Aloisi calls for a focus on strikers
Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi reckons the shortage of Australian strikers getting A-League starting opportunities is a “massive issue” for the Socceroos as they begin life without Tim Cahill.
Aloisi may end up providing new coach Graham Arnold with one of his best options up front, having recruited former Socceroo Adam Taggart from Perth Glory for the upcoming season.
Taggart, 25, is a rare case in the A-League – almost every other club has an import starting at the point of attack, which Aloisi believes has contributed to Australia’s failure to develop a reliable goalscoring striker to succeed Cahill.
“It’s a massive issue, and I made it known during the World Cup that we lack strikers, we lack goalscorers,” Aloisi told reporters yesterday.
“I believe in young Australians and that’s why with Jamie Maclaren, the opportunity was here for him when he was here.
“The same thing with Taggart. I’ve always kept an eye on him because I believe in young Australian strikers, but they need to be playing regular football and scoring goals and hopefully our national team ends up getting the rewards as well.”
With Cahill retiring from international duty, Arnold will need to consider his striking options for January’s Asian Cup.
The Socceroos failed to score from open play at the World Cup in Russia and clearly lacked a cutting edge in attack.
Taggart, a proven quantity in the A-League and part of Australia’s squad at the 2014 World Cup, can propel himself into calculations with a good start to the new season.
“Obviously I want to do the best I can do to get back to the national side,” he said.