my current team:

GK Ryan

RB Milligan
CB Degenek
CB Sainsbury
LB Behich

DM Jedinak
CM Mooy
CM Luongo

LW Rogic
RW Leckie
CF Juric

Rogic to roam. Having watched him again for Celtic last night, he's just as effective creating things from wide, and doesnt have the engine of Luongo against sides as strong as France, Denmark, Peru. Also prefer Mooy on the ball in playmaker role.
Milligan at right-back isnt ideal but i dont think theres any perfect solution there. Whoever it is will be a risk.

Other squad members something like: Vukovic, Jones, Wright, Jurman, Meredith/Gersbach, Chapman/Wilkinson, Irvine, Borello, Kruse, Arzani, Nabbout, Cahill

Whilst I have liked Wilkinson as a player and thought he should have been in our NT, I have seen things over the last month or so that suggests he shouldn't be there. It was again evident last night against the Jets. He seems to 3 or 4 times a game just kick the ball out when in position to play the ball further forward, or to a team-mate. One incident another player gave him a serve as he was free to have received a simple pass, but Wilko kicked the ball over the side line. It may not be much, but it goes to the thinking of the player and the pressure this puts on the team.  anyway, my 2 c.

Borello Left, Leckie on right. Wright has played RB at decent level against EPL squads.. we won't need a winger fullback in bvms system

yeah I think Leckie is wasted @ RB. There will be no RWB under BVM. Need him on those entry passes. He's hard to match up against, good in the air.

Mooy & Rogic on the pitch at the same time is something worth assessing from a counter attack standpoint. Who will be where, what will their role be other than defending

Some are primed A-League players , but what does that translate to @ National level?

You'd have to argue from a research point 'there's not enough data' to form any real conclusions. Because why, because we've had FOREIGN managers.

But based on limited data, mostly its translated to ineffective (Taggart, Maclaren, others...)

Again, I think we've shot ourselves in the foot if BVM doesn't consider domestic league for players. 

Well some in our top 30 are in the a league (petratos, nabbout, Arzani, De silva, taggart, McGree, oniell brilliante, Grant and ikon are all there abouts)  but most are overseas and coming into their prime over the next 4 years (leckie Irvine rogic Luongo mooy juric Wright borrello mabil Sainsbury ryan Dougall gersbach behich elder, Chapman, oar, ansell, jurman, ruka, golgol, McLaren Jedi Kruse Cahill milligan. Some of these will retire or decline) 

No need for apologies, I enjoy your posts, they are always well thought out and knowledgable. I was just making light of how passionate you are about the Arzani WC selection issue. Having watched the Joeys a fair bit lately I am optimistic that it wont be as long a wait for another Arzani type. I was really impressed with the Brook/Italiano/Roberts etc Joeys team from two years back. They were at a different technical level to many of the youth teams I've seen in the past.  

With Leckie and an ageing Kruse as our only options in the wing spots, its good to see the likes of Borrello, Mabil, Arzani, Ikon, Nabbout and Petratos are all coming along as handy wing options.

We need more depth in that area of the pitch i feel depending on the style of play, goals and the last pass is probably what we lack going forward. 

I'm going to guess that BVM will go for adaptive players who have some pace to exploit the transition, as well as being able to defend solidly as part of a unit. Since we are woefully inadequate in the striker department we need every other player possible to be some sort of goal threat. there is no room for any kind of passenger. we need goal threats desperately, as intelligent runs, and nice first touches won't win games. 

So, first choice for me on the wings would be:
RW:
Mathew Leckie: Picks himself really. He stood out all qualification, not just for his attack but his tireless defense. Has achieved more for country than for his club.
Brandon Borrello: Has really stood up and made a case for himself since moving to Germany. That last goal from 30 metres out is what we need as it is the sort of unexpected strike that can catch even the highest level goalie out. the fact that that goal was from the left is even better.

