Ooh tasty

Im guessing that the tournament has froup, then r8 then semis then final?

Aka no r16?

Yes straight to quarters which will no doubt be Japan or South Korea. Win that then you've still got to finish at least 3rd to get to the Olympics. Lose the 3rd place Playoff and it's a Playoff against CAF 4th, Guinea. No idea if it's 2 leg home and away or anything else as yet. 

Ooh a quarter against jaoan or sk is brutal. What if we are 2nd in the group?

Japan or South Korea as they're in the same group.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_AFC_U-23_Asian_Cup

We're not going to Paris.

We have gotten through harder opponents but it is indeed a mountain

I agree. I'm always worried and annoyed at the coaching at age-group youth level, it's shaky across all three teams. I just hope with a more refined team we can eliminate some of the blackouts, we have quite a few X-factors but our defence and midfield need to be very strong and super consistent. 

It's also very evident, that because we play Japan or South Korea in the quarters, that most likely the reason Arnold has omitted players from senior squads and spoke about us "needing to bring our best players and best team" to this tournament. I don't think that was the original plan, but the draw was ruthless to us.

The coach we had in oars generatipn did brilliantly to qualofy consistently with weaker squads than we have now and it is probably no coincidence that we finally qualify for the olympics with arnold.

That dutch coach cost a fortune though. A million a season. Hopefully with a league expansion and a nst we have a deeper coaching pool to choose from and can get better youth coaches

Hasn't been announced yet but Australia will be playing in the U23 West Asian Cup with South Korea, Iraq and Egypt as lead up to the U23 Asian Cup.

really happy with the extra games at youth level we are getting

should hopefully close the gap a bit and the olympics is a big carrot to qualify, the olympics in australia are arguably more important than the asian cup

That's good to get well prepared. Any idea when exactly? My issue is this extends the time players will be away from clubs. 

Tryimg to find dates for the west asian cup?

Very interested to hear about when the next Joey team is touring Europe. Should be as soon as March or April. I believe it's players born from 01/01/2008-31/12/2010 that'll make up this team and there is some very very good talent in this age-group. Most likely headlined by players like Treffiletti, Tatu, Irakoze, Slunjski, Millwood, Okon and Neill, it might be the most talented team we've had at this age-group considering where some of them are already playing and how far along they are. The Joeys have U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers later this year so that'll be interesting to keep up with. 

Really cool to see how we have arguably the best U17 team we've ever had, simultaneously with one of the best U20 and U23 teams too. Real awesome time to follow the development of Australian football. 

Thats great to hear about the u17s. Have u seen any of them play? Any u17s get seniors including a league minutes?

The nst and academies have given a twin boost for our development and we are just about to have another boost with the nst giving more opportunities for minutes for kids

Its been a real ambivalent era for the football. Crowds mich bigger than the nsl era, constant wc qualification and meaningful matches yet a real drop in the quality of european club careers

I think in the A-League it's only Quinn MacNicol (2008) and none in Europe that's because they are all very young U16 (2008), U15 (2009), and U14 (2010) right now. 2007 are U17 right now but they won't be eligible for the next Joey's class later this year.  Yeah, the youth talent is very good right now and something we have never seen before in Australia and hopefully we can say in 10 years there's a big uprise of meaningful European club careers.

Some names recently, Francois, Watts, Peupion, Alou Kuol. I just don't think they're going to do much more. What do they have in common? They've generally struggled to get games but also go a level higher yet all have been given some minutes in a top league. So what did they do to get that recognition? It isn't easy to get. You can add O'Neill and Lyden getting Premier League minutes but I don't get how they're made to work so hard to get a chance, not do anything wrong and then tumble all the way back down.

The best thing to do would be to break ranks while at the bigger name club when their profile is still hot and get a chance at a decent level. They've all waited too long and dwindle away. 

I think Peupion still has the potential and has been playing recently. He's got to get playing against men.
Watts was unlucky with injuries but it's seemingly another early hyped up talent. Our best players always seem to come through around 23-25 years old. I wonder what the average Socceroos debut age is?

It's amazing how young Circati and Triantis are and they're playing first team football. Sesko at Leipzig last night, massive frame, scouted by RB Salzburg and Bundesliga mainstay at 20. The above mentioned players are older and so so raw.

I feared Silvera was done with that Portugal move but the Jets loan saved him and now look where he is. Brook did the right thing going to Crewe and can now create a pathway to grow.

I think most young players develop non linearly in a frustrating dance of 1 step back 2 steps forward

Id like to get a list of players who got top league minutes while young

I think most of them at least go on to be solid players in a division below when they peak. 

Seems like 2003 and onwards the level is just stronger and the best players are stronger. I watched all the Peupion games when he was playing for Brighton Youth last season and he basically a month or two of solid form where he couldn't stop scoring which got him the senior call-up. But realistically I saw the goals and they were all tap in's and in the right place at the right time. He wasn't creating these goals which for a winger hold's little weight when taking a leap to the Prem League and now you're expected to create and not just tap in others creations. He's also very undeveloped physically and even at Olyroos level can easily get bullied.  Francois, Peupion and Watts I'd expect to be in the A-League in the near future. I don't take much from being on a top side's bench. You have to get minutes.

Sorry to ask a stupid question but how is South Korea and Australia in "West" Asia?  Not complaining as Im glad for the extra games but just curious is all?

it's probably just one of those "lets invite some teams" tournaments - like the ones the Matildas are usually involved in.

All of these guys have got good potential, they just to find a place to play and start to make inroads from there.

The likes of Peupion are training with first team which is great but they need games which we know is the key for their development.

Coming from a academy team especially in those big leagues is never easy if only the a-league season was longer then playing in the a-league it would been a perfect apprenticeship before moving over we see it makes a difference to the Olyroos lads here and how its making them better simply by playing senior football.

The Jets loan was a disaster. Rejoining CCM and working under Monty saved him.

Comparatively the Jets offered a positive way out compared to what Portugal was giving him. Indeed, the Mariners move was an absolute game charger.

Invited as the guest. They did that every year. This year is Aus, Korea, Egypt and Thailand 

does anyone know when the mini tournament in west asia starts?

I'm wondering if rawlins is our best right back

he isn't bad!

The girls got their tickets to Paris tonight, now its the Olyroos turn to get there's! 

Is Esposito any chance to push Triantis out of the starting 11 for the Olyroos? 

Unlikely as he isn't playing senior football. I'd be surprised if he would be selected, definitely a starter for the Young Socceroos U20's. But he is competing with Circati, Triantis, Popovic, Trewin, Courtney-Perkins, Natta, Bonetig and such. He definitely fits somewhere in that list. That being said, I think Triantis is a scary and polarising player who I can't say I 100% trust, he has high upside in his game but also is prone to mistakes which we have seen at Olyroo level before. 

Throw in Matthew Grimaldi for the olyroos his looked very creative 

Such a ridiculously easy qualification route for the Matildas compared to the Olyroos' tough assignment.