Who told Australia’s football aficionados that Northern and Eastern Europeans know everything about football? Why do we make a virtue of ignoring the Latin way? The Latins play the game better than anybody else. Their supposedly flighty ways are not just easy on the eye. They know how to win.
My first lesson for Graham Arnold is this: he should have taken Johnny Warren’s advice and looked to South America for guidance.
For some reason we are suspicious of Latin football.
Forget that Brazil have won five World Cups, Italy four, Argentina and Uruguay two each. Forget that most of those tournaments have been played in searing summer heat, not unlike what the players experienced in China.
No, instead, concentrate on beep tests and physical fitness.
What made you think high energy European style football was going to work in high heat and tropical humidity? How would Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo have faired on a beep test?
Ronaldo, I’m guessing, drives his car down the drive to pick up the morning paper. Ronaldinho covers more distance on dance floors than football fields. Somewhat rotund perhaps, they nevertheless managed fifteen goals between them in a single World Cup!
News flash – being fit, dogged and determined is not enough. You need some balance.
Which leads to the second, closely related, lesson: football is more art than science. It always will be.
Even the Germans have worked that out.
Science plays it part, more so than ever before, no argument there. However, it does not and never will, completely dominate this game. Every team needs its artists. The artist provides the balance and supplies the fine, decisive brush strokes after the artisans have primed the canvas.
Forget the controversy about Bruce Djite’s omission, how on earth did Arnold determine that Nathan Burns wasn’t worth a ticket to China?
How could you think Nikita Rukavytsya a superior option?
Burns is the best young player in Australia. His second season was tough. He was a marked man and lost a little confidence. But he’s got so much talent he doesn’t know where to put it. He could have scored or made a few goals for us in China.
Dropping Burns was ludicrous.
He is exactly the type of player you need for the tournament format. He’s the indispensable maverick. The tie-breaker. The man who can change a game with one sublime touch, weaving run or curling cross. The man you can call on with twenty minutes to unleash on a tiring defence.
He’s Leonardo or Michelangelo or Raphael. The fine brush stroke man.
How could you make this mistake?
The history of the World Cup tells us that these so-called luxury players are a necessity. The lazy, physically imperfect wizards have weaved their magic for decades, mocking the proponents of a purely scientific approach. Italy’s Robbie Baggio, Croatia’s Robert Prosinecki and Zvnonimir Boban, Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov, England’s John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne, Cameroon’s Roger Milla, Romania’s Gheorge Hagi.
C’mon Graham!
What were you smoking when you made the decision to omit Burns? The Germans, make no mistake, would have picked Burns.
The only rational explanation is that they were both punished for their decision to desert the A-League, which I sincerely hope is not true.
The third lesson is the most important: the ethos of Australian teams is to have a go. To try to win.
What the hell were we doing against Argentina?
I understand that all out attack would have been suicidal. But what was that?
I will be honest, after seventy minutes I started supporting Argentina. I would have been embarrassed if we had held on for a draw, mortified if we had nicked a winner.
I don’t think Topor-Stanley and North made it out of our box.
There were two teams on the field. Unfortunately, only one was playing football. How apt that the Argentines’ winning goal, a gem of a creation, should be created by three artists – Messi, Riquelme and Lavezzi.
Three men guaranteed not to excel in a beep test.
Lavezzi supplied a clinical finish and it spoke eloquently for the history of football: elegant, powerful, technically sublime and decisive.
It arrowed into the net like a dart. A fatal blow.
Australian football will prosper and thrive. Graham Arnold’s coaching career will not.
leonard
Guest
Right on brother. Arnold has set back Aussie football significantly. U23s are a perfect opportunity to trial our up and coming talent. So many non selections will harm Aussie football including talents such as Nick Ward, Nuremburgs Vidosic (who may switch to Croatia due to non selection), Burns, Djite, Robbie Kruse, etc. You could select 6 or 7 attacking players who had to go to China and who are going to be in or on the fringe of our next world cup squad. Disappointing!!!! Modern football is moving towards technical excellence as we can see in the success of Spain at Euro and Argentina at Junior and Olympic levels, (they should have won Germany 06), It gives you so many more options and a genuine chance of challenging opposition. Its not that we didnt finish opportunities as suggested by Graham Arnold but we didnt create many genuine opportunities. Arnold bloody stay in China and ruin their football teams, Christ!!!!!! Disapointed Aussie fan here !!
