By The Bear
August 19th 2008 @ 2:42am

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The FFA serves the ‘bad China’ and we want answers

There is a time for building confidence in your FFA and there is a time for accountability to be the cornerstone of that confidence. After the Olyroos’ performance at the Olympics, this is one of those times.

Bonita Mersiades, Public Affairs of the FFA has said, “people are entitled to their view and for every person who thinks that the team played poorly at the Olympics, there will be another who says that it played well.”

“We did not say that we are champions of the world. All we said was that we would like our teams to win, which is not unreasonable. Why else would we go there?”

Well, Bonita, and the FFA, many of us saw these Olympics as a chance to put on our best performance and best team in a very tough group.

None of this was attained.

Even by your own standards for this tournament, by failing to get a medal, you have failed. And now you are back-peddling.

Football Federation Australia, as your employers, the Australian Public, we would like to arrange an appointment with you. We would like a report as to how our Olympic team failed to win a medal, not even clearing the group phase.

We were told confidently how we had a good chance for a medal. However, many of us noticed that some great talent was left out, and the eventual team had very little semblance to the team that got us into the Olympics in the first place.

I even recall the strut and nonchalance of the FFA’s manager in the pre-Olympic press conference. It was a serious medal assault, not a development luxury, so we were told.

You looked us straight in the eyes and said that a medal was the benchmark for success. You assured us that the best team had been assembled. It is only fitting, then, that your appointed coach be present to explain these details.

Many of us saw the warning signs.

We started noticing that our captain was being played out of position in the lead-up games, and that another notable defensive player seemed destined to be sitting on the bench, replaced by a new recruit.

We actually had a wealth of talent, defensively, in the squad already, and then we had been told that the over-age North was to be joining the lads in China as well.

We could have been building our own Great Wall, it seemed, if required.

There were many head scratching moments with the forward line, as well.

A player freshly drafted in from the Perth Glory started in two of our three group games, despite being told he was earmarked for a bench role and to be used only in cases where a game needed something different up front.

A lot could be said of the tactics, but I feel it would be unjust to ask questions before your manager, Graham Arnold, had the opportunity to be present himself to face the music.

The selections, alone, imply a manager not up to the task.

It is only fitting that we arrange this appointment soon as we all have much work to do. We have a World Cup in South Africa to prepare for, and another Asian Cup (we want a much better effort and result, then last time) ready to kick off in the New Year.

And I think you shall find that these words are not unduly harsh, nor unrepresentative of the majority of Australian football fans.

We are not interested in repeating the mistakes of the past, so let’s hear it.

Give us all something to be confident about. The credibility of Australian Football is at stake.

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jimbo said | August 19th 2008 @ 9:52am | Report comment

What is this crazy love affair between FFA and Graham Arnold?

Any other professional football manager who went to a major tournament and only got one goal and one lucky point in three games and played crap football most of the time would resign of their own free will.

Doesn’t the FFA and Arnold get it?

Australian football will go backwards if Arnold is still Pimbo’s assistant and keeps whispering sweet nothing in his ear.

Pimbo already has a highly paid assistant coach so p1ss Arnold off now!

True Tah said | August 19th 2008 @ 9:58am | Report comment

Why doesn’t FFA have Arnold appointed to coach an A-League team?

He can prove himself at that level before taking control at a higher level?

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:25am | Report comment

Bear, the FFA is not an employee of the Australian public. Their funding comes mainly from corporate sources.

I actually think the Olyroos did the best with what they had, and can be proud of their performance at the Olympics, we did not disgrace ourselves by any means.

Well done Arnold and the lads, and better luck next time.

jimbo said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:26am | Report comment

True Tah,
the FFA doesn’t play a part in appointing A-League managers.
The A-League clubs pick their own coaches and players, so an A-League owner would have to approach him and ask him.

I don’t think Graham has many friends or much of a CV at the moment to land any well paid coaching jobs.
He is basically living off the generosity of the FFA.

Towser said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:31am | Report comment

True Tah

This is the way it should have been done.
Arnold slipped ito the coaching system at international level much the same as Frank Farina did,with limited club coaching experience & then only at NSL level.
Farina is now coaching in the A-League learning the trade at the nuts & bolts level. Arnie should do the same.
International football is NOT for the inexperienced. Farina & Postecoglou showed that emphatically.
Aurelio Vidmar is a coach to consider for the future also Gary Van Egmond. Both are being exposed to International football experience through the ACL Vidmar currently Van Egmond shortly.This is the way to go. Not “I played for the Socceroos”therefore I am a coach. The world is littered with the corpses of coaches such as these.
Arnie was still shouting “Go Son” at the Olympics the same as at the Asian Cup. Says it all really.

