I posted this in the AA thread give some insight into the season our players have had.

End of season stats for AA in contention for the socceroos:
Europe
* Gol-Gol Mebrahtu (Czeck Dv1): 26 GP 10 Goals 1 Assists - Half of his games played seem to be as a CF with the other half at SS or RW could provide solid versatility in Anges new 3-2-4-1 formation
*Tomi Juric (Swiss Super League): 35 GP 11 Goals 5 Assists + a penalty won but not converted - Appeared to be playing as a SS in a few of the matches with the CF contributing most of the teams goals this season team was playing the same formation as Anges 3-2-4-1 for much of the season. Team qualified for Europa league qualifiers
*Tom Rogic (SPL): 37 GP 12 Goals 6 Assists - Missed 10 or so games through injury but back in form with the Cup winner on the weekend
*Craig Goodwin (Eredevise): 30GP 4 Goals 6 Assists- Started only 1/4 of all games he played in so a decent return considering.
*Mat Leckie (Bundesliga) 32 GP 0 Goals 3 Assists - Statistically rated one of the best in his teams despite a lack of goals RWB for the Roos is easily his best position
*Aaron Mooy (ELC) 50 GP 4 Goals 10 Assists - Very impressive considering he was a DM for roughly 40 of his games over 100 chances created also
*Jackson Irvine (ELC) 44 GP 10 Goals 0 Assists - Player of the year for his club appeared to play a lot of box to box midfield often with the team playing 3 at the back in an Ange type formation. Swansea had some reported interest in him I feel he could start there and would only take a contract as a starter or their about anyway
*Mass Luongo (ELC) 38 GP 1 Goal 3 Assists - Half of his games spent as a DM often in a 3 at the back set up.
* Jedi (ELC) 35 GP 0 Goals 2 Assists - Villas winning % triples when he is in the team 
*James Jeggo (Austrian Bundesliga) 35 GP 0 goals 2 Assists - Playing as a CM in a 4-2-3-1 formation team has made Europa qualifiers 
*Amini (Danish Super Liga) 39 GP 5 goals 3 Assists - Playing box to Box in a 4-1-4-1 set up for the most part
*Milos Degenek (Bundesliga 2 and J league) 22 GP Combined 0 goals 1 Assist - Seems to be doing well in Japan with 12 consecutive starts at CB could see him dominating with his height of the smaller players as Kennedy did
*Kenny Doughall (Erdedevise) 22 GP 1 Goal 1 Assist - Moved from playing left back all of last year to splitting his time between DM and CM this season. Appears to have decent passing accuracy around 80% from who scored could make a good left sided stopper in our back 3 midfield depth I think is to strong for him to break into.
*Jason Davidson (Eredevise) 22 GP 0 Goals 3 Assists - Now at EPL club Huddersfield after the end of his loan will be interesting to see what they do with him had a decent loan season in Holland but Hudders starting Fullback racked up 40 odd games and had half a dozen assists. His versatility capable of playing DM/CB/LB will likely see him get a regular bench spot at the least if he stays at Hudders.  
*Aziz Behich (Turkish Super Lig) 33 GP 0 Goals 2 Assists - Gets a decent rating on who scored in the top 3 in his team. New formation for the National team would suite him. Hard to ignore the level he is at and the minutes he is getting. Could overtake other contenders next season purely on game time in a position which places high importance on match fitness.
*Brad Smith (EPL) 8 GP 0 Goals 0 Assists - No starts since February no full games either crazy selection given the high number of alternatives getting game time. Him on the bench as a back up is great for his club but terrible for himself. Would be great on the continent imo not sure he will be allowed to be loaned out though.
*Alex Gerbasch (Norway 1st Division) 10 GP 0 Goals 0 Assists- Season started only this year but he has missed 6 out of the last 7 as Rosenberg has got a new LB similar age who appears to be the new nm 1. 
*Mitch Langerack (Bundesliga 2) 36 GP 9 Clean Sheets- 
*Mat Ryan (Belgium) 26 GP 11 clean Sheets
Asian Based Players
*Korean K league: Couldn't get accurate information but it seems after starting the first few games Jovanovic, Mercela and Jurman are playing most games for their respective clubs
*J- League: - Nathan Burns: 7GP 0 Goals 1 Assist. Was good last season when given minutes 2 goals and 5 Assists but almost completely frozen out now. 
-Oliver Bozanic: 11 GP 1 Goal 0 Assists 
-Mitchelll Duke: 17 GP 1 Goal 1 Assist. Most full 90 minute games in coming in the cup 
*China: - Robbie Kruse 3 GP 0 Goals 3 Assists. 3 assists in as many game suggest he still has ability although next to no fitness hopefully back to Germany ASAP 
-Gianou: 2 GP 0 Goals 0 Assits. Over 10 games not even in the squad a return to Greece would be his best bet
-Ryan Mcgowan: 10 GP 0 Goals 0 Assists 
-James Holland 1 GP 0 Goals 0 Assists. Was playing in the champions league just a few seasons back massive waste.
- Spira 0GP Still out injured not sure on the ETA but his team could get relegated again has spent near a decade now chasing fat pay cheque after pay cheque his position does not have much depth but we really need one season out of him where he puts football before money. 
*UAE - Milligan 22 GP 2 Goals 1 Assist. If he played any other position he may be able to get away with such a poor quality league. But with Irvine (Player of the year for his club), Luongo (who scored MOM regularly), Jeggo (playing in Europe next season), Amini (Danish regular), Doughall, Captain Jedi plus the talent at AM in Rogic, Troisi, Mooy its hard to see him lasting much longer in a heavily inferior competition.

