I would rather have Smith play RB.

Grant for some reason gets away with bad tackles, it seems almost every game.

Our WC qualifiers are too important. On the field with an Asian ref he will get sent off.

He is too sloppy.

NT I feel would be a step up too much for Grant. He's a sound club player that can get away from being out of position now and then for its not that punishing whereas against a more nimble skilful outside player he would get owned too often and you can't afford that too often at this level.
Gersbach must be improving having not seen how he is going at present and he has the speed and engine and Smith otherwise is the other to take the spot.
These 2 are best candidates maturing into good LB's for the future.

Grant may be  in fabulous form, who lacks the class for the bigger step up.

He is in excellent form though.

Comparatively Franjic may have the class, but he has only had  one really good game this year.

problem is that smith is playing much worse when he actually gets on the pitch.  we need to be playing a team that plays regularly at club otherwise we will be found out.  i would be taking grant who is in some good form - defenders always get blamed for every goal - over smith who is a role of the dice and is in shit form and not even playing regularly.

He definitely has the ability, but sometimes lacks the concentration, especially with the ball. A few times in the Shanghai game he carried the ball forward into their half only to turn down one or two passing options in favour of keeping the ball and then was dispossessed. He does things like that on a semi regular basis but if he cuts it out of his game he could be NT level.

this is where holger failed and failed horribly. taking names over players.  milligan has been great.  milligan has a right to go get some cash in the last few years of his career - especially after victory screwed him out of a chance at the premier league.  but fact is he is in semi retirement.  

we need squadies that are hungry and we are not short of midfielders in good form.  milligan is not needed.  we need squadies on the way up or still in the fight.

look at jedinak - he would have been offered squillions. but he took a hit went to the championship and is busting his nut week in week out in a league where you can actually assess where he is.  because he is hungry.  because he has ambition.  fkn jedinak wants to captain the team to the world cup and he doesnt want to be a soft option.  

mcgowan should be nowhere near the NT.

SFC defensive record is immense.  that is not from one player. the whole backline deserves a look in.

And yet Behich is getting more time at a higher level than all of them?

Except Jedinak isn't actually all that good

And the two screening midfielders, plus forwards like Brosque.

True.
If United's plight this season should teach people anything it's that the 4 defenders are really only a part of a defense that is made up of basically the entire team.

We have literally the same 4 defenders and goalkeeper who barely conceded a goal last season (after rd8). 

What we did lose was a striker in Djite whose workrate was phenomenal, the Jeggo/Mauk no.8 who would constantly be harrying and goodwin (whether in LW or LB) who knew when to stay and when to go.

Without a functioning midfield the defense is just facing waves of runners and it means they look like a rabble (not saying our defenders this year are blameless though that's for sure).

I think Milligan is a great player, and has been immense for Australia. However he is not a CB week in week out and he shouldn't even be in the mix for that position in the NT. I think that is one area that the national team is actually quite OK with. I'd personally go with Sainsbury and Wright/Wilkinson (depending on the opposition ... Wright offers a bit more speed, but Wilko is a good stalwart). I think Sainsbury and Wilko worked really well in the Asian Cup too ... Wilko likes to be the last man, which gave Sainsbury more options to play out from the back (he set up Lungo's goal in the final). Sainsbury is better on the ball than Jedinak, and in the Asian Cup Jedinak would drop to cover him if he pushed forward with a pass.

Milligan should definitely be in the squad, and given Jedinak's injury, he may even be the starting defensive mid for the next game. This is definitely his best position (or as a number 8 role ... however I'd say Mooy would be in pole position for that role). I get the impression that Irvine has been playing further forward this year ... so is he still a defensive midfield option??

RB is still a bit of an open position. I'd personally pick between Grant, Risdon and Franjic. Franjic is the only one who has shown that he can compete at that level (however Risdon's opportunities have been limited and Grant has had no opportunities).

LB for me should be either Gersbach's or Behich's. Smith is alright if we are playing weak sides, but he isn't good enough with his positioning at a higher level (from what I've seen). Zullo has looked good for Sydney too (Goodwin an option or better in a more advanced position - although he's been on the bench for Sparta of late so lost some form?).

Well said.

Franjic has really only had one outstanding game for City this season. He needs more at the same level.

Risdon is improving, but lacks sheer pace.

Grant's current form is excellent, but may lack the quality.

It's interesting, he plays at a pretty high level but never gets a chance, whats his right foot like? Could he play RB?

Thanks Enzo, I forgot about Behich, agree and has enough experience/maturity right now.

His right foot is ok for him to stand on, but not much else.

Maybe we need to cap Gethin Jones, if he wants to play for Aus that is

hasn't he played youth for Wales?

