Is Arnie not letting players back into the Roos?

 
Davidde Corran Columnist

By , 20 Jan 2010 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert

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Olyroos coach Graham Arnold. Photo AAP Images

There was a curious piece of television on SBS’ The World Game program on Sunday and I’m not just talking about the awkward yet hilarious piece of producing that left host David Basheer blushing 4:43 into this segment.

During Les Murray’s Football Focus, Les and Craig Foster took a look at Australia’s defence and in particular the centre back pairing.

It was astonishing to hear that thirteen different combinations have been used in that position by coach Pim Verbeek in his 26 games in charge of the Socceroos.

When Murray and Foster were considering playing options for the position, Eddy Bosnar’s name came up. They also pondered why Bosnar has never been selected during Pim Verbeek’s tenure and it’s a good question.

Now, there have been a lot of misconceptions about Bosnar right throughout his career. For starters, there are those who think Bosnar is arrogant and has an over-inflated opinion of himself.

Meanwhile, the lumbering defender’s supporters tend to hold him in some kind of imaginary regard as a flawless footballer without having ever seen him play.

As my fellow Roar colleague Mike Tuckerman has written a number of times, Bosnar is prone to the occasional lapse in concentration. The thing is, and this is where Bosnar challenges his doubters, the former Everton defender will readily admit to them.

I spent an afternoon with Bosnar in Tokyo last year, and during that time, he came across as both a generous and decent bloke.

For what it’s worth, there is a perception amongst English journalists that despite them being, rich footballers are tight. Well. I’ve found that not to be true for Australian footballers in Europe who always seem determined to pick up the bill and give you lifts around town.

Bosnar was no exception. But I digress.

At the time, both on and off the record, the then JEf United Chiba defender was honest about his football talents and what he could offer the Socceroos. He knew he was never going to go to a World Cup, but if he could help the team in some way, he’d be willing.

It’s no secret that Bosnar wasn’t happy with how things ended with the Socceroos back during Frank Farina’s time in charge. But why would that have an effect now?

I suspect the answer might be Farina’s old mate, assistant coach Graham Arnold.

Bosnar has never mentioned anything about Arnold, but a couple other former Socceroos have. Over the last few months two separate former players have said to me in private that they don’t ever expect to make it back into the national team because they’ve had problems with Arnold.

Jesse Fink wrote about the issue recently for The World Game. Other then making a nice little South Park reference, Fink was alarmed by Neil Kilkenny’s absence from any national team squad since he fell out with Arnold during the Olyroos insipid campaign at the Beijing Olympics.

Seeing as Kilkenny recently bossed Manchester United’s midfield around the park, it’s a valid point.

As Fink wrote, “the Socceroos are stacked with options (in Kilkenny’s position) and this could theoretically explain his continued freezing out from the national team. But I’m not buying it.

“Kilkenny’s playing regular first-team football. Yes, for a League One team, but that hasn’t stopped Kisnorbo or Chris Coyne (at Colchester) before him from getting opportunities with the Socceroos.

“And table-topping Leeds, barring calamity, are on their way back to the Championship next season and, after that, possibly the Premiership.

“Are Kilkenny’s talents really that superfluous that he’s not even in the mix for World Cup selection?”

As Arnold has always been the linkman between the players and the coaching staff, as well as the man who sets up and conducts sessions at training, it would make sense that those ‘Arnie’ doesn’t fancy, won’t get a look in.

We might not be talking about world-beaters, but they are players who could help come March’s game against Indonesia. We’ve never heard from Arnold on the issue, but the players on the outer certainly feel like they’ve become “Arnie’s outcasts”.

If they’re right, then it’s a pity that the Socceroos’ squad selections still aren’t exempt from the politics that has dogged the national team for so long.

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