It seems that Pim Verbeek has a problem. He just can’t seem to settle on a Socceroo squad. As we enter the final round of World Cup qualifiers, we still have fifty or more players actively seeking to pen themselves onto the squad sheet.
With this amount of competition, it seems Pim has a great position. But this Bear wonders.
The upcoming friendly against the Netherlands, is his last comfortable opportunity to knead these players into a fashionable squad; a squad that can stand the rigors of this final round of WC qualifiers. A squad that can start to gel for the next World Cup.
And there have been a few top players missing.
Tim Cahill could walk into the squad, as would Mark Viduka. Craig Moore stepping out of ‘retirement’ is a tasty addition to the backs.
But whom would Pim be leaving out? And whom is he still counting in?
With so much choice and mix and matching of squads and eleven’s, he could make four completely different Socceroo teams.
Then, if you look at the combinations and permutations to experiment, it gets too mind boggling to conceive.
Will some immediate order and cohesiveness come from such chaos and variability?
It is ostensibly possible that some players being trailed may never actually get to test out the chemistry with the ‘certain starters.’
The playing relationship between their flanking (or central) defender, midfielder or forward may never be tested, for familiarity or rapport.
For example, can anyone tell me how Jade North plays with Lucas Neill?
And is it a better fit than, say if Neill is playing right full back, and Craig Moore playing centre back, instead? And what if we play with a back three? Is Carney or Chipperfield the better option?
Let’s be perfectly honest, there are links of cohesiveness and football telepathy that may never be explored due to that specific variation never actually being investigated.
It’s all too much variability for this, or any, coach to cope with.
And what of Matt Spiranovic?
He seems very good on the ball. Will he actually be a deputy, at least, in the squad for future potential or will someone like Beauchamp, or even Coyne, be retained in the mix instead, just for ‘reliability’?
Interestingly, it seems that much tinkering and detailed analysis occurs in the backs whenever our Socceroos draw or concede goals (a lot it seems lately!)
To consider placing the accountability of a game only to the defenders is reprehensible.
I would speculate that if the midfield received half as much of this mental energy from Pim, the number of goals conceded and scored would equal out in our favour.
Further, we may even start to see the depth and specificity of class midfielders in the squad, as we currently are seeing in the quality and sheer numbers of players being trailed in defence.
The pool of quality strikers may even widen substantially.
All my musings aside, will we actually see the best balance of players that gel as a team, with depth across all areas of the park, for this tilt at the World Cup?
Pim, where is the team, amongst this squad?
The Bear
Roar Pro
dasilva, thanks i needed a laugh. It's all getting too much for this little bear. Graciously, The Bear
dasilva
Guest
I don't know why anyones want miligan. the link from Arsenal was a bit of a joke but then again Arsene Wenger always have a tendency to have at least one terrible defender in the team that always get game time. maybe milligan to arsenal isn't that far fetched afterall
Midfielder
Guest
Bear Agree Adrian Leijer much better player than Mullo
The Bear
Roar Pro
LOL, dasilva, loyalty from Milligan? i'll start loading the gun, then, shall i? I feel the investment in his future is not worth his inclusion in the squad. How must Adrian Leijer be feeling? Took the opportunity to go to Fulham, and stayed on the bench througout the Olympics. Same stories with Bruce, Dario, Nathan but they missed the squad altogether. Now Milligan has the Olyroo team turned inside out to accomodate him in Midfield, AND gets game time with the 'roos. He isn't even that good, compared to Spira, two years his junior. The credibility of this Country is sliding down the S-bend Graciously, tho crankily, The Bear
dasilva
Guest
"Howthe hell is Milligan in the squad. Is this a flaming charity? " It is charity. A cap agaisnt holland and a cap against Uzbekistan would make him elegible for a work permit to get into England. Soccerroos are doing him a big favour (if any clubs in england wants him) If he ever get pressured in England not to play for the national side and he doesn't play for us then he should be shot.
Koala Bear
Guest
Jimbo, email sent... ;) ~~~~~~ KB
Koala Bear
Guest
Dasilva, after living through that fatal night at the MCG.. Some time shortly after SBS produced a doco called "the Day After" produced by Kyle Patterson (SBS) If you contact the SBS network you may still be able to buy a DVD .. Beautifully done and worth having a look .. But before you do; go to your local library and you will find, there are a number, of SBS docos on sport... It's very possible that you'll find one or two interesting enough to borrow on Football .. ~~~~~~~~~ KB
The Bear
Roar Pro
How the hell is Milligan in the squad. Is this a flaming charity? Graciously Pissed Off, The Bear
dasilva
Guest
Jimbo - before the China match I would have wrote a letter. However I've been converted from a Carle supporter to a skeptic. Just like I've been converted from Wilkshire skeptic to supporter.
