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Asunto: National Team
Great performance. I am sure next qualifying season would be much better.
Congrats agbell!
Congrats agbell!
Afternoon all,
Election for NAT coach is now open. I'll stand again for a third season if you'll have me.
Season 48
Started: Rank=49 Points=1560.12
Finished: Rank=54 Points=1434.16
Summary: First season in charge was a big learning. I played way too defensively against stronger teams and paid the penalty. Five weeks travelling through France in the middle of the season also impeded my ability to create custom tactics for opponents.
Season 49
Started: Rank=54 Points=1434.16
Finished: Rank=48 Points=1604.78
Summary: This was a strong season with some great results, a more attacking mindset saw the goals really flow. In the end we almost qualified for the World Cup only missing out by two points. Recovered all the ranking points I lost us in the first season, and now we are in a stronger position than when I took over.
If re-elected, my season goal will be to take us past 1700 points which should see us finish somewhere around 43rd in the rankings.
Don't forget to vote!
Election for NAT coach is now open. I'll stand again for a third season if you'll have me.
Season 48
Started: Rank=49 Points=1560.12
Finished: Rank=54 Points=1434.16
Summary: First season in charge was a big learning. I played way too defensively against stronger teams and paid the penalty. Five weeks travelling through France in the middle of the season also impeded my ability to create custom tactics for opponents.
Season 49
Started: Rank=54 Points=1434.16
Finished: Rank=48 Points=1604.78
Summary: This was a strong season with some great results, a more attacking mindset saw the goals really flow. In the end we almost qualified for the World Cup only missing out by two points. Recovered all the ranking points I lost us in the first season, and now we are in a stronger position than when I took over.
If re-elected, my season goal will be to take us past 1700 points which should see us finish somewhere around 43rd in the rankings.
Don't forget to vote!
This week we play a friendly at home to Sweden. They are one place ahead of us in the rankings so I see this as a great chance for ranking points. All our best players are available, and while we have some form issues in the backs, we have the opposite up front...
...place your bets!!
...place your bets!!
Australia 1-2 Sverige
Disappointing result in a very evenly contested match. Both teams with 11 shots each so the result could've gone either way.
Disappointing result in a very evenly contested match. Both teams with 11 shots each so the result could've gone either way.
This week we are at home in a friendly against the mighty football nation of Kenya. Despite their lowly ranking of #90 Kenya's ratings copped a battering in WC qualifying and they could easily sit ~15 places higher than where they are. In saying that, the expectation is a comfortable win and goals. Last season we played them in a friendly and came away with a 4-0 win, so that is the benchmark to beat.
In the background, I'm negotiating our schedule for the season. I have nominated us for the Mini World Cup which is for the teams that didn't make it to the big show. If accepted, the aim will be to get into the knockout rounds....
Schedule so far...
week 00: Sverige
week 01: Kenya
week 02: Venezuala
week 03: Nigeria
week 04: Mini WC
week 05: Mini WC
week 06: Mini WC
week 07: Mini WC ?
week 08: Mini WC ?
week 09: Mini WC ?
week 10: Mini WC ?
week 11:
week 12: Malta
week 13:
week 14:
week 15:
week 00: Ireland
week 01: Kypros
In the background, I'm negotiating our schedule for the season. I have nominated us for the Mini World Cup which is for the teams that didn't make it to the big show. If accepted, the aim will be to get into the knockout rounds....
Schedule so far...
week 00: Sverige
week 01: Kenya
week 02: Venezuala
week 03: Nigeria
week 04: Mini WC
week 05: Mini WC
week 06: Mini WC
week 07: Mini WC ?
week 08: Mini WC ?
week 09: Mini WC ?
week 10: Mini WC ?
week 11:
week 12: Malta
week 13:
week 14:
week 15:
week 00: Ireland
week 01: Kypros
Australia 1-2 Kenya
Well. The less said about that result the better. We were slightly better on the day but didn't take our chances, and of course, they did. Unfortunately life got in the way, and I didn't get time to build a tactic for this game, but either way, it's a game we should've won.
On we move to a friendly against Venezuala who are ranked 17 places above us and look like a good challenge.
Well. The less said about that result the better. We were slightly better on the day but didn't take our chances, and of course, they did. Unfortunately life got in the way, and I didn't get time to build a tactic for this game, but either way, it's a game we should've won.
On we move to a friendly against Venezuala who are ranked 17 places above us and look like a good challenge.
Australia 2-4 Venezuela
Utter bollocks. We were the better team and against a significantly higher ranked team we at least deserved the draw if not the win. Two shite results to start the season.
Utter bollocks. We were the better team and against a significantly higher ranked team we at least deserved the draw if not the win. Two shite results to start the season.
The start of the season is definitely the time to do it at least. Gives time to get the points back at the end
Australia 11-0 Nigeria
A friendly we should've won, and we did it in style. probably should've scored a few more, but who cares.
A friendly we should've won, and we did it in style. probably should've scored a few more, but who cares.
We move on now to the Mini World Cup... an optional tournament for those that didn't qualify for the real thing. We have been drawn into pool D which looks like this:
Latvija (rank 30)
Australia (55)
Russia (54)
Iran (98)
Success will be getting out of the group and into the knockout rounds. First up we travel away to Latvija for our biggest test. Latvija are clearly stronger than us and will be smarting from missing out on the World Cup by goal difference only.
Latvija (rank 30)
Australia (55)
Russia (54)
Iran (98)
Success will be getting out of the group and into the knockout rounds. First up we travel away to Latvija for our biggest test. Latvija are clearly stronger than us and will be smarting from missing out on the World Cup by goal difference only.
Looks like Latvija is our big rival this season (we play them 3 times in the U21 this season)
Latvija 5:2 Australia
Frustrating loss. The first four goals conceded were all from our keeper spilling the ball. Despite that, Latvija deserved the win. My tactic just didn't work out the way I had planned it... to the point where I was watching the match convinced that I had loaded the wrong tactic. Defence sat too deep, midfield sat too high. Grrrr.
Frustrating loss. The first four goals conceded were all from our keeper spilling the ball. Despite that, Latvija deserved the win. My tactic just didn't work out the way I had planned it... to the point where I was watching the match convinced that I had loaded the wrong tactic. Defence sat too deep, midfield sat too high. Grrrr.
I hate when that happens, and that is so frustrating to see a GK that good just fumbling it, and on a regular occurrence too
Australia 12-0 Īrān
Win we should and win we did. Nice to have the rare chance to design a 433 tactic. Worked pretty well, a few more offsides than I would’ve liked but that comes with the high line. Shite opponent. Expected result. No injuries.
Win we should and win we did. Nice to have the rare chance to design a 433 tactic. Worked pretty well, a few more offsides than I would’ve liked but that comes with the high line. Shite opponent. Expected result. No injuries.
Australia 2-1 Russia
A narrow win against a higher ranked opponent in a very even match... and that gets us out of the group and into the knockouts of the mini-world cup. Next up is Spain ranked 25th in the world. Unlucky draw!
A narrow win against a higher ranked opponent in a very even match... and that gets us out of the group and into the knockouts of the mini-world cup. Next up is Spain ranked 25th in the world. Unlucky draw!