Sorry to see no Pasquali or any other overseas players, but maybe they're better off with their clubs. I'm sure North Korea aren't pushovers, though.

I'm surprised not to see Metcalfe among those 8 boys from Melbourne City. Maybe injured??  I'm sure boys like Pasquali & Brook will be included in the team next year if they qualify. 

No Brook is a surprise, but maybe his family's not as rich as other players in the squad. 
It shows exactly were the problems of football in this country lie when not one of these players are even regulars at HAL level, not even off the bench. Arzani perhaps the only one. 

Well put the blame firmly on the FFA and their incompetence in growing the pathways for first team football, its the not players fault its the system we have set up here.

Imagine what an expanded league and 2nd division could do for young players like these.

If everyone was available including some of the overseas it think they will give qualification to the world cup a real good go.

Delianov
Perias, Dylan Ryan, Reardon, King
Pasquali, Genreau
Najjarine, Brook, Arzani
Roberts/Iredale

Some good talents especially in attack and midfield

Are you implying that the boys in the squad paid to get in....or their parents?

Metcalfe is injured. There's enough quality in the midfield not to have to take pasquali away from Ajax. Not sure about brook from what I here he is looking good. 

Totally agree.
The majority of players in this squad should be playing senior football at the moment, at the very least in a second division. Some of them (Arzani, Brook, Genreau, Pierias, Najjarrine, Theoharous, Tokich) would be definite starters in the A-League if there were more teams or some sort of incentive to play young players. I'm worried that the potential these kids have is being choked by the fact that they aren't getting senior football at an age when they should.

Daniel Arzani and Lachlan Brook are two kids in particular that are very gifted that I worry aren't going to get to their full potential (which is very high) because they're stuck in the reserve/youth side for their A-League club while aging journeymen/foreigners play in their starting places. I'm surprised that neither has gone to Europe yet or at least had any connections raised.

The players I'm most worried for are the likes of John Roberts who are never going to get a chance in the A-League because every team prefers to have a foreign marquee up top instead of an Australian. Not exactly going to help with our striker problem...

Everything you mentioned is correct IMO Barca.

Ben Folami is another possible striker alongside Iredale and Roberts. Not sure who is better, but he might be the best of the lot.

If we're going off goals scored this season, then Folami is definitely the best upcoming striker we've got, probably of any group too.
Ben Folami has scored 7 goals in 5 games for Ipswich U23 in the past month, along with a boatload more with the U18s this season.
John Iredale has scored 5 goals in 5 games for Heerenveen U19 since joining them.
John Roberts is harder to find numbers on. We know he's got 17 in 13 with the young Socceroos and scored another 9 in 4 in that Suning Cup youth tournament.

I hope all three live up to their potential. Having an exciting young striker that can deliver for club and country is something that has been elusive for us for years.

Agree JDB03, plenty of talent in this squad. I heard there was a player named Stensness from CCM picked for the squad but he pulled out due to studies. Makes you wonder how many other boys would be in the squad if they were either fit or not studying. Tournament is bad timing clashing with HSC/VCE. Unlucky for Metcalfe but Im sure we will see more of him down the track. 

Northern Marina Islands have withdrawn from AFC qualifiers (http://www.the-afc.com/u-19-championship-2018/northern-mariana-islands-withdraw-from-afc-u-19-championship-2018-qualifiers). Boys only have to play DPR Korea and Hong Kong.

when are the quals

Only two matches to play now, Hong Kong on 6th November and North Korea on the 8th.

Australia have been drawn in Group D of the AFC U-23 Championship China 2018 along with Korea Republic, Syria, and Vietnam.

Vietnam again ..

Gombau quoted in the article but will he still be the coach? I hope he does not get the Wanderers job, he will be good for the underage team, losing him would be a blow.

Top two get through from the groups, we should get through. It is next January.

Just saw this in Facebook. Interesting. Glad we have a thread for our youth sides. 

Will we likely see a weaker squad due to many being active for their clubs? 

O'Neill, Lyden, Elder and so many more would be awesome to see in a gold shirt to get them geared for the eventual step up. 

Really would love to see Roberts continue to kill it at this higher age group after being our main main for the Joeys.

Will we be sending our strongest team with all the overseas players like Pasquali, Borrello, O'Neill, Mabil, Hrustic, Ikonomidis, Gersbach, Armenkas and others being considered for selection?

Pasquali is 17, cant imagine he will be in this team 

Perhaps not, I was just throwing up a list of overseas players who were young enough and he came to mind.

Didn't realise Degenek is only 23. Definitely got some time to develop more. Smith is also 23. Would be decent game time for him. 

My squad would be, in no particular order. 

Glover, Holmes, Izzo. 

Gersbach 
Tongyik
Aspro
Lyden 
Deng
Chapman 
Burgess 
Elder 

Hrustic 
McGree 
A. O'Neill 
B. O'Neill 
Caletti 
Mauk 
Ikon

Mabil 
Scott 
Borrello 
Popovic 
Kamau 




Ryan Williams will be 24 in 4 days. 

Buhagiar looks the most likely of our young strikers to get game time in the A-League, even if he hasn't been too great when playing. Wouldn't he be ahead of Scott?

Yeah sure. I think Scott is more central and Buhagiar has the outside pace. My squad suggestion simply won't happen. Too many will be busy at their clubs. 

Call up Folami 

Connor Chapman and Brandon O'Neill are too old.

The strongest would be something like 
Izzo, Glover, Holmes/NIzic/Margush
Karacic, Burgess, Deng, Tongyik, Aspropomatis, Gersbach, Elder
O'Neill, Lyden, McGree, Mauk, Caletti
Mabil, Borrello, Hrustic, Ikonomidis, Kamau
Popovic, Blackwood

Feel a little bit weak in defence apart from LB where there is also Garuccio. Galloway could be another full back option. Probably 1 too many wingers but which one do you leave out, all would be in the top 23 players easily and Sotiro did well in qualifying and does not make this team.

Blackwood is playing and has scored 3 goals in 4 matches in qualifying. He has been holding the ball up well at times for Adelaide but has not scored.