Our first look at Osieck offers some optimism

 
Tony Tannous Columnist

By , 5 Sep 2010 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

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While it’s far too early to jump to any broad conclusions, the Socceroos’ first steps under Holger Osieck were encouraging if not quite as green as the picturesque hills that surround St. Gallen.

While they were perhaps fortunate to finish level after Swiss legend and skipper Alexander Frei missed a second half penalty, the first half in particular showed that the Socceroos, when they can get control in the midfield, are bound to play are more pro-active game under the new manager.

Switzerland, as we saw at the World Cup and in previous tournament, are traditionally a conservative, counter-attacking side, but there is a new liberation in their football, encouraged by some excellent recent youth development and an influx of immigrants.

With youngsters of the ilk of Xherdan Shaqiri and Eren Derdiyok now coming through the national team, and Euro qualifiers pending, this was always going to be a big challenge for the Roos, and the second period proved exactly that.

With Ottmar Hitzfeld making four changes at the break and introducing plenty of forward run, the Socceroos looked shaky, rattled even, and were fortunate to survive a succession of chances. Mark Schwarzer, as usual, played a big role.

But what was produced in the first period was very positive, including the split in space between the two central midfielders.

Under Pim Verbeek the Socceroos two holding midfielders were often seen in a straight line, working close together, playing square or backward passes. Late last year I called for Verbeek to scatter his square lines, but it was advice he didn’t heed until it was far too late.

Here it was good to see Carl Valeri, as rusty as he was, playing deeper than Jason Culina, with the latter invariably providing an advanced, angled option, meaning the passing was inevitably of a forward and diagonal variety.

In the second period, as the Switzerland got on top, there was evidence of Culina and Valeri slipping back into old habits, where they got too close to each other, but that was as much down to the immense pressure applied by the likes of Shaqiri, Xavier Magairaz and Gelson Fernandes.

The other positive note from the first half was the sight of many bodies in forward motion.

The Socceroos played a 4-4-1-1, with Tim Cahill playing as the second striker close to Scott McDonald. With Brett Holman tucking in on the left, Brett Emerton also working a narrower channel on the right, and Culina more advanced than Valeri, it meant many bodies in forward motion and in support of McDonald.

The Middlesbrough striker may have missed another couple of golden opportunities to open his Socceroos account, but his overall performance in the first period was one of his better ones in green and gold, mainly due to him not being totally isolated.

While it might take a little more time to warm to Osieck’s want for him to play combination with likes of Cahill, Holman and Emerton, the exciting sight for McDonald was that when he did hold the ball up, and looked up, there were bodies nearby.

In the first half he had the too much run for Stephane Gritchting, but the introduction of Steve von Bergen at the break made life more difficult in the second.

Nevertheless, it was a spirited effort from the diminutive front-man, who looks as fit as he ever has.

How Osieck nurtures and encourages McDonald will be fascinating to observe, but the early signs are that he rates him. Ultimately though it will be the goals that decide how long the love lasts.

Osieck has spoken of giving everyone a clean start, so performances should ultimately do the talking. To that end, he would have put an early tick alongside most of the team, but a couple of question marks near the names Valeri and David Carney, who, in fairness, looked short of a gallop.

Meanwhile, both central defenders, Matthew Spiranovic and Lucas Neill had some good and not so great moments, but you sense they grew more comfortable as the game went on.

Spiranovic, for example, invariably wanted to play out, and should be applauded for that, while Neill, after making a clumsy challenge for the penalty, showed his experience in the dying minutes.

Osieck looks like the type that will build his team at his own pace, giving opportunities and rewarding performance.

He has indicated he will make changes for the Poland friendly on Wednesday morning (our time), seeking to have a look a few more players and how they handle the occasion.

It’s early days, but Osieck’s reign has begun in a positive way.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA
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