Taking a look at the Socceroos’ depth
Roar Guru
By Pippinu, 14 Aug 2009 Pippinu is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Socceroos, World Cup football
The Australian Socceroos during a training session at Ballymore. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Following on from the terrific result the Socceroos got yesterday morning against the Irish on their home ground, discussion amongst some Roar participants naturally turned to next year’s 23 man squad.
I know this subject has come up and recent months. All I can say is, expect it to keep coming up until the team is officially selected!
One reason for the current interest is the realisation that our depth is perhaps as good as it has ever been – and I mean in the history of the Socceroos.
That’s the good news.
But it also means that something like 10 to 12 players are going to be unlucky in missing the cut.
So as a discussion point, I decided to think of three current or potential Socceroos for every position, except for four strikers and four goalkeepers (4-2-3-1 formation), giving a list of 35 (the squad of 23 plus twelve emergencies).
I’ve shown the current age against each player for information. For the sake of convenience and clear presentation, where players are capable of more than one role, I’ve slotted them in where I think they fit best.
The only question I have for you is this: who would those twelve emergencies be?
Goalkeeper
Mark Schwarzer, 36
Adam Federici, 24
Brad Jones, 27
Michael Petkovic, 33
Right back
Brett Emerton, 30
Luke Wilkshire, 27
Rhys Williams, 21
Left back
Scott Chipperfield, 33
Dave Carney, 25
Shane Stefanutto, 29
Centre back
Lucas Neill, 31
Craig Moore, 33
Patrick Kisnorbo, 28
Matthew Spiranovic, 21
Adrian Madaschi, 27
Jade North, 26
Defensive mid
Vinnie Grella, 29
Jason Culina, 29
Mile Jedinak, 25
Jacob Burns, 31
Carl Valeri, 25
Billy Celeski, 24
Right mid
Mark Bresciano, 29
Richard Garcia, 27
Dario Vidosic, 22
Left mid
Harry Kewell, 30
Michael Zullo, 20
Aaron Mooy, 18
Central attacking mid
Timmy Cahill, 29
Brett Holman, 25
Nick Carle, 27
Striker
Josh Kennedy, 26
Scott McDonald, 25
Nikita Rukavytsya, 22
Bruce Djite, 22
This sort of presentation gives a good indication of the overall balance of the team and requires some tough decisions.
Some names are obviously making up the numbers at this point, and would be the first to drop off (Celeski and Zullo), unless they did something incredible in the A-League this season.
Others were very hard to fit in, such as Sterjovski and Coyne.
While others again are a chance to replace one of the three in a particular position. And I think Scott Jamieson would be in that category given the uncertainty surrounding that left back spot.
Anyway, no whining or complaining, this is merely to kick start discussion. So off to it!
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Gulf influence cripples the FFA again (40)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (3)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour?
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess
- Redknapp tight-lipped over England job
- Departing Lavicka has players’ respect
- Victory gain Spanish recruit for Mariners
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (3)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (0)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (0)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (1)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (15)
- Capello ‘walks’ from England’s top job (13)
- Why Manchester United are never really beaten (15)
- Explore:
- Socceroos, World Cup football
Midfielder said | August 14th 2009 @ 1:38am | Report comment
Just to add a couple more to your list Troisi, Holland, Simon, Burns Nathen(playing in Greece) , Inman, Beauchamp, Herd, Danning (SFC), Williams (Fury) … plus a heap of others
The squad is looking very deep
tifosi said | August 14th 2009 @ 5:30am | Report comment
Pip, i see you now have Guru status !!!
It seems Australia is finally developing a list of young players that will take us into the future.
Who Pim picks for his world cup squad will be very interesting to see.
dasilva said | August 14th 2009 @ 7:12am | Report comment
Yeah I agree with Midfielder that Troisi should be in that list. As far as I remember, Troisi started more matches and scored more goals then Bruce Djite last season when they were both playing at the same club.
He’s been unlucky to miss the squad.
James Holland is playing as a defensive midfielder for AZ Alkmaar Reserve team and was in the latest socceroos squad. So I probably drop off Celeski from contention and put James Holland there.
dasilva said | August 14th 2009 @ 7:47am | Report comment
Also I would put Sterjovski to be in front of Vidosic and Garcia as second choice right winger.
He is the type of player that performs better for the Socceroos then for their clubs and you got to respect his clinical finishing.
sheek said | August 14th 2009 @ 7:25am | Report comment
Just talking to a soccer-’expert’ work colleague this morning, it’s refreshing to see the ‘next’ generation starting to show their wares.
Unfortunately, our conversation was interrupted by an alarm turn-out. Hopefully, I can get the benefit of his knowledge later on.
Midfielder said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
You’re right Sheek the Goldern Generation (a name some have coined the current squad) is being replaced by some new boys who appear to be stepping up to the mark….
Kazama said | August 14th 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
Sorry to hijack your thread Guru Pip (will comment if I can find time today) but:
A reminder to all the Roarers that we have our own EPL fantasy league over at the official site. If anyone’s keen make sure you get your team in before the season starts tomorrow night! You too Pip!