LW:
Robbie Kruse: Alright I find him annoying at times. However his runs have the potential to pull oppositions defenses out of shape, even if his crosses can at times be a bit random. Sure he falls over at times, and runs into blind corners, but he is a solid veteran who knows the team and recently has put in some great performances.
Nikita Rukavytsya: Scored 6 and 1 assist in the last 17. Has put in 15 goals from 45 appearances at Haifa. Can also play as a striker. Known for pace. Although to be honest I'm not sure of the level of the Israeli league

Daniel Arzani has great potential, but it hasn't delivered enough yet. 2 goals and 3 assists from 11 or 12 games is good. However these are the things i have against his choice. He is still very inexperienced, going to a world cup against veterans who have also a tonne of experience playing together through all sorts of qualifiers. He doesn't have this at all. He has a nice 1v1 game, but we have seen this only in the A League, a league notorious for giving space and players with poor 1v1 skills. Would Arzani still shine if he was in Bun.2? I'm not so sure, and at the World Cup he will be putting those skills against players playing at Barcelona and Bayern Munich... To those players those skills that seem great in the A league may seem very ordinary. So, is he a real goal threat otherwise? I don't believe so. His passing can be soft at times, as can his shot. 1 of those 2 goals scored was a penalty. Defensively and pace? Not impressing me yet. Maybe i'm being a bit harsh on him, and I really hope that BVM brings him to camp and proves me wrong in a massive way, I would be overjoyed. In a way I hope he spends another season at MC and then tries his hand in Japan or Europe, and becomes a real champion in the next campaign after he has got some more experience.

When your triple teamed its difficult to make an impact. Thats what Arzani does.. he scares defenses because he is tricky and unpredictable.. theres no one else in Oz like that bar Rogic and Mooy. Look at Citys first goal... Daniel pulls a CB way out of the backline because he thinks Daniel is about to get the ball... this is what we have been lacking in Oz football..I also think he doesn't get enough protection in the a-league compared to what he would in europe. 

I was curious about the balance of the 2006 squad. It had a few utility players which makes things tricky
3 gks
8 backs 
centerbacks: neill, moore, milligan, popovic, beauchamp
rightback: emerton wilkshire
left back: lazaridis (in reality chippers played here i think but was a winger at club)

DM: culina, grella, 
AM: Cahill, skoko, sterjovski

RW: Bresciano
LW: Kewell, Chipperfield
S: viduka, aloisi, kennedy, thompson

So including emerton and chipperfield meant that he felt safe taking less wide players. He also used kewell at CAM covering for the lack of mids (also i suppose milligan could play their but he was probably selected as a courtesy)
He actually took 4 strikers

Tim Cahill to win Socceroos selection despite playing just 18 minutes for Millwall

TIM Cahill will make the Socceroos squad for March friendlies despite his limited Millwall minutes.

New coach Bert van Marwijk will name his first squad on Tuesday for the Norway and Colombia friendlies later this month.

The preliminary squad of 29 players will feature a handful of new faces which will be trimmed to between 23-25 ahead of the double header in Oslo and London respectively.


Tim Cahill has played just 18 minutes in four games for Millwall.
Former Melbourne Victory winger Andrew Nabbout looks set to be rewarded for his stellar A-League form, ironically the day after his $500,000 transfer from Newcastle Jets to Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds was ratified.

This March window may have come a little too soon for Melbourne City winger Daniel Arzani, who has starred since breaking into the first XI two months ago, and in-form Newcastle Jets attacker Dimi Petratos – where the Socceroos enjoy a heap of depth.


Bert van Marwijk will pick his squad on Tuesday.
Dutch-based keeper Brad Jones is likely to be named, four years after last featuring for the Socceroos as a late sub in the 4-3 loss to Ecuador in London.

Keeper Mat Ryan inspired Brighton to a win over Arsenal and is expected to keep the No.1 shirt despite Jones’ stunning form for van Marwijk’s former side Feyenoord over the last 18 months, although there is now stiff competition for back up spots with Danny Vukovic in fine form for Belgians Genk. Mitch Langerak is the other option between the sticks after just starting his season with J-League side Nagoya Grampus.

Cahill on Sunday made his fourth substitute appearance for Millwall, coming on in the 88th minute in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

It’s taken Cahill’s tally to 18 minutes since joining the Championship club from Melbourne City, although he is bound to play more minutes as his fitness levels rise.


