Although the Australian under-23s hardly set the world on fire, there are still glimpses of talent, and now’s the time to invest in our younger players.
Why? Because many of Australia’s established players are ageing.
Although Matthew Jurman is a new inclusion, he’s already 28 years of age. Russia could be his only World Cup.
James Troisi, 29 years old and in last year’s A-League team of the season, is done. He was the one who ran through the entire Perth Glory defence and scored from 30 yards, scored a chip against Chile and assisted twice in the match against UAE last year.
We have plenty of replacements for him, and he doesn’t really fit with the new 3-5-1-1 formation. Tom Rogic, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree and the in-form Daniel De Silva are a few of these choices.
Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak (32 and 33 respectively) need to be replaced as well. Although Milligan scored three goals and has played relatively well, as has Jedinak, no-one else in the current squad can play the defensive midfielder.
This means we have to replace him with someone younger – perhaps with the pinpoint passer Aiden O Neill, Brandon Wilson or Keanu Baccus. All three have potential, but it’s currently too big a sacrifice to lose an experienced captain and have him replaced by someone inexperienced.
(Cameron J Spencer/Getty Images)
I could ask what Nikita Rukavytsya is doing up the front. He has scored one goal in 16 appearances but is included because of his ‘explosive pace’. He is 30, doesn’t score and we have other pacey players. The obvious replacement is Mathew Leckie. He can run, so why not put him up front? He’s a winger, as is Rukavytsya.
Ryan McGowan has always been in the squad, but he hasn’t played since the Chile game. He can play as a centre or a right back, but Milos Degenek, Matthew Jurman, Bailey Wright and Trent Sainsbury have the nod against him.
At 28 years old and a reserve, McGowan could be replaced by the promising Thomas Deng, Jonathan Aspropotamitis or Aleksandar Susnjar. Then again, they did concede three against South Korea.
Robbie Kruse has somehow started playing again, but is it too late for him? He has scored four goals in 14 appearances, but when he played as a central striker against Japan it did not end well. Then again, he did win a penalty against Honduras.
The biggest question is whether Tim Cahill has to go. He is searching for a new club, but there is little depth in this area. Tomi Juric isn’t scoring much for Luzern, Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borrello can’t break into the first team, but in the A-League 20-year-old George Blackwood is showing some promise, playing regularly for Adelaide United and scored five goals in eight appearances for the under-23 side.
Milislav Popovic could play as a striker, but he has scored twice in his past six appearances, though he racked up a couple of assists against Syria. Could they be included in the squad? Will the new coach think of long-term success or only short-term wins?
Carl
Guest
The problem with this article is that the U23's only show glimpses of talent. The biggest loss to the national team in recent years was the retirement of Mark Bresciano. He could do what no player in the current squad could do, take a ball under pressure and create space to use it all at the same time. I think Postecoglou had no idea how to use him in the last world cup. The Aussies need players like this. Players that caress the ball instead of kicking the opposition like Milligan.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Assuming what you're saying is true, which it is, I'm surprised to hear that the Socceroos website had never mentioned anything.
Chocco
Guest
Get your facts right Borrello has started last 4 games has 3assits best on ground and made team of the week .
Kanga Schillachi
Guest
It was either Eddie Thompson or les scheniflug that coached Australia under 17- 19 s in the late 80s early 90s That bunch of youth were playing matches in Europe constantly. Sometimes 25 or more a year against Europe club teams Club Socceroo for under 16-19s. So much experience against good opponents, seemed to work then . Could it work now, if funded properly.
punter
Guest
I think you on the money. I too have been watching football, including youth sides for many years now. We seem to be producing a lot better technical players & totally agree with those players you have mentioned, but we are still failing at youth level, why? 1/ lack of opportunities as you have mentioned 2/ the rest of Asia also improving, the Ubeks beat Japan 4 nil in the recent U23s competition. 3/ Playing a different tactic that we not used to. 4/ infrastructure not there 5/ Too expensive to play in the Representative teams These are some of the subjects we should be discussing instead of putting blame on something or saying we made youth WCs in the 1990s.
Will
Guest
In time we need to blood in the younger gen but they poor results in Asia does give me the impression that we might be in for a tough time qualifying for future world cups. Although we do seem to be producing better technically gifted players such as the likes of Caletti, McGree and recent talents in Arzani, Italiano, Pasquali, Theohaurus, Brook, Akbari etc that it gives us hope for the future. The problem is the lack of opportunity for more younger guys to shine (i.e lack of teams and spots) they dont play enough and if they do they go off to europe too soon and we see them back in australia in 12-18 months time. A huge problem right now in australian football.
LuckyEddie
Guest
I thought the big mantra and aura about the big Ange was his willingness to promote young players. I guess FFA and the media got that wrong and Ange took his pieces of silver and bolted. I wonder if he took his family to Japan.
Kanga Schillachi
Guest
I’m sorry , George Blackwood Aiden O’neil ??? Aspropotamitis Keanu Baccus De Silva. , worth some thought Dimi Petratos Rhys Williams Brandon O’Neill Josh Brilliante