Socceroos squad announced for WCQ - Kewell, Bresciano recalled

Just read a report on foxsports site: http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/socceroos-coach-holger-osieck-was-right-to-criticise-local-young-talent-says-robbie-slater/story-e6frf4l3-1226278244569 Slater saying Holger has a point on why some of the younger players were not called up (attitude problems, inconsistency). Maybe that is why some younger Mariners not in the squad? I think for some of those Mariners players, that is a bit harsh if that is true of why not selected.

Clearly the FFA are trying to save a few $$$ on airfares.

But, lads .... don't CCM & BRI supporters proudly crow that "our teams are not a team of champions, but a champion team?" Well, for the National Team selection you need that special individual brilliance as well as an ability to adapt to a new style of playing. PS: Just in case you haven't noticed the club from Olympic Blvd, Melbourne has the highest representation of any team in this Australian squad, with 3 players selected. :-) PPS: And, who knows, when Bresc sees the facilities we have at AAMI Park we may even entice the ex-Marcellin College lad to return home to play alongside H, Rojas, Carlos & Archie next year.

Another comment then. Brisbane, won the comp last year. Went on a 36 game unbeaten streak. Outright 2nd this year. Just beat the Mariners on their home turf and then 2nd placed Nix on their home turf.. One player.. Who may also sit on the bench..

Big fan of Dario's - I think he will come in during the next round of qualifiers. He has been part of the setup before so if in form, would slot in easily when called up.

North was a good player while in the A-League. He left just before the quality of the league went on the up and up. He has not been the same player since, not playing regularly doesn't help as seen with so many others. North is in I believe because Holger is evaluating the stocks of a known player. Determining whether he is still at the required level to be on call or whether to cast him adrift and look at other players is why North is in. As has been said here, there are other players on the rise, playing here, playing regularly, who could rise above North into contention depending on how well North impresses Holger in camp. Same could be said for Carney.

he really should never have gone to rangers in the first place. completely unimaginative football is hand in hand with rangers managers and now he has to start all over again.

Matty McKay leaving Ibrox for Sth Korea: http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/298295-matt-mckay-to-leave-rangers-for-south-korea/

Yes, the best sporting talent in Australia, who have strong ambition - i.e. to play against the world's best rather than Australia's best - will see that, if you put in the hard work, you can be recruited straight from High School into the biggest football league in the world! It really makes the local "world's best leagues" in other codes seem pretty pedestrian. Globalisation in sport is a reality and any Aussie kid, who is good enough, will be noticed by o/s football scouts.

skapetis and fofanah are good news stories.. never heard of them before but good to see they are getting a go in some big leagues (and ambitous clubs too). plus the kid that signed for everton also.

i think so... and it is in melbourne. not a bad gig for a last home game for some i'd have thought.

I wonder aloud why there are not a couple more in... Rose for Carney ...Musty not even on the bench...

Love the look of this squad. So much quality on display - mainly from the HAL. And, less than 2 years ago so many of us were wondering from where the next group of NT players would emerge. I'm really looking forward to cheering on lads, whom I'm normally bitterly opposed to during the HAL season. Imagine seeing Nicky Carle, H, Marrone & Partaalau all in the same team! This team's performance will be instrumental in further raising the profile of the HAL. A top result from the HAL lads will change the mindset of the grumpy Eurosnobs, who have been dismissive of our fledgling League. The depth Holger has built into the NT in 18 months is truly staggering when you consider these names that are missing from this squad: Cahill, Wilkshire, McKay, Burns, Kilkenny, Brad Jones, Kruse, Federici, Rhys Williams, Lowry, Valeri, Jedinak, Coe, Langerak, Oar, Zullo, Holman, Rukavytsya, Leckie, Vidosic, etc. etc. Plus we have outstanding young talent just waiting in the wings: Dugandzic, Buluut, Amini, Ibini, Halloran, Rogic And, today we learnt that 2 teenagers have been signed by EPL clubs - Peter Skapetis has joined QPR until 2014 after going straight from Rowville Second College’s school sports academy to Birmingham City and 15-year old Alusine Fofanah has been signed by EPL leaders, Manchester City. Exciting times for football in Australia, So much happening all the time - on the park, off the park, at local clubs, at pro-clubs, at international level, etc. etc. - it's a full-time job being an Aussie football fan these days!

ooops posted in the wrong spot!

Seeing that it's a dead rubber, I wonder if it's an opportunity for some blokes to say farewell to the public.

it's a dead rubber, really want to see something different from australia as we've been seriously unimaginative with the ball in previous games. -----------------------Ryan--------------------------- Marrone ----Spira ------ Milligan ------ Carney ---------------------Paartalu---------------------------- ----------Emerton/Sarota -------- Carle -------------------- Troisi ----------------------------------------Kewell ------------------Thompson--------------------------

What's your point midfielder? Mariners have the most balanced team without a single superstar player. Is that what you are saying :-)

very happy that Paartalu is there. i don't think Milligan and carney should be there, but hey its a dead rubber Holger probably didn't want to interrupt the european players at his point in time, but in future the likes of Rhys Williams and Brett Holman will be needed. I wish Matt Mckay was still playing in the A-League. His a quality player.

Ha!

Just a comment ... Mariners second last year ... made the grand final... out right leader in this years comp... one player ... who will sit up the bench...