Recently your erstwhile Roar correspondent interviewed Pim Verbeek for an upcoming profile in Inside Sport magazine. It was a wide-ranging discussion, and I got to ask Verbeek about his adventures in Japan, where at various times he was coach of Omiya Ardija and Kyoto Purple Sanga (now Kyoto Sanga) in the national first and second divisions, J-League and J2.
His brother Robert has also coached in Japan, most recently with Omiya, who sacked him late last year after a 6-0 demolition by Urawa Reds.
Verbeek was nostalgic about Japan, waxing lyrical about the facilities available to coaches, the money invested in the development of junior players, the infrastructure of clubs, but mostly the technical ability of Japanese players. They didn’t always score goals, he said, and that wasn’t always a positive, but they could produce some beautiful possession football.
“The Japanese play combination football,” he told me. “More Brazilian influences than European… in Japan, they always try to build out from the backline to the midfield to the striker and back and that’s the way they prefer to play.”
Verbeek’s words rang in my head on Wednesday night watching a brilliant performance by Gamba Osaka in their Asian Champions League match against Melbourne Victory. The Japanese side treasured the ball (55 per cent possession is telling), not wasting it for a moment, conjured some magical passing in midfield, were quicker, defter with their trapping, and overall their touch all over the park was superb.
Not to mention the fact they scored some blistering goals, four from a total of 19 shots, including one rocket of a header from Brazilian striker Bare that should have been awarded after going over the line. (A month ago I wrote about goal-line technology on this blog and why it’s sorely needed in football. Last night we saw just why.)
Melbourne’s consistent approach, by contrast, seemed to be to break down the Gamba attack whichever way it could and clear it out from the defence for Adrian Caceres or Leigh Broxham to then ping it into Danny Allsopp. Pray-for-the best sort of stuff. Nothing patient. Helter skelter. It was a sign of just how Melbourne relied on long passes downfield that they tallied ten offsides.
It was highly disingenuous of Ernie Merrick to say after the match: “That last goal just killed us.” (He must surely be starting down the barrel of being sacked for now losing to Thai side Chonburi away and getting smashed by four goals at home.)
No, it wasn’t the last goal that killed Melbourne, as late and heartbreaking as Brazilian sub Lucas’s was. It was the team’s woeful marking. Its poor fitness. The finesse-free football Merrick gets his team to play.
(Did anyone see Kevin Muscat about five minutes from the end get left for dead by a Gamba player and instead of chase him just angrily throw his arms out and throw him to the ground?)
Nor is the problem Melbourne’s salary-cap constraints, as claimed by club officials before the match. (The Japanese, you see, don’t have one.)
The Brazilians weren’t the difference for Gamba. It was guys such as Yasuhito Endo, Takahiro Futugawa, Satoshi Yamaguchi and Michihiro Yasuda feeding the Brazilians. All Japanese. All half the size of their opposite number. All outrageously skilful.
Gamba romped home in the Pan-Pacific Championship and I can’t see a Japanese side not winning this year’s ACL. It’s quickly becoming clear the J-League is a significant notch above the quality of the A-League.
But rather than put our heads in the sand for another year and wait for Newcastle Jets to maybe put things right for Australia in Asia, let’s start learning how the Japanese do it.
As Chonburi and now Gamba have proved against Melbourne, physical presence alone does not win football games. Patience does. Fitness does. Skill does.
It’s time to bring the cult of the longball to a close.
The Round Ball Analyst
Guest
jesse, the thing i most got out of that game was the japanese ability over the ball, out wide...the boy on the right was terrible, but yasuda on the left was briliant, esp his work to tee up lucas for the winner....endo was a gem at the set piece and his variety was incredible... having said that, melb also scored two goals from free kicks, but they were deeper free-kicks, not from the by-line...
Midfielder
Guest
sledgeross Just home and was having a bit of a bad day, See the Epping now as in half time orange on fox and sometimes SBS formats. Also see you are the same sledgeross. Sorry for the over react on my part, but the match was an eye opener as there is little talent on show that is of A-League standard so the growing to 12 teams in 3 to 4 years and improve the standard of play within salary cap is going to be hard. Jes,........... if you go I would be interested in your call on state league standard.
sledgeross
Guest
Whoa, I was just joking around mate! No particular point at all!