He was born in Australia and lived here til 12, so he'd still be able to play for Australia. They are only committed if they don't have dual heritage at the youth level (such as Adama Traore) or play a full international.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wales-everton-youngster-gethin-jones-12254481

just played a couple years in the epl because he was shit....

has sainsbury even played a game in 4 months?  how can you seriously have someone in the team that hasnt played a competitive game in 4 months?  i tell you how, holger.

Meh he fitted waht one coach of a mid-lower table straggler club wanted.

Unfortunately for him at the World Cup we need midfielders that can make a 5 metre pass.

Just because somebody competes or works at a high level in something it doesn't mean they're competent. There are pilots, investment bankers, economists, teachers, lawyers, doctors who are woefully incompetent. Hopefully not too many. But they're out there.

It's just because in Australia we have an absolute shortage of competent footballers and/or footballers plying their trade in good leagues, there's a circle jerk for every one that is in the Premier League (mea culpa, too). Just have a read of the Aussies Abroad. It's constant hope, absolute bias and excuse-making. Still the best thread on the forum. But what I'm saying is if you were from France, Germany or even England, you probably wouldn't have the attitude that there aren't shit footballers in those leagues.

With Jedinak, it's a similar story as Leckie. He is a niche footballer. He doesn't have a full skillset and is very poor in technique in many ways. What he does have is niche skills (from his physicality and work ethic) which have perfectly suited the style of football that his team has been playing.

Does that mean he should automatically be in the starting line-up for his NT? No. The skills aren't necessarily transferable. Should he be in the squad and some matchday squads. Yep. But he doesn't have the technical skills to fit in to every NT line-up. And certainly not when Aus play 4-3-3 with an offensive midfield triangle.

Jedinak is a go if we play 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 and he is screening the three central defenders and he is in close proximity to another CDM who has far better mobility, distribution and ball carrying skills in the way that Grella, Culina and Bresciano had. He needs to be alongside a decent regista or box-to-box midfielder type. Then we're using his muscle in the right way. Ain't nothing wrong with using muscle in football. But it needs to regulated. I.e. Ange mustn't ask too much of Jedinak. Unfortunately, unadulterated Angeball does just that.

Recipe for disaster.

Many have mentioned having 3 at the back and 2 wing backs. I was sceptical at first but saw Fürth and Frankfurt do this against Hannover resulting in 4:1 and 2:1 victories. One could describe it like a military pincer movement. Hannover were suffocated. 

It increasingly appears Australia will heed to switch formations. I'd say we could probably do something with Sainsbury Jedinak and Wright together and give Jedinak a bit of extra freedom. 

I really don't think Behich or Smith not having a right foot is a massive issue. Leckie would still be the best wing back option. He occupies a large amount of the Ingolstadt flank already. 

I still haven't found out where O'Neill has been playing for Oldham. He and Jones really need to be considered. We need to secure them as they'll obviously get better and I'd hate to lose them to other nations. 

At a recent  FFA Conference, it was advanced that 3 at the back is becoming a worldwide trend at times in games. Many teams will oscillate between 4 and 3 at the back within the four main moments in games.

Welcome to the forum.

A very good post mate and valid points.
Its all got to do with making the best what you have on the table - how do you get the best from xyz playing in this place and that place.
Where do I get the most effective yin and yang :)

I'd say playing Mooy as the box-to-box midfielder with Jedinak would work. Given that Ange likes to push both wing backs forward when attacking (so in essence we only have two centre backs in the defensive line) I'd say Jedinak is key in the formation to also drop back and act as another defender (when we attack). Milligan can play that box-to-box role too (Lungo plays it for QPR but I personally think he is better further forward).

I think your post highlights why you need to pick players that suit your team (i.e. don't put Milligan in CB or RB because you want him in the squad somewhere ... pick him to play in either the DM or number 8 role ... where he is best suited, if he is behind too many others in those role then omit him).

I personally think this is Behich continually is overlooked by Ange. He is playing at one of the highest levels of any of defenders but because his style doesn't fit with that of Ange's tactics he isn't being picked (I think Brad Jones is in a similar boat).

Would depend on how well Ange know Trent. If he knows how Trent trains, keeps himself during off-season etc. etc. then he would pick him ... as he is our best defender (strong on the ball, good positioning, speed, good in the air, great tackler). Those skills don't diminish with time off the game if he has kept himself up to speed during his off-season period. I wouldn't imagine he'd be on the Inter bench (given, they are huge in Italy) if the coach didn't think he was ready to step in if needed. This suggests that he is ready to play, but is an unknown / unproven in Serie A. He is not an unknown or unproven for the Socceroos.