Mathew Ryan will start in goal for the Socceroos against United Arab Emirates in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Yet there appears to be zero certainty around the identity of the other ten men charged with guiding Australia through to the second phase of fourth round qualifying and a match up with Peru in a weeks’ time.
National coach Graham Arnold surprised many with his selections in the friendly lead up fixture against Jordan five days ago; choices that saw Jamie Maclaren, Ajdin Hrustic, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine and Trent Sainsbury selected on the bench.
Of that list, all bar Sainsbury received minutes last week, perhaps providing insights into Arnold’s intentions tomorrow morning. It is possible that Behich will start on the left side of defence, with Sainsbury slotting in alongside Bailey Wright in the heart of it.
Irvine could well assume his role on the right side of midfield, with Aaron Mooy on the left and Hrustic either as the third member of that trio or slightly more advanced as part of the 4-2-3-1 formation that Arnold implemented against Jordan.
As the Socceroos highest scorer in qualifying, many will see the inclusion of Jamie Maclaren at the arrowhead in place of Nick D’Agostino as a logical move, with Awer Mabil perhaps the only member of the front four certain to keep his position.
Jamie Maclaren. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
However, Arnold has a history of pulling selection surprises. That, combined with the solid form and fitness levels of Jordanian starters Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree, as well as the almost certain inclusion of Saudi based Martin Boyle, results in a very unclear picture in terms of the make-up of the eleven that will eventually take to the pitch.
And that uncertainty may well be Graham Arnold’s most significant weakness as a coach.
As punters predict, select and hypothesise on the best group to blunt the UAE threat on Wednesday, the question of whether Arnold is actually convinced of his own best starting line-up is a fair one.
One would hope that the backbone of the team would be clear to all heading into such a crucial fixture and aside from the odd variation due to illness, injury or unavailability, a team Socceroo fans knew was capable of getting the result would be selected.
There is an argument to be made that aside from Ryan, Hrustic and Tom Rogic, a seemingly rotational system exists in the manager’s mind, with a hodge-podge-like approach taken since Arnold took the reins permanently in 2018.
That scenario appears to have developed due to Arnold’s loyalty to certain players despite weaker performances that should have seen them left out at different times and a reluctance to provide consistent minutes for players that many good judges believe are destined to be Socceroos for plenty of years to come.
The global pandemic saw opportunity become the over-arching theme of the A-League Men across the last two seasons, as a host of young players put their names up in lights.
However, that same level of opportunity has been limited for a group of young Socceroos that are part of the selection merry-go-round that Arnold has overseen and it is fair to say that we still don’t really know just how effective they can be in national colours.
Graham Arnold (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Reno Piscopo was ignored at the selection this time round, Denis Genreau is doing great things overseas yet been given just two caps at 23 years of age, whilst McGree has long been one of the most promising young Aussies and represented just eight times at the same age.
Marco Tilio is another looking for greater opportunity and Nathaniel Atkinson appears to be a lock for squad selection, yet to this point and aside from one cap, not trusted enough to assume the defensive role for which he was lured to Scotland to play.
Gianni Stensness is another 23 year old desperate for opportunity and still being starved of it.
Of the more seasoned players, Bailey Wright appears to come and go, with most of us still unsure whether he can do his defensive job on a consistent basis and Arnold seems to remain uncertain of Adam Taggart, Mitchell Duke and Jamie Maclaren and which of the three he believes in the most.
Arnold’s role as national coach is to not only win games of football, but to also work out his best and most reliable players, as well as those young men deserving of selection and development, considering their likely long term involvement in the Socceroos set-up.
However, across his four years at the helm, I am at a loss as to whether he has done any of the above.
Heading into the most important game of football the Socceroos will play in four years and despite holding strong views on the squad, I have no idea of the eleven Arnold should or will select to face UAE.
No doubt there will be a surprise or two in there, yet I would feel much more comfortable knowing that a settled eleven, win or lose, was selected based on an efficient selection approach over an extended period of time.
For now, we will have to settle for the scatter-gun approach. Let’s hope it works.