Midfielder
Guest
Sledgeross Went with three mates to watch the match, 2 - 1, to Demos, impressed with left mid from Blacktown his nu,mber was 13 and his name Danny.$ 12.00 entry fee with programe. Marconi well it was sad to see the side that run out represent this club, and Blacktown apart from the young number 13, and Jordan Tyler who played centre there was not much on show either. If these two clubs represent a typical state level then the youth league will have to supply the players. The game itself was fast Blacktown playing more with the ball, Marconi playing a more long ball game. The Blacktown I think head coach was sent off by the ref or could have been someone inside the box. The crowd my guess between 300 & 400, they had a five team girls cheer squad three blonde and three black haired girls. Had a steak sandwhich $ 4.50 at the canteen, went to the football club across from the creek after the match and had ytwo beers. Also played on Saturday afternoon my match and back up as a replacement in the next. But I do leave Epping and have even travelled to Newcastle to watch the Mariners, watch the Flting Choppers at times. Hope this answeres whatever your point was. Was it a good game, no, was it anywhere near A-League standard no, was it better than the park football I play, by a long way, would I go agian, yes. Sledgeross care to have a go at my "TIPS" answer, name the coach, who he coached, in what league, in what era
sledgeross
Guest
I didnt think Midfielder left Epping??? Doubt he would go out to Blacktown! ;)
Midfielder
Guest
Spiro I am not here to defend the EPl or English football,............................but.................over the last say 40 years what football code from what country is the worlds most watched. For all its knockers............and often with good reason................they must be doing something right. Name one code in any country that would not swap the world wide sales the EPL has enjoyed for close to fifty years.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Millster How many of the Arsenal players are actually eligible to play for England? It is foreigners who are forcing England club sides to give away the UK mentality.
Midfielder
Guest
Dave will said mate. I am so sick of people bagging out the A-league as it lacks the T in TIPS, .........................FGS .............give us a break knockers. As I said in my previous post...................who.....................who,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who.................is saying the A-League is anywhere near perfect ............who ..............who................is saying we don't need to lift the skill level. So be positive football its improving everywhere, .....................the park quality, the coaching, the crowds, the security at grounds, a youth league, a womens league, a top coach at national level, for the most part now most teams finacially healthy, new teams wanting to get in, the TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT word is known and everybody knows it and are working towards the best way to improve the TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. Jes, most times I am on your side, and I suppose I still am, but its more the slant on the article .................like you are telling us something new or unknown or something that is not being worked on by everybody that has anything to do with football at almost every level. SBS and Fozzie the same .................what more do you want................small sided game.........national coaching director...............most of the A-League coaches off overseas with top clubs being trained to improve their skill and thereby the players under their charge. Agian all within budget with no one going broke in doing it and within three years OMG they should have done more. Come on the Mariners, next year its the double for us. I may even go the the Blacktown Demons match on Saturday night to check out the state league and some Flying Choppers playing there. Jes ..............if you going let me know I would love to sit down and have a chat over a coffee. So bloggers look at what is being done now and in the recent past................within budget and mostly without media acknowldgement then comment.................. yes we need to lift the quality, and the sun will rise in the east tomorrow. Any takers on what.................. TIPS........................ stands for yet, as we have the ................... "IPS" ....................
Nick
Guest
Sorry but this blog is being extremely alarmist. Melbourne didn't get spanked (much as I'd like them to have, being a SFC fan), they lost 4-3 to a goal scored in the last minute of the game. Hardly a footballing clinic for MVFC. Secondly, this was far from a Melbourne team at full strength - Archie Thompson and Carlos Hernandez are their two best ball-players and both are injured. With them in the squad, Victory probably would've won IMO Lastly, this Gamba team and the other J-League clubs are playing with the cream of Japanese footballing talent at their disposal - A-League clubs are playing with, at best, 3rd string Australian talent. A Melbourne team with Viduka and Grella in it and maybe this would be a fair comparison. But as it stands, I think Australian clubs are still very much contenders in the Champions League (now and in the future).
Dave
Guest
l forgot to mention that this was probably the best club game ever played on Australian soil. Congratulations to Osaka who were deserved winners in the end. However it takes 2 to tango and for long periods MV were doing the tango with the rose in their collective mouths...
