35 minutes ago, Macca said:

Never trust a soccer score app

Honduras it is then!

The USA will be kicking themselves for missing out.  A couple of 'unusual' finishes to those Concacaf games ... hmmmm

Mexico and Costa Rica had qualified, so possibly tanking yes....Honduras is one of the most dangerous cities in the world..

10 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The return leg is in Sydney .. why I don't know

More importantly there are reports that Ange will resign in November .. win or lose

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/stunned-reaction-to-socceroos-coachs-plan-to-quit/news-story/6840e7416865f28294488a53e364a13e

Just saw that Chile failed to qualify ... wow

Yes, radio is reporting it as well. Would have resigned had we gone through earlier.....First time USA missed out since 1986 as well....bring back Guus.

6 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Yes, radio is reporting it as well. Would have resigned had we gone through earlier.....First time USA missed out since 1986 as well....bring back Guus.

Interesting comment by the US coach:

"I would love to see one of these hotshot teams from Europe come here and play in our CONCACAF qualifying and really get a taste of this and see what that's about," Arena said. "This is very challenging, it's like survival of the fittest. They could do one of those TV shows on this. Who will survive in the end, that's basically what this is."

7 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The return leg is in Sydney .. why I don't know

More importantly there are reports that Ange will resign in November .. win or lose

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/stunned-reaction-to-socceroos-coachs-plan-to-quit/news-story/6840e7416865f28294488a53e364a13e

Just saw that Chile failed to qualify ... wow

 

7 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Mexico and Costa Rica had qualified, so possibly tanking yes....Honduras is one of the most dangerous cities in the world..

Quite an eventful morning as it turned out  ...

• Argentina end up finishing 3rd after initially being a possibility of missing out completely
• Chile do miss out completely (they are ranked no.5 in the world rankings)
• The USA fail to qualify after a forgettable campaign.  Losing their last qualifying game to Trinidad & Tobago will have heads rolling.
• Panama qualify outright after scoring a 'very late goal' against Costa Rica
• Honduras book a playoff berth against the Socceroos after coming from behind (twice) and defeating Mexico.
• Peru & Colombia played out a draw which turned out to be an 'ideal' result for both teams.  Next up for Peru are the plucky Kiwi's

Meanwhile, over in Europe, the Dutch fail to qualify ... the Netherlands really are short on star quality these days but they'll be back soon enough.

And how about those Icelanders?  Won their group outright and therefore get direct qualification for Russia 2018.

I've worked out that we'll play Honduras on Friday the 10th November just after noon AEDT.  (might be 1.00pm or 2.00pm our time)  We're 17 hours ahead of their time zone. 

And the return leg will almost certainly be on Tuesday the 14th November in Sydney.  8pm kick off.

ESPN FC Podcast ... The USA Fails to Qualify for Russia 2018 - The Recriminations Begin

2 hours ago, Macca said:

 

Quite an eventful morning as it turned out  ...

• Argentina end up finishing 3rd after initially being a possibility of missing out completely
• Chile do miss out completely (they are ranked no.5 in the world rankings)
• The USA fail to qualify after a forgettable campaign.  Losing their last qualifying game to Trinidad & Tobago will have heads rolling.
• Panama qualify outright after scoring a 'very late goal' against Costa Rica
• Honduras book a playoff berth against the Socceroos after coming from behind (twice) and defeating Mexico.
• Peru & Colombia played out a draw which turned out to be an 'ideal' result for both teams.  Next up for Peru are the plucky Kiwi's

Meanwhile, over in Europe, the Dutch fail to qualify ... the Netherlands really are short on star quality these days but they'll be back soon enough.

And how about those Icelanders?  Won their group outright and therefore get direct qualification for Russia 2018.

I've worked out that we'll play Honduras on Friday the 10th November just after noon AEDT.  (might be 1.00pm or 2.00pm our time)  We're 17 hours ahead of their time zone. 

