The Socceroos entered a crucial match-up against Saudi Arabia last Thursday night with significant talent unavailable.
Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic and Adam Taggart have played key roles for the national squad in recent times and the challenge that their absence presented for a team up against an undefeated opponent in Asian Confederation World Cup qualifying should not be understated.
As things played out, the Socceroos and the Saudis both had their chances to claim what would have been a potentially decisive three points, yet the nets were not to be legally bulged at either end of the pitch.
The 0-0 result did little more than maintain the pressure on both nations, especially considering the ever-looming presence of the Japanese, after their slow start to the campaign.
The most intriguing component of the fixture was the absence of Melbourne City’s Jamie Maclaren, a man whose previous ten Socceroos caps have produced six goals.
After an A-League Men’s season in 2020-21 that produced 25 goals, a golden boot award and a championship with the best team in the land, one could have easily been convinced that Maclaren would be something of a walk-up start for the Socceroos throughout their campaign.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
COVID restrictions and logistical complications meant that Maclaren was not to play a part in some of the earlier qualification matches abroad.
However, surely manager Graham Arnold would have been well within his rights to rush the goal sneak straight back into the team as soon as the opportunity to do so presented itself?
Japan-based striker Adam Taggart did well for Arnold in the early matches and the manager’s trust in Mitchell Duke was clear in the way the former Western Sydney Wanderers hit man was used effectively off the bench.
However, there were many who assumed that Maclaren was rightfully due to step straight back in as soon as the protocols allowed him to do so and the Socceroos once again take to the pitch with their best attacking weapon ready to pounce on the chances created.
Someone omitted to let Arnold know that this is what Socceroos fans had expected and that such a move was most likely to be in his best interests.
Duke entering the fray off the bench in the second half was a strategy that had already proven successful in 2021.
Concerns around Maclaren’s match fitness were fair to raise, especially considering his non-competitive football life since June.
Yet the striker was adamant that he was “as hungry as ever” and appeared to be determined to deliver a clear message to his manager that he was ready to go, score and play a critical role in what could potentially have been a group-defining result for the team.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Instead, Arnold opted for Mathew Leckie to play the role of the potential match winner for the Socceroos up top.
One of Australia’s most decorated modern footballers, Leckie has been a star in national colours for nearly a decade and deserves nothing but respect from writers like me and the wider Australian football public.
Sadly, Arnold may well have overlooked the fact that Leckie, like Maclaren, has become an employee of the City Football Group and been living a frustrating life of training, gym work and fitness, devoid of formal play.
Yet with one man striking successfully at international level and Leckie a proven infrequent scorer, Arnold went with the latter in a position that he has rarely played and never mastered.
Frankly, it was a stupid choice.
Maclaren has produced a goal for every 1.7 matches across his top-tier professional career for both club and country, while Leckie manages one in every five matches he plays.
With both men a little underdone in terms of match fitness and serious consideration given to recent form, Maclaren should have been Arnold’s logical choice against the Saudis last Thursday.
With a not-to-be-underestimated Chinese team being the opponent in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the key question will be whether Arnold has the courage to see the error of his ways and charge Maclaren with the responsibility he has earned over the last two years.
If the manager does so, it will be something of an admission of guilt, but also the best thing for the Socceroos in a match they simply must win.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Mark Viduka inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame - The 'V Bomber' played 43 'A' internationals for Australia, scoring 11 goals and captaining the side to their only ever knockout rounds appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. - https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/mark-viduka-inducted-sport-australia-hall-fame
Tigertown
Guest
Too true! Matt Simon is having his renaissance, but, he’s also too risky to have on the field, & could obtain a yellow card at a crucial moment.
Simoc
Guest
What they used to say in AFL. If you're on a player who has done an ACL you keep turning them. Sprint 20, turn sprint 20, they lose on the acceleration through each turn. Mean but it works a treat.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I hope he has improved a hell of a lot since his time at WSW Andy. He was ordinary beyond belief. At the time I don't think I would have wanted him in my all age side at local level!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Not sure when and where I ever compared Mabil to Maclaren. Both should be in there and the balance is better. My issue is with the selection of a non-scorer in Leckie, with the point being that even Mabil finds the net more frequently, despite his position.
