Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has made it clear to World Cup aspirants that they need to be playing regular football if they want to be on the plane to Brazil.
Some of our fringe Socceroos are spending so much time on the bench they have been mistaken for high court judges.
So it might be time for some of them to make some financial sacrifices if they want to showcase their skills at the world’s biggest event where football portrays hope, dreams and life.
These players need to be under Postecoglou’s nose so he can smell how much they want to go to Brazil. To have any chance of dancing the samba in June these players need to come home now.
Brad Jones, 28
Minutes played this season – 0
Jones currently sits behind Simon Mignolet at Liverpool. Barring injury, Jones will be the No. 2 at Liverpool all season.
The Reds are not in European competition so FA Cup games remain Jones’ only chance to start outside the EPL.
Considering the FA Cup is Liverpool’s best chance of a trophy the chances of Jones getting game time are slim at best.
Who needs him?
Unfortunately for Jones, Goalkeeper is probably the strongest of any position in the A-League.
Given Justin Pasfield’s howlers and Liam Reddy’s lack of game time at this level, he could be a handy pickup for the Mariners.
Adam Federici, 28
Minutes played this season – 270
After starting for Reading at the beginning of the 2012/13 EPL season Federici’s blunders were magnified in one of the most watched leagues in the world.
He has never been a consistent starter since, falling out of favour with Brian McDermott and failing to impress new boss Nigel Adkins.
Who needs him?
Melbourne Heart’s Andrew Redmayne and Wellington’s Glen Moss could be the goalkeepers under most pressure if Federici decided to try his hand in Australia.
That says a lot about the quality of the goalkeepers in the league as these two have been solid for their teams this year. Having said that there are no less than five keepers currently in the A-League of which no-one would bat an eye lid if they were included in the Socceroos squad.
Lucas Neill, 35
Minutes played this season – 526
The much maligned Neill has been doing plenty of sitting in Japan with J-League outfit Omiya Ardija.
The Socceroos captain knows all too well that if he doesn’t see regular game time his chances of heading to Brazil get slimmer by the day. Neill’s wage demands may send most A-League clubs running.
No club will give him marquee status but if he’s serious about a third World Cup he might consider a pay cut to fit under the salary cap.
Who needs him?
The club that needs him the most is Melbourne Heart but that simply won’t happen considering his back flip last season.
Adelaide would enjoy his distribution from the back and in Calvano’s absence he might help to steer Sydney’s young defenders around the park.
Luke DeVere, 24
Minutes played this season – 543
The former Brisbane Roar star has gone off the radar since his sudden departure before the Queensland side wrapped up their first title in 2010/11.
His struggles with regular game time have continued this season but a move back to the A-League could be enough to convince his former mentor to throw him a World Cup bone.
Who needs him?
His former club the Roar have two centre backs vying for a WC spot themselves so it would make no sense to return home.
John Aloisi would love to have DeVere at the Heart to shore up their defence and he could provide some stability to Adelaide’s leaky makeshift defence.
Brett Holman, 29
Minutes played this season – 646
After his move from AZ Alkmaar, Holman was frozen out at Villa under Nigel Lambert prompting him to take a lucrative deal at Al Nasr in the UAE.
It is unlikely that Postecoglou will pick Holman while playing in this league but if he was to pick up an A-League contract and impress he might just have the tools to impress the boss.
Who needs him?
Being versatile to play anywhere across the front line Holman’s services could be useful at Sydney FC, Melbourne Heart or Perth.
Other consistent bench warmers include Tom Rogic and Mitch Langerak but Ange has indicated that these two will be a lock for the World Cup with the only question being how much involvement they will have in Brazil.
Coming home to the A-League by no means guarantees a World Cup spot, just ask Nathan Burns, James Troisi and Matt Spiranovic.
It will however put them in the shop window and allow the national coach to analyse their game live every weekend as opposed to gauging a performance via a scratchy you tube video.
One thing is for sure though, if this list of players continue with their current clubs and continue to spend more time sitting than playing they won’t be going to Brazil.
AZ_RBB
Guest
On the flip side. Robbie Kruse i hear had another good game for Leverkussen?
