Oz Squad for Jamaica game

[Koolo]

Marco Bresciano, Steve Corica, Scott Chipperfield, Vince Grella, Brett Holman, Zeljko Kalac, Harry Kewell, Steve Laybutt, Jon McKain, Ljubo Milicevic, Kevin Muscat, Lucas Neill, Paul Okon, Mark Schwarzer, Josip Skoko, Mile Sterjovski, Tony Vidmar, Mark Viduka.

 

[Nandrolone Stam]

Who is Jon McKain??

 

[Ray Nolan]

The outs being: Craig Moore, Stan Lazaridis, Brett Emerton, John Aloisi, Hayden Foxe, Tony Popovic and Danny Tiatto. Given the difficulty in covering losses of that magnatude I think it's a decent makeshift squad that we have put together. It will be very interesting to see who the central defensive pairing will be. I hope that it's any combination of McKain, Milicevic or Laybutt to give these guys a chance but I have a feeling Frankie will slot either Muscat or Vidmar in as one of the two. Interesting to see Brett Holman got a call up despite turning down a call up to the Young Socceroos earlier in the year, and surprised to see that Patrick Kisnorbo wasn't selected just to give him a run with the squad. I would've thought Tim Cahill would've been invited to train with the squad as well but it appears he hasn't. Still, I think it's a decent squad and one capable of beating Jamaica.

 

[Ray Nolan]

Originally posted by Nandrolone Stam
Who is Jon McKain??

He's a young central defender, formerly of the Brisbane Strikers if memory serves me correctly. He's a member of the Olyroos squad and he recently joined Romanian Champions National Bucharest. Played against AC Milan in a friendly not long back and by all reports gave a good account of himself.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Nandrolone Stam
Who is Jon McKain??

He's a 20yo centrehalf who plays for National Bucharest in Romania (coached by Azzurri legend Walter Zenga).

He had a stormer in a recent friendly against AC Milan.

 

[Koolo]

Apologies for not including the outs.

I think that McKain is the interesting one,
he seems to have made a bit of an impact
since joining Steau.

Brett Holman is a lucky boy I think.

 

[grimlock]

Wilkshire is also an out, he was a late call up for the Ireland game.

Here's a possible lineup:

Schwarzer
Neill
Muscat
Vidmar
Laybutt
Bresciano
Corica
Okon
Chipperfield
Kewell
Viduka

Kalac
Grella
Skoko
Holman
McKain
Milicevic
Sterjovski

 

[Ray Nolan]

My starting XI would be:

Kalac

Neill McKain Milicevic Vidmar

Sterjovski Grella Bresciano Chipperfield

Viduka Kewell

May as well experiment a bit with a totally different midfield and cnetral defence combination.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Koolo
Brett Holman is a lucky boy I think.

How come? He's been scoring on a semi-regular basis for Excelsior in the Dutch topflight... and if we were ever going to start finally blooding kids a 'home' friendly in Europe two years out from qualifiers would be the time to do it.

Farina's mistakes in the past have been to play his old favourites - names like Casserley, Corica, Zdrilic, Muscat etc even though they've been doing bugger all at club level while ignoring the progress of youngsters and in form players.

While there's a strong argument to suggest he still does this - Okon, Skoko, Schwarzer, etc - it's good to see he's starting to play those who've earned a callup.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by Ray Nolan
My starting XI would be:

Kalac

Neill McKain Milicevic Vidmar

Sterjovski Grella Bresciano Chipperfield

Viduka Kewell

Bang on Ray.

My only query is Vidmar but he's a necessity looking at the myriad of injuries we're suffering.

 

[Koolo]

Originally posted by dyertribe
How come? He's been scoring on a semi-regular basis for Excelsior in the Dutch topflight... and if we were ever going to start finally blooding kids a 'home' friendly in Europe two years out from qualifiers would be the time to do it.

Just his attitude towards the youth team. Having said that,
a couple of more high profile players are guilty of that, so I should just shut up.