And the return leg will almost certainly be on Tuesday the 14th November in Sydney.  8pm kick off.

wow the Netherlands failed to qualify? But the beat Sweden 2-1 so i thought theyd be ok?...The Orange will be devastated!!..Will be a strange world cup without them.....(and us).

I had a friend who went to Honduras, had some interesting stories to tell.....hope the team has a good hotel!

Go Iceland!

Edited October 11, 20177 yr by Wadda We Sing

Interesting that Optus are running another free trial, the second one is as many months. Must be struggling with subscriptions.

And @Macca this might explain the mystery of the TalkSport on/off situation, as it’s definitely been unavailable this weekend, even through the website, presumably to protect the Optus promotion. 

On 10/16/2017 at 12:18 AM, Grapeviney said:

Interesting that Optus are running another free trial, the second one is as many months. Must be struggling with subscriptions.

And @Macca this might explain the mystery of the TalkSport on/off situation, as it’s definitely been unavailable this weekend, even through the website, presumably to protect the Optus promotion. 

Not sure we're going to get the audio coverage back in a hurry GV ... I've got a tunein subscription and they don't do the games either. 

The thinking is archaic - the EPL is one of the most in-demand leagues in world sport and we can't even get radio coverage.

On Tunein radio I can listen to any NHL,  NBA,  MLB or NFL game anywhere,  anytime ... but no EPL. 

Edited October 29, 20177 yr by Macca

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Not sure we're going to get the audio coverage back in a hurry GV ... I've got a tunein subscription and they don't do the games either. 

The thinking is archaic - the EPL is one of the most in-demand leagues in world sport and we can't even get radio coverage.

On Tunein radio I can listen to any NHL,  NBA,  MLB or NFL game anywhere,  anytime ... but no EPL. 

It's pathetic Macca, bloody frustrating - I think I'm going to write to them and complain and see if it can't be rectified. I've tried through TuneIn too. As you say, it's amateurish from arguably the number 1 comp in the world. You'd think that if the local rights-holder (in this case EON) falls over, there'd be some provision for it to revert to TalkSport as the principal rights holder.  

Did you watch our Cup tie earlier in the week? Not all that dissimilar to the PL fixture a few weeks back, except this time the Hammers were able to complete the comeback. The shift in momentum was huge after the break. Probably helped Bilic earn a stay of execution, although I see you dropped 2 points in the dying seconds last night against Palace.

Was a good night on the telly last night, with the Man U v Spurs game followed by Milan v Juve and then Bayern v Leipzig. 

53 minutes ago, Grapeviney said:

It's pathetic Macca, bloody frustrating - I think I'm going to write to them and complain and see if it can't be rectified. I've tried through TuneIn too. As you say, it's amateurish from arguably the number 1 comp in the world. You'd think that if the local rights-holder (in this case EON) falls over, there'd be some provision for it to revert to TalkSport as the principal rights holder.  

Did you watch our Cup tie earlier in the week? Not all that dissimilar to the PL fixture a few weeks back, except this time the Hammers were able to complete the comeback. The shift in momentum was huge after the break. Probably helped Bilic earn a stay of execution, although I see you dropped 2 points in the dying seconds last night against Palace.

Was a good night on the telly last night, with the Man U v Spurs game followed by Milan v Juve and then Bayern v Leipzig. 

In the 97th minute too ... but I'm well used to it after all these years.  The ambition is often just to stay up and the incremental achievements are to take points off the big clubs (which we did to great effect in the 2015/16 season)

Bilic hasn't got a lot to work with but he's close to being sacked anyway ... that's just the way soccer works.  It's nothing personal in many ways,  it's just win or you're out.  And in soccer it's always about winning now. 

I know of plenty here that follow teams that are no longer in the top division (Leeds,  Forest,  Derby et al) so I'm hoping that we can survive (again)

The games on the telly have been terrific ... Spurs really missed Harry Kane last night.  He's not easily replaced and he's so good that he is irreplaceable for a team like Tottenham.

8 hours ago, Macca said:

 ... Spurs really missed Harry Kane last night.  He's not easily replaced and he's so good that he is irreplaceable for a team like Tottenham.

