Asian World Cup Qualifiers

[NK Arsenal]

Next saturday..I think.

Why the f**k did we start without a striker ffs?

 

[JTB]

why was bresciao on the bench??? what does Holman play football?? Why did we start the game without a striker???

 

[Mong]

Another sh*te boring game.. They looked to be lacking ideas up front yet again.. I didn't see anything better then i saw in Brisbane..

I certainly hope they are not content to continue to play like that..

 

[skeepe]

I really don't understand Verbeek's decisions last night. Chris Coyne to start? Bresciano and McDonald on the bench? And then the big one, taking Harry Kewell off with 30 minutes to go when he was the only one actually creating any chances. Some terrible decisions by the coach.

 

[Tommy Smith]

What on earth does the coach see in Holman? Worst striker i have ever seen.

Australia's problem is a massive lack of depth. The team is being shown up without the likes of Neill and Cahill. it also doesn't help when you leave some of your best players on the bench.

And for the love of god play your best players in their best position. Two strikers up front, probably McDonald and Kennedy at this stage, with Kewell on the left for starters. None of this defensive minded bullshit against juggernaughts like Iraq who we should be too good for.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Strange indeed.

Holman?

Wtf?

Matt Simon > Holman

 

[fish eel]

**** this ****. More of the same time wasting and theatrics and the only goal comes from a cross gone wrong. Australia played better football than Iraq, but this 'long ball into the box at every opportunity' **** is redudant. Pim Verbeek is Graham Arnold with an accent.

I've been saying for a while he is rubbish.

The line up he started with would have been OK, had he sent Kewell out to play as a striker, as it was, Harry was played wide, so we had nobody up front , much like the away trip to China. But in that game, that was forced on us through injuries.

The subtsititons were bizarre. Taking Kewell off. Putting Kennedy on told me he only idea was to hit high high in the box and hope. Kennedy hasnt played since late March FFS.

All of you calm the f**k down.

Seriously. It's just a speed bump. We copped a fluke goal, nothing we could do about it - If we don't get a point in Qatar then we can start to panic.

Still think we're in a better position playing with Iraq in and results counting rather than them out?

Still, last game against China in Sydney. Win that and we are through.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

All of you calm the f**k down.

Seriously. It's just a speed bump. We copped a fluke goal, nothing we could do about it - If we don't get a point in Qatar then we can start to panic.

Rubbish Bumble, Pim is garbage.

What kind of w@nker goes into a game with a half-crocked Kewell as a lone striker?

We don't even look like scoring. Rubbish, boring football with little to no risk, zero creativity, no spark etc. etc.

If Arnold was in charge of this game everyone would be screaming blue murder. But because Pim is Dutch that somehow makes it OK.

Well guess what? The "Dutch influence" is a load of wank. All we do is put 10 behind the ball and hope for the best. Utter sh1t.

 

[fish eel]

Rubbish Bumble, Pim is garbage.

What kind of w@nker goes into a game with a half-crocked Kewell as a lone striker?

We don't even look like scoring. Rubbish, boring football with little to no risk, zero creativity, no spark etc. etc.

If Arnold was in charge of this game everyone would be screaming blue murder. But because Pim is Dutch that somehow makes it OK.

Well guess what? The "Dutch influence" is a load of wank. All we do is put 10 behind the ball and hope for the best. Utter sh1t.

Imagine if Arnie was in charge, put on Kennedy who hasnt played since March and employed a hit it high and hope tactic?

BTW, Brett Holman's efforts for Australia have been better than Scott McDonalds.

 

[pantherz9103]

Pretty disappointing to lose to a fluke goal. But we never really worried their keeper. Surely we must have better options than Holman - everytime I see him take a shot he just shoots it low and straight at the keeper with no power :?

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Sorry fish, have to disagree.

We've had plenty of spastics don the green and gold but Holman is right up there with Zdrilic and co. But at least Zdrilic scored when he played.

As for McDonald - blame Pim for playing him as a lone striker. Thats ridiculous.

 

[fish eel]

Brett Holman can sing ffs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3mRFqI3IU4&feature=related

 

[nibbs]

well done iraq. a great result for football this, and one that will no doubt bring hope to the people of iraq. lets hope that qatar can continue the dream of hope when the qualifiers resume in a few weeks time just.

 

[fish eel]

http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/matthewhall/archives/2008/06/my_night_in_a_b.html

good read.

I guess went looking at the players performance, one could excuse them slightly given the conditions. But still, we'd better get used to it.

 

[NK Arsenal]

This is what can happen on MD5

1) Australia/Iraq - Australia all but through to the next round. Qatar and Iraq will do battle on MD6 for a place in the nex round. China out of WCQs.

1. Australia 10
2. Qatar 7
3. Iraq 7
4) China 3

2) Australia/China - Australia guaranteed a place in next round & Iraq are out. China have to win against Australia @ ANZ on MD6 to have any hope of making fourth round.

