The Asian Cup is fast approaching, kicking off at the start of 2015, and Ange Postecoglou and his Socceroos are thinking ahead to the tournament.
A number of players who were left out of the World Cup squad, or missed out due to injury, will be pushing for a place in the Asian Cup, which kicks off January 9 in Melbourne.
So what do these players need to do to push their claims for selection for the tournament?
Alex Brosque
An automatic selection under previous coach Pim Verbeek, Brosque will be hoping he can start the season strongly as Sydney FC’s Australian marquee.
Despite a successful two seasons in the United Arab Emirates with Al Ain, in which he scored 14 goals from 39 games, it is hard to see Brosque being picked under Ange Postecoglou, who showed in Brazil he is all about the future of Australian football.
Brosque turns 31 later this year, it seems he is no longer a part of Ange’s plans.
Robbie Kruse
Socceroos fans were left distraught when Kruse was injured months before the start of the World Cup, seeing him play no role in Brazil.
If injury-free and playing well for German side Bayer Leverkusen, expect him to walk straight into the starting 11.
Curtis Good
After being named in the original 30-man Socceroos squad, Good was forced to pull out of Brazil with a hip injury. The tall, handy defensive-minded player is currently on loan at Dundee United and if he can secure consistent game time he will most certainly be a part of the squad.
Josh Brillante
At the age of 21, Brillante has to be one of Australia’s most promising young players. After a move to Serie A side ACF Fiorentina, the versatile player passed his medical with flying colours, earning the respect of former Roma legend and coach Vincenzo Montella.
While it is too early to say Brillante will force his way into the squad, if he can manage consistent game time in Serie A it will be hard for Postecoglou to ignore the young talent.
Carl Valeri
After many years spent in Italy’s Serie A and B, the Canberra-born midfielder has returned to Australia to play for the Melbourne Victory.
A regular face in Australia’s line-up before the arrival of Postecoglou, the midfielder will be keen to impress in the A-League with the hope of making the squad. He faces stiff opposition, going up against Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak and now teammate Mark Milligan.
Can he place some pressure on his Melbourne Victory partner to find a place in the squad, or will the emergence of Brillante end Valeri’s 50 game international career?
Rhys Williams
An automatic selection for the squad assuming he is injury free and playing regularly for club side Middlesborough. After succumbing to an Achilles injury that left him unavailable for Brazil, the extremely versatile player will comfortably slot into the starting 11 for Australia’s first match.
Luke Wilkshere
A surprise omission from the final 23-man squad Postecoglou chose for the World Cup. A regular at right back for Australia in previous years, many expected Wilkshere to line up in an inexperienced back four. Instead, Postecoglou decided to let Wilkshere go from the Socceroos training camp, which came back to bite him when Ivan Franjic went down with a hamstring injury.
Will losing a right back to injury allow Wilkshere to enter the squad for the Asian Cup or will Rhys Williams provide adequate cover should first choice Franjic be unavailable?
Josh Kennedy
Although being in his early 30s, it would come as a huge shock if the six foot four striker was not a part of the squad come December.
Kennedy, who made the trip to Brazil only to be cut at the last minute due to some injury concerns, is one of Australia’s main target men and his goal-scoring ability while playing in Japan for Nagoya Grampus and the Socceroos is impressive (63 goals from 128 appearances in Japan and 17 goals from 33 matches for the Socceroos).
His ability to find the back of the net could be vital for Australia and his proven track record should be enough to earn him a spot alongside Tim Cahill and Adam Taggart.
Tom Rogic
After returning to the A-League last season on loan from Scottish giants Celtic, Rogic managed only eight games and while showing signs of brilliance, his inability to find game time in Scotland showed significantly. Despite this, Rogic was picked for the Socceroos squad to travel to Brazil but he did not make the final 23.
After showing so much promise as a youngster at the Central Coast Mariners, Rogic has failed to improve and unless he can find regular first team football in Scotland or on loan elsewhere, it is hard to see Rogic making the final squad.
Who of these players makes the squad for you? Who else could emerge as a bolter for Asian Cup?
Griffo
Roar Guru
Luke Wilkshire has signed with Feyenoord in Netherlands on a 1-year deal with option of another 12-months.
Jack
Guest
Another Aussie youngsters got a run for Stoke last night...... seem to have a bunch of talent
Jack
Guest
Chris herd and sainsbury are both back don't be surprised to see them in September
Jack
Guest
I hope he keep s playing youngsters even if we don't win Asia cup. It's the only way we will once again become a dominant force is Asia. I would prefer to keep developing then another 4 year campaign losing to Jordan Iraq drawing at home to Oman etc. on brosque ange public ally said he did not rate him back when he was a commentator. If he ever plays for aus again I will eat my own hat . Free rides for the oldies are a thing of the past
Michael Georgiou
Roar Guru
Last I heard Davidson did not show up for Heracles training as he believes he is a free agent (despite the fact he has a year left on his contract). I think he is hedging his bets in the hope that an EPL or Championship side will pick him up. West Brom are apparently in talks with him!