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:33am | Report comment

jimbo, the FFA is currently accepting applications for W-League coach for Canberra United, so it seems they do play a role after all…

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_employment_item&id=23036

jimbo said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:39am | Report comment

Slippery,
W-League is owned and run by the FFA and they wear all the losses (it ain’t going to make money) so a complete different kettle of fish to the A-League where the clubs are owned and managed by the club owners.

FFA would not be able to give Arnie a job as an A-League manager, so he is the FFA’s floating assistant Socceroos manager.

True Tah said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:48am | Report comment

Towser,

Im aware of some of the anger within the Australian futbol community towards Arnold.

From what I have seen he seems like a nice guy, doesn’t really have an ego, but will trust the judgement of far more experienced pundits on his coaching ability.

Is he the sort of guy who would resign saying he doesn’t feel he is up to the job, or would he hold out until the Barbarians are at his door tearing the place down before he admits defeat??

Hiddinck came across as a bit arrogant to be honest, but I believe his results justified this sort of attitude, and given his success for Korea and Russia it works for him.

Maybe he could coach the Canberra in the W-League (does the W stand for Women or Westfield??)

The Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:50am | Report comment

Slippery Jim, astute observation. However, the FFA will be lawfully held to account from ALL it’s stakeholders.

Graciously,
The Bear

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:52am | Report comment

Ah but Jimbo, there’s no reason they can’t get him coaching the ladies…

jimbo said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:00am | Report comment

True Tah,
I’m sure Arnie is a top bloke and would love to have a beer with us, but . . .

You Rugby guys have tasted the success of a 2 World Cup victories, Super 12 titles, Bledisloe Cups, which are the pinnacle of world Rugby.

We football supporters are still waiting to even get to a final in any of our major competitions, including an Asian Cup or even an Asian Champions League game.

So we are getting very critical of failure and need to push our administrators very hard to do the very best to improve our game.
When you do worse at a competition than you did last time and your Olyroos team is not a joy to watch even in defeat, then you have to demand change to get that required improvement.

jimbo said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:03am | Report comment

Slippery,
I’d love Arnie to be coaching the Canberra girls, I’ll see if Doris wants to have a run . . .

and I’d love Gary Van Egg to be given the Assistant Socceroos job . . .

dasilva said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:31am | Report comment

Ok the performance at the Olympics were shameful. Not because we lost most of the game and only have one point but because we played poorly for 2 and a half games (excluding the first half against Ivory Coast). It was a dismal performance. We don’t expec the team to beat argentina or even to out possess the team (which is more difficult then beating them) but we expect them to try and keep the ball against them instead of launching long balls to Archie and Nikita. To me that was the critical failure of Arnold.

The selection would have been acceptable if Arnold said that Burns and Djite were admitted for them to play for new clubs. however Dario Vidosic omission were bit puzzling especially when he played well in the qualifiers.

I actually believe that Mark Milligan has potential as a DM as he played ok against Ivory Coast and a few A-league games for Sydney for that position. its the only position he can play considering that North and Spiranovic were better options in the back. He certainly went off the rails recently and played poorly in the first two games but I think that was because of him instead of being a DM. He would have played just as bad as a central defender

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:33am | Report comment

I don’t know about all the hysteria. It was inevitable no matter what happened in Beijing, due to the vicious media feeding frenzy when it comes to Arnold. I am one of those weird people who respects and enjoys watching a good defensive performance, and I feel we gave one of these in the Olympics. All three teams in our group were far superior to us technically, but tactically I felt we matched them. We were never going to get through, bar a miracle from this group, but the game plan we followed (as opposed to the personnel) was our best shot. Just to qualify for the Olympics was a great feat in itself.

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:42am | Report comment

dasilva, falling back on the old “long ball” cliche for the Argentina performance is faulty. I watched the game closely and we tried to play the ball out of defense and keep it on the ground. Argentina themselves employed several long balls in that game. Let’s not rewrite history. The first game was shocking, brainless long ball tactics, but the performance against Argentina was totally different.

dasilva said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:57am | Report comment

the performance against Argentina was 10 times better than the match against Serbia in keeping the ball and I saw some possession football in patches in the first half but I would still classify the performance was still more long balls then possession style. It really determines what kind of standard we want to set for the team in how to view that performance. I’ll will admit it was a more mix style of play. I honestly think Farinas performance against Argentina in the last olympics was better then the current Arnolds side. Our performance improve as the olyroos played but still i thought there were too many long balls in all of the matches.

