Crystal Palace captain and Socceroos defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak scored his first Premier League goal in a desperate match against West Ham at Upton Park, London, where fellow Australian Dylan Tombides was farewelled with a moving tribute.
The goal and the one-nil victory was a significant result for Palace, but Jedinak’s reaction to his perfectly taken penalty was very subdued, out of respect for Socceroos teammate Tombides, who had one of Australia’s brightest football futures ahead of him.
Only 20 years of age, Dylan died on Friday after a tense battle with cancer. He was honoured by his club West Ham with the laying of his shirt on the centre circle and a minute’s applause before the sides kicked off at Upton Park last Saturday.
Jedinak, known to fans as the Jedi, scored his first goal in 35 EPL appearances. This was Palace’s fifth straight win and should all but guarantee they stay in the Premier League next season.
Jedinak is a fan favourite at Selhurst Park. During the 2012–2013 season and after regular club captain Paddy McCarthy’s injury spell, Jedinak was handed the captain’s armband, first by Dougie Freedman and later Ian Holloway.
Mile scored an 89th-minute winner on the final day of the 2012–13 season in a 3–2 win against Peterborough United to secure a playoff place for Palace. Jedinak then captained Palace to a playoff win to gain promotion to the Premier League. He was voted Crystal Palace’s player of the season.
Crystal Palace only a few weeks ago were in the thick of the relegation battle and looked set to go down after a run of poor results. As captain, Jedinak has steered his team out of danger and revived their fortunes, leading them to impressive victories against title-chasing Chelsea and Everton and fellow strugglers West Ham, Aston Villa and Cardiff City.
We are just over six weeks away from the 2014 World Cup Opening Ceremony, yet Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou hasn’t named his squad yet, let alone who will captain Australia.
Our chances of progressing in the tournament beyond the round robin stages – where we face current World Cup Champions Spain, runners-up the Netherlands and the most improved South American team Chile – look remote indeed.
Australia’s fourth FIFA Football World Cup campaign will not be built around the attacking prowess of Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy, or even Adam Taggart and James Troisi. Ange will no doubt follow the example of Guus Hiddink in Germany 2006 and spend most of his time improving his team’s stamina, durability and appetite for defence in preparation for huge tests of character against such good sides.
The Jedi will be the cornerstone for the delivery and execution of Postecoglou’s strategy. Players like Lucas Neill and Sasha Ognenovski won’t even get a look-in for the defensive line-up, let alone a shot at the captaincy.
While not leading the goal-scoring charts at Palace, former Central Coast Mariner Jedinak heads the defensive statistics, particularly in defensive duels won, average passing accuracy, passing length, average defensive actions, and the least number of defensive errors (two). These characteristics will see him captain the Socceroos at Brazil 2014.
Postecoglou will play a tight defensive formation with at least two holding midfielders patrolling just ahead of the defenders or just behind the opponents’ attackers. They will need to control the midfield and clean up any half chances falling to the world-class strikers and attacking midfielders of the Spanish, Dutch and Chileans.
It’s a massive task that needs strong leadership and excellent organisational skills on the field. It’s also a thankless task, often gets overlooked in today’s football world of marauding fullbacks, attacking central playmakers and hero-worshipped strikers.
Australia’s results in these games will depend more on how many attacks and goal-scoring opportunities we prevent than how many we create ourselves.
Our attacking chances will come from infrequent but incisive and lighting-fast counter attacks in a sprint to the other end of the field, initiated by quick, accurate passing out of the holding midfield area.
It’s a complicated and complex role that most will fail to recognise. Jedinak’s potential contribution to this team should not go unappreciated.
The way Jedinak and our midfield go about their business will be key to whether we can pull off a huge upset or find ourselves unbalanced and mercilessly picked apart.
May the Force be with us!
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Ballymore, agree his recent form for Palace is certainly better than his average performances for the Socceroos and he is definitely maturing as Palace's club captain. He looks certain to get the Club Player of the Year award for the second season running. I think he hasn't fully moulded into National Team captain yet and might have been taken a bit by surprise by the elevation. Hopefully under Ange, more time with the Socceroos and with safety from relegation in the EPL, his confidence and performances for the Socceroos will also get to a higher level. We certainly need that from him and the team to avoid some embarrassing defeats in Brazil.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Yes Fuss, we are all hoping he plays the A-game in Brazil. His confidence seems to be on the rise and hopefully he can lift even more under Ange's management.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
I was impressed with the way Petratos improved significantly after he went to BR and maybe he could be a bolter - his defence and covering back is good too - maybe another option for Ange. What potential WC DMs do we have playing overseas who could get picked for the Socceroos?
Fadida
Guest
If he gets it within 10 feet of his target for Palace it's better! A joke Reginald :) Now Ange is in charge I'm hoping Jedi continues his better recent NT form
Fadida
Guest
A) the British game is still there. Watch West Ham and the bottom half of the Premier League, plus 85% of the lower league. And Man u U - thanks Moyes! B) don't overestimate the captaincy or the EPL. Jedi was playing well in the championship last season but inadequate at NT level as shown v Jordan away for example. Where is your "evidence" that he has addressed any of his shortcomings?
