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Subject: National Team
must have been the AFL MRP that gave that ban out...
Alright, almost all defenders are going up in form [including Balabanel and Hunter!], mids are keeping their forms and getting up [Libesson!], only exception is Villafane who can't make his mind :p. Stephenson, Barnes and Drum are in form so it's nice, only Maras is lacking shape. A bit of a blow - Papaluca is struggling...:/
Subbing Erdogan off for Laurie. Please explain? Erdogan was our only route to goal and once you subbed him off after 60min, the game was gone.
3-1 would be an acceptable result had Italy finished with 11 men on the field. The fact that for 80+ min they had 1 fewer in midfield means it's a chance gone begging. A few small issues tactically and we ended up paying for it.
Good effort, but it's disappointing not to have taken more from that game.
3-1 would be an acceptable result had Italy finished with 11 men on the field. The fact that for 80+ min they had 1 fewer in midfield means it's a chance gone begging. A few small issues tactically and we ended up paying for it.
Good effort, but it's disappointing not to have taken more from that game.
Well we had plenty of occassions. Laurie did quite good, please notice how Erdogans performance faded with every minute. Laurie made a good impact with his high pace.
I agree that we should've got at least a draw because of the red card for Italy, but we did quite good. The result says otherwise though...
I agree that we should've got at least a draw because of the red card for Italy, but we did quite good. The result says otherwise though...
Well we had plenty of occassions. Laurie did quite good, please notice how Erdogans performance faded with every minute. Laurie made a good impact with his high pace.
I don't agree with you there. The best chance Laurie had was the sideways pass that Barnes bombed. As the game went on I thought Erdogan was getting stronger as their defender tired. Certainly Laurie struggled to beat their defender except when their defender popped out of the line which allowed Laurie to run free behind (however, any player would have done that, Erdogan included). Unless you have updated stats of Laurie, he's not actually much quicker than Erdogan (1 level in fact).
Erdogan's tech was winning the battle against their defender. Another 30min may have seen them with another in the sheds. Taking that advantage away made it harder to create chances (we still obviously did, but they weren't as often).
However, that's just my opinion. The fact you have another is really the most important as you've got control of the NT :). I guess I was surprised as Erdogan seemed to be getting the job done and then he got subbed, when ideally Neill needed to be subbed.
(edited)
I don't agree with you there. The best chance Laurie had was the sideways pass that Barnes bombed. As the game went on I thought Erdogan was getting stronger as their defender tired. Certainly Laurie struggled to beat their defender except when their defender popped out of the line which allowed Laurie to run free behind (however, any player would have done that, Erdogan included). Unless you have updated stats of Laurie, he's not actually much quicker than Erdogan (1 level in fact).
Erdogan's tech was winning the battle against their defender. Another 30min may have seen them with another in the sheds. Taking that advantage away made it harder to create chances (we still obviously did, but they weren't as often).
However, that's just my opinion. The fact you have another is really the most important as you've got control of the NT :). I guess I was surprised as Erdogan seemed to be getting the job done and then he got subbed, when ideally Neill needed to be subbed.
(edited)
I don't agree with you there. The best chance Laurie had was the sideways pass that Barnes bombed. As the game went on I thought Erdogan was getting stronger as their defender tired. Certainly Laurie struggled to beat their defender except when their defender popped out of the line which allowed Laurie to run free behind (however, any player would have done that, Erdogan included). Unless you have updated stats of Laurie, he's not actually much quicker than Erdogan (1 level in fact).
What you say is true, but consider the following - Erdogan was being caught up by the defender throughout whole game, even if he had quite a big advantage [which is ridiculous considering his skills and form]. Laurie looked much faster...
Erdogan's tech was winning the battle against their defender. Another 30min may have seen them with another in the sheds. Taking that advantage away made it harder to create chances (we still obviously did, but they weren't as often).
As you mentioned, their defender was getting exhausted, but it's the same story with Erdogan. :)
However, that's just my opinion. The fact you have another is really the most important as you've got control of the NT :). I guess I was surprised as Erdogan seemed to be getting the job done and then he got subbed, when ideally Neill needed to be subbed.
All of what you wrote is true, but please remember that I made the subs before the game, not during it...:)
What you say is true, but consider the following - Erdogan was being caught up by the defender throughout whole game, even if he had quite a big advantage [which is ridiculous considering his skills and form]. Laurie looked much faster...
Erdogan's tech was winning the battle against their defender. Another 30min may have seen them with another in the sheds. Taking that advantage away made it harder to create chances (we still obviously did, but they weren't as often).
