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Asunto: National Team
Yeah, NZ are a similar strength to us so would be an interesting exercise if it can be organised.
For Sale - Starting NAT midfielder...
Preston Hammond, age: 29
club: Chelsea.F.C, country: Australia
value: 4 196 800 AU$
wage: 46 760 AU$
formidable [11] stamina hopeless [1] keeper
divine [17] pace excellent [10] defender
brilliant [14] technique divine [17] playmaker
unearthly [16] passing formidable [11] striker
#beast
Preston Hammond, age: 29
club: Chelsea.F.C, country: Australia
value: 4 196 800 AU$
wage: 46 760 AU$
formidable [11] stamina hopeless [1] keeper
divine [17] pace excellent [10] defender
brilliant [14] technique divine [17] playmaker
unearthly [16] passing formidable [11] striker
#beast
Welcome to the new season!
Exciting times, it's back to World Cup Qualifying!! We have been drawn into Group M, which looks like this...
Seed Team (world ranking)
1. Česká republika (3)
2. Bosna i Hercegovina (19)
3. Colombia (44)
4. Australia (58)
5. Kypros (66)
6. Kenya (84)
This is a TOUGH assignment. But, it was tough last time and we came within a whisker of finishing second. The Czechs and the Bosnians are world class so top two would be a miracle. Colombia as third seed pulls in ratings that are about 4pts higher than ours, so they are better than us, but gettable on a good day.
Fifth seed Kypros will prove to be tricky as they have in the past. Whilst they are ranked eight places below us, their team ratings are reasonably similar to ours. Lastly Kenya, should finish last but are one of the better minnows. They rate waaaay better than their ranking suggests usually picking up about 3 less rating points than we do.
Conclusion: The battle for 3rd to 5th should be very close and an unlucky result could sink anyone.
We start this saturday with a home match against Colombia. If third in the group is attainable we need to probably get a point here. The squad has some challenges with a couple of starters slightly injured (hopefully recovering in time!) and one unavailable. The normal issues persist, we are ok for talent up front, pretty decent in the middle, and very thin at the back. To make it worse, our normally strong goalkeeping stocks are struggling with poor form. Let's see how we go!
(editado)
Exciting times, it's back to World Cup Qualifying!! We have been drawn into Group M, which looks like this...
Seed Team (world ranking)
1. Česká republika (3)
2. Bosna i Hercegovina (19)
3. Colombia (44)
4. Australia (58)
5. Kypros (66)
6. Kenya (84)
This is a TOUGH assignment. But, it was tough last time and we came within a whisker of finishing second. The Czechs and the Bosnians are world class so top two would be a miracle. Colombia as third seed pulls in ratings that are about 4pts higher than ours, so they are better than us, but gettable on a good day.
Fifth seed Kypros will prove to be tricky as they have in the past. Whilst they are ranked eight places below us, their team ratings are reasonably similar to ours. Lastly Kenya, should finish last but are one of the better minnows. They rate waaaay better than their ranking suggests usually picking up about 3 less rating points than we do.
Conclusion: The battle for 3rd to 5th should be very close and an unlucky result could sink anyone.
We start this saturday with a home match against Colombia. If third in the group is attainable we need to probably get a point here. The squad has some challenges with a couple of starters slightly injured (hopefully recovering in time!) and one unavailable. The normal issues persist, we are ok for talent up front, pretty decent in the middle, and very thin at the back. To make it worse, our normally strong goalkeeping stocks are struggling with poor form. Let's see how we go!
(editado)
Australia 0-2 Colombia
A tough start to the qualifying campaign and a loss with a scoreline that was pretty bang on. Despite the score the new look five man defence looked pretty solid. Colombia played far deeper in defence than I expected so it was a mexican standoff for a lot of the match. However their deep line left our lone striker and winger with a tough day, but there were chances to score, we didn't.
I'm trying to be less self-critical on tactics this season, there was one mistake I wish I hadn't made... but it's not a bad result against a better side. Onwards we go.
A tough start to the qualifying campaign and a loss with a scoreline that was pretty bang on. Despite the score the new look five man defence looked pretty solid. Colombia played far deeper in defence than I expected so it was a mexican standoff for a lot of the match. However their deep line left our lone striker and winger with a tough day, but there were chances to score, we didn't.
I'm trying to be less self-critical on tactics this season, there was one mistake I wish I hadn't made... but it's not a bad result against a better side. Onwards we go.
Kenya 1-12 Australia
WC Qualifier R2. A win was expected, but that was a smashing. 39 shots to 1 shows how well the tactic went last night. At this stage of qualifying that extra goal difference is very handy.
WC Qualifier R2. A win was expected, but that was a smashing. 39 shots to 1 shows how well the tactic went last night. At this stage of qualifying that extra goal difference is very handy.
This is how we look after match day 2...
Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 6 +8
2. Australia (58) 3 +9
3. Kypros (66) 3 +4
4. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 3 -2
5. Colombia (44) 3 -2
6. Kenya (84) 0 -17
After a week off, we next face the enormous task of facing Bosnia. A quality side that rates on average about 9pts above us. If a miracle qualification is going to happen, a result against the big two in the group needs to happen.
Stats after 2 rounds...