Fadida
Guest
My "evidence" is an opinion formed by watching the two, side by side in the NT at times too. Just as yours was an opinion, based primarily on Jedi now playing in the EPL. There is no correct answer, it's all opinion. The EPL doesn't produce many great international players (which is why England go out in the second round/quarters, with their cheeks red from lots of running - but no possession...). Most of those great internationals in the EPL were made elsewhere eg Suarez, Aguero, Hazard, Silva, RVP, Toure etc. the better English players, Rooney, Gerrard aren't "great" internationals, just good. Why not? They don't have the technique to be great at international level. Rooney, the "white Pele" when put of form can barely control a ball.
Ballymore
Guest
Is it just me or does Jedinak's distribution seem far more precise for Palace than it does for The Socceroos?
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Good question 70s Mo and I might do a bit more analysis for another article or two leading up to the games - only six weeks to go. In terms of fast breakaway attackers on the counter, you could throw in Rukyavitsa, Leckie, Troisi, Halloran, Taggart, Franjic, Oar, Mcgowan. I think Cahill, Kennedy and Holman have lost their speed and would have to be used in a different way. Going to be really interesting who Ange picks, what tactics he uses and how he employs the players he chose against 3 of the best teams in the world. This is a really good test for him and the players. Expecting the worst, but hoping for the best at Brazil 2014.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Check the highlights, it wasn't a poor back pass Fussball, it was a side on tackle that deflected off the Ecuador and put the offside player onside. Irrispective it was a poor clearance by Langerack, not sure what happened, but looked like he completely missed the ball and kicked the player instead.
Midfielder
Guest
Fadida Last I saw Musty was being picked regularly in the 2 team... however me thinks like a lot of other players he should have gone to a lessor league for game time... I struggle to think of any player other than Craig Johnston who left Australia and went to a say top 50 club and made it ... maybe Craig Moore at Rangers he started at 15 I think ... Timmy Cahil, Robbie Sl;atter, Frank Farina, Emo, Harry was at Leeds, Matty Ryan, Oken all started at small clubs in lessor leagues ... Me thinks also Troisis made the best decision of his life to come home for a season ... he is IMO the best player we have produced in a long time and have been banging on about for for a long time now... Your comment on Antonis I hope so ... we need another DM very badly despite my support for Jedi above .. its I think he is our best not that he is great ...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Yes, you are absolutely right, RB. That 1st half by the lads was superb. And, it was the best half of football I've seen Jedinak playing for the National Team. If that 1st half performance by Jedinak is the "the rule" & we can expect more of the same henceforth ... he'd be one of the 1st on my team sheet & I'd give him the armband. My only concern is that the 1st half performance by Jedinak was "the exception"; rather than the Rule.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Good analysis angusozi and agree with your selections, although there are no real standouts are there. Even Bresch is suspended and out of form and getting on in years, so Ange may even leave him out of the starting line up. Rogic has been a surprise disappointment in his A-League return and might be left out altogether.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
No one is claiming that Fafida. Depends on what criteria you use for "best" league in the world. The Bundesliga has the biggest average attendances, but the EPL is the most watched and followed around the world. Standard of play, well that's a difficult one, but certainly the EPL is among the best in the world. British teams have won numerous European titles.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Fussball, did you watch the first half against Ecuador when led by the Jedi and 3 nil up at half time. http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/relive-how-the-socceroos-43-loss-to-ecuador-unfolded-in-friendly-in-london/story-e6frf4l3-1226846012936 Ange made some wholesale changes in the second half. Lot of promise in that first half and the average age of the team was 24.
Titus
Guest
I think Jedi will have improved his touch remarkably playing in England and I think, with his defensive qualities and a playmaker around him it is our best option. I would go for Milligan but, a little out of left field, I would take Antonis along for the ride. I think he is our future in that DCM/#6 role.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
I'd bet Brattan is being seriously considered by Ange and will be included in the squad.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
The "British game" died years ago, even before Arsene Wegner started at Arsenal in the 1990s. England won the WC in the 60s playing good attacking football. Your arguments lack any real evidence in recent years in the EPL. Don't underestimate the achievement of being club captain of an EPL team.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
No, don't agree that any of those players are better than Jedi and would make a better Socceroo captain. We have a real shortage of good DMs at the moment.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
I love the A-League and attend regularly and watch on TV whenever I can, but the EPL is a bit stronger league than the A-League. Leading a defence and captaining your team to keep Chelsea, West Ham and Everton scoreless at home, while at the same time trying to avoid regulation is pretty impressive. Do you honestly believe if Milligan was in Jedi's shoes at Crystal palace, he would have done better?
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
fadida, where is your evidence that Milligan is a better defender than Jedi and that the EPL doesn't produce international players.