The Australian Socceroos during a training session in Brisbane, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, ahead of their World Cup qualifier match against Qatar on Wednesday. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Following on from Part One, Part Two looks at which players will fill the last three outfield places going to South Africa as part of the Socceroos.
Dario Vidosic is just about a sure thing. Pim seems to like him, he suits the formation, and he is getting a regular run in Nuremberg, despite no longer being part of the starting eleven.
The squad’s light on strikers, even though Harry Kewell is being touted as the man to play at the pointy end. Bruce Djite is the only Aussie who can play as a genuine lone striker, but his lack of experience and first team football may count against him. If Pim is looking for pace, Nikita Rukavystya would be handy on the bench, as would Melbourne’s Archie Thompson. There may be a spot for one of these players, but not both.
Pim will want an extra central defender, but his shortlist can’t be very long. Matthew Spiranovic must be top of the pile, although his lack of first team football is a huge disadvantage. Chris Coyne is playing every week, but he has hardly set the A-League alight (the same could be said at the moment of the decidedly below-par Craig Moore, but luckily for him he is already part of the fold).
Who else? Mark Milligan has always impressed, and his versatility is an asset, but his move to J2 League club JEF United is baffling. Adrian Madaschi from Serie C2 may be a surprise choice. That he is a distinct possibility, while an in-form A-League defender like Simon Colosimo is not, has more to do with Pim’s Euro-blinkers than anything else.
There are a number of other players who might deserve consideration, but they either don’t fit the formation that Pim has built around Timmy Cahill, or have just been beaten to their spot by someone else. The dreadfully unlucky Nicky Carle is in the former camp; Carl Valeri, Richard Garcia and Mile Sterjovski are in the latter. Jacob Burns’ form for Perth every week has certainly not been good for his World Cup prospects.
Therefore, the last three outfield spots will be taken by:
18. Dario Vidosic
19. Matthew Spiranovic
20. Bruce Djite (or Rukavystya, if he can break into the first team more regularly)
A bolter? I honestly don’t think that there will be any true Hiddink-like surprises, but if there is I’d like to think Alex Brosque has a shot. He is in amazing form at the moment, and it may help him if Kewell ends up playing up front and Pim needs another left-side option and/or someone who could buzz around behind the strikers. A good game against Kuwait would enhance his chances.
And I would love to see Nicky Carle in the squad, just to know that there is a creative player on the bench who could be thrown on in dire need. A ‘break glass in case of emergency’ type footballer. But that kind of player does not fit neatly into Pim’s rigid system, so I’m not holding any hope.
If a Brosque or a Carle were to be included, who would miss out? The obvious choice in the established squad would be Holman, but Pim seems to see something in him that very few others do. Injuries might open up a spot or two and the biggest concern at the moment is Vince Grella, which would open up a place for ‘mini-Vinnie’ Carl Valeri.
In Part Three we examine goalkeepers.
Horza
Guest
Garcia is behind Emmo and Bresc for the RM spot. To get in one of those has to be injured or he has to catch fire and start banging them in every other game.
Kman
Guest
i dont understand why richard Garcia is not is not part of any socceroos squads. He is 1 of only 4 other Australians playing in the EPL, and is looking pretty dangerous for Hull. He may not be as good as timmy and harry, but i'd play him over kennedy anyday.
Horza
Guest
If you figure 8 DFs, 8 MFs and 4 FWs our wide defense has picked itself with Wilkshire, Williams, Chipperfield and Carney while Moore and Neill are certs if fit, leaving two CB spots. Beauchamp's fallen off the radar since leaving Aalborg, Coyne appears to have missed the bus and North's chances have been cruelled by lack of game time at Incheon. By my reckoning that leaves Colosimo, Milligan, Kisnorbo and Spira in the hunt for two more spots. Colosimo's value lies in his experience and skill on the deck. His skills as a sweeper offer versatility, highly prised by Verbeek and the Dutches. The downside is he's only had a bit of time in Europe and is on the wrong side of 30 at a time when rebuilding looms on the horizon. Milligan as well as being a long-throw merchant, capable at RB and a sweeper himself is also a little nuts (especially if word of his J2 move is true) and playing in a less favoured league. The callup suggests he's still in contention but it may not be his time. Kisnorbo is almost a certainty here - since recovering from injuries he's impressed in the Ireland and South Korea games, a whole 2nd half in the Netherlands friendly and made the squad for the Oman ACQs and is a club favourite at Championship certs Leeds. Spira has a lot of things going for him if he can get more games at relegation-haunted Nuremberg. His composure and maturity are prodigal and his experience with German setups has to count for something as well. Our midfield is likely to consist of at least three holding midfielders, where if fit Culina and Grella are certainties. Cahill, Bresciano, Emerton and Holman will represent the attacking crew - Kewell I suspect will be classified as a striker - leaving two spots, one definately a holding spot for whoever wins out of Valeri and Jedinak and a tossup for the remaining spots between Vidosic, Troisi, Carle or Sterjovski. Out of those three I think Vidosic is probably slightly ahead of the running. He's versatile and fits in well with Verbeek's formations but the same issues as with Spira affect his chances. Sterjovski's experience and workrate put him in with a chance but he has to secure an exit from Glory and hasn't set the A-League on fire in a more attacking role. Carle has been amply discussed here and elsewhere, his chances are pretty dim, while Troisi's nonselection for Kuwait isn't good news either. Forwards. Kennedy. Kewell. Then... who? McDonald is in a form slump at Celtic; his non-selection for the NL friendly and the Oman ACQs, which co-incided with the emergence of Kewell as an option suggest he's out of Pim's plans, an ominous development. Djite's form has cooled off for Gencler. Ruka however is back on the radar and a strong showing might help him get back in McLaren's squad and into the WC. Brosque and Thompson are outside chances, Alex possibly having the better chance due to his leftsidedness and ability to play deeper than Archie. At a guess: 1.. Schwarzer GK 2. Neill CB 3. Moore CB 4. Cahill MF 5. Culina MF 6. Kisnorbo DF 7. Emerton MF 8. Wilkshire DF 9. Kennedy FW 10. Kewell FW 11. Chipperfield DF 12. Federici GK 13. Grella MF 14. Carney DF 15. Djite FW 16. Spiranovic DF 17. Valeri MF 18. Petkovic GK 19. Holman FW 20. Vidosic MF 21. Jedinak MF 22. Williams DF 23. Bresciano MF
Horza
Guest
Actually Vidosic was in the squads for the two Oman games and played the whole 2nd half of the Netherlands game. The fact that he's getting significant time in a friendly against world class opposition and ACQ subs and squad callups suggests Pim thinks pretty highly of him.
