Picking a Socceroos Starting XI that will not be embarrassed in Brazil.

Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has shown great loyalty to the same eleven players in the past three world c

up qualifiers against the likes of Japan, Jordan and Iraq. Whilst Australia did secure qualification, albeit not in a particularly convincing manner, if they are to put up any sort of a fight in Brazil then Osieck must find a system and a group of players who will be able to match it with the world’s best.

Osieck's current favoured starting 11 from the qualifiers.

Osieck’s favoured starting eleven has an average age of 30.6 years, a remarkable statistic, especially when contrasted against tonight’s opponents Iraq, whose average age was a spritely 21. Australia certainly showed their age in attack at Stadium Australia, as they struggled to string together anything that resembled a fluid move in attack. Their reliance upon cross after cross after cross was a testament to their patience but it simply wasn’t productive. In the end it took a decision by Marco Bresciano to actually try passing the ball in the final third to finally find Josh Kennedy's head and in turn the decisive goal that secured qualification for the under par Aussies.

If Australia are to score goals in Brazil then they must find a balance between experience and youth, speed and technical ability. Where they have previously employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, they would perhaps be more suited to a 4-3-3 which would allow them to use Tom Rogic through the middle, push Brett Holman out to the left wing and allow for Tommy Oar’s pace to be an asset off the bench.

Rogic brings a great deal of technical ability to the table and offers a different dimension to the Socceroos attack. Brett Holman showed in the 2010 world cup in South Africa just what a destructive force he can be playing on the left, and this is where he can provide the Aussies with a real threat coming from wide and cutting into the middle with a view of goal. As for Tommy Oar, he is simply not ready for international football yet, whilst he provides pace, youth and energy, his form is sporadic and he tends to go missing just when he is most needed.

A new look 4-3-3 formation could provide a new dimension to the Socceroos going forward.

In terms of defence, the Aussies are already playing their best back four aside from one small issue. Matt Mckay is simply not a left back and if Australia are to solidify their defensive structure then it will suit them to have a natural left back in the side whose positioning is spot on and who will not lose his man as Mckay has recently been prone to doing. Therein lies a depth issue in Australian football, there is no man in the squad who is an international quality left back and so Mckay will have to do for the Aussies into Brazil.

On the whole, the Socceroos and their German coach Holger Osieck should be over the moon about their qualification to Brazil but if they are to stay in such a happy mood changes must be made to their side or else they will be delivered a wakeup call by whichever of the world’s best sides they are drawn up against in the opening rounds. Against sides of the calibre of Iraq and Jordan they are expected to win easily and judging by their inability to cement their qualification earlier it would seem they are simply not up to the lofty standards of the 32 best footballing nations in the world.

That’s Rosey’s wrap on how the Socceroos should line up in Brazil,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

An Analysis of Liverpool's tactical failings - Liverpool vs West Ham (7/4/13)

While watching Liverpool and more specifically Luis Suarez struggle at the hands of lowly West Ham, who may I add haven’t won a match at Anfield for the past 50 years, I realized something. The fact is, that Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool are unbelievably hit and miss, and this is exactly the reason why they are languishing in 7^th place in the Barclays Premier League.

Against West Ham, Liverpool controlled 65% of possession, and were still unable to find the net despite unleashing 20 shots on goal. It dawned on me in this match that Liverpool are far too over reliant on the flashy tricks and flicks of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho; they lack a striker who can command time and attention from opposition centre backs in order to allow Luis Suarez to roam the area and shark as many goals as he wishes. Sure, Daniel Sturridge was a welcome addition to the Liverpool strike force, but he simply does not add anything, aside from a slightly better conversion rate, than that of what Suarez and Coutinho already bring. This is why I believe that if Andy Carroll can maintain some sort of form and touch he could be exactly what is needed for Brendan Rodgers’ system to take Liverpool to the summit of English football. A big body, who can hold up the ball, add aerial prowess for the likes of Stewart Downing to find in the box and at times someone who can storm through a defence and strike when needed, as he did twice for West Ham against West Brom last week. Yes, Carroll doesn’t necessarily fit the Rodgers system but what he does do is add an extra dimension to the system, he would give time to the wide men, tie up a centre back and provide an extra target.

Another thing that I noticed was the ineffectiveness of Lucas Leiva playing in the holding midfield role; he simply hasn’t been up to par in the last few matches. If Liverpool are to win big matches, and for that matter matches against mid-table opponents like West Ham, they must stop leaking goals and they must have someone who can provide physicality in the midfield, without committing needless fouls like Lucas has been guilty of in recent times. It may just be a poor patch of form for Lucas, but one thing is for sure, Rodgers must provide competition for him in the squad and think long and hard about dropping him if he wishes for an improvement in results. A look at Liverpool’s current squad provides the reason why Lucas has been an almost ever present figure in the side since returning from injury. The other players capable of filling a holding role in midfield in the squad are Steven Gerrard, who is far too valuable further up the pitch to play in this role, and Jordan Henderson, who I would like to see in this role but is currently preferred in a more advanced role alongside Gerrard.

Liverpool are a side who have struggled against top opponents this season, something that they hadn’t been guilty of under the likes of Kenny Dalglish. I put this down to a simple lack of consistency as well as a leaky defence who have conceded cheap goals far too often this season. Albeit, against West Ham they managed a clean sheet but they almost managed to gift West Ham a goal when Lucas Leiva coughed the ball up to Carlton Cole and Daniel Agger managed to save the day with an outstanding block.  Against the current premier league top 6, Liverpool have managed one victory against Tottenham just a few weeks ago. Why is it that a side of the calibre of Liverpool simply hasn’t managed victories in these games? The answer is simply consistency. The current system employed by Brendan Rodgers has far too much of a reliance of Luis Suarez who can be stifled by a very strong or very skilled central defender. There is quite simply no plan B. Luis Suarez is always the target and thus good teams are fully aware that if they stop Suarez, they stop Liverpool.

Overall, Liverpool lack two things. A physical holding midfield presence, similar to the likes of Mohamed Diamé for West Ham, and a strong centre forward, the likes of Andy Carroll conveniently or Christian Benteke. If Rodgers hopes for a top four finish or better next season he must sure up these areas of his squad in the upcoming transfer window and add an extra dimension to his sides attacking play that doesn’t revolve around Luis Suarez’ fancy footwork.

That's Rosey's roundup on Liverpool vs West Ham, 

By Jake Rosengarten