Comments on: WCQ Iraq vs Aus: Dubai Dullfest?

By: Club Troppo » Missing Link Daily

Club Troppo » Missing Link Daily — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:58:50 +0000

[...] doesn’t hold out much hope of an interesting World Cup qualifier return game between Australia and Iraq in Dubai.22. KP: Then again, most soccer games IMO are [...]

By: Stephen Hill

Stephen Hill — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:19:55 +0000

I can’t disagree with that statement, Carle was awesome in the last Socceroos game he played (was it the friendly against Nigeria). We need some spark in midfield and maybe he’s the man to give us a little more. It’s a shame Bristol didn’t get promoted, and we’d have seen him each week in the Premier League.

Mind you the team that sealed promotion in the play-offs Hull had another Aussie Richard Garcia, that could be looked at in a friendly. He’s been playing on the right-side of midfield (an area of some weakness) although he is a converted striker, I don’t know if he has the pace (if only Ahmed Elrich was in the form he was a few years ago) but he has to be in the mix, its not as though our strikers are tearing holes in opposition’s nets.

By: Leinad

Leinad — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:50:13 +0000

…And we were all wrong, it was a 5-4-1, and they got a wondergoal.

Holman is a worry, I think it’s time Carle got a run.

By: Stephen Hill

Stephen Hill — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:20:08 +0000

I doubt it will be a Dubai dullfest, though the 0-0 Aus v China match was nearly as dull as the Juventus/Milan CL final of 2003 (such justice that the team that plays with defensive midfielders + Kaka missed out on CL for 2008/9), Iraq play a much more flexible 4-5-1 that allows the wingers Nuwar and Karimi to push into the box, with Emad also coming in from deep. It won’t be like China who played ultra-conservative, and the Socceroos doing similar with Archie up front on his own (???) who after getting injured in the 12th minute left us with no legitimate striking threats.

Although it still wouldn’t surprise me if Pim overcompensates for our defense looking a little nervous against Iraq’s zip with Valeri coming in as a second DM, also Carney got caught up the field a little too much for my liking as a left-back.

I’m guessing Pim will pick (assuming North will fail a fitness test)

Emerton – Spiranovic – Beauchamp – Carney

Valeri – Grella
Culina
Wilkshire Kewell
Jesus

Now if I was manager I’d attempt a more aggressive game, in attacking Iraq’s back four, who I don’t think are that quick, (rather than crosses that will be eaten up by the returning Gholan) I’d try to get some through balls that took advantage of a lack of pace – with Culina coming forward feeding Kewell, McDonald and Bresca (and if only we had a decent right-sided dribbler him too). I might even think about Stervojsky on the right, but he disappears a little too often in some games (and maybe slot Wilkshire at LB).

Schwartzer
Emo — Spiranovic – Beauchump – Carney

Grella
Wilkshire Culina Bresciano

Kewell (free-role)
McDonald