dasilva
Guest
I don't think anyone has failed to praise the importants of small sided games and the youth league. Name me any football person who hasn't wrote how great it is. The entire football community were full of praise for the FFA coaching conference.. Everyone loves the professionalism, the marketing and the crowds of the A-league. THe only thing that is criticise is the style of football being played. I think the compliments for FFA and the A-league from the football media has outweigh the criticism. I sometimes think it is a case of pigeon hole people as negative and then ignore anything positive a person says. In any case, despite the criticism do we see FFA and A-league imploding. Do we see A-league in the verge of collapse. Football is here to stay and it will still be strong despite a few criticism.
Koala Bear
Guest
Sorry Lads forgot to tick the Box.. ;) ~~~~~~~ KB
Koala Bear
Guest
Midfielder, I love your argument and I'm in total agreement with you. Some need to realise we have only had 3 and a bit years of FULL TIME PROFESSIONALISM .. Remember we have come from part timers, to full timers, in such a short existence .. It will need a lot more time and patience, before we can compare HAL with the top European leagues .. Time is on our side now; we just need to continue to develop at our current rate and pace. In the end we will have a league we can all be proud of.. ~~~~~~~ KB
The Bear
Roar Pro
Midfielder, There is saying that it's shit, and there's "hearing" that it's shit. I would challenge that no one in the Aussie sports media, who REALLY cares about the HAL, has ever said it's "shit". Now, if other codes want to pick and choose quotes (Pim's re: HAL and European training standards) and write a bitchy, snipey article in the toilet journals and columns of our fair country, then what harm are they *really* doing. Misery loves company, and despite their pissing in the wind, this game (and domestic competition) will surely overcome their trivial "shit flinging". Melbourne copes with such AFL infestation! Let the cream rise to the top, it doesn't need protecting. It only needs to be given a chance...and it has. And it is coming along very well. Graciously, The Bear
Midfielder
Guest
Bear Not sure ............ my point is simple the lack of style and lack of positive reporting by some sections of a very small football media is OK but needs to be balanced with obversations about what is achievable, and what is being done to improve things. Talk down the Football often enough and many will not come. Talk football up but with an honest assessment of where its at this point in time more important. Your point about to forgiving eyes misses my point ............ reporting does not need to be Sun Shine lolly pops and sugar coated lemon drops" ........ but it needs balance and your comment about honesty is very true but which truth and what level. Hal is not a well established league and we have so few football people in the eloctronic media that often a single persons view becomes the only view ......... I am after balance and positives ............. keep saying its shit and people will stop coming and it will never improve as there will be no money and no media. The media also needs to get skilled IMO just as much as the players and coaches.
The Bear
Roar Pro
Australia is no stanger to parenting a domestic competition. The HAL should be reasonably comfortable to grow up, knowing that certain scrapes and bumps have been encountered and dealt with before. The increase in FFA's awareness to make quality refereeing a priority, reflects this. The child will develop well, naturally, it's the parents that need constant feedback. FFA, Clubs, Coaches, certain players and some extreme sections of Supporter activities that need a firm, yet loving hand. However, these are all adults. Don't treat them with the overly forgiving eyes of an infant. These are toddlers, at the very least and as such, treated with firmness and honesty. Otherwise we shall have a teenager to deal with, before we all know it. Imagine Graham Arnold with a sneer and a mohawk, Mike Cockerill with a Barbituate problem, Joel Griffiths giving a linesman a brazillian and hordes of Queensland Roar Supporters ...just ... standing . . there. Graciously, The Bear
Midfielder
Guest
Bear GA is a dope and the sooner he is gone the better it was where the thread headed and this constant SA will solve all. So many players in the Olympic squad should not have been there and even those choosen in the team with player in the squad were wrong. If it was not so sad it would be funny.
Slippery Jim
Guest
Midfielder, great baby analogy, very true...
