Smith would easily be my first choice if playing regularly. Can we fault him for the beautiful through balls from Saudi and Thailand for their opening goals ? I'm not so sure. He's pretty solus and only 2 years ago we were praying for left backs. We've got 6 solid options now in Smith Gersbach Behich Davidson Meredith and Elder.

The Socceroos facebook page said they have an announcement set for 115pm today.

It would think that it would be to announce the June 8 World Cup Qualifier for Adelaide Oval.

Franjic's enterprising  play going forwards, has given considerable impetus to City.

In his defensive play he was culpable for the  penalty against Wellington. I think he has generally defended quite effectively though. He generally kept Barbourasas quiet. 

Going to Russia stifled his development. Playing with some of the  better technically  equipped players at City in the HAL should enhance his development. This should be good for the Socceroos.

Ikon should not be in the socceroos, what about Mustafa Amini? playing regularly and scoring and assisting goals.
I have a feeling Ikon is rated by Ange but he hasn't shown anything to warrant a call up again until he starts to make an impact with his club side.

Apart from being able to defend.

Is there any chance of a friendly being played in Australia before heading off to Russia after the  Saudi match? or is the window too small before we play Germany ? 

Bring back Franjic. We will win confed cup.


Roar fans know what im talking about.

I definitely think it would be a good idea to have an early camp starting late May then a June 2/3 Friendly at Hindmarsh or in another state and being primed for the Saudi match given making the World Cup should the Socceroos overwhelming priority
 
However, I suspect it won't happen mainly due to the Confeds Cup being at the back end of June (22/25/28), which would mean a month plus for most of the players if they have a few days in camp prior to a June 2/3 Friendly, and longer if we make the knockouts.

Saudis June 8, then most likely a Friendly June 12-15 in Europe is in my opinion more likely.

Recently I read Aaron Mooy saying he is finding it hard adapting to the different climatic coonditions between England and the Middle- east, or the other venues where Australia plays its WCQs.

His Socceroo performances have been mediocre recently.


One player who can play in the challenging climatic conditions  is James Troisi. He could play along with Rogic or Mooy in the attacking part of the attacking midfield  triangle in a 1-4-3-3.

Troisi also has pace to burn. He is one of Australia's four exceptional athletes from tests conducted. The others were Leckie, Kruse and McKay. Troisi tracks back well and has a very good engine, more so than either Rogic or Mooy. He provides that bit of zip we lack in midfield.

Troisi's recent performances in the HAL have been very good.

ATM we hardly have any Australian central strikers playing regularly for their clubs, who are not injured, and who are first choices in central striking positions.

We also have few who are averaging scoring goals at 4 per goals per every 10 games played, or better.

Apart from Juric being injured, is any Aussie striker scoring regularly  in any league overseas?

Franjic back will be a huuuuge boost for the Roos. Get him in there asap!

Don't know where we go with the central striker role or that of our attacking wide players, to me Triosi is a mobile creative player who could play as a false 9 but that would still leave little fire power as our wide players struggle to finish.

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Gol-Gol Mebrahtu - 7 goals in 17 games in all competitions in the Czech Republic this season.

www.transfermarkt.com/gol-gol-mebrahtu/leistungsdaten/spieler/127268

Stupid mobile forum, quote didn't work / my post above was in response to Decentric re: Aussie strikers doing well o/s - Gol-Gol has hit 7 in 17 for Mlada Bolesav in the Czech Republic this season, better than Maclaren, Cahill and even Juric so far I believe.

Got to be worth a look at.

Troisi should be nowhere near national team contention (and I say this as a Victory supporter). His finishing his simply dreadful

You need someone to stick a bloody ball in the net. If he is doing it, why not.

Not saying for a moment that he is a great finisher but with the exception of Tim who is? I would think Triosi has better goal per game stats than Leckie, Burns or Kruse. Ibini if fit should also be considered.

Troisi found the back of the net in the Asian Cup final, a proven performer-goalscorer in huge matches. Must be one of the first five players that should be chosen consistently infact. Great call for Franjic too. Defence is the major issue with the Socceroos. I am not as convinced on Ange as I used to be. We should bite, scratch and do whatever is possible to Not be scored against, More than even scoring the winning goal.

How has Franjic been playing? Degenek on the bench today. Unfortunately Degenek has been put up due to his cross being deflected into the goal against England. He's ok but not exactly great. Dougall seems to have a lot more potential.

Tom Rogic just scored the winner for Celtic vs Motherwell. Celtic was 2-0 down at HT, got it back to 3-3 and Rogic scored the winner in the 90th minute with a right foot shot from the edge of the box. That's his 10th goal for the season, which equals his goals tally from last season, the kid is killing it! By far and away our best performing player this season. We need this kid to keep progressing, and to get a move to either the EPL, La Liga or the Serie A, but most importantly he needs to play as many games as possible.

Franjic has been playing quite well for City. i think h wis enjoing playing with better players this season - Jakobsen, Kilkenny, Brattan, Kamau, Colazo, Brandan, who all play near him. I'm not sure of  Cahill's influence?

Franjic was only average in the last season of the HAL though.

DeVere and MacLaren impressed for Roar last night, playing against City. DeVere kept Fornaroli quiet.

I think both will be in the next Socceroo squad if they keep playing like they are.

The Socceroos haven't get worked out how to play with MacLaren as the central striker.

Thanks for that.

Gol Gol needs to be seriously looked at.

I'd even take Yeboah into an expanded train-on squad.

Calm down... He's playing 4th Division football... Literally every A-League player is playing at a higher level than him.

Is devere REALLY good enough with his feet for the Socceroos? I put him around the same level as wright. Would MUCH rather sains, spira, wilko, Milligan and others.

He's killing it at Celtic!
I would like Rogic to be given a free roaming role in midfield rather than him in a fixed position in Ange's system, it seems he plays better when he has more space and freedom to move around the front third i think with the socceroos sometimes he's kind of restricted as No.8.

I mention the last on here that it might be worth pursued as an inside forward on the right cutting inside, basically Rogic best football is in the final third which is why he doesnt enough for the Roos as he always getting the ball from deep which we all feel is wasting his energy and talent.

Is it worth putting Rogic alot more forward and playing him as a supporting striker (playing off Juric/Maclaren etc) instead of in the centre of midfield? 

You don't think that is his task now?