2018 world cup qualifiers

[Rowdy]

Postecoglou hits back at critics and vows to see things through his way:



On Tuesday night, Ange Postecoglou was exasperated. By Wednesday morning, the Socceroos coach had accepted his side's World Cup qualifying fate, vowing to push on in his own indomitable way.

Australia dominated their final group stage qualifier with Thailand in Melbourne but recorded just a 2-1 win, allowing Saudi Arabia to snatch a direct place on offer at the 2018 tournament.

The Socceroos must now triumph in two home-and-away playoffs - beginning with Syria next month - if they are to play at Russia next year.

"It's obviously a more difficult road," Postecoglou said.

"We've just got to switch our minds and to getting prepared for them ... we'll get info on the opposition, get organised logistically and hit the ground running."

The failure to secure a direct place has led some - led by ex-Socceroos Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater - to question his position.

The former NSL and A-League winning coach controversially changed the Socceroos' formation half-way through their qualifying campaign, and has many off-side with his possession-based approach.

But there's no appetite at FFA to change coaches, and it won't be happening before Australia's World Cup fate is sealed.

"I don't make anything of (the criticism) and I won't waste my time responding to it," Postecoglou said.

"I'm not everyone's cup of tea. What do you do?

"I took the role to do it a certain way and I'll see it through.

"The Australian football industry chewed me up and spat me out 10 years ago. This is nothing new.

"It doesn't change my conviction about what I think is right for our game in our country.

"I'll see it through.

"Even last night, as frustrating as it was, I love watching that team play. My team play. Our team play.

"I won't be pushed into the shadows of Australian football history like others by bowing to certain parts.

"I've survived much worse than this and if anything it motivates me to keep going because I want to make sure Australian football gets on the right path."

Like many in the 26,393-strong crowd at AAMI Park on Tuesday night, Postecoglou couldn't believe his side were unable to find the back of the net more than twice.

As it turned out, a three-goal victory would have sealed qualification for the World Cup.

"If there was a more one-sided contest, I don't think I've ever seen it," he said on Tuesday night.

"Forty five shots; 20-odd inside the box, three posts; one cleared off the line. The goalkeeper's pulled off some great saves.

"Usually when the evidence is so overwhelming, you get the rewards. Tonight we didn't."

Australia's first leg against Syria has been scheduled for October 5, most likely in Malaysia, before a home tie five days later.

 

[Rowdy]

Sacking him now, with 4 possible games to come won't rectify anything
......only make it worse imo.

Pretty good response on all points from Ange, with a clearer head from time to think, as opposed to his blow-up straight after at the FIFA presser.

 

[dibo]

The Thai's were unlucky too.
- should have been awarded a penalty, it was pretty clear-cut.

If it had been awarded the score could've easily have been 2-2.

One penalty shout I'll grant you, but even if it's given and they score, we had 13 shots on target and 11 shots blocked. They had one of each. And that doesn't count the three off the uprights.

Sacking him now, with 4 possible games to come won't rectify anything
......only make it worse imo.

Pretty good response on all points from Ange, with a clearer head from time to think, as opposed to his blow-up straight after at the FIFA presser.

Postecoglou would've been shattered, because it's hard to imagine what more you could ask for, and the media starts asking about his job. I'm not surprised he struggled to keep his composure.

As for Slater and Bosnich, they are just running a line for Fox. They're playing the rent-a-quote role - say something controversial to make sure you get more coverage.

Bosnich in particular is completely transparent. When he's about to hold forth he juts out his jaw and starts rambling with incoherent shit. It appears compeltely insincere, like a high school debater asked to lead off on the proposition that homework should be doubled.

It's a put on job, and the media should stop reporting what he dribbles until or unless he comes up with coherent arguments.

Arguing that Postecoglou should go because we didn't qualify automatically assumes that there's a better coach out there who would've done better with the squad available, and I'm just not sure that's true.

