Olywhos?

Graham Arnold has once again shown his ineptness when it comes to coaching Australian football teams. This time he has decided to pick a controversial Olyroos squad for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

It’s not about who he picked, but who he didn’t pick. He’s left out Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite. If these boys are fit and playing well for the next few years they will be the next Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka of Australian football, so it is baffling as to why Arnold has left them out.

He gave two reasons why they were left out. The first was that they couldn’t handle the heat and second was that they weren’t ‘mature enough’. These are lame excuses. Not only did Pim Verbeek think they were mature enough to be in the senior Socceroos squad (Djite also played in the heat of Doha), but both these boys played a successful Asian Champions League campaign for Adelaide United recently, in extreme conditions.

There are eighteen players to choose. This however, includes two goalkeepers and three overage players, so there are only really 13 spots for outfield players, which means there is meant to be tough competition. This however does not excuse what Arnold has done. Look at the overage players he’s chosen. Jade North is a fine player, however, there are already six defenders in the squad so he really isn’t needed. The most ridiculous selection is that of Archie Thompson. With all due respect his selection is hindering the progress of Australian football as a whole. His selection is partially responsible (as well as the lame excuses Arnold gave) for Burns’ and Djite’s non-selection, our best young talents. There was no need for Thompson to go to Beijing, not at least to stop these promising youngsters from achieving their Olympic dream.

The worst part of all this is that Pim Verbeek already gave Burns and Djite their senior Socceroos debuts recently. This means that the head coach sees these youngsters being a part of the 2010 World Cup campaign. How then, can Arnold completely ignore this and just not pick them?