In part two of our exclusive interview with Tony Popovic, the Subway Socceroos head coach speaks about the philosophy he is trying to instil in his players, imparting clear and concise messages, while providing some insight into his preferred formation.
The 51-year-old also commented on the recent Subway Socceroos moves during the January Transfer Window and admitted although the long-term injuries to a pair of important defenders were not ideal, it presents an opportunity for someone else to step up.
Read the transcript below or watch the full chat in the player above.
On his satisfaction with players adapting to the new system
I don't know whether you're ever fully satisfied. It's something different, but a lot of the players have played in a similar way, especially overseas for the boys in Europe. There are always different parts to the ideas and the playing style in terms of what type of personnel you have in certain positions. And we're working through learning about the players and what their strengths are within that, also understanding we need the results. So we just want to execute our game plan the best way we can. And we really believe that doing this will enable us to get to the World Cup and also give us a chance to build on that playing style and take it to another level when we get to the World Cup.
Describing the formation
I think a formation is just something on paper. We know what we want to get out of it with the ball and where we can really exploit teams and really utilise the talent that we have within the group, where our strengths are. You can look at it and say it's a back five at times, but we are at times five against five at the back. So are we supposed to leave an overload for the opposition and not go five v five? At other times, that's a starting position. A lot of the time we actually move into a back four, but maybe that's not quite noticeable, but we're actually doing that quite often throughout a game. Our shape actually changes throughout the match as well. But the starting base, the point of it, is that we build in a three. We build with wing backs high, we build with our 10s or two strikers, which is varied in certain games, and then we try and find those spaces and get those players that we believe are our creative players on the ball, and be able to get a lot more numbers in the box due to that. So that's the idea of it.
Of course, we want to remain hard to beat, and we want to be tough for the opponent to break us down. I think in general, we've shown that and got through some difficult moments through games and I think the basis is there to build on. Of course, there are many layers throughout the playing style that we'd like to build, but we understand it's international football but that's not an excuse that we can't bring out enough of our ideas that can be shown in the game. I'm confident that we'll add a couple more layers to our game in March.
Importance of succinct and key messages
There are maybe 20 or 30 things you'd like to talk about and bring but I think it's important that we have three or four key messages, key points that we're trying to master, in terms of our non-negotiables with the ball. Whether that's in our build-up, our middle third or front third, and vice versa. Whether it's our pressing, whether we're starting in structure, how high our line is, when do we press, when do we change shape within that structure.
So we're trying to make that as simple as possible, but if we can perfect those - that's why I alluded to earlier - we can then add a few more layers to our game. So really March will be about reinforcing our play, because it's been a four-month gap. Hopefully, by the second game, we can add a few more layers and then in June, with a shorter gap between the games, that it will still be very fresh in the players' minds and we can add some more to our football.
But we obviously have each area covered in terms of what we're looking for, for the players to understand it quite clearly, and also that it's fluid enough that they can be in different positions, as long as it's filled by someone else. So we want to give them that freedom as well, in particular with the ball.
Injuries to crucial players provides opportunity
Obviously they're [Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati] two very good footballers, key members of the Socceroos prior to my arrival and moving forward they will be. They're younger players, so they have a bright future, we're looking forward to working with them. But at the moment they have longer-term injuries, and we have to cover that. It just gives an opportunity for other players. We showed that in October and November players got a chance that maybe didn't have that opportunity previously. I'm expecting some new faces again and hoping once more, that another player can come through due to good form, playing well for their clubs, and that they can take the next step of playing with the Socceroos and playing at an even higher level.
Reaction to Jason Geria's transfer and return to the National Team
I'm very happy for him, very lucky to have worked with him [at Melbourne Victory] and got to know him as a person, and he's always had a strong belief and confidence in himself. He's a humble person, but full of belief that he can reach another level in his football and should really inspire a lot of players. Jason's in his early 30s now and making a move to the J1 League. He was in the J2 League several years ago, where it didn't quite work out for him. And many players think that that's it, and the door's closed, but not Jason.
Jason's really knuckled down and tried to be the best version of himself, and very open to learning, improving, growing as a person. He became a lot more mature, became a leader in my time with him, working with him, and I thought he thoroughly deserved to get called up for the Socceroos. I had no doubt that he could perform at that really high level, and I'm sure that contributed to a J1 League club and probably more clubs being interested in his services. And I look forward to seeing how he can progress now at another level in terms of the J1 League.
Nestory Irankunda's loan to Grasshopper Club Zurich and Kye Rowles' switch to DC United
I'm happy for both players, obviously two different situations. We've got one very young player that's looking to get game time in senior football, looking to progress, looking to learn. He's gone again, out of his comfort zone so that's a credit to him, another different league, a big club - so there'll be pressure again. We're hoping to see him train consistently, which can enable him to play more consistently, so that's a challenge for Nestory.
Kye's (Rowles) had a wonderful time at Hearts. Very durable, very consistent, you're always guaranteed you're getting a solid six out of 10 from him and above. He's earned this move and he seems very happy to make another change, a different culture, a different type of league, but very happy for him, and hopefully we'll see his game progress even further.
