Socceroos and Australian Football

[chaminda_00]

Weird. & yet (judging by CW) the WC seemed a fairly big deal down there.

Yeah that had more to do with our first WC in 32 years, the WCQ always has big coverage and there kind of tradition in Australia about it (waiting 4 years for one big game and losing). A lot of that coverage was built on that and the WC even without Australia is always big here.

The Asian Cup however has no tradition and is something new to Australia. Its going to take a while to create awareness and once it gets underway, we might get some coverage as the tournment builds to a climax.

With Australian sport in general it takes a while for things to get noticed, cus there is so many other things going on. Just look at State of Orgin (in league), first couple seasons no one noticed it. 10 years later its all people talked about around Orgin time and even gets coverage outside league states.

I reckon after a couple Asian Cup, this tournment will become a pretty big tournment, 2nd only to the World Cup for Australian Football. Maybe even similar to Euro for Australia, if we struggle to make World Cups.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hazard a guess it's like England and rugby union...

Ouch.

Slightly unfair tho, to be serious, the 6 Nations is fairly sizeable here too (being on free-to-air telly helps IMHO).

 

[TT Boy]

Uruguay must have taken the game against Australia very seriously for Álvaro Recoba played. Recoba, hardly feels it necessary to grace Serie A with his presence but the prospect of Copa America glory or indeed a bit of World Cup revenge must have been a strong tonic for El Chino.

 

[Johnners]

The Asian cup isn't generating a whole lot of Hype yet....but i expect that to change as we get closer to the starting date of the tournament. One thing is for sure, is that it's getting a lot more coverage than an Oceania tournament would have...

 

[chaminda_00]

Just noticed there is a month to do to the start of the Asia Cup. So who is your picks for the 23 man squad, presuming everyone is fit. I reckon they will go with 3 keepers, 8 defenders and midfielders and 4 forwards. The Under 23 guys have been restest from Internationals to play in Quailfers and not piss off their bosses or burn them out. But due to the decent performances of the guys that got a run im not sure if many will get a spot in the squad.

Keepers (3): Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones
Defenders (8): Lucus Niell, Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield, Brett Emerton, Patrick Kisnorbo, Michael Beauchamp, Micheal Thwaite, Luke Wilkshire
Midfielders (8): Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Mile Sterjovski, Josip Skoko, Carl Valeri
Forwards (4): Mark Viduka, Scott MacDonald, Brett Holman, John Aloisi

I doubt we will do with that squad as im sure there will be a few players out. Milligan, Thomspon, Carle, Kilkenny, Williams, Spiranovic, Leijer and Stefenatto all a tad unlucky to miss out. But im sure some will play a part during the tournment due to likely injuries.

The defense does look at bit light but Kisnorbo showing some promising signs. Not much depth down the left hand side in defence outside Chipperfield, but consider Thwaite got a run ahead of Stefenatto i reckon he will get the last spot. Always rated as one of those players that can play all positions acroos the back. I reckon he might get the Vidmar spot in the squad.

Midfield very strong, Milligan probably needs a game in with the national side to push ahead of Valeri, as the back up to Grella, same with Kilkenny. Wilkshere would probably get selected mainly as defender, due to the strength.

It will be interesting how the forwards are used, will Holman or MacDonald play alongside of Viduka or will they go one out. Aloisi gets the last spot due to his experience, in case Viduka goes down. Probably going to be his last spot in the National team before Holman, MacDonald, Williams and Kennedy take over.

 

[Cloete]

Keepers (3): Mark Schwarzer, Adam Federici, Brad Jones < --- Hard to argue. Federici is my number 2.
Defenders (8): Lucus Neill, Craig Moore, Scott Chipperfield, Brett Emerton, Patrick Kisnorbo, Michael Beauchamp, Micheal Thwaite, Matthew Spiranovic <--- Spiranovic in for Wilkshire
Midfielders (8): Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano, Mile Sterjovski, Carl Valeri, Nick Carle <--- Carle for Skoko
Forwards (4): Mark Viduka, Scott MacDonald, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson <--- Thompson for Holman

Ideally I'd want Wilshire in my squad but I can't really find a place for him. Thompson adds more than Holman IMO and we have two big strong strikers offset by two small and pacey strikers. Carle comes in for Skoko because I've been very impressed with him and I certainly can't keep a guy who tries a rabona in his 2nd international match out of my squad. Nearly set up a goal against Uruguay as well.

 

[Johnners]

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't Chipperfield ruled out due to injury? Or was that only the Uruguay game?

 

[chaminda_00]

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't Chipperfield ruled out due to injury? Or was that only the Uruguay game?

Only Uruguay match, he should be fit for the Asia Cup.

I agree with dropping Skoko but for Wilkshere and bring in an extra specialist defender or Milligan. But the problem is i can't see him getting dropped after he was rested for Uruguay. Considering that he must be a certainity to play.

Holman been in great form in Holland and has done a very good job in the last two matches, personally i think with his extra pace he adds more to the side them Thompson. Both him and MacDonald have improved quite significantly in the last two seasons, whereas Thompson has just stayed at the same level.

I can't see too many A-League players making the squad considering most of the European based guys are now playing top flight football, not lower league stuff or in a backwaters leagues like Romania.

 

[Cloete]

Only Uruguay match, he should be fit for the Asia Cup.

I agree with dropping Skoko but for Wilkshere and bring in an extra specialist defender or Milligan. But the problem is i can't see him getting dropped after he was rested for Uruguay. Considering that he must be a certainity to play.

Holman been in great form in Holland and has done a very good job in the last two matches, personally i think with his extra pace he adds more to the side them Thompson. Both him and MacDonald have improved quite significantly in the last two seasons, whereas Thompson has just stayed at the same level.