Thought we were probably the better team on the day but there were few chances at either end, and they were able to capitalise on what was really our only defensive lapse of the game. The riddle of replacing Kane continues to plague Poch - Llorente has failed to fire so far, much like Janssen last year. Son is quality but not an outright striker. 

Edited October 29, 20177 yr by Grapeviney

2 minutes ago, Grapeviney said:

Thought we were probably the better team on the day but there were few chances at either end, and they were able to capitalise on what was really our only defensive lapse of the game. The riddle of replacing Kane continues to plague Poch - Llorente has failed to fire so far, much like Jannsen last year. Son is quality but not an outright striker. 

I reckon the thinking when playing a top team away from home is that you have to score twice in order to have a realistic chance at getting points from the game.  That's a generalisation though. 

Mourinho is the master at achieving a 1-0 victory with a late winner.  He's happy for his teams to sit back even at home.  I see United only had 45% of possession. 

Man City are the team to beat all the same - 28 points from 10 games with a +29 goal difference already.  They don't really look like faltering but you never know

6 hours ago, Macca said:

 

Man City are the team to beat all the same - 28 points from 10 games with a +29 goal difference already.  They don't really look like faltering but you never know

Would love to see them play PSG in the Champions League at some stage, goals galore. 

That's a huge win by Spurs over Real in the Champions league ... 4 of the teams from England won.  Chelsea lost but are still well placed with Atletico only sitting on 3 points after 4 games.

Juve & Barca dropped points unexpectedly but the big losers are Dortmund.  Some interesting results to say the least.

 

As it turns out we're playing Honduras on Saturday morning (9.00am) AEDT.  The return leg in Australia will be played on Wednesday 15th Nov (8.00pm)  An ideal outcome would see us score multiple goals and win in Honduras.  Easier said than done though.

Cahill traveled to Honduras but they're saying that he is a doubtful starter ... I reckon he'll start on the bench otherwise why take him all the way over there?  Jedinak has made himself available so that's good news.

The other 2-leg knockout games in Europe played next weekend offer up some interesting encounters ... Italy should progress but they face a dangerous Sweden.  The other match-ups could go either way ... Croatia/Greece,  Northern Ireland/Switzerland & Denmark/Ireland. 

 

 

Cahill to Honduras is a strange move......

Mind games with the other side is all I can think of.

Conditions in Honduras will be a killer with kick off temp around 30 and humidity at 80%.

Not confident at all given the lack lustre performance against Syria. Would like to think otherwise but Sydney could be a dead rubber if we go down 3-0 which is not impossible.

This game of all out attack and then stop and wait 30 metres out from goal just does not strike me as a sound game plan in these play off games.

The Kruse knockers at least will be silent. Time for Juric to shine if we are to go anywhere.

I know it is a long way off but what is the time zone for the World Cup in Russia.

Would be fantastic if we could have a 4pm game local Melbourne time (record and watch ) followed by a 7pm game. In these days of mass internet coverage it is hard to avoid results if the games are played overnight our time.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Cahill to Honduras is a strange move......

Mind games with the other side is all I can think of.

Conditions in Honduras will be a killer with kick off temp around 30 and humidity at 80%.

Not confident at all given the lack lustre performance against Syria. Would like to think otherwise but Sydney could be a dead rubber if we go down 3-0 which is not impossible.

This game of all out attack and then stop and wait 30 metres out from goal just does not strike me as a sound game plan in these play off games.

The Kruse knockers at least will be silent. Time for Juric to shine if we are to go anywhere.

I know it is a long way off but what is the time zone for the World Cup in Russia.

Would be fantastic if we could have a 4pm game local Melbourne time (record and watch ) followed by a 7pm game. In these days of mass internet coverage it is hard to avoid results if the games are played overnight our time.

Moscow & St Petersburg are 7 hours behind (AEST) but there are a number of games played where the city involved is up to 5 hours behind AEST.  And that's the maximum time difference if the games listed on Wiki are accurate. 

