The Australian public has more than got off on the wrong foot with Holman. Many despair at his inclusion in the Socceroos squad, and few names spark such negative scrutiny within the green and gold faithful.

Amongst his detractors are the 582 members of the Facebook group 'Brett Holman is a joke', or followers of the other many anti-Holman groups on the networking site including 'Do not play Brett Holman', 'Get Brett Holman out the Socceroos squad' and 'If Brett Holman goes to South Africa. I'm NOT!'.

Our hands aren't clean this end either. The August issue gave our rundown of the '50 Best Aussie Players In The World' including a total of 19 A-League players, but no Holman.

Despite such dejection, Holman has retained his Socceroo spot and seems at home in the set-up ahead of the World Cup next year.

"He's definitely someone who can make a telling pass in a game," says Socceroos hero Tim Cahill. "He can play behind a striker, as a striker and he can play as a right winger.

"I know his character and he's one of those players who keeps us on our toes. I'm very happy he's playing regularly and with Australia he trains really hard and he's very committed and is a great footballer."

Even more importantly the man in charge keeps selecting Holman.

"Brett is improving a lot," says Pim Verbeek. "Normally he plays behind the striker but at AZ he's a right winger. He's played almost every game and he's very important for their team. He's always been very important for us."

The show of support from within the Socceroos camp has failed to stem the flow of venom directed at Holman from frustrated fans, a barracking which gives Holman the unwanted tag of the least popular member of the Socceroos squad.

But is that tag justified?

We are talking about a 25-year old with 28 Socceroos caps in the last three years. He plays regular Champions League football in the wake of winning the Dutch Eredivisie championship with AZ Alkmaar last season. He has been a starter for AZ this season under Dutch legend Ronald Koeman, while remaining a regular part of Pim Verbeek's Socceroos squads since his appointment. 

The disparity between Holman's achievements and public opinion centres partly on the idea that he is what you might term 'a coaches' player'. Fans fail to see his merit as they are busy ball-watching, while Holman's movement off the ball and tireless application puts pressure on the opposition and creates opportunities for his teammates.

"I'd totally agree with that," says Kelly Cross, FFA National Coach Education Manager and the NSW coach who groomed a young Holman before his departure to Europe in 2002. "He has always been a coaches' player. Remember Pim is a wise coach and wouldn't have anyone in his team who was a makeweight. Fans are fickle. I'm sure Brett isn't losing sleep over what fans think of him as he's in the team."

Cross believes Holman's lack of fan favour is sparked by two factors: that he hasn't scored enough goals for the national team and he's not the prettiest player to watch.

"Brett was always tremendously focused and determined," recalls Cross of a 15-year old Holman. "He was a bit of a larrikin too off-the-field, but on it he was focused on scoring goals for the team. And he proved to be a prolific goalscorer at youth level. It was no surprise that he got a move to Europe so quickly based on his talent."

Cross also notes that Holman has never been a player to use silky skills and stepovers - for him, it has always been about determination, power and strength - and that any doubters should just look at his playing record.

"When you look at how long Brett has managed to play in Europe and the amount of international appearances, then you would have to say he's done well on paper," adds Cross.

FourFourTwo recently met Holman in person to find out from the man himself why his on-pitch credentials and off-field value seem so far removed.

"You would have to ask the fans why," says Holman, on his lack of favour with Socceroos fans. "I've been happy with the games I've played for Australia. I've spoken to the coach and he's been happy with me.

"As for the supporters, you can't say much about it. You do your job and as long as the manager keeps picking you and is happy with the performances, then that's what is important. It is a shame as you always want to make your supporters happy, but as long as the manager and I'm happy with the way I'm playing, then the rest doesn't really bother me."

It wasn't always this way. If we cast our minds back to March 2007 when the Socceroos picked up a 2-0 win in China, the architect of the victory that day was Holman, who scored his first international goal and gained the rep of being a true rising Socceroo star. But that strike in a friendly at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium two and a half years ago has proved to be his only to date. Why hasn't he kicked on in the green and gold, particularly in front of goal...

"That was the only time I have ever got to play behind Mark Viduka," Holman says defensively. "You have to look at the role I've been playing since. Dukes was a typical centre-forward and that's something we don't have in the Socceroos anymore.

