21? I can't keep up!

Good to hear about positivity too.

 

[Decentric]

Was told off forum that the reason we struggle to produce dms is because our elite youth are going through a period where they are dominating their opponents, i guess around 15ish

So the 6 isnt really learning to develop under pressure

Triantis was an accident because he was misprofiled as cb and moved to dm. Okon was developed overseas. So it really is a problem position

Really interesting comments off forum.

I disagree though. I think DMs may be our strongest position in terms of quantity of quality.

 

[JS96]

heard it will be near the end of the year

he came into the last world cup cold and was brilliant. Wouldn't be against him doing it again

Damn but if there's anyone to come in and do a job... Went to a WC after a handful of Stoke reserve games.

 

[grazorblade]

Is there another Podcast after 21? I can't keep up!

Good to hear about positivity too.

couple of short ones

 

[grazorblade]

Really interesting comments off forum.

I disagree though. I think DMs may be our strongest position in terms of quantity of quality.

who do you know at any age group that is
1) tall
2) able to keep the ball under pressure
3) defensively strong

midfielder?

 

[Decentric]

I'll rephrase that. Okon Jr is now 20 years and 7 months and has not played a senior competitive game but has the potential to be better. At 20 years and 1 month Triantis had played a full season and won the ALM championship.

Triantis has made his decision so that is a moot point now.

Okon Jr was contracted to Benfica or Sporting Lisbon, and then was loaned out to a Port Div 2 team. I thought he played some senior games for them - but I may be wrong?

When I saw Triantis for the Young Socceroos, he played CB. So I'm assuming Triantis played CB as a 20 yo in that winning season?

From playing Young Socceroo football, I thought Triantis was one of the worst players in the team. Having said that, in just the short time since, he could have made rapid improvement. Also, for some weird reasons, some players develop late - and - others develop early, even fading out at an early age.

I asked Kevin Muscat in a workshop why this happened? Comparing Mark Milligan and Leigh Broxham, or Seb Ryall? None of the players were in the room. Muscat said it was very complex, and nobody knows why this happens - precocious world beaters , Kaz Patafta, Ben Kantarovski, as opposed to late developers.

 

[grazorblade]

Okon Jr was contracted to Benfica or Sporting Lisbon, and then was loaned out to a Port Div 2 team. I thought he played some senior games for them - but I may be wrong?

Wasn't loaned out, played for benfica b which play in their 2nd division but struggled for game time.
Hopefully just bad luck and he does well at sydney this year

 

[patjennings]

Okon Jr was contracted to Benfica or Sporting Lisbon, and then was loaned out to a Port Div 2 team. I thought he played some senior games for them - but I may be wrong?

When I saw Triantis for the Young Socceroos, he played CB. So I'm assuming Triantis played CB as a 20 yo in that winning season?

From playing Young Socceroo football, I thought Triantis was one of the worst players in the team. Having said that, in just the short time since, he could have made rapid improvement. Also, for some weird reasons, some players develop late - and - others develop early, even fading out at an early age.

I asked Kevin Muscat in a workshop why this happened? Comparing Mark Milligan and Leigh Broxham, or Seb Ryall? None of the players were in the room. Muscat said it was very complex, and nobody knows why this happens - precocious world beaters , Kaz Patafta, Ben Kantarovski, as opposed to late developers.

Yes he did play CB and was arguably the best in the ALM. Before transferring to a DM at Hibs and being a standout player for them.

 

[Decentric]

how do you know at any age group that is
1) tall
2) able to keep the ball under pressure
3) defensively strong

midfielder?

I don't think being tall is a prerequisite.

There are heaps of younger DMs who can keep the ball under pressure - Valadon, Thurgate, Teague, Niew ( could in the AL and the Young Socceroos), Youlley ( watching underage), Okon Jr, Bozinovski, possibly Yazbek? Are Silvera, Segecic, Metcalfe ( tall) and Nisbet considered AMs or wingers exclusively?

I watched CCM a lot when Balard played, but didn't notice him. I was drawn to Nisbet.

Good ball winners - Teague, Devlin, Nieuw, Thurgate, Metcalfe, Yazbek. Balard?


I'm not sure we have that level of depth anywhere else on the pitch? Happy to be proved wrong though.

 

[patjennings]

I was hoping to read a few more positive posts from some of Popa's naysayers for selecting newer players Segecic, Kalik, Botic, Milanovic, Balard, plus Irankunda and Matthews who've only played limited minutes.

Circati is still young, but is possibly already the best player in the team. Silvera and Toure haven't played many minutes either.

Popa is looking at a range of emerging players to create depth.

Is Souttar injured?

Circati certainly looks like the best defender we have. I would think that he would be one of the first names picked. Very classy player.