First squad average value
4 693 572 AU$ Česká republika
3 956 016 AU$ Colombia
3 928 324 AU$ Bosna i Hercegovina
3 373 156 AU$ Australia
2 935 873 AU$ Kypros
1 857 496 AU$ Kenya
Average individual marks:
81.8 Česká republika
78.6 Bosna i Hercegovina
73.3 Colombia
71.7 Australia
69.3 Kypros
59.6 Kenya
And the scary one for our future.....
First squad average age
30.4 Australia
29.5 Kypros
29.3 Bosna i Hercegovina
Česká republika
28 Kenya
27.9 Colombia
(editado)
Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 6 +8
2. Australia (58) 3 +9
3. Kypros (66) 3 +4
4. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 3 -2
5. Colombia (44) 3 -2
6. Kenya (84) 0 -17
After a week off, we next face the enormous task of facing Bosnia. A quality side that rates on average about 9pts above us. If a miracle qualification is going to happen, a result against the big two in the group needs to happen.
Stats after 2 rounds...
First squad average value
4 693 572 AU$ Česká republika
3 956 016 AU$ Colombia
3 928 324 AU$ Bosna i Hercegovina
3 373 156 AU$ Australia
2 935 873 AU$ Kypros
1 857 496 AU$ Kenya
Average individual marks:
81.8 Česká republika
78.6 Bosna i Hercegovina
73.3 Colombia
71.7 Australia
69.3 Kypros
59.6 Kenya
And the scary one for our future.....
First squad average age
30.4 Australia
29.5 Kypros
29.3 Bosna i Hercegovina
Česká republika
28 Kenya
27.9 Colombia
(editado)
Australia 1 : 0 Sakartvelo (friendly)
A win is a win but boy that was hard work. Georgia are a team that is ranked way lower than they should be based on talent. A new NT manager looking to make his mark should be trying to get his hands on their squad.
In terms of the performance, they were really hard to break down and in the end they outrated us and had more shots. We are having some major form issues and that’s the first time I can recall the team rating
A win is a win but boy that was hard work. Georgia are a team that is ranked way lower than they should be based on talent. A new NT manager looking to make his mark should be trying to get his hands on their squad.
In terms of the performance, they were really hard to break down and in the end they outrated us and had more shots. We are having some major form issues and that’s the first time I can recall the team rating
It may just be reflecting the dip between the mass exodus, and us couple coming back.
McPharlin is getting close and age 25 which is more in line with other countries
McPharlin is getting close and age 25 which is more in line with other countries
will be a number of seasons before I have anything worthy of NT selection.
Yeah but you have a few good ones coming through, so whilst it may be a while for your first, you may have a few all at once (or at least taking over from one another)
When you get a chance, would you mind say posting an U24 team, U27 team and U30 team (or something similar), just so we can see how players are looking.
Alternatively, maybe the likely progression of players
ie GK: McKay--> Newton --> Fihaki
Alternatively, maybe the likely progression of players
ie GK: McKay--> Newton --> Fihaki
Australia 2-3 Bosna i Hercegovina
Gutted. Against the second seed we pushed them all the way. While it was 11 on 11 we were absolutely on par (1-1) with a tactic I’m really proud of. Unfortunately a 55th minute red card changed things. Our holding midfielder was gone, and Hammond who was dominating his wing slotted into the hole in midfield. From there we played admirably and with one man short we went 1-2 against them. In all, a 2-3 result is fair, but if we’d kept everyone on the park it feels like a game we would’ve got one or three points from.
We await the other results in the pool, but the positive to take is our goal difference is still strong.
Gutted. Against the second seed we pushed them all the way. While it was 11 on 11 we were absolutely on par (1-1) with a tactic I’m really proud of. Unfortunately a 55th minute red card changed things. Our holding midfielder was gone, and Hammond who was dominating his wing slotted into the hole in midfield. From there we played admirably and with one man short we went 1-2 against them. In all, a 2-3 result is fair, but if we’d kept everyone on the park it feels like a game we would’ve got one or three points from.
We await the other results in the pool, but the positive to take is our goal difference is still strong.
This is how we look after match day 3...
Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 9 +16
2. Colombia (44) 6 +5
3. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 6 -1
4. Australia (58) 3 +8
5. Kypros (66) 3 -4
6. Kenya (84) 0 -24
Despite only having 3 points, this has been a pretty good campaign. After a spanking of Kenya we have been very competitive in narrow losses against the 2nd and 3rd seeds so we are probably unlucky not to have more points. The upside is the goal difference is in a really good position so in the likely event of a close finish on the last matchday we are looking ok to finish equal or higher than our seeding in the group.
This week we play the might of the Czech Republic! Currently ranked 3rd in the world these guys are pulling average ratings of 82 points!!! A full ten points ahead of us. This one is about damage control.
Seed Team (world ranking) Pts +/-
1. Česká republika (3) 9 +16
2. Colombia (44) 6 +5
3. Bosna i Hercegovina (19) 6 -1
4. Australia (58) 3 +8
5. Kypros (66) 3 -4
6. Kenya (84) 0 -24
Despite only having 3 points, this has been a pretty good campaign. After a spanking of Kenya we have been very competitive in narrow losses against the 2nd and 3rd seeds so we are probably unlucky not to have more points. The upside is the goal difference is in a really good position so in the likely event of a close finish on the last matchday we are looking ok to finish equal or higher than our seeding in the group.
This week we play the might of the Czech Republic! Currently ranked 3rd in the world these guys are pulling average ratings of 82 points!!! A full ten points ahead of us. This one is about damage control.