After a dismal display against Oman on Saturday, the Socceroos backed it up with another lacklustre performance in Thailand on Tuesday night.
A loss and tight win has meant Australia still goes through to the next stage of World Cup qualifying, but with our wings a little dented after some earlier great performances under Holger Osieck.
The Socceroos remain the ever-unfinished article, and as the recent games have shown there still needs to be marked improvement in this team.
A lot has been said and written about the role Tim Cahill and Brett Holman should play, not to mention Harry Kewell, and the pairing up front with Josh Kennnedy. The central defence has also been discussed vigorously, and the ageing nature of several players.
But I think it’s time we case a critical eye on the team’s central midfield. Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak are both competent players, who have grown into their roles as Socceroos and made significant strides in their careers.
But I don’t think either should be automatic first choices for the team, or the first selections made for every Socceroos squad. To me Neil Kilkenny is a better option, with a better tackling game and attacking instincts to get the ball moving forward quickly and effectively. Both Valeri and Jedinak seem too defensive-focused and are not quick enough at transitioning from defence to attack.
Who should partner Kilkenny? This is a tough call, as there is a number of candidates to consider. Jason Culina would be front and centre if he was fit, but unfortunately that is a long way off, if ever. Hopefully he can return.
Rhys Williams can play in the middle, and it would be interesting to see him in that role in the dead rubber against Saudia Arabia. He may be an option there, although he could be better suited to the backline. Time will tell.
Chris Herd is another who could handle a central midfield role, as the Aston Villa star has tremendous versatility. Terry Antonis is tipped as a future Socceroo star, and it is perhaps too soon to throw him in the deep end now. But he should capped sooner rather than later.
It would be good to see him amass a few games before Brazil 2014, and a friendly against lowly opposition – similar to the recent match against Malaysia – would be a good opportunity to ease him into the set-up.
We are missing the class and superior technique of a Culina, Josip Skoko, Ned Zelic or a Paul Okon, and it shows. Competition for places will breed a better outfit, and that is what we need at the central nervous system of our national team.
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