HR
Roar Rookie
Oh, I've got no hard feelings towards Yengi at all for wanting to move on. It's just a pity that Adelaide were short of strikers when the initial offer came through from Poland and he then didn't make the move to Europe but also didn't get the chance to play much for Adelaide because of his quad. Just unfortunate circumstances it seems. And I'd very much agree that he remained professional throughout his time at the club - speaking only as a spectator obviously, and basing that assessment only on his play, but I don't recall him ever putting in a half-hearted effort. I hope for both him and for Australia that he can take that next step or two in his career.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
like i said, he felt betrayed by the club going back on their initial word about allowing him to leave once a suitable european transfer came his way (which it did last season) - he was never going to sign an extension after that he remained professional throughout and the club tried its hardest to persuade him to change his mind- the offer was nowhere near sydneys, and it was long long way off the wanderers offer. adelaide got zero dollars and zero cents, had they accepted last year the club would've got $500K+ into the coffers and a sell on fee as part of the transfer (much like the mo toure deal) i dont want to reveal my personal feelings about the move (or the clubs) but i think its clear what most think of this move in terms of its right for his next step lol. at the end of the day hes not a kid anymore, hes 24 at the start of next year - people still think hes a teenager lol the time is now to take his career to the next level - however the things he needs to work on are exactly the same as my initial analysis of him almost a decade ago. decision making, finishing, stamina/endurance, temperament
HR
Roar Rookie
Notwithstanding injury, would he have got playing time at Adelaide? I feel like he would have (he looked more dangerous than Ibisuki to me when he wasn’t injured). But ultimately, you’re right that it’s his choice – and if he’s going to be on a bigger contract at WSW (which seems likely given Adelaide’s apparent budget), I can’t blame him for making the move. Particularly if injury does curtail his career (hopefully that isn’t the case), it’s reasonable to be as well-remunerated as possible while he can be. I hope that he goes well there (except against Adelaide), and gets a run in the national team at some point, because he seems like a genuine talent. But it’s galling that Adelaide essentially gets nothing for supporting his development to this point. Intra-league transfer fees can’t come soon enough.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its frustrating only because the club doesnt get a fee for his departure. last season the player had agreed personal T&C for a move to poland, fee with the club was just over $500K - adelaide blocked this move because they couldnt get a replacement striker in place (they had looked at berisha and o'donovan also had been offered prijovic before he signed with western united) - yengi felt betrayed and grew frustrated; wanted assurances of his playing time. he had been offered an extension with adelaide multiple times last year, only to reject every offer. it wasnt very well known outside the united inner sanctum that he had entered negotiatians with both sydney and the wanderers. Sydney were the front runners only to be gazzumped by the wanderers who offered considerably more money. I've known cas since his junior days and ive spoken to him privately how i feel about this move - at the end of the day, hes his own man and not a kid anymore. if the wanderers can keep him fit (lost over 2 years of his careers to injuries) he could be a shrewd signing
HR
Roar Rookie
The important point I took from this is that Yengi is moving to WSW. Dammit.
Jack
Guest
It’s hard to find the core of team because there are no Aussies playing at the elite level that would be the core automatic selections. Another Roar article talk about junior development. Football has the highest participation rate amongst 6-13 year olds actively playing sport - just shy of 50%. Basketball has 30%. The are 7 Aussies in the NBA. How many Aussies in the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga or Serie A? 2 or 3? The current development pathways have given Arnold mediocrity to choose from.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
The idea of it is certainly funny enough.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Thanks…I was relying on disappearing memory. Redmayne was definitely a number 2 GK when he first arrived but DV left/was sold and SFC didn’t go after a replacement. - that was his lucky break and he was part of the best side around at the time; but as with most things, it doesn’t last so make the most of it whilst things are good I suppose is the message.
