What do Lucas Neill and the IBM 5110 Computer both have in common? They're 35 years old, Obsolete and have limited capacity. The Current Socceroos team is in a state of Disarray after suffering back to back 6 nil losses at the hands of Brazil and France. Whilst Australia has taken baby steps since then by firing Socceroos coach Holger Osieck and gaining a 3 nil Victory over Canada in a Friendly match, it's merely a temporary solution. It seems odd to me that Osieck was fired 4 months after getting them to Brazil 2014, as I can't recall any other National team coach being sacked after getting there Country to a World Cup. The problem lies in the Socceroos team and its lack of depth. Having grown up as a 90's kid, I witnessed one of the strongest eras of the Socceroos when the starting 11 team comprised of players like Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, John Aloisi, Stan Lazaridis, Paul Okon, Robbie Slater, Alex Tobin, Ned Zelic, Craig Moore, Tony Popovic and Mark Bosnich. To compare that Socceroos team from the 1990's to the current Socceroos team, would be like comparing Barcelona FC to Macclefield Town F.C.
This article is not a beat up of how bad the Socceroos are, it's just the way the Cookie crumbles. Once Australian Football fans accept the fact that it's not the Coach who's at fault, it's in fact lack of depth, then we'll all be much better off. The Scotland National Team experienced it's Golden Age of Football in the 70's, 80's and 90's when the Country qualified for 6 out of the 7 World Cups between 1974 and 1998. During that time the Scots produced quality players like Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Gordon Strachan, Ally McCoist and the list goes on. Since 1998 however, Scotland have failed to qualify for a Major International Tournament (Euros and World Cups). This is not down to poor coaching and disunity, it's down to the fact that there's simply not enough talent in the National team at the moment. When talking about Scotland's abysmal 1986 World Cup campaign, Former Scottish Footballer Gordon Strachan famously said "People want answers as to why things didn't work out, but at the end of the day we were just Crap."
Although there's nothing much that can be done to revamp this current Socceroos side, one thing is blindingly obvious, LUCAS NEILL MUST GO. Neill is a deadweight in the side who passed his use by date years ago and is a detriment to team morale. His recent attack on the younger players of the squad (which saw Neill questioning how bad these youngsters really want to play for the Green and Gold), it's clear Neill is not the captain or player the Socceroos need anymore. And it's not the first time Neill's had a less than memorable moment with the Socceroos. Rewind the clock to Germany 2006 for the Italy v Australia match and it was his sliding tackle which cost Australia a penalty and, inevitably, the game. People can say what they like about the incident, dive or no dive Neill should never have made that tackle. He committed the cardinal sin of defending by making that tackle and, in doing so, cost Australia a place in the Quarter Finals. Had he been playing under a coach like Bill Shankly, Alf Ramsey or Alex Ferguson, he would have had a Crockett & Jones Imprint on his arse for the rest of his life.
After Australia's abysmal month of football, you'd think Neill would have had a big dose of humble pie; Unfortunately this was not the case. He proved yet again why he shouldn't be Socceroos captain after lashing out at Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich following comments Bosnich made calling for Neill's retirement as captain. For a player who had the turning capacity of the HMS Queen Mary, Neill should heed the call of Bosnich (and the Australian public) and retire. His ship sailed long ago and it's now time for a new era of Australian footballers to take the helm of this once proud Socceroos team.
Written by Alex Stilianos.
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