Socceroos: What a bunch of plodding hacks

[understudy]

Paul Wade

How come he didn't get a game!

The squad is: John Aloisi (Osasuna, Spain), Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy), Scott Chipperfield (Basel, Switzerland), Brett Emerton (Feyenoord, The Netherlands), Vince Grella (Empoli, Italy), Zeljko Kalac (Perugia, Italy), Harry Kewell (Leeds United, England), Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham City, England), Craig Moore (Rangers, Scotland), Kevin Muscat (Rangers, Scotland), Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England), Paul Okon (Leeds United, England), Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England), Josip Skoko (Genk, Belgium), Mile Sterjovski (Lille, France), Tony Vidmar (Middlesbrough, England) and Mark Viduka (Leeds United, England).

 

[daicos4ever]

Okon getting a guernsey is a disgrace. Not only is he passed it (he's never impressed me anyway), but he's barely had a full match for a year.

I think it's pretty obvious what the starting 11 will be, and it isn't a bad team at all. But other than those, it really shows how much we lack depth. Depth is what makes the Brazils, Germanys, Italys and Englands of this world great.

England will win 2-1.

 

[GoalSneak]

Originally posted by daicos4ever
Okon getting a guernsey is a disgrace. Not only is he passed it (he's never impressed me anyway), but he's barely had a full match for a year.

Played several full games for Leeds in the past few months. Hasn't done too badly.

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by daicos4ever
Okon getting a guernsey is a disgrace. Not only is he passed it (he's never impressed me anyway), but he's barely had a full match for a year.

When was the last time you actually took notice of a Leeds game?

Paul Okon has played every game for the past 2 months and has been a key in our form revival.

 

[robbieando]

OK whats the line going to be?????

Mine would be

GK: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England)
RB: Kevin Muscat (Rangers, Scotland)
LB: Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England)
CB: Craig Moore (Rangers, Scotland)
CB: Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England)
RW: Brett Emerton (Feyenoord, The Netherlands)
LW: Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy)
CM: Paul Okon (Leeds United, England)
CM: Josip Skoko (Genk, Belgium)
F: Harry Kewell (Leeds United, England)
ST: Mark Viduka (Leeds United, England)

Bench: John Aloisi (Osasuna, Spain), Scott Chipperfield (Basel, Switzerland), Vince Grella (Empoli, Italy), Zeljko Kalac (Perugia, Italy), Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham City, England), Mile Sterjovski (Lille, France), Tony Vidmar (Middlesbrough, England)

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by understudy
Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy)
Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England)

Love it! Good luck fellas.

 

[Carmelo Anthony]

Okon has played many full games of late.
He is a good player and the Australian squad isnt a disgrace by any means.

Isnt Bresciano a central midfielder?

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by Carmelo Anthony
Isnt Bresciano a central midfielder?

Can play most midfield roles I believe, but can also play very adequately as a forward.

 

[Jars458]

We HAVE to play Kewell wide on the left and have Viduka and Aloisi up front.

If they use Kewell as a foward we are done for

Surely Frank has learnt his lesson.

 

[myee8]

Originally posted by robbieando
OK whats the line going to be?????

Mine would be

GK: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, England)
RB: Kevin Muscat (Rangers, Scotland)
LB: Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers, England)
CB: Craig Moore (Rangers, Scotland)
CB: Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace, England)
RW: Brett Emerton (Feyenoord, The Netherlands)
LW: Marco Bresciano (Parma, Italy)
CM: Paul Okon (Leeds United, England)
CM: Josip Skoko (Genk, Belgium)
F: Harry Kewell (Leeds United, England)
ST: Mark Viduka (Leeds United, England)

Bench: John Aloisi (Osasuna, Spain), Scott Chipperfield (Basel, Switzerland), Vince Grella (Empoli, Italy), Zeljko Kalac (Perugia, Italy), Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham City, England), Mile Sterjovski (Lille, France), Tony Vidmar (Middlesbrough, England)

--------------------Schwarzer

-----Neill------Moore------Popovic------Vidmar

Emerton------Okon(c)------Skopko------Kewell

----------------Viduka------Aloisi

How many will be allowed on the bench? It will help me to select players for the interchange.

 

[Diego Forlan]

Originally posted by Jars458
We HAVE to play Kewell wide on the left and have Viduka and Aloisi up front.

If they use Kewell as a foward we are done for

Surely Frank has learnt his lesson.

I doubt it. Expect to see Kewell up front and someone else on the left.

You are right though, Kewell has to play on the left where he can create!!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by Jars458
Surely Frank has learnt his lesson.

Farina is an idiot. If it wasn't for SA's financial troubles, he'd been sacked long ago (he's on a $90,000 a year contract. Thats a joke in terms of a National soccer coach).


On the matter of the starting 11, I think Grella HAS to get a start. From what I've heard and read, the guy has been a shining light for Empoli this season.

 

[football365]

What is Frank Farina doing, really he should have gave a few other players a berth in this game cause there not going to be there in time for the next world cup, why put off the inevitable cause there are a few blokes too old in the tooth IMO.

