We’re still not doing the business.

The first half against the Uzbeks was a lot better. We had our best midfield trio back – Irvine, Baccus and McGree – Atkinson at right back was decent going forward – and Kusini Yengi was a handful with his aggressive running.

McGree, in particular, helped make us look a lot more dangerous going forward (despite missing our two best chances in open play). 

But we’re still not clicking. The link between the midfield and the front three is not working. They don’t see each other’s runs… or they don’t make the runs… passes don’t find their man… and we don’t have anyone who can consistently beat a man. Boyle looks like he’s lost his pace, but never seems to get the ball in any case.

Our set pieces continue to fly all over the shop.

That’s all bad enough but there were issues at the back just as concerning. The usually accurate Harry Souttar misplaced a number of passes in the second half that put us straight under pressure. Fortunately he redeemed himself immediately with some outstanding tackling (just as well).

Aziz Behich has looked shaky all tournament and last night was caught ball watching for the Uzbek equaliser. But why didn’t Ryan come for that ball?

It was lofted in and met by the scorer (Turgunboyev) only three metres out. An international goalkeeper has to command his six yard box. Has to.

Mat Ryan also had another one of his unnecessary scampers out of the box to head a ball away. He almost certainly would have caught it on the bounce if he’d waited on the edge of the area. Stays on his line when he shouldn’t and races out of the box when he shouldn’t… He gives me the fear sometimes, but it’s not ideal to be switching keepers mid-tournament (in the absence of injury).

We didn’t deserve to win that game and could well have lost it.

We were lucky to get the penalty (I would have been screaming if we’d conceded that) and were toothless all second half. If that had been a knockout match, we would have been swamped in extra time. Irvine and Baccus tackled everything but the Uzbek tide was rising all second half. All potential future opponents would have watched that match with glee.

Arnie (and his players) keep saying how hard it is to play in Asia and people don’t appreciate how well they’ve done to top the group etc. The point is… we’re not playing well. I could accept that the opposition and conditions were difficult if we at least looked like we understood the system and could do the basics like: control the ball; pass the ball to one of our players etc. We put ourselves under so much pressure when we can’t do even that.

I’ve already had a couple of whinges about Arnie leaving out creative players (like Arzani, Kuol and Irankunda) but looking at the players he does have at his disposal, who is really capable of playing with intelligence, and to a coherent system, and creating chances?

My team for the next match would be:

   Ryan

   Souttar Burgess Rowles

Atkinson                         Bos

    Baccus            Irvine

               McGree

     Yengi               Goodwin

A change of formation is also risky mid-tournament but I’d want to maximise the pace and creativity, while also keeping the door locked at the back. If Bos and Atkinson could bomb forward with confidence we’d have plenty of attacking options, while likely to dominate the midfield also.

Later you could bring on Fornaroli, Metcalfe, O’Neill, Tilio and maybe Miller if we want to use his long throw.

Then again, maybe it’s not the formation that needs to be changed. Maybe we just need to start using the one we’ve got?

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) was published by Hague Publishing in July 2023. The ebook can be purchased here and the paperback can be ordered here or at your local store.