Most football enthusiasts reading over Ange Postecoglou’s newly unveiled 46-man Socceroos squad would have realised that Asia’s most valuable player was not included in the provisional squad.
Western Sydney Wanderer’s custodian Ante Covic, fresh from winning the Asian Champions League against Al-Hilal, was surprisingly overlooked for the upcoming Asian Cup in January.
Five goalkeepers were selected for the squad – Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United), Adam Federici (Reading), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge), Mitch Langerak (Borussia Dortmund) and perhaps the most shocking, Brad Jones of Liverpool.
Ange’s philosophy of choosing players based on form has been completely thrown out the window with this one. Since joining Liverpool in 2010, Jones has made a mere eight Premier League appearances for the English football giants and at the age of 32, is closer to the end of his career than the start.
Pulling splinters out of his bum over the past five seasons has become a regular occurrence for Jones, who was even caught getting 40 winks on the weekend against Crystal Palace behind manager Brendan Rodgers.
The evergreen Covic has been in superb touch since joining the Wanderers after being released by Melbourne Victory three seasons ago. Covic’s resume is far more convincing than his English counterpart having won the A-League premiership, AFC Champions Legue, A-League goalkeeper of the year and AFC most valuable player in the past two season alone.
At 39 he is hardly a spring chicken but provides much needed leadership in the otherwise youthful Socceroos setup begging for a commanding, experienced leader like Covic. Not to take anything away from Mat Ryan, who’s form for both club and country has been exceptional, but for the upcoming Asian Cup, Covic would be a smart selection at least on the bench for the struggling national team.
Fox Sports analyst Mark Bosnich has even accused Postecoglou of hypocrisy by not considering the best keeper in Australia, who with only two Socceroos caps to his name has been greatly overlooked for tournaments past and present.
Covic’s superb record in Asia throughout the Champions League would have had all teams wary for the upcoming Asian Cup.
The message appears to be: if you’re an Australian goalkeeper, go to Liverpool. Warming the bench there enhances your selection prospect more than helping your team win the ACL final.
Robbie
Guest
1. Jones is not really that close to the end of his career and keepers generally play longer than outfield players. Look at Schwarzer, Covic, etc. 2. Covic might be a better selection than Brad Jones but neither would have much chance at all of making the final cut. (At the same time, however, I agree that Covic could have provided some valuable leadership in training camps). 3. Covic is 39. 4. Covic is appalling with his feet and does not fit Ange's style. 5. I would prefer to see a young upcoming keeper like Mark Birighitti get some exposure at national level than a 39 year old who is not going to serve Australia in the long-term, someone who is yet to maybe maximise their potential but who has vast potential. We need long-term fixes with this team.
Johnno
Guest
Gareth you mean Ange's style not the national team. Covic style would suit well under Holger. Covic is a defensive style goalkeeper, and Ange style isn't like that.
Gareth
Guest
Covic was also playing in a team with a huge amount of focus on defence and subsequently played his game to suit that style. Ange's style is completely different to that and requires his keepers to play differently. Covic was named ACL best player but was playing a style that doesn't suit the national team all that well.
Dean
Guest
If Jones were to drop to 1st division and get a start, he'd soon be well ahead of Covic in the pecking order. Covic has been superb, but is still behind Ryan on form, Ryan has been outstanding of late. With the Centre halves still up in the air, it's important to have at least some sort of steadying influence down back, somebody who could play to the next World Cup while Ange works out who's best to put in front of him. If you put that in as a requirement, it excludes Covic. If EG, MR, AF and ML were all to get injured, whoever replaced them would be straight away ahead of all of them except Ryan for the next game for continuity's sake. Covic has played a lot of football over the last year and has an old frame, I wouldn't be surprised if he told Ange not to bother naming him for a position he knew he'd never get. Probably like some peace and quiet over the next few weeks and try to get WSW off the bottom.
Franko
Guest
Neither Jones nor Covic would make the final squad, having said that we moved on Schwarzer as he was getting long in the tooth, he's only a couple of years older than Covic. Covic will be finished by the next WC, Jones won't. Federici, Ryan and Langerak will all be about for the next WC and will likely be our top 3, unless a youngster puts up his hand the rest is just superfluous.
Crug in the cave
Roar Rookie
To be realistic neither Brad Jones or Covic would have made the final squad so the article is moot. Yes Covic has had some bad selection luck over the years but at 39 he is hardly the future. Ange has just wasted his time announcing a 46 man squad, But to be honest Brad Jones wouldn't make my bench for Liverpool on FIFA15.