The Power have beaten 12th, 13th and 17th in the last 9 weeks.

That’s nothing to write home about. No pressure on Richmond and it’s all on Port. Furthermore, Port’s front running style and distaste for anything tough isn’t a sustainable finals model. It’s going to be interesting.

Alex Rance may not be top 20 yet, but he’s incredibly underrated.

Wilkshire has been cut from Dinamo and is clueless, if I remember correctly. His international career is effectively over; if it wasn’t the moment all of Australia saw the tremendous gut he’d manage to acquire between leaving Dinamo and lining up against South Africa.

Brosque won’t get a look in. He is not sound technically enough. Under Verbeek’s regime he was operating in a telephone box that he could never work his way out of – scored against some mediocre opposition but was never a quality option.

Brillante is the interesting one. I must admit, aside from his cracking goal at the U20 WC, I wasn’t blown away by his performances for the Jets last season. However, since joining Fiorentina he hasn’t put a foot wrong and has played well in all the friendlies thus far. Another kid to look out for in the Serie A is Chris Oikonimides (apologies for the spelling.) He is playing with the Lazio first team for the friendlies and could be a bolter for the squad.

You would think Valeri is finished. Was a good soldier for the Socceroos, but we are starting to garner some real depth in his position.

Rhys Williams, the walking injury. I hope he’s fit, as he is technically sound, a leader and a natural option to pair Spiranovic.

Tom Rogic. Australia’s biggest footballing enigma. Could be anything. A new manager at Celtic may grant him a chance to play, but his selection is going to be based on game-time, you’d imagine.

Fairly certain in that .gif that Leckie says ‘you fouled me c***.’ Not ‘fight me.’

Still, I like the attitude.

Seconded.

Pretty solid list, I’d only have two bones of contention.

Milligan is solid, yes, but I think replaceable. Sarota could play there, but Postecoglou seemed strangely reticent to use him (though admittedly, I was teaching so didn’t get time to see the Ecuador game.)

Rogic will be a bench option, I think. I’m not sure who plays in that role in a starting capacity, though. Holman possibly – but Holman and Rogic are chalk and cheese in playing styles. More likely Vidosic.

Definitely agree with Taggart and Troisi. Both deserve a look-in.

However, two points:

A) Juric has potential, yes. That much is indisputable. But the fervour that many display on him to be included in the WC squad is bordering on ridiculous. His season has been a mere shadow of Taggart’s. Yes, they are different players, but Juric for me hasn’t done nearly enough this year to warrant a selection. Injuries may have hindered his campaign somewhat, but overall his consistency is the worry. Can turn in a dominant performance, or a mediocre one. Also has a propensity to give away silly fouls.

B) David Williams inconsistency is his major issue, as well as (in my opinion) an overwhelming lack of technique that is sometimes counterbalanced by some inexplicable and wondrous technique. He is not of international standard; don’t let his goal tally fool you. Remember, Daniel McBreen won the golden boot last year.

In short, Macca, No; Mastermind apparently does no analysis or research before writing these articles. What he knows about AFL would comfortably rattle around in a shoebox.

A good squad, albeit lacking a little firepower, aside from the inclusion of McKay. I think he could have been jettisoned for another attacking option such as Rukyvystya, who has been garnering regular game time along side Leckie at Frankfurt.

Keen to see Luongo, Herd and Halloran.

Surely Jedinak is a lock as captain without Neill.

Lucas Neill is rubbish. He was once a very good mid-table defender in the EPL but as soon as he want to the the Super Lig, things went very very south for his career. After his stint at Galatasaray was cut, he has been moving in and out of clubs with all the verve of a 17 year old male losing their virginity – and now he can’t even get a gig in a Championship’s U-21 side. Yes, he has been a great servant, yes he deserves respect. But he does not deserve to be in Brazil; he will not have a club and even if he does – where will he be playing? Where the most money is, I’d suspect.

