It might have been forgotten in the wake of what happened after half-time, but the Melbourne Victory midfield was bossed around in the first half of Saturday’s Melbourne Derby.
Apart from getting free for the first goal, Gui Finkler was well held and Aaron Mooy ran the show against two of Australia’s best central defensive midfielders – Carl Valeri and Victory captain Mark Milligan.
As a Victory fan, to be level at half-time felt like robbery of the highest order.
True, successful teams take their chances, and Victory deservedly won after running rampant in the second half.
But the first half may have given Ange Postecoglou some things to ponder about a man who has been one of the first names on the Socceroos teamsheet for the past few years – the aforementioned Milligan.
This article makes two assumptions about Postecoglou’s tactics for the upcoming Asian Cup. One, he is going to keep playing two central midfielders behind an attacking midfielder (most likely Marco Bresciano or Massimo Luongo). Two, one of them will be national captain Mile Jedinak.
But, considering the rather uninspiring recent results of the national team, will the second still be Milligan? A perusal of A-League ranks reveals three potential candidates who might feel capable of answering that question.
The first is the man who held Gui Finkler so well in the first half – Erik Paartalu. Touted since his Brisbane Roar days as a potential Socceroo and recipient of two caps, Paartalu offers height and strength against often undersized Asian midfields and can nip the occasional goal. Substituted last night, he will also need to provide more 90-minute efforts to get on the team sheet.
The second is the man who replaced Milligan when he went down injured at the World Cup – Matt McKay. Experienced, and an A-League premiership captain, McKay has also been a regular presence in the Socceroos, but rarely at centre midfield. More creative than often given credit for, he was a member of the team that lost 1-0 in the 2011 Asian Cup final.
Third is none other than Milligan’s partner in crime at the Melbourne Victory. Alas, it’s not Leigh Broxham… it’s Carl Valeri. The most experienced of the quartet with 52 caps, Valeri recently returned to the Socceroos fold after injury and has been in excellent form this season. However, he offers less attacking potency than Milligan, which may count against him.
All of this is not necessarily a campaign for Mark Milligan to be dropped – indeed, he has rarely let the Socceroos down and has been arguably Melbourne Victory’s best player since he joined the club in January 2012. And suggesting that Ange Postecoglou dare change a rare fulcrum of stability one game before the Asian Cup is risky, if not downright reckless.
But the centre of midfield is an area in which solid and experienced alternatives do exist. Could a change in the engine room allow the Socceroos to find an extra gear?
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
He has potential, hope he uses it.
mattq
Guest
personally think it's too late to blood Mooy. It's not enough time and he would struggle on the NT stage, not right on him and could be detrimental to future caps. The other thing with Mooy is he does tend to run hot and cold. I say perform consistently this season and then he can have a look in. Agree there is potential.
Sean
Guest
I would love to see a new face next to Jedinak and Mooy could potentially be that man. He is far more dangerous on attack than Milligan and Jedinak proves each week he is capable of holding together a weaker side and living them to impressive results. I don't understand the Jedinak hatred that is coming from current Australian football supporters the guy is class! He is defensively assured and can score goals when given the chance. For me it's time to stop persisting with Millsy and try someone new with the versatile McKay on the bench if need be.
Evan Askew
Guest
While this is an important tournament and one we have to try and win. (a semi finals exit though would be acceptable considering the rebuilding stage we are in) It is my belief that none of the players metioned, McKay, Milligan, paartalu and Valeri are long term options. I have mentioned this before andbeing shot down for it but there is a player who is a regular for a big club in a middle tierEuropean league who has played regularly in the group stages of the champions league. What about James Holland?
Wainscoting
Guest
True. If you take out the penalties he's only tied 2nd highest goalscorer with Bailey Wright.
Roarfan
Guest
And how many of Mile's goals were penalties?
Bobbym
Guest
I think Milligan has peaked and is now on the downside of the J curve as a player- no real future for WC 2018.
Eraserhead
Guest
Jedinak also scored a clinical penalty on the weekend, and only conceded that penalty in stoppage time after playing a ridiculously deep, intense pressing game for over 90 minutes. West Brom had also knocked their keeper unconscious during the first goal and their defense was struggling to find cohesion after the obligatory substitution. He was completely exhausted by the end. I recommend actually watching the game mate, as opposed to just picking the least flattering moment from the stat sheet. Also worth mentioning is that all of the goals scored in the last three matches against Aus have occurred while Mile was off the pitch and that he's currently our second highest goalscorer. Must be worth something surely.
Roarfan
Guest
Matt Mackay did not play in the last 2 games due to suspension. It may have been an entirely different story if he had played. Personally I believe that both Jedinak and Milligan should be given the flick. Jedinak gave another penalty away this weekend and they havn't done anything for a while now when playing for the Socceroos, ditto Milligan for Victory.
Colly
Roar Pro
I wouldn't necessarily agree that our centre backs are looking all that assured - there's still too many errors like Wilkinson playing the Qataris onside for their goal recently, but thats not the sort of error an extra DM would help with. I do agree with your bewilderment that we do continue to play with 2 DMs - fortune favours the brave and considering we're playing at home, putting a Mooy alongside Luongo/Bresciano or an extra striker up front might be the sort of daring we need. Back Jedinak in to hold it together. But on current evidence I don't see Ange wavering as yet.
Colly
Roar Pro
On the flipside, he's also been the anchor for the longest streak without a clean sheet in the competition's history - the Victory's winning games but the Socceroos don't have Besart Berisha, Gui Finkler or Kosta Barbarouses, alas. Granted, the Socceroos have better defenders than Adrian Leijer and a better goalie than Nathan Coe. I'm a Milligan fan and expect him to be picked, but I do wonder if there are better alternatives out there. Though we could always bring back Archie for a bit of the old magic.
wotdoo
Guest
so in milligans 2 games there have been 3 goals go past him and Erik Paartalu was part of a defense that let 5 past them on sat night and as for Matt Mackay they have also let in 5 goals over the last 2 ganmes so dont seem to be part of a good defence at the moment. i say stick with milligan. So simple stats tell you that perhaps hes not as bad as you think, remember its only his 3rd game with valeri as a partner
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
You pose an interesting question in your assumptions, Andrew. Given that (i) we have a stated desire to play with more attacking intent and; (ii) our AM stocks are far deeper than our DM stocks, one must wonder why we persist with two screening defensive midfielders, especially now that our centre backs are looking more assured.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I would prefer to have Milligan - and, for that matter, Jedinak - playing Central Defender than midfield for the National Team. On a side note, I'm a huge fan of Aaron Mooy - technically & creatively, he's one of the best Australian players after Tom Rogic. In the Derby he completely bossed the midfield in the 1st half & assisted both MelbCity's goals. If he performs well the next 2 matches, I'm sure Ange will include him in the squad to play Japan.
Cameron
Roar Guru
The simple fact is that our players being chosen are either not putting in the effort or are just not cut out for that level of football. Ange has a long battle ahead as no players have been able to rise above those that previously played. The current crop of footballers continue to reaffirm and show just how good our crop of 2006 was. Milligan is just another filling the void with no clear replacement in sight.
Eraserhead
Guest
Incredibly overrated player. Gratifying to see others acknowledge it too, given the way the fox commentators go on about him. In the meantime Mooy continues to be overlooked.
kurt
Guest
was a dud at the world cup, will be a dud here