@City Sam

Interesting opinion, and I do agree to an extent, especially when we’re playing nations weaker than us.

In general though I prefer the balance of 1 destroyer type on the field to compliment a deeper laying CM such as Mooy/Luongo/Irvine who can be more of a passer.

I don't really think a "proper DM" is that important these days. Much more important for them to be a capable passer and tempo setter for the team which we have in abundance rather than a destroyer type

Yeah a genuine concern. Probably most crucial position considering how much lack of quality in general we've had all over the park in the past.

Our strongest position with the most depth appears to be CM, but I’ve noticed we are really lacking any genuine DM options. We’ve had Jedinak and Milligan dominating that area of the park for so long that it hasn’t really been an issue in the past. 

Mooy, Irvine and Luongo can all play there but they aren’t DMs and aren’t really very effective in that position, especially if not partnered with someone in a ‘destroyer’ role. 

Other than Kenny Dougall, what genuine DM (not CM) options do we actually have?

From the Olyroos there’s Keanu Baccus and Brandon Wilson.

Otherwise... Legit no one haha 

For me:

Bailey Wright - He’s back playing every week now and captaining his side pushing for EPL promotion. Deserves a look for sure.

Aleksander Susnjar - Perhaps a controversial pick given he’s playing in K-League 2, but I can’t get his dominant Olyroo performances out of my mind. He was such a beast. He also appears to be in good form, making the K-League 2 TOTW quite regularly,

Fran Karacic - Surely the bloke deserves at least one game to see how he goes? Hopefully he’s been learning English since BVM cut him from the WC preliminary squad. 

Kenny Dougall - Was due to be called up to an earlier friendly pre Asian Cup but had to pull out injured. Would like to take a look at him as we need depth at DM with Jedinak retired and Milligan surely following soon. 

Adam Taggart - Performing at a high level in the K-League and is scoring goals. He’ll be in-season for this window too so is a no-brainer. 

Which other fringe players would we like to see called up? 

TWG reporting Brad Smith will be called up to the Socceroos friendlies against Korea and China, after a 2 year absence from the national team.

He’ll join Ryan Williams in the squad.

Good to see Arnie using friendlies to take a look at these fringe players. That’s what friendlies are for after all, and we may find some gems. 

watched a replay of leeds vs united in 2002 this morning... I wonder if we will ever produce a player at the level of those two ever again..

Karacic never misses a game for Lokomotiva. His English can't be that bad surely. Everyone on the planet speaks English these days.

who's in your 2nd team squad?  uncapped players or those that have at most played 1 or 2 games-ish for the NT??

when i think about it it's pretty much the U23's with a couple fringe roo's.

they took a risk like every player going to a new club. this isn't a game of participation awards. our NT can't be giving out feel good squad spots. earn it.

sainsbury deserves no favours. he went to china and fkd his own career. he has played world cup and asian cup football. boy needs to sit on the sidelines until he sorts his shit out.

it's not just a case of missing a few weeks. he has hardly played. and if mooy did the same, sure there would be some breaks given at first - much like sainsbury got - but after a while i would be saying exactly the same thing. because it is always crippling to the NT to have rusty out of touch players on the pitch.

Just realised I've totally forgotten Antonis. He's a class act and definitely comes into consideration.
I'll say it, our best 11 on paper will never be our best on the pitch. I think we need to mix it up to find the best team. 

In the days of Kewell and Viduka, Sterjovski contributed very highly pound for pound. Perhaps someone like Jeggo and Antonis would be a perfect match. Unfortunately we just don't have enough games to try it. 

How fit is Boyle after that season ending injury? Irvine and Luongo have had massive seasons. I think a lot of players will be going to Australia for a visit and somewhere hot elsewhere in the world in the off season so these matches in Asia should be a good stop before heading to Oz to visit family.

Would love to see Goodwin in there. I feel he's developed pretty well, enough to know what to expect from a game and do some good things around the box.

Jurman is another who could do ok in our next friendlies. I do wonder about Sainsbury and Behich not playing and how much that will effect there form in a match.

We've seen both Smith and Kruse go from elite level to amatuer in about the space of a few months. Just not in the right shape mentally or physically to be honest.

Ryan Vukovic Langerak

Grant Atkinson Sainsbury Degenek Wright Susnjar Smith Behich

Milligan Mooy Irvine Rogic Luongo McGree

Leckie Mabil Giannou Taggart Ikonomidis Williams

Bold are in for me. Atkinson, Wright, Luongo, Susnjar, Williams all don't know how they are going @ clubs. Davidson I have never liked (sorry Davo had a gr8 A-league but nup)

I guess Taggart is worth a spin again, but Boyle would take any of those front 3 spots. However, I do think Maclaren has proven more at a higher level over Taggart

Right now I would take Boyle and Gainnou over Maccas and Tags. 