I'd like to see this line up, with the squad that is selected...

Schwartzer
Neil Moore Vidmar
Okon
Skoko Grella
Emerton Kewell

Viduka Sterjovski

Okon playing in a Baresi role bringing the ball out of defense to begin create the tide of attacks and play, as this is the only time he look any good.

Grella in a holding role, deserves a chance and Skoko and the attacking player.

Kewell to do his thing on the left like he SHOULD HAVE DONE in the first game against Uruguay at the G.

Not too sure about Sterjoviski but i think he was a forward before at Lille but also a handy wide man as in Bresciano. Believe Tiatto would have been handy against the poms as well.

Also would have liked to see Joey Didiluca get a game, hope he doesnt go to Croatia....

Players that i think such as Suminic and Ergic and that other Croat bloke that didnt play for AUS as well as McMaster and a few of them i believe will haunt us in years to come. Would also like to have seen Wilkshire get a place in the squad as he has been inpressive for the Boro.
Too many thoughs, what ya reckon about that.
ps - Moore should be the next captain of Australia, he is a absoulte gun, watched the Old Firm Game and he is class and big game player, great leader..then there is Kewell

 

[Holycrap]

Originally posted by football365
Also would have liked to see Joey Didiluca get a game, hope he doesnt go to Croatia....

He should be the starting keeper....he plays in the champions league and thats more than Schwarzer is doing!

I's like to see Kewell play attacking left wing and he is far more creative then just a striker.

 

[myee8]

Football365, i believe that Ivan Ergic is still an Australian and hasn't decided to play for Croatia like that Josip Simumic guy.

 

[football365]

The other one i was thinking of was that bloke Ante Seric, those two would have surley bolstered our defensive stocks. As for Ergic, i think he might have played U/21 for Yugoslavia... i think in a qualifyer.

--------------Schwartzer--------------
------Neil -------Moore------- Vidmar
------------------Okon------------------
--------Skoko -----------Grella--------
Emerton----------------------- Kewell
---------------Bresciano---------------
----------------Viduka------------------

Thats my new line up. Bresciano to play as
attacking midfielder/forward in a zola role
alternating with kewell when it suits. That's
not too bad i reckon.

 

[Falchoon]

God I'm getting old, I remember Vince Grella as an annoying little priick in the under 7's at Springvale. Fair talent even then. My little brother played with his big brothers.


How's he doing then? Will he become a socceroo regular?

 

[Gordo]

The good thing about Kewell is that he's flexible. I probably prefer him out wide on the left too, but realistically, he can be just as damaging playing up front or even just behind Viduka and Aloisi.

Surprised Agostino didnt get a call, isn't he playing for his club?

The main thing I want to see in this match, apart of course from us winning, is Viduka returning to form for Aus. He had a quiet one in the France/Uruguay matches, I hope this match is a sign of things to come for him.

 

[football365]

Falchoon, he is playing in the serie A for Empoli and although last season, he was consolidating and was loaned out, i think this year he is playing as a holding player in midfield and getting great reviews from the italian media. Empoli are more of the team the ships out players for dollars and there is apparent intrest in him from the like of AC Milan, but he has said he will only go to a new team where he believes he can play regualry so he is going, to say the least bloody ok. I think he will play for the socceroos regulary when Okon is retired until then will have to bid his time i think.

As for the other coment about Agostino, he iosnt getting a game for who ever he was at and has been loaned out to a 2nd division German team called St. Pauli. He was the player last year that was getting offers left right and centre from everywhere and now is loaned out, well. I personally think that he is the difference for Australia as on his day can be a class striker. Should have seen more game time in the WCQ against UrGuray

 

[Chris_23]

Grella and Bresciano are both very talented central midfielders. Grella plays most weeks, he was very impressive early in the season, but his form has dropped off a little. Grella plays mainly as a defensive midfielder, he's good at closing down space, and he's got pretty good vision coming forward. Bresciano has found it a bit tough at Parma. They've got a very talented young squad, his style of play is similar to Grella.

Neither of them could play a wide or attacking role IMHO.

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Farina, if you don't start Kewell on the left, you are a tool.

 

[M29]

I think it'll be a nil all draw.

 

[myee8]

Originally posted by NICK THE PIE MAN
Farina, if you don't start Kewell on the left, you are a tool.

What's the bet he starts him alongside Viduka just like with the Urugray games??

 

[Pessimistic]

Originally posted by daicos4ever
Okon getting a guernsey is a disgrace. Not only is he passed it (he's never impressed me anyway), but he's barely had a full match for a year.

I think it's pretty obvious what the starting 11 will be, and it isn't a bad team at all. But other than those, it really shows how much we lack depth. Depth is what makes the Brazils, Germanys, Italys and Englands of this world great.

England will win 2-1.

But will the winner come on a 'dodgy decision' to save england face.

similar to France v Australia and England v somebody else around the same time

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Originally posted by myee8
What's the bet he starts him alongside Viduka just like with the Urugray games??

Yeah then decides to put him on the left for the last 10 minites and then realises, "Oh gee", all our best attacks and chances happen with him on the left.