hoodooguru
Roar Rookie
I like Troisi, and I think Pim does too. He's slipped off the radar recently though. I would have thought that he would have been picked against Kuwait if he was genuinely in the frame.
hoodooguru
Roar Rookie
I reckon Brosque's first touch this season has been excellent. His positioning is not so bad. If he can have someone decent behind him, he can get through a defence. Juninho was perfetct for him. His poor finishing wouldn't matter so much if Bridge was more clinical.
dannyshepherd
Guest
evening rob, yes the one and the same...
Midfielder
Guest
James Troisi.. please
Rob
Guest
No worries..are you the same Danny Shepherd that used to play for the Roosters back in the 80s?
Rob
Guest
As an SFC supporter I watch Brosque play every week and sadly Id have to say that he just isnt up to international standard. Poor first touch, average positional play and very poor conversion rate..dont know the stats but it cant be more that 10%. He does have a proven ability to fall over inside the box though..maybe thats what Pims looking for?
gazz
Roar Pro
Brutal dannyshepherd. but perhaps dario's fortunes at Nurnberg will change with the change of coach. Oenning just got sacked.
dannyshepherd
Guest
"Dario Vidosic is just about a sure thing. Pim seems to like him, he suits the formation, and he is getting a regular run in Nuremberg, despite no longer being part of the starting eleven." if youre going to take the time to write article it at least should be factual. your opinions are your own but omitting actual facts to push a line is just plain bias. the FACTS are that vidosic has not been part of the SQUAD for the last 3 matches. in the three matches previous to then he came off the bench each time in the 67, 63 and 71st minute. can't wait for part 3.
davelee
Guest
nicky carle is a waste of space! dont need him.
Punter
Guest
Garcia is playing regularly at EPL level, not many other players doing there at present.
Dickroo
Guest
I think Pim is desperately hoping Spira can pick up some decent game time in the next 5 months. Spira is familiar with the German football, which will be a big bonus. And he's tall - good for the Serbia game. At his age and energy level, he'll be the ideal partner of Neill to be started for all three WC group games. Vidosic has a genuine opportunity since he did played well at Bundasliga and Socceroos matches. Djite is not proved in the Socceroos and Turkey's Super League. Milligan is losing the battle against Kisnorbo, although I think his long throw and versatility (as a holding mid) can be the difference.
Phil E Buster
Guest
Nicky Carle is likely to move away from England in January. He is not a game breaker, unless you count giving away penalties in key games as breaking a game. Plus he hasn't been in the squad for his club for something like 2 months and doesn't have the talent to establish himself at any overseas club to date - and we are up to three and counting. Djite is also very unlikely to go to the WC. He looks great and athletic but does not have the ability at this level. Milligan, Thompson and Garcia would be the best choices at this stage for me, but it will come down to form and whether they are playing first team football regularly.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be prepared to pencil in Bruce Djite yet. He has to do something soon at the national level or at club level. If he doesn't start agaisnt Kuwait he would be at long odds to make it too Sth Africa.
Mick of Newie
Guest
Carle should only go if he was a genuine prospect of starting. This propsect of throwing him on as a game breaker is nice in theory but we all know that Pim like Guus if he goes behind will throw on Kennedy, Djite or Mcdonald and bomb it into the box. I hope Vidosic, Djite and Spira all start next week to assess them but I would bew happy to see them all get a spot.
David
Guest
All i have to say about Nicky Carle is he had assive potential but his a flop and his wasted his career in the CCC. He isnt as good as people think he is he holds the ball to long and his decision making is very poor for all his individual qualities he still cant get a game. If he had half a brain he would have transfered last window to the J-league or somewhere that suits him, IMO he desnt care enough about football his hapy o sit on the bench on get paid which is all fine but he would not make te squad in my mind unless he moved this january and did spectacular for 6 months. As for Brett Holman i agree for the green ad gold his done little to impress but but AZ his been on fire his started every game Obviously now his injured...but his played Champions league and gets ao of top level game time. That being said he plays out of position for the national team sometimes it seems he is going t trp over the ball but his fast and i think his lacking confidence for the socceroos like scotty McD. any my Final 3 would be Dario for sure and Spria and Dijt if they ca move or get a loan next month