To summarise why Dutch is good for Aust NT you have to keep in mind what we have (great sporting technology and facilities, amazing sports mentality) With what we don’t have (large pop, history of individual talent).

Dutch is also easily translatable because of the european roots of football in this country.

“But you have to love the Dutch, they never win, but always believe they had the most style.”

there is a common belief that the dutch never win but this is simply not true

They won the Euro Cup 88 and consistently go deep into tournaments

if you look at England for example, they have never won a Euro Cup, let alone made a final, only once ever have made it to a semi final

Spain have never made it to a world cup final, and 2008 Euro Cup was their first trophy, i don’t think they’d be too many people going around at the moment that say “Spain never win”

Club sides like Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and West Brom all emphasised fluidity of passing and movement, as well as flexibility, suggesting the movement was already in place in Europe in the 1960s when the Total Football philosophy came to full light.

However, at the heart of the Dutch side was a player who epitomised the classical school of footballers, Wim van Hanegem. He had inspired Feyenoord in league and European success, a player blessed with a wonderful left foot, intelligence and vision that was almost peerless for the time. He was a more static than dynamic player, not one to run all day, but his anticipation and perceptiveness, never mind the accuracy of his passing and shooting, had few equals. A wonderful player. He also fired up whenever they played the Germans.

There are few things more joyful to watch than the static, slow passing game. It makes for beautiful viewing because the ball always moves faster than the man. While English football has always had a mish-mash of different styles of play (which is either a strength or weakness, depending in your perspective), Nottingham Forest were perhaps one of the very few to bring the “static” passing game to perfection.

There is probably some truth in that view (that he was appointed beause we were flat broke) – but nevertheless, back in 2000-01, Farina was looked upon by some outside of Australia as being a good manager.

I would just warn everyone to not start believing that entree into the WC is going to become an automatic, permanent event – in fact, the opposite is probably true.

Why did you not list the Confed Cup results in 2005 which sparked Lowy to act and dump him.

Germ 4 – Aus 3
Argentina 4 – Aus 2
Tunisia 2 – Aus 0

He is a dead set whinger who was only made national manager because the game was broke.
That’s why he is now managing an A-League team. No European team would ever appoint him.

Knocked out by NZ, the pain of it all.
Of course its naive to presume that football has suddenly emerged from a post Frank Lowy egg, somehow to transform in 4 years or so into a healthy teenager. In the much maligned dark years the twilight zone of the NSL & Dodgy admin we still produced the current crop of “Overseas Socceroos”. What has changed in the Post Lowy years is the belief in football in this country, that has latently been suppressed, by reasons that we have discussed ad nauseum.
That belief post Lowy ,for reasons we also know well now drives the game forward in all areas.
Lets dont forget also that Asian football has changed a hell of a lot in 28 years. Japan meant Sumo wrestling to me & Bahrain was the place I got cheap duty free. I thought Qatar was the ailment I had as a kid in Sheffield due to the industrial smog.

A hell of a lot has changed in 28 years – a hell of a lot – it would be a mistake to presume that the bulk of that change is in the last three years – I don’t think that’s correct at all.

What has delivered our second consecutive qualifier is an experienced In Asia coach. Its just coincidence that hes Dutch.

South Korea will defeat our A-League team by at least two goals every time.

As I said, we defeat Hungary 3-0 away, but struggle against the likes of Bahrain and Qatar away.

This goes to the basic question: is it the “Dutch” coaching that has delivered us a second consecutive qualifier, or merely being within the Asian umbrella for qualifiers, i.e. if Frank had the Socceroos in Asia in 2000-01, he too would have got us into a WC no sweat.

Even the draws against Slovakia and Bulgaria, and a home win against Paraguay are pretty good (that loss against South Korea was actually our B team).

My memory is that around this time, there were articles circulating suggesting that Serie A clubs were taking a close look at Farina for a head coach role.

