With the Socceroos 3-1 defeat of Qatar in the early hours of yesterday morning, the result finally came which ensures advancement into the final stage of qualifying for 2010.
All is good, all is well, the papers are once again jumping for joy with positive articles left right and center – there couldn’t be a single negative from last nights game, right?
After browsing a number of web based football sites I came across one such article praising the efforts of one particular player who has been under scrutiny in the previous few weeks for sub par performances – Brett Holman.
Yes – it’s not a typo – an article praising the efforts of Holman. One question, had the Socceroos drawn or lost last night’s match would this praise had been thrown Holmans way regardless of whether he had a good or bad game? I think not.
Holman – no fault of his own, he seems to have become a scapegoat to Australian fans who look for a release of frustration for poor results in the national team. The reason? Simple. The bloke is just not good enough. I will be the first to admit that last night he probably played his best match for the socceroos but it was still overly mediocre.
How does aimless running around and blind passes constitute a good football player? Some will say, but what about Brett Emerton, he fits that bill perfectly? True. But Emerton differs from Holman in his ability to read the game and create opportunities out of nothing as opposed to ruin genuine scoring opportunities.
Not to mention actually finding players on the end of his passes. And the other night was a perfect example of this. Emerton seizes on his chances – Holman throws them.
And lets not forget that Emerton applies his trade as primarily as a right wing back for the national team and when given the chance to impress in front of goal, has an almost flawless game. We were playing Qatar remember, god help us had we been playing Japan or a European powerhouse.
This just reinforces the issue that Holman is not Central Attacking Midfielder (CAM) material in the national team. A RWB inclined player for both club and country can outshine a CAM player in one game. Tim Cahill must be sitting in his lounge chair quite comfortable knowing that Verbeek seems deadset on using Holman as opposed to Carle as the socceroo’s CAM.
What topped off last nights game was hearing the rumours of Holman being linked to the likes of Ajax. Has Ajax management employed Stevie Wonder as their latest scout? The bloke can’t even get consistent first game time as it is.
Pull the other leg Slater/Hill, it plays jingle bells.
midfielder
Guest
At training tonight we spoke about Carle at length and the general concus was he does not do enough off the ball work. Yes he has skill but only one foot, but most agreed with Pim, these guys BTW are not your long ball types. As I said before its great to finally have a squad, and we need a squad.
jimbo
Guest
Have you seen the squad for the China game on Sunday? http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/verbeek-picks-young-stars-to-play-china/2008/06/19/1213770797689.html A crowd of over 70,000 to watch the Olyroos in a trial match against China. Did Graham Arnold pick the team? Mainly Olyroos, no Carle, no Thompson, neither of the Griffiths’ twins.
jimbo
Guest
The true quality of a CAM is to be able to score goals, especially long range shots that few keepers can get a hand to (a la Gerrard). Holman is a workhorse, but he's missed a few easy chances to score, especially against China and Iraq. Carle is more creative and more likely to score, but needs to temper his game with more tactics and positional play, rather than individual flair. A forward looking manager, with eyes on a 2010 qualification spot, would invest time and effort in players like Carle and Djite to turn them into regular goal scoring assets to the team. That's what we need to get through the next final stage of Asian qualification - a player or two you can count on to score every second or third game.
Alex
Guest
It will be interesting to see if Nathan Burns makes the squad for the next round of qualifiers if he starts getting good game time with AEK Athens. Other young players like Troisi and Holland have been training regularly with the Socceroos, but Burns hasn't really been seen. Is this because he has been finalising his move overseas?
SammyC
Guest
My thoughts exactly salcation...
Salvation
Guest
Nathan Burns
fatboi-v-
Guest
id like to see brett holman play left back. could turn out ok.
Midfielder
Guest
It is nice to read a thread about who should be in the team, not that long ago the team choose itself. We have between the Olyroo & Socceroo team a squad of about 40 to 45. For me we have a number of ball players of which Carle is one, so is Holland who I rate higher as IMO his first touch is at gaps with speed and off angles, Bress, Timmy C, Harry, so to the kid that justt went to Newcastle from MV. Its all in the eye of the beholder, yes Carle is good but so to are many others.
Millster
Guest
As the Rollong Stones sang... "you can't always get what you want". We have Cahill injured and a coach who refuses to play Carle, and who also refuses to play recognised strikers away (meaning that Kewell, another 'natural' pick for CAM role, is left up forward as a quasi-striker). I see the issue as not being so much Holman, but also an overall formation and selection that makes him the only option.
Mathius Cannons
Guest
Couldnt agree more with Sammy C on this one, I do hope that in time Holman's touch and awareness off the ball does improve. If it is going to improve anywhere then its going to be Europe.
dasilva
Guest
Brett holman played well this match. Provided with some telling pass. The second goal assist was nice to watch. But since this is probably his first good competitive match for the socceroos the jury is still out. He makes some dangerous runs pass the defenders and has good stamina and work rate but his finishing and his technique (his dribbling/first touch is laughable) is still quite terrible. He can offer something but he does have serious flaws which may stop him from performing consistently. I hope he prove me wrong I still believe we have better options than Holman. However people have to realise that he is only 24 and that finishing and composure in front of goal can be improve (although its difficult for technique to improve drastically). Some great strikers only became clinical (like hernan crespo) during the late 20s. He makes good penetrating runs and a bit more experience and improvement he could become a decent goal scorer. He may not be good enough player now for the soccerroos but he may become one in the future.
Sammy C
Guest
Towser, I dont disagree with having to find your place within the national team but he has had more a fare opportunity to do so over the past few months. Holman had his best game by far on Saturday night but it was still ordinary. His off the ball runs are abismal, he dives in on tackles as though he's a center half, he CANNOT read the game and draw defenders - all in all his overall play detracts from the quality on the pitch. This is my criticism. It's not always what you do with the ball but what you do without. Ronaldo being a prime example. I reiterate my thoughts that had we have been playing a quality opponent he would have been lost.
Towser
Guest
This bloke is not good enough ? Blamed for poor results in the National team? Socceroos drawn or lost Holman blamed ? Surely all this is irrelevant given that he had a hand in all 3 goals in a crunch away match in the Middle East(see below). As football fans know the step up from Club to International football takes time. Some great players(John Barnes- England & yes Viduka for Australia) never produce their club form at international level ,whereas mediocre club players can step up & do a job for their country. Holman did a job when it counted. Verbeek found a place for him to contribute. Get off his back. "Holman, who is on the books of Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, has been knocking on the starting line-up door for months and Verbeek had no qualms about giving him a go at the weekend after a series of encouraging performances as a substitute. Holman, 24, set the tone of the match pretty early when he released Bresciano on the left for the Palermo man to feed Emerton with the first goal. Holman also made Emerton’s second goal with a lofted pass into space that told us much more about this player than what we’ve seen from him so far." Yes, there is a subtlety to Holman’s game to go with his drive and energy. Holman capped a productive evening by providing the cross that led to Kewell’s goal and he will expect to retain his place for the match with China in Sydney on Sunday.
Salvation
Guest
The train has left the station months ago. Holman was always going to be the CAM. At least in the midifeld he shall be nowhere near the strikes on goal. I have an idea tho, let Nicky have a half and Holman have a half this Sunday night...then we shall see a true comparison. What has PVB go to lose??