Of all the things Ange Postecoglou discussed in the wash-up to Australia’s encouraging performances in Brazil, the thing that stood out was his desire to add more dimensions to the Socceroos attack.
Paraphrased, he suggested that, due to the limited time he had with the squad ahead of the World Cup, he decided to be a little one-dimensional in attack, utilising the obvious strength that is Tim Cahill’s aerial ability.
What he suggested in the post tournament analysis is that the Roos would need to add a few more dimensions to the attack as they build towards a home Asian Cup in January.
What we should see, starting with highly ranked Belgium in Liege tomorrow morning, is that the Socceroos are at least starting to think and plan for the inevitability that Cahill won’t be around forever.
While he still, to this day, remains a world-class threat in the air, Australia’s one-touch-finish merchant is unlikely to be around much longer after the Asian Cup.
Indeed, a home tournament may well be the perfect way for our all-time leading scorer to sign-off from the green and gold.
Either way Postecoglou has to start building a front third formula that not only plays to Australia’s traditional aerial strength, a plan that worked for Holger Osieck at the 2011 Asian Cup, but one that mixes it with a more eye-pleasing pass-and-move process.
The ideal in January would be to not only be effective in the air when Cahill is on the pitch, but to have a mobile and creative from third which can unlock defences through rapid circulation of ball and body.
It should be an attack that can create by going rapidly on the ground, or have the quality to break deep-sitting teams down.
These aren’t strategies that best utilise Cahill, and herein lies a dilemma for the manager.
We saw in Brazil the Socceroos lacked the intricate quality to break opponents down. Not having Tom Rogic, of course, didn’t help.
For all the impressive displays against Chile and The Netherlands, the Roos were still too reliant on the raw running power of Mat Leckie and Cahill’s leap and physicality.
From a creativity perspective, there were odd moments from Mark Bresciano, but ultimately there wasn’t enough front third combination play.
This is the bit that Postocoglou will be keen to address, and the games against Belgium tomorrow and Saudi Arabia in London next week should give us an insight into how he might do this.
Beyond that, there are friendlies against the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the Middle East next month, and two home matches in November to round out Asian Cup preparations.
That’s only six games for Postecoglou to find his solutions and contingencies.
The manager hinted in the build up to his Belgium and Saudi selection that he’d be taking a few gambles as he continues to evolve the team from the mess that Osieck left behind.
Clearly Brazil was just a part of the process.
So far his gambling appears to have limited mainly to the back, an area that arguably needs more urgent attention than the front third.
To that end the likes of Trent Sainsbury, Chris Herd and Brad Smith should get their opportunities the next few days. The adaptable Josh Brillante, who can also play at right back, might be another benefactor.
Up front there is more of a status quo to the personnel. Only Robbie Kruse, who missed Brazil due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Western Sydney Wanderers’ Tomi Juric come into this mix.
Just how many minutes either or both get remains to be seen. Kruse is recovering from a knee injury sustained at training 24 hours ago.
Even if he doesn’t get too many minutes against Belgium, Kruse’s return gives Postecoglou another quick option in transition.
Not only can Kruse go quickly with and without the ball, but he likes to play in quick combinations, giving it to go in behind and receive.
What Kruse’s return also does is give the manager the option of switching Leckie to the nine role, or wide on the left.
That also gives him the option of using Tommy Oar, who disappointed wide on the left in Brazil, as a number 10. This could well be on the cards in Liege.
Juric has been touted by much of Australia as the next Mark Viduka. He is anything but.
Viduka was the perfect creative link-man, a play-making number nine who made his teammates look good.
Juric’s linkage remains raw. He is more of a one-touch finisher, and a very good one at that.
It is conceivable that Juric will be the perfect hit-man from the bench, just as he was for the A-League All-Stars recently.
Yet even that adds another dimension to the Socceroos attack, and this is exactly what Postecoglou was talking about.
Between playing Leckie, Cahill and Juric in the number nine role there is much variety in the way the Roos can play.
Not even factoring in others who might come into the front-third mix, this gives Postecoglou and Ante Milicic tactical flexibility, and watching this area evolve in the lead up to the Asian Cup will make for fascinating viewing.
Bondy
Guest
We've got things lucky here in Australia ( http://www.espnfc.com/shakhtar-donetsk/story/2018246/shakhtar-donetsk-says-club-occupied-by-armed-men) ...