I wouldn’t call it good defensive football. The italians defend by not giving the other side the ball. Now i don’t expect to do it like the italians but we got to try And even without the ball it wasn’t that great defensive football when we actually the other sides created a fair amount of chances on goal due to Mark Milligan and the full backs having a poor defensive game in the matches creating pressure for our defence again and again. Now spiranovich and North did the best they can at the circumstances and have a good defensive match but I wouldn’t call it a good defensive performances from the team. If there were better finishing with the same quality of defending no one wouldn’t call it a good defensive performances.

dasilva said | August 19th 2008 @ 11:59am | Report comment

Also if Arnold team played well (keep the possession) for all the matches and lost all of them we would see praise from the crew of SBS. I don’t really believe there is a media ambush, just that the criticism matched the performance. They are not going to criticise Arnold no matter what and they have praise him before for a good performance when we lost to Uruguay in a friendly in home soils wher we did a good job keeping the ball even though we lost.

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 12:05pm | Report comment

dasilva, our major weakness was finishing, I agree that if djite had been in the squad we might have scored some of the chances we had…

dasilva said | August 19th 2008 @ 12:12pm | Report comment

Yeah I agree that was the most crucial failures in terms of results was the poor finishing. We might of actually defeated Argentina if the finishing was better (although we wouldn’t have deserved it though). I just don’t believe that our defence was that great either.

The Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 12:59pm | Report comment

We created very little, as well. To say our Olympic campaign suffered from poor finishing, is akin to saying that the Democracy in America fails because people are not legally required to vote. The midfield was absent, in function and presence. That has to be self evident.

All the other teams we played most recently (and in the warm up games, bar NZ) had at least twice the opportunities to score in each game…and the all eventually did. That is a credit to our opponents (incl China, Korea et al). They all had superior attacking build ups (buckling our defensive efforts).

We had nothing much on offer, to put these teams under pressure, let alone genuine chances on goal.

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:09pm | Report comment

I agree with Bear - we created close to nothing. To talk about finishing is missing the point. The team played so much better when Musialik, Bridge, and Celeski were on the pitch and passing the ball around. There actually were some positive performances out there - just not enough, and that was largely due to the team selections and tactics. We do have some players who can “play a bit” but unfortunately the conservative and defensive mindsets of most of our coaches don’t allow them or our teams to play to their potential. They were never going to win a medal here - and I didn’t have a problem with that but the style (lack of) and mentality with which they played was really disappointing.

ps really enjoyed watching the Brazilian Womens’ team last night against Germany - can we get some of these girls - Marta, Christiane, to play in the A-League?

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:15pm | Report comment

Oh and the FFA statement is a complete joke. I’m incredibly disappointed in the position they have taken. Maybe we should organise and ol school placards and songs protest out the front the Westfields building …or wherever they’re based. Why is Arnie apparantely unsackable?

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:21pm | Report comment

The fact that the each of the three matches was an incremental improvement in terms of performance from the last is actually indicative of good coaching rather than bad. If our performances had got worse, it would be grounds for saying Arnie was a bad coach, however he obviously spotted problems and took effective measures to change things in subsequent games, either through personnel, tactics or approach.

Towser said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:38pm | Report comment

The bottom line in modern football is creativity. Given modern defences,superior fitness levels,tactics & bleep tests on the earhole ,the difference is creativity between winning & losing. Players in bygone days(oh Rapunzel where are you) were allowed to be more creative due to the lack of the above attributes. No such luxury today. Stanley Matthews could jink around 2 defenders, step over the side line have his breakfast , then return to the field to carry on where he left off, making fools of the 2 defenders who were still spinning from his dribbling skills in their previous encounter.
Messi was surrounded by yellow shirts when we played Argentina. Where did the goal come from creativity firstly Messi then the rest.
Sure The Olyroos have moved beyond the blood & guts hoofball of yesteryear,some intricate passing there at times,but creativity ,give me a break.

