STRIKE FORCE
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A Socceroos win on Saturday can take Australian football to new heights.
Already Ange's blueprint for the national team is beginning to take shape, but by hoisting the Asian Cup on home soil, it will prove we are moving in the right direction.
For that to happen we will have to overcome a well-drilled Korean outfit who have already got the better of us once in this tournament.
I think the boys will have learnt a bucket load from the 1-0 loss in the group stages.
We weren't at our best on that night but have since looked much better all over the park.
A couple of dominant wins in the knockout stages will have the squad brimming with confidence when we need it most - in this decider.
The pace and skill of Leckie and Kruse should cause the Koreans all sorts of trouble on the flanks - as it has to most sides all tournament.
The wide-attacking pair have been outstanding in this Asian Cup and you'd expect that to continue in the final.
If they can continue to provide good delivery into the box, there is no doubt Tim Cahill - or a list of others - will be there to do the rest.
Defensively, the key will be neutralising the two men in the middle, Son Heung-min and Ki Sung-yueng.
Both have the power to change the game, but if they can be stopped it will go a long way to us lifting the cup in Sydney.
For this to happen, Spiranovic and Sainsbury, and the men around them will have to be at their best.
If they can put in another match winning defensive display, they could very well cement their spots in the centre of our defence for a long, long time.
Go the Socceroos!
Jets nosediving
Thequicker the FFA steps in at the Newcastle Jets, the better.
After their 7-0 defeat last weekend, things seem to be going from bad to worse in a hurry for the club.
The announcement that the club had chosen to pay out a number of senior players as well as the coaching staff couldn't have come at a much worse time.
Players and staff like Joel Griffiths, Billy Celeski, David Carney, Adrian Madaschi and Kew Jaliens all have a ton of experience from playing overseas and in this competition.
Their departure will leave a gaping hole in the Jets' squad.
It looks as if, for the rest of the year, the Jets will have to rely on youth to get them through, with many of the remaining guys on the roster likely to be playing for their futures too.
It is undoubtedly a testing time for all the players and the coaching staff.
The Jets are next scheduled to play at home on February 6 against the Brisbane Roar.
Let's hope this can get resolved before the situation deteriorates even further.
Happy to be back
Finally we can get back to playing football this weekend against Melbourne City.
The past three weeks have been a great time for us to regroup and add a few players to sharpen up the squad.
However, we want nothing more than to get back on the park and start moving up the table.
More than likely, we will welcome a couple of new faces this weekend.
I am also in contention to finally make a return from injury.
If I can get on the field, it will be the first time I have played since winning the Asian Champions League final last year.