A league players going abroad next season or likely too: 
*James Troisi  26GP 6 Goals 7 Assists: - Stand out Aussie A league player linked to the EPL with Brighton a good move if it happens
*Rhyan Grant 27GP 3 Goals 6 Assists - Best fullback in the league by far may get some offers over the next month
*Dylan McGowan 32 GP 5 Goals 0 assists - His new team in Portugal heavily favors ball playing defenders he seems to have a decent all round skill set and was solid for Adelaide his passing was above 80% completion
*J Mac 34 GP 23 Goals 2 Assists - Excellent season almost average a goal or assist per game in the A league best record all time in that regard behind only Bes and Fanarolli

Excellent write up. Thanks!

yes fantastic writeup thankyou

Ipswich club official on World Cup mission for Australia

sport
Western Pride technical director Gabor Ganczer Western Pride technical director Gabor Ganczer
WESTERN Pride technical director Gabor Ganczer has received an international call-up by the Socceroos to scout World Cup opponents Japan ahead of August's crunch World Cup qualifier.

Ganczer is in Tehran, Iran, to analyse Japan's performance in Tuesday's football match against Iraq.

Australia sits third on the World Cup qualifying ladder behind Japan and second placed Saudi Arabia with only goal difference separating the three rival nations.

With the Socceroos still to play away in Japan, the FFA's national technical director Eric Abrams and technical analyst Peter Cklamovski have called upon Ganczer to provide intelligence on their upcoming opponents.

Ganczer said it was an honour to assist the national team.

"I've held Eric and Peter in high esteem since we have spent a lot of time together in 2015 and 2016 at the AFC Pro Diploma coaching course," Ganczer said.

"I am glad they recognised that my skills can be utilised at the highest level of football."

Ganczer is no stranger to World Cup qualifying having previously worked with then Hungary coach Lothar Matthaus - a World Cup winning player with Germany - during qualifiers between 2004 and 2006.

The Australian-Hungarian dual national also scouted for Debrecen during their 2009 UEFA Champions League campaign.

He most recently served as the Brisbane Roar's technical analyst during the latest A-League season.

Ganczer said he loved the pressure of international football and couldn't wait for the challenge of helping Australia qualify for their fourth successive World Cup finals.

"It is needless to say how crucial August's game against Japan will be for the Socceroos to secure our place at the World Cup in Russia," Ganzcer said.

"I will do my best to dissect Japan's game to find any possible vulnerability to provide the most accurate information to Ange Postecoglou's staff."