Jamie said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:45pm | Report comment

An incremental performance improvement in each of the three matches is not necessarily indicative of “good coaching”… Did the Olyroos not play a whole host of warm-up matches (not to mention all those qualifiers)? Surely you use those warm-up matches to fine-tune your tactics, including selections and strategy, not the actual tournament itself. And I would have thought “good coaches” would have changed things once the problem is spotted, not wait until the next match…

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:46pm | Report comment

But it wasn’t like the first game of the tournament was day one for him was it? He took over a team that had perfomed admirably on all criteria in the qualifiers and managed to scrape them through playing ugly. His squad selections deserved questioning before he went to the Olympics and he said he was going to try and win us a medal. He completely got it wrong (both in the type of game he played and the result - they could have got all the points) in the first game of the tournament against a pretty ordinary Serbian side (apart from a couple of great players), should have been punished heavily against Argentina who forgot to bring their shooting boots and then failed to get a result in the last game against a Cote Ivoire team that seemed pretty happy to contain them.

Sorry but I cannot work out how you can defend him as a manager. I do think SJ you do all this solely to be deliberately contrary.

The Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 1:54pm | Report comment

Slippery Jim, perhaps you are “one” of those that Bonita Mersiades was referring to in this opinion piece. However, as the overwhelmingly majority of responses to this blog spot shows, the FFA has grossly overstated those that believe the FFA has wise counsel in keeping Arnold as an integral part of our National Team coaching structure.

But where is Arnold, why is he now so busy (he would have surely thought himself still to be at the Olympics, still, in ideal circumstances). Surely even you yourself would want to hear his thoughts and opinions on the wash up from these Olympics? To perhaps vindicate himself, make himself understood and appreciated?

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 2:05pm | Report comment

Vicentin, there is more than a hint of truth in what you say about my motivations, you know me only too well, however even when playing devils advocate it can be enlightening as there are always two sides to every story

Towser said | August 19th 2008 @ 2:39pm | Report comment

“In common parlance, a devil’s advocate is someone who takes a position, sometimes one he or she disagrees with, for the sake of argument. This process can be used to test the quality of the original argument and identify weaknesses in its structure.”

Slippery Jim

Once I played “Devils advocate”. Then I switched my position to the opposite position of the origonal position I positioned myself against.
This caused me to switch my position to the position of the position I origonally argued against. What is your current position?
Mine after this was very sore.

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 2:47pm | Report comment

I find a variety of positions enhances the experience…and now back to football.

la la said | August 19th 2008 @ 2:51pm | Report comment

Arnolds not up to the task and he knows it…….hence his errie silence.

When is FFA going to take Olyroos seriously and invest in a real coach not some half a$$ed hack. He wasn’t good enough for Socceroos so why is he good enough for Olyroos. Just because he seems like a nice bloke doesn’t mean you keep dead wood around. We need a real coach now.

The Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 2:58pm | Report comment

Slippery Jim, if you are the devils advocate, what does that make those to whom you are currently affiliated?

Slippery Jim said | August 19th 2008 @ 3:19pm | Report comment

Since ‘affiliated with’ loosely translates as ‘associated with’, and I am “associating with” you on your blog, The Bear, you tell me

Graciously,

Pippinu said | August 19th 2008 @ 3:27pm | Report comment

For me, Olympic football doesn’t really matter all that much, so I don’t get too hung up about not making the quarter finals in what was an extremely tough group.

But some of the points made over the past week are a bit mystifying:
1. That Djite and Burns would have made all the difference - but if very few chances were created, how would they have made the difference??
2. The our midfield was lacking because so few chances were created - and yet Musialik and Bridge had some pretty good moments.
3. Our overall performance is a step backwards - and yet we were able to fully test the likes of Federici and Spira against stop top shelf opposition - that alone is worth the price of admission.

Come on people - it was a tough group.

The Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 3:48pm | Report comment

Slippery Jim, if you can’t follow your own posts, then how can i expect to parlay with you?

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 3:51pm | Report comment

Come on Pippinu now you’re being a bit disengenuous and just choosing the bits you like - ie the supposed inconsistencies. We don’t need two DAs here Pipps, SJ’s doing just fine….. move it along.

No one seems to be hung up on not making the quarters.

For me Djite and Burns would have made very little difference if the rest of the team - mentored by the great Arnie, played in exactly the same fashion. Arnie chose not to take them and thought that Archie and Rukka would get him goals. He was deluded and deserves to be pilloried for his own inconsistencies particularly in his statements about the difficulties of getting goals.

Musialik and Bridge (and others) had good “moments” - individual players are allowed to and should have a few minutes of good football in 270 minutes of a team sport. It is a team sport however, and the concern is how poorly the team performed/was directed to perform during those 270 minutes.