Sainsbury, Spiranovic, Wilkinson, Wright, Lowry, Mrcela, Good.. these are options for the WC squad. We have to think about 2015 and a trophy we actually have a chance of winning (if Japan’s XI gets a series of injuries/lobotomies before January.)

In regards to this article, it’s hard to take it seriously when it suggests playing David Carney at CB. I’ll direct you to his exploits for NY Red Bulls whilst playing at LB…: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz4J_7diKLQ

Unforunately I couldn’t find the video where he slips over to let a defender in. Quality stuff.

He’s 23 – so a couple of years older than Sainsbury and Wright.

The problem I see with Mrcela, is that he is a central defender in a team that is facing imminent relegation from the Croatian top-flight. Perhaps his partner isn’t up to standard, perhaps his midfield isn’t giving him enough cover.. But it doesn’t scream to me ‘bolter.’ Our injury curse continued after Sainsbury’s solid debut for Zwolle was cut short after he fractured his knees on – of all things – a sprinkler. He would have been a monty for the squad, and still hope that he gets a look in before the WC. These players playing in the lower tiers of English football – Wright and Lowry namely (though Lowry is at Millwall and the championship isn’t really ‘lower tier’) – look like combative, aggressive types that I think should be given a spin.

I’m all for looking at Mrcela, but I think there are other CB options that we can look at first.

Gecko – the Dockers played without Pavlich for large patches last season and acquitted themselves with aplomb. Saying they have ‘no target’ IF he struggles means you’re forgetting about players such as Mayne, Walters and Ballantyne. They really just need someone to bring the ball to ground to bring the latter two into the frame; and Mayne was the no.1 F50 pressure player in the comp last season.

In regards to Sydney.. Goodes and O’Keefe, whilst good players, are much more periphery than fulcrum now. Look at Sydney’s forward line. They’re gonna be a force.

I normally would have read Masrermind’s article with open eyes, but trust me – take his predictions with a grain of salt. Over the past six weeks on this forum I’ve seen Mastermind:

– Claim that Richmond and St Kilda’s list are comparable. The only comparison here is that St Kilda are attempting to embark on what Richmond embarked upon 5 YEARS AGO.

– Repeatedly claim that Richmond have a tough draw. Champion Data ranked Richmond’s draw the second EASIEST draw handed out.

– Crystal balled that if Richmond lose in round 1 at Metricon (which is entirely possible,) that we may as well write off their season right there and then.

In addition to this, Mastermind’s article trots out the normal mouth-breathing, Melbourne media cliches that are often found in relation to the Tigers.

1. ‘Need to beat teams above them’ – in both ’12 and ’13 Richmond beat (and comprehensively) that year’s Grand Finalists. It’s the teams around Richmond such as North Melbourne, Carlton and Collingwood where the Tigers struggle most.

2. Key players need to perform. Neither Cotchin nor Riewoldt had career years last season. Instead it was the likes of Rance, Chaplin and Martin that drove Richmond’s season.

3. ‘Cause a few upsets’ – Really? The Tigers finished 5th. This year, teams will be looking to upset them.

All in all, Mastermind lacks credibility – verging on absolutely no idea.

I don’t think they’ll get close to 8 wins.

But what I do think we will see is a drastic reduction in losing margins and sustained periods of real competitiveness within games.

Agreed – was going to mention both players but word counts dictated I had to leave them out.

Thanks, Ben. But I respectfully have to disagree on Djite. I was actually going to mention him in the article as in a similar boat to Behich – a player who has come back from Turkey a seemingly inferior version of the player that left.

Whilst I agree that Brattan isn’t the finest athlete mentioned in this article, he definitely makes up for his physical shortcomings with his ability to think quickly. Look at the way he unlocked Sydney’s defence with well crafted and thought out long-balls on the weekend. They were quality pieces of play that took great vision. I think he has been one of the leagues most improved players this year, and he was already building from a pretty solid campaign last season.

Another set of Melbourne media driven furphies rolled out by Gecko.

