After testing the depth pool, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is preparing to take the plunge.
Postecoglou on Wednesday will name his squad for the looming friendly against Japan – Australia’s last fixture before hosting the Asian Cup in January.
The squad will be a key indicator to Postecoglou’s preferred players for the cup and end a sustained period of experimentation.
Postecoglou has used 43 players in his 11 internationals as coach which have returned two wins, seven losses and two draws.
He has deliberately cast a wide net in a shallow talent pool in the hope of discovering new depth.
The Socceroos’ boss says, apart from June’s World Cup in Brazil, the sides he has selected for past friendlies have been geared towards the Asian Cup.
“I’m making these decisions and I’m making them for a reason,” Postecoglou said after the Socceroos’ 1-0 loss to Qatar last month.
“And that is probably costing us in terms of performance and in terms of fluency.”
But now, only the fixture against Japan in Osaka on November 18 remains before he settles his Asian Cup squad – so it’s time to get serious.
Postecoglou will again call on his veteran core of captain Mile Jedinak, Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano, with regular support cast Tommy Oar, Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Mark Milligan.
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan remains Postecoglou’s first-choice shot-stopper, despite the Asian Champions League heroics of Western Sydney Wanderer Ante Covic.
Much interest will centre on Postecoglou’s defence, which still gives the coach his greatest headache.
Jason Davidson and Matthew Spiranovic appear defensive locks but who will Postecoglou favour from Trent Sainsbury, Ivan Franjic, Aziz Behich, Chris Herd, Trent Wilkinson and Nikolai Topor-Stanley?
And just how many A-Leaguers will be present in the squad? Will Postecoglou reward the stunning early domestic form of the likes of Nathan Burns, Bruce Djite, Alex Brosque or Jamie Maclaren?
Fadida
Guest
I'd take Troisi for sure. Antonis yes. Brosque yes. Behich no no no
Pete
Guest
Like that 23 you have picked. Not sure if I'd not take Wilkinson though ... playing at a high level week in week out and adds some experience to the backline. Similarly not sure about Mooy. Not sure if he is international level. Would rather see Troisi or Oar in the midfield role over Mooy ... although I do rate Mooy in the A-League ... think he needs to step up a little more before a NT call up. Like the forwards .. think Cahill and Juric would cause the Asian teams plenty of troubles
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I checked earlier today, Rhys must still be injured - he hasn't played even 1' this season for Middlesbrough.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Big couple of weeks for the National Teams. Apart from the friendly in Japan, the u22 squad has been invited to China for a 4-team tournament featuring: Brasil, China & Korea. Good number of lads from A-League plus Euro lads: Amini, Burgess, Cooper, Edwards (Ryan), Gallifuoco, Irvine, Lennox, Ugarkovic, Williams (Ryan), Yeboah. Full squad: http://under23s.footballaustralia.com.au/article/vidmar-names-olyroo-squad-for-upcoming-internationals/oq6di4t7szb19e4b18kcywrs Matches: BRA v AUS, 14 Nov, 700 pm AUS v CHN, 16 Nov, 1030 pm KOR v AUS, 18 Nov, 700 pm
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I was going to say something similar. Davidson did look good going forward at times in the WC, but was regularly a weak spot in defense. Hopefully Rhys Williams will be back in time for the Asian Cup. It looks like he's still just working his way back, and at most he might have a handful of games for Middlesborough under his belt by then, but if he can be fit I think we need him. It's a weak spot in the team and he's always impressed me in the games I've seen him play for the Socceroos. He'd be my first choice RB if healthy.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Injuries aside, I think we'll see the best side he has available starting against Japan.
Mahler
Guest
Ange can't 'win' whatever he does...If he juggles the squads to find new talent he's fiddling..if he keeps the same team he's static and not rejuvenating...Frankly, he doesn't have much star talent available - we have an ordinary team and that's the truth of it. They can, though, play really well at times (against Chile and Netherlands in World Cup) but also they can drop to abysmal lows. Who'd have Ange's job?
mattq
Guest
man it wasn't so long ago we were screaming for rejuvenation!
Towser
Guest
Let's hope from a National team supporter's point of view the experimentation is finished & we can support a team instead of a lot of bubbles pouring out of a test tube.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Really looking forward to the squad announcement and this match. I don't think Jason Davidson is a defensive lock. He's been spectacularly unimpressive in defense in every match I've seen. Even at the WC, where he did play well going forward, he was the weakest link in our defence & had some input in most goals we conceded by poor positioning, or inability to win the ball in a tackle. My ideal squad of 23 would be: GK: Langerak, Ryan, Federici D: Franjic, Behich, Herd, Brillante, Brad Smith, Sainsbury, Spiranovic, Milligan M: Luongo, Jedinak, Bresciano, Amini, Bozanic, Antonis, Mooy F: Juric, Oar, Kruse, Cahill, Leckie