While last week’s Socceroos clash was essentially a dead rubber, with little riding on the result, there was much to be gained from the performance and, for Holger Osieck, a few areas that needed sorting after disappointing performances on the past two match-days.
On that count, he will have been pleased with the reaction of the players given a chance here, particularly with the performances from Mark Bresciano, Alex Brosque and Mark Milligan.
Chief among the manager’s headaches leading into the Saudi Arabia clash was the need to find a solution to the puzzle that has become his central midfield. Primarily, he was looking for a way to start controlling games through more efficient use of the ball.
I’d suggested, in my column last week, that Nicky Carle might have been given the opportunity to play the role ahead of the holding midfielder, somewhat of a deeper sitting playmaker who primarily keeps the ball moving and consistently brings the front-two and wide players into the game.
I had also suggested, a little further down, that Bresciano might be given an opportunity in the deeper playmaker role, and that’s how Osieck decided to go.
On the surface it looked a sound call, for Bresciano is arguably one of the best technicians we’ve produced, never shy of asking for the ball, and knowing what to do with it when he has it.
While we’ve been more accustomed to seeing him play in wider areas in recent years, there were times when Guus Hiddink used him centrally, to great effect.
The subtle difference though between Hiddink’s deployment and Osieck’s here was that Hiddink often had more bodies around Bresciano.
Hiddink would often congest the midfield, getting everyone nice and close to each other, thus not exposing any defensive frailties.
Here Bresciano was playing in a 4-4-1-1, with much space between every player in the formation. Defending becomes a crucial element in such a scenario, and there were times when the Saudis did expose Bresciano’s work in reverse gear.
As the astute observer and regular reader Peter Kandy pointed out over the weekend, against better sides this might be further exposed.
But it was for his ability to contribute to the Roos attack that Bresciano was brought in, and Osieck will have been delighted with this aspect.
Playing early balls, always looking to feed the movement of Brosque and Harry Kewell, getting between the midfield and defensive lines, Bresciano was often found feeding the ball into space, allowing Brosque in particular to move onto it.
There was a real symmetry about the way the two B’s combined, with Bresciano recognising that Brosque had the pace to get beyond the Saudi defence if he could find the ball.
No doubt Bresciano was pumped up and keen to prove to Roos fans and Osieck his best days weren’t behind him.
It’s been a few years since we’ve seen him have such an influence over an international, but the big test will come against better opposition, once the initial buzz of returning to the fold has worn off.
Behind him in the centre of midfield came an impressive performance from Milligan, one which perhaps throws down the gauntlet to the incumbent holding midfielders, Mile Jedinak and Carl Valeri.
While the other two have undoubted strengths around tactical discipline and ball winning, what Milligan showed at AAMI Park is some decent composure on the ball.
While he missed a couple of early passes as Australia sat back and absorbed, he soon settled into a passing rhythm once the Roos got on the front foot.
Defensively I thought he was excellent, providing strong cover in front of Lucas Neill and Sash Ognenovski.
For a utility, Milligan proved he can do a job, and Osieck must be tempted to have another look at him in the same role soon.
Making the central midfielder’s job somewhat easier, from both a defensive and attacking perspective, was the work of Brosque up front.
Whether it was in sprinting back in transition to press the opposition or springing forward into space with a blistering burst of pace, Brosque was a bundle of effervescence.
Having missed out, unjustly I felt, on more minutes in Muscat and Bangkok, Brosque proved to Osieck what he had missed, taking his chances clinically.
On this form, he should be in the starting 11 when the next phase of qualifiers comes around, even with the likes of Josh Kennedy, Brett Holman and Tim Cahill back in the mix.
Elsewhere, there were some excellent contributions from the experienced trio Neill, Kewell and Archie Thompson, the latter having quite the impact off the bench.
Yet, for all the positives, Osieck is no nearer to finding out who his number one left back is, with Matt Spiranovic looking uncomfortable there.
As he builds towards the next phase, with the Socceroos opponents to be determined on Friday, Osieck still has a bit to ponder, but he will at least do it knowing a couple more players have stepped up and asked to be a big part of his plans.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
A good performance from Michael Ruhs, scoring twice to beat Macarthur and doubling his season goal tally in the process.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Mathew Ryan's tenure at AZ Alkmaar appears to be over, as the Eredivisie side are seemingly moving on from the 93-time Socceroo. The decision…
One down 49 to go. Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi raised some eyebrows this week when he declared himself to be the talisman striker the…
