wow. :shock:

do you really think it be in the under 23 squad come March? it's guys born up to Jan 1st 1993 ...he played only 70min at under 19 Asian champ (i can only guess he was injured, or replace) he played no senior football games, and will be fighting out a spot with guys who made Australian NT squads

some of the players he be fighting spots with
Adam Taggart, Bernie Ibini-Isei, Joshua Brillante, Terry Antonis, Mustafa Amini, Daniel De Silva..that not even looking at all the A-league player born after jan 1st 1993

Edited by adrtho: 3/2/2015 02:18:08 PM

Well there you go, the Olympic qualifiers are on the 27th, 29th and 31st of March in Taiwan, so no players can probably do both.

UNLESS they take the squad for the U23 qualifiers to Germany to prepare with the senior squad (at least half a dozen would be in both squads anyway). It's all on FIFA Dates so there's not much reason not to. Would be a great opportunity, if the travel timing can work.

Mckay is a pointless pick to old for Russia and he is in decline Mooy, Antonis, Amini anyone but him. Thanks for the Asian Cup but just no point anymore

I doubt they would take the U23 squad to prepare with the Senior Squad.

Somewhat disappointed with Halloran this season, he had a real good start to his bundesliga career last season. Hopefully can get back to being a regular starter for the 2nd half of the season. Fortuna have a really good chance at promotion.

i know ozfootballstats has a good summary of players abroad and it is a lot more in depth but soccerway has a decent list. Makes it easy to track our boys.

http://au.soccerway.com/players/players_abroad/australia/

A minimum of Josh Brillante, Mustafa Amini, Curtis Good, Brad Smith, Adam Taggart and Terry Antonis should be in both squads if fit, hopefully more. The U23 squad will need a few days together, so why not with those guys in Germany where Ange can keep an eye on things?

Exactly. May as well get a young foreign based squad for the match. Maybe a few rising stars from the A league.

IMO Ange should the best possible side. That tournament is 3 1/2 years away. Archie was playing and scoring last qualifiers and Cahill is too old too. The main argument is that he is still performing at that level.

Edited by scott21: 3/2/2015 05:39:38 PM

Fulham playing tonight. Its a cup match. Might get to see Williams and Taggart playing. Keen.

Taggart will probably be unlikely, played against Man Utd's U21's last night and scored. Might see Williams though

Damn it didnt know about taggart. Fantastic he scored.

Amini should be playing tonight. Dortmund II will be playing tonight.

Club Brugge playing tonight too. Not sure if Ryan will be backing up just yet though.

Matt Smith playing for Bangkok Glass in a friendly.

Telstar playing tonight we have two lads there.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRuB4p4Ktw

Classy finish from taggart looks like he's bulked up a little, really hope he pushes on now. His goal is about 5 mins in.

Edited by jas88: 3/2/2015 11:01:05 PM

nice
speaking of which how much has borello bulked up
his technique has really shone through now hes put on a few pounds

I wouldn't pick any HAL players for the friendly - I would continue looking at increasing our depth. The team will only have a week so a 24 hour flight and recovery time is problematic. It also preserves some integrity in the local competition and I think there may also be ACL matches around then. Ange also knows what they can do.

So out goes Galekovic, Spiranovic, Milligan, McKay, Antonis, Juric, Burns

Bresciano should also be left out for a home farewell friendly and of course Kruse will not be available.

In should come Federici, Wright, Good, Brilliante, De Silva, Bozanic, Amini, Babalj and the really contentious one McDonald. McDonald, is comfortable on the ball and can play either LAM, RAM, CAM, LW, RW or SS.

I know he hasn't scored for Australia - but he fits the Ange game plan of hard working front men, he is very comfortable on the ball and Ange had a lot of success with him at junior level.

Starting 11 : Ryan, Davidson, Sainsbury, Wilkinson, Franjic, Jedinak, Luongo, Amini, Troisi, Cahill and Leckie.
Leckie

Bench : Langerak, Federici, Behich, Wright, Good, Brilliante, Herd, De Silva, Bozanic, Oar, Babalj and
McDonald

Average age of the squad at touch over 25.

Wouldnt waste time with macca tbh.

I've been a proponent for McDonald in the NT virtually since he was last picked for it, but I think time might be against him now - a lot depends on where and how he lands at a new club, or even if he lands at a another new club....

Ivan may be in Australia. McDonald just got told to basically f off from Millwall. Has to be Taggart. James Demetriou ? probably not.

He got turfed from Millwall. Its over Im afraid.

Still probably a fraction early for Babalj unless he can hit the ground running at Zwolle. And still no Mooy ?

3 keepers seems a stretch for a friendly also

His contract was up in a few months and he was on big dollars. That said - he was getting good write-ups playing as an attacking mid in a team struggling to avoid relegation. The other thing in his favour is that like Wilkinson, Ange has known him for a long time and he never let Ange down.

Great find.

Edited by lebo_roo: 4/2/2015 12:47:12 AM

I couldnt see Ange leaving Juric out. For the reasons that he knows he is looking for a contract (so this could be some exposure) and to see how he performs against their defense. Cahill would not play 90 mins. It would be IMHO totally outragous to put SM on that pitch. Juric has earnt a go.

Edited by scott21: 4/2/2015 12:40:43 AM

Edited by lebo_roo: 4/2/2015 12:45:53 AM

Didn't know Scott was released by Millwall. Too early for A League? Scotland could be an option for him.

23 players is a stretch for a friendly - but I expect Ange to pick more than 23 and work more with the squad. 3 keepers just fits into that thought.

I was looking at no HAL players because Ange will want the full week to work with people and a 24 hour fight and recovery time cuts into that. It also allows to look at some fringe OS players while still keeping a strong squad. 10 of the first 11 were starting players some time in the Asian cup. The rest are there to push for selection and game time.

Ange knows the HAL and Mooy will get a shot.



Edited by patjennings: 4/2/2015 12:49:30 AM