At the end of the World Cup there is one outstanding certainty in Australian football - Mark Schwarzer, at the age of 37, is still our Number One. The only Australian to make the top 100 of the current Castrol Ratings - so good that even Arsenal want to tap into some of that Aussie good stuff.
And why not? On any assessment, the man is worth a good five places on the EPL ladder. He kept Boro up for years and as soon as he left they were relegated. Then he went to Fulham and turned the perennial mid-table plodders into European finalists. What could he do for Arsenal (who have been consistently let down by their keepers since the departure of Spunky Seaman)?
Believe it or not, Schwarzer still represents great value for Les Goonaires - even at £5 million. It is well documented that goalkeepers don't mature until their early 30s and some continue playing into their late 30s and even early 40s. There are plenty at Arsenal who remember Pat Jennings, who played his last first team game at 40. There was also Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton (still playing for Leyton Orient at 47), Neville Southall, Bruce Grobbelaar, Eric Judd and a host of others. Schwarzie might have years left.
Which is bad news indeed for the host of promising keepers who are now jostling for position behind the Great Man. Schwarzer has seen off Bosnich, Kalac, Covic and any number of Petkovics. But in the absence of cyborg enhancements or rejuvenating nano-technology, surely the end can't be too many years away. And when the end comes, who will be next in line to be judged against the benchMark?
This blog will investigate the credentials of Australia's up-and-comers vying to stand in Schwarzer's shoes (when the time comes) - starting with his colleagues on the recent trip to South Africa.
Adam Federici (25) - well entrenched as Reading's number one, Federici is widely regarded as next in line to stand twixt the sticks for Oz. He has earned rave reviews for his Championship performances and recently turned down an approach from Liverpool in order to maximise first team football and his chances for the Socceroos. For a fan like me who adores the Socceroos over all other teams (including my beloved Arsenal, Mariners and Avoca Sharks) that is extremely impressive. Liverpool would have been hard to turn down, but would he turn them down again (now that the World Cup is finished)?
Federici's great form was forged in the furnace of the lower English leagues (mostly on loan spells), and he has translated that experience into some strong performances for Australia (most notably at the Olympics in 2008). At 25, he has a long future in the professional game and has every right to expect "first cab off the rank" status. If Schwarzer decides he wants a rest, Federici would definitely be my choice at the Asian Cup in January.
Brad Jones (28) - has been first choice (mostly) at Middlesbrough since Schwarzer left in 2008 but has seen highs and lows, ranging from his penalty save against Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the 2006 FA Cup, to being pelted with coins by his own fans when playing on loan for Sheffield Wednesday. He also let the ball go straight through his hands on his international debut to allow the hated Alvaro Recoba to score for Uruguay.
I was lucky enough to watch Jones play for Boro against Arsenal at the Emirates in April 2009. He warmed up right in front of us and I said to my wife (Kazzie) before the game: "I reckon his timing is a bit off." You can just tell sometimes when a keeper isn't quite moving as he/she should, and while Jones couldn't be blamed for Arsenal's first goal, he had a fair bit to do with the second when he was way too slow off his line.
Has had plenty of injuries and other (sometimes dreadful) misfortunes and keeps fighting his way back into the first team at Boro, which speaks volumes for his guts and commitment - but fill Schwarzer's boots?
I'm not convinced.
Eugene Galekovic (29) - was out of favour at Melbourne Victory but moved to Adelaide United and has proved a revelation. He absolutely starred in the Asian Champion's League and definitely helped keep Adelaide comparatively respectable last season (despite winning the wooden spoon).
Galekovic has been the most consistent keeper over the last two A-League seasons, combining sound technique and solidity with countless world class saves. The bad news for Adelaide fans is that he is seeking a move to Europe to improve his chances with the Socceroos and, presuming he gets his wish, it will be very interesting to see how he steps up to confront a more demanding class of striker. I have no doubt that he is capable of taking his game to a much higher level and at 29 is entering the best years of his career.
In all likelihood, the incoming Australia coach will not be looking to the A-League for his first team keeper, so if Galekovic finds a berth in a more testing league overseas he has good prospects of taking over from Schwarzer if Federici can't take his chance when it comes.
But as I said at the start, Mark Schwarzer is still in brilliant form (what about that one-handed save down to his right against Ghana!) and has not ruled out playing for Australia at the next World Cup. Can he go another four years? If he's anything like Shilton, he might go another ten!
Tune in next week when I further analyse Mark Schwarzer's game and examine the keeping credentials of some of the younger candidates to fill his large, ominous and exalted boots.
Adrian Deans is the author of Mr Cleansheets - published by Vulgar Press, distributed by Dennis Jones and Associates and available in all good book stores.