Dave
Guest
Jesse Interesting article. Having been to MVs 2 ACL home games and all bar one home game in 3 HAL seasons l feel qualified to make some comments. Firstly l would agree with you in relation to the technical and passing ability of the Japanese players. On the whole they were clearly better than most of the MV players in that regard. As Gareth points out the Japanese had 6-7 full internationals in their team. MV had one, an ageing K. Muscat (MV had 3 full internations unavailable for the game). No excuses MV were beaten by the better team on the night and l was one of many thousands who stood and applauded them off at the end. However there are points of strong disagreement with your article; 1. Part of the ball for Bare's header that hit the bar was clearly not over the line - nogoal (the ref was extremely well positioned) - didn't matter in the end. 2. The stat of 55% possession for Osaka would have been expected before the game as they would keep possession and pass the ball better (which is what occurred). That stat in itself is almost irrelevant as it is what happens when you get the ball (I agree there were times MV kicked upfield to an isolated Allsop but when leading and trying to play on the break thats what tends to happen MV were ahead for much more of the game than Osaka) It has been MV tactics since Day 1 and only mitigated when Fred was in full flight. Many times KM played the ball calmly out of defence to the feet of midfielders during this match. 3. MV lost 4-3 not by 4 goals and with better defending at 2 corners may well have drawn or won. Whether they deserved to can be argued. 4. Jesse l'm afraid that for all the great passing work of the Japanese players the difference in this game was 2 Brazilians - one in paricular Bare who ran MV defence ragged and created such time and space for his teammates to utilise. He drew players (usually more than 1) to him every time he went near the ball. He scored 1 goal but could have had 4 with better finishing. None of the Japanese players looked anywhere near as threatening as Bare. The 2 goals scored by Japanese players were from a corner and a long range shot (which never looked like being repeated by the Japanese players). 5. A Brazilian scored the winner (after great lead up work from the left back). MVs Brazilian was getting splinters on the bench and never was there a thought to put him on!!! 6. EM may well be dead man walking but that has been the case on and off over 3 years. How you can say that fitness had no impact when MV have played only 3 meaningful games in near on 3 months is beyond me!! 7. The salary cap (which l agree with for the foreseeable future for HAL) needs to be adjusted for those teams in the ACL. It is not a level playing field in the ACL. Just as it is no longer in the EPL or even ECL. 8 This game was between the current Champions of Japan and the MV team who couldn't make the top 4 in HAL ( with there 3 best players out) This has not been talken into account. 9. MV and other HAL teams have much to learn but as Midfielder points out l think on the whole they are working towards many of the required changes.
sledgeross
Guest
Millster, I dont mean to the detrement of development, I merely mean trying to copy may not work. Generally, Aussies are bigger and taller, and more physical, especially in Asia. We all grow up in the wilds of suburban sport which can be cuthroat, results even at that level are paramount. We haver a different outlook that the Thai's, or Brazilians, or Congolese. I think we should study ALL the successful teams and learn from them. For all the people that are enamoured with the Dutch style, its never helped them win too much, despite having some of the most exquisitely skilled players of all time.
Tura
Guest
True Gareth... The Japanese players contribute 1000% more on heart alone than flashy, lazy, overated Brazilians... Go San Freece..
Gareth
Guest
"The Brazilians weren’t the difference for Gamba. It was guys such as Yasuhito Endo, Takahiro Futugawa, Satoshi Yamaguchi and Michihiro Yasuda feeding the Brazilians. All Japanese. All half the size of their opposite number. All outrageously skilful." ...and all Japanese Internationals. Find me an a-league club that can have players of enough skill and quality to be considered 1st or 2nd choice for the socceroos. The a-league clubs occasionally get lucky and have ONE truely exciting Australian player fall through the cracks but when he is surrounded by plodders like the K.Muscats of this world the effect is greatly diminished.
Millster
Guest
If any of you saw Arsenal's passing game against Liverpool this week in the ACL game, your would conclude that even the English are throwing away the UK mentality. I only say this half-humorously as, despite the result, some stanzas of Arsenal's passing and control game - especially in the middle 30 minutes of that second leg - were sublime. And Sledgeross - with respect I disagree. To not benefit from the experience of others is silly. I think its better to evolve our 'Aussie' style from a baseline that has been successful for others.