Richmond have spent the last 4 years improving their depth; but any club would struggle if injuries hit key players. In addition to this, Maric didn’t have a great 2013, nor did Cotchin or Deledio by their high standards. Rance had an immense year, as did Martin. Riewoldt got a pass mark.

I understand why people are sheepish about the Tigers prospects, I suppose it takes a supporter (admittedly myself) to see how unrecognisable this club is from the one Damian Hardwick was given. The media in Melbourne loves a cliche though and unfortunately people circular breathe these theories without actually looking at facts.

With all due respect, mastermind – you’ve got no idea.

First of all, you’re basing the season on 1 game. Round 1 at Metricon – a tough trip, but there will be no better time to play the suns.
Even if Richmond lose, your crystal balling is completely preposterous. It’s ONE GAME, in a 22 game season. Comparing Richmond to St Kilda just rubber stumps the sheer idiocy of your comment. The list profiles are completely different, the recent history of the teams is completely different and the state of calm/flux at either club couldn’t be any different. I expect, with the favourable draw and a lack of injuries, that Richmond will make top 4 this season. The only roadblock will be injuries to key players such as Cotchin, Martin, Deledio, Riewoldt or Rance or a spate to peripheral players like Vlastuin, Ellis, Conca, Grigg and Houli.

Just listing those names should make you realise that the Richmond list is in a very healthy state.

Belgium’s team sheet looks world-class. Not sure how they surrendered so meekly to Colombia and managed to lose against Japan, however. Perhaps the only thing that will stop them from putting in a really strong showing at this World Cup will be stage fright. Hazard, Lukaku, Fellaini, Kompany, Witsel, Vermaelen, Mirallas, Benteke, De Bruyne, Dembele, Mignolet and Vertonghen – the list goes on. They have a very, very good side and are good value for their ranking right now. Switzerland.. well, I’m in agreeance with you there.

Although, I may be thinking with my wallet. I got on Belgium early and put $20 @ $15 on them to take out the whole tournament.

I wholeheartedly agree Miro, with the fitness base. One area where the quality of the opposition doesn’t matter is in physical fitness. Guus preached it before 06′ and look where it got us. Ange should be flogging them! Particularly with the climate/altitude issues that Brazil will present.

Look, it’s not as if Holman is past it. He is technically in his prime, and whilst he was playing in Europe.. or at least in Holland, he was a more than valuable contributor to the team. But his move to Aston Villa saw him stymied and now his move to the middle-east has seen his value to the team drop well below that of others. I’m not sure what it is about the middle east – it seems to cruel players. Brosque, Ognenovski and now Holman have shown a dramatic loss of quality after their moves to this locale.

In regards to our WC prospects, I think we need to face it. They are rock bottom. We scarcely could have drawn a worse group results-wise. But as I said – and I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Craig Foster – for a longer term view, this group could actually be a blessing. There will be a lot of attention on our group; Chile, a South American smokey and the re-match of the 2010 final. Our players, if they take the chance, have a big opportunity to turn heads. They may not necessarily take even a point home, but they can still make an impact.

Agree, Evan.

Holman is totally a ‘touch’ or ‘form’ player – as soon as he started warming the bench at Villa, he reverted to the Holman that was roundly derided before that run at Alkmaar (save a nice finish vs Oman). And he never seemed to come back.

I have to agree with Steve. Neill’s pace and agility have completely deserted him, to the point where he is struggling to get minutes off the bench for a J-League club that is mired in the lower echelons of the table. This coupled with an on-field petulance – for example, arguing with the touchline referee against France that led to a goal being conceded – and a marked shift into a series of strange delusions in the media, paint a picture of a player that is well past their best. Neill was once a vital cog in our defense, if not THE vital cog (remember there was some talk that he may make the best XI from the ’06 WC), but now he has to save whatever grace he has left and exit the stage.

In regards to his distribution, I would argue that any other player listed in my article would be capable of distributing with at least as much proficiency as Neill himself.