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Ange Postecoglou’s 46-man Asian Cup squad is a big one to sift through, but if one thing’s clear about the personnel, it’s that Ange can go one of two ways.
The first is to stick to the known, tested and safe. The second is to blood new talent and continue on the road to fulfilling a clear philosophy, while still fielding a strong squad.
Winning the Asian Cup would be a huge achievement, and despite advantage on home soil it cannot be underestimated how hard it will be to win the tournament.
Competing nations are a lot stronger than they were four years ago when the Socceroos made the final, and there will be no easy games.
Some quarters are therefore calling for Ange to stick with our strongest squad, while others want him to keep an eye on the future.
But the strongest squad doesn’t necessarily include the safe and established names. There’s a chance here to pick a group of players that will be both progressive and competitive.
Experience doesn’t mean better, uncapped doesn’t mean incapable.
If there’s one man that can instil confidence into the inexperienced players it’s Postecoglou. He gives his charges the ability to play in a fluid system that allows expression. Therefore, he should select those who can and want to play football.
Based on previous squads, however, Ange’s selections are pretty much set in stone. While he’s has been brave at times, he hasn’t been brave enough. It’s to be seen whether he is willing to continue the revolution and make some tough, necessary calls.
Rhys Williams, Josh Kennedy and Adam Taggart are almost certainly ruled out through fitness, while Bailey Wright could also be added to that list.
With those players not considered, this is the squad Postecoglou should select, bearing in mind there must be cover for each position.
The back five
Goalkeepers: Ryan, Langerak and Galekovic
Defenders: Sainsbury, Spiranovic, Topor-Stanley, Wilkinson, Behich, Smith, Franjic, Brillante
If we’re looking at three goalkeepers, Mat Ryan and Mitchell Langerak are certainties along with either Eugene Galekovic or Adam Federici. Galekovic should win this battle as he’s more suited to playing out from the back.
There has to be four centre backs, and Trent Sainsbury, Matthew Spiranovic and Alex Wilkinson will get the nod. If Curtis Good had been fit, he would’ve have been in there as a definite. Nikolai Topor-Stanley or Ryan McGowan will likely pip Bailey Wright, who is still fighting for fitness and hasn’t played since October.
Aziz Behich deserves to start the tournament as first-choice left back, with Ivan Franjic a certainty on the other flank. The cover for those positions is debatable though.
Josh Brillante can play midfield and right back, and though he has not been getting game time at Fiorentina his versatility shines brighter than Chris Herd’s, who has also failed to get minutes in England.
It would be ideal to see Brad Smith cover Behich, mainly down to Jason Davidson’s lack of match practice at West Brom. Smith was at least playing regularly at the start of the season with Swindon Town, though Davidson appears to hold favour with Postecoglou.
Centre of the pitch
Midfield: Jedinak, Brattan, Antonis, Luongo, Amini, De Silva
With Brillante in the team, only two further defensive midfielders are necessary. That leaves Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan as the obvious options. Including Carl Valeri would be very short-sighted.
However, I’ve expressed concern about the Jedinak-Milligan partnership before, and I’ll repeat myself. It would be great to see a shake-up.
Luke Brattan has to be welcomed into the set-up. People are often quick to criticise his apparent lack of speed in decision-making but he’s been a bright light in an ordinary Brisbane Roar side this season. His long balls are exquisite and his all-round passing range is top class.
Terry Antonis appears to be Australia and Postecoglou’s golden child at the moment and deserves a chance. Unfortunately, I don’t see Postecoglou completing blindsiding Milligan, especially as he’s the obvious replacement if Jedinak succumbs to injury.
If that’s the case, Brattan should be chosen over Antonis – a very tough decision – but the latter is a more probable choice. Oliver Bozanic and James Holland miss out.
As much as it pains me to say this, Marco Bresciano’s time has almost come to an end. It’s damning of our current stocks that a 34-year-old is still our best bet in the number 10 role. Marco’s class hasn’t subsided, but his fitness has. His skillset would be sorely missed if dropped, but there are alternatives.
Massimo Luongo has proven his worth, and is almost guaranteed a spot in Postecoglou’s team. Yet there is still a lot left to be desired in the creative stakes, which was one flaw in Brazil.
Matt McKay deserved his return to the national set-up this year, but I still don’t see him as a superior option as an attacking midfielder. The team is in desperate need of creative sparks who can play killer passes.
That’s where the uncapped Daniel De Silva and Mustafa Amini come in. There may be calls of derision that two youngsters can’t fit into the team so quickly for such an important tournament, and there will be inevitable calls for the inclusion of Aaron Mooy and Mitch Nichols, who have had solid campaigns this year.
But if you’re good enough, you’re old enough and De Silva and Amini can step up to the challenge. Both represent the future of the Socceroos, and they’ll be able to handle the pressure.
