Smeltz again was hardly in it. Again!! whats happening with him.
All Whites v Socceroos Match Thread
I recon we would do OK in Asia, that's probably why they don't want us or the Nix
Smith played well. He wasnt on long and played in some great crosses
Pushing Lochhead for a starting place?reid looked like he'll be up to it, maybe a bit green but OK and potential makes it worth giving him more time in the lead in games
dissapoined with mcglinchey, no presence
boyens looked out of depth/position
agree with others re smeltz, but he really doesn't suit that sitting behind a front two role
but overall pretty good and a coupel more games we shoudl get better
I thought we made too many defensive subs in that we brought on Reid for Bertos which made the centre back play an unfamiliar position. When Vicelich went off (hopefully not injured) I thought we could let Reid drop in there and bring on another playmaker such as Brockie. With Smith/lochhead, Nelsen, Sigmund and Vicelich/Boyens on I think our midfield became too defensive minded.
Smeltz again was hardly in it. Again!! whats happening with him.
Originally posted by darkhorse
Smeltz again was hardly in it. Again!! whats happening with him.
Smeltz again was hardly in it. Again!! whats happening with him.
Smeltz was playing in the hole. A lot of the layoffs, build up play, one touch and peeling off drawing a defender was done by him.aitkenmike2010-05-24 23:45:44
pitty killy hit the post. Aussie might have been dead if it had gone in.
Given one team expects to make the second round, and the other apparently isn't worth a secnod glance...you can take a bit from that. A full strength aussie side would cause us more problems, but after that and Mexico, I'm happy with where we're at.
Later in the 2nd half when we held onto posession we didn't get cut up nearly as much. I hpe they note that well.
Elliot, apart from his 'shooting', was very good and made some chances with his accuracy. Including our goal. Nelsen was solid but wasn't needed to make the sort of desperate tackles we saw against Bahrain.
Lacked a bit of structure between the defece and the midfield, but with that number of subs, and probably instruction to try a different formation it'd to be expected to a degree - they do need to be able to adapt to different opposition and player combinations though.
Fallon has shown again that he is a very useful player, while Killen has a touch of class we don't see enough - but I hope it will feature over the next wee while. His second shot was great, reminded me of his strike 19 mins in agains Bahrain. When one of hem goes in, it will be a sight to behold.
Simon Elliott MOTM
Smeltz again was hardly in it. Again!! whats happening with him.
I thought we made too many defensive subs in that we brought on Reid for Bertos which made the centre back play an unfamiliar position. When Vicelich went off (hopefully not injured) I thought we could let Reid drop in there and bring on another playmaker such as Brockie. With Smith/lochhead, Nelsen, Sigmund and Vicelich/Boyens on I think our midfield became too defensive minded.
+1 - mcglinchy seemed very deep and it doesn't suit him
left elliot working hard to carry it forward to the front three
especially with smeltz off - although i don't like him there he at least was working to do a job as the deeper of front three
Given one team expects to make the second round, and the other apparently isn't worth a secnod glance...you can take a bit from that. A full strength aussie side would cause us more problems, but after that and Mexico, I'm happy with where we're at.
Later in the 2nd half when we held onto posession we didn't get cut up nearly as much. I hpe they note that well.
Elliot, apart from his 'shooting', was very good and made some chances with his accuracy. Including our goal. Nelsen was solid but wasn't needed to make the sort of desperate tackles we saw against Bahrain.
Lacked a bit of structure between the defece and the midfield, but with that number of subs, and probably instruction to try a different formation it'd to be expected to a degree - they do need to be able to adapt to different opposition and player combinations though.
Fallon has shown again that he is a very useful player, while Killen has a touch of class we don't see enough - but I hope it will feature over the next wee while. His second shot was great, reminded me of his strike 19 mins in agains Bahrain. When one of hem goes in, it will be a sight to behold.
Have to say, thought we over-reacted after the Mexico game. No, we didn't lose 5-0, but, it was exactly like the 2nd half today (bar 1 attempt on goal) we did nothing in LA.
Tonight on th other hand was a different kettle of fish. In the first half, when we had our 1st string on, they were on the ropes for 45 mins.
Smeltz is too slow for he role he's playing. I think the only real chance of goals is crosses into the box finding Fallon, Killen, Wood, but in saying that all three of them are giants and it's a good strength. Without Leo though we have no genuine speed.
Can you imagine Australia against Nikolai Zigic?
Can you imagine Australia against Nikolai Zigic?