As you mentioned, their defender was getting exhausted, but it's the same story with Erdogan. :)
However, that's just my opinion. The fact you have another is really the most important as you've got control of the NT :). I guess I was surprised as Erdogan seemed to be getting the job done and then he got subbed, when ideally Neill needed to be subbed.
All of what you wrote is true, but please remember that I made the subs before the game, not during it...:)
We're finishing our qualification campaign tomorrow. We have achieved 3rd place, which is what was expected before the start of the season - no surprise there.
We've won every game so far, except for games against Italy and Schweiz [two bad games, two good games - but still 0 points].
Anyway...we have started the campaign at 36th place in the rank. So far we've moved to place nr. 34 which is relatively nice, I expect getting close to 33rd till end of the season. We're 81pts away from Lietuva and 120pts behind Bulgaria. We would've been closer, though those two teams were in 2nd pot, so they didn't have to face Schweiz-ish level team two times during this season and got some advantage due to that. On the other hand they should get battered during the World Cup and that's our chance to get past them. 31st Sverige is too much in front of us to think of getting past them, over 200pts difference...
With proper friendly games next season there is a big chance that we will make it to the 32nd and I really hope that we manage to do that. It's quite difficult as you must find a NT that you're going to beat in 8 out of 10 possible games and yet this team should have a proper NT rank so that you get good points for beating them. Not that easy.
During this season we're still going to face Bolivia[49th], Latvija[41st] and New Zealand[50th]. I expect myself to win all of these games + Malaysia tomorrow and every mistake will be very angrying...
We've won every game so far, except for games against Italy and Schweiz [two bad games, two good games - but still 0 points].
Anyway...we have started the campaign at 36th place in the rank. So far we've moved to place nr. 34 which is relatively nice, I expect getting close to 33rd till end of the season. We're 81pts away from Lietuva and 120pts behind Bulgaria. We would've been closer, though those two teams were in 2nd pot, so they didn't have to face Schweiz-ish level team two times during this season and got some advantage due to that. On the other hand they should get battered during the World Cup and that's our chance to get past them. 31st Sverige is too much in front of us to think of getting past them, over 200pts difference...
With proper friendly games next season there is a big chance that we will make it to the 32nd and I really hope that we manage to do that. It's quite difficult as you must find a NT that you're going to beat in 8 out of 10 possible games and yet this team should have a proper NT rank so that you get good points for beating them. Not that easy.
During this season we're still going to face Bolivia[49th], Latvija[41st] and New Zealand[50th]. I expect myself to win all of these games + Malaysia tomorrow and every mistake will be very angrying...
I feel like we could've got 1 or 2 more goals today, but 5:1 is a decent result. 1 penalty out of 3 converted...
Drum's finishing in the beginning of the game was atrocious, at least he improved it as the game went on...
Drum's finishing in the beginning of the game was atrocious, at least he improved it as the game went on...
Bulgaria got totally battered by Poland today, that's some good news. We should diminish the rank difference a bit :).
As for other news, Barnes is the top scorer in our qualifications group :). And Erdogan is the top assistman - individual achievements are always something, right? :p
As for other news, Barnes is the top scorer in our qualifications group :). And Erdogan is the top assistman - individual achievements are always something, right? :p
individual achievements are always something, right? :p
Sure, why not? Taking something away however small is always acceptable :p.
Sure, why not? Taking something away however small is always acceptable :p.
Haha, if we aren't making it to the next stage, individual achievements are everything :)
:)
Well it looks like I made a mistake before the season, as I haven't agreed a friendly opponent for week 15...:P
But I managed to find someone - and it's not bad, I think. We'll face Canada.
From what I can see, they were supposed to play Scotland...but the Scots are facing Kypros - I have no idea what's going on, but hey - I'm cool with that. :p
Well it looks like I made a mistake before the season, as I haven't agreed a friendly opponent for week 15...:P
But I managed to find someone - and it's not bad, I think. We'll face Canada.
From what I can see, they were supposed to play Scotland...but the Scots are facing Kypros - I have no idea what's going on, but hey - I'm cool with that. :p
3:1 against Canada, even though we played with 10 players for whole second half. It will certainly improve our rank...
They almost qualified for the World Cup [out by 2 points] so it's a decent result. :)
They almost qualified for the World Cup [out by 2 points] so it's a decent result. :)
who's gibbage managing now? surprised he didnt come in and snort out some drivel if he's still managing canada :P
Oh come on. Give the ol' English guy some credit.
If he was coaching Canada we'd reach double digits :p
If he was coaching Canada we'd reach double digits :p