De Silva can offer something exciting off the bench, and A-League fans have seen his ability first hand. Amini, meanwhile, has been in the background after an injury-plagued time at Borussia Dortmund.
But this season he’s kicked on, and has been a mainstay in the Dortmund reserves. He also captained the Olyroos at the recent tournament in China, scoring a high pressure 90th minute penalty against Brazil.
Again, if Postecoglou doesn’t cut Bresciano, there’s only one spot left. Given Amini can play as a six or an eight, and has experience as a 10 during his time with the Central Coast Mariners, he gets the nod, though it’s a dying shame to omit De Silva.
Postecoglou may also choose to play it safe with McKay, however, in which case Amini would also miss out.
Attacking third
Forwards: Cahill, Juric, Kruse, Oar, Leckie, Halloran
Similar to Bresciano and Milligan, Tim Cahill is in some ways putting a halt on progression plans. We are aware he won’t last forever, but we can’t let him go all the same.
But unlike Bresciano and Milligan, there is no genuine replacement for Cahill at the moment, and that’s why his selection is a no-brainer.
He scores goals, simple as that. He’s proved it time and again, and his personality and leadership will be key in the Asian Cup. To suggest he should be left out of the 23 is simply ludicrous.
It is true, though, that Postecoglou’s revolution cannot truly begin with Cahill on the field. But the objective is to win the Asian Cup and so Cahill must be there. If the Socceroos make the final it should be his last game, however.
Tommy Juric is clearly the best option as Cahill’s understudy, and Ange needs to get him up to speed with the national set-up. Robbie Kruse is another shoe-in, and his increasing game time at Bayer Leverkusen is very positive.
Mathew Leckie is in blistering form at FC Ingolstadt, and another automatic choice. Tommy Oar will most certainly join Kruse and Leckie as a third winger, with the hope that he can finally replicate his fine club form for country. He can also fill the number 10 role if needed.
That leaves just one last attacking role free. The main candidates are James Troisi and Ben Halloran.
There have been big calls for Nathan Burns’ inclusion, and while his A-League form deserves mention, he’s not the future here. The same goes for Nikita Rukavytsya, though he’s been impressive for Western Sydney thus far, and Bernie Ibini is still too raw.
Dario Vidosic hasn’t been sighted in the Socceroos for a while now, and his selection would be a shock. It would have been great to see Awer Mabil in the mix, but again his rawness would have likely counted against him in the final 23 anyway.
So the battle comes down to the aforementioned Troisi and Halloran and their form between now and December 29. Troisi didn’t impress against Japan, but has been performing in Belgium with Zulte Waregem as a number 10 and caught the eye with an impressive goal on the weekend.
Halloran has found game time at 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf tough this season but made a scoring return to the starting 11 last week against SV Sandhausen. If he can play in his club’s remaining three matches, he should get the nod.
Halloran adds pace and movement that would suit replacing either Leckie, Kruse or Oar in a fluid front three once Cahill comes off for a breather. Though based on previous squads, Postecoglou may plump for Troisi.
Final thoughts
This is unlikely to be the squad Postecoglou will select, but it is one that could realistically win the Asian Cup as well as continuing long-term goals.
Postecoglou will more likely stick with the tried and tested – his favoured battle horses in Bresciano, Milligan and McKay. But it would be heartening if he chose to replace them with De Silva, Antonis and Amini.
If Postecoglou’s name was Holger Osieck, he’d be given a lot more stick for going with the former three.
This is in no way an attack on those players. Bresciano is a legend, while Milligan and McKay are workhorses that play key roles for their clubs. But they aren’t irreplaceable, and there are alternative options ready to prove themselves.
It would be much more encouraging to see the likes of De Silva and Amini coming off the bench to change a match.
Winning the tournament overrides planning for the future, yet this squad would not leave the side any weaker, just a tad more inexperienced. There is still the quality, depth and adequate old heads to produce a winning formula.
When Ange was installed as Socceroos manager, we wanted change, we wanted an attractive playing style and we wanted new blood. We’ve received that to a degree, but now it’s time to complete the transition.
With Postecoglou’s unwavering belief in his players, and his mandate for them to play attractive football, this squad represents a chance for Asian Cup success mixed with a blueprint for the future.
Probable squad
Preferred selections are in brackets.
Goalkeepers: Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan and Eugene Galekovic
Defenders: Trent Sainsbury, Matthew Spiranovic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Alex Wilkinson, Aziz Behich, Jason Davidson (Brad Smith), Ivan Franjic and Josh Brillante
Midfielders: Mile Jedinak, Terry Antonis, Mark Milligan (Luke Brattan), Matt McKay (Mustafa Amini), Massimo Luongo and Marco Bresciano (Daniel De Silva)
Forwards: Tim Cahill, Tommy Juric, Robbie Kruse, Tommy Oar, Mathew Leckie and James Troisi (Ben Halloran)
Follow Janek on Twitter @JanekSpeight
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