You’re clutching at straws if the only positives were that our goalkeeper and centreback performed well under pressure - pressure that was largely placed there by the manager.

Pippinu said | August 19th 2008 @ 4:07pm | Report comment

“You’re clutching at straws if the only positives were that our goalkeeper and centreback performed well under pressure - pressure that was largely placed there by the manager”

Ah, but money can’t buy you that sort of experience - the Socceroos will be better for the fact that they did face that sort of pressure!

I remember in 2000 we went out of our way in getting the best over-age players we could muster - and lost every game - on home soil! For me, that was far more disappointing that what’s just happened in China.

And here’s a question for you - why wasn’t Rob Baan replaced well before the Olympics? That’s the true failing in all this.

Pippinu said | August 19th 2008 @ 4:08pm | Report comment

I should add that I’m not a big wrap for Ruka either.

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 4:22pm | Report comment

Pippinu - it’s not a question for me it’s a question for the FFA and they’re still not answering it. Maybe as a final act of mateship they’re going to let Arnie fall on his sword rather than have him suffer the indignity of sacking him. Here’s hoping …and here’s hoping he’s not too thick to get the hint.

2000 was a long time ago in terms of the recent great strides that football has supposedly made in the past three or four years. I’m sure I was disappointed too - but frankly I can’t remember it and I’m sure I had less lofty desires for our national team then.

Pippinu said | August 19th 2008 @ 4:25pm | Report comment

Vicentin

You’re right, it is a question for the FFA, but it clearly shows that they didn’t exactly make the Olympics a priority.

You had less lofty ambitions back in 2000 - I find that hard to believe!!

Vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 4:46pm | Report comment

…..but it clearly shows that they didn’t exactly make the Olympics a priority.

Well, as the Bear writes in his opener …

I even recall the strut and nonchalance of the FFA’s manager in the pre-Olympic press conference. It was a serious medal assault, not a development luxury, so we were told…..You looked us straight in the eyes and said that a medal was the benchmark for success.

Basically they failed on all fronts - they talked the talk (like Arnie), but failed in the delivery (like Arnold) … and now it appears that they’ve conveniently forgotten all this just weeks after the initial comments. I think the FFA looks really amateur (at best) in this affair and downright weasle-like to be honest. They’ve stuffed up - they should fix it.

ps nice chatting with you Pippu - like the old days!

Pippinu said | August 19th 2008 @ 5:21pm | Report comment

Vicentin
I still think there were pleny of positives to come out of it, and you have to admit, it was a bloody tough group!

ps nice to talk to you again - where have you been hiding??!

dasilva said | August 19th 2008 @ 6:16pm | Report comment

It is very obvious why Rob Baan didn’t continue the job. He is a technical director and was responsible for the recent youth development scheme and the introduction of small sided games. I think that is a bit more important and time consuming then olyroos squad. I’m ok with Rob Baan not coaching. I’m not ok of Graham Arnold of taking over.

Its true that they have troubled creating chances and that was the most glaring failure but the fact is with better strikers they could have unfairly won all three of the matches with the few chances they created and then everyone will say how great how arnie is even though he was lucky.

vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 7:56pm | Report comment

Hiding? No where, but since - like you with the Olympics, I couldn’t give a rat’s about fantasy football this seems like a more relevant place for me at the moment. My fantasy involves Arnold and Kossie (and Brett Holman) no longer being involved in football and Nick Carle regularly playing in midfield in the national team.

cheers

Midfielder said | August 19th 2008 @ 8:13pm | Report comment

Out of interest of Harry, Bresh, Vinny, Timmy C, Cullina, Wilko, ……… which three would you drop to put Nick in. But what about Carl Valeri, Mile Sterjovski, Richard Garcia, ………then maybe Burns, Bridge, Holland, Zullo ………. we have a number of players Nick is good and has ball skills but I have listed my top six mids and then listed another six mids of good quality.

