Australia Starting 11

[COYR98]

With the World Cup edging closer, this would be my starting 11 for Australia for the first game.

4-2-3-1
(GK)Matty Ryan

(RB) Franjic --- (CB) Spiranovic --- (CB) Good ---- (LB) Davidson

(DM) Mile Jedinak -- (DM) Mark Milligan

(RM) Tommy Oar --- (AM) Rogic ---- (LM) Dario Vidosic/Bozanic

(ST) Leckie/Vidosic

[Con M]

With the World Cup edging closer, this would be my starting 11 for Australia for the first game.

4-2-3-1
(GK)Matty Ryan

(RB) Franjic --- (CB) Spiranovic --- (CB) Good ---- (LB) Davidson

(DM) Mile Jedinak -- (DM) Mark Milligan

(RM) Tommy Oar --- (AM) Rogic ---- (LM) Dario Vidosic/Bozanic

(ST) Leckie/Vidosic

Agree with the GK, back 4 & the 2 DMs. But room will have to be found for Cahill & Bresciano in the midfield. And everyone is forgetting Josh Kennedy for up front. He'll be needed there as we're likely to be chasing the game and needing to go long to him as the clock ticks away..

ps, I'm not a betting man but I snuck a look at the odds when I was getting my pathetic weekly X-lotto ticket to see what the know-all market thinks. Put it this way, we're nearly at $9 to beat Netherlands & over $12 to beat Spain. And at horrible odds too versus Chile, which sadly almost certainly makes those games against the Dutch & the Spaniards dead rubbers.

In a twisted way it's lucky the games against those latter two countries are telecast here at 1.30 am on Thursday 19/6 & Tuesday 24/6, by which time all the mainstream bandwaggoners in the build-up to that first World Cup game against Chile at 8.30 am on Sat 14/6 will have fallen away & won't stay up/get up for the telecasts and witness possible slaughters.

[sephiroth]

the Chilean press just pissed itself laughing. we will be crucified.

[Knight15]

the Chilean press just pissed itself laughing. we will be crucified.

Probably will, but still can't wait for the trip to Brazil

[COYR98]

Reckon Chile and Spain will progress, the Dutch arent the powerhouse they were 4 years ago.

[Con M]

the Chilean press just pissed itself laughing. we will be crucified.

Does that mean you will be supporting Chile against Australia, just like GMAE/Hawkesy?

[BruceLee]

After tonight I would like to see

Cahill

Oar Bresciano Troisi

Milligan Jedinak

Davidson Spiranovic Wilkinson Franjic

Ryan


Some good signs. Leckie looked dangerous at times

Not sold on Holland

I think were in trouble no matter who plays but oh well nothing to lose. Need some luck. At least they look to be positive.

[Knight15]

I thought Milligan was terrible but he has been much better, Leckie should start defence looked suspect hope Rogic is fit, Halloran looked ok, hmmmm let's be honest were not great and it's all very well to have a crack but we could get done by plenty if we leave ourselves exposed like that against Chile, Spain and Holland

[THE ORAKLE]

bloody horrible game both sides as bad as each other. felt sorry for the 50,000 that turned up and paid.

[Knight15]

bloody horrible game both sides as bad as each other. felt sorry for the 50,000 that turned up and paid.

Sounds like a Rangers home game

[Reds11]

The pitch was terrible which didnt help

[adelaidebloke]

we are very inexperienced, no defence at all.

where is sasha and lucas now lol

[Stuckey]

we are very inexperienced, no defence at all.

where is sasha and lucas now lol

GONE FFS! Quit harping on about them!

........................RYAN
FRANJIC SPIRANOVIC McGOWAN DAVIDSON
................JEDINAK MILLIGAN
.....................BRESCIANO
LECKIE..............CAHILL....................OAR

KENNEDY
HALLORAN
TROISI
HOLLAND
WILKSHIRE
ROGIC
GALEKOVIC

[Black_Panther]

we are very inexperienced, no defence at all.

where is sasha and lucas now lol

GONE FFS! Quit harping on about them!

You can whine all you want, however surely you can't deny that the team lacks leadership in the defence and this has been very apparent in the last couple of games where we have gotten poor results against very mediocre opponents.

[Stuckey]

we are very inexperienced, no defence at all.

where is sasha and lucas now lol

GONE FFS! Quit harping on about them!

You can whine all you want, however surely you can't deny that the team lacks leadership in the defence and this has been very apparent in the last couple of games where we have gotten poor results against very mediocre opponents.

So what are you saying? Lets play them till their dead with no plan for the future? The entire reason we have a defence that lacks experience is because we played these guys way past their use by date and never thought towards preparing replacements.

[adelaidebloke]

wouldnt play till they are dead, but having either sash or lucas for one more world cup would help

[adelaidebloke]

guess timmy shouldnt play either, with that theory, just play ohalloran


why take breciano, play a kid too.

[Stuckey]

wouldnt play till they are dead, but having either sash or lucas for one more world cup would help

I disagree I think it would hands down make things worse.

[Stuckey]

guess timmy shouldnt play either, with that theory, just play ohalloran


why take breciano, play a kid too.

Because Timmy and Brec are still of value to the squad and bring something no other players have. The only thing Sasa and Lucas would bring is the tactic of fouling the fast players before they get too close to the penalty area. They are both old, slow and totally unsuited to Ange's game plan.

[adelaidebloke]

you need someone with experience a the back, no schwartzer also means not much back there.

[Delete Your Account]

guess timmy shouldnt play either, with that theory, just play ohalloran


why take breciano, play a kid too.

Who is Ohalloran?