Midfielder
Guest
JW and many people who hold themselves to be experts think of many things that could be and often drift fron Dutch to Brazilian to French etc. Me I am happy with where we are moving and the pace we are moving. The long ball has been gone out of favour in Australia, long time ago, in fact most in England don't play the long ball see champions league if you want anymore proof. Except OK OK OK don't all yell at once, when a player or the team do not know how to play out of the back close to the line. However lets us not all freak out about it like hens with our heads cut off. Everyone in football in Australia accepts we need to improve the standards especially coaching standards and at the end I have listed A-League coaches and where they are CURRENTLY TRAINING TO IMPROVE THERE SKILLS. Jes agree we have a way to go to reach the confidence levels in both playing and coaching to meet top Japenese sides, .............but take away their Brazilians ................. who would have won. Remember Australian sides play with strenght and speed at all levels ,soon to we will play better with the ball. I would also add that you need strenght and speed to be a decent side. If anyone recalls the great Dutch teams .......................and ...................TIPS.......................still IMO the best method to choose and train players. Midfielders hug and kiss to the first who can remember "TIPS" and we Asuuies have the "IPS" and the "T" is getting there. Back to my orginal comment after 50 odd years of inept management with only three years of a half decent comp, and any sort of media lets all support the direction everyone is going.......................Jes everyone knows we need to improve.......most know where.......................but at least consider what is being done to improve and maybe start with what is being done and then say why they are doing it. For Bloggers what coach is where being trained vote if you like on who choose best, ..............funny Fozzie .............may have to say nice things about cranky Franky if you see where he is. In closing and agian we have the "IPS" it just the "T" needs a bit more. David Mitchell - Manchester City, Derby County, NAC Breda, Eintracht Frankfurt Aurelio Vidmar - AC Milan, Chievo Verona, Manchester City Ricki Herbert - Botafogo Frank Farina - Atletico Mineiro Gary van Egmond - AS Roma Lawrie McKinna - Rangers, Sheffield United
sledgeross
Guest
Johnnie Warren usedf to complain about alot of things! Lets find an Aussie style that suits us instead of being facsmilies of other countries.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Johnnie Warren used to complain that the Australian football game was too dominated by a UK mentality, rather than his preference, a Brazilian mentality. Jesse is correct in saying that the 'long ball' game has to go. History, though, has a way of biting back the hands that feeds it. The UK mentality needs to be thrown away at all levels of the Australian game before the 'long ball' game will go. But when is this going to happen? Over to you Jesse.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I've been a fan of Japanese football development for some time, not least because of the strong cultural links between South America and Japan and how this influences the football. Junior competitions matter in Japan and the national school boys competition is well followed by the general public and domestic media. Compared to the A-League the J-League is by far the stronger competition (and I believe the strongest in Asia), and this has been an acknowledged fact for some time (with the exception of those who think Tokyo Verdy is a Harajuku clothing label and Shimizu S-Pulse a new sports coupe from Toyota; there is no substitution for ignorance). I think the A-League sides can be thankful that they were not drawn with Kashima Antlers, who domestically are making all other sides look pedestrian with their 15th win on the trot in Japan, no draws for these lads, and are doing a similar job in the ACL (their less than dynamic win over Beijing notwithstanding). The Japanese play a very patient game, which complements imported strikers (sadly there are a dearth of Japanese willing to pull the trigger, a problem that plagues the national side and one that frustrated the exceptionally talented Nakata and contributed to his early retirement). Gamba Osaka also have a very disciplined and fit midfield which defends very high up the park. Often the Victory midfield lost control of the ball before they had even worked it into the other half, and they seemed unsure as to how to deal with this scrutiny in the middle of the park. This is where the gulf in class showed. The J-League is a very good standard against which to measure ourselves, not least because the ACL affords us opportunities to cross swords and make real comparisons. The longer term aim of the A-League should be to work towards parity with the J-League; we have some way to go.
Kazama
Guest
I agree completely Jesse. As I said to someone I watched the match with, the gulf in class of play was quite obvious. Only defensive lapses from the Japanese gave Melbourne a chance of getting points. Go back to the Pan Pacific tournament. As I alluded to in a post to one of your SBS blogs, it is telling when our representative is killed by a team that gets beaten 6-0 in the final. It just shows in terms of club football how far the Japanese are ahead of us. If we had the infrastructure and cash that the Japanese had, we'd be well on our way to becoming a true power not only in Asia but in world football. Remember, they have started from nothing; less than what we had (i.e. football-mad migrants that have produced three generations of Socceroos). I also think Merrick is close to the sack. The look on his face after the match was that of a dead man. He might as well have said "That last goal killed me." Maybe that's why Kaz was smiling after the match; he might actually get in the starting XI if Merrick goes. Apparently some other team called Adelaide United is also playing in this competition. ;-) I'd love to see Philani in a Red shirt next season. As I said before, forget the European pensioners, guys like him will get bums on seats and win you matches.