2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

[hujsh]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Overnight Qatar defeated Iraq 2-0.

That's big. I thought Iraq would be the main danger. Was it home or away?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Australia 1- Iraq 0

Harry Kewell scored a header in the 46th minute to put Australia a step closer to the next round.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

A win is a win but there is no way Australia should have won that match.
The defence is a shambles. Midfield slightly better.

The phenomenon is how that defence has gone now 18 hours without conceding.

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

A win is a win but there is no way Australia should have won that match.
The defence is a shambles. Midfield slightly better.

The phenomenon is how that defence has gone now 18 hours without conceding.

Agreed. Our defence was horrendous at times last night. Iraq missed 4 or 5 sitters and hit the bar. Need Neill back and I am not sure the guys in at the moment are the answer against quality teams.

Not sure that pumping crosses into Kewell and McDonald is ideal either. Desperately missing guys like Kennedy, Cahill and co. Viduka as well although I think he is finished with Australia.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

A win is a win but there is no way Australia should have won that match.
The defence is a shambles. Midfield slightly better.

The phenomenon is how that defence has gone now 18 hours without conceding.

How many of that side are going to be in the 11 at the World Cup finals?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

All will be the squad. Maybe 3 or 4 will not be in the starting team.

Neill is not the answer, he is way overated after the WC06. His performance at the Asia Cup last season reeked of arrogance and lethargy. Craig Moore retiring has left a huge hole.

Lack of dominate midfield meant getting in around the back was the answer. They hardly put a good cross in all night(except for the goal).

Verbeek's approach worried me last night. McDonald is a penalty box specialist and needs a strong tall strike partner to feed off. Playing him alone up front was never going to work. Then when it was time to shut up shop, he goes with 2 strikers instead of an extra defender or midfielder.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Neill is captain of a premier league club, he must have something going for him.

Certainly good enough to get a game for a country ranked 45 in the world.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Neill is captain of a premier league club, he must have something going for him.

Certainly good enough to get a game for a country ranked 45 in the world.

Neill is a captain of Premier league struggler because he chose them over Liverpool. He went there on top of a WC 06 performance (Moore was the real star) cos they gave heaps of money. He had the chance of going to a better club where he would have challenged himself more and been a better player for it.

45 team doesn't mean he is in the top 100 best defenders.

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

All will be the squad. Maybe 3 or 4 will not be in the starting team.

Neill is not the answer, he is way overated after the WC06. His performance at the Asia Cup last season reeked of arrogance and lethargy. Craig Moore retiring has left a huge hole.

Lack of dominate midfield meant getting in around the back was the answer. They hardly put a good cross in all night(except for the goal).

Verbeek's approach worried me last night. McDonald is a penalty box specialist and needs a strong tall strike partner to feed off. Playing him alone up front was never going to work. Then when it was time to shut up shop, he goes with 2 strikers instead of an extra defender or midfielder.

Neill might be overrated but he is going to help. Maybe not in the centre but having him back helps imo. Moore would be immensely handy but realistically we have to move on and find a new Craig Moore. How we do that I am not sure.

Totally agree regarding McDonald. He is a classic poacher. He needs knock downs and spillages to feed off. You cant play him up on his own with minimal support from guys like Kewell pushing forward. I know we are missing our two best taller strikers in Kennedy and Viduka but surely even Djite/Allsopp would have given McDonald more opportunities. Even if those guys probably are not up to it at this stage atleast we would have had a better set up.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Spironovic (defender) is playing at Nurenberg with Beauchamp. They just got relegated.(Figures).
He just got capped last week, but looks Robert Murphy slim to be a central defender at the moment.
We are paying the price for not blooding defenders years back.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Iraq 1 - Australia 0
China 0 - Qatar 1

Table:
Australia 7 +3
Qatar 7 0
Iraq 4 -2
China 3 -1

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

I saw none of this game. Goal I hear was a freakish strike from distance from the left side. Knowing Australia started with Kewell as the only front man, the result was no surprise to me.

We don't have the material to able to defend for 90 minutes for a draw. You need a winning midfield and we couldn't hold the ball in a home game last week.

[hujsh]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

I watched the match.

The goal was centimeter perfect to go over Schwarzer.

I think it was Holland who had a chance to score one on one with the keeper on the left side and he went the far post but didn't get past the keeper.

Kewell had a great run in the 1st half and crossed it to someone (forgot who) and the commentators were certain it was a clear penalty.

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Culine was the one who should have had a penalty awarded. Not real pleased with us playing Harry on his own up front. As soon as we gave him some help we controlled the game. A mistake by Verbeek IMO. I have a horrible feeling we could be in strife. Kennedy is unavailable again in the next game and if we dont come away with some points against Qatar then all of a sudden we are in a knock out game against China. We should beat China but a knock out game is something we need to avoid.

Holman is an absolute spud when it comes to finishing. The only goal he has scored from us was a missed kick tap in with an open net. Should have scored from that Kewell back heel. Has to in his position.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

I have a horrible feeling we could be in strife. Kennedy is unavailable again in the next game and if we dont come away with some points against Qatar then all of a sudden we are in a knock out game against China. We should beat China but a knock out game is something we need to avoid.

I totally agree though I think you mean Neill not Kennedy.