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Wednesday 22 June 2011

Aussie Starlets: Three to watch?

Mitchell Langerak, Mustifa Amini and Dylan Tombides.

All three are at top German or strong English Clubs - Langarek is proven as a keeper having played in the A-League and in the Asian Champions League and in Germany with Dortmund he can surely only improve and challenge Adam Federici in years to come for the Soccerooos spot.

Mustafa has played A-League at 17, in a dynamic central role and done well. He has a long way to go but the expected move to Dortmund could see him further progress.

And then Dylan Tombides at West Ham. At 17 he's massively strong, reminding some of a young Mark Viduka. Like Harry Kewell he's making his mark in the UK at a young age, making the bench recently for West Ham.

Tons of Aussies go overseas - most languish in Div 1, 2 or 3 of their national leagues. We need more Tim Cahills, Mark Vidukas, Harry Kewells, Craig Moores, Stan Lazaridis, Josip Skoko, Scott Chipperfield, Tony Popovic, Tony Vidmar, Brett Emerton, Vinny Grella, Marco Bresciano, John Aloisi,Josh Kennedy, Lucas Neill even Spider the list went on and on didn't it - playing in the major European leagues if we are to have a real chance of improving international results.

Arguably in the five years since 2006 only Brett Holman and Adam Federici have shown the ability to crack a contract and play consistently at a level high enough to make a major impact on the International stage.

Others like Matt Spiranovic, Rhys Williams, James Troisi, Michael Zullo, Mile Jedinak are possibly looking at maintaining their position in their teams or ready to make the next move in a year or two. But apart from Rhys Williams I won't be expecting too much.

But in the three players mentioned at the head of the article we have a spine developing - possible superstars - although there is an awful long way to go.

We need some players able to play Champions League a la the quality of a Kewell or Viduka - we'll always have the Stejovski, Wilkshire, Culina and co to put around them - but we need the creme.

The signs are encouraging that the next generation Socceroos are starting to progress still albeit a long long way behind the class of 2006 in terms of playing experience.

Remember Premier League players like Lazaridis and Skoko couldn't even get 5 minutes at a World Cup! What we'd give for a flying Stan the Man now! In Zullo maybe we have one, developing yes, certainly one to watch after recent attacking displays and getting game time like a young Emerton at full-back in the Dutch Ere Divisie.

I see no superstars in Neil Kilkenny, Jon McKain, Carl Valeri, Robbie Kruse, Dario Vidosic and that generation.

But maybe just maybe we have three to really build and improve a team in years to come.

Wouldn't it be great to see one or two young Aussies burst onto a World Cup field in 2014!

1 comment:

Jm said...

hey dont forget me as well. i think once canberra has a team i will finally get my chance to show how good i really are.

i scored a big goal last night at indoor with my left foot, i wish someone was recording it so i could show the big teams how good my left is cuz they already know im pretty good with the right, i would say about 85% right and 62% left and 90% with my head