The 16th of November is a famous date in Australian football.

It was that night in 2005 when we finally exorcised the demons of 32 years and beat Uruguay on penalties.

All attention now falls to 16 November 2023 and our latest squad – who’s been selected and who ought to play.

Arnie is notorious for playing his more experienced favourites, but that’s fair enough given our recent success. It’s also noticeable that he doesn’t stick forever with those not getting regular minutes so I guess we have to accept he’s a man of his word when he says he picks on form.

Goalkeepers

Maty Ryan; Joe Gauci; Ashley Maynard-Brewer

I’d expect Ryan to start (at least in the first match) but I really rate Gauci and would like to see him get significant minutes over the next year – Maty needs to be properly challenged for his spot. Maynard-Brewer is very young (for a keeper) so is likely to be just getting exposure to the group.

Defenders

Lewis Miller; Ryan Strain; Harry Souttar; Cam Burgess; Kye Rowles; Alessandro Circati; Jordy Bos; Aziz Behich

You only have to look at the quality of those left out (or injured) to appreciate how strong we are at the back. Arnie will have a difficult time picking on form but will probably go with the tried and trusted.

I’ve rated Ryan Strain for a long time and, as Nat Atkinson is injured (and has never quite nailed down the spot) I think Strain is very likely to emerge as our long term RB with Lewis Miller to keep him honest.

Harry Souttar, despite not being in favour in clubland, has too many Brownie Points to miss out. I expect his partner to be Cam Burgess who looked awfully good in recent matches. Circati and Rowles will be pushing like mad to impress the coach but are likely to start on the bench, unless Rowles keeps his spot at LB.

He’s not a specialist there, and most judges will tell you Jordy Bos is a superstar in waiting at LB. I’d pick Jordy, but Arnie is known for his loyalty and I don’t see why he’d go on picking the veteran (Behich) if he didn’t intend to play him.

Circati’s apprenticeship will continue but he has a huge future in the Socceroos.

Midfield

Keanu Baccus; Massimo Luongo; Jackson Irvine; Connor Metcalfe; Aiden O’Neill; Sam Silvera; Martin Boyle; Craig Goodwin

Depending on Arnie’s shape... he’s mainly played 4231 over the years so, against the stronger teams, you’d have a double pivot – suggesting Baccus and Luongo – but against the sides we expect to beat you’d either change the shape or have an attacker next to Baccus (who’s now one of the first picked). I’d expect Baccus and Irvine to start in the middle.

That would then probably mean Boyle, Metcalfe and Goodwin in front of them, with a striker at the spearhead.

Mind you, Arnie likes his wingbacks to attack and overlap, which also frees him up for a 433. Against teams we want to attack for 90 minutes, maybe that’s a better way to get more goalscoring options into the final third?

Could that mean Baccus, Irvine and Metcalfe, with three up front?

Forwards

Jamie MacLaren; Brandon Borello; Mitchell Duke; Kusini Yengi

If Arnie goes 4231 then you’d imagine Duke will start. If the game is going according to plan then at least two of the others will get minutes – probably all of them over two matches.

If Arnie goes 433 then it could mean Boyle, Duke and Goodwin, and while that certainly represents strong firepower, I’m not seeing much in the way of X Factor or explosive pace.

There’s no Garang Kuol, or Irankunda, or Arzani (who is starting to look like his old self). Riley McGree is also injured and he's always first XI for my money. Probably the best in the way of a Wild Card in this squad is Sammy Silvera, who I expect to get minutes – probably when the match is already won, but he’ll become a starting player over the course of this campaign.

I’m also very interested to see what Yengi can do. After a good start at Adelaide, I was unimpressed with him at Western Sydney but looks like he’s back on track at Portsmouth. A big, fast number nine – good in the air – is always handy.

Arnie’s Expected Team

                        Ryan

Strain   Souttar      Burgess      Behich

            Baccus     Irvine

Boyle               Metcalfe          Goodwin

                        Duke

My Team

        Gauci

Strain   Souttar      Burgess      Bos

                    Baccus

            Irvine               Metcalfe

     Boyle          Duke         Silvera       

 

With minutes for Circati, Luongo, Goodwin, Yengi and others as required.

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) was published by Hague Publishing in July 2023. The ebook can be purchased here and the paperback can be ordered here or at your local store.