Brad Jones is set to earn selection.
The Lions have 11 games left in the Championship season and are safe from relegation, with a top six playoff berth an outside chance – they are eighth points behind sixth-place Bristol City.

Defender Trent Sainsbury, who just joined Swiss giants Grasshoppers Zurich, is unlikely to make it as he is still yet to take the field since groin surgery last November.

Attacker Tom Rogic has timed his run to perfection, producing a sterling performance in Celtic’s 3-0 Scottish Cup win.

CAHILL THE SUPER SUB

Tim Cahill’s 2017-18 club minutes

Club Starts Off-bench Minutes

Melbourne City 1 5 94

Millwall 0 4 18

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/socceroos/tim-cahill-to-win-socceroos-selection-despite-playing-just-18-minutes-for-millwall/news-story/849710476fefcea874bf6947b3bb9dd1

All this bs about Timmys game time is crap.

Unless some major thing happens injury wise, Timmy is looking at ca 15-40 mins in the combined group matches.

If we are still in it at the Peru game he may start and sub early.

Arzani- he was never going to shine against France and sign for Liverpool.

He doesn't need to. In fact, I don't even think he should play against France. The first match we batten down the hatches and ensure everybody on the park can defend well in their position. Any goal(s) that Australia might score are a bonus.

But he could well do a decent job against Denmark or Peru.

If BVM omits the only Australian (in a 23 man squad) who is capable of running at defenders with the ball closely under control, it will be an incredibly stupid decision. Who else do we have who can do that?

This March window may have come a little too soon for Melbourne City winger Daniel Arzani, who has starred since breaking into the first XI two months ago, and in-form Newcastle Jets attacker Dimi Petratos – where the Socceroos enjoy a heap of depth.

Heap of depth. What the hell is the writer smoking??

Many a game in the qualification campaign you could well be forgiven for thinking you were watching a Sunday league team try to score a goal.

I think Kruse and Leckie whipping in balls to Juric sounds more realistic.

Leckie can outpace players which is just as good if not better. Kruse drags down play for the teams advantage.

Can Arzani even shoot or head the ball?

None of those mentioned in the first two lines are decent at taking on their opponent 1 vs 1. Leckie is fast but hasn't got decent ball control. Whereas Arzani has both those things. It's the combination of speed and ball control which creates danger for defences. Don't get me wrong, all the blokes you mention are key Socceroos and BVM will need them in Russia. But there's a missing ingredient; 1 vs 1 ability at speed. You need a scalpel to make the incisions. Sledgehammers can only do so much

Arzani can most certainly shoot. In any event, even if he's not the best goalscorer on the park, his role is to break through defences. That still has immense attacking value as it frees us space so that his teammates get an easier shot.

That doesn't matter if the manager doesn't pick him. If it is true at all.

Kruse imo after missing last WC will be 1 of if not our best player in Russia.

https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/robbie-kruse-interview-australia-winger-uses-2014-heartache-as-fuel-in-bid-to-reach-russia-2018-1.663854

Arzani isn't ready and Doran got the team.

It is true, however. But in any case, don't forget our circumstances are rather unique. These unique circumstance will necessitate some some gutsy managerial calls.

We have a poor team with  lots of missing ingredients and a manager who has picked up the reins at the last minute. The manager will be (or should be) scrutinising the footballers at his disposal in camp. There it should be rather apparent that, in certain aspects of our attacking set-up Australia is truly shithouse but Arzani is good. From there, it shouldn't be difficult for BVM to work out how to get the most out of him. Far better teams than Australia scout Arzani type of footballers and use them in competitive matches. This is not dissimilar to a scouting type of decision. It just takes every so slightly lateral thinking and a gutsy call.

Of course Kruse will be there and will be important for us. But he is, nevertheless, a limited attacking footballer who is not overly adept in 1 vs 1 situations (at least on past performances). He'll tend just to knock it around his opponent and win a footrace. That's useful but doesn't break down defences nearly as well as clean beating the defender with one's close control, combined with speed. It would be patently ludicrous to leave out the only attacker who's good in that department.