You are right about Farina and his favourites, now is the time to expose a couple of kids to the senior team, and I think at either
end of the park is the place. Tall defenders and strikers.

Our midfield is possibly our strength if Bresc and Grella are the future.

I just hope that Alex Brosque does not rush off o/s too quickly, for he can play.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Originally posted by Ray Nolan
My starting XI would be:

Kalac

Neill McKain Milicevic Vidmar

Sterjovski Grella Bresciano Chipperfield

Viduka Kewell

May as well experiment a bit with a totally different midfield and cnetral defence combination.

Good in theory.

In practice it will be:

Schwarzer

Neill Muscat Vidmar Laybutt
Bresciano Skoko Okon Chipperfield
Viduka Kewell

Skoko and Okon will start, Farina loves them. I hope he does go with some new central defenders but I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for the old boys.

Graham Arnold is on standby apparently.

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
Good in theory.

Yeah I think that was the plan.

 

[mattyc2422]

If Bresciano and Grella start on the bench, I will cry.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

According to Peter Desira in the Hun this morning the starting line up will be:

Schwarzer
Muscat Vidmar Millicevic Neill
Bresciano Okon Skoko Chipperfield
Viduka Kewell

So as I suspected the old firm will start in the middle and Bresciano will be forced to play an unfamilar role on the right.



Neill at left back, has he ever played there? Muscat and Vidmar - what's the point?

 

[Ray Nolan]

Lazaridis could still make it according to this from the Soccer Australia website:

LAZARIDIS STILL A CHANCE FOR JAMAICA

Friday 5 September 2003

Qantas Socceroo coach Frank Farina has finally received some good news, with Birmingham City flyer Stan Lazaridis a chance of making the squad for Sunday’s game against Jamaica.

Lazaridis (pictured) was initially ruled out with a groin injury, but he has come into camp at Reading giving Farina cause for optimism.

“Stan has come in and he is better than expected, so we’ll basically see how he goes over the next two days,” said Farina.

“He is a slight chance, Les Gelis our physio has had a look at him and he has said lets wait off and see how he goes. He’ll do a bit of light running this morning and we’ll have a better indication this afternoon of where he is at with the injury. But I have always maintained that we won’t risk any player, as it’s not in our interest, not in the players interest or the clubs interest.”

Asked whether Stan would solve some of his defensive problems, Farina went on to say that it would.

“I think Stan has most probably been one of the form players in the last couple of games, so yes he would make a difference,” said Farina.
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I don't reckon he'll come up personally, but it would be handy if he did.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

I think the squad could be better.

We are missing a lot of good players.

I think we still should be able to beat Jamaica with that line up.

Its not bad.

 

[year of the roo]

is there any tv coverage for the jamaica game in melbourne for those who dont have foxtel??

 

[Ray Nolan]

Originally posted by year of the roo
is there any tv coverage for the jamaica game in melbourne for those who dont have foxtel??

The game is live on Channel Seven from 11:00PM in Melbourne

 

[Slax]

Originally posted by Ray Nolan
The game is live on Channel Seven from 11:00PM in Melbourne

That means ads during the match again. The sooner SA get the tv rights away from seven to SBS the better.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

I agree.

There coverage of the Ireland match was pretty poor.

SBS have great coverage of all soccer so I dont know why it would change with Aussie Internationals.

 

[CarterS]

mind my ignorance but when is the bloody game?

 

[wellsy]

Game is on tonight but i just went into my TV guide here and it doesnt look like it is on in WA! Hopefully im wrong but im guessing it is going to be delayed and the usually dodgy coverage will follow.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

Carter its on at 11:00 PM tonight.

I know its live on Channel 7 here in Melbourne.

Just checked and its also live at 11 in Brisbane. Its on at 10:30 pm in perth which isn't live.

 

[mattyc2422]

Socceroos starting eleven: Mark Schwarzer (gk); Lucas Neill, Stephen Laybutt, Tony Vidmar, Kevin Muscat, Marco Bresciano, Paul Okon, Josip Skoko, Scott Chipperfield, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka.