It was more than refreshing to see Holger Osieck spring some surprises at the selection table for our upcoming friendly against Scotland.
The selections of Jason Davidson, Chris Herd, Robbie Kruse and Ryan McGowan are a sign of things to come, allowing us to see some of our brightest future talents.
The most intriguing of the selections has to be Davidson, the son of former Socceroo Alan Davidson. Alan Davidson was a very prominent figure for the Socceroos and a local legend, and now his son has been given an opportunity to carve his own name and reputation.
The left-footed defender has had a breakout past six months in his career, after moving to Dutch Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo.
After starting his career for Hume City in the Victorian Premier League, Davidson was named best young player and earned a move to Portugese club Paços de Ferreira.
Here he was one of the youngest players in the Portuguese Liga Sagres when debuting at 18. After being loaned out, Portugal provided little first team action for Davidson, which led to his move to the Netherlands.
After breaking into the first team for Heracles in the latter part of last season, Davidson has featured prominently in the pre-season, paving the way for a spot in the starting eleven.
This will be crucial year for the son of a Socceroos great, as the left-footer looks certain for a break out year in the Eredivisie and for the Green and Gold.
Another of Holger’s favourites, Robbie Kruse, is ready to show us why he was so highly rated in the A-League, especially after the last season he played with Melbourne Victory.
Moving to the Bundesliga second division was seen as a poor career move for Kruse, however with some good fortune, his club Fortuna Düsseldorf will be lining up in this seasons Bundesliga. Holger is certainly a big admirer of Germany’s top league.
From all reports coming from Germany, Kruse has every opportunity to be in the starting line-up against FC Augsburg on the 25th of August. He has been a standout in the pre-season and now with no niggling injuries he has been lighting up the training track.
Coach Norbert Meier has certainly let him know he is a chance for the opening round, especially after his pre-season match winner against NEC Nijmegen in July. Let’s hope this Socceroo X-Factor has a season to remember.
Ryan McGowan looks an ever inviting replacement for our leader Lucas Neill, after being named as Hearts ‘Young Player of the Year’ in the Scottish Premier League, the powerful defender looks to be a star on the rise.
Last season was huge for McGowan who claimed a regular slot in defence and scored a memorable goal in the 127th Scottish Cup Final against Hibernia.
While missing the Scottish powerhouse Rangers in the upcoming season, the SPL will still prove a more than valuable year of development for McGowan who will thrive under a season starting in defence.
The versatile full-back has an opportunity to take on more leadership and responsibility and perhaps generate a move to bigger club Celtic or even the English Premier League in the not too distant future.
Aston Villa’s Chris Herd is finally ready to make his Socceroos debut after previously missing out through injury the times. Like McGowan, last season provided a massive boost for Herd who claimed a starting position in midfield for the Villans towards the latter part of their campaign.
Herd, a disciplined and versatile midfielder, has to put previous indiscretions behind him and try to make that defensive midfield position his own. With Brett Holman also present, Villa will be a hotly followed club by Australian EPL fans.
With all things going to plan, this could be a year of rebuilding for the Socceroos, with many more young players to stake a claim for Rio in 2014. Rhys Williams has been captaining Middlesbrough and is almost a Socceroos regular, Adam Federici is a star goal keeper and deserves his chance in the EPL with Reading, and Neil Kilkenny definitely has a future.
Let’s hope all our young brigade start to fulfil their potential and leave us with a core of stars come Rio 2014. Let the countdown begin.
oly09
Guest
Based on the squad picked for the Scotland, I'd love to see a line-up like this. There's no point just throwing a stack of young guys together for a friendly, they need to be phased in. McDonald Holman Bresciano Kruse Herd Vareli Davidson Neill Williams Wilkshire Schwarzer Then have McGowan come on for the second half at fullback, Brosque on for McDonald, Federici on for Scwarzer. That way the likes of Davidson, Williams and Herd get a chance, but also the opportunity to play alongside a first team regular.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Intereting season ahead for Australian football, the A-League and the Socceroos. We need the right balance of experienced players for the Asian WCQ campaign and some good young players to step in if needed. We haven't made it to Brazil yet and still some nervous games ahead.
Kasey
Guest
Find me a regular Aussie who doesn't use nicknames in every day speech and I'll buy and worship a Sherrin for a year;) Using the Toon is an obvious one based on the fact that the Jets in the HAL are also called Newcastle United.
clayton
Guest
I know this isn't the way things are "done", but instead (or maybe as well as) of a friendly against someone like Scotland, I'd love to see a public "Probables versus Possibles" match. Yes, this kind of stuff happens in squad catch ups, in private, but just picture it. It is a televised game, at a stadium with a crowd. One of the assistants could control the "Possibles" for the match. I reckon it would have a bit of sting to it. You'd have guys trying to show they deserve to get game time. You'd have guys trying to show they deserve to keep getting game time. I'd love to see a game with Neill and Ogmonster at one end of the pitch and Rhys Williams and Luke De Vere lining up at the other. Could the younger pairing show up the old hands? David Carney lining up at LB for the probables, while Davidson lined up for the possibles. Would Erik Paartalu or Adam Sarota or Steven Lustica upstage the tried and tested battlers like Jedinak and Valeri with some defensive presence AND decent passing? Dunno, but I'd love to see it. There are no superstars waiting to be discovered. The youngsters on the fringe of the NT squad are on the edge of their club teams, for the most part. So there are no Kewells or Viduka like talents missing out atm. But McKay has been an excellent addition to the Socceroos squad - nobody expected it. Are there other players who could make similar contributions to the NT squad? Probables versus Possibles sn't going to happen, but I can dream.
