Arnold has eye on goals
THE Socceroos have been too “reliant” on Tim Cahill to score goals, according to Graham Arnold – and the new coach promises that will change.
Australia are in dire need of a regular goalscorer to depend on up front to replace Cahill after his retirement from international football last month.
Cahill scored a record 50 goals in 107 appearances, many of them coming at moments when the Socceroos needed them most.
But Arnold believes players like Jamie Maclaren, Tomi Juric, Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and Daniel Arzani can collectively fill the void.
“The way we played was very heavily reliant on Timmy to score those goals and I will do that differently,” Arnold said.
“( Scoring) will not be an issue at all.
“We have the players already there that can score those goals. I know ( them) very, very well.
“I have a clear plan in mind of the players and what they can do and what they will do.”
Arnold declined to answer questions on whether Maclaren had been given enough of a chance at international level by his predecessors but it seems the 25- year- old will be a big part of the Socceroos going forward.
Maclaren didn’t get a look in at the World Cup in Russia, where Australia failed to score.
“Just talking to Jamie Maclaren over the phone the other day, you can tell that kid really believes in himself,” Arnold said. “I know they can score. They’ve shown it before.”