The case for Joel Griffiths and Sasa Ognenovski

I believe Eamonn Flanagan is looking for proof that the Asian countires, North East Asia in particular, have improved. I would have thought the likes of Park Ji Sung, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Ono, Junichi Inamoto, Shunsuke Nakamura, Zheng Zhi, Lee Young Pyo, Park Chu Young and so forth provide evidence that the players these countries are producing are improving rapidly. Not to mention the infrastructure and the increasing global appeal of these respective leagues, particularly the J-League. China's recent win in the East Asian Championship and the recent success of CSL's team in the ACL is proof of the slow rise of Chinese Football after years of corruption and failures. The fact that some of the A-League's most notable players such as Mark Milligan, Sasha Ogenovski and Joel Griffiths have made careers in Asia highlights the higher level of these leagues. Surely these players should be looked upon ahead of A-League players. With regards to Eddie Bosnar, playing in the best league in Asia with one of the best teams is surely enough to warrant a ticket to South Africa ahead of the likes of Craig Moore and Simon Colosimo.

Kennedy is a loser. Griffiths is much better than him.

I agree Ognenovski & Griffiths should go to SA. I feel Moore at 34 is too old and too slow to cope with the world class strikers we are sure to face. Griffiths should be fitted in as a right midfielder but be used as an alternative striker. I would send [Schwarzer / Federici / Jones], [Emerton / Rhys Williams], [Neil / Colosimo], [Ognenovski / Milligan], [Chipperfield / Carney], [Cullina / Wilkshire], [Grella / Jedinak or Valeri] , [Cahill / Griffiths], [Bresciano / Carle], [Kewell / Oar], [Kennedy / McDonald]. While Verbeek will select most of them, having given neither Ognenovski nor Griffiths a start to date, he will ignore our calls, do as he always does and play it safe. That being the case he will go with Moore, Jedinak and Valeri. As with Wilkshire he seems to like Vidosik and it would not surprise to see him fitted in somewhere.

Ognenovski might be slow to the Int. game but I think if the Aussie gaffer has proper vision then he might chose big Og. His ability of dominating the air is impressive. It's some world-class in my opinion. He never let opposite player wins a header from him. I think Aussie would miss him when they play against Serbia. There's some interesting story. Early stage of 2009 K-League, when Sasha Ognenovski came to Korea first, Seongnam used to put 4 flags for their foreign players. 1st Round against Ulsan, one of them was Aussie's flag for Sasha Ognenovski, but soon it was changed to Macedonian flag by his request. I think he was sick of Pim Verbeek..

I think the case for Griffiths is weaker than the case for Ogenovski. There are a number of strikers who are also making a case at this late stage. Rukavysta is banging in goals as is Burns, McDonald & Vidosic. I think the case for Griffiths will depend upon injuries to either Kewell or Kennedy. Ogenovski is another matter entirely. I think that Craig Moore is better as cover for Lucal Neill as opposed to a starting partner. Whilst I can understand some of the reticence as a result of an absence of any game time in the green & gold I think this is outweighed by current form. Particularly when compared to the current alternatives.

so it says on wikipedia, but football is a universal language

"But given their outstanding form in the AFC Champions League to date" seems to me, Mike, where players play is an important part to any assessment of Griffiths and Ogenovski's, indeed any players chances of making the squad. Playing against Nik Mrdja, Robbie Kruse and co is no real test for the Ogmonsters World Cup prospects. The two players you mention have done well in Asia, but have they done well enough, tested enough by the likes of a Victory defence or forward line, to suggest they can compete on the International stage?

I was really surprised that Joel Griffith have some potential to be a great player. It's hard to believe he's an Aussie(no offence). He's some technical player so if there's good pair with him then it should be great but I don't think current Aussie NT might change their plan to use him. He's some hidden gem in China. In terms Ognenovski, when he came to Seongnam last year, many fans didn't convince him cause his trapping was same as what we watched on South Korea v Australia game. He needed some time to adapt to Korean football's fast tempo and to be technically improved. Now, he's one of good candidate for the hardest rock defender in K-League with Cho Byung-Kuk the smart and good international-level defender with pace.