Koala Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 8:18pm | Report comment

Vicentin,
Two things that I agree with you on; Nicky Carle, and fantasy football … I won’t mention the other stuff

~~~~~~~
KB

Koala Bear said | August 19th 2008 @ 8:25pm | Report comment

Lads,
I believe Rob Baan has resigned and heading back to Holland … 90% sure — I saw a report to that effect on TWG.. some time back..

cosmos forever said | August 19th 2008 @ 8:48pm | Report comment

You blokes are mad - G Arnold better not set foot in the ACT. We like to play attractive, skilled football down here (football, league or union - it’s in our make-up), and we like to select the best players for our squads. That puts him out I think!

vicentin said | August 19th 2008 @ 9:35pm | Report comment

Midfielder - fair question, and I’ll show a little bit of fancy footwork (possibly including a rabona) around it. None of the players you mention needs to be excluded completely and Grella and Valeri are DMs and don’t come into it - have to admit I don’t rate Wilko and dismiss him like Holman as an athlete and nothing more. If we want to play a possession-based game higher up the park then I think Carle needs to be on the park for at least a considerable time of the game - not this final 10 minutes under pressure that Arnie and Pim begrudgingly give him.

Nick Carle is only true number 10 in the pack and has the ability to make the others look even better - witness the combination he had going with Kewell against Nigeria. I suspect that Viduka would even score goals in the National team with Nick supplying.

Harry is an attacking midfielder but is not a “creative” or at least not a top shelf one. Cahill is great opportunist who reads the game really well around the box but you want him on the end of the move rather than the beginning of it. Sterjovski is another good player but he’s a peripheral player rather than a fulcrum on which a game can be based, Garcia I’ve not seen enough of but I don’t think he’s in the same class. Burns could be great in a few years - shows great potential, Bridge likewise but I suspect he won’t fulfill his potential, Holland’s ok, Zullo is old school winger in my mind.

Look, I don’t think Carle has to necessarily play every minute of every game but creativity is something that has been lacking (and unappreciated) in the Australian set-up for a long time including in Hiddink’s reign and I’m tired of it. I’ll certainly be watching Riquelme and Messi tonight (kiss of death no doubt) with the keenest of interest. Classic no 10s invariably attract more than their fair share of criticism but for me this is about a lack of imagination on behalf of those who criticise them not the players themselves who are invariably called lazy or selfish by these bores. A player like Riquelme (ok he occasionally has a crap game) will out fight anyone on the park - watch him hold onto the ball for dear life, he do plenty of running too, it just won’t be pointless 50 metres sprints chasing a hoofed ball, but constant 5 and 10 metre movements to make himself available to receive the ball from his team mates and create something new.

KB - that Baan is gone is old news but he apparently will be giving the FFA a report on the Olyroos at Olympics - should be interesting reading.

ps while I’m typing these Nigerians are scoring some extraordinary goals! Ciao.

Midfielder said | August 19th 2008 @ 10:57pm | Report comment

Riquelme is one of my all time favourite players. Aside from the class difference Riquelme is perpetual motion personified and can use both feet. Much of what Riquelme does is plan simple, gets into position and passes the ball and every now and then one of those passes rips a defensive to shreds.

Nick, one foot, does he track back, is he always there backing up and making life simple for those around him. For all his flaws Wilko makes simple passes and back’s up ….. skill level we are on the same page, if you could combine the two …….. ARRRRRRRR what a player it would be.

I love watching Nick play and he is good with his feet if only I could have a smell of his skill ……….. but when / where do you put him on agree last 30 minutes when people are getting tired, first 30 or the whole match replacing Harry, Timmy, Jason.

Could go on all night but alas Nick is an enigma excellent technical skills, do the other sides of his game allow for those moments when with a deft glance using those nimble feet with a precise pass he opens up the game. After all that I am still not sure.

The Bear said | August 20th 2008 @ 8:39am | Report comment

If i may interject.

What do folks think of the comments from the FFA, after we left the Group stages?

I quote,

It seems quite different in tone from the press conference when they named the squad.

Pippinu said | August 20th 2008 @ 9:26am | Report comment

This reminds me, the other day I was thinking: do other countries use their NT coach at the Olympics? I honestly didn’t know.

Then last night I saw Dunga sitting on the sideline and found my answer.

So one could argue that Pim basically handed the baton over to Arnie, and my guess is that it came with the strict instructions to pick three over-age players that suited Pim and his immediate qualification plans, and that above all he wanted an opportunity to check out the likes of Federici and Spira.

At the same time, he wanted to distance himself from it all, which he has successfully done.

