What to do. It'll be tricky being in season. I'm not sure if we can risk playing the Olyroos in the Lebanon qualifiers. The demand for games is so high and the supply is steadily going up. It's been a great 18 months for all national teams with camps, qualifiers and tournaments.

AFC U-23 ASIAN CUP™ QATAR 2024 FINALS – GROUP A

Australia v Jordan
Monday, 15 April 2024
Kick-off: 4pm (local) / 11pm AEST
Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Indonesia v Australia
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Kick-off: 4pm (local) / 11pm AEST
Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Qatar v Australia
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Kick-off: 6:30pm (local) / 1:30am AEST (Monday, 22 April)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha

According to this article https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/arnolds-mind-on-olympics-when-naming-asian-cup-squad-603189 and to the recent presser

It seems like Arnie is in talks with clubs on whether to bring some of the u23 players to either the Asian Cup or the U23 Asian Cup. Players like Robertson, Nestor, Bos, Kuol, Circati etc. The u23 camp will be less days and matches missed from club football than the Asian Cup will be. The difference is they have to release it for the January FIFA window for the Asian Cup but don't have to for the U23's and will be unlikely to release for both. So i'd imagine he is in talks for certain players to miss the Asian Cup so they can be picked for the U23's. If that's the case for players like Robertson where if selected for the U23's instead he will miss less games for Pompey then I'm definitely in favour for that. The U23 Asian Cup is so important to qualify for Paris. 

Thankfully the Olympics doesn't really have any clashes and all eligible should be able to go barring anything unexpected. 

I wonder if Yazbek also might be appeased that he gets an Asian Cup and then not an Olympic qualifier. Norway league resumes in April I believe.

He'll only miss a few games in April. It's the start of the season so you'd imagine Viking might do some shopping for depth and prepare for such an occurrence . Don't know how integral he is comparative to Circati and Robertson are to their respective teams. Bos should just make it for selection. His season ends mid march and depending on position may have to play a few playoff games. Should just squeeze in. Irankunda is another strange one because he will miss the last few games of the season but will be back for the playoff finals. Kuol will have a few games left and will miss them but again he isn't that integral to their team similar to Triantis and Tilio. All in all I think this is a good decision from Arnie to hold out for the U23 tournaments. Thankfully, we won't have all these headaches for the Olympics. 

Liam Chipperfield getting Australian citizenship sorted which would make him eligible for Olyroos. Needs to be done by Feb 1 to be eligible for U23 tournament but surely by being in the Swiss 2nd tier he's not exactly of the level yet?

top of the league in switzerland is probably roughly a league level though?

I always feel that if a player is in good form in a lower tier league they've got that current confidence to beat a man and desire to win. Mentally there's an advantage. Just to clarify, it is the 2nd Swiss league. The top Swiss league has seemingly had a bit of a dent the past years in the eyes of many. That's while it's still a popular shopping destination for good leagues.

If he's a good player then he's a good player. He's only 20. He was at Basel and now at Sion and they should hopefully promote. I believe he can play midfield and out-wide and we may need him with a few players probably not making it i.e Volpato and Robertson. Tbf Yazbek made the squad and he is playing at a lower level too. I'd prefer someone like Chipperfield who has potential in higher leagues and is consistently playing at this age than someone like Peupion who struggles for any game-time. He's also physically ready and strong more so than the likes of Peup but I also think Milanovic is good competition for that spot as well

So help me out here, how many players are a realistic chance for the olyroos. Ill do one position at a time. For goal keepers we have just cook and bilapovic right?

For right backs (in no order) we have

1) talbot
2) italiano
3) keeley adamson
4) simmons
5) bovalina
6) de jesus

For left bscks we have

1) bos
2) farrel
3) mauragis
4) jcp
5) lethean

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men's_national_under-23_soccer_team

Decent list here. Robertson injured now but not listed. Volpato and Bos eligible. 