The Bear
Roar Pro
Midfielder, How could playing (a very green) Rukyaviska instead of Nathan Burns be met with anything other than derision from the media and followers of the olympic campaign? There's tact, then there is cronyism, in my honest opinion. Let's call a Datsun a Datsun. Put it in perspective, your first car is not always your last. The opinion piece is calling for accountability, and GA and the FFA still are very quiet on the Olympic flop. Graciously, The Bear
Midfielder
Guest
Bloggers I think Vicentin & Dasilva we are very close in what we wish as outcomes. My problem is the expectation of what the A-League can offer. IMO each year the standard of the A-League has got better ........... further the A-League teams are far better than previous NSL teams. Is everybody trying to improve yes, are the skills of football being focused on at most levels of the game yes, more so than at any other time in Australia football history yes. Plus a youth league has bet set up for the BENFIT OF COACHES & PLAYERS, we have started a U 14 international squad, Robert Bann has set up a national training system. All coaches last year aside from Kossie spent many weeks training overseas with big clubs in Europe and SA to improve their skills. The Mariners & Roar have brought SA advisers to assist with their coaching methods in Australia. So what more do football people want, you cannot create a silk purse out of sows ear overnight, but at least acknowledge the HUGE efforts to improve our skill levels being undertaken. This within very small budgets and from a very low base. BTW on the A-League coaches needing to put style ahead of results with Asian places up for grabs ........... the boards want results ........... but that is the same as most leagues. Keep talking the game down it really helps ........... let me explain in a rugby league game a player comes in off his wing and allows a try to be scored. RL broadcaster "his coach will be unhappy about the way held marked up, in fact the defensive line was caught out by not numbering up player on player something they will have to work on this week at training......... Same play with some football broadcasters .......... skill level was not there coached poorly you wonder if coaches will ever learn the South American sliding defence and how to number up. FFS start to talk the game up and remember if you have a Datsun pulling a caravan up a hill it takes time and look at how improve the skills ............ dare I say compare the middle J & K league teams with the A-League teams and our football is not that bad. Finally remember (A-League) we are talking of a baby needing help not a mature adult who needs a kick up the arse
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Actually the Charlie Miller goal was very nice - the build-up, the neat flick, Miller's first touch and the accurate finish on his left with someone a step away from blocking off the shot. There's no doubting that experience and knowledge takes you a long way every time (although that's a slightly different topic to the discussion at hand). Mind you, Miller was absolutely puffing by around the 80th, and in a game that goes for only 90 minutes on a pitch that is barely 100 metres long, you should be running at the 90th as hard as you were running in the first - no excuses. This may have been a factor in the Roar failing to nail what should have been a certain victory.
Vicentin
Guest
dasilva, I agree with your comments on player selection ...but the problem with that is that we do not pick or play our most technically gifted players. To be technically gifted in the future we need to play our most technically gifted players now.... The innate conservatism of most of A-League managers is compounded by the fact that the league has so few teams and so few games. Managers are afraid to fall into a bad spell (all are I guess) because even two consecutive losses could be fatal for chances for the season as they realise there really aren't enough games to allow you to catch up. The defensive pattern is set and it seems hard to break. anyway I just wish to point out/stress that I want and expect all footballers to be fit. It is the emphasis on the fittest and strongest over the more skillful and intelligent that concerns me. In a really tight game I think the latter will do your causes more good than the former. Note I'm talking about small margins here lest some of you are imagining guys wandering around the pitch with a pie in one hand and a beer in the other - Charlie Miller scored on the weekend though. That was a lovely build-up move by the way.
dasilva
Guest
Agree with MIdfielder about Nick Carle. His biggest weakness is not work ethics or defending. His weakness is his creative passsing and the ability to do through balls and defence splitting passes at the highest levels. HE hasn't don't it for Bristol City yet and thats why he is being off loaded to Crystal palace as they have abundance of defensive midfielders in their squad. I disagree about one aspect, very easy to say be patient, i n time we will develop more technical players and don't have to bang on about it as we will achieve it in the future. If we had the mentality of progress and change then I will agree with you but the problem with that is that we do not pick or play our most technically gifted players. To be technically gifted in the future we need to play our most technically gifted players now. That's why there is continued criticism of the A-league as coaches don't do that as there philosophy is different. I support continue criticism when people like Burns, Djite are not picked and people like patafta are not played and people like spiranovich are considered not good enough for A-league. Its shows our mentality are still not progressive and stuck in the old days. If we make and effort to pick the best technical players now then the constant criticism should stop but that hasn't happen yet.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I never like these either/or discussions, and Midfielder makes a very good point re Dukes and Kool (maybe you can throw Zelic in there as well, but it drops away fairly quickly). Some observations: 1. There are half a dozen or so different types of positions on the field, and they require a variety of attributes. 2. For anyone to suggest that Latins don't have a physical presence on the field is bizarre. SJ mistakenly refers to C Ronaldo, but actually he is a very good example - he is as good an athlete as you will find in any team sport and he is physically strong to boot. We all know about his skills on the ball, but equally, when he zeroes in on a ball crossed into the box, not even Materazzi is going to stop him from getting his head to it. 3. I'm with Midfielder - let's look for inspiration from a variety of sources. 4. If it is at all possible to get an edge on the opposition in terms of fitness levels - why wouldn't you consider that?
