Ryan
Grant  Sainsbury Souttar  Elder
       Mooy           Hrustic
                Rogic
  Boyle    Taggart  Mabil

Yeah. I'm supportive of everyone selected in this particularly challenging set up but Juric would've been a real refresh up front. What do we do if Taggart gets injured in training? Then we see all the centre backs but we have deep midfielders so you wonder what Arnold wants to do.

Cheers

Irvine not particularly fit while Jeggo and Dougall are running the show for their club. It appears Rogic is deeper at Celtic too currently. I didn't like Hrustic too much as a 6 last weekend. I prefer him as an 8. These midfield selections surely must rule out any Sainsbury action in that part of the field. Not to forget, Dougall can slot in at RB if required.

We need Juric....I ve watched J League n Taggart didn't play well for Cerezo ATM.

Duke in is very meh as well. 

McGowan though. Credit to his work but geez his lingering around.... Without Covid he'd be nowhere near the squad. Deng needs to work now.

Didn't realise Strain was English born. When did he move over? That accent is still strong.

I’m not sure but he went back and played youth football for Aston Villa from 2013-2014.

This is an interesting article on his background.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.foxsports.com.au/football/reds-winger-ryan-strain-lifted-the-ffa-cup-60-years-after-his-grandfather-won-the-scottish-cup/news-story/ff8d9b1946609de21827ec2f8c8ac5d3

If only Karacic was fit.

I don't see how Strain is raw. He's played almost 100 senior professional games and he's now playing at a high level, a higher level than Grant has ever played at and a pretty similar level to the one Karacic is playing at. He was in the PFA Team of the Season last season 

Yeah that's true. I mean it more for international football and those conditions we face. They've got to learn sometime. He's professional enough to understand it's not to be taken lightly.

Surprised Deni Juric isn't in the squad - his height and strength would've caused a lot of problems for China & Vietnam. Although I get the impression that Dinamo wanted him to stay in Croatia so that he can settle in to his new team. 

Strain's callup is well-deserved, although it baffles me that he wasn't selected for the Olyroos - even as an understudy to Atkinson 

I think that Harry Souttar struggled against smaller more agile opponents in the Olympics. Maybe he will be used later in the games if we are behind but I wouldn't be starting him particularly against Vietnam.  

Souttar did very well defending against Argentina and Spain. Only 1 mistake with Egypt for the 1st goal. His his height will trouble Vietnam with the header and he could score.

He made a few against Spain as well - just not punished for it. 

The problem Australia and other nations face is there is now a massive step up in quality from the last stage of AFC qualification to the next.

One of the benefits of the Olympics is that Souttar and others did face quality international competition.

I do hope he develops into a strong first or backup choice but I don't think much can be read into his 4 internationals against Taiwan and Nepal and a single match against Jordan where qualification for the upcoming stage was already in the bag.

The preview show went alright, nothing amazing, but alright.

He was selected but he didn't go in order to settle in at Maccabi Haifa. 

It’s funny because Harps carried it I thought. I was least excited about his appointment in the announcement but after watching that preview show I can now see he will be adding a ton of value and experience to quite an inexperienced line-up.

Djite and Milligan naturally came across a little shy and reserved, but Harps was able to lift the energy with a bit of stage presence and excitement in his voice.

Djite and Milligan will grow into their new roles I’m sure. Their immediate focus should be on jazzing up their monotone delivery which unfortunately came across quite dull. 

Scott Mackinnon, basically a Union expert, was painful. I just wish they could get Mel from Channel 7 to fill that role.

Yeah that host dude was clearly not a football person but I’m sure he’s just an interim fill-in until the A-League season starts and 10 flesh out their roster a little more with football talent. 

I agree. There's very little personality on the panel, especially without Simon Hill. Brosque is boring as well. Djité has personality but was a little nervous I thought. The Fox panel wasn't perfect but Slater, Bozza, Harps, Peacock and Kosmina all had personality which was great. 

‘Personality’, that’s exactly the word I was looking for. You’re absolutely correct in that the Fox panel did at least have a lot of personalities who were forward with their contributions.

I’m just not sure who the alternative options are. We all want fresh blood in these roles but who are the available personalities?

Obviously there’s more to the role than just that element, case in point Archie Thompson who consistently struggles to complete sentences even after multiple years of experience and training. 

Rudan is coming onboard apparently and he's a personality, like him or not. I think Adam Peacock is the perfect presenter - articulate, cares about football, knowledgeable and has a sense of humour and personality. Pity if he's staying at Fox - so too James Dodd, who's a really good presenter. I think Bozza's personality was great for Fox and I'd love to see him come over. Even Robbie Slater. Hopefully the likes of Brosque, Millsy and Djité will grow into the roles but I'm a little concerned. I think Scott Jamieson would be a good person to have involved in the long term, so too Diamanti if he stays in Australia.

I think first you need a host - Mel did a great job, as did Peacock. Tara was also okay. Tara and Peacock seem to have recommitted to Fox. Maybe with the Olympics over we could get Mel back.

After that there are plenty of ex A-League players that have personality for the domestic comp like Daniel McBreen, AS for ex-NT players I'd be happy with any or all of Craig Moore,  Josip Skoko, Frank Farina or Damien Mori.

Djite is usually ok  probably just not used to the new players and I'd love to see Diamanti but I've had enough of Bozza and Slater. 

After watching Dougall and Holland for the past year, I really don’t rate them.
and seeing Wright back in the squad is frustrating.
Arnie seems obsessed with genreau, I dont see it personally.

I,m happy with jeggo, Mooy, irvine, Rogic, Mcgree, Hrustic but we need another dm.

Sains 

YES I forgot about McBreen. He would be an unreal addition.