While much of the attention has rightly been on the tension surrounding the FFA and A-League club owners, for a brief couple of hours tomorrow night in Melbourne the attention turns to matters on the field, and there is much intrigue about how the Socceroos shape-up against Saudi Arabia.
Even if it’s a dead rubber for a team already qualified for the next phase and even if much of the nation remains oblivious to the fact our national team is playing, let alone playing a home World Cup qualifier, it still presents a great opportunity for those given a start.
While the Socceroos sit six points clear of Frank Rijkaard’s second placed Saudi’s, the reality is that Holger Osieck’s team haven’t always flowed throughout the five qualifiers.
Indeed, as I wrote after the fortunate 1-0 win in Bangkok on matchday five, Osieck’s men have only controlled two of their five qualifiers, away to Saudi Arabia and at home to Oman.
For the most part, the Roos midfield has been out-possessed, with Datsakorn Thonglao in particular dishing up a lesson in how to control a game.
As I wrote in November; “Any team hoping to control games needs to have a dominant engine, able to dictate the movement of the ball and break teams down through penetrating passing and incisive circulation of the ball.”
While Mile Jedinak and Carl Valeri have hitherto provided a ball-winning platform, neither has consistently shown the range of passing that allows the ‘Roos to dictate games.
These problems were particularly exposed the last time the ‘Roos gathered for qualifiers, and Osieck’s frustration was patently obvious in both Muscat and Bangkok.
The good humour of his early days in charge was gone.
Sorting out his central midfield was chief among the points I raised at the time, and his 19-man selection here gives a clear hint that he is looking for a solution or two, or at least surveying his engine room options.
Casting an eye over it, there are no obvious stand-outs for the two central midfield roles.
The most likely options appear to include the Brisbane Roar’s Erik Paartalu, the adaptable duo Mark Milligan and Michael Thwaite, and Nicky Carle.
The latter option might surprise a few, but in among all the talk last week about Osieck putting a rocket up some of the youngsters that surround the squad, the German spoke glowingly about Carle and the role he might yet play for the Roos.
Paraphrased, he spoke of being impressed by Carle’s recent work in a deeper midfield role for Sydney FC, one that has seen him drop back from the second striker role he played at the start of the season.
Osieck talked about Carle’s work-rate, but was mainly effusive about his fierce determination and ability to control games through his distribution.
If there is one thing the German is big on, it’s mentality, and he’s clearly been impressed by the consistent will-to-win demonstrated by Carle in the A-League.
Whether he starts Carle or brings him off the bench, there’s no doubt Osieck likes what he has seen.
Certainly, playing him ahead of Erik Paartalu should give the Roos a scattered holding midfield able to play diagonal, forward passes, on the ground, helping bring both the wide players and front two into the game more consistently.
Elsewhere, and perhaps frustrated by the inability of Michael Zullo to seize his opportunity, Osieck has recalled David Carney at left-back, despite the claims of the Central Coast Mariners’ Josh Rose.
On the other side Michael Marrone is apparently ahead of Ivan Franjic and Pedj Bojic in the pecking order, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brett Emerton restored to right back, even if the adaptable Milligan and Jade North are other options.
In central defence, as much as I’d love to see Thwaite given a chance, I suspect it will be Lucas Neill and either Matthew Spiranovic and Sash Ognenovski, in front of Mark Schwarzer.
More interesting is what Osieck does in the middle and final thirds, and with Mark Bresciano back in the mix, he’s likely to get one of the wide births. Equally though, he could do a job centrally, just off the main striker, or perhaps Osieck wants to see what he can do deeper?
Two others that should be in the starting 11 are James Troisi and Alex Brosque, with the latter a possibility of filling Brett Holman’s second-striker role.
It’s one, I suspect, Brosque would relish, particularly if he has mobility around him through the likes of Troisi, Bresciano and Archie Thompson or Harry Kewell.
With Osieck being a big fan, there’s every chance Thompson will be given another opportunity to lead the front-line, possibly at the expense of his Melbourne Victory team-mate Kewell.
Whoever does feature, particularly in the midfield engine, gets a real opportunity to prove to Osieck and Socceroos fans that they can help control a game.
Indeed, playing well here would likely put a number of these players in a handy position come the next phase of qualifying.
Tony’s preferred Socceroos XI (4-4-1-1) against Saudi Arabia
—————————Mark Schwarzer——————————–
——————————————————————————-
Brett Emerton—–Lucas Neill—-Matt Spiranovic—David Carney
——————————————————————————–
—————————-Erik Paartalu————————————
—Mark Bresciano—————-Nicky Carle——–James Troisi—-
———————————————————————————
———————————————–Alex Brosque——————
————————-Archie Thompson———————————–Subs; Mat Ryan, Michael Thwaite, Sash Ognenovski, Jade North, Michael Marrone, Mark Milligan, Adam Sarota, Harry Kewell
apaway
Guest
Yes, Mid, I do but probably not both at the same time. I'm a fan of bringing the young players through but to partner them with experienced heads on the park.
Rob
Guest
Must admit I was thinking that Jesse Fink had hacked Tony's account as well.
Midfielder
Guest
Anyone think that Musty or Tomas should get a run...
Mr Celery
Guest
Nicky Carle and Archie Thompson have had umpteen chances to prove themselves at international level and neither have impressed me. Fine for A-League standard, but surely there are better options for the Socceroos. A real worry if that's the best we've got.
Punter
Guest
Fuss, lets not forget that Japan's goal should not have been allowed as Schwarzer was clearly taken out, in football it's swings and round abouts. But I do agree with you Osieck.
Roarchild
Guest
Yes, one good season (and an awesome goal too) in the A league at a time when not many players were given a chance based on A league form. Second place for the award was Danny Allsopp. The winner the season before was Boby Despotovski and the winner the season after was one of the Griffiths boys. Hardly a lot of caps in that lot. I don't begrudge him the caps he won but I don't think he was our overlooked Messi that is worth so much adoration.
apaway
Guest
Considering who is not in the squad, it looks OK to me. I'm split on Nicky Carle - without doubt he is skilful and talented and he has worked his socks off this season at SFC. But is it a case of too little too late? I'd like to see him get the chance to impress tomorrow night but he lacks pace, and that is such an important ingredient in the modern midfielder. Archie Thompson ahead of Harry Kewell? On current form, absolutely not. I like Archie and his early season form looked like he was back to his best after his knee injury. But he was so poor against Gold Coast last weekend. His first five contributions in the game were to lose the ball three times and be offside twice. I know he laid on the goal for Hernandez but let's be honest, CH still had a lot to do to score. By comparison, Kewell has been the best player in the A-League over the last 6 weeks.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Roarchild Don't forget Nicky Carle won the Johnny Warren Medal in 2006/07, so he's definitely had at least 1 outstanding & consistent season in the HAL.
Roarchild
Guest
He is one footed and slow. Not a bad footballer but he never really produced anything at club level consistently enough to demand a start. Too many moves just as you felt he was about to kick on.
Sam
Guest
It's Holger's worst squad by a long-stretch. Appeasing European managers playing some part, I would imagine. I agree with the general consensus that the Bresciano, Thompson and (to a lesser extent) Carle selections were quite baffling. We cannot take another aging squad to Brazil like we did S. Africa, assuming we make it. The likes of Oar, Leckie, Rukavytsya, Zullo and Herd need a look-in, despite Holger's apparent disdain for their work ethic; Rukavystya in particular has a skill-set the Socceroos are screaming out for: blistering pace and goal sense. Hertha, though in something of a crisis, have seen enough of him to give him 45 minutes on the weekend, as well as a host of other appearances off the bench. Similarly, Herd can certainly play anywhere from midfield to centre-back and his versatility (and the versatility of Rhys Williams,) would give Holger the ability to shuffle his pack a little more. Through Herd's appearances for Villa I have gathered he is a robust, determined competitor. I couldn't imagine Holger had him in mind when he delivered his tirade. Kudos to him on the selections of Ryan, Marrone and Paartalu, though. Paartalu in particular could find himself becoming a regular, as he offers something a little bit different to Jedinak/Valeri. A little more mobility and a better passing range. For mine Jedinak, Valeri and even Kilkenny are all players that are too similar to one another; great workhorses but lack the real vision that you need in the middle of the park. Carle may provide this for now, but he is aging and other options need to be looked at.
Davo
Guest
great article Tony. The Nick Carle story is one of Australian football's greatest failures. How on earth has one of our most technicially gifted footballers only ever given a handfull of games off the bench for the socceroos. Its a travesty. The one time that he started was against Nigeria in London. HE WAS MAN OF THE MATCH. He never started again. What a joke. I am still bitter that we never got to see the amazing passing combinations that would have come about if we had of had Nicky Carle at the top of the midfield diamond and Mark Viduka up front. It would have been mesmerising.
wisey_9
Roar Guru
HA!
jmac
Guest
just thru from lucas on twitter: Off to training soon for the last session before tomorrow... Buzzing that my buddy Bresh is playing centre mid tomorow
Roarchild
Guest
I like Holger but he clearly has an aversion to specialist fullbacks. We only took two to the Asian cup and this squad also looks light a fullback. Given there importance offensively in the modern game it makes me uneasy.
Griffo
Roar Guru
To me these selections are about building a list of options for the next round of the campaign should first team regulars are out or unavailable. So while I agree with Titus above somewhat, I think Carney is also in because he has the experience at this level and Holger will assess if he is still at this standard without recent game time. Left-back has been a problem for us for some time and I expect Holger will want an option B and C here for the next round. A big fan of Carles. It is ironic that back home in the A-League with an injury-free season and hard work, Carle has got the call up he would have been hoping for all those years overseas. I expect an experienced line-up, including Bresciano, Kewell et al with some of the younger brigade (Brosque, Triosi and Spiranovic) to come on later in the game - earlier if we are a few goals up (wishful thinking). Holger will want a win going in to the next round.
jmac
Guest
I looked up Troisi's stats for 2011/12: 20 games, 8 goals, 3 assists. tony do you know what position he's playing this year for his club? is he up front? seems worth a look again based on this anyway.
jmac
Guest
my first reaction was that carle could play the 'holman' role. I think he's played a similar role for sydney at times this year.
MadMonk
Guest
I found this squad bizarre. No apparant clear direction showed by Holgar. Ryan one for the future, Thompson plucked from the past. McKay presumably left out because he is not playing but that rule doesn't apply to Carney. Rose would have been a low risk selection. 6 Central defenders but only one specialist holding midfielder. No obvious candiidate to play the Holman role. Would Nicolls have been worth a run. As for that I presume that Carle will paly the holding midfield role and I think he will do a decent job.
jonjax
Guest
The Cattery suggests , " and at the end of the day( Carle), he’s an ok A-League standard player", couldn't disagree more , Carle has worked like a trojan this year helping compensate for FC's defensive frailties. When FC finds some true pace in the final 3rd then I'm sure we'll see more of his (long range) passing abilities Nick Carle as the creator in a destroyer/creator partnership in the centre of the park for our national team ,now that would be fun to watch!
Jupiter53
Guest
With you 100% on this. I think Holger's appointment has been one thing that the FFA has got right.