And both Kruse and Arzani can be in the 23 man squad.

Arzani can’t last 60min against Victory ffs , I like the kid as a player but he won’t be ready for this World Cup and that is a fact .
Be better for his agents to stop building him up to be the next Maradonna and let him develop and enjoy his football .

Garb on Fox Football Podcast 
Brad Jones is in.
So its Langerak v Vukovic.
Plus Langerak made the Japanese Team of tbe Week. 2 starts in 2 games for Mitch.
Vukovic out.

Arzani has a very good shot. He seems to look more to get into passing and crossing positions so he doesn't shoot as often, but when he does he shows fantastic technique. Playmaking is more his strength. The pass he put on for Budzinski to score against Brisbane was the kind of pass most Socceroos midfielders can't play. Mooy is really the only one capable.

He's also created more goals than his 3 assists would suggest. In his first 4 or 5 games he was crucial to creating four goals but only one counted as an assist. His lack of fitness means he shouldn't start, but he does things no-one in the squad can do.

No Borello in the team

Probably better for his career to miss the friendlies but he has to be a real shot at the final squad if he keeps up his form

Yeah, I wonder what happens if some of those not there do something rather spectacular for their clubs while the friendlies are on. And BVM thinks he might just have made a mistake.

Meet the Italian midfielder who wants to play for the Socceroos

The 19-year-old - who has never lived in Australia - was raised in Italy, but has an Australian passport through his father, who hails from Perth, and has revealed an ambition to play for the green and gold.

Pennington has been on the books of Serie A club Cagliari since childhood, graduating from the youth club into the Under-19s two years ago. Since August he has been on loan to Serie C side Olbia Calcio 1905, where he has become a regular this season.

“I already have my Australian passport so I am eligible for the Socceroos, I would love to represent Australia,” Pennington told The World Game.

“If I got the call I would jump on it. Unfortunately I don’t get to see many A-League matches over here but I still follow it.

“These past few years it has been interesting to see big Italian players like Del Piero and Maccarone playing over there, and since the Italian international team is out of the World Cup I’ll be Australia’s number one fan.”

Born in Rome, Pennington and his family moved to Sardinia at the age of nine.

Selection shocks in van Marwijk's Socceroos squad

Daniel Arzani will have to wait but Andrew Nabbout, Dimi Petratos and Josh Brillante have all been named in Bert van Marwijk's preliminary 29-man Socceroos squad for this month's pre-World Cup friendlies.

“My dad was born in Perth and he grew up in the Darling Ranges,” he said.

“My dad’s family is English and we only have very distant relatives and old family friends living in Australia, my mother’s family is Italian.

“I started playing football in Rome with my older brother Stephen when I was three-years old and never stopped. Football was all around me so it was nearly impossible not to get into it, it’s Italy.”

Pennington, who can play as a box-to-box midfielder or more as a number 10, debuted for Olbia in October against US Pistoiese 1921.

He has racked up 19 appearances for the club, scoring his first goal in February in a 2-1 win over the Arancioni.

The blonde-haired midfielder said he is enjoying his time with I Bianchi.

“Olbia is a beautiful small city in the north-east of Sardinia,” Pennington said.

“It’s near the famous Costa Smeralda, which has really nice beaches and great food. The club is great, the team is very young and perfect for a young player like me to improve.

“This is my first year playing professional football, so obviously it’s a lot of hard work, but the club and the teammates have helped me a lot to settle in.”

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/03/06/meet-italian-midfielder-who-wants-play-socceroos

Hows it better for his career. Snaffled by this comment because all of the friendlies are played during a couple of weeks off of club competitions. 

Or does Bundi 2 keep going or something. So Kruse is like, fully alrighty then.. no problems.

Interesting.

I haven't seen much HAL lately. He looked okay in the second game of the ACL.

Relatively speaking compared to other positions.

Given Kruse's shocking goal conversion rate from games played, he is unlikely to improve at his age.

His greatest asset is his off the ball movement when the team has possession of the ball. At times without him and Leckie on the pitch, the Socceroos can look rather static in attack.