The cupboard's pretty bare at striker, fullback and DM. So we load up on CBs in a back three and hope for the best - I'm not entirely sure another coach would've done better. The other option is play people who aren't playing or who don't specialise in those positions.

We're also often forgetting that Asian football is actually decent, and if we're not 100% we're going to find the going tough. Look at the gap in average individual technical ability (so taking out Rogic and Mooy, basically) between us and frankly everyone else in our group.

The Saudis play some eye-wateringly beautiful one-touch football at times, and the Japanese have astonishing balance and poise on the ball. The Thais are sharper with their first touches and strikes than us too, they're just not as strong.

We do well in strength and stature, but in speed (technical speed and leg speed) we get killed, and we'll keep getting killed until the years of player education under the modern curriculum starts delivering a wave of players who have been taught from 5 years old to value the ball.

And for all that, we f**king battered Thailand last night, and Postecoglou is absolutely right that we deserved better than what we got out of the game last night, and Bosnich should think before he speaks.

 

[Tevor]

Sacking him now, with 4 possible games to come won't rectify anything
......only make it worse imo.

Pretty good response on all points from Ange, with a clearer head from time to think, as opposed to his blow-up straight after at the FIFA presser.

Not sure I agree, we have very little chance of qualifying from 3rd place now so what is there to lose with changing the coach when the current regime clearly hasn't worked to date and Ange and the FFA are not seeing eye to eye. I think we can probably get the better of Syria (with Ange in charge) especially if their home game is in Malaysia however the US or Honduras will have our measure for sure with our 3 at the back, non effective front 3rd and don't forget Kruse playing somewhere in there. At least a new coach can change the structure of the team and selections with free will whereas Ange seems way to stubborn to change anything which if he stays and doesn't eat a big slice of humble pie and change will almost certainly see us not going to Russia. Therefore new coach or same coach we are pretty much screwed, since Ange has already shown his desire to not coach the NT beyond Russia anyway we might as well make the change now since we aren't going to make it and start planing the defence of the Asia Cup since we have a lot of work to do and we probably sit about 6th in Asia at present going by these qualifiers.

 

[pjennings]

The Thai's were unlucky too.
- should have been awarded a penalty, it was pretty clear-cut.

If it had been awarded the score could've easily have been 2-2.

Was that for the Sainsbury tackle - if so contact was outside the box.

 

[Rowdy]

Not sure I agree, we have very little chance of qualifying from 3rd place now so what is there to lose with changing the coach.

The most important thing of all
- the 'dressing room'

 

[Rowdy]

The Saudis play some eye-wateringly beautiful one-touch football at times, and the Japanese have astonishing balance and poise on the ball. The Thais are sharper with their first touches and strikes than us too, they're just not as strong.

Was clear as day to see, from both games, we're a good distance behind 3rd in that dept.

Watching the Saudi's this morning I was so glad it was Japan and NOT us playing them, chuck in the sweltering conditions

Japan looked to be gassing a little after the goal with their tempo dropping, the Saudi's sat/rested for about 10 after scoring but got straight back to it, they were humming with their passing/touches - just faltering with that final execution.

 

[Tevor]

The most important thing of all
- the 'dressing room'

What makes you think he has that 100% under control, can not help but think players like Gersbach would wonder why Smith gets the nod before him. MacLaren must wonder why Kruse gets the nod before him (especially against Japan when we leave your only remaining fit Striker on the bench). The players would be devastated for not making auto qualification and are now a real chance of not making it all, who is to say they will not start blaming Ange and his game plans. Now reality will hit home for a lot of these young blokes that they have missed their best chance to play in a WC and will have to wait 5 years to get another opportunity (that's a long time for some of these players), if you get to play in two WC's your considered very lucky so a good number of these players will be lucky to experience just one in 5 years time. If they played some of the games differently and played in their normal positions then maybe they would have booked their ticket last night. I applaud the effort last night but I can not get out of head the game last Thursday against Japan and how poor our game plan and selections were. I've watch every Socceroos game this qualifying round and was a huge Ange fan at the start but now his demeanor, stubbornness, contradictory behavior has me seriously questioning his ability to take the team further in the next 4 games.

