How quickly things change. In May, I attended the first ever meeting of Terrace Australis, a new active support group for the Socceroos, at FFA headquarters in Oxford Street. Present at the meeting were several FFA bureaucrats including David Gallop and Kyle Patterson, as well as a potpourri of fans from several A-League clubs. The Socceroo representatives were Lucas Neill and Mark Bosnich.

Over pizza and beer, Lucas Neill spoke eloquently to the group assembled about his passion for the Socceroos shirt. After thanking the Terrace Australis crew for their initiative, Bosnich heaped praise on the Socceroo defender, promising the crowd that Neill and his team-mates always give their all for the shirt. Neill stood there, a little red-faced at the lavish praise heaped upon him.

This was before the World Cup qualifier in Sydney against Iraq. Positivity was in vogue. Fast forward five months, and many of the original Terrace Australis crew have walked away, sick of the FFA's treatment of supporters, and Neill and Bosnich are involved in a very public spat over the future of the Socceroos.

If we're honest, the relative size of Australia's football media often makes for an immature level of debate. Friendships often trump honesty and criticism isn't taken well. There is a strong feeling that if football was a state, we'd be more Enver Hoxha's Albania than Australia.

Which was why Bosnich's outburst on Saturday morning after the Socceroos drubbing to France was so refreshing. Of course, it doesn't take much to get old Robbie Slater going. In typical fashion, Slater threw down the pen on Saturday morning, but his rants have become as predictable as David Carney's defending. Not very good, but still worth watching for a laugh.

''I have known Lucas for a long time but I wouldn't be a friend if I didn't tell him the truth," said Bosnich. "He is a big part of the problem. It is as simple as that. He should retire."

After losing two matches 6-0 in a row, one has to wonder what Neill expects from the media, friendships notwithstanding. But at a press conference, Neill launched a thinly veiled attack on Bosnich, saying, "I am committed to being captain of this country for as long as the people in charge give me that status. [Bosnich] is entitled to his [opinion], but I expect better from people who've played the game and certainly from people that call themselves my friend."

Unfortunately for Neill, the truth is that it should never be about him and his friends. I don't doubt him when he says he is committed to the cause, but crying foul of criticism based on dressing-room loyalties only feeds the perception that he is placing himself above the national team. It doesn't do his cause any favours.

On Twitter, that wonderful place of robust, over-emotional, insanity conversation, the debate continues among both the plebs and football royalty. Former Socceroo Scott Chipperfield has echoed Tim Cahill and Neill's Twitter defence of Holger Osieck, saying that he did his job in getting Australia to the World Cup. The plebs, as we are wont, expect more.

The Golden Generation™ of Australian football has been reeling for years, and now it seems they are on their final legs. Call it a flesh wound, but never before have the class of 2006 seemed more disliked. Neill calling for the young players to "show more passion for the Socceroos" is a fair enough rallying-cry from the captain, however his own performances of late haven't given him the same authority as in previous years.

The kids will never prove themselves if they never get a go. Guus Hiddink said years ago that the regeneration of the squad should be a priority. Frank Lowy's desire for instant success, however, hasn't helped, and if Hiddink is appointed again as rumours suggest, he might have to come back and finish the job for us.

There is plenty of talent lurking on the fringes, including Tom Rogic, Mitchell Duke, Tomi Juric, Mat Ryan and Mitchell Langerak. Passion for the green and gold aside, what we need now is a coach who will have the chutzpah to put a few noses out of joint and a little faith in the young pretenders.

Certainly, Neill should only step aside when he is asked to do so. It is not his cross to bear that successive coaches keep picking him. But as captain, he should also accept the criticism leveled at him, and not pass the buck on to the less experienced members of the squad.