"Maybe things haven't gone as I've planned since that [China] game, but you have to be realistic with yourself. When you have Timmy Cahill, Mark Bresciano and Harry Kewell who can play the same role as me, you have to take any chance you get."

Holman has played second fiddle to that midfield trio since, while domestically in Holland with AZ Alkmaar he found his opportunities limited last season. It is never easy for players to spend time warming the bench, especially as the modest AZ surpassed expectations by winning the Dutch Eredivisie last season. Holman picked up a winners' medal, but only five starts.

"It was frustrating last season as I was doing all the right things and giving myself every chance to get in the team," says Holman. "It was just that we had a fantastic year and won nearly every game, and you're not going to change a winning team. That was unfortunate for me."

After the last couple of years on the fringe both at home and overseas, this season has seen Holman reborn as AZ defend their title.

With their title winning coach Louis van Gaal landing what he termed a "dream job" with German giants Bayern Munich, another Dutchman has stepped into the void - Ronald Koeman.

A new coach has heralded a new Holman. This season Holman is in the type of red-hot form with AZ that could thaw the frostiest of receptions he receives in Australia.

"Koeman is very different to Louis van Gaal," explains Holman. "He is less dominant and gives the players more responsibility, where van Gaal was more about doing things his way. Both ways work, but it is always good to get more responsibility from the coach and to do the job on the pitch your way. Then you have your own personality on the pitch. Van Gaal was about filling in the job the way he wanted.

"I had a good chat with Koeman when he got appointed and he seemed like he wanted to try different things and give me a chance."

It was a chance Holman took with both hands, nailing down a regular spot within AZ's midfield both domestically and in the Champions League. A flurry of assists, including one against EPL giants Arsenal, and the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Willem II seems to have cemented his place in the first XI.

His prospects were further boosted pre-season by the departure of midfielder Demy de Zeeuw to Ajax in the closed season for a fee thought to be around  ?7.5m ($12.3m).

"I've filled into his [de Zeeuw's] role and hopefully I can continue to do just that. We play a 4-4-2 with me on the right outside, but I have a lot of freedom. I'm more of an attacking player than de Zeeuw, and so far so good."

That might be the case for Holman, but in terms of AZ's title defense this season, after losing just four games en route to the title last term, the club has lost six of their opening 11 fixtures in the league and were kicked out of the Champions League in the group stages.

"It is going to be hard for us to win back-to-back titles this season. It is always difficult for a club like AZ who are not part of the 'Big Three' in the Netherlands - PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord. AZ are still a club that always wants to contest for the championship and if that happens every five years they should be happy with that," says Holman of the club who has only won the title twice in their 42 year history.

"For me having a regular spot at AZ helps with my confidence and getting into the flow with your teammates. If you are running high on confidence then you can take that form into international football too."

Finding a regular home in the AZ first team should get Holman over the line for a place in Verbeek's 23 going to the World Cup next year, but there is likely to still be question marks over his place in the team and what he adds to the squad from many fans.

So how does Holman define his role within the Socceroos set-up?

"I'm a player who if a couple of players do fall away then I'm more than happy to fill that role," admits Brett. "You can't get ahead of yourself with the players we have in the squad. I got a half of football when Timmy came off in Ireland and that's when I need to fill-in."

So what does Holman need to do between now and South Africa to only ensure his place, but to make the Australian public see what Pim and company currently do?

"I just need to carry on working hard at what I'm good at and playing regularity at AZ. I'm happy at the moment, but I don't think you're settled anywhere with football. I've still got three more years on my deal at AZ."

And for the Socceroos? "I'm realistic, I'd be happy to sit on the bench at the World Cup and take any chance I get in games to make an impact then."

Holman has limited opportunities between now and the World Cup to prove his Socceroos worth, but with regular domestic football and constant selection under Verbeek, he looks a lock to be on the plane to South Africa next year.

Fans would be well advised to cut Holman some slack because it is him who is picked to represent our country on the world's stage. Holman the fans' favourite seems a distant possibility, but while the men who really matter continue to persevere with him, like it or not Socceroos fans, Brett is here to stay.

Brett Holman was speaking to us as an ambassador for the Nike brand.