Why aren't future Socceroo stars picked?

A new coach ...... but still the same old whinging naysayers. From my readings of a lot of forums, the general consensus of opinion is that there is no new generation following thru. But there is, there are a couple of players, AEK's burns for one, that are on the cusp of being good enough to step up. So FFA, with the foresight of the hansburger, have brought in a bloke that understands the tech side of the game, somebody who worked with Germany's youth for six odd years, and a mission statement to upgrade our coaching staff. Developement was what our code was lacking, and now hopefully that gap will be closed. I look at the Postecoglu Roar, who would have thought that an ALeague team could be so transformed, certainly not the naysayers, who would have thought that all of a sudden the League could be so transformed to see so many teams playing elegant football, with speed and touch. Sure there is a long way to go but the first step has been taken, the Muscats and Tiatto like muscle in lieu of diminishing skill types of our league are doomed to extinction, bring on the next generation of Leckies and Paynes. Postecoglu taught a group his dream in one off season, Osiek has three off seasons to get his dream across to the new generation, and with the assistance of a new generation of coaches already stepping up and the process has started. I for one can't wait to see who comes out of the woodwork and steps up. Even the incumbent Socceroos are going to have to upgrade their skills to keep their place. I can't believe that Osiek is being called for not giving the new generation a go when the very likes of the commentators that made that call, harper and co., are the ones that said there wasn't a new generation a couples of months back. I am sure that the future of the Socceroos is in great hands, I can't say the same for the current generation of commentators and journalists.

Yes, agreed - for the moment, I rate Japan and Sth Korea well ahead of us. Mind you, that doesn't necessarily mean making the final is beyond us (afterall, look at what Iraq managed to achieve last time under extraordinarily difficult circumstances). Which reminds me - I wonder what Vieira is doing these days, and whether anyone considered him for the Socceroos job? What he managed with Iraq was nothing short of a miracle, and he has probably not recieved the due regard he deserves.

Agree, AndyRoo. Yes, Holger has only been around a few weeks, but he presumably gets advice from Berger and Vidmar. This is very conservative selection, and does not bode well for Holger's "vision". I really do hope we are not in groundhog day here in the sense that the A-Leaque = national team wilderness. Is Garcia as good as Williams or Cernak? No. He's a completely ordinary journeyman who will never change a game, so why the hell is he selected?

Plus 1. That's why I really find the choice of the older squad guys disheartening, I think a top coach would be onto this already. I don't see replacing Garcia with someone younger as making us a worse team if they do actually want to win the Asian Cup.

Personally I don't rate our chances at the Asian Cup. Korea Republic and Japan both have younger, quicker and more technically adept sides. They looked significantly better than the Roos in South Africa. Without a significant injection of pace, we won't compete with them.

you forget that the Asian cup is coming up soon and we are a real chance to win it. In fact, most people in Australia believe that we will. So getting the strongest squad together for the friendlies is probably Osieck's way of saying that we want to win the Asian Cup, and these are the players who are best suited to do it. Keep in mind that after these friendlies, the Roos will go into camp for the competition. Then the young lads will be included, I guarantee it. And then Osieck has 3 years to whip them into shape for a new socceroos squad for the 2014 WC. Don't light the torches just yet.

What worried me most was the selection of North and Garcia. How do these two keep on being selected? Wrong age, demonstrably not good enough. Why on earth would you select Garcia over David Williams, for example? Perhaps North is right back cover, but he isn't even playing. Carney is a continuing weak link at left back. He gets skinned by any winger with an ounce of pace, but I suppose it is a case of the cupboard being bare. I don't view the Holger era with high hopes. His track record at Urawa is a major concern. I think he talks a positive game, but will play a negative game. I desperately hope to be proven wrong. The best the Socceroos have played in recent years was under Rob Baan.

Agree, Ben. My first reaction was oh no, here we go - Pim with a hairpiece. But it is hard to argue with the logic. I think many people underestimate what a boost it would be to win the Asian Cup, which is clearly Holger's intent.

Thanks AndyRoo, re reading my comment it was abit strong though. Still we need to not be forming the posse just yet, I honestly think that the Asian Cup squad will be the big test of Holger - these friendlies are really just a way for him to get use to us.

good points General. Perhaps not cause for alarm but I would have been a lot more optimistic if one game was all it took for him to decide Garcia while tidy wasn't the type of player that fitted in his plans for how the team was going to play. Solid professional not scaring teams but not letting the side down ho hum

Well I agree with waiting until they have had at least one good club season as the Socceroos squad shouldn’t be a charity. Though after the first 14 or so players decided on merit I think it’s stupid to take the 16th best player in he late 20’s into camp to not play and that’s where they should be generous to the youth with their selections. At least with Neil, Kewell and Schwarzer you have guys that have played at the top level so you get some value from having them involved in the camp, Schwarzer especially would be like an extra coach for someone like Langerak. Guys like Garcia though who were never key figures in their prime and have no chance of 2014…I just don’t see any value in giving them more caps. I guess if he's really aiming to win the Asian cup he's not going to muck around with kids at this stage but it means i'm not going to give him a free pass on his "philosophy". I would have thought someoen that had been a keen observer of the Socceroos would hopefully come to the conclusion the younger players are much faster and you could really use that against the other Asian nations who don't have as much European experience.

There are only 2 players who we as existing Australian fans think are completely useless: Garcia and North. Holger as the new coach without the totally one eyed fixation we all have has come in and will need to determine for himself that these guys (along with a number of others) need to be politely shown the door. This will happen, to expect that we would see the Olyroos appearing in the next two friendlies is a completely infantile expectation.

Dasher39, i am pretty sure that he has more than 3/4 friendlies to prepare before the WC Qualifiers start. Remember Australia do not get involved in Stage 1 or 2, we join in at Stage 3. I totally support Holger's selections (except for north, garcia, beauchamp). The players will be itching for redemption and would dearly love to win the Asian Cup 2011. They were forced to play dour cautious defensive football under Pim and I cannot wait to see us play unleashed and instructed to attack and win the bloody thing! There id definately enough time post Asian Cup to start reinvigorating the squad but at the same time the young future socceroo stars must do their bit and start playing first team football for their clubs eg, James Holland is still playing reserves at AZ Alkmar, Tommy Oar is only starting to get himself late sub appearances at Uctrecht, Nathan Burns - same situation, and Vidosic is not in first team squads at Nuernberg, etc Patience my man. It's important we don't cheapen the value of getting a national team shirt. We need our young boys to knock on the doors of socceroo selection NOT because of their potential but because their form and rise are so strong it cannot be ignored. We still need our Neills, Emertons, Kewells and Cahills to hang around as long as they can.

From what I've read, Osieck has made it quite clear that this is his squad for Qatar, which he wants to win or at least be in with a chance. He says now (Qatar) is not the time to blood the young boys but also says that he expects to rebuild the team after the Asia cup. He has been very active and travelled to many games overseas to watch players in past weeks, talking to coaches etc.

Did we try it agaisnt Slovenia? I can only think of Djite who was a surprising selection.

Ben of Phnon Penh You are clearly wasted over there. Of course we can't play a bunch of the guys mentioned in the article in every International. It's International footbal, and we tried that against Slovenia - we got flogged. And it's not a missed opportunity. The young guys, under 23 can play Olympic football and this can breed them without the pressure of the full team, and if and when they are consistently to a standard they get their chance. Tommy Oar and co aren't even playing for their club - so why is he worthy of a gig at Socceroos level?

I will admit my first thoughts were "Sack Holger" but Ben is talking sense. Also someone else brought up the first game should be him working with the enncumbants to see where we are at and then going from there. Uninspiring so far though.