David V – thanks for the link. I’ll have to do some more research – later. Don’t know if I’d go so far as “lwho is accredited with unearthing Cruyff and laying the groundwork for the Ajax “Total Football” years based on just that obituary ….and no doubt you didn’t either.

cheers

Chile 2 Aust 1
Aust 0 Slovakia 0
Aust 1 Bulgaria 1
Hungary 0 Aust 3
Czech Rep 3 Aust 1
Aust 0 Paraguay 0 (twice)
Aust 2 Paraguay 1
NZ 0 Aust 2
South Korea 4 Australia 2
Scotland 0 Aust 2

oh and they couldnt take penalties.

Also, very recently their under 21 side made the final of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship – something that the other 49 nations in Europe could not achieve.

In the group stages of this competition England topped group B (which included Germany and Spain), scoring the most goals, most wins and highest goal difference. While they did lose the final to Germany, it still shows that their youth system is producing high quality footballers such as Theo Walcott and Micah Richards, that can beat the best youth coming from Spain, for example.

If only Australia could have the same “lack of ability” that England have!

As I said it was only a small point we disagree on … we may never agree I just think many in Frannks place many would have cried and bitched … A mate who’e son was playing for Bl;acktown Demons U 16 side was playing Sutherland and Frank’s son was in the Sutherland team… My mate says Frank just say very quitely never said a word clapped both sides good play and after the match shook both coaches hands and the Blacktown boys as well…

A number of parents asked him his views and he just smiled and said I have lefty all that in the past but showed great respect to those that asked …

Excellent precise breakdown as to the success of Dutch coaches worldwide.

Lots of interesting points but for me this explains the perfect fit for us:-

“Why would a foreign club hire a coach from such a small country? Reker has many answers to this question, but essentially the main reason is: if you’re not strong, you have to be smart. “The Netherlands has only 16 million inhabitants. To succeed in football at international level we have to make the most of the talent we have. And that means training and training and training”

Be smart should be our motto in all aspects of football. In particular smart recruiting is essential for the progress of the A-League considering our immediate “Big” competitors like Japan.The Dutch are surrounded by big,yet have been far more succesful than other similar sized European nations in producing World class players. Although Portugal with less people dont do too bad. Player wise anyway,maybe not quality coach exporting.

But I was talking about British football in general. The whole structure is dire.

Keep it away from Australia, PLEASE!!!!!!

It has the required Northern European cultural elements (half the Australian team) without the complete lack of ability that Britain offers the rest of the world (at the moment).

Prior to Ajax, his management of West Brom brought FA Cup success and a brand of stylish football that was well ahead of its time in 50s England. In fact, this is what playing the “Albion way” was all about- it was followed by subsequent managers, and was also seen under Ron Atkinson and most recently Tony Mowbray.

In terms of dignity I have to say I’m still pissed off about that Samsung or LG ad that he did during the 2002 World Cup which had him crying about the Socceroos not making it. Fair enough he may have needed a buck, but profiting on his own incompetency in failing to get us there was beyond the pale (pail?) in my book. I also think he was a turkey in relation to that Andrew Orsatti incident.

David V – tell us more about Vic Buckingham. You can’t just say “who is accredited with unearthing Cruyff and laying the groundwork for the Ajax “Total Football” years.” and then just expect us to accept it without some slight skepticism. Happy to shown this is true …but more details please. Thanks.

Just a point of disagreement with you concerning Farina.. you said …” Mike Cockerill pushing Frank’s barrow of sour grapes”..

Please understand I was also yelling Farina OUT along with almost everybody at the time…

But if ever a person held their diginity, and has to this day said almost nothing about the FFA, JON, Frank Lowy … and he went back and coached in the associations …

As a national coach Frank does not rate .. but as a person who has just got on with things I rate hime very highly…. unlike the other demi Gods who think the are Football … meaning IMO… Arnold Out, Kossie, Fozza and Mrs Football..

So I rate Frank very highly as a person his coaching at A-League has been good and he has been one of the few to give youth first team spots…