Ognenovski deserves a shot defending is asia is difficult but scoring goals isn't hard, defending is of a poor standard so to standout says something imo as is goal keeping on the contrasting side strikers aren't great in asia but griffiths is probably all we got. That being said 50 days out i doubt anything will change.

It's my understanding that Porta hardly speaks English. Correct me if you know otherwise.

y isnt anyone talking about porta, we need an x factor, this could be it

Come on Mike take that "all them Aussie blinkers off," we're on your side. We love Asian football but we don't have to be all rosy about it. " Dragan Stojkovic plied his trade in the J. League didn’t seem to bother FR Yugoslavia when they made him their captain at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000," you are not seriously comparing him plying his trade in Asia to our boys. Dragan had come from a slightly higher proven base than the players you talk of..who are doing very well in Asia, the highest level they have played at. "but here in Australia we can’t seem to get over this notion that Asian football is somehow markedly inferior to the rest of the world." and this is tosh Mike because the it is. Give me the evidence of Asian football improving on the World stage, at the World Cup. Show me where apart from wth home advantage any Asian team has surprised us, and backed it up at the next World Cup Which Confederation does everyone want to get in their group? North America, Africa or Asia? Which Confederation will do the worst at this World Cup? Is Asian football markedly inferior? Well if it's to be judged on Club World Championships, and World Cup's if is markedly inferior, or are you living in a different World. Take the last 30 years and show me the improvement. Four Asian teams get to the World Cup, the biggest test of all. Four Asian teams go home after the first or second round. Tell me it ain't so Jo!

Could Richard Porta be the new Jesus? Remember that Kennedy was uncapped and virtually unheard of before being selected as our "Plan B" for the 2006 World Cup finals.

Ogre and Joel griffiths have absolutely no chance To be honest, we will probably only pick 3 strikers anyway. Kewel (pim is going to play him up front I reckon)l, McDonald and Kennedy Picking 4 strikers seems an absolute luxury in pim system so Joel has absolutely no chance Ogre, he may deserve a chance in the WCQ but now it is too late as he has never played under Pim's system. If reading Jesse FInk blog is any accurate. THen there is some personal issues between Ogre and Pim and I think Ogre consideration to play for Macedonia may have bit him in the arse. However Bosnar, according to Jesse Interview, Pim is definitely considering him as an option. He actually picked Bosnar for one friendly but his club refuse to release Eddie due to being in a non-FIFA date so Bosnar has been in Pim's extended shortlist before. Also Bosnar has played in the Eredivisie before so he may have less issues adapting to Pim's style of coaching.

I dont know where this talk of a personal rift comes from... is there any proof. Sure, Griffiths is a douche, but thats nothing personal. He just lacks discipline. Same applies with Ognenovski, where's this personal rift? Isn't it just that Verbeek thinks he'd be better off playing for Macedonia. And isn't Bosnar just not very good.

yes these players are doing well on the ACL stage (as for example so has Langerak and Leckie) but really you cant have players with questionable temprament in the WC. not just for squad harmony and the maangers respect but, and the well documented dummy spits aside, its the ill discipline that is the biggest worry (sideline nut swipe). Is it worth the potentuial disaster of a sending off of frustrated and fiery griffiths or bosnar (who i thought had a poor disciplinary record in JLeague footy?)(both who wld almost certainly be targeted by canny germans and serbs) - we were shown up by the Italians smarts re:Grosso, and Neill was EPL experienced, we need players who can be relied upon and more importantly that the manager can rely upon. the issue for me is not that these guys shld be going to the WC, but they should have been tried out in the qualifiers or Asian Cups. a long time ago. but they werent and unfortunately, for them in particular, i think they will be looked over for the next, younger, generation of which we have Djite, Burns, Devere, Kantarovski, Vidosic, williams, lowry etc etc