Simon Elliott MOTM
Far from convinced frankly. Did OK, but pound for pound i thought bertos was better
Smeltz is too slow for he role he's playing. I think the only real chance of goals is crosses into the box finding Fallon, Killen, Wood, but in saying that all three of them are giants and it's a good strength. Without Leo though we have no genuine speed.
Can you imagine Australia against Nikolai Zigic?
Can you imagine Australia against Nikolai Zigic?
or walcott and lennon... which is who they might get in the 16s. They'll be lucky, v lucky, to qualf though at this rate
Given one team expects to make the second round, and the other apparently isn't worth a secnod glance...you can take a bit from that. A full strength aussie side would cause us more problems, but after that and Mexico, I'm happy with where we're at.
Later in the 2nd half when we held onto posession we didn't get cut up nearly as much. I hpe they note that well.
Elliot, apart from his 'shooting', was very good and made some chances with his accuracy. Including our goal. Nelsen was solid but wasn't needed to make the sort of desperate tackles we saw against Bahrain.
Lacked a bit of structure between the defece and the midfield, but with that number of subs, and probably instruction to try a different formation it'd to be expected to a degree - they do need to be able to adapt to different opposition and player combinations though.
Fallon has shown again that he is a very useful player, while Killen has a touch of class we don't see enough - but I hope it will feature over the next wee while. His second shot was great, reminded me of his strike 19 mins in agains Bahrain. When one of hem goes in, it will be a sight to behold.
Have to say, thought we over-reacted after the Mexico game. No, we didn't lose 5-0, but, it was exactly like the 2nd half today (bar 1 attempt on goal) we did nothing in LA.
Tonight on th other hand was a different kettle of fish. In the first half, when we had our 1st string on, they were on the ropes for 45 mins.
Just watched replay of the final goal again. Definitely the other oz player was involved and offside- which kinda explained the gaps int eh defence, as I think some were watching him.
Just heard Verbeek agree that there could have/should have been two red cards!
Just heard Verbeek agree that there could have/should have been two red cards!
yeah we need another bertos
can't believe people are jizzing in their pants over Elliott. I mean a few good crosses and passes but apart from that - sh*t. What about those shots on goal. TBH it's embarrassing, he didn't feel that way tho he turned around laughing his head off.
Fallon - one of the best on the park apart from that sitter he f**ked up.
Paston - looked good, came for everything and a good save.
Boyens - sh*t house. Nothing going forward yet we put him on the wing ?
Smeltz - played well but just didn't do enough.
TBH i think we are improving a lot and with more time together we can really challenge at the WC !
p.s drop Elliott
Fallon - one of the best on the park apart from that sitter he f**ked up.
Paston - looked good, came for everything and a good save.
Boyens - sh*t house. Nothing going forward yet we put him on the wing ?
Smeltz - played well but just didn't do enough.
TBH i think we are improving a lot and with more time together we can really challenge at the WC !
p.s drop Elliott
id rather the AW learn from the warm up games. even if they lose there warm up games and give it everything at the WC. I think australia have been rattled. Would be good to see the trans tasman in football continue.
The aussies commentators believe those 2 challenges on Bertos were possible red cards - at last we agree on something.....I was really impressed with Fallon, Elliot and Nelson - what I was really disappointed on was a kiwi halftime, draw result at fulltime which would have netted me $130...oh well at least my League multi came in LOL 
I wonder if wynton rufer went nuts at the game.
Given one team expects to make the second round, and the other apparently isn't worth a secnod glance...you can take a bit from that. A full strength aussie side would cause us more problems, but after that and Mexico, I'm happy with where we're at.
Later in the 2nd half when we held onto posession we didn't get cut up nearly as much. I hpe they note that well.
Elliot, apart from his 'shooting', was very good and made some chances with his accuracy. Including our goal. Nelsen was solid but wasn't needed to make the sort of desperate tackles we saw against Bahrain.
Lacked a bit of structure between the defece and the midfield, but with that number of subs, and probably instruction to try a different formation it'd to be expected to a degree - they do need to be able to adapt to different opposition and player combinations though.
Fallon has shown again that he is a very useful player, while Killen has a touch of class we don't see enough - but I hope it will feature over the next wee while. His second shot was great, reminded me of his strike 19 mins in agains Bahrain. When one of hem goes in, it will be a sight to behold.
Have to say, thought we over-reacted after the Mexico game. No, we didn't lose 5-0, but, it was exactly like the 2nd half today (bar 1 attempt on goal) we did nothing in LA.