dasilva
Guest
I doubt SBS can give me footage of Australia Vs south africa on foxsports. Although watching Australia v New Zealand and the infamous 2-1 extra time victory with Tahiti would be very interesting. It must be Australia lowest point in terms of football performances for a very long time (probably since their 1-0 loss to fiji). I also wouldn't mind rewatching Australia vs Iran both legs again when I feel masochistic. it would be great to go through SBS archives and rewatch matches and see how good was Okon and Zelic. What was Craig Foster like as a player (was he technically and tactically gifted :) ).What was Harry Kewells debut match against Chile was like and Australia making final of confederation cup must have been special especially with the fantastic and rare viduka goal against Saudi Arabia (backheel to the net). I would have loved to see those matches. If you have access to SBs archives what match would you see?
jimbo
Guest
Its time for football people power again. We did it for 7’s coverage of the Olympic football, now lets do it for Nicky Carle. Email FFA and vent your spleen about Nicky Carle being constantly overlooked by the Socceroos managers. info@footballaustralia.com.au
Midfielder
Guest
Dasilva Email SBS if no one knows and write to LM.
dasilva
Guest
I guess I was lucky to not be a fan of football before that fateful match in 1997. Australia vs Iran two legged match were one of the earliest football match I've ever saw. When Iran equalise and Australia was knocked out. I felt so angry and pissed off (not for three days however) that later I realise that if a sport that made me feel so unhappy and so emotionally low must be a sport worth following (as it means the other extreme can happen like the match against uruguay and japan) because I never felt anything like that in any other sport including AFL, Basketball, Cricket ,Tennis (even the Pat Rafter lost of Ivanisevic at Wimbledon) and any sports in the olympics. From that day on, I was a football fan always trying to watch any soccerroos match I can. From 2001 onwards I think I watch every socceroos match broadcast on television (except for Australia farcical lost to NEw Zealand in the oceanian cup and the recent 2-2 draw with south africa. Does anyone know where to download that match?) Is it any consolation for people who were hurt by that lost that it at least created a new fan. I'm sure I was not the only non-football supporter who was moved by that match.
Midfielder
Guest
Jimbo Agree with ......"I just can’t see how Holman, Jacob Burns or even Milligan are better players or of more value to the team than Carle" Back on the 1997 match ......... man that guy who climed on the posts and the net had to be re adjusted ....... it all changed from that point..... as I said earlier not sure if he did us a good turn or whether he should be hung from the MCG highest point.
jimbo
Guest
Midfielder, unfortunately, the dog is no longer with us, but I've still got the one wife. I was pretty hard to live with around that time. "But its just a stupid game" still ringing in my ears eleven years later. I just can't see how Holman, Jacob Burns or even Milligan are better players or of more value to the team than Carle, but . . . Pimbo's gone for those Leggo block holding midfielders again, what about the fast counter attacking midfielders that are going to pinch a goal against the run of play . . .
Midfielder
Guest
Jimbo Very interesting you life after the 1997 match ........ did you ever find the dog ......... and the wife thing how many have you had. As for Nick .......... I refer to my previous posts ......... good he is .......... best with his feet he is ......... world class ? ? ? Maybe it shows how poor we are in that aspect of football.
Midfielder
Guest
KB Thats good news about Brazil, ...... also back on 1997 and what followed Obie One and all other things it is interesting as I see it that a number of things came together at the same time. One which I have always given a huge ticket to was Simon Hill, this guy had a big impack, first his "Can you smell the fear" article directed at News limited journos particularly the Terrorgraph was a massive turning point as it was so well written and so well time it has gone into folk law, also Simon calling of the 2005 WCQ he used football terms like "tracking back" and "covering the hole" which no former broadcaster. Simon never tried to explain football in either NRL or AFL teram but spoke football talk. Back on Barzil hopefully other SA countries will follow suit and if we got it .......... man ......... big hug times all around. On GM be thankful he is there, if he cannot see what is coming then that is actually good and if he keeps writing football off that is good as when the GM of this world finally see what is happening they will react and it will not be happy times. Hopefully by that time we will have signed the new media deal .......... as getting tho the next five years is a massive job and without Obie One I would say mission impossible. But with Obie One I kinda fell an inter strength in that football has an asset no other code has or can reproduce and each day he is there I say thank the lord. The WC bid our only hope is Obie One .......... however even Obie One has his faults ......... you guessed it bankrolling the Choppers ......... but it is a small price to pay for the rest of us. Cheers Midfielder
jimbo
Guest
Midfielder, well, we never actually lost to Iran in 97, in fact we went through undefeated and still didn't qualify. I didn't sleep or eat for a week and I lost me best dog and worst wife in anger and frustration . . . Carle left out of the Socceroos squad again, but Holman, Jacob Burns, Wilkshire and Milligan get another run.
Koala Bear
Guest
Midfielder, yes I have often thought its all about timing and what happened after was down hill all the way like a freight train headed for a crash that eventually did crashed and the start of the revolution.. btw I was watching on TV today and in the parliament they announced that Brazil has openly given us the nod and will support Australia's 2018 world cup bid. I have posted that news flash up today; but it seems it has gone unnoticed except for G'astro .. :) "smell the fear" I presume he lives in Victoria but the stench knock me over up here on the GC.. ~~~~~~ KB
MIdfielder
Guest
KB I did not sleep for three days after that match ...........but in the end if we had made it we would still have the old management so maybe a blessing ......... we lost.