Forget about it all people - South Africa and then the Uzbekis beckon - we have bigger fish to fry!!

Vicentin said | August 20th 2008 @ 9:41am | Report comment

Midfielder - can’t think of many players who have ALL the attributes. It is a team game and therefore (much like a chess set with pieces that have different moves) you choose players who complement each other. You’re not going to find a team full of “Queens” so to speak, and it isn’t going to work anyway as even they can’t do the hook move that the horses can ;0)

We’ve got plenty of players who can run but few who have the football wits about them. That said, I’ve never thought of Carle as a lazy player or one who doesn’t track back - that’s just Arnie spin which unfortunately has been bought by people who really ought to know better. By the way Riquelme is about a right-foot dependant as Carle is left. They aren’t in the same class but the DNA is there and I think he’s the kind of player Australia should be showcasing and developing rather than hiding away. Did he get a run this morning? Argentina, particularly Riquelme and Messi (and Gago) were superb last night.

Bear - it is jus another example of the inconsistency and hypocrisy that the FFA has shown in this matter. Weasel words. Thanks for your blog.

Towser said | August 20th 2008 @ 10:28am | Report comment

Pippinu

Already passed into history,.Onto the real deal & it would seem having watched the match this morning from Loftus road that there may be more than a hint of truth that Arnie may have just been the puppet to puppetmaster Pim.
I used to think that an olympic gold medal would somehow elevate football into the psyche of the broader Aussie publics mind. However that was pre-Lowy WC qualification days & I would have took anything that acheived that.
Now I have clearer vision & see that just reaching the WC finals is worth 10 Olympic gold medals in the eyes of the public.

Agree with your sentiments,but you are a man ahead of your time.
Have a look at the Juniors coming up ,are they showing signs of learning how to play creative football?
You are being a little harsh on the FFA.
Perhaps they realise more than you know about our deficiencies.
Frank Lowy does not tolerate second rate,whether its business or sport.
So although the FFA has non-football people in charge in some areas all organisations are driven by the chairman. He dictates future decisions.
So far although there has been what appears a time lapse to fans the FFA has steered the football ship on the right course.
Everything that has needed to be rectified in the game has eventually come to pass. You cant go from a basket case to being consistently succesful overnight(a la Argentina).

The Bear said | August 20th 2008 @ 11:02am | Report comment

Towser, then why the press conference charade? Is it too much to ask for honesty? I agree that the FFA are moving in some great directions. The appointment of Baan, SSG, Womens and Youth Leagues. All fantastic.

But the amount of polly-waffle and “code” talk from the FFA pre and post Olympics is astounding. How can fans and supporters believe what they hear? Why should we even bother to listen?

It’s non inclusive, and diminshes the engagement of the populace, with the side effect of alienating a fan base (and in turn the *financial* bottom line for the organisation). When the FFA treat their Supporters as merely spectators, and not fans, the means destroy the ends.

Vicentin, you stay true to your “balanced” view, if people like Robbie Slater (and GA most likely) had his way, then even if Riquelme was an Aussie, the midfielder would not even make the bench.

And Pip, your speculation is …well speculation. And try not to forget too quickly… otherwise we shall be having this dialogue sooner than you may think (again). Besides, surely we have enough dexterity to kick more than one football issue around at a time.

Personally, I am now hoping the Baan report (from these Olympics) reveals a warts and all perspective (about time for GA?) and that the FFA act on it. And perhaps, give us Aussies some clear communication, for a change.

Slippery Jim said | August 20th 2008 @ 11:14am | Report comment

Vicentin, The Bear, Nick Carle did not get any game time today, with players like Holman and Garcia getting decent playing time ahead of him. Can we please now put to rest the desperate attempts to blame Arnold for the decision made by Pim, and Pim alone, not to give Carle game time for the Socceroos.

Koala Bear said | August 20th 2008 @ 11:48am | Report comment

Slippery Jim, or anyone,
I didn’t see the game, but does anyone know, what the starting line up was..? or where I can find a link..?

Vicentin said | August 20th 2008 @ 11:58am | Report comment

SJ, I know that you’re are Holman’s agent. Well done. I’ve been rather underwhelmed by Pim to be honest but have not fully turned against him… yet. He is clearly of the same school as Hiddink that favours the athlete and the collective to the individual which whilst I see merits in I believe this is a flawed system when taken to extremes. He did use Arshavin though in the Euros. To deny occassional brilliance (and mistakes) purely for conservatism is both boring and possibly unproductive in the long run. Also what kid goes home and says “I want to run 12 kms per game like Holman”? Players who inspire are guys like Carle, Kewell (at his best) etc. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate a good DM like Grella either, but to watch Gago last night was a revelation too - a DM with that much skill and vision. I still think football in Australia places way too much emphasis on athleticism and favours those players at all levels of the game rather than promoting the really special ones and then working on their fitness, workrate etc.