The Roar Fantasy EPL 09/10 League – Code: 41532-13109
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
Pippinu said | August 14th 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
ok – I’m in!!
drew777 said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment
Some players seemed to be placed in wrong positions. ie:the attacking Celeski in a defensive holding role?
I think the key to this squad is having Kewell fit and in form. Everything seems to work better when he is on top of his game. I know it is sad to say, but Dukes is no longer needed in this squad. Yes, he holds the ball up well, but we have Kennedy who can do the same AND score more often. With McDonald there to add the pace if we need an injection, Viduka becomes obsolete.
My only concern is the fact that the squad is ageing. Most of the preferred players are around 30 upwards. I know we went through this when Popovic, Muscat, and the likes left, but I just do not see the immediate quality players waiting to replace the guys who are set to retire. After all, when Dukes left we were left very bare up front and our striking stocks were discussed for a long time. I recall The World Game holding lengthy discussions over how to best solve our striking problem.
Now I can’t help to wonder if the same will happen when some of the older guys leave the squad like Moore, Neil, Kewell, Cahill, Bresciano, Cullina, Emerton, Schwarzer, and Grella. Now that list makes up most of our first choice line up. 9 ageing players is a hell of a lot worse than 3 or 4 as it was when Poppers.
Pippinu said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:14am | Report comment
There are a stack of players around 29 to 31 (our very best are actually in that group) – all of them played together last WC and they will be the basis for the next squad.
So as far as next year’s WC campaign goes – I’d see that as a bit of a positive.
But this fact does get me thinking that the likes of Moore, Chippers and Dukes (all 33+), are going to struggle to make the squad – I would say that no more than one can get through just on the basis of maintaining some balance (depending on injuries, etc, so I wouldn’t rule them out completely).
We’ve said a few times before on this forum that there appears to be a bit of a generation gap around 24 to 28 years of age – and that might be telling in the next campaign.
Having said that, we appear to be quite blessed in the 21 to 23 age group – so maybe it won’t be a long term issue.
Olrac said | August 17th 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Considering that World Cups are 4 years apart if your age gap is in the right sequence you can get away with it.
The next qualifying campaign and the next asian cup should be made up of soley players who are going to play in 2014. This will allow us 4 years to develop a team, the players that are 33 and above at the end of this world cup should be told to expect allot less game time for the next 4 years. In fact I would go so far as to say they would be injury replacements only for younger players. That would be my direction if I was the post 2010 coach.
dasilva said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
I have very little faith in Kennedy holding the ball. When the ball goes to his feet at international levels. We tend to lose possession straight after.
Viduka is the best option in keeping possession at the opposing half and I believe all the style debate would have never been an issue if Viduka was available and playing.
Although saying that, I was very impressed with Scott Mcdonald performance against Ireland where he finally got the handle on the lone striker role. He kept possession, played off his team mate and did actually held the ball. The result, the most fluent attacking performance Australia has played under Pim Verbeek. If he keeps this type of performance up then maybe viduka would become redundant. It all depends if Scotty can maintain his performance.
Pippinu said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Das
I think we have to accept that it might be a long time before we see another bloke like Dukes in our ranks (who is without peer as a lone striker).
But I agree with you that Macca gave an excellent performance in that role the other night, and surprised me because I had written him off.
However, a word of caution, whether it’s Macca or Josh, it’s clear to me that they need Timmy behind him – no other Socceroo is capable of providing the same level of all round support in the CAM position as Timmy is.
Pippinu said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
I’ve actually had that Guru status for a while!!
Thanks to all for the suggestions and comments.
Holland – yes, replaces Celeski.
Troisi – yes, should be ahead of both Zullo and Mooy.
Burns – not sure about that one, probably still a touch early.
Sterjovski ahead of both Garcia and Vidosic? Ok – you’ve convinced me!!
As for some of the other names Mid put forward – I think they’re down the pecking order to be honest.
drew777 said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:10am | Report comment
EDIT:9 ageing players is a hell of a lot worse than 3 or 4 as it was when Poppers left.
drew777 said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
PIP- I agree that it is a positive that we get them all for next year, I’m just concerned for the future after that.
The gap is a bit concerning, but the squad does show some promise as you said
It will probably be more of a coaching issue that will determine how well we adjust to the sudden retirement of a few of our guys. How good the coach is will determine how well we adapt.
Pippinu said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:28am | Report comment
We often see this sort of thing in many team sports, where a group of older players retire very close to each other – so there may well be a period of transition that might last for a couple of years.
It might be a case of staggering the retirements as best as can be managed (some might finish at 31, others might keep going till 33, etc), and fast tracking talented youngsters (as we’ve seen with Rhys Williams, who could almost step in as the permanent right back tomorrow if we were desperate).
So yeh, there will probably be a period of heart ache – the question will be whether it affects us in the run into the 2014 qualifiers – very hard to know at this early stage.
AndyRoo said | August 14th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
There will be a lot of guys playing at this world cup who won’t be around for 2014, but thankfully we are involved in a lot more matches before then (an ACL campaign in between) to try and fill the gaps.
Kewell, Emerton, Chipperfield, Cahill, Neil, Schwarzer and Grella…. big shoes to fill but I am not so worried about it as (I was 12 months ago and as the next generation seem to be showing some positive signs.