Aussies Abroad Report Card | Thebigtip

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup is now just a matter of weeks away, so I felt the timing was appropriate to assess how our Aussies Abroad have been performing at club level with a grand-scale report card.

Of course, the provisional 50-man Australia squad for the Asian Cup has been announced so they make up most of my focus here but this is a fairly comprehensive list of players abroad all over the globe.

I should also note, as the man who writes all the Aussies Abroad updates for au.fourfourtwo.com, I'm exposed to a lot of info regarding these players so I'm hopeful I'm in a position to provide some useful bits and pieces on these players for you.

English Premier League

Tim Cahill – Everton – A+
Cahill has arguably been in career-best form this season so far, with nine EPL goals in 17 matches. Cahill's trademark heading prowess has been a feature along with his timing and positioning. Plus he's done it in a side struggling. Toffee fans are fearing his absence in January.

Mark Schwarzer – Fulham – A

Another sturdy season for the consistent Socceroos custodian. Fulham have been a bit weaker at the back this season, giving Schwarzer more to do, but he makes few errors. He has shaken off the distraction of a failed move to Arsenal and kept four clean sheets this EPL season.

Brett Emerton – Blackburn – B+

Ex-Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce made the comment earlier this season he hadn't seen Emerton in better form than this term. After a few years of injury and poor form, Emerton has re-emerged at Blackburn as a regular starter and goals against Blackpool and Wolves have helped but it's been the return of his work-rate and energy which has been most pleasing.

Vince Grella – Blackburn – Fail

Injuries continue to ruin Grella's time in England. He may have hung up the international boots and pledged to find fitness this campaign but it's been more of the same. Grella, who hasn't played since October, is currently out with an Achilles problem following groin and hamstring issues.

David Carney – Blackpool/FC Twente – C-

Carney isn't winning enough gametime at Blackpool. It's funny to think he started all three of Dutch champions Twente's Eredivisie games before he made the move. He still has time to win his spot in the Blackpool side and has done okay when played off the bench.

Brad Jones – Liverpool – D

You can understand Jones' reasons for moving from Middlesbrough to Liverpool but his lack of gametime is an issue. Jose Reina has a firm grip on the number one shirt but Jones has made two appearances, while shoulder problems have affected his season too.

Chris Herd – Aston Villa – B+

Herd has done well to put himself in the first-team frame at Villa this term. They have had injuries allowing Herd to get his chance and he's now made four first-team appearances for Villa against teams such as Arsenal and Manchester United. It's not many minutes but it's a sign of good progress and his high regard within the club.

Shane Lowry – Aston Villa – D

 Lowry hasn't forged the same luck as Herd, despite Villa's injuries. Lowry's season so far has been disappointing and he desperately needs gametime if he's to get back in the Socceroos frame. He has been close to the Villa first-team, three times an unused sub. Perhaps he needs to drop a division or two.

English Championship

Adam Federici – Reading – B+

Reading's rock at the back, Federici continues to put together solid performances week-after-week, hinting he's Schwarzer's natural successor. Federici did make a bad error in August against Nottingham Forest but he's still young, makes good saves, distributes well, continues to learn and is ambitious, stating recently he wants to play EPL in the next few years.

Richard Garcia – Hull City – C

Garcia broke an incredible 27-month goal drought with a strike against Preston back in November. But that drought reflects goal-shy Hull's woes this season and Garcia is part of that. He's an honest toiler but with his contract due to expire at season's end, he might need to do more to convince them he should stay on.

Scott McDonald – Middlesbrough – B-

Middlesbrough's woes have meant McDonald has been dropping deep to link up with midfield this season, affecting his goals tally. He has managed half a dozen this campaign and the odd moment of quality, but it is a tad too rare, much to the frustration of the Boro fans who haven't seen his best.

Rhys Williams – Middlesbrough – Injured

Neil Kilkenny – Leeds United – B+

All reports I've received have been glowing about Kilkenny's progress this term as Leeds shoot for a second promotion in two seasons. He had to battle for his place earlier in the campaign, but Leeds have settled on a 4-5-1 which suits Kilkenny. His passing is his ace card, but he has been tackling more this term too. Will be looking forward to January's FA Cup tie against former club Arsenal.

Patrick Kisnorbo – Leeds United – Injured

Trent McClenahan – Scunthorpe United – D

McClenahan hasn't been able to pin down a spot at Championship strugglers Scunthorpe since his off-season move from Scotland. He's regularly been an unused sub, but only made one appearance, which hasn't convinced the boss. Hard to see him staying on when his contract expires in January too.

