Tom Rogic
Rogitch? Rogik? I’m not sure, but one thing is for sure. This guy has feet. The Socceroos were plodding along to an absolute hammering of Jordan in June of 2013. When
Olger Hosieck, the most recent of strangely named Dutch/German Socceroos coaches, brought on the Tom (no one is currently calling him the Tom, I’m trying to get it off the ground here though).
The game had been one of comical defending, some nice work out wide by Robbie Kruse and some good deliveries into the box, whilst still managing to look suitably uneasy at the back against a Montrose FC’s 3rdflick and a kick. He had gone through two of Jordan’s hacks, come out with the ball and no lasting injuries and had his head up looking forward. This is what Australia needs. A playmaker. Deep-lying or in behind the striker, we need someone who can play the last or second to last pass which will set up scoring chances. Or just one in historically cagey international tournaments like say….the World Cup? His transfer to Celtic and loan back to Melbourne Victory have done nothing to dent the ability of ‘The Tom’ to instill faith in me that he can be the first true ball player in the Socceroos for many a year. Kewell was a wide man, Cahill a battler, Viduka an out and out striker. This is the once in a generation player we have been waiting for, receiving the ball out from Sainsbury, darting through a challenge, slipping Holman through who puts it on a plate for….Cahill or Duke or Kennedy or someone willing to step up and play the strikers role.
Tom Rogic is the player that every other player needs in the Socceroos setup as he can play a pass, beat a defender and do things with the ball that will end up in highlights rather than bloopers reels. As his fitness and strength improve he will only become better as a classic box-to-box midfielder, threatening with late runs, and controlling the midfield with aplomb, or simply using his divine skills to play players in for easy goals. The best players are the ones who can hurt at any moment of any game. ‘The Tom’ is one of those. He MUST get minutes in Brazil for his and the Socceroos’ future.
Lucas Neill
Popular opinion, combined with his own poor attitude and a general acceptance of the passing of time has seen Lucas Neill become one of the only true pariahs of the Socceroos. Underachieving for 20 years didn’t incur the wrath that Lucas Neill managed to generate for inciting his own crowd. Refusing to accept blame for 6-0 losses and other misdemeanours not directly related to kicking a circular pigskin with leather around it. Probably Australia’s best ever centre half, but also Australia’s biggest knobhead soccer player and when you have produced Craig Johnstone and Harry Kewell.
They say that great champions are humble in victory and defeat. Lucas Neill is neither. He wants the credit for good performances and refuses to take criticism for poor ones, and of late he seems to be churning more of the latter. His ability to excel in the Aussie back 4 for so long is a testament to his undying ability to play the ultimate dog-fighting role in defence.
He chased, harried, harassed, hurt and humiliated opponents for many a year in the EPL, but now he is restricted to calamitous defending and the odd on-field outburst. Lacking speed, grace, personality and anything else you want to associate with a good role model/central defender, it appears as though finally his days have been given a number. Postecoglou is looking to shake things up to make sure this job is the permanent standing he wants it to be and if so the first step is Lucas Neill out (Sainsbury in).
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Contact Luke Gordon at [email protected]