Generation Next: Where to for the Socceroos?

Good point Dasheen, Porta should receive a call up. I too am concerned about where the future is heading- while some of these players are okay, okay isn't good enough. Socceroos were'nt awesome to beign with, even our so-called Golden Generation was laughable by most standards, but they were relatively solid. maybe edging towards a 7/10. Right now we are 5/10. (I like your numbering system Dasheen). I'm putting it out there- there is no successful future on the world stage for the socceroos, the current crop suck and the youth are horrible. You patriots can jump on me all you want but I already win, just watch any of our matches. Jordan? Lost. Iraq? They scored first and we won 2-1. Iraq guys, c'mon... half of their players are part timers. It's very very very clear that Australia is going back down the drain where they belong. They surfaced for a while, but are now drowning.

Thanks for that site Fuss. I don't think the personal attack is warranted though- just because nobody is mentioning obscure players in less competitive, overseas leagues, does not mean someone knows less than you do. Besides, those players you mentioned aren't exactly going to help us at the world cup. While Oar and Sarota seem like some of our best hopes for the future, I still don't think it's good enough. However, I think Richard Porta (if you have heard of him) deserves a call up. He is long forgotten but very very good. These are the players who need a call up. The future of the Socceroos isn't bright, and 'good' is not good enough, which I think is the point some of the commenters were making. We are barely beating teams such as Iraq and we lose to teams like Jordan, what do you think will happen against Spain, Germany, Italy, France? I think the golden generation has passed us. We won't be as competitive in the future, but I hold hopes that 4-5 above average players will surface. The constant references to Oar are okay, he's an okay player. He is not 'good' or above average, but has the potential to be. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. I hope he does well. Also players like Holman and Herd are only slightly above average, I'd put them at a 6/10. They won't get us through the world cup. I have more hope for Herd than anybody else. Cahill, despite going to the MLS, is still our main man and I think he is the type of player who will still be useful come 2014.

Massimo Luongo

I am merely outlining that we have young players (Holman being an exception) playing overseas in decent competitions for each position on the pitch. Relax, I am not advocating we take the Joeys to Brazil.

The best site for keeping up-to-date with Aussie footballers playing overseas: http://osaussies.com/sunday-wrap-5/ Note: Tommy Oar & Adam Sarota both played 90 mins for Utrecht on Friday night and they appear in the Friday wrap.

Matthew Leckie opened the scoring for FSV Frankfurt in Bundesliga2 as they beat Regensburg 3-1, despite playing with 10 men for 70 minutes. Leckie played the full 90mins. It's so easy to pick the people, who do NOT have a clue about AUS footballers playing overseas.

Those players are poor, bar Holman. Troisi yet to be seen, but that line up sucks are u serious? U think that line, experience and squad is good enough for the World Cup?

-----------Rukavysta (Bundesliga)---------------- Oar (Eredivisie)-----Holman (EPL)--------Kruse (Bundesliga) --------Holland (Austria Bundesliga)-----Sarota (Eredivisie)---------- Davidson (Eredivisie)--Spiranovic (UAE) --McGowan (SPL)---Herd (EPL) -----------Jones (EPL)----------------- Leckie (Bundesiga) Troisi (Seria A) Williams (x2) (Championship/EPL) Devere (K-League) ..........and that is without even considering any players based in Australia or younger players like Tanner or Amini Whilst we may be struggling to produce a Kewell or a Viduka there is also very little reason to push the panic button.

Excellent piece raising some valid points. I see some are "proud" and while Fussball has a point about where we've come from over the past 10-15 years, it doesn't pay to be nostalgic. We've come a long way but have far to go. No point living in the past, we cannot afford to be complacent or pat ourselves on the back and say "well done". No, that is not competitive. We need to expect more and want more. In order to do that, as Anthony suggested, A-league players need to be started to see if there ARE any good ones capable of taking the next step. You won't know if you don't try. It's all good fielding european players, and while the A-League isn't exactly a training ground for the world's elite, there are a few in there which hopefully can shine and make the difference. Relying on already-established players in Europe won't work, plus what are we gonna do? Rely on Kruse to get us through? haha. No, we need something more and need to expect more from Australia, and I say this with high expectations because i BELIEVE in australia. I want to see Amini and Troisi shine, they are more important than any other crop of youngsters we have at the moment, especially Troisi. I don't see you guys talking about Troisi, and tht is concerning. Either you are stubborn A-League supporters who only acknowledge people like Kruse and Holman, or you are oblivious to just how good one needs to be to get signed by Juventus. This is a far bigger achievement than Kewell signing for Liverpool. We are talking about Juventus here.... Hopefully he does well at Atalanta (which he isn't at the moment) and can make it onto Juve's bench. There is no way he will ever become a starter for Juve, but a sub is good enough at that level.

Phil, as pointed out he is starting for FD which is in the top-flight Bundesliga and is currently 11th in that comp - playing in the top flight in Germany itself is surely a great education for him. Also, in my opinion he's been a good contributer for the Socceroos. Nevertheless, apologies to all for any distress I caused before by posting such a low-standard comment :)

Do your research mate.

Kruse has started every game this season for Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Take into consideration that Kruse isn't a starter but a reserve, and his German team is average at best. Not a good example. Lift your standards mate.

plus 3

Jamesb- great comments re the competitiveness of Europe. The fact that the club football landscape has changed globally since the 90s often gets overlooked. It's also worth noting that Kruse made it to Europe (and the socceroos) via Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, so that shows it is quite viable for young players to build a career via the A-League. Pim's somewhat defeatist views on the A-league aren't necessarily backed up by the facts.

There has been some pretty positive rumours the game against Korea could showcase a lot of the next generation. I would be ecstatic if its true and I get to see Oar, Devere, Holland, Sarotta and Langerak start. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].

Well said and agree 100%. As Fuss pointed out there is so much more depth and talent, maybe not the one offs like Harry but the overall standard of the game and players improves every year. We get a good technical league going all the time and a good intelligent coaching system and we will remain competitive. Plus its not all doom and gloom - the nadir i think has been passed in the local scene in this respect. Thats not saying we will win the world cup but the conveyor belt, after some fine tuning perhaps, is delivering a reasonable local product - not Ajax-Barca grade maybe - but better than last year and getting better with each season.. .. Further, finding the next "Kewell" is not so pressing as finding the next Hiddink, Klopp or establishing a Clairefontaine etc.

+2

Just a couple of years ago I was worried about the future (we couldnt find a partner for Neil and were relying on Craig Moore) but I think things are looking alright. The A league is miles better than it was and nearly unrecognisable quality wise to what was on show 3 seasons ago. The first wave of A League exports overseas were a bit of a bust and quite a few of them came back. Thinking Leijer, Djite, Carney, D Williams, Baird, Theo etc etc The recent departures are doing much better. Kewell is the only player I can recall whose first professional game was for a big club as Leeds were at the time. Cahill and Neil had to get it done at Millwall first. Already a lot of promising names have been thrown about and I didn't even see Devere, Hammil or Bailey Wright get a mention. There are now enough players who to me have showed they will be good pros and people forget Tommy Oar is only 20. How far have we come that people are blasé about someone having the season they are in the Dutch top flight at just 20. Just 10 years ago we would have been going bonkers. He's younger than when Emerton went to Holland and people were very excited about that back in the day. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].

Yeh I think the A-League will bare pretty decent fruits a whole generation in, so I guess in another 10 if we in season 8 now. But I agree the best thing is to get Youth Academys set up. Get kids with potential into a professional environment early and training with the best. Keep them from giving up or choosing AFL/NRL over Football and we will be doing pretty sweet.