These are the men with a lot of running to do. The All Stars midfield to take on Barcelona on May 25 have to chase and harry one of the smoothest-running technical teams in the world… and then use the ball effectively when they do win it back.
A-League fans who want to vote for the All Stars team have 22 midfielders to choose from on the shortlist – but getting the balance right is crucial, says former Adelaide midfielder Marcello Carrusca, an All Star from 2013 and 2014 against Manchester United and Juventus respectively.
WHO MAKES YOUR ALL STARS XI? IT’S TIME TO VOTE: HERE’S HOW
THE SHORT LIST
- Juande (Adelaide United)
- Isaias (Adelaide United))
- Henry Hore (Brisbane Roar FC)
- James O’Shea (Brisbane Roar FC)
- Joshua Nisbet (Central Coast Mariners)
- Ulises Davila (Macarthur FC)
- Daniel DeSilva (Macarthur FC)
- Florin Berenguer (Melbourne City FC)
- Joshua Brillante (Melbourne Victory)
- Jake Brimmer (Melbourne Victory)
- Daniel Penha (Newcastle Jets)
- Angus Thurgate (Newcastle Jets)
- Pacifique Niyongabire (Perth Glory)
- Anthony Caceres (Sydney FC)
- Milos Ninkovic (Sydney FC)
- Paulo Retre (Sydney FC)
- Reno Piscopo (Wellington Phoenix)
- Gael Sandoval (Wellington Phoenix)
- Keanu Baccus (Western Sydney Wanderers FC)
- Jack Rodwell (Western Sydney Wanderers FC)
- Steven Ugarkovic (Western Sydney Wanderers FC)
- Steven Lustica (Western United FC)
Carrusca: ‘These must be players with vision’
A gifted playmaker himself, Carrusca can see the different qualities needed for the defensive midfielder – the No 6 – the attacking figure or No 10, and the No 8 who can pivot between them.
“In all those positions, we are talking about players with vision, with ability to play short and long passes,” he says. “It’s important to have the complete range, good accuracy in the passing. For me, No 6, No 8 and No 10 are the man positions in any team.
“The main quality for me, to play in the middle and especially as a No 6, is to have the personality and the hunger to get the ball. Don’t be scared of the ball, that’s the No 1 factor – it’s what I coach kids now.
“For No 6, physically you have to be strong and be aggressive, and to not waste passes. You have to be the link in possession between the central defenders and the players further forward – possession is key. From the middle is where everything starts.
“The difference between No 8 and No 10 is the killer pass – the No 10 needs to have more vision than the normal midfielder’s passing range. I played in that position for many years and I like players who can do something different, surprise the opposition and break one or two lines just with one pass.”
Carrusca’s midfield trio
Defensive midfielder: Isaias
“My old team mate at Adelaide treats possession as the key to everything in football. He knows better than anyone how important it will be versus Barcelona.”
No 8: Josh Brillante.
“You need a player to run all day against a team like Barca, to chase and assist the No 6 but also get forward, and Brillante has all of that.”
Playmaker: Ulises Davila
“If the All Stars are going to make chances they need someone with the vision to find the pass no one is expecting – as a No 10, Davila has always been able to do that.”
