Bert's Hilarious Welcome Back For Maclaren, Mooy's Headache

29 May 2018, 05:00 AM

By David Weiner in Antalya, Turkey
Sports Editor
Jamie Maclaren was enjoying the sun by the water on holidays when the call suddenly came.He was in.Next thing he knew, he was aiming at a mini-goal in Antalya, Turkey, before crashing into it and knocking it over. Cheers for that, Milos Degenek!If his legs weren’t heavy enough already from a first outing back in green and gold, the 24-year-old was down on his haunches momentarily, gathering his breath and recovering, when Bert van Marwijk chimed in with a gem.“You going home already, Jamie?”

Hell, no. The former A-League Golden Boot was up and in amongst the action before long, making darting runs in behind, trying to make a good first impression.

The joke, in truth, is a glimpse into the demeanour of the coaching staff here in Antalya. Amidst the competitive tension and fierce intensity is a warm rapport with the players developing on the park, encouraging a good atmosphere in the squad.

There were a few more talking points than usual on Monday after a day off, as Maclaren jetted in. Tom Rogic was on deck for his first session, Mark Milligan trained fully after a scare on Saturday when he went off with a concern over his groin, Tomi Juric remained on his own training with the conditioning staff while Aaron Mooy completed arguably his sharpest session yet, but now needs to go have a wisdom tooth out after feeling some pain earlier in the week.

But all eyes were on the new ‘No.30’ in the squad.

After the outcry that Australia’s most prolific goal scorer from 2018 at club level was omitted from the World Cup training squad, the Hibernian FC marksman got a Socceroos lifeline with doubts over Tomi Juric’s knee. Juric came into the camp hoping to build up to full fitness after a few injury struggles, but after completing his first session with the team on Thursday, he has not re-joined them since.

“They might have legitimate concerns that maybe Tomi won’t be fit for the World Cup,” said Optus Sport pundit Mark Schwarzer, who believes Maclaren should have always been in the squad, because he offers a point of difference and isn’t a direct competitor with Juric for a No.9 berth.

“But on the other hand, the manager might think I’m going to give him a psychological kick there, bring in Jamie Maclaren, keep him on his toes, and say to Tomi ‘if you’re not fit, this guy is going to take your spot. We’re talking about the World Cup here’.”

Maclaren was thrown right in the deep end, arriving on Sunday before a full blooded session in the midday Mediterranean heat.

The sun was stronger than before, and the players arrived straight from the gym, the first time they’ve put the two types of sessions together back-to-back like this.

Again, there was an emphasis on quick passing in the technical drills – incorporating using width and playing forward rapidly and sharply. Mark van Bommel was in the thick of the action as the side worked in a dynamic exercise with eight players keeping the ball with three in the middle.

Touch. Touch. Touch. Move. Move. Move.

Trust. Communicate.

Don’t stand still! Van Bommel would be onto anyone in a flash if they did. 

Mark Monday 28^th down as the first session for the Australians focusing on tactics on the ball in a full field setting, starting work on a transition to cash in on the speed and power of the likes of Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Andrew Nabbout. With Mooy ticking the tempo along in the middle of the park, van Bommel had a spring in his step at the Premier League star’s sweeping switches of play, opening up the field, moving the chess pieces around.

Van Marwijk and his staff don’t want the Australians suffering on the ball - this is a risk averse game plan. Mat Ryan had to pump the ball out at one point, and was applauded. But, so too were players for one touch, incisive passing; where the Socceroos can move the ball quickly, on the turf, and with less touches, they’ll be encouraged to do it.

Will it end at the feet of Juric, Nabbout, Cahihill or even Maclaren? The coming days will sort that out. 

https://www.optus.com.au/for-you/entertainment/hype-2018-world-cup/maclaren-brutal-welcome-back-to-socceroos-mooy-wisdom-teeth1

Thank God for that - sometimes, the best option is to simply hoof it over the defence.

What is this pragmatism that Bert is instilling. This goes against the Australian way of playing out from the back at all costs which has been etched into our football culture.

There's another thing in Optus Sports from David Weiner (published 29 May, 2018)

https://www.optus.com.au/for-you/entertainment/hype-2018-world-cup/lessons-from-the-opening-week-of-socceroos-camp

Not overly encouraging about Arzani. He suggests the skillful bit of play that went 'viral' (because of Optus) is the exception and he has a bit of work to do to be in the 23.

Nabbout appears to be a cert, according to Weiner. But if Arzani is left out I'll be fuming given how crap we are. Nevermind about age. Australia is truly crap so we gotta bring Arzani.

It's back to the future for Milligan under van Marwijk

Mark Milligan to play exclusively as Centre Back.

Not a great surprise given the relative depth at each position.

He's in the squad at the moment. If he doesn't stay in it, that's purely a result of how he's trained.