The Springfield Lake's resident has been Pride's technical director for almost two years since moving from rivals Brisbane Olympic.

Ganczer holds a UEFA A Licence.

He will face his final assessment in July to secure the highest possible coaching qualification, the AFC Pro Diploma.

As technical director, Ganczer oversees all facets of junior coaching at Pride.

Last year, he coached the club's under-16 boys team to a best third-place finish on the National Premier Leagues table.

Graduates from Ganczer's under-16 team have moved to the senior program with the under-18s this season.

The Pride under 18s currently top the table at the halfway stage of the season.
https://m.qt.com.au/news/ipswich-club-official-on-world-cup-mission-for-aus/3188306/

Good to see we're getting some insight. I suppose we might have always done this bur this seems very proactive. 

Iran have qualified for Russia. They haven't conceded a goal all campaign. I wonder how we'd have gone in this group? We blown too many opportunities. 

I think we would have been in the second pot for that to happen.

So us and Iran and Japan and Korea in the other. I think it would have been easier for us because you can pretty much rely on Iran beating everyone else in the group but beat them at home.

I think we would be second outright if we substituted with Korea in that group. Those teams aren't much chop.

Good point. Iran would have done more of the work as SK haven't been too good. I think China would be tough in general. Syria away was waterlogged for Iran for a 0:0. Qatar would have been easy enough while we might, but I hope not, play Uzbekistan and put the theory to the test. 

Jedinak ruled out of the next set of matches with a groin complaint. Not the worst thing to happen. Excited to see how we play in attack without him. We will miss his leadership though. I hope this doesn't mean Cahill gets more time though. 

He's out of the whole Confed Cup

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/mile-jedinak-ruled-out-of-confederations-cup-20170612-gwps4d.html

Despite his limitations, losing your captain on the eve of a tournament is a massive blow. Surely a three man midfield now.

As i said in another thread i think Jedinak's time for the national team needs to be limited for when we play opposition that we expect to dominate us with their possession. The big fella doesn't offer enough going forward for a possession based style like Ange wants to play.

I fear the confeds may have been his last big tournament as i really have my doubts he was going to make it to Russia with his legs failing him.

This also makes Milligan's next move really important for the national team. We're going to need him at his best if he is to play in either the holding role or ideally replace either Degenek or McGowan from that abysmal defensive performance the other night

Bang on the money, NS.

To be honest, Milligan and Jedi are peas out of the same pod.

Not really? Milligan is far more of a box-to-box midfielder type of player, whereas Jedinak has been exclusively a defensive lynch pin for his entire career. Might play in similar areas on the pitch, but two vastly different skillsets.

Pretty marginal, Milligan is more in the defensive mould, I mean seriously, he's hardly a world class midfielder is he?

Agree

Who said that Milligan was a world class midfielder? I was merely correcting your assertion that Milligan and Jedinak are 'peas from the same pod' when they've been proven to play different styles for the entirety of their careers - there was no discussion about the world class qualities of either player haha

Mr Football's new trolling method is saying "he's not world class" about Aussie players even when nobody claims they are. Not the first thread he's tried this.

Probably learned the term "world class" in AFL community discussion while they were desperately finding ways to declare the 95k grapes at the MCG as sour.

agree aslo

Fantastic. 30 years too late

Dunno if he's world class but he's a f*%king gun anyway! Has been our best player IMO in the period since 2013. Does everything, not a fault in his game in his position. As Decentric points out his ballwinning ability is elite and then his ability to receive a ball with perfect technique either side of the body then very quickly play a penetrating pass forward off either foot is very impressive. Only ever seen him play 2 bad matches - the one where he got played RB and the other one was against Greece last yr. Nearly every other game he's started in this period he's been close to our best. Gun, my favourite socceroo. 

There were quite a few positives from having a look at the Brazil game for a second time. From watching it live with the second half fresh in my mind, some of the better things were blurred. It was depressing. I'd encourage others to have a second look.


*At half time there were 8 balls from Brazil into the penalty box, 5 from Australia. Each team had 3 shots each at goal.