The Auteur
Guest
Agree with DeVere coming back. Too bad it probably won't be with the Roar.
asanchez
Roar Guru
With over 100 aussies playing overseas at the moment, it would take ages for me to go through all of them, but here's just a few that really need a move right now, if they're to have any chance to make or to Brazil; - Federici & Jones aren't needed in my mind, as Langerak and Ryan are clearly the best 2 keepers we have. And for a third keeper any good keeper from the A-league will do. And we have many good keepers here at home. - Alex Brosque really needs to come back now. To me he wouldn't make my starting XI anyway, but could make the squad if he performed well. Needs to get out of the Middle East ASAP. - Brett Holman is in the same boat as Brosque. However unlike Brosque, I think Holman's best days are behind him and he wouldn't make my squad. But to at least have a crack he should return home now. - Luke De Vere really should come home. Probably not likely to make the WC, but hasn't progressed much since he left. - Sasa Ognenovski wouldn't make my squad either, but if he wants a sniff at it then he should come back home this season. - Lucas Neill, well where do we start? For me the only reason he makes the starting XI in Brazil is his experience in the squad, nothing else. He's lost the little pace he had, hopelessly out of form, but only just makes it IMO. - Scott McDonald, this guy polarises opinions, I'm not a huge fan, but having watched him at Celtic many times he is a finisher and a genuine striker, which we lack. At Millwall he's not doing great, but who knows if he came back to the A-league in January and score bags he might actually impress Ange.
The Auteur
Guest
It's not like Brisbane need any of these players.
Adam
Guest
Holman would still look average in the a-league, probably possesses the worst first touch of all time
AZ_RBB
Guest
There will always be space for Harry in the medical room, so don't worry.
Gordon
Guest
So basically all fringe Socceroos should go to Melbourne Heart. Not sure how Harry will take that. Badly would be my guess.
MV Pty Ltd
Guest
Who the hell is fuss?
Michael Bovell
Roar Rookie
Federici and some of the younger players not playing regularly (Rogic, Amini, Herd, Rukavytsya, Halloran, etc.) would be better off looking for loans in Europe rather than coming back to Australia. Look at Massimo Luongo or Jackson Irvine... by going out on loan they're right in the frame for the Socceroos now. Jones could probably give up unfortunately given the tragic circumstances that led him to missing out on being a part of the tournament four years ago. Too many younger players ahead of him in the queue now. DeVere is in a tough spot, as he probably won't get a gig in the A-League but he needs to find *somewhere* to put himself in the frame. Holman is in the same position, but seems insistent that he doesn't want to play in the A-League. I doubt any A-League team would want Neill as he's kind of a negative from a marketing point of view these days. To be honest, unless you're a left-back I don't think there is much any of the fringe players can do to unseat the current to 25-30 players available for Ange. He trusts the known A-League quantities and guys doing well overseas enough that one good season after coming home probably won't change his view. If anyone is going to be a surprise selection, it'll be someone like Bailey Wright, Massimo Luongo, Jackson Irvine or James Meredith (yes our left back problems are so bad we could go looking at Bradford to find one!).
Matthew Skellett
Roar Rookie
Is that you Fuss in disguise? :-)
MV Pty Ltd
Guest
None of these players will feature for the Socceroos whether they come back or not.
Brick Tamland of the Pants Party
Guest
If I'd bring a young guy back to Glory for a loan it would be Tombides.
Jack
Guest
Sorry add brad Inman think his quality may surprise a few people. Perhaps Perth or adelaide could use him
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
I wouldn't pick any of these players except for maybe Holman and Lucas to keep the bench warm
Jack
Guest
Luke Deere is the only one I rate for Roos selection but time is truely against him. Holman would lose a fortune here and I'm not sure Neil is fast enough to get game time . He would proabavly be a bench player somewhere like adelaide or perhaps a squad player at roar?
Franko
Guest
I believe Lucas is in Oz isn't he? Left Japan due to 'family reasons' and may not return. Not sure what his future holds...?
cliffclavin
Guest
shane cansdell-sheriff
Ben
Guest
Rogic too.