For cb we have

1)circati
2) triantis
3) natta
4)popavic
5) muir
6) cancur
7) trewin
8) girdel reich
9) bonetig

Midfielders

1) volpato (if willing)
2) robertson (if fit)
3) segecic
4)j hollman
5) c holman
6) teague
7) yazbek
8) neiwenhof
9) gomulka
10) monge
11) yull
12) priestman
13) lopani
14) jelacic
15) grimaldi

Any others?

Wingers

1) milanovic
2) g kuol
3) irankunda
4) tilio
5) raphael
6) drew
7) vellupilay
8) clayton taylor
9) chipperfield
10) bennie
11) brook

Strikers

1) mo toure
2) alhassan toure
3) wood
4) waddingham
5) alou kuol
6) jovanovic
7) archie goodwin
8) kurchaski
9) bolato
10) musa toure
11) botic

ah cheers, I think a few of those (like peupion, aquilina and rawlins) have dropped down the pecking order

reckon I count 45 players who have a chance depending on their form over the next 2 months

did I miss any?

I'd put Okon Jr in there as well behind Nieuwenhof and Teague in the order.

I'd say you'd be looking at 3-4 players at each position they'd be looking at. 

Most have been involved in camps in the past 12 months so a lot of them would be in Vidmar's mind and then you add the stars who haven't played for the Olyroos yet or not much. We'd have a good chance to win the U23 AC even without some of the stars and once you add some of them in we have a really good chance. Best depth and star potential we've had for a long time at age-group level. There will be a few omissions like most likely Robertson, Volpato and Circati, maybe Bos and Irankunda who may or may not be there but we have good depth for such situations in those positions and for people who get injured in the meantime. 

My realistic eligible team: 

Goalkeepers:                    LBs:
Bilokapic                           Bos
Cook                                 Farrell
Hall                                   Dench
Pavlesic                            Mauragis

RBs:                                 CBs:
Talbot                               Circati
Aquilina                            Triantis
Bovalina                           Popovic
Madanha                          Natta
Simmons                          Trewin
Italiano                             Bonetig

Midfielders: 
Volpato
Robertson
Teague
Nieuwenhof
Hollman
Yazbek
Chipperfield
Segecic
Jelacic
D'Arrigo

Wingers:
Irankunda
Garang Kuol
Tilio
Milanovic
Peupion
Velupillay
Brook
Borges-Rodrigues

Strikers: 
Toure
Botic
Jovanovic
Alou Kuol
Kucharski 

43 players...insane. dont envy the selectors

I guess but there's a clear hierarchy of players, should be pretty straight forward for every position besides a few. The biggest struggle will be player availability and moving around that.

Decent younger playing pool coming through! 

If we make the Olympics the squad gets even smaller and there is an overage player possibility which I think should be used to add some experience despite the skill of this generation. Cross that bridge later. 

I think maybe 1 or 2 overage in necessary positions. But should be very reliant on the young talent for sure in key positions. 

15 April 202418:30

Qatar	v	Indonesia

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan15 April 202416:00

Australia	v	Jordan

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

---

18 April 202418:30

Jordan	v	Qatar

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan18 April 202416:00

Indonesia	v	Australia

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

---

21 April 202418:30

Qatar	v	Australia

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan21 April 202418:30

Jordan	v	Indonesia

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Indonesia have a number of eligible players in their full national team. Qatar are Qatar while Jordan have just 1 or 2 U23 players in their Asian Cup squad.

Bring our full team and we should walk through the group stage. Then South Korea or Japan most likely awaits. I think we should be favourites for both matchups at full strength, especially considering some of their European based players won't be there, but it's almost 50/50. I've done some analyse on the top U23 Asian teams and I think we should go into that tournament as favourites, as long as our coaching is up-to par with some of the other Asian heavyweights

Really wish Robertson wasn't injured, but even if he miraculously made it back in time, I doubt Portsmouth want him going over there, unless he gets recalled by Man City. 

You've identified the flaw, coaching. We went well in Toulon but there were numerous blackouts and periods that we looked horrendous. I just hope we can put a master plan together because it would be devastating for this team to not make the Olympics.