Most likely Uzbek, UAE then SK.

I would say that you couldn't play Isaias and Milligan in the same team. If Milligan was injured for a game, I'd probably look at including Isaias (esp. given Luongo's form at the Asian Cup), but both play a similar deep role so you'd need someone with a bit more run beside Milligan IMO. Isaias does have a couple of years on Milligan though ... so interesting proposition (Milligan was talking about calling it quits after the recent WC too).

I think Arnie would go for Mooy, Jeggo, Irvine, Amini or Luongo across that role if Milligan was out though. Isaias is fully deserving of a run though based on his performances over many years, and he would have the best passing game of any of our options (beside Mooy on his day).

I can't see any March friendlies being sorted. We'll either be after a new manager or will suffer from poor FFA planning. Practice games are important but I feel our players will need a break after another 8 weeks at club level after this tournament. 

FFA better sort out 2 games in March. Vietnam would be great

I think Arnold will be happy to have some players back in 12 months or so, specifically, Arzani and Boyle.

But I think he is looking far too casual in his job at the moment. I think his lackadaisical attitude will shoot this 4 year cycle in the foot.

Would not be surprised if the next 4 years of football is heavily A-League specific and a little less conquer the world (cup) type attitude.

He looks casual?? Have you seen his jacket?

WC qualifiers in September or October i imagine.

When are the FIFA windows for friendlies? I’m having more trouble finding then online than I would have thought...

And WCQs don’t start until later in the year right?

This could be our longest ever Socceroos break in the 4-year cycle?

March is the next one
https://img.fifa.com/image/upload/jt0d6qoqwqwbp5sbofoc.pdf

Hopefully by the end of the year, although might be to early coming back from injury for some.

(Ryan/Vukovic/Langerak)
(Grant/Deng)-----(Sainsbury)-----(Degenek/Chapman)-----(Behich/Gersbach)
(Isaias/Irvine)-----(Mooy/Dougall/Jeggo)
(Leckie/Arzani)-----(Rogic/Petratos)-----(Mabil/Ikonomidis)
(Boyle/Borello)

A few other guys around but are under a long term injury cloud.

Out with...
Jurman
Risdon
Milligan
Luongo
Amini
Kruse
Nabbout
Maclaren
Giannou

It appears the world cup calendar still isn't out due to the considerations of a 48 team tournament. It'd change the qualifying structure a bit I think. 

Our only hope of qualifying for the world cup at this rate

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)#First_round

First round in June for 12 lowest ranked AFC teams, then 2nd round qualifiers start in September which will include us.
But yes, a very long break for us between competitive matches. We need to experiment with the squad with as many friendlies as possible. 
I fear a round 2 exit. Only the winners of the group and 4 best second placed teams go through to 3rd round. If we got unlucky in the draw we could face some rapidly improving mid tier teams like Vietnam and kryzgstan. 

We should be playing an experimental side with fringe players during the next FIFA break. Get in young players mostly and give them a shot and see what they will do. I am not going to pick the best squad for this but something like,

GK: Not sure who to pick here, Ryan is first pick and the young keeper for the future.
RB: Atkinson, Strain
LB: Gersbach, ??? Smith or Elder or Galloway.
CB: Deng, Susnjar, Delbridge, Burgess
DM/CM/AM: Jeggo, Dougall, Chapman, Antonis, Hrustic
W: Mabil, Ikonomidis, Ryan Williams, Goodwin, Borrello if fit, Wales perhaps
F: Taggart, Mebrahtu

Test_fan.
Thank god you don’t select Socceroo squads

Delbridge shouldn't even be starting in the A League let alone in the Australian squad

Come on guys, it was the concept of trying new players, not the specific players that mattered. I said in the post that I wasn't going to pick the best squad for the idea, it was just an example.

This is something I wish we could do more. AFC nations tend to play matches outside windows too. It'd be tough with the A League on but even UEFA sides such as Romania and Finland put together complete domestic sides when possible. It'd be a good insight. Surely we can get on the phone to Singapore or Indonesia for a game. 

Yes we should be doing more of this particularly with the short A league season. Helps pump up our A league players resumes too with international caps and gets them playing at a higher level of competition. Win win all round. Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Phillipines, Malaysia or Indonesia all suitable opponents   

If ya talking young players, Iike u23 socceroos (97' and younger)

Going to look something like...

------------------------Margush(97)--------------------------
--------------Deng(97)------------Rowles(98)---------------
Strain(97)--------------------------------------Gersbach(97)
--------------Wilson(97)---------Genreau(99)---------------
Buhagiar(98)---------Mcgree(98)--------------Arzani(99)
--------------------------Folami(99)---------------------------

---------------------------Glover(97)---------------------------
----------Kotroumbis(98)---------Ouzonidis(99)-----------
Atkinson(99)--------------------------------------Otoole(97)
--------------Pasquali(99)----------Oneill(98)-----------------
Wales(97)-------------DeSilva(97)--------Champness(97)
------------------------Blackwood(98)-------------------------

We should organise a home based vs overseas based friendly IMO

I was thinking more younger fringe players but players who will be young enough to play in the next world cup so not strictly under 23. 

I agree with those suggesting Isaias should be brought into a camp. This doesn't preclude also taking a look at younger players, I just think he is worth a look, especially if Milligan retires or is injured and noting how poor Luongo's form has been for a while now.

We should pick squads of young A League players and play friendlies against Oceania sides.

But we surely don't need aging players like Isaias.

@local star, it’s not a binary choice. It doesn’t need to be one or the other. You can have a youth policy but have a few older players in a squad to bring in experience and mentoring.

People have to get used to the fact,we no longer have a huge gap in ability from what used to be lower ranked asian teams.
In Qualifying it's going to be closer than ever and there are no longer guarantees of we play at our best we will,get through.
One thing is for sure ,if we play the same style as othe asian teams ,we dont have the finishing ability to win much.
We will be like the JA coached team.
We didnt play that badly,but we are jist not playing as tyle and with quality to score goals.Hence lots of draws.
South Korea ,with all their ability also failed.

Not many easy games any more.Especially away from home.

ffa seem pretty last minute with all their NT fixtures

Need some football brains in mgt. Gallop is well overdue and needs to leave. Also, these stupid AFL CEOs need to become a thing of the past IMO. 

Doubt if a recently naturalised European will ever be given a Socceroos leadership gig. And we could do without his histrionics, face pulling and endless debates with referees.

@localstar, it’s been done before. You might not know of Milan Ivanovic. And our national side was no weaker back then in the 1990s, and arguably this current side is deteriorating to such an extent we will end up much worse. Anyway, I am not totally wedded to the idea of Isaias, I just think we are so bloody weak right now we should be open to all options, old and foreign or young and born here. We keep waiting for that next golden generation, thinking it’s just around the corner and the next crop of 15 year olds is full of Vidukas, Kewells, Brescianos, Cahills and Aloisis, but maybe they’re not coming for quite some time. In the meantime, while FFA get their house in order, and create a decent national competition and legitimate youth pathways, we need to take the talent from wherever it exists.