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With Pim Verbeek clocking up more mileage than Kevin 07 as he continues on the Verbeek 10 campaign trail, the Socceroos boss has run the rule over the good, the bad and the ugly of the A-League.
He’s indulged in the best the league has to offer, and let’s hope he’s satisfied that he’s been watching something a little better than a German training session.
Next week he’ll announce a squad of home-based players to tackle Indonesia away in an Asian Cup qualifier that will put the cream of the local talent on serious show for the first time.
The A-League has created a wonderful opportunity for the likes of Dylan McCallister and Paul Reid, who have returned home to find themselves in Socceroo reckoning for the first time despite years ploughing away abroad.
But will the locals be up to it to get the Asian Cup qualification off to a good start?
Verbeek will opt for those who have experience in pressure-cooker environments – meaning Adelaide’s ACL crew can book themselves another plane ticket, but Travis Dodd and co have looked tired recently, do they have enough energy to travel yet again?
Those with Socceroos experience should get the nod, like Craig Moore and Archie Thompson.
But he’ll also need to go for those in form now; without any time to prepare his squad, he’ll need confident players fit and raring to go.
But Mile Jedinak’s departure is a telling blow.
Verbeek will need to find another deep lying midfielder with the talent to pull the nation’s strings, one who can make sure the side keeps the ball, rather than lumping it forward to face incessant pressure from the Indonesians – can he find two screening players to opt for his trusted, sturdy 4-2-3-1 away battalion, or will he go for combinations, like a McKay/Murdocca or Reid/Barbiero.
It’s going to be an interesting litmus for the A-League.
Verbeek has called the league ‘entertaining’ recently, but that’s probably also a euphemism for ‘naive’ or being able to expect the unexpected.
He’ll hope his players raise the bar to the discipline needed at international level.
I think an A-League first XI will have the experience and quality to rise to the occasion – but picking a squad with enough players to hold their nerve without the ball and have enough gumption to take their chances proved a harder task than I thought it would be.
Here’s my side:
GALEKOVIC (picks himself – regulars like Covic and Bolton have fallen off the radar this year).
Adam GRIFFITHS; MOORE; OGNENOVSKI; JAMIESON (Verbeek could opt for Robbie Cornthwaite at right back, but will hope Griffiths can muster his best form after a difficult season.)
CELESKI, BARBIERO (It would be tempting to thrown Stu Musialik in and hope he produces his best form, but take a glance at the top of the table and the work of Billy Celeski at Melbourne and Fabian Barbiero at Adelaide shouldn’t be underestimated. They don’t shirk from the dirty work, but have quality about them too. Celeski was also one of the few Olyroos to come back with a better reputation than when they left for Beijing. It’s inexperienced, but there’s form. However, neither has featured in a Verbeek squad as yet, meaning it’ll be a surprise if they are picked).
DODD; McKAY; THOMPSON (Pace, players with good technique and experience. They can foot it with the nippy Indonesians, and have fitness to deal with the heat).
ALLSOPP (Deserves to lead the line after another season full of goals, although Simon, McCallister, Joel Griffiths are biting at his heals, as would Nikita Rukyvtsya had he not left for Holland).
Subs:
Theoklitos; Vargas; Musialik; Pellegrino; Simon.
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