-----------------------------------(GK)Ryan/Jones/Vukovic--------------------------------
----------------(CB)Sainsbury/Degenek---------(CB)Milligan/Jurman----------------
(RB)Karacic/Risdon-----------------------------------------------(LB)Behich/Meredith
-------------------------(DM)Jedinak/Luongo/Irvine/Brillante--------------------------
(RW)Leckie/Arzani---(AM)Mooy/Rogic/Troisi---(LW)Kruse/Petratos/Rukavytsa
----------------------------(S)Juric/Maclaren/Cahill/Nabbout----------------------------


1 of Risdon or Brillante cut
2 of Petratos, Arzani, Rukavytsa or Troisi cut
1 of Juric, Nabbout, Maclaren cut

4231 makes it hard for JMac, as he might just be ScottyMac all over again. Don't think Troisis or Brilliante are up to scratch, and can also see Risdon getting dropped. He was good in the first half against Columbia, but he was a traffic cone in the second. the trouble is though that if he goes then there is no one but Karacic to play at RB, and to be honest I have no idea if he is any good. I know Cahill is a legend, but I can't find anywhere when the last time he scored was and if the emphasis is team shape and defense and whole and fast transition and movement i think father time might have caught up with him. Milligan at CB could work, or he could have a lapse, the last 6 months haven't been his best.. 

yeah i agree.  but it's really the coach that needs to work with what he has got though.  that's the name of the game in NT football.

Thanks for posting this link.  Loads of other stories and good information on the page.

Id wager Bert would knock if Arzani is actually up to make a difference better than any armchair critic. For all his fancy cross overs he still lacks actual end product. If hes done that in the camp and Bert things he can make a difference fine but hes very much the new shiny thing in Australian football and it says a lot about the state of the game that everyone is putting all their hope into an incredibly raw 19 year old. 

27 May 2018: Caltex Socceroos portrait session at the Gloria Football Club in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
26-man Socceroos squad:
1. Mat Ryan (GK)
2. Milos Degenek
3. James Meredith
4. Tim Cahill
5. Mark Milligan
6. Matthew Jurman
7. Mathew Leckie
9. Tomi Juric
10. Robbie Kruse
11. Andrew Nabbout
12. Brad Jones (GK)
13. Aaron Mooy
14. James Troisi
15. Mile Jedinak
16. Aziz Behich
17. Nikita Rukavytsya
18. Danny Vukovic (GK)
19. Josh Risdon
20. Trent Sainsbury
21. Massimo Luongo
22. Jackson Irvine
23. Tom Rogic
24. Dimitri Petratos
25. Josh Brillante
26. Daniel Arzani
27. Fran Karacic
They've had photos with these numbers. Wright's number 8 not taken, Maclaren not listed nor in a photo {he arrived later, right) the goalkeeper shirt looks mint!
All gold kit. 

The images can be found of the johnny Warren community Facebook Page. 

Imo your points aren't wrong. The thing is that it's one spot in the squad for, potentially, bits and bobs off the bench. The difference in technical quality between Arzani and the others is stark. That's another thing that says a lot about the state of the game, unfortunately. That technical difference, and the difference in style is invaluable.

But you're right that at least Bert van Marwijk can get an idea at close quarters.

Cahill, off the bench with 10 minutes to go with one crucial goal required is simply too valuable. There is no-one more likely to score in such a scenario. He won't start, but he will be key off the bench.

Exactly. We don't know how he'll fare and shouldn't expect too much. But the mere chance makes him a shoo-in. Nobody has been able to do quite what he does. Big game player.

I think a not so often mentioned positive about Bert is that he has continued to select the best players irrespective of which league they are playing in.

Milligan back to full training per yesterday's Optus Sports report, while Juric was on his own with conditioning staff.

Purchased the Kicker world cup guide. These publications can at times be very inaccurate with who actually plays but they've done their homework. Over the years I've seen insane possible 11s eg. Vidosic and Holland starting in 2014.

The preview for Australia gives them a 1/5. Japan got 2 while Senegal 3. They believe we'll park the bus and rip into the sad appearance of the player's clubs being second tier or that of Turkey, Switzerland or Asia.

Interestingly Mooy is considered the star while Rogic gets no mention. Did you know Mooys dad is German and he adopted his mother's name? That's where he gets that Dutch flag from on transfermarkt.

The article about Australia continues to say the side has had better squads and will have a very tough time but will fight to the bitter end. It's kind of stereotypical but it's pretty grim. If only BVM had 9 more months. Something appears exciting with him at the helm. 

It'd be kind of awkward if Juric pulled through and Maclaren also got in at the expense of Rukavytsya or Nabbout. Hopefully it wouldn't give the team and idea that BVM is indecisive.

I think Nabbout is a shoe in. He's getting all these interviews and time in the spotlight. I'd go Petratos over Rukavytsya. Troisi still has this x factor for me and his tournament experience gives him a solid claim. Cahill? Surely he's got to be in the 23.

Yeah I think Troisi will make the cut. 

Whether he deserved to be there now on his season form is one thing but he just has that habit of stepping up and impressing at the right time (before settling back into cruise mode).

Can still be very effective when he's on and his mobility and relative flexibility might see him get more game time than people here think/want.

Troisi is an industrious number 10. I think he will make the team because he suits the style that Bert wants to play.

This?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiyQ3Ikl93n/