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
Leckie missed a goal when the Saudi goalkeeper kicked it straight to him. Don’t think Maclaren would’ve missed that. Should’ve played. Amazing player. Better than leckie in my opinion.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. This will be the true indicator of Arnold's mindset. Is he mentally and tactically flexible? is he able to think outside the standard construct? Does he have the kahoonas to say ok, who do I have on the bench, how can we change it in order to go up a gear, which in my opinion needs to be done and done now.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Hang on Viduka in his Leeds days was rather impressive would'nt you say
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Has anyone thought about the fella plying his trade in Wales, and doing it well as the Gaffer. I still say the optics suggest that Arnie has a penchant for using the players that have played for him.
AGO74
Guest
You are talking about off field stuff. That's a whole different topic. My comment and overarching point relates to your desire for a more progressive coach on the basis that they will presumably do better. And my point on that is that the results at major international level for Australia under a progressive coach (Ange) show we are just as average as Australia under a pragmatist coach (Arnie, Van Marwijk).
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
this is where for example, for WC 2026, we're talking about the likes of Tilio, the Toure lads, more experienced McGree, Genreau, Caleb Watts, Cam Devlin etc. And with the appropriate experience in the interim, we're talking a squad that will have a considerable amount of talent.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you know maclaren was bagging several goals a game for sunbury in his junior days right? and he was also part of that infamous green gully team that won 40+ games in a row mabil was scoring goals for st augustines in his juniors days, but nowhere near the level that maclaren was same can be said for his time at playford compared to maclarens at green gully its an unfair comparison, 2 completely different positions lol
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
completely different debate, but i'll go with it lol did ange make mistakes with the national team? absolutetly, trying to fit a circle into a square hole will never work lol (unless you force it, but it will break lol) you then add in clowns like david gallop who were underqualified and just happy to plod along - accepting australia as a 'minnow' ange was trying to culturally reset the whole sport for the better, but did not have support from the people above him in regards to little things like pitches and which teams ange wanted the socceroos to play in friendlies to previous friends attacking him constantly in the media australia is never going to beat the big boys, but they shouldnt sit back and defend for 90 minutes. if ange doesnt have that whole hearted support from the very top to the very bottom he wont be successful im not sure hes even got that at celtic, lets see how much $$$$ celtic release to him in the upcoming january window as a show of faith
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'm well aware he isn't a striker, yet his stats at a young age outstrip Leckie. The experiment of playing Leckie up top was discussed a few years ago, most thought it silly and it was never really tried. Then the manager pulls it out in such a crucial game? Utter madness in my view, especially with JMac sitting there twiddling his thumbs.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Mabils not a stiker, even as youngster he was a winger. he is on the move very soon, his club have had 2 bids rejected from ligue 1 sides and there is also a serie a side currently in the relegation zone that is also in the race for his signature
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i dont think the socceroos have one in the current arnie trio of (maclaren/duke/taggart) Rukavytsya is a player that should've been given a chance though several years ago, he got Pidgeon holed for most of his career as a winger though (he was playing as striker in his junior days for inglewood and ran a muck, if someone told me several years later he'd be a winger i'd be shocked) and injuries curtailed a promising career. wrong side of 30 now, but his movement and positioning could still cause some issues off the bench
AGO74
Guest
I was ok with your reference to average because as my post showed with results we achieved over last 10 years at major international and against top level Asian opposition we have been fairly “average”. I also understand Ange had issues on several fronts in Australia with media etc but to an extent he invited this by virtue of his (by his own admission) single bl00dy mindedness. My view on Ange is that there was nothing wrong with how he wanted us to play - the problem was that he didn’t have the players to execute this. And when it was obvious we couldn’t play it he dug his heels in and didn’t adapt (single mindedness again). This ain’t club football where he can buy Kyogo Furuhashi to fill an important role. Respectfully - you ask for a younger, more progressive coach. However Ange is arguably one of if not the most progressive coaches in Australian football history. Yet he wasn’t able to achieve what it is you are after at international level. The last WCQ led by Ange was a very traumatic experience! And this is exactly my point - be it a progressive (Ange) or a pragmatist (Arnie, van marwijk) the results and frustrations felt by fans have generally been consistent for the last 10 years.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I'm hearing you FIL!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
You may well be right there.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
But we can't be using the opposition as a reference point for the validity of international goals. Sure there is something to be said for when and where an attacker scores, yet JMac loses nothing against the others. Perhaps Mabil the best of the lot really.