Bailey Wright – Preston North End – B

Teenage defender Wright has done well to make two first-team appearances for Championship bottom-club Preston this term. All reports from his reserves performances have been good and now he's sign a professional deal which could set him up if Preston can remain in the second tier.

English League One

James Wesolowski – Peterborough United – B-

Wesolowski was doing well at Peterborough, following his move from Hamilton until he injured his medial ligament in September. He missed a month before returning straight back into the side, but hasn't been able to firmly hold down his starting spot in midfield since.

English League Two

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff – Shrewsbury Town – B

Cansdell-Sherriff was included in the Socceroos' 2011 Asian Cup 50-man squad, in one of the genuine surprises. He's been a regular starter at the back for promotion-chasing Shrewsbury, who have only conceded 19 goals in 19 league matches this season.

Italian Serie A

Mark Bresciano – Lazio – B-

Bresciano has been a regular in high-flying Lazio's matchday squads but has only managed one Serie A start this season. He's been behind Stefano Mauri in the pecking order. Not even a goal in the Coppa Italia could earn him regular starts, but he's still getting some gametime off the bench and waiting for his chance.

Italian Serie B

Carl Valeri – Sassuolo – B

Valeri couldn't get a run early in the season under Daniele Arrigoni but since he was sacked the Aussie's luck has turned and so has Sassuolo's, coincidentally. Valeri has started for Sassuolo in the past five matches and played a key role in midfield helping them out of the drop zone.

Adrian Madaschi – Portogruaro – B-

Madaschi has been a regular for newly-promoted Portogruaro but after a bright start to the season they have struggled in recent times, shipping far too many goals to slump into the bottom three. Madaschi suffered a blackout midmatch recently due to a hernia in his neck and hasn't really regained his spot in the side since, with a new manager coming in.

German Bundesliga
Mitch Langerak – Borussia Dortmund – B-

Langerak was signed to be Dortmund's back-up keeper and hopefully develop into their future number one and so far it's been a smooth transition for the youngster. He got some gametime in pre-season but hasn't seen a minute of competitive action this season but has done well enough settling in for now.

Dario Vidosic – FC Nurnberg – D

Vidosic hasn't been able to regain a regular spot at Nurnberg after last term's loan stint at MSV Duisburg. He slipped out of the side after a bunch of subs appearances in September and when given a chance in November at right-back he had a nightmare. Nurnberg boss Dieter Hecking took responsibility for the decision to play him out of position but there's no doubt Vidosic has lost favour although a gastrointestinal infection hasn't helped. Needs a January move.

German 2.Bundesliga

Nikita Rukavytsya – Hertha BSC – A-

After his axing from Dutch champions Twente, Rukavytsya has bounced back in fine style with a super campaign at promotion-chasing Hertha BSC. The stats say he's contributed two goals and three assists but his pace off the ball and free-kicks have been a feature. A lack of discipline (arriving late to a training session) cost Rukavytsya his place in the side in late-September but he's responded well and is a key member of the Hertha side who could win promotion straight back to the Bundesliga.

Dutch Eredivisie

Brett Holman – AZ Alkmaar – A

Holman has managed to kick on from his World Cup success and maintained his form and confidence with some excellent performances for AZ. Holman where he has scored four goals this season and been a key part of AZ's attacking set-up with his tireless and energetic displays. Could be set for January move.

James Holland – AZ Alkmaar – Fail

Holland has not been in the AZ first-team at all this season, despite heading to South Africa with the Socceroos under Pim Verbeek. His brother, Gertjan, hasn't taken such a liking to Holland, who has played a bit of reserves football but desperately needs a move.

Tommy Oar – FC Utrecht – B

Given the number 10 shirt on his arrival at Utrecht, a lot is expected of Oar. To be fair, he is still a teenager and developing but the winger was unable to make much of an impact early in the Eredivisie season after being given a few chances. He's worked his way back into matchday squads lately and been given a few runs sporadically off the bench including a brief stint at Anfield. Still finding his feet.

Adam Sarota – FC Utrecht – B+

Sarota has been the surprise bolter of the Aussie trio at Utrecht, arguably making the biggest impact at the club of all three. He impressed for Utrecht's Jong side and has since been a regular in first-team matchday squads, made one start and five subs appearances and looked composed in midfield. Perhaps needs to bulk up more but has made good progress.

Michael Zullo – FC Utrecht – Injured