In a nutshell,  the games will be kicking off predominately between 10pm & 4am AEST.  I'll be watching the evening games and then watching the early morning games on delay. 

All the round of 16,  quarter finals & semi finals will be played at midnight or 4.00am  ... the final will be played at 1.00am (Monday morning) All times are AEST.  

There's a chance I might be an hour out with those times but I'm working on what the time zone differences will be in June/July of 2018.

2018 FIFA World Cup Group Stage

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited November 7, 20177 yr by Macca

15 minutes ago, Macca said:

Moscow & St Petersburg are 7 hours behind (AEST) but there are a number of games played where the city involved is up to 5 hours behind AEST.  And that's the maximum time difference if the games listed on Wiki are accurate. 

In a nutshell,  the games will be kicking off predominately between 9pm & 4am AEST.  I'll be watching the evening games and then watching the early morning games on delay. 

2018 FIFA World Cup Group Stage

Thanks Macca ....not too bad... could be a lot worse.

I was thinking of going over for a few of the early matches. Doesn't need to be an Oz game.

I am very much an independent traveller so if anyone has ideas of how you do it would be very grateful.

Well .... tomorrow is a big morning for Oz soccer.

Have really no idea how we will go. Honduras sound as though they will play a relatively attacking game which could make for an interesting outcome given the Australian game plan.

One of the things that concerned me in the Syria games is the ease with which we lost the ball on occasions and the number of times our players were beaten in one on ones when Syria had the ball. I had expected us to have the edge in skills.

Good article here in the Guardian on Rogic.

About time Australia took its chances .... How Juric missed twice in Melaka was almost comical.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/09/socceroos-conservative-movement-fails-to-free-up-game-changer-tom-rogic

The next slab of tickets go on sale for the world cup next week. I am hoping to get series tickets for Yetkatarinburg or Kazan. If successful my son and I will be off for the first round of games. The accommodation costs for the 2-3 weeks (Airbnb) are very reasonable.

Here's a decent preview of tomorrow's game from foxsports ...

Ange Postecoglou has never played a game missing Leckie, Milligan, Kruse and Cahill (the link to the article contains a 52 minute podcast featuring various pundits)

Quote

Possible Socceroos XI: Ryan; Sainsbury, Degenek, Jurman; Risdon, Jedinak (c), Mooy; Behich; Luongo, Irvine/Rogic; Juric.

 

 

Im sorry, but the Socceroos are a lot like the Dees....go missing in the crunch games unfortunately A fully fit Cahill and i may have felt different, we will see if he gets on the pitch at all i guess......I really give us no chance this morning. 0-0 is an outside chance.

1 hour ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Im sorry, but the Socceroos are a lot like the Dees....go missing in the crunch games unfortunately A fully fit Cahill and i may have felt different, we will see if he gets on the pitch at all i guess......I really give us no chance this morning. 0-0 is an outside chance.

We had the better of the first half but the opposition are not very good at all ... Honduras are rated 69 in the world for a reason. 

Juric should have scored but the pitch is not a good one.  Ball bobbling quite a bit.  Aaron Mooy has been great. 

Need to run out the game and hopefully score a goal or 2 ... and keep them goalless.  The conditions are in the home team's favour though.  You'd take a 0 - 0 scoreline,  all things considered. 

Nil All

I'll take it but hell... we just cannot convert !!

Heaven help if we end in a penalty shoot out on Tuesday night

Edited November 10, 20177 yr by Diamond_Jim

3 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Nil All

I'll take it but hell... we just cannot convert !!

Heaven help if we end in a penalty shoot out on Tuesday night

What are you worried about DJ? 

Honduras are bog ordinary and their record away from home is poor.

I'll be disappointed if we don't win on Wednesday ... Cahill will probably prove the difference, 

Had to go out this morning so I only caught snippets on the radio. Hopefully can find a replay.

The trouble is Macca in most of the qualifying games we have been better than the opposition but we are where we are because we cannot score goals.

Looking forward to Wednesday but hell I hope we score first.

Big news re Italy possibly missing out. That return match will be one for the ages.