Socceroos’ progress highlights potential transfer targets within their ranks

The footballing transfer window is open for another couple of weeks and if I was an English club’s manager I would be casting an eye over potential targets from the Socceroos’ ranks. Ange Postecoglou’s men have done everything that has been asked of them in successfully progressing to the semi-finals of the Asia Cup with a real flourish. Tim Cahill has rightly won plaudits for his goalscoring heroics. He may have even more to come, but looking to the future, if I was a scout I would be on the phone to base camp about the potential of attackers Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse. Alas, the days of my beloved Blackburn Rovers being able to carry out such transfer raids are a distant memory. To quote Thin Lizzy from Dancing in the Moonlight, ‘the last bus is long gone.’ The hapless, hopeless ill-advised Indian owners have long since transformed us into Blackburn Who? And yet a few years ago we could have potentially targeted either of these young guns who have mightily impressed me during the Aussie campaign. Somebody else should move in quick. Both ply their trade in Germany but would surely be open to moves to England. Just a thought. Meanwhile, I can’t believe Tim Cahill still has some doubters. I watch the Socceroos as an interested onlooker. I wish them well but I don’t jump on bandwagons. I’m English. However, I read some story which suggested that Cahill’s goals are flukes. Tosh. The bloke is amazing. He’s not even a proper striker, having been a non-stop goalscoring, energised midfielder for most of his time at Everton. But he does a great job in a position that has been largely forced on him because of Australia’s lack of options up front. His bicycle kick goal against China was spectacular but the second – a header – really made me take notice. Cahill is not a tall bloke yet he seems to be able to float above defenders. The only other player I’ve seen in the flesh who I can recall possessing such a similar ability was Alan Shearer, during his four seasons at Ewood. He was hardly towering but strong as a pub bouncer and seemed to fly like Superman, wearing a Rovers shirt rather than a cape. One of his classic headed goals came against his future hometown employers Newcastle United on the 50^th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) in 1995. Naturally, the tabloid press turned that into Victory at Ewood Day. Shearer climbed to the heavens to firmly plant home the winner in a tense 1-0 win that Monday night. It was crucial on our nerve-ridden stumble towards a Premiership title all those years ago. I’ve seen grainy black and white TV images of Bolton Wanderers’ legend Nat Lofthouse doing similar. And ‘Wor Jackie’ – Jackie Milburn, the Geordie idol, ditto. So in my eyes, Cahill is in hallowed company. Not bad for a makeshift striker. Cahill is busy at club level in the US but I reckon he could still do a great job in the Premier League. Canny operators such as Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce would surely be thinking: “I wonder if…” Finances might dictate otherwise. So the Socceroos are providing fine entertainment. And taking my mind off England’s continued cricketing woes in the one-dayers against Australia. But that’s another story…

Perfect scenario for Socceroos to take centre stage

A programme cropped up on the Fox History Channel this week that seemed worthy of taping for future watching. The reign of William the Conqueror looked a ‘must see’ for fans of English history so the ‘record’ button was duly pressed. With that safely done, the only problem now is when I am gonna have a chance to watch the show. There is so much sport on the box that is providing riveting viewing that I can’t seem to find time to pause for a swift helping of history. At the moment the final Test between Australia and India is bubbling up to an entertaining finish at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Channel 9 commentary team are doing their usual thorough job of keeping us up to date on proceedings. Then in the evenings, a quick flick of the button takes us to Channel 10 where the Big Bash is hurtling along at a furious pace. I admit I’m ‘old school’ and it’s taken me a while to warm to the frantic goings-on in the 20-over format. But you can’t argue with the fact that the hurly-burly razzmatazz is drawing bumper crowds through the gates as well as offering easy-going armchair fodder for the lounge-room contingent. I was finally converted this week when Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars put on a crazy spectacle which wasn’t decided until cricket’s version of “extra time’ was enacted with one additional over for each side being bowled after the scores had finished level. To add credence to my conversion, we had guest commentator Andrew “Freddy’ Flintoff screaming himself hoarse in the upstairs box in praise of the manic happenings out in the middle. It seemed strange to hear a Lancastrian accent on the telly in Oz but if the Big Bash excites Freddy, then Twenty20 must have something going for it. And the stakes are only going to grow bigger in the coming weeks. I shall be at the SCG on Friday as England arrive to tackle Australia in the three-cornered 50-over one-day competition. India will be rounding out the threesome and I just hope my lot can put in a decent showing. I haven’t stepped on the SCG for some years but have fond memories of English success there down the years – at least on the one-day scene. I was there for England’s eventual final victory in 1986-87 en route to which I had also enjoyed watching Allan Lamb smash 18 runs off Bruce Reid to seal an earlier miraculous success. In 1992 England’s opening pair of Graham Gooch and Ian Botham helped to make light work of a paltry Aussie total in a World Cup encounter. It isn’t that long since England were mightily embarrassed on all fronts on the last Ashes tour so let’s hope the wounds have healed. For after that, comes the World Cup itself. Again, more thrills guaranteed on the TV screen. The old rivals, Australia and England, put things in motion in the World Cup on Valentine’s Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There will be no love lost there, but I’ve left it too late to snap up any decent tickets so it will be barbecue viewing at an as yet unannounced venue. Besides the cricket, there is the traditional tennis fare of the Australian Open for those that way inclined. The cyclists also arrive in Adelaide this week for the annual January jaunt up and down South Australian hills in the Tour Down Under. It’s sport-a-go-go… And even before all this there is a major footballing attraction to consider. Namely, the Asian Cup. The cream of the continent will be on show across the nation and it’s time for Australia to show what they can do on home turf. Coach Ange Postecoglou has not had a happy ride since he took the reins with the Socceroos. But he has been given some critical leeway as he preached the need for gradual evolution amid the playing ranks with the need to build for the future. Alas, the future is now. Specifically, the opening game of the competition against Kuwait in Melbourne. Major tournaments, in essence, only come round once every two years in the form of the World Cup or the respective continental match-ups of the European or Asian Championships. “Building for the future,” just won’t work as an excuse if the Socceroos falter. But they have a chance to put football’s name in the spotlight amid the sporting landscape of Australia in these busy months. Home advantage in a major tournament comes with all the attendant pressure of high hopes and expectancy. However, if the Socceroos can make a positive start, the groundswell of support can carry them along. The time is right. The time is now. Postecoglou’s men have the perfect stage set out for them. I shall be tuning in…