I can't see too many A-League players making the squad considering most of the European based guys are now playing top flight football, not lower league stuff or in a backwaters leagues like Romania.

Carle is a gun though. He deserves to be there IMO. Adds such creativity to the team and I've been very impressed with his first two games for the Roos. I'm just really disappointed he hasn't been starting. Only 25 though so there's still alot of time.

 

[chaminda_00]

Carle is a gun though. He deserves to be there IMO. Adds such creativity to the team and I've been very impressed with his first two games for the Roos. I'm just really disappointed he hasn't been starting. Only 25 though so there's still alot of time.

I agree with all that but with the style of football we play these days only one creative midfielder will probably get in the squad, unless we have injuries. His probably fiighting with Bresciano for that spot in the squad, who can't get into the starting XI either. His got no chance of getting ahead of him. Personally i would have him and Wilshere in the squad infront of Skoko and one of the defenders, but i can't see it happening.

Also i would put Thompson and Holman in the squad ahead Aloisi in the squad, but again its not going to happen. These guys where asked by Arnold to stay on and not retire and they will be rewarded with a spot in the squad, even though other guys are playing better and add more to the side.

Im sure whoever misses out will still play major roles in the qualifers. Its good to see quite a few youngsters coming through and pushing for spots.

 

[Johnners]

Did i just read wrong or did you say Bresciano can't get into the starting XI??

The way i see it Bresciano is one of the first 3/4 selected, and it's been that way for quite some time....

 

[chaminda_00]

Did i just read wrong or did you say Bresciano can't get into the starting XI??

The way i see it Bresciano is one of the first 3/4 selected, and it's been that way for quite some time....

In the last World Cup he didn't start much. Culina, Grella and Cahill had the 3 central midfield spots. Since the formation got changed his hasn't started much when we have been at full strength. But we haven't been at full strength often since the World Cup, so his started a few games. If all our midfielders are fit he probably wont make the starting XI.

 

[Johnners]

In the world cup of the 4 matches we played, iirc he started against Japan, Croatia & Italy...leaving only the Brazil game where he didn't.....

Leading up to the WC he started pretty much every match, and he's done so since. Even with a full strength midfield Bresciano would probably be the 5th or 6th player picked after Viduka, Kewell, Grella, Niell & possibly Cahill. He's been one of our best players for the last 2/3 years, and is still in good form in Italy, so i don't see any reason why he'd all of a sudden be demoted to the bench.

 

[chaminda_00]

I remember him starting against Croatia and Italy but didn't Wilkshere start against Japan ahead of him or was that infront of Kewell?

EDIT: Actually that was ahead of Cahill cus he wasn't fit.

But the point is he hasn't always been first picked lately. When they went for an extra defender against Brazil he was the guy that missed out. Personally i'll still have him in my top 7 players, but there is 4-5 mids in that top seven and his below Kewell, Cahill, Culina and Grella these days. Moore, Neill, Viduka, Emerton and Chipperfield will get selected ahead because of the lack depth in their positions. His still one of our top players, but seemingly isn't a certainity to start unless we play an extra mid.

 

[Cloete]

Honestly as much as I like Timmy, Bresciano's a better midfielder. But it's sort of a catch 22, IMO we need to play Cahill because he has the ability to score while not being technically as good as Bresciano. Basically, Bresc has a better passing and technical game while Cahill finds the net more often. Given Viduka's red-hot international scoring record I think we need to play Cahill and so we do. Makes sense really.

 

[chaminda_00]

Honestly as much as I like Timmy, Bresciano's a better midfielder. But it's sort of a catch 22, IMO we need to play Cahill because he has the ability to score while not being technically as good as Bresciano. Basically, Bresc has a better passing and technical game while Cahill finds the net more often. Given Viduka's red-hot international scoring record I think we need to play Cahill and so we do. Makes sense really.

Culina the one that jumped ahead of Bres not Cahill really. When it comes down it got to do with his defence. Bresciano scores a fair few goals for the Socceroos and in domestic football over the years. He was like the leading goal scorer for Parma a couple years back. Culina and Cahil might find the net more often, but the difference isn't that big. Where as there defensive abilities is pretty big.

If we played a more Italian or English game his defence wouldn't make a difference. But with this Dutch style of football you need your midfielder to be able to defend very well. Or your team is not going to be effective playing that style.

 

[chaminda_00]

Well the squad got announced today:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer, Brad Jones, Michael Petkovic

Defenders: Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Michael Beauchamp, Michael Thwaite, Mark Milligan, Patrick Kisnorbo

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski, Luke Wilkshire, Jason Culina, Carl Valeri, Nick Carle, David Carney

Forwards: Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Archie Thompson, Brett Holman

Petkovic got a run ahead of Federici. Can't help but think Jones error got Petkovic a spot, seems very harsh and stupid. Moore and Chipperfield out, meaning only six defenders in the squad. Would of liked them to give Spiranovic or Leijer a spot and not picked Carney.

Skoko retires, by the sounds of his press conference he got told his no certainity for a starting spot so he called it a day, blessing in disguise really as Carle gets a spot. Carney gets the back up left side ahead of Joel Griffith, thank god. But as i mentioned before might have been a option to pick Spiranovic or Leijer.

MacDonald rules himself out with the club greater then country comment during the week. You play for Celtic stupid not Man Utd.

Good squad overall but defence is very little.

 

[ash chaulk]

why is moore out any ideas? and chipperfield still injured?

 

[R_D]

why is moore out any ideas? and chipperfield still injured?

Moore my guess would be he's bit too slow now.. not sure how old he's now.
Chipperfield not sure about.. might be injured i guess.

 

[Johnners]

Chipperfield is still injured, not sure about Moore