1. Australia 10
2. Qatar 7
3. China 6
4. Iraq 4

3) Australia/Draw - Australia guaranteed a place in next round & China are out. Iraq will need a win against Qatar to make next round.

1. Australia 10
2. Qatar 7
3. Iraq 5
4. China 4

4) Draw/Iraq - Australia all but through to next round. Qatar and Iraq will do battle for a spot in the next round. China knocked out.

1. Australia 8
2. Qatar 8
3. Iraq 7
4. China 3

5) Draw/China - China need to beat Socceroos @ ANZ on MD6 to progress to next round. Iraq knocked out.

1. Australia 8
2. Qatar 8
3. China 6
4. Iraq 4

6) Draw/Draw - Australia & Qatar all but guaranteed spots in the next round of qualifying. China are goneskies and Iraq look to be the same.

1. Australia 8
2. Qatar 8
3. Iraq 5
4. China 3

7) Qatar/Iraq - Qatar all but secured top spot. China knocked out of WCQs. Iraq will need Australia to lose against China on MD6 to qualify for next round.

1. Qatar 10
2. Australia 7
3. Iraq 7
4. China 3

8) Qatar/China - Qatar all but secured top spot. Australia and China will do battle for a spot in the next round on MD6 to decide who joins Qatar in the next round. Iraq are out of WCQs.

1. Qatar 10
2. Australia 7
3. China 6
4. Iraq 4

9) Qatar/Draw - Qatar all but secure top spot. China's dream is all but over. Unless China beats the Socceroos @ ANZ, and Iraq beat the Qataris, Australia is through to the next round.

1. Qatar 10
2. Australia 7
3. Iraq 5
4. China 4

****

Hope that helped

 

[Tyler Durden]

This is what can happen on MD5


7) Qatar/Iraq - Qatar guarnteed top spot. China knocked out of WCQs. Iraq will need Australia to lose against China on MD6 to qualify for next round.

1. Qatar 11
2. Australia 7
3. Iraq 7
4. China 3

8) Qatar/China - Qatar guaranteed top spot. Australia and China will do battle for a spot in the next round on MD6 to decide who joins Qatar in the next round. Iraq are out of WCQs.

1. Qatar 11
2. Australia 7
3. China 6
4. Iraq 4

9) Qatar/Draw - Qatar guaranteed top spot. China's dream is all but over. Unless China beats the Socceroos @ ANZ, and Iraq beat the Qataris, Australia is through to the next round.

1. Qatar 11
2. Australia 7
3. Iraq 5
4. China 4

Hope that helped

why does qatar get 4 points for a win ?

 

[NK Arsenal]

oh yeah, my bad

 

[Misanthrope]

Still think we're in a better position playing with Iraq in and results counting rather than them out?

I honestly do. I would rather qualify on our own merits than do it by default. If we crash out, it's because we didn't deserve to be there.

EDIT: Having read the blog linked to earlier, I can't help but be impressed with the durability. I heard the commentator talking about it being 40 degrees, and that doesn't even take into account how humid it must have been. But all of the physical endurance and commitment in the world couldn't have overturned the fact that, last night, our team looked like it was directionless and devoid of attacking structure. We maintained possession fairly well - but didn't do anything with it.

 

[fish eel]

I honestly do. I would rather qualify on our own merits than do it by default. If we crash out, it's because we didn't deserve to be there.

I still think we'll qualify, more a question to bumble who thought we were in a better position to play these games rather than be gifted the 6 points

EDIT: Having read the blog linked to earlier, I can't help but be impressed with the durability. I heard the commentator talking about it being 40 degrees, and that doesn't even take into account how humid it must have been. But all of the physical endurance and commitment in the world couldn't have overturned the fact that, last night, our team looked like it was directionless and devoid of attacking structure. We maintained possession fairly well - but didn't do anything with it.

Physical endurance is one thing, mental another.

And it doest excuse Pim's lame arsed tactics and substitutions :lol:

 

[Misanthrope]

What would people want to see next game?

Schwarzer

North Neill Beauchamp Carney

Valeri

Kewell Bresciano Culina

McDonald Kennedy

I've kept North in there because he was our best defender last night, but you could shift out Beauchamp for Coyne or Griffiths or whoever. Valeri being there gives us an extra man in defence, should we need him. Grella is suspended, I think.

Three midfielders. Kewell and Culina give us plenty of skill, and Bresciano can create and give us an option on free kicks and corners that isn't North. A two man attack based around the height of Kennedy and the ability of McDonald to lurk around behind him and poach shots on goal.

Substitute Holman on for Culina/Bresciano at some point. I don't rate him as a striker, but he's full of running and definitely lifted things yesterday. Replace McDonald with Djite or Troisi or somesuch. Somebody with lots of energy who can feed of Kennedy.

The last substition is up in the air. Carney or Carle or Emerton on for Bresciano or Kewell - whoever looks the worse for wear.