A "nasty little thug with a great engine" is exactly what the Aussie midfield is lacking. He's indispensable.

But the Baccus point is also compelling. Dunno who to omit. Maybe Metcalfe?

Based on his comments Volpato and Circati are in communication. Could Volpato be a smokey ahead of Arzani and Kuol?

I like Metcalfe. He played very well last night against Frieburg who are 4th in the Bundesliga currently. I think he offers skill but also a bit of physicality that we lack in our traditional midfield set ups. 

According to ‘Proud2bCanberran’ Hrustic is injured -so Volpato could be in?

According to article on Verona website, Hrustic injury is "ankle ligament". Will keep him out for an undefined period of time but will not require surgery, it says.

Hrustic being out would probably see Rogic come back in. The 3 extra players allow some bolters. I don't even know if Volpato would accept at this stage. 

I wish we had an specialist No.6, we dont really have one that's capable of progressing the ball up the field and defend with discipline as well like Grella was for us in 2006.

Mooy is better as an No.8 anyway.

We dont really have one in the current cycle however I do like Nieuwenhof and Yazbek as well whom seem to fit the bill as specialist No.6s but there time is too soon for this campaign but I think 2026 is more realistic providing they still continue to develop, get regular match minutes and hopefully get a move overseas to push there claim.

And Hrustic out its an blow in the No.10/roaming No.8 role, it probably means someone like McGree steps in but I would no rule out Rogic making an late run for it.

If rogic is fit enough (and wants) to play 60 a game then it could be a blessing in disguise (as cruel as that sounds)

Hrustic is a huge lost, maybe a McGree for 60 mins & than Rogic for last 30. Mooy has to be there somewhere otherwise we have no one to hold the ball up.
No 6 is a problem, though there are candidates, they are unproven Devlin, Metcalf & Baccus. Such a shame Neiuwenhof had a serious season ending injury last year, he could've been groomed for it.

think we need to look at King Kenny more bloke was 2nd last year in the league for tackles won, we going to be stuck in our half and we need someone to break up play... he's our man.... play mooy alongside him so we can have someone to play out, dribble out with.

Sainsbury is training with Melbourne City. It'd appear their league is now on break.

The vast majority of the squad will be going in with little game time. Sharpness for freshness? The bigger nations have stars packed in leagues, cups and European games leading in. 

He should be getting "Popovic fit"

No idea why Dougall seems to have fallen off the radar - never put a foot wrong for Oz as far as I recall, not that he's has a lot of opportunity.

He'd have to be in the running for the #6 role but based only on what I've seen in recent times I'd have Devlin and Mooy as double pivots behind McGree (who I'd pick ahead of Hrustic anyway on recent form).

I want pace, touch and aggression in our team. We've got no hope otherwise - will get thrashed if we try to match France and Denmark at some vague approximation of playing football.

I think it just comes down to Arnold's style and preferences.

We're fans so we can hypothesise like we always do. A different and most probably foreign coach would look at our stock and wonder why the likes of Dougall and Elder don't feature more. It's idealistic but I'd love a national team coach to emulate as much of the top form our players have at their respective clubs. 

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-best-player-could-miss-world-cup-as-injury-problems-mount-20221020-p5brch.html

Good summary of the status of the injuries. Souttar back playing and looked good. Atkinson to return before Rowles, and Rowles before Hrustic. Hrustic looking the least likely to make the squad of the 4 of them.

Horrendous news about Hrustic. Poor guy

Sound. I'd have the same midfield triangle

https://fb.me/e/a3uf11NNn

SBS with a squad announcement show for Tuesday Nov 8.

https://sport.optus.com.au/articles/os49794/socceroos-news-2022-world-cup-qatar-injury-news-latest-gegenpod-graham-arnold

It's the big question. An underdone better skilled player or a fitter less skilled one.

Behich and Irvine aside nearly everyone is currently underdone 

Normally I'd go the underdone, but noting that this one's a quickie you have to go with game time for basically all. 

https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/video/i-would-love-to-see-kuol-arzani-at-world-cup-says-fozz/juwrf2f1r

Super detailed analysis of Socceroos team:

https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/world-cup-2022-australia-tactical-preview-tactics

7 days until squad announcement. This weekend is the last chance to show something. 

I think Genreau is nearly out but I don't think Dougall will be picked on personal and tactical preferences. 

Degenek has done everything asked at club level so now he waits on the fitness of the injured crowd. Wright hasn't really done much lately but he's got a bit of Arnie love so he may just sneak in. 

Second left back is interesting as King isn't playing, Elder's hamstring is a niggle, Gersbach is doing fine but is off the radar, Davidson doing what's asked. 

Arnold just has to pick Volpato. Pressure him to make a choice. He is easily in our best 26. If he says no, that’s his choice and he’ll have to live with it.

Well he won't just add him to the 26 without having the discussion with him first, it will promote a perception that Arnold is not in control of the squad, and it would be a public slap in the face to the federation if he declined an invitation.

In all honesty I didn't think Volpato was there yet, but he is playing top their in Europe so why not.

That being said if he wants Italy let him have it, I just think he should give a little clarity so as to shut up the level of intrigue.

Italy haven't qualified the past two world cups and Australia has.   Maybe Italy need him more than we do.    :w00t::hehe::laugh:

I'm going with this, back ups for injured guys in brackets:

1. Mat Ryan
2. Mitch Langerak
3. Andrew Redmayne

4. Nathaniel Atkinson (Karacic)
5. Ryan Strain
6. Harry Souttar (Rowles or Wright)
7. Trent Sainsbury
8. Thomas Deng
9. Milos Degenek
10. Aziz Behich
11. Jason Davidson

12. Aaron Mooy
13. Jackson Irvine
14. Ajdin Hrustic (Brimmer)
15. Riley McGree
16. Cam Devlin
17. Connor Metcalfe

18. Martin Boyle (Arzani)
19. Craig Goodwin
20. Christian Volpato (Rogic)
21. Matthew Leckie
22. Awer Mabil
23. Garang Kuol

24. Mitch Duke
25. Jamie Maclaren
26. Jason Cummings

Rogic would be my first choice of any of Boyle/Volpato/Hrustic are unavailable.

Talk is Rowles is gunna be trying to make the squad vs Motherwell, on sunday!!!

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/sport/hearts-injury-latest-cammy-devlin-25386204?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Huge!