Roos to strike out badly: Wade
AAP
30 May, 2010 10:23 AM
THE Socceroos forward line lacks the strike power to score even a single goal and will need keeper Mark Schwarzer at his absolute best to have any hope in South Africa, according to former captain Paul Wade.
The former Canberra Cosmos player and former long-serving Socceroos skipper launched a strong criticism yesterday of the national team's strikers.

He said Australia's only hope of progressing beyond the pool stage was Schwarzer and midfielder Tim Cahill ''turning up''.

''I'm disappointed with every one of the strikers we've got available,'' Wade said yesterday.

''We're not going to score any from up front; they're going to have to come from midfield.

''I'm just hoping Tim Cahill turns up and I'm just hoping that Mark Schwarzer turns up and if they do, we might just nick a point ... I would have kept Nicky Carle.''

Wade also questioned the Socceroos' lack of experience compared with the likes of the competition heavyweights.

''All those teams that have got anywhere near the finals, the minimum number of games they've played is 40 internationals.

''Even our older guys, who are falling apart, they've got nowhere near that experience.''

In Schwarzer the Socceroos at least have one of the world's form goalkeepers.

The demand for his services is so strong he has been linked with a switch from Fulham to English Premier League giant Arsenal.

English press reports said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was keen to bring the 37-year-old to the club after apparently losing faith with first-choice keeper Manuel Almunia late last season. While Schwarzer admitted he was flattered by the reports, he dismissed them as speculation.

''As far as I'm concerned at this time, it's purely speculation,'' Schwarzer said yesterday.


AAP
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/roos-to-strike-out-badly-wade/1844045.aspx