* The Oz starting eleven stayed on until 57 minutes - and did okay. The second goal was conceded at the 61 minute mark. The subs contributed to the team losing shape. All the latter three goals were conceded with the subs on. The starting eleven did okay.

* At half time, given Australia only had 38% possession, they defended quite well with Ange's voodoo formation spending so much time without the ball. Apart from Wright's initial mistake, the starting line up denied Brazil for 56 minutes whilst spending a lot of time without the ball. This bodes well for the Confed Cup.

* Behich and Milligan are both playing better at the moment than the injured Smith and Jedi, who won't be missed much. Behich has improved immeasurably  after a solid season in Turkey. He is a more physical ball winner than he was. I can't believe Ange doesn't see  Jedi and Smith's current limitations. Jedi needs to play as a CB if Ange wants his leadership. Smith needs to play a lot more football and develop his technique in confined spaces.

* Degenek had quite a good game.

* Sains and Kruse are doing okay in international football, but need to sort their club careers out - soon. Kruse could do with a coach who would make him improve his defensive qualities - like Popa.

*I could add Luongo as well to sort out his club career. He improved as the game went on. He should move from England to Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, Holland, or Denmark.

His skill set is better for the Socceroos than current 442 poster boy, Jackson Irvine, who had some awful first touches and is too cumbersome on his feet to play at the handling speed the Socceroos require. Irvine was also culpable for a goal being beaten in a 1v1 heading duel against Luiz. Troisi's technique also wasn't good enough against such a quality team as Brazil. These issues of the Championship as a place to develop international footballers continues to arise. Mooy and Wright may be gaining most benefit.

* Hrustic and Dylan Mac struggled when they went on against such high calibre opposition, but they improved.

* Like Cahill, MacLaren barely touched the ball, but forced the defence to hurry with more aggressive closing down of space.

* Langerak is a better shot stopper, whilst Ryan is a better sweeper.

* I wish I could get Kruse under the tutelage of my weight training trainer, who is a second ranked powerlifter in Oz. He'd have Kruse looking like a gorilla after about 6 months. Then  he could start flattening and outmuscling all the opposition defenders who have been bullying him for years!

* What has happened to Spira? He is needed.


Ange may be able to improve the Socceroos a lot with some time in camp for the Confed Cup, like he did in the Asian Cup and World Cup. I still hate his midfield square box, where the left and right DMs play too many straight balls to the left and right AMs.

I might have missed some of his posts, but if Pippinnu is Mr Football, he contributes a lot of points worth discussion these days.

Mr Football tried to turn everything into how good AFL is and was annoying. 

For the Socceroos Milligan has been the most consistent player for the last four years.

Despite where he plays his club football he delivers the goods on the national stage. He is good at winning the ball, and, distributing it. He has good vision and game sense. He was missed against Saudi.

Great info, Link.

Thanks.

Behich's recent performances with the Socceroos have demonstrated he is a much better footballer than Smith ATM, being the beneficiary of playing a solid season in a good league. Smith is a better athlete.

Davidson moving back to England is a disaster. Every move from the Continent to England has proved detrimental to the Socceroos in the last 5 years or so - Davo, Holman, Oar. Further back add Carle and Carney.

Thanks for clarifying Spira's scenario, Link.

Milligan, Mooy, Sainsbury & Rogic should be the first players picked every game.

Don't be fooled Decentric, he has great football knowledge, mainly thru google, but it's AFL first, 2nd & 3rd for him.

Based on national team performances, I agree.

Milligan needs to sort a club out for this season and so does Sains.

I have not had a really close look a him, with lots of slow replays compiling stats, but Behich appears to have improved considerably. If he gets an extended run, he could be another first on the team sheet. Ditto Juric. 

Other than Leckie, Behich is a regular outfielder playing in the highest quality league of any Aussie. The Turkish league may be a bit better than the Eredivisie and Swiss league, I'm not sure? Importantly, Behich is transferring his club form to international football. 

Without wanting to derail, AFL fanatics annoy me no end. This includes most of my friends off forum. They travel the world refusing to recognise how popular football is.