What’s the Buzz: Cahilll poised to replace Lucas Neill as Socceroos Captain

TIM Cahill is poised to become Australia’s Socceroo captain for the World Cup in Brazil, replacing 35-year-old warrior Lucas Neill.  

TIM Cahill is poised to become Australia’s Socceroo captain for the World Cup, replacing 35-year-old warrior Lucas Neill.

Neill has resisted these calls to go despite the Socceroos twice being thrashed 6-0 by Brazil and France. 

Now his future rests with new Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou, who names his first team as national coach on Wednesday. 

This week Ange will pick his squad for the match against Costa Rica in Sydney on November 19.

Neill’s people have been telling anyone who’ll listen that the veteran defender is determined to go to next year’s World Cup in Brazil. 

By then he’ll be 36. Like Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Mark Taylor before him, Lucas is finding that breaking up is hard to do when you are Australian captain. 

It’s obviously a job worth fighting for, with the profile and the perks.

The trouble is that a fabulous career can be tarnished if the final act becomes a soap opera.

It seems that’s where the story is heading.

Ange Postecoglou got the job because Frank Lowy and David Gallop want the Socceroos to be rejuvenated. 

On Wednesday he’s tipped to name a squad without a skipper and wait until closer to the game.

Insiders are suggesting Neill will be named but probably relegated to the bench. Our best player Cahill would become skipper.

Then Neill would have a choice to make.

First, Mark Bosnich told him to retire. Then Robbie Slater called for him to be stood down.

Does he want to be remembered as the superb defender of the 2006 World Cup and the skipper of the unbeaten 2010 World Cup qualifiers? 

Or the fading champ who went into one fight too many?

Bloc party to stay at Parra

SPECULATION that next January’s blockbuster Sydney derby between the Wanderers and Sydney FC at Parramatta Stadium will moved to ANZ Stadium are wide of the mark. 

The Wanderers will keep faith with their members and stick with Parramatta, and I’m told FFA won’t push the issue, even though the game would pull a 50,000 crowd at the bigger venue.

SBW and Cup is quite a double

THE owner of Melbourne Cup fancy Mount Athos has arrived in Australia on a double mission — to win Tuesday’s Cup and, wait for it . . . snare the prized signature of superstar Sonny Bill Williams. 

Multi-millionaire Marwan Koukash owns Salford and is the biggest owner of race horses in Britain but knows little about rugby league and the fact SBW has already committed to the Roosters.

sbw

Beefy, Chappelli food fight

THE first Ashes fireworks of the summer could blow up long before a ball is bowled in the first Test at the Gabba. On Friday, November 15, Manly-Warringah and Randwick-Petersham cricket clubs are holding separate Ashes luncheons in adjoining rooms at Darling Harbour. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem. However, Manly have lined up Ian Chappell and Jeff Thomson as guest speakers, while the other team has Ian Botham as their guest. 

Given the famous Adelaide Oval car park clash three years ago where happell and Botham had to be prised apart, one wonders if their 36-year feud may reignite if they cross paths. 

Chappell recently said he watched the Ashes with the sound turned down because he couldn’t even stand Botham’s voice. 

Million Dollar six symbols

CHANNEL Ten has added a Million Dollar Six competition to their Big Bash coverage. A three-metre square platform will be set at mid-wicket where a celebrity will be stationed. 

If they can take a catch, a viewer will win $100,000. The prize jackpots for each game, culminating in the chance to win $1 million. 

NRL and AFL stars will be used, at least, until one breaks a finger. Corey Parker has already been booked in for the Gabba matches. 

Ten has a world-class commentary team, including Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Viv Richards, Damien Fleming, Mark Waugh and Mel McLaughlin.

ADP 1 man, 1 team

ADP’s our one man team

SYDNEY FC would obviously struggle without Alessandro Del Piero in the A-League. They haven’t won a game or even scored a goal while the Italian champion has been off the field this season. 

It’s why one fan posted this ”team” photo on the internet during the week and watched it go viral. 

Mundine throws counter-punch

ANTHONY Mundine has a message for Danny Green and the Perth boxer’s desperate bid for a long-awaited rematch. 

"Dan relax, just relax,” Mundine said. “Your time will come at the weight I choose, at the venue I choose and at the payment I wish to give. 

danny green

"There is only one captin of this ship —and it ain’t you.”

Mundine insists his main mission is to convince US legend Shane Mosley to return to Australia for a fight next month. If not, Green looms as a serious option.

Codes unite to fight hooligans

SOCCER and rugby league are working together to get rid of hooligans at big sporting events.

Last season, Souths boss Shane Richardson phoned Western Sydney Wanderers CEO Lyall Gorman about their crowd control measures with the RBB. 

The Wanderers even sent staff members to a Rabbitohs game to help out.

Carney in Kiwi glove affair

CRONULLA playmaker Todd Carney used to get himself into plenty of trouble off the footyfield. 

Now we are about to find out how he goes inside a boxing ring.

todd carney

The Sharks five-eighth has been approached to box in the New Zealand Fight for Life charity event in New Zealand next month. His Sharks teammate Paul Gallen and Brisbane Broncos forward Sam Thaiday are also on the card. 

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They are doing boxing training together in their spare time on the World Cup tour in England. 

Event organiser Dean Lonergan is searching among the All Blacks for suitable opponents.

SAINT

The revival of one-day cricket in India. Every match has been must-watch television, highlighted by the extraordinary the batting skills of Bailey, Watson, Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Kohli. 

SINNER

Mark Taylor’s criticism of Ricky Ponting’s new autobiography is out of order. Unlike Taylor, who was a renowned fence-sitter, Ponting gives a fascinating and honest insight into what’s happened behind dressing room doors. 

SPOTTED I

Soccer boss David Gallop chatting to Sharks star Todd Carney outside the Clovelly Hotel last Sunday afternoon.

SPOTTED II

Manly Sea Eagles part-owner Phil Sidney at the Intercontinental in Shanghai, meeting local officials to plan next year’s NRL match against the Canberra Raiders in China.