By Tim Palmer @timhpal
Tom Rogic is a strange, almost paradoxical footballer: he’s creative and Australian. Previous imports from Down Under have been more celebrated for their work rate than their wizardry but the languid figure of Rogic is representative of a new breed of Antipodean; one blessed with the technical skills and close control that is all the rage in modern football.
Rogic follows in the path of fellow Central Coast Mariner Mustafa Amini in departing abroad for a European challenge after success in the A-League as the playmaker in coach Graham Arnold’s side. Amini’s move to Borussia Dortmund allowed Rogic to nail down a starting spot this season, a chance he took with aplomb.
In a central attacking role of a 4-2-3-1, Rogic was effectively absolved of defensive work, instead given the freedom to position himself in open spaces to try and prompt counter-attacks. Arnold’s style is to play on the break, a cagey reactive style founded upon the tried and trusted principle of two banks of four.
Stylistically, Graham Arnold is very similar to England’s Roy Hodgson, emphasising discipline and structure and attacking opponents when they are at their weakest.
That makes Rogic’s role key. He was tasked with the creative burden in an inherently defensive side, but this is a role that suits him. Immediately after his side won possession, he would anticipate the quick and direct forward pass, and with a supreme awareness of space, cushion the ball away from his closest marker.
Then his futsal past – he once represented the national side in that sport – allows him to embark on sinuous dribbles, slamoning through defences before either threading a trough ball or opting to shoot. He is fantastically two footed and his dribbling is wonderfully mesmerising, appearing completely at home with the ball even when surrounded by defenders.
His shot is decent but his pass is better, and if releasing his strike partner, the 35 year old Daniel McBreen (very similar in characteristics with Gary Hooper), is not an option, then Rogic has the capability to play a safer, sideways pass to a teammate. Previously, Rogic was overly keen to hit the killer ball when it wasn’t quite on but his decision making has improved as the season has worn on.
The best way to describe Rogic is explosive. He exploded on the scene as an 18 year old after winning Nike’s The Chance competition, and was in fact offered a contract at Reading but visa issues forced him home where he quickly became an integral part of the Mariner’s setup.
His absence will be sorely felt at a club that currently leads the league but one can understand the move, particularly when it comes with a $750,000 windfall that would otherwise be an opportunity missed had the Mariners waited until Rogic’s contract expired in June.
The chance to play at Celtic does not arrive everyday and with the prospect of Champions League football, Rogic’s move makes sense.
You could ambitiously suggest that Rogic could play in the hole in direct confrontation with Andrea Pirlo ahead of two defensive banks of four should Neil Lennon opt for that strategy against Juventus. But without getting ahead of ourselves, he is an exciting talent with a long future ahead of him, and he is well placed to prosper where Mark Viduka and Scott McDonald have before him.
Interested in finding out more about Tom Rogic? Of course you are. Please go to the excellent www.australiascout.com – and fill your boots. Have a look around a few of the articles in the Central Coast Mariners category and a search for Rogic will turn up a few results.