Asunto: National Team U21

Good luck mate! Make us proud! :)

Quick reminder guys. Please update your young Aussies players in the NTDB after every pop... and if they don't pop, update them every 2-3 weeks so we can see that they have not popped. It's nice to know what we're working with.

So far we've had only 2 players updated today.

Thanks! :)

ps. when you do update your player, please:
a) write a quick note to tell us which skill has popped, and
b) mark which skill you're training.
(editado)

maybe you could try making a semi-automatic update request sk-mails using tasker? It would be a lot easier for you.

Yep, I don't really want to badger people but automated requests would be handy. :)

You know how tasker works?

whoops, didn't read this before updating sharpley, he popped in pace today :)

Hm...good result against Andorra, but the performance wasn't breathtaking...

That's true!
The 3pts are ours and we haven't conceded a goal still so despite the display I don't think we're going to complain too much this time :)

We had to compose with a weaker midfield than usual due to form/injuries issues. It should sort itself out for the big game against Uruguay hopefully.

I love that we have an identified star player in Byers and that it feels like he is everywhere. Laying tackles, providing great balls wide and forward, up near the box taking free kicks.

Nothing wrong with 3-zip at all, especially as we created other opportunities that could easily have scored (Byers' ball forward after just 2 mintes created a nice one-on-one)

their keeper did pull off some stunning saves to be fair

well when you see what they're working with, I think you'd realise we're doing well to even get those results ;).

Again could have been a higher scoreline if we had have been slightly more accurate.

That's right. I'm happy with 3:0, considering the limitations and the lottery that these games can be. Again with some more luck we could have scored more goals.

I tried to do some different things with throw-ins. I was mainly positioning players to be effective when the ball was in play, and to back their ability (Byers) from contested throw-ins.

It's funny watching these young guys play. They make some pretty interesting decisions.
- Lockett taking a shot at 29' missing by, well... the only keeper in danger was Bowen on the bench.
- Sianidis went for a little stroll out to the corner flag at 45' doing some tricks for the fans.
- Luke Neill smashing a clearance straight into the back of Lawton's head, which almost cost us a goal.

Obviously the tactic was designed to make the most of what we had available. Part of that was getting Byers to be everywhere. He had a brilliant game again and should have been rewarded with a couple more assists & maybe a goal.

Andorra was a team I was worried about. They were flogged by Uruguay only because their keeper was injured during the game. Aside from that, they have played very well. They were also hurt by having a key defender injured.

We again could have converted more opportunities. A lot of chances (strikers in the clear) did not result in shots. I think that's going to be an ongoing issue for us. Their keeper had a good game and so did ours... another clean sheet for Papaluca. :)

A solid performance today and more points to the tally.

Yes, I can only imagine how hard it is to make a decend XI at the beginning of the season in u21. Still Andorra has same problem I think ;)

Nevertheless, 3pts is 3pts :)

Great result for Minkee taking our ragged B-team over a U19/U20 Mexico! Very impressive.

Minkee will be chief selector & tactician for the friendlies this season. 2:1 over Mexico is a great start for him.

That's ok...
:)

I used Roar as my guinea pig wednesday, and it helped fine tuning the tactic afterwards. It has its flaws still but I'd like to think it works against a 40-45 average mark opposition midfield.

Not a bad result considering we played with 10 players as Valentine was uber useless tonight!

I'm glad I contributed towards the ranking points and haven't let down our community... I can breathe now :)

that's a pretty solid win. I hate pressing but you managed to get it working reasonably effectively. Every time I press it ends up with 5 or 6 goals in the back of the net so I just gave up trying :p. Might have to reconsider.

Colosimo was the better of the three strikers.

Nicely done.