 

[Rowdy]

Therefore new coach or same coach we are pretty much screwed, since Ange has already shown his desire to not coach the NT beyond Russia anyway we might as well make the change now.

I'd have to agree with Dibo, its a big assumption that someone could come in and do better with this squad of player's.

Your right Tev in Ange getting them past a Syria in Malaysia with an easy 2nd leg of travel either way.

But for mine it's this stuff,

"Even last night, as frustrating as it was, I love watching that team play. My team play. Our team play." - Postecoglou


.... that will get the boys up for these remaining games. The siege mentality will go up a notch to 'fcuk'em, so go & show'm' level.

A new appointment would just drain the shit out of an already slightly deflated (from not Q'fying automatically) team.

The mentality side of things are going to play a bigger part in these games.

 

[Rowdy]

As to 'losing' players respect /the younger guys missing out on a WC - waiting 5 years ...

They're young and with not many caps/experience can hardly lay claim to a 'right' to play, infact quite a few of them have only just begun their overseas careers, some stalling previously and now just landing a new club.

Ange has a lot to consider, but yeah there will need to be changes made in certain areas.

It's a shame that timing wise, 1st game is within a month and the A-League still wont have kicked of fully for other local player's, especially one's with NT experience and good form from season before to be in consideration.

 

[Big Al]

The pressure of having to score so many goals certainly affected the players.
If it was a normal game they probably score the 4 and definitely don't conceed after taking one of the back 3 off for a striker. Situation required that but thats not a normal football move.

Bozza has nailed that ange is himself not acting the same and thats pressure Ange put on himself.

Ange needs to stay however. He has the best handle on the team and we are still alive. He has work to do on the team and himself. However we should already be there.

The defense is letting him down but they are the ones who don't meet his criteria.
This far in we should know our back 3/4. All we know is Sainsbury is a lock and he hasn't played any club football. He is performing extremely well considering but time for Ange to fix the back line then the rest can get it done. When we are struggling we are giving up easy goals that are killing is us and our momentum and throwing away points

 

[Big Al]

So are we at home in the 2nd leg? Big advantage if extra time is required or penalties

 

[Wombat]

Im a fan of Ange but this back 3 is killing him and us. Team selection was better against Thailand than Japan and I agree the cattle we have is ordinary.
BTW World Cups are every 4 years.

 

[Big Al]

Gallop has committed to Ange for the remainder of the qualifying.

Usually a kiss of death but with only 4 games max left he now gets to finish what he started and hopefully continue on to Russia

 

[ZedSpecials]

Spewing - I had twenty bucks on the draw

 

[Tevor]

BTW World Cups are every 4 years.

Yes but Russia is 2018 so Qatar is still 5 years away depending on what time of the year the Qatar WC is held compared to Russia.

 

[Big Al]

Syria will play 1st leg in Malaysia
Then ANZ Sydney will host the 2nd leg

Then ANZ will also host the 2nd leg in the next round if we win

So both our home games will be in Sydney

 

[JoyfulPenguin]

Syria will play 1st leg in Malaysia
Then ANZ Sydney will host the 2nd leg

Then ANZ will also host the 2nd leg in the next round if we win

So both our home games will be in Sydney

Dumb to have both in Sydney, surely Brisbane/Melbourne/Perth/Adelaide deserved one.

 

[dibo]

Brisbane in particular deserved a fixture.

 

[Big Al]

Brisbane on an unofficial ban from Ange for the dog track they served up last time.

This is about money. NSW gov would have put some coin down and only one game is guaranteed.
Also biggest venue after the MCG.

Also Sydney lost last game against Thailand to Melbourne. So some need by FFA to smooth that over.

Also Sydney had Uraguay qualification and Asian Cup wins. So little bit of this is our best home ground for big games