With all the recent talk about generational change for the Socceroos and the absence
of opportunities to test the up-and-comers, this week’s East Asian Cup
Qualifiers are a godsend for Holger Osieck, irrespective of the ultimate
result. It gives him a chance to check out the new generation in a competitive
context but without doing any damage to the competitions that really matter.

Plenty of good judges have been on Holger’s back to give the kids a chance, while
others have defended his (apparently) conservative selections, saying his job
is to qualify for the World Cup Finals – not to worry about development for the
future.

But why should we have to wait for a convenient tournament to happen along to give
chances to the young blood?

I would like to propose an annual match – the Overseas Socceroos versus the
A-League All-stars. With the right sort of marketing it might even become
football’s equivalent of the State of Origin.

I, for one, would just love the spectacle but imagine the debate over who should
make which side? At the moment we only get one debate – this would give us
three: best XI for the OS team, best A-League team, and best team overall –
maybe to be selected straight after the game for another match against a top
international team a few days later - or even World Cup Qualifiers.

So, indulge me for a moment. If such a game was to be played next week, who would
be selected in each team (presuming four subs plus extra goalkeeper)?

Here are my selections:

Overseas Socceroos:

GK: Schwarzer, Langerak

D: McGowan, Wilkshire, Neill, Williams, Zullo

M: Kruse, McKay, Holman, Sarota, Holland, Oar

S: Rukavytsya, Cahill, Babalj

A-League All-stars:

GK: Galekovic, Ryan

D: Marrone, Thwaite, Milligan, Sainsbury, Behich

M: Garcia, Rogic, Mooy, Burns, Jamieson

S: Thompson, Vidosic, Djite

You could have any number of arguments about these two teams and the many players
who miss out (like, Federici, Spiranovic, Ognenovski, Cornthwaite, Valeri,
Jedinak, Emerton, Bresciano, Leckie, Brosque, Kennedy, McDonald, Troisi) but
what it demonstrates is the depth we suddenly have to pick from. Hard to pick a
Socceroos first XI, just looking at these two teams – they’d have to fight to
the death.

It would also be good for coaches. Holger (or whoever the incumbent was) might pick
the teams but otherwise stand aside and let the two teams be coached by
selected A-League coaches from time to time. For example, Graham Arnold versus
Ange Postecoglou (with each to pick an A-League head coach assistant) would be
interesting and would help enormously with development and networking.

The tournament could possibly be played in mid-late May when the European season is
over. The A-League All-stars would have been picked by the end of March, so
they’d have to keep themselves fit and report for training a week before the
game.

We usually have Socceroos games in June anyway so this would certainly help with
selection.

I’d be the first bloke in line to get a ticket.

 

Adrian Deans is the author of Mr Cleansheets, published by Vulgar Press and available
in all good book shops. (ebook available also).