Too early to guess. Luongo came out of nowhere. Guys like
Panos Armenakas - Udinese
Xane Zaineddine - ?
Gian Mendez - Valencia
might make the step up.
Exciting to watch how the team evolves though.
I really hope Amini gets into the squad.
You're right there - The Hun in Melbourne had an article with the FFA's new TD talking about the succession planning.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/f...215265480?nk=ee892aabcd8ecf5c55a32edfa8d38bf4
New FFA technical director Eric Abrams calls for more younger teams to supplement Socceroos
- DAVID DAVUTOVIC
- HERALD SUN
- FEBRUARY 10, 2015 10:21PM
Eric Abrams wants Aussie teams to play more international football.
A SOCCEROOS coach will never have to sacrifice results while experimenting, Australian football’s new youth guru has declared.
FFA technical director Eric Abrams also revealed that an Under 15 youth Socceroos side would be installed as part of a youth development overhaul.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou won the Asian Cup against the odds, forced to radically overhaul an ageing, declining squad in just 14 months.
In using 44 players in 12 games, he found Mat Ryan, Ivan Franjic, Trent Sainsbury, Massimo Luongo and Jason Davidson while blooding many more youngsters.
Belgian Abrams, recently appointed to replace Dutchman Han Berger, said experimentation must be done in Australian youth sides, up to the Olyroos (Under 23s).
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will have a unique role to play.
“For me it’s unbelievable that the Socceroos head coach needs 12 months to try a lot of players to see what the best team is to bring in for the Asian Cup. This process must be done before,’’ Abrams said.
“The Belgian head coach (Marc Wilmots) can now say, these are the guys who can step up from our Olympic team (U23).
“We intend to organise more national teams (in Australia). It will benefit us if we have more younger national teams, to give more players international experience.
“The Under 17s play in the Asian Cup and can qualify for a World Cup every two years, but we won’t just have that team.
“We want to have an Under 15 and 16 and start a succession plan to the Socceroos from there.’’
Postecoglou’s unique role will see him act as the overlord for the Joeys (U17), Young Socceroos (U20) and Olyroos, while Abrams is responsible for a uniform national system up to age 16.
Abrams, a key player in overhauling Belgium’s youth system whose production line is among the best in the world - Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) and Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) just to name a few - said coach education and communication were crucial.
“There must be a succession plan and it’s good that Ange is not only the Socceroos coach, he’s the consultant for our national teams and working together with me in the whole process,’’ he said.
“A holistic approach can make us a lot stronger, it must be one team working.
“So our under 19 coach Paul Okon must know the Under 17 players who are ready (to step up).
“There must be overlap with all the teams and good meetings and discussions.’’
