Osieck announces Socceroos squad for World Cup Qualifiers

The side you have named looks exactly like the one I expect Osieck to name. I'm just worried that the Japanese could expose us with pace right through the centre of the park. Bresciano shielding Neill and the Og is big worry. My preference (as I've said above) would be to have Holman help Jedi in shielding the back 4, with Cahill playing in the hole. And then Kennedy as a battering ram up front. Bresc would do much better as a sub against tired legs in Japan/being used a deep-lying playmaker in our final two home games...

All the chat and interest in the national side for the upcoming World Cup Qualifers is a healthy thing and the talk about the starting line up is always up for conjecture before important matches like the matches presented. Just to make a note on the overall squad, experience was always going to win places with Holger which is fine since you wouldn't want him deciding to change his philosophy at the final hurdle. BUT you have to question two players in this squad that have been given plenty of opportunities with the national side, only to fail to deliver on numerous occasions in the past. Jade North and Michael Thwaite clearly aren't players who we can rely on to perform at the level required, it just boggles me that they are in there again. Also for me the other two players who are glaring poor inclusions are Robert Cornthwaite and Ivan Franjic. If Rhys Williams and Chris Herd aren't better credentailed choices I give up !! So, my preferred line up (from the squad selected) with which I'd hoped Holger would start with is: ————Schwarzer (c) ———— Wilkshire–—–Neill–—-Ognenovski–——McKay —————Bresciano— Jedinak——— Kruse—–— Holman ———- Oar ————-—— Cahill ————- Bench Langerak Rogic Kennedy Milligan Zullo Thompson Milligan makes my bench as he is a utility player who can play central defence or holding midfield if one of the starting XI get injured during the match (which has been happening of late). Zullo cover for the fullbacks. Kennedy has been in good form of late in Japan and is a point of difference type of substitute Rogic to come on for Holman or possibly Bres depending on who is having little impact Thompson, a versatile player who could come on for either wingers.

Truth be told I'm a bit jaded with Macdonald, he's had numerous chances, maybe not tailored to suit his stregnths but the same as many others. I feel there are better, even younger guys who could do a job where he would play. The only time would have been with two up front, preferably with big Dukes beside him. I'm sorry to say it, but I don't support him coming back to the national team. Well said griffo.

Oh I agree he has favourites, but all coaches do. The problem is he is not fullfiling part of his contract, to rejuvinate the team by transitioning new 'younger' players in the mix. I think everyone would have supported him if it happened (well a lot more than now anyway) after the asia cup, but it hasn't. Also his mantra of only selecting players with game time is hypocritical, which should give players like Lowry a look in. So I do agree that Lowry should be considered, at least a look at in a friendly, in place of some of the other puzzling selections, as well as some others.

I think hes done more than enough to warrant a call up at least.Holger has his favourites and Lowry won't play for Australia while he's at the helm along with a few others I think its fair to say.

Mid, I think a lot of Lucas 'walk-in' squad status has to do with him being captain, and at the back of my mind sometimes I wonder at whether a part of that also is the PR side of things with him being one of the iconic faces of the 'Roos in marketing games. I just can't see FFA though saying to Holger "Looking forward to your squad announcement with Lucas next week!". I thought by now Rhys would be a regular member of the squad and don't know how much his injuries have hampered that (as well as older squad members still being fielded ahead of others). He always seemed to be comfortable on the ball under pressure. With Kennedy, Cahill (preferred as a striker under Holger) and Thompson I don't think Scotty Mac's record is helping him there but I always thought he did well to bring others into the game when he played. I just think overall that squad regeneration is now on the next coaches to-do list and Holger's main task is to get Australia to the World Cup - and he's just not confident that 'anyone' under 30 is going to save his bacon.

He can do the overlapping FB thing, not the best at taking on defenders though. But he is defensively superior to say Mackay, so it's a pro - con weigh up. I realy made the statement to try and give bandwagoners another objective take on him, instead of 'where's Lowry, increadable he is not selected. Bloody Holger!'