Maclaren ? what's up with him haven't seen his name popup so I'll presume injured. Don't watch Melb City enough.

I liked how we brought Petratos and Borello into the mix a few NT games back. I think Borello is playing and Petratos has switched off a bit now he has nobody decent up front with him anymore. It's a shame how that unravelled so quickly @ Newy.

There would be others worth a gamble, Goodwin is another with enough credentials I feel. Maybe even done more than Behich this season.

All depends on what they're doing I guess to who gets into that frame

Milligan will have to announce his retirement before he stops getting picked I feel. McGree should be in the squad regardless of Milligan's situation.

Vukovic is getting even better. Whether he'll maintain the level for 3 more years is unknown. He's apparently amazing in training with the national team and is a very worthy number 2 for now. 

Not sure we should be picking milligan or Vukovic when they will have no chance of being at the the WC. late 30s...
Thomas should be the 3rd choice keeper now and a new Dm should come in.

So with the season end not too far away, our next squad should be due in around 5 weeks. Considering all injuries, form and fitness I'd select:

Ryan Vukovic Langerak

Grant Atkinson Sainsbury Degenek Wright Susnjar Davidson Behich

Milligan Mooy Irvine Rogic Luongo McGree 

Leckie Mabil Giannou Taggart Ikonomidis Williams

Gersbach appears to be out with something. Davidson, Smith or even Meredith could come in.

I'd like to see Susnjar again and his being based in Korea makes it a convenient thing to have another look. Wright has earned a return without a doubt.

I've included Ryan Williams but would probably expect Nabbout to also be there. Giannou and Taggart must be included while Mabil and Ikonomidis need to be persisted with.

Rogic and Luongo are both very important but they might like a rest. I'd welcome it if they're all raring to go in September. 

Ajax is a football farm and very few get through. Pasquali has done alright but they're extremely stringent on who gets through. He's made the right call. 

And replaced with their top young talent and other players with their millions they'll have to spend. Pasquali had no future at Ajax, none at all and would likely fall further down the pecking order with the next line of 16-17 year olds.

He has played in 9 games this season and doesn't even make the matchday squad half the time, it isn't like he is a regular. He is way out of the pecking order and Ajax losing 2-3 of their players won't change that.

Only academic anyway as Arnie's not about to drop his son-in-law.

but half the ajax squad will get signed in the off season..

More games = more money obviously. Cricket did the same thing by expanding the World Cup but they have concluded that watching UAE and Scotland play Cricket was hurting the tournament. FIFA are committed to 48 teams eventually so we have to get used to it. I'm just disappointed because it is likely the number of Socceroos games at the World Cup will reduce by 33%.

@bundoora I’m hearing you. Normally I would support what you are saying. 
All I’m saying is sainsbury and behich took a massive risk in going to PSV. It was a high risk and high reward. 
We don’t want to send the message of, be happy where you are and not try to better yourself. 

im not saying they have to be in the first XI at the moment for the Roos, but I think they need to be there. 

If Aaron mooy leaves Huddersfield and goes to Liverpool and doesn’t play every week will we not pick him for Socceroos squads? I don’t think so. 

If aaron mooy leaves Huddersfield and goes to al-hilal (for example) and doesn’t play then yea, bye bye. 

yes you can. every time we start relying on players who are not playing at their club we go to shit.  always the same.

the lack of competitive game time is always obvious and a weakness in our team.  we cannot reward mediocrity or rely on how good a player was

im a big sains and behich fan. probably one of the more vocal forumites supporting them over the years and calling for their inclusion - way before the made the squad permanently..  but they cannot be in current squads.

the expansions are bullshit.  just compromising the entire competition so that 1) china's money can be involved 2)the saudi's money can "share" (steal) the extra games at qatar.

there are no other real reasons. it's purely more corruption and politics by fifa.

You can’t drop sainsbury and behich for lack of playing time. If a guy goes to a world class club and has a crack and doesn’t succeed then you can’t penalise him for that. 
If he goes to somewhere shit and doesn’t play then yea punish him. 

I'd go something like this for 23 man squad:

Ryan
Vukovic
Langerak
Degenek
Milligan
Wright
Jurman
Grant
Karacic
Smith
Gersbach
Mooy
Luongo
Amini
Irvine
Rogic
McGree
Mabil
Leckie
Ikonomidis
Borello
Taggart
Nabbout

Sainsbury and Behich dropped due to lack of playing time.

I agree that an expansion announcement would need to spell out the revised qualification arrangements for all confederations, presumably these would be publicised in the weeks beforehand.

The hosts of the 2023 Asian Cup - China or South Korea - will also be announced on June 4.

An initial World Cup qualification draw (combined with Asian Cup qualification for AFC) is likely right after after July FIFA rankings are released on 25 July.