Steady on. It would be fantastic if he achieves that. But your words imply that you expect this of him. It's one thing to hope somebody will achieve something. It's another thing (and usually a bad thing) to expect them to achieve it.

Think about Sam Kerr's place in women's football. She's not just world-class, she's among a handful of the world's best. She has put Australian women's football on the map, so to speak. I think it's too much to expect a footballer to achieve that feat. Especially when, across the world, there are more than a few young footballers showing Kuol's kind of talent.

I'm trying to think of an example in the men's game who has been one of the very few best in the world and put their country on the map for football. Didier Drogba for Côte d'Ivoire? Andriy Shevchenko for Ukraine?

It's too much to expect that much from somebody, I think. You can harbour hope, but expectation is where it gets problematic. Should the broader Australian football community have those type of expectations we're talking unhealthy levels of social pressure  - a la Cathy Freeman in Sydney 2000.

By all means, do, Mr Cleansheets. You're entitled to your opinion and to express it.

In my opinion, there's a fair bit of projection here. Davide is right in saying that Kuol is calmer in front of goal than Arzani. Kuol is a better finisher, at least in match situations. But the other stuff is projection, I think. At this stage, there's not really much to indicate he is 'levels above' in terms of 'pace, power, aggression, vision'. They've both demonstrated these traits at age 18. To say one is a long way ahead of the other is projection. Pace, for example, we don't know (unless, for example, we've trained a lot with both players). Football clubs don't typically disclose the times of the 40m sprints. Unlike the NBA, for example, where they disclose 3/4 court sprint times of the various draft picks. The level of open-source (?) stats available is a lot greater than football, it appears. NFL and AFL, too. Without that, you're simply guessing whether one very fast footballer is faster than another very fast footballer.

Volpato is the best of the lot. Just hope we don't miss out on him. Imagine having G Kuol, Irakunda & Volpato playing for the Roos for the next Decade!!

D'agostino deserves to be in contention imo

I’m struggling to remember a worse miss for NT than Tilio’s 

Add Volpato also

All he had to do was let it come across his body and place it with the inside of his left foot. But no....

Shit technique from a professional. Blows my tiny mind how many players miss tap-ins because they hit it with the wrong foot.

I do like Tilio. He's probably still haunted by that miss - if he hadn't taken his eye off the ball then everyone would be assuming he'd be on the plane to Qatar - such are the teensy margins of football.

Hopefully he has a blinder soon and can move on - but not against the Mariners.

due his form......

If they don’t then someone will take their place. I see the hype has died down on tilio btw 

Forgot to mention Piscopo I knew I missed one, I expect him to do well with Jets given they will play an attacking style of football.

Italiano is another one who is still at Gladbach reserves, and also watching Irankunda for the Joeys he's even younger than Garang Kuol but what an prospect talk about an game breaker...he made it look easy out there.

Forgot to mention Piscopo another game breaker, agree on Segecic I got a feeling he might break through but Corica needs to give him a fair chance to play.

Alou Kuol is not that kind of player.

Really want Piscopo and Folami to have a season of scorer points and seeing the maturity come on. Ikon is that but older but I still find him an intelligent footballer. 

This is the season where Piscopo needs to become a footballer. He needs to start bossing games, and stay fit for the entire season, if not, the chances of making it O/S again start fading. We need players like him to do well.

yep good young up and comer, plays AM or right across the mids.
Very active.
The NPL SFC squad has been strong last few seasons seasons but doing well at that level is one thing the next is the, lets see and thats where its at.
I've watched plenty of promising SFC youth end up as bench warmers and then fade, hope he changes that.

Agree Piscopo - hope he fires and gets consistant this season for himself.

Spot on overroared.

The list of potential talents looks really impressive.

However, they all need calm, strong and strict management to get to their real potential. I hope we have some managers that can provide this.

Just my 1Cents worth.

Wow segecic looks a real talent. His numbers in the NPL are very impressive. is he a 10?

I'd definitely add Piscopo to that list. Alou Kuol probably thereabouts also.

Very good list, these are the types of players the Socceroos.
Hopefully one day in the near future we get these game breakers who also has all the natural, physical & mental  ability. A player as skillful as Mooy as Physical (speed strenght) as Leckie & mentally strong as Cahill.

Not a bad list Barca, I think Segecic is far too raw at this stage.
Needs this season to show his wares in ALM.
U23 call ups for now.

Its not an list in order, just name dropped in no particular order.

I think Tillio is way down the list. At 21 he needs to be playing weekly. Can still make it though.

Yeah i get carried away sometimes. But as i said ‘only time will tell’ 🤞

The type of 'game breakers' which I call them are that involved or within the fridges of a call up within the system? Unless I missed anyone else?

Arzani
Tilio
Garang Kuol
Folami
Hammond
Bernardo
Peupion
Najjarine
Brook
Segecic

I think likes of Kuol, Arzani and Tilio are ready to make the jump now but the rest either are in their early stages of their development and some are probably not good enough to make that jump at this stage of their careers.

But the potential is there for this kind of player to help the national team.

That don't make sense Balin.
Lets not count the world class player rating yet, I love his promising talent but we await the proof in the pudding.
Hope GA takes him to the WC and use's him thats for sure.

Pretty amazing cameo for the Socceroos.

Then again I was blown out by Arzani at the last World Cup. I'm surprised where he is now, despite having suffered a serious injury.

Gotta agree. Will always hope for Arzani to become world class but I think Kuol is pretty much already there. Only time will tell 🤞

I stand by "levels above".

I've seen a lot of football and footballers and no young Australian has excited me anywhere near as much as GK. And I loved Arzani - still do - and desperately want him to get back to where he was (and beyond), but there is simply no comparison when you look at Kuol's pace, power, aggression, vision and ice-cool, lethal finishing for one so young and inexperienced. Of course it's still just potential, but if he stays injury free he will not only have a magnificent career, he will do for the Socceroos what Sam Kerr has done for the Matildas.

But I'm very wary of over-hyping him...

THIS IS REAL FOOTBALL .... great to read, thanks.