I think it's fair to say that they have proven themselves to be key players from this team one way or the other.

:idea: Carl Valeri - he's done more for Australia in 2 games(5 if you want to include the friendlies) than Grella has done for the last 3 years. He's been our best player for 2 games in succession at the World Cup. How anybody on this forum thought a mug like Grella should be starting over him or even Jedinak is beyond me. Hopefully commonsense continues to prevail and that Grella stays on the bench..permanently.

:-$ Brett Holman - He's looked very good in the friendlies, came off the bench against Germany we looked miles better when he came on, and he was also good against Ghana till he eventually ran out of gas(it seems, not even Holman can run forever). Scored a well deserved goal ontop of that to help keep our prospects alive. He's definitely Wilkshire MKII and is starting to develop into a very good player for Australia. How certain idiots with penis' for brains thought Carle was/would be a better contributor than Holman at these finals is laughable. For those people in particular, Go and bum Jesse Fink for a few days while you reflect on this. :oops:

Yes both players have enhanced their reputations and can look forward to long careers with the national team...I wouldn't be surprised if both players were tempted by offers to bigger clubs/leagues as a result of their World Cup performances.

Carle is where he should be... starting A-League training.

Anything to get Valeri out of Serie B! Although there's nothing wrong with Serie B, especially when it's probably the best or at least one of the best, second tiers on the planet...but he should of been playing at a higher level a year or two ago.

How Grella can get a contract at a Premier League club while Valeri is being held at gunpoint by Mafioso-esque Italian second division clubs is beyond me. Let's hope someone has enough interest. At the very least, he's been getting rave reviews from pundits and websites alike.

Carney also showed his class and should be a first XI regular going forward.

Brett Holman has copped a lot of crap from the negative elements here and proved them wrong. He is one of our best players at the moment.

To be honest, i wouldn't go that far. He was hardly tested defensively if you ask me. Especially when you consider Ghana are the type of team that play strikers in wide and midfield positions. They had a target man in Prince Tagoe playing on the wing up against Carney...and quite honestly he was a fucking donkey. Probably the easiest game Carney has had in a defensive sense since his A-League days.

If Carney starts against Serbia, he will be up against Milos Krasic. I'm not exactly confident in that but lets see i guess. Chippers was fantastic attacking-wise when he came off the bench. I'd love to see him effect the Serbia game the exact same way even if it means not starting him maybe.

But i'd agree, Carney was very good attacking wise. But this is nothing new really.

Edited by COYS: 20/6/2010 09:59:46 AM

Good goal by Holman, and he has been very lively, however some of his link play was poor against Ghana and this is an area he still needs to work on.
As for Valeri, a good run forward and some very good defensive work. Supposedly has a more attacking role with his club side!
For all those critical of Vinnie, lay off the guy. Maybe he's not the player he used to be, but he has given great service and enjoyment to socceroos fans over the years.

Two outstanding performances. Valeri in particular was a monster.

Agree with COYS and Joffa on Valeri and Holman, but still unsure about Carney as a left back. Good squad player, but hopefully Davidson comes along.

Valeri and Holman have stepped up another level during the WC and have really risen to the occasion. Carney I thought accounted for himself well yesterday and tbh should start ahead of Chippers at LB.

Fpr the Serbia game I'd go with this



I'd start with Ruka upfront simply because the way to beat Serbia is by keeping the ball on the ground. We saw how badly Serbia dealt with Podolski's pace.

Kennedy up against Vidic and Lukovic will be useless Vidic will win every header against him. If we are to beat Serbia we have to play it along the ground and have Ruka dragging Vidic around everywhere to have room for the likes of Cahill and Holman to run into.

I'd then bring on Chippers for Holman and depending on if we are Chasing the game Kennedy Culina/Valeri

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 20/6/2010 06:12:50 PM

:idea:

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 20/6/2010 06:11:55 PM

Not sure about Holman wide left, but otherwise agree on line up. Could Holman play up front?

Holman and Valeri bode well for the future - Jedinak hasn't let anyone down either, when you look at where many of the newer members of the squad were 4 years ago, there's reason to believe that things could be quite reasonable in 4 years time...


The current squad – where they were 4 years ago…

Schwarzer (33) Middlesbro
Neill (28) Blackburn
Moore (30) Newcastle
Cahill (26) Everton
Culina (25) PSV – had 13 caps
Beauchamp (25) Central Coast Mariners – had 2 caps
Emerton (27) Blackburn
Wilkshire (24) Bristol City – had 8 caps
Kennedy (23) Dynamo Dresden – had 1 cap
Kewell (27) Liverpool
Chipperfield (30) Basel
Federici (21) Reading, but on loan at various non-league clubs
Grella (26) Parma – had 17 caps
Holman (22) Feyenoord, but on loan at Excelsior
Jedinak (21) Sydney FC
Valeri (21) Grosseto
Rukaytsya (18) Perth Glory
Galekovic (24) Melbourne Victory (back-up)
Garcia (24) Colchester
Milligan (20) Sydney FC – had 1 cap
Carney (22) Sydney FC
Vidosic (19) Queensland Roar
Bresciano (26) Parma

The ones I find particularly interesting are Wilkshire, Milligan, Kennedy, Jedinak, Holman, Valeri, Carney and Vidosic. I don’t think anyone would be too scared if all of the above started against Serbia – if they can come from that starting point, then it’s not unreasonable to assume that kids currently uncapped and virtually unheard of, could make similar runs to become mainstays of the national team within the next 3-4 years.

The Golden Generation is on the way out, the next generation isn’t as good – that’s not purgatory though – they should still be capable, with good leadership, of getting us to Brazil.


Edited by Benjamin: 20/6/2010 06:24:41 PM

Can someone frame this thread for seriously to hang on his wall?

+1

When the fuck did Jedinak play for Sydney FC?

I like the idea of Ruka starting because as much pace and running in the team the better with the trigger happy refs around.
Would increase the chance of Serbia getting some cards which could open things up for us and I don't think the Serbs would be hugely worried by Kennedy.

That said I wouldn't care if it was Kennedy that got the nod..... for ages i have complained Kennedy's inclusion seems to lead us to play the long ball to his head to much. Seeing how we play without him I now realise the reason we don't play the ball out along the ground is because of our lack of passing ability in the team when against top opponents... so the hoof to kennedy in a forward position is a better option than a back pass to Schwarzer for him to hoof into the midfield.

I'm really proud to have had faith in Holman when nobody else did.

He didn't it's meant to be Sydney United:lol:

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 20/6/2010 06:54:53 PM

+1

Only *now*?

We haven't been able to replace the likes of Okon and Zelic, players that can read the play, have great touch and are able to play through the middle and make a killer pass.

And in this campaign, Culina has been a poor midfielder with his sideways backwards passing and his silly tricks. Neill gave it to him for losing the ball cheaply last night.

IMO Wilkshire and Jedinak should be playing in the middle in the years to come, with James Troisi and Kilkenny are also options there post WC. Williaims at RB.

Holman still lacks the touch and the passing ability and decision-making ability to be a starting player, would be a good impact player