jimbo
Guest
Its OK to make mistakes, we're all human. Its the next stage that sets people apart - learning from your mistakes and doing better next time. This could be the kick up the backside that Arnie needs to become a truly international football manager. Don't hang around sulking as the assistant assistant Socceroos manager, go out into the world and take up one of those European coaching jobs, learn some more of your trade and come back in a few years to take the Socceroos to their first WC win. That's the spirit Arnie!
Midfielder
Guest
Dave Have to agree with SJ but take it a stage further, ............... hrrrrrrrrr ........... OK here I go. Many football people in Australia have been caught up in a Zen like desire by some in the media to create something out of nothing. To explain outside Harry & Mark, tell me what Australian player ever has had the skills you talk of. Our players simply do not have the skill you want, nothing can change that. As for Nickie good as he is and perhaps our best with his feet, but he is hardly in the class people say he is, otherwise as many have said he would be playing in Spain or Italy not struggling to get on the park in an English second division team. We have set up a youth league, changed the way juniors are trained. Trying to improve coaches at park level. This will take time but it will produce the results. What I find so funny is the very people in the media who constantly go on about the lack of technical skills of players and coaches...... have so few technical skills in the media industry. Here is the rub IMO, the very people in the media who constantly talk of this lack of technical skill rarely admit that every single person in football knows it and is working to improve it, or how they as a media person could help the game. Crawford and Frank Lowy’s management of football post Crawford, has created a revolution, and taken the basket case of the NSL, to arguably a media deal larger than the NRL next time, established the A-League as a major league in Australia. But like all revolutions some people can not hold back and demand what is actually not in football interest because it works in South America. To these people I plead that football is still in a tenuous position relative to the AFL & NRL. Further that the football media needs to be supportive of football rather than constantly talk of its short coming in ONE ASPECT OF THE ASUTRALIAN GAME. IMO we do not need to go SA we as we DO need to draw on all systems but more importantly we need to look for the positives as remember football in the electronic media has few friends. I cannot name one radio broadcaster who is football first I cannot name one radio sports broadcaster who comes from a football background. On the FTA TV commercial stations I cannot name a single person with a football background. In the printed media we are getting reasonable and improved coverage. So SBS and its huge rating on Sunday afternoon will give the A-League perhaps 10 maybe even 15 minutes with let’s look at where technically we are deficient this week taking up about a third to a half of the time. Dave .......... don’t get sucked in I love the SA style but there is much more to the SA game than style they are also super fit and have genuine speed. But guys the crowds are down yes shit weather Olympics I know. BUT FOOTBALL is still in infancy stages of development with other codes having many aces in media people / history / money. So start to lay off and look at what is being done rather than try to create something that is simply not possible. It could still all fall over and if it does it will be 30 years before any serious attempt is made to set it up again we still have to last and grow over the next five years. AND yes skill levels will increase because every F.........ing person in the country is working towards it. Rant over ............ just had to get it off my chest !!!!!!!!!
Slippery Jim
Guest
vicentin, actually the context shows you're right - in that case I take it all back - top players need only lounge in the spa to become truly great ;)
stama
Guest
great article. I believe it is not how quick you are but how quick you play. How quickly your mind works when recieving the ball. Amaral from Perth is great example. He is 35 years old supposedly a holding midfielder which in Australia means the guy that does all the running and the guy that kicks the oppositions best player. The best football players are the ones that are fast and have endurance but that sport is called AFL.
dasilva
Guest
Remember they had to deal with hatchet mans during an era where there was little protection from referees. THere was a match in the world cup 1982 where Maradona finish the match with his socks were soaked in blood.