Tonight on th other hand was a different kettle of fish. In the first half, when we had our 1st string on, they were on the ropes for 45 mins.
Understand your POV but against Mexico we'd flown in from everywhere and played together for the first time since November, with barely one training run. I thought we defended well, and had a couple of good counters, and didn't expect much more.
Also I consider that Mexico would win 4/5 times against Australia, but I could be a bit off the mark there.
This game was after some build up and training and preparation. It was encouraging. I'm not going to predict victories and the like, but I like where we're going.
id rather the AW learn from the warm up games. even if they lose there warm up games and give it everything at the WC. I think australia have been rattled. Would be good to see the trans tasman in football continue.
test matches you mean?
I wonder if wynton rufer went nuts at the game.
id rather the AW learn from the warm up games. even if they lose there warm up games and give it everything at the WC. I think australia have been rattled. Would be good to see the trans tasman in football continue.
test matches you mean?
tri-nations would be great.
I wonder if wynton rufer went nuts at the game.
I wonder if wynton rufer went nuts at the game.
it's ACTUALLY him...
. . . Elliott. I mean a few good crosses and passes but apart from that - sh*t. What about those shots on goal. TBH it's embarrassing, he didn't feel that way tho he turned around laughing his head off.
. . .
p.s drop Elliott
. . .
p.s drop Elliott
must have been watching a different game. I thought Elliott was great- yeah, two crap shots, and one poor corner, but his passes- both short and long- were excellent. He kept the whole midfield ticking over, was calm and distributed well. totally did the job that he was required to do.
Very impressed with Leo- him winning the ball when he had no right to do so lead to the goal. He was fantastic, and god, I hope his injury aint nothing serious.
Pretty annoying way to finish but we definitely showed enough. Eat a big slice of humble pie DS... I don't care whether we brought in a big crowd, you got out-sung and outplayed for a large part of the game. Bring on the next game!
can't believe people are jizzing in their pants over Elliott. I mean a few good crosses and passes but apart from that - sh*t. What about those shots on goal. TBH it's embarrassing, he didn't feel that way tho he turned around laughing his head off. Fallon - one of the best on the park apart from that sitter he f**ked up.Paston - looked good, came for everything and a good save.Boyens - sh*t house. Nothing going forward yet we put him on the wing ?Smeltz - played well but just didn't do enough.TBH i think we are improving a lot and with more time together we can really challenge at the WC !p.s drop Elliott
I'm going to refrain from using bad language, but pretty much everyone on here and all the commentators thought he'd been one of our best. He stood out with his distribution and sure he had 2 wayward shots but they both would've been screamers anyway. Wee mac was disappointing for me.
We were Killen at the start but our defence had Fallon asleep at the end. at 93mins I was screaming blow the whistle, they were passing it round at half way doing nothing, surely that warrants full time.�
And we need to play a more Pas-ton run game, rather than dribble and long ball. That Wood have put Oz under pressure and our lads having Smeltz their fear would be more Boyened up.
Still I wouldn't Reid too much into this last second defeat.
oh i see, so we just let turn a blind eye to the negatives to his game aye ?
right.................
right.................
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh - just as deflated as after the Phoenix 1-1 loss (er draw) with North Queensland last season. But as stated - NZ was in control for significant portions of the game and Australia should have been playing with 10 (or even 9). Tackles like that against Germany would be a red card for sure.
oh i see, so we just let turn a blind eye to the negatives to his game aye ?
right.................
And you're expecting Zidane finishes every time he shotright.................
oh i see, so we just let turn a blind eye to the negatives to his game aye ?right.................
How come you don't attack Brown for his missed shot then? Or that wee Mac hardly featured? It is the All Whites they're not going to be dominating everything you muppet, but I think I have the agreement of most on here that Elliot had a good game and definitely doesn't deserve to be dropped. Sure you can say there's a weakness in his game, but you went a lot further than that.
Then again, I think most people on here tune out to your bollocks about him so whatever.
LOL
you're comparing Zidane to Elliott..................
i'm off mate....................
you're comparing Zidane to Elliott..................
i'm off mate....................
You're a 23 yo male who says LOL. That in itself probably says more than we need to know.
From a preparation for the WC point of view, would we really have wanted to play against 9 or 10 men for well over half the match?
that said, must admit i was dissapointed at the time, given we were 1-0 up, to beat the aussies would have been nice.
also, i guess a bit rubbish that taking chunks out of our players goes almost unpunished (esp when we have a keeper suspended for saying some naughty words)