jbinnie
Guest
TSS- I agree with your observations on how positions are gained, no question. The problem in my mind is, does the resulting outcome (jobs for the boys) always guarantee the vacancy is being filled by someone who is going to make a difference?. In the history of the game the word "nepotism" keeps coming to the fore (did you note the trial of Blatter and his French golden boy is about to start). Nearer Australian history is the name Walker who ripped off FIFA ,and others before being found guilty and dismissed. I could write a small book on examples of how this sort of practice has been going on unabated in my time of interest in our game. Give my regards to Ron. He coached a Socceroo team that we brought to Brisbane before the WC and produced the best game of football I have seen in this country. The score 4-4 and such was the interest from the "top" that the appointed Socceroo coach, Jimmy Shoulder, sent his assistant (Ron), such was the regard he ,Shoulder, had for Qld football. Question- ,Was Shoulder the right man for the job???? Time was to prove a resounding NO. Cheers jb.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
any position within football is down to contacts - doesnt matter if you're a scout, video analyst, doctor, coach etc, its who you know that helps you get to where you are have gotten to know ron smith very well over the years, im good friends with his son (Barney) who's done an exceptional job here locally in the sa npl and is deserving of moving up to the a league
Full Time NSD
Guest
Hopefully we make it through. It would be funny if arnie goes overseas and is successful and then there are articles on how great he was etc
Neal Gardiner
Guest
Arnold, I have no good words to say about him. One game I watched wherever were behind and needed to win, he pulled of a striker to put on a midfielder, what person with whom you call coach would ever do that ?? He has often pulled of his player of the game and left on stragglers. He has no Idea about assessing individual skills and abilities or understanding their strengths and weaknesses. He has no team strategy in game play. When his defence is leaking he can't see where it's going wrong.. Watching epl and international football in defence it is easy to see almost every team plays with two lines of defence bout 8 metres apart. 4 to 5 in last line and 4 in front of that...you never see that in arnolds teams. He is hopeless. Mooy is a good player and is best when he gets forward and creates for strikers. But he is slow and rarely gets back to defend so next to mooy you need someone to do all his running all his chasing and cover all his defensive work, or don't play him. It's about balance and arnold has no idea.. he still playing under 8s club football.. Boyle is a poacher, he needs to get into the penalty area and 6 yard box..so you need players aggressively attacking down the flanks and getting the ball in on the ground early. Boyle isn't tall so he rarely wins balls in the air..you don't need attacking flanks if they only pass ball back to half way line. Then Boyle is obsolete. See arnold has no idea how to understand what he needs to do. He doesn't understand his players and if you don't understand them how can you create an effective strategy. Wake up !!!!
jbinnie
Guest
TSS - As you say a worthwhile read containing much of what has been said many times in these columns. Didn't the word "nepotism" enter your , or Michael's thinking, when reading the make-up of the panel he was interviewing. All of them appear to be in jobs that no doubt have been procured through contacts in the game, and this is a "disease" that has been appearing at different levels of our game since the early days of the ALM. Today a look at our coaching staffs at ALM clubs will show an alarming growth in ex players procuring jobs. whether qualified or not. That word "qualified" does not just mean a piece of paper but experience in a coaching position. Ron Smith continually surprises me in these forums. Ron, with a vast coaching knowledge, never refers to his mentor ,probably the best football educator ever to grace the game in this country, but a man who was treated abysmally by the powers that be back in the early days of the attempt to upgrade the coaching at the lower levels of the game, that was in the mid 1970's.Ron will know who I mean. Simon ,a reasonable player in his NSL days is now based in Holland as an agent and I believe he may have been joined by Craig more in the UK and as Michael points out, Vince Grella in Italy. The question Michael didn't ask was "Are we a better team today than we were back in the Oceania days" Of course we are and it all comes back to how we are preparing our players for a game that is constantly under change. Hiddink came and went, and no one would deny that his skill in management did make a difference on the field and that is where examination has to take place today as to who or what is causing this backsliding in our teams. Answer that Michael and we will be eternally grateful. Cheers jb.
ockeroo
Roar Rookie
Must approach this very important qualifier as if we are already chasing a two goal deficit. We do not score because half the freakin' time we are passing it around in midfield, and back to Ryan. If we really fair dinkum want it, we should be plonking the ball into UAE penalty box at every opportunity. Our attackers must take charge. We should be producing a dominant performance and score as many as possible against UAE, instead of hoping and praying hard to squeeze out a win. We need to give Peru something to think about.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
No, I'll be blogging it live on the Roar, wearing my scarf proudly and hoping desperately that I end up in tears when we qualify in a weeks time, just like I did four years ago at Accor Stadium. It's okay to critique mate, doesn't make people haters.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That is kind of my point. I've no idea. Sure there is a team I could suggest, yet the inconsistency of selection makes it so hard to know exactly who should be on the pitch from the off tomorrow morning. I'd actually have Piscopo and Gersbach in there. No Mooy. Have Hrustic at 10 with Mabil and Boyle on the right, Rowles also in defence with Sainsbury and King and Goodwin should be an automatic pick. I'd need to draw that up as a formation, but as I say, what is out best team?
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
No it was about covid isolation after international games
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
Dykes does not qualify for Aust because he has played an official game for scotland and volpato has not shown enough to warrant selection. 10 mins in a few games does not warrant regular seletion.
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
As he did with Rich Bagaleu during the Olympics?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Agree, there's a whole new world and it's ever changing. Some of the guys the article refers to, like Aloisi and Grella would not have had to struggle with language and culture. Maybe we should have more incentives for our youngsters. If they're good enough top up their wage and use some of these ex internationals as mentors. Is our junior coaching up to scratch? We seem to be fairly critical of our coaches. I just don't think going back to the AIS would help improve our national game at all.