Griffo
Roar Guru
Suggesting Taggart should be a guaranteed selection is ridiculous... Football United, was that directed at me? Game time and goals are what will get Taggart a look from Ange as I indicated. I think the likes of Halloran playing regularly will generate competition for the striker role, especially post Asian Cup when I expect Tim Cahill will retire and the need to find players in this position will come to a head.
Melange
Guest
@sqwerty - post of the year, I'm in tears here :D
Melange
Guest
Chris Herd is back for the Villans. I haven't heard anything about Davidson for a while, hopefully he sorts his future out soon but I believe Herd has played a lot of his games at LB for Villa. Would be great to get depth in all positions. If Herd, Sainsbury, Good, Williams, McGowan, Wilkinson, De Vere, Brillante, Davidson, Spiranovic, Franjic & Hamill (my bolter) are all fit and getting regular game time our defensive stocks are looking good.
sqwerty
Guest
So, pretty much what the author said..
Football United
Guest
Suggesting Taggart should be a guaranteed selection is ridiculous. He is not good enough for international football and is not going to get regular football at Fulham atm as there are a lot of good strikers ahead of him.
Sam Clark
Roar Rookie
Wilkshire has been cut from Dinamo and is clueless, if I remember correctly. His international career is effectively over; if it wasn't the moment all of Australia saw the tremendous gut he'd manage to acquire between leaving Dinamo and lining up against South Africa. Brosque won't get a look in. He is not sound technically enough. Under Verbeek's regime he was operating in a telephone box that he could never work his way out of - scored against some mediocre opposition but was never a quality option. Brillante is the interesting one. I must admit, aside from his cracking goal at the U20 WC, I wasn't blown away by his performances for the Jets last season. However, since joining Fiorentina he hasn't put a foot wrong and has played well in all the friendlies thus far. Another kid to look out for in the Serie A is Chris Oikonimides (apologies for the spelling.) He is playing with the Lazio first team for the friendlies and could be a bolter for the squad. You would think Valeri is finished. Was a good soldier for the Socceroos, but we are starting to garner some real depth in his position. Rhys Williams, the walking injury. I hope he's fit, as he is technically sound, a leader and a natural option to pair Spiranovic. Tom Rogic. Australia's biggest footballing enigma. Could be anything. A new manager at Celtic may grant him a chance to play, but his selection is going to be based on game-time, you'd imagine.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Early days for Joshua Brillante but I'd say his versatility in midfield and at right-back means a couple of NT players (Valeri and Wilkshire, Franjic) will be looking over their shoulders. Brillante still has to get regular game time with the Viola but he is impressing coach and media in the 27-man touring party in South America. Yes, he would be considered if still playing well for the Jets ;-) but still early days in Tuscany before he's teeing up Mario Gomez in Serie A. Interestingly Taggart has been allocated shirt 17 for Fulham in a huge squad list (includes Ryan Williams and a couple of other young Aussies from their youth team). He is going to need goals and game time as well to be in contention. Wilkshire is gone imo. If the attitude isn't enough then other players filling in at right-back and lack of game time is going to count against him. For Rhys Williams I hope he doesn't get injured (again). A January tournament might be the right timing for him if he can get game time. Similarly for Good and Rogic who I hope are getting set right and can get game time. Rogic in particular I feel is needing game time for a whole host of reasons including confidence and conditioning. Also add Spiranovic who should get game time with the A-League this far out. Ryan Edwards also getting wraps at Reading on his movement on and off the ball and overall ability...too fringe but who knows :-P If Brosque is our answer in attack we are in trouble but will Ange ignore him if he's carving up opposition in the A-League and leading goal scoring come January?
Franko
Guest
Brosque - No, brings nothing to the team we don't already have and is ageing Kruse - Yes, in our best 2-3 players Good - Yes, not sure if this guy would be rated as highly if he were still in Melbourne? Needs to come in for Spiranovic Brillante - No, let him settle at Fiorentina, again would he be picked if he were at Newcastle? Valeri - Yes, don't need him given our strength in that area of the park with Jedinak and Milligan but a quality player Williams - Yes, in our best back 4 easily Wilkshere - No, has fallen out with Ange. Don't worry about not playing for the NT again, will he ever play for anyone again? Rogic - No, Ange likes him but is pretty strict about the regular football policy. Needs to leave Scotland for the low-lands asap!
whiskeymac
Guest
Pim not vim....
whiskeymac
Guest
Always felt brosque and valeri were not quite there for it and they got a lot of caps at a time when options were thinking. Of the two valeri is a better chance imo but I would be surprised if they got reselected, and if they did, as squad players now. Kruse, good and Kennedy I'd suspect are forerunners and were only hampered by injuries which seem to have gone. Same with Sainsbury. Brillante is doing all the right things but let's wait and see , promise is certainly there as it is for rogic and amini and langerak etc