I am still amazed at the team selections and the backs are screaming WTF are you doing... Rhys Williams must be wondering what he's gotta do. Captain of Middlesbrough at CB and can't make the squad. Meanwhile Thwaite gets a gig, having played his last game in the A-League two months ago!. Trent Sainsbury is in every-bodies squad.. yet we have Jade North who also has not played in a while and Robert Cornthwaite.. Hand on heart not the other thing .... Rhys Williams & Trent Sainsbury are much better than Thwaite, North & Cornthwaite.. Scotty Mac plays in the Champions Division and we have Beoqsue [who must have a photo of Frank] and Archie ... Lucas keeps his spot I guess because he is captain and a good organiser at the back... but the lack of pace with Lucas & Ognenovski as the likely centre pairing is scary ... Trent Sainsbury is very quick maybe the fastest centre back in the A-League not sure on Rhys but I can remember he is also quick...Thwaite, North & Cornthwaite are all slow ... we need someone with pace to support Lucas... Wonders aloud also about Lucas ... saw him play for SFC and gotta say he looked no better than a lot of CB going around and maybe it's time to look for a new captain... BTW I have huge respect for Lucas just saying maybe he is also getting well past his best...

Gülüm has elected to play for Turkey (at the wishes of his father after Holger went to Turkey early on to sort out his desire to play for Australia at the left-back position) - but has yet to be capped so is technically still eligible for Australia Not sure on his form or starts In Turkey, but at 26 is he is still an option over Zullo et al? If in hot form would Turkey cap him anyway? Personally if he is playing well, I would get him to reconsider. At least under Holger, given his pursuit of Gülüm, he is not ever going to be on his radar.

He does tend to lump it forward when under pressure but im not sure he doesnt get forward,saw him swinging in some tasty crosses in the FA Cup against Blackburn that Kennedy or Cahill would love to get on the end of.Very strong,reads the game very well and has a great free kick.Hes the kind of no bullsh*t,hard tackling defender I would like to see especially in Japan.

I think most people's beef with Osieck is that he hasn't regenerated the Socceroos like we'd hoped. Constantly rewarding players with caps despite them not playing regularly, or at all, at club level (remember David Carney?). This has now left us in a situation where Lucas Neill (who has only played 225 minutes of competitive football in the past 6 or so months) is by far our best option - due to experience - at centreback. Why is Rhys Williams being overlooked despite being a regular for 'Boro? How can Bosnar continue to be shunned despite being a regular in the K-League?

So you're saying that just because Holger is paid 2.5m a year, he has to get us to the World Cup? Picture this: we go into the Iraq game needing to win to progress to the WC - draw or loss will knock us out completely. We're up 2-1 in the 93rd minute when an absolutely laughable penalty is awarded to Iraq. They convert it and we miss out on Brazil. That's something completely out of Holger's control and not his fault yet going on your logic he's to blame for missing the WC. I know you'll counter with the argument that "he should have wrapped it up with games in hand" but this is football - things happen. The notion that a person must get a result just because they are being paid well is ridiculous. You can have an inoperable brain tumour and go see a specialist being paid 200,000 per year who will tell you he can't operate, you can go and see a specialist being paid 2m a year in another country who will tell you the same thing. Just because the second bloke is being paid a lot doesn't mean that results are guaranteed.

That is close to what I expect Holger to go with although I agree expect Brosque will start ahead of Oar, and Holland may be on the bench with Milligan starting instead. Oar will replace Brosque; Thompson on for Holman; Kennedy to come on as another attacking option but it would be a mistake to take Timmy off against Japan unless both his legs are broken - he lifts against them and they fear his fighting capacity to the end. Kruse ---- Rogic ---- Oar would be a great combination to see on the park. Cannot fault Thompson's contribution in recent times but how much has the A-League off-season affected form and touch? Besc I feel will only have 30 minutes to give us before going off injured - best the Japan game than the last two must win at home.

Holland was very poor in the Oman game and Bulut has hardly done anything to warrant selection for our three most important matches.

The problem I see with Lowry is that when I watch him play he hasn't made a short pass and he is not an attacking full back.

I return the favour, agree with this 100%.

I was told he has been playing as striker recently?

Look we all know that Holgers job is not easy and no one is taking qualification to the World Cup as an expectation or guarantee. Part of Holgers brief as a National team coach was to transition and regenerate the squad. I dont think that has happened or at least not quick enough for my liking. Now we are stuck in no mans land and time is of the essence. The decisions that are made now could also effect qualification for the World Cup after Brazil. Imagine after the World Cup in Brazil we will have a whole stack of retirements and players moving on, without any new players or few players who will have any experience at World Cup level.

I agree 100%. Saved our bacon more than once.

I dont mind your starting line up Fuss, the only change I would have is putting Sainsbury instead of Ognenovski. I dont mind Franjic or Wilshire in the right back spot. As for Zullo he is only keeping that spot warm until Traore gets his papers. Last chance Saloon for Neill and possibly Schwarzer if they cant get the club situation sorted out fast.