[Black_Panther]

guess timmy shouldnt play either, with that theory, just play ohalloran


why take breciano, play a kid too.

Because Timmy and Brec are still of value to the squad and bring something no other players have. The only thing Sasa and Lucas would bring is the tactic of fouling the fast players before they get too close to the penalty area. They are both old, slow and totally unsuited to Ange's game plan.

So you place no importance on experience, organisational skills, tactical understanding of the game & a vocal presence?

[Stuckey]

guess timmy shouldnt play either, with that theory, just play ohalloran


why take breciano, play a kid too.

Because Timmy and Brec are still of value to the squad and bring something no other players have. The only thing Sasa and Lucas would bring is the tactic of fouling the fast players before they get too close to the penalty area. They are both old, slow and totally unsuited to Ange's game plan.

So you place no importance on experience, organisational skills, tactical understanding of the game & a vocal presence?

I feel our squad has begun to show good organisational skills and tactical understanding of the game.

[Russki Claw]

You can't tell me that Ognenovski would not be an asset to the defence based on the injury issues and lack of quality available back there.
Cahil in attack, Bresc/Mile in midfield, and Sasha in defence. Would mean an experienced leader in all three zones of the outfield.

We were rubbish at defending against South Africa, I dread to think what Spain will do against that defence.

[Stuckey]

You can't tell me that Ognenovski would not be an asset to the defence based on the injury issues and lack of quality available back there.
Cahil in attack, Bresc/Mile in midfield, and Sasha in defence. Would mean an experienced leader in all three zones of the outfield.

We were rubbish at defending against South Africa, I dread to think what Spain will do against that defence.

I understand what you're saying but as I said the reason we're lacking experience so badly is because of this very mentality. We can keep saying 'yes lets blood so youth, oh wait we definitely can't lose this game Lucas and Sasa we need you!'
This decision should have been made the day after the 2010 WC, it wasn't and now due to a number of people's inability to bring in change we're in a position that we have to take a squad of players that haven't but should have been playing together for the last 3 and a half years.

[BruceLee]

You can't tell me that Ognenovski would not be an asset to the defence based on the injury issues and lack of quality available back there.
Cahil in attack, Bresc/Mile in midfield, and Sasha in defence. Would mean an experienced leader in all three zones of the outfield.

We were rubbish at defending against South Africa, I dread to think what Spain will do against that defence.

I understand what you're saying but as I said the reason we're lacking experience so badly is because of this very mentality. We can keep saying 'yes lets blood so youth, oh wait we definitely can't lose this game Lucas and Sasa we need you!cheap and nasty
This decision should have been made the day after the 2010 WC, it wasn't and now due to a number of people's inability to bring in change we're in a position that we have to take a squad of players that haven't but should have been playing together for the last 3 and a half years.

Yeh I have to agree. Who is to say wouldn't get thrashed, or possibly thrashed worse with sash or Lucas playing. Then you lose twice because you've wasted an opportunity to give someone experience. Experience that may help us win the Asian cup or progress in 2018.

I think in this case the juice is worth the squeeze.

[Black_Panther]

You can't tell me that Ognenovski would not be an asset to the defence based on the injury issues and lack of quality available back there.
Cahil in attack, Bresc/Mile in midfield, and Sasha in defence. Would mean an experienced leader in all three zones of the outfield.

We were rubbish at defending against South Africa, I dread to think what Spain will do against that defence.

I understand what you're saying but as I said the reason we're lacking experience so badly is because of this very mentality. We can keep saying 'yes lets blood so youth, oh wait we definitely can't lose this game Lucas and Sasa we need you!cheap and nasty
This decision should have been made the day after the 2010 WC, it wasn't and now due to a number of people's inability to bring in change we're in a position that we have to take a squad of players that haven't but should have been playing together for the last 3 and a half years.

Yeh I have to agree. Who is to say wouldn't get thrashed, or possibly thrashed worse with sash or Lucas playing. Then you lose twice because you've wasted an opportunity to give someone experience. Experience that may help us win the Asian cup or progress in 2018.

I think in this case the juice is worth the squeeze.

Are you guys honestly saying we should use the most prestigious tournament in world sport as a trial run for the Asian Cup?????

You guys are effectively discriminating against Ognenovski & Neill based on their birthdate. The defending against Ecuador & South Africa was crap and won't be remedied by playing players that are younger but not of the same standard.

[Con M]

Too late now, but I reckon Ange should have swallowed his pride and maybe recalled the Ogre when Good was clearly not gonna make it. People keep saying Sasha's too slow but I've seen him desperately make up ground and get a last-ditch block or tackle in.

Spiranovic and Ognenovski would have worked well as a central pairing. And with their height & strength both would have been threatening when moving up at set pieces.

Gawd I hope Jedinak makes it back as a DM together with Milligan. Didn't like Ange's last statement that Jedinak "has a groin strain and UNCERTAIN when he'll play again" (!).

And upfield from Jedinak & Milligan we desperately need Bresciano and Rogic back to create something.

[Blotto]

you need someone with experience a the back, no schwartzer also means not much back there.

agreed.

[Stuckey]

Are you guys honestly saying we should use the most prestigious tournament in world sport as a trial run for the Asian Cup?????

You guys are effectively discriminating against Ognenovski & Neill based on their birthdate. The defending against Ecuador & South Africa was crap and won't be remedied by playing players that are younger but not of the same standard.

All I'm saying is that really we are going to get pumped regardless so why waste time playing people who are going to retire afterwards all you are doing is delaying the redevelopment further allowing us no time to the develop for the Asian Cup at all.
I don't know which games you are referring to but over our qualifying campaign our defence with Lucas running it was woeful anyway as we barely made the WC at all.