Yes the FFA is not doing things fast enough (at least on the surface) for me, but more worrying are some of their recent statements and positions particularly regarding the Olympics and Arnie’s ongoing tenure. I think these actions are hugely negative to the growth of football in Australia. Re young players - I’ve seen some fantastic young players in this country but unfortunately I also see a lot of really crap coaches and other institutions that aren’t giving these talents the proper environment in which to thrive and add to the development of Australian football.

I’ll be interested to see (if possible) and read more about this morning’s game. If I read that they gave the ball away cheaply etc (in my deluded mind) I think I’ll know why and who could have fixed this. Cheers.

Towser said | August 20th 2008 @ 11:59am | Report comment

My guess is Bear,they do know.
The waffle is a cover up,no question.
Bit like politicians.
Doesnt personally bother me or remotely alienate me. I know which side of my bread is buttered on.
The overall direction is what counts.
Ignore the static & listen for the message. If the message doesnt come through,then worry.

Skull said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:02pm | Report comment

Can anyone help me out here. Is this the same Nick Carle who plays in that football hotbed of excellence, the English 2nd division for that world renown club Crystal Palace (whom incidentally Craig Foster played for during his stellar career) to whom he transferred to from those other giants of the world game Bristol City. What has he done to deserve all this adulation. I must admit I do not watch the A-League as I cant afford PayTV subscription but has he won games single handidly when playing here. Maybe the powers that be in Aust Football see what others see in Carle.

Vicentin said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:06pm | Report comment

Sorry Towser, I meant to acknowledge in my previous post that I was replying to some of your questions/observations. Cheers.

and Bear, you’re probaby right. Arnold wouldn’t have the faintest idea what do do with a guy like Riquelme. Telling to stop kicking a ball and send him to the gym most likely.

Towser said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:15pm | Report comment

So what your saying then Vicentin is that in your opinion(I presume you are a coach) it is the coaches at fault.
Surely then this is what Rob Baan was brought here for to rectify the Aussie football mentality so guys like Riquelme become the pin up boys rather than the athlete footballer(by the way I agree with you 100% on this).
I guess it took many years for the Dutch may be better than British coaching methods to sink in,but sink in it did.
Do you now dispute this direction ie even this wont produce a Messi Riquelme? for Australia.

Slippery Jim said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:27pm | Report comment

KB, here you go lad: (also posted on the Flog)

Qantas Socceroos line-up: 1.Mark SCHWARZER (gk), 2.Lucas NEILL (c)( 4.Mark MILLIGAN 46’), 3.Scott CHIPPERFIELD (11.David CARNEY 46’), 5.Jason CULINA, 7.Scott McDONALD (10.Brett HOLMAN 46’), 8.Luke WILKSHIRE, 9.Joshua KENNEDY (12.Bruce DJITE 73’), 13.Vincenzo GRELLA (14.Carl VALERI 62’), 16.Chris COYNE, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI (20.Richard GARCIA 62’), 23.Mark BRESCIANO.

Substitutes Not Used: 6.Matthew SPIRANOVIC, 18.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 19.Nick CARLE.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=23274

Slippery Jim said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:30pm | Report comment

I find it amusing that the Olyroos have faced so much hostility and disparagement for a so-called poor performance against Argentina, who only managed to beat us by a single goal late in the second half, yet the famous and oh-so adored Brazil, coached by their national team coach, were smashed three nil by the Argentinians in the Olympics.

Perhaps our performance wasn’t as bad as many of the “experts” would have us believe?

Pippinu said | August 20th 2008 @ 12:36pm | Report comment

Skull
Is your middle name Slippery Jim?

Sorry, that’s a bit of an in-joke.

In all honesty, NC hasn’t really done too much in either the Championship (SJ’s favourite topic) or with the NT, although I believe he played a good game against Ghana (?) when Rob Baan was in charge.

Vicentin has already described himself as a “romantic”, and we all have a touch of that if we were to be honest and introspective, e.g. to a man we all would have much preferred that France had got past Germany in the 1982 WC semi final, or that Turkey had faced Germany rather than Brazil in the 2002 semi finals.

So NC represents a c

By The Bear
August 19th 2008 @ 2:42am

The FFA serves the ‘bad China’ and we want answers

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By The Bear August 19th 2008 @ 2:42am

The FFA serves the ‘bad China’ and we want answers

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By The Bear
August 19th 2008 @ 2:42am