So Viduka could face another six months on the sidelines? Am I the only one past caring if Dukes returns to our national set-up or not?
Viduka turned 33 last Thursday and will be nearly 35 when the World Cup in South Africa comes round. If we wait a further six months for the cumbersome forward to get "fit", it will mean he’ll return in mid-April 2009. By that time we would have played World Cup qualifying games against Qatar, Bahrain, Japan and Uzbekistan, alongside Asian Cup Qualifying matches against Kuwait and Indonesia. If we’re going well in these games then why bother even consider bringing the big man back into the fold?
A fully fit Socceroos squad has enough quality to ensure we can look forward to South Africa 2010, not reminisce with the players of Germany 2006.
We have goals throughout the team from the likes of Bresciano, Kewell, Cahill and Chipperfield, who all have decent domestic and international scoring records. A little fact for you – Viduka joined the Socceroos fray in 1994 and has gone on to score 11 international goals, Chipperfield got his first cap in 1998 and after his vital winner in Uzbekistan has scored 12 international goals.
We also have a glut of non-Viduka quality up top. It is now time to weigh up our other options and while we’re on the subject of weight, let’s start with Scott McDonald. He may have failed to score for the Socceroos yet, but has been hitting the back of the net in the Scottish Premier League for years. Before you belittle the SPL, it is worth noting the pre-McDonald Celtic goal machine was Henrik Larsson, who scored 37 goals in 99 games at international level for Sweden, including goals at three World Cups. Melbourne-born McDonald is 25 and if he can get himself fit is at a perfect age to lead the line in South Africa.
If we’re looking for salvation, who better than the Jesus look-a-like that is Joshua Kennedy? After eight Socceroos games he’s already averaging a goal every other game. The giant forward is also a decent age at 26. Then there’s Bruce Djite, a huge bundle of budding offensive talent. Strong, quick and only 21. We have A-League quality too and you can make arguments for Melbourne duo Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson, the Griffiths brothers, young Matt Simon is going great guns for the Mariners, even John Aloisi if he finds his form at Sydney. Plus Kewell, who can't stop scoring for new club Galatasaray, can be pushed as far up front as needed.
Don’t worry about losing our captain either. We have tailor-made replacements in Kewell and Neill, with the latter already doing a great job wearing the arm band for Premiership outfit West Ham.
So there it is. We have other attacking options, supported by goals from midfield and a solid platform of experienced defenders and goalkeepers. Cheers for your efforts Dukes, we won’t forget what you have done for this country, but it terms of South Africa 2010: thanks, but no thanks. We don’t need you anymore.
Viduka turned 33 last Thursday and will be nearly 35 when the World Cup in South Africa comes round. If we wait a further six months for the cumbersome forward to get "fit", it will mean he’ll return in mid-April 2009. By that time we would have played World Cup qualifying games against Qatar, Bahrain, Japan and Uzbekistan, alongside Asian Cup Qualifying matches against Kuwait and Indonesia. If we’re going well in these games then why bother even consider bringing the big man back into the fold?
A fully fit Socceroos squad has enough quality to ensure we can look forward to South Africa 2010, not reminisce with the players of Germany 2006.
We have goals throughout the team from the likes of Bresciano, Kewell, Cahill and Chipperfield, who all have decent domestic and international scoring records. A little fact for you – Viduka joined the Socceroos fray in 1994 and has gone on to score 11 international goals, Chipperfield got his first cap in 1998 and after his vital winner in Uzbekistan has scored 12 international goals.
We also have a glut of non-Viduka quality up top. It is now time to weigh up our other options and while we’re on the subject of weight, let’s start with Scott McDonald. He may have failed to score for the Socceroos yet, but has been hitting the back of the net in the Scottish Premier League for years. Before you belittle the SPL, it is worth noting the pre-McDonald Celtic goal machine was Henrik Larsson, who scored 37 goals in 99 games at international level for Sweden, including goals at three World Cups. Melbourne-born McDonald is 25 and if he can get himself fit is at a perfect age to lead the line in South Africa.
If we’re looking for salvation, who better than the Jesus look-a-like that is Joshua Kennedy? After eight Socceroos games he’s already averaging a goal every other game. The giant forward is also a decent age at 26. Then there’s Bruce Djite, a huge bundle of budding offensive talent. Strong, quick and only 21. We have A-League quality too and you can make arguments for Melbourne duo Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson, the Griffiths brothers, young Matt Simon is going great guns for the Mariners, even John Aloisi if he finds his form at Sydney. Plus Kewell, who can't stop scoring for new club Galatasaray, can be pushed as far up front as needed.
Don’t worry about losing our captain either. We have tailor-made replacements in Kewell and Neill, with the latter already doing a great job wearing the arm band for Premiership outfit West Ham.
So there it is. We have other attacking options, supported by goals from midfield and a solid platform of experienced defenders and goalkeepers. Cheers for your efforts Dukes, we won’t forget what you have done for this country, but it terms of South Africa 2010: thanks, but no thanks. We don’t need you anymore.