BigAl
Guest
. . . name dropping ?
Kasey
Guest
Big Al, So I speak fluent football. What's your point?
whiskeymac
Guest
equally check out the interest generated by Luongo on the fans blog for Ipswich. Hopefully he is a future inclusion in Holger's plans. If game time and clubs are a prerequisite for selection surely these guys are performing above and beyond some who >cough< dont have clubs or are playing intermittently in far flung places. anyhoots. here is the link http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2012/aug/10/championship-2012-13-season-preview-bloggers
BigAl
Guest
Kasey - for someone who continually berates 'eurosnobs', you are pretty free with the inclusion of UK team knicknames in your posts . . . . just sayin'!
whiskeymac
Guest
agree. wld like to see that team play mid.
Griffo
Roar Guru
My thoughts are that I can see, should we make Brazil, that if the team does not do as well as the goals they set themselves for the World Cup we will see older players 'make themselves available' for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. We might see some retirements post 2014 World Cup cycle, but having the continental championships roughly seven months after the World Cup being hosted in Australia will be too tempting a carrot for some to retire hastily. I support the notion of being selected if you are still good enough, I'm just not always confident that this happens here. Long way to go to see who gets picked from the younger brigade regularly to build on experience, but I am slightly concerned that some may only get 7 months experience leading in to the 2015 Asian Cup with a few friendlies. One downside of automatically qualifying as hosts are that these younger players don't have an asian qualifying campaign to gain this experience. I think some friendlies with these players as the main selection of the team may give this experience and time to gel for the future but when they could be hosted during the busy football season without affecting their standing in their club is anyones guess.
Andyroo
Guest
I don't like the idea of just throwing all the kids together at once as it feels more like a trial rather than a proper Socceroos cap. It's much better to make your debut standing next to Sasa or Neil than another debutant. Scotland in Scotland will still be a tough game. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Kasey
Guest
McGowan valued highly by the Jam Tarts: Hearts have rejected an offer from Wednesday for Australian defender Ryan McGowan, according to The Scotsman. The Owls are reported to have had a verbal offer of £300,000 turned down for the 22-year-old and the SPL club are said to be looking for double that amount to let one of their key first team players leave. McGowan, who received his first call-up to the full Australian squad this week, is out of contract with the Edinburgh club at the end of the season but Hearts are keen to offer the defender a new deal. The Australian cemented his first place in the Hearts first team last season and the Tynecastle club are eager to hold on to him. But he could sign a pre-contract elsewhere in January and leave for nothing unless Hearts tie him to a new contract. Owls boss Dave Jones has already bolstered his squad with a host of new defenders, including Anthony Gardner, Joe Mattock and Kieran Lee, for the new season but it still seemingly keen to add another stopper. Read more: http://www.sheffwed.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289544#ixzz23CAcG0m4
Midfielder
Guest
Its only Scotland ... IMO we need to see what the side that will look like our 2015 side ... There is a point when players need to be changed ... aside from Wilhshere I struggle to see any of the key 2006 players being up to 2014 WC or 2015 AC... the above team may be young today but in three years ... it could be firing ... If you asked me today who would you rather have in your squad in 2014 / 2015 Harry or Troisis .... Lucas or Devere ... Timmy or Leckie ... I in noway wish to disrespect the older players .... but both are a risk ... will the young ones step up ... can the old one keep going... me I would gamble with the young ones...
Stefanov
Roar Pro
That is a very youthful team. Definitely would go for something like that against weaker opposition. If it were a friendly against a Singapore or Malaysia then I would definitely be more experimental. Troisi is another interesting one, as is Oar. Both very gifted.
Midfielder
Guest
Given this is a friendly I would love to have seen a side like this.. Fed McGowan Spira Devere Lowry Williams Herd Troisi Leckie Oar Ruka subs, Davidson, Kruse, Amini, Ryan, Holland
Bondy.
Guest
Good side with quality in it ,ben arfa,cisse,Kroll,to train with them on a constant basis is better than the H.A.L. full time,but most of the others players who are aborad arent in that better position to a H.A.L. player though, I believe.
Kasey
Guest
If Curtis Good can sign with the Toon and relatively quickly make an impact(ie before their coaches can improve him) then a case can be made for the relative strength of the HAL.
Bondy.
Guest
Although I think Kruze is a stand out for the Bundesliga "if he gets game time" but what other element to most of those stories are actually better than the A League itself,I look at the C.V. of some of those clubs those boys are at and think to myself whats the difference between that club and a H.A.L. club very little if any.Perhaps we may start looking in the A League for national team players theres not much difference in some cases I believe.