TBH the point is that you really have to play or have played for one of the 'big clubs' in the ALM to be considered in most cases. At the beginning of the ALM Alex Wilkinson was by far the best defender. Instead Spiranovic was lauded. Wilkinson only got picked when he was overseas and then continued to be picked when to be honest he was in nowhere near the form he was earlier.
Guus picked Wilkshire from unfashionable Bristol City who went on to be a regular for the Socceroos for 80 games. I suspect that Popa at this stage has not done the homework across the board that Arnold did over a number of years and has relied on players he knows. He now has time to do that homework. Guus picked only a few ALM players but would have know the majority of the NT from Europe. TBH the team that qualified will probably struggle to make the top 32 at the World Cup.
As you said Teague didn’t get to as many against Japan, but still won 3 out of 3 unique 1v1s contested in the first 45 mins. The maxim is the best players often possess a strong self-belief that they can make a difference when they have the ball. This confidence allows them to take initiative and make plays that others might not attempt. In my mind Teague, because of the Japanese press, was not confident enough to put himself in the position to influence the game the way others would which meant we avoided the midfield. Yes it was caused by the Japanese press, but it isn't going to get any easier at the World Cup.
You can justify stats to why Teague did ok to well in the games but that is not the point. He wasn't the best performer before that i find it hard to justify him in the squad at all and your stats make no allowance for his lack of willingness to take on difficult balls. His run of the mill games in the ALM over the last couple of season were pretty good but he got outplayed in the big games. How many small games will there be at the World Cup.
Good post, PJ. You've made a lot of good points!
Not quite sure what 'lack of willingness to take on difficult balls' means?
It wasn't just Teague who was closed down. Ditto O'Neill. Japan brilliantly targeted this area.
I'm not sure that CCM players are overlooked by not being a big club? Having said this, I agree with you that as soon as Ange chose Wilko as a CB, he immediately did a good job for the Socceroos. Wilko should have been selected a lot earlier.
Sains, as a Mariner, was identified a lot earlier as a potential Socceroo. He had a few very good seasons whilst young, then played virtually no club football for years.
For mine, Nisbet's skill set is needed more than Balard's for the Socceroos, despite where they play their current football. I'd love to know Popa's rationale for overlooking Nisbet?
The other issue, is that players always have, and always will, make club career choices that can be detrimental to their international careers.
Like Wilko, Arnie made a huge mistake selecting Geraint Jones, et al, over Jason Geria. Like Wilko, Geria has one straight into the Socceroos and been one of the better players on a consistent basis.
