4-0 FARK YEAH!!
Graham Arnold picked the perfect time to give common sense and the A-League a chance, abandoning his Guss-given formula and picked a winner in the form of a fiery 3-5-2 with plenty of venom. As a monomaniacal A-League/Sydney FC booster I feel it is incumbent on yours truly and the good people of Sidelined.com.au to take the credit for bringing Arnie to reason at his most desperate hour. The results speak for themselves.
Mark Milligan, Brett Emerton and Michael Beauchamp did themselves proud tonight against a determined Thai opposition, managing to stave off a series of counterattacks and in the process open the way for penetrative attacking play from David Carney and Luke Wilkshire at wingbacks*. In the process a liberated Jason Culina/Vince Grella deep midfield pairing was given space to allow a substantially improved midfield perfomance, which, combined with an impressive attacking-midfield stint from Mark Bresciano maintained suffiencent possession throughout the first half to pressure the Thai backline and in the process gift Michael Beauchamp the Socceroos first unanswered goal of the competition. (This isn’t taking anything away from Viduka and Aloisi upfront, I’ve just focussed on the drastic improvement in backline/midfield performance, in contrast to last Friday)
Several poor passes, weak man-marking and Marcus Merk-like performance from Korean referee gave Australian viewers their share of heart attacks, ensuring an inspired but ultimately uneccessary performance from Schwartzer between the posts; but this was a much more focused performance from the Socceroos, whose early goal from a Beauchamp header scrapped Thailand’s counterattacking plan and managed to tire out their opponents late in the game with the aid of a fresh Harry Kewell and Mr Insta-Goal**.
With Oman and Iraq drawn our grand final now looms in Ho Chi Minh city against Japan. Should we pass them, all things are possible, but they will test Arnold and the ‘Roos like nothing else. Tonight’s result, however, allows room for hope…
* a formation that I’ve only been begging Arnie to use for like, months and months.
**known to his mother as “Tim Cahill”
9 responses so far ↓
Mungo Amanda // Jul 17, 2007 at 4:35 am
FARK YEAH!!!
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 17, 2007 at 8:55 am
I am a registered genius.
Miligan easily the man of the match. Never lost a tackle, or a head in the air and was so composed when carrying the ball and wasn’t his speed needed, Beachamp was a champ and David Carney. One would have to be a genius plus to select him at left back,
Unfortunately both Grella and Bresciano both continue to disappoint notably in defence or first pass after getting the ball and again Alosio shows his lack of touch and pace but at least the boys showed GUTS!!
a 1000% improvement which it needed to be unfortunately we need to go up a further number of gears against the best team playing football in the tournament.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 17, 2007 at 10:33 am
oley, oleyo, oley, oley,oleyo, oley, oleyo loleyo ,oleyo oley, oley oleyo.
Wasn’t Eastood Pub great.
I’m there on Saturday night.
I would replace Grella with wait for it. Lucas and out Tim for Bresciano oh of course make myself coach
Leinad // Jul 17, 2007 at 11:15 am
Good to hear everyone enjoyed the festivities. Mates all ditched so I headed to my local, where a crazy Indonesian fella started buying rounds because he’d put $100 on us. I’m not sure if the maths really worked his favour
I’d stick with current formation, the Sterj in for Bresh, Valeri for Grella if he’s up to it. Neill can sweat it out again, he needs to get a hold of that ego, Milligan and Beauchamp have busted his ‘irreplacability’ myth.
Also, if I were Arnie I’d never sub Brett Holman on again, but that’s too much to hope for.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 17, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Holman has the uncanny skill of missing open goals.
Subs should be Carle, our Arry and Archie.
Sterj lacks the control, skill and pace to play upfront.
Tempted to agree on Neil.
Milligan looks the ideal person to replace Grella overall. doesn’t lose tackles, great in the air and is fast and has a good long throw.
We need to find someone else at leftback.
IF Kennedy comes back from injury we need some support upfront. Not convinced of McDonald. Perhaps give the Adelaide duo some time in the senior team.
Also Schwarzer looks vulnerable on LONG shots given I have seen this happen with aging goalkeepers it has me worried.
Leinad // Jul 17, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Subs = Cahill, Harry, Carle/Archie depending
Sterj hasn’t been any more dismal than Bresh, and his recent national team form has been better. I don’t think there’s a lot to choose between the two, tbh.
Agree on Milligan at DM, he’s been groomed for that position at SFC and though he’s handy at CB he isn’t enough of a stopper, esp vs. taller, heavier strikers. If we had a Neill-Moore centre pair he’d be unstoppable.
Leftback is gonna be a real worry for years, I suspect. There’s bugger all worth the name in the A-league and Laza was our last out and out left-sided player. We might be playing back three for years to come.
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 17, 2007 at 4:10 pm
agree on left back. I wonder what right footers would say if a left footer was put in at right back.
I think Kennedy is the goods when he get fit again and our Arry would be a good combination but then it falls away.
We appear pretty rich in the midfield though
Leinad // Jul 17, 2007 at 5:17 pm
lol, yeah I can’t help but notice the parallel with Sydney FC, an awesome midfield but no left fullback…
Bring Back CL's blog // Jul 18, 2007 at 9:35 am
you are too young to remember but Don Revie converted an ordinary left winger at Leeds to being a left back for England. mind you all Terry Cooper could do is dribble and cross. he wasn’t too good at defending.
We had Jim Tansey who could cross the ball but had no pace and was poor at defending. Graham Jennings on the other hand became a very useful leftback because of his pace and ability to cross the ball and jumble up a forward.
Carney is unusual for a converted leftback in that he was a midfielder. he has the pace and the creativity to be a different leftback.
Arnold should have picked up someone with pace who is leftfooted and given him a go.
He was far too overconfident about this position.
Perhaps give the U/23 a go as well?