Griffo
Roar Guru
Some discussion on Cahill and where he fits in Ange's plans by AustraliaScout
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yep. Enough of this 'we're gonna lose' rubbish. We want to be a top 10 side we are going to have to start shoving the top 5 sides aside every chance we get. :twisted:
Bondy
Guest
Fuss Did you see this ( http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/foxtel-cuts-prices-amid-new-competition/story-fnda1bsz-1227047817264) ...
bemused
Guest
Fingers crossed we find a very good number 10 in danny de silva. Hope he's good enough to get serious game time at perth glory.
Punter
Guest
Allow me to jump on as well. It will be a long ride, it will be bumpy, at times we will think we are there & then suddenly the critics will have their knives out again. There are some decent players & youngsters around, what they need is a manager who will back them & give them positive feedback, some will succeed, others will fail. Enjoy the ride & hopefully the results will follow.
Punter
Guest
Comedy comes in many forms Terry!!!!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"I would watch the Belgium game but sadly I can’t spare the time." You're busy at 4:45 a.m? But, at least thank heavens we won't have to read your repetitive negative commentary on the match ... clouds & sliver linings, heh :-D Enjoy your Friday morning sleep.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I must confess some mild curiosity as to your pathalogical animosity towards the Mariners. Is it a long term trolling plan (drop enough lures into the same fishing spot and eventually you'll get a bite) or the result of misdirected ire due to some individual from Gosford running off with your beloved or some other similar slight?
Terry
Guest
bondy- What a pretentious way of saying what Ange is trying to do. ''what Ange is trying to implement going forward'' Management speak from someone from the central coast!!! The comedy writes itself!!!
Terry
Guest
bondy- by always responding to me in a timely manner you clearly acknowledge my power over you. Fair enough - you are a mariners fan from the central coast so I imagine you are used to people having power over you!
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Really looking forward to this match with Belgium. They are obviously missing a few of their key players as are we. Obviously the Belgians will be pretty strong at home and I am expecting a tough game. If we perform anywhere near the level of the match we had with Ecuador in the first half or like we played against the Netherlands in the WC then I think we can get a positive result. I will still contend that the first half we played against Ecuador is still the best we have played under Ange. It was brilliant.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
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Realfootball
Guest
Agree - but he was playing on the left wing when he was doing these things. Oar is not a winger. He did have a poor WC.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Great photo from Fox Football, shows just how close Australia was to scoring that decisive 3rd goal to put us 3-2 up against the Dutch with 20' to play. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bwqqan3IQAExeJx.jpg:large
AZ_RBB
Guest
Even as a WSW fan, I would agree with you. We love him at Parra but we all know he is capable of much more. This will be a very telling season for Juric. Lets see how he goes vs Seoul first.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
@ AZ I think we all know that Sainsbury is a good defender and he should have played in one of those East Asia Cup matches. He would be a player who lets his football do the talking and wouldnt be one of those types that makes huge statements or predictions about his game. Quietly goes about his business. I think Holger made a mistake in not selecting him. Just because the kid is quiet doesnt mean he doesnt have a burning ambition to play for the national team. I am really keen to see how he plays.
Steve
Guest
Really? 10 goals in 24 A-League games is hardly regularly putting it into the back of the net. And at 23, why isn't he starting for an A-League club more regularly? I wish we had a striker as "bad" as Giroud, Higuain, Benzema, Balotelli, Mario Gomez that fans of other clubs and nations complain about consistently. Hell I'd take a Christian Tello right about now. The reality is we have no-one near approaching World Class up front coming through the ranks. Something is not being done right at the junior levels. When small countries like Croatia and Bosnia produce top (not necessarily great) strikers like Mandzukic or Dzeko, how is it we cannot produce one even approaching that level?
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'll never forget the time when he was taken to the East Asian Cup I think and sat on the bench for 3 whole matches due to alleged attitude issues.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The other thing with Cahill is that you always have to have other options, because, as he commented in an interview during the WC, he doesn't think beyond the moment and just goes for it, and tends to pick up yellow and red cards a bit too frequently, especially for a player that you are relying on as one of your keys. You wouldn't want to be against him picking up some yellow cards during the Asian cup and having to sit out a match at some point. So they really need to have some other good options up front for if/when he's not available.