Shortly after seeing his side to a woeful 4-0 defeat by Melbourne Victory, a frustrated Aurelio Vidmar was quick to lashed out at both club and city. He was just as quick to retract his comments, however, apologising to the club and the people of Adelaide, but all of this is unlikely to help Adelaide escape their downward spiral.
Vidmar attacked his home town, and berated the club, claiming Adelaide United is a club full of politics that “will never win anything until you get rid of that crap.”
On return to Adelaide, Vidmar, who was recently awarded with the Coach of the Year title for the current season, is likely to receive some stern words. He can expect to explain Adelaide’s 6-0 aggregate semi-final loss, as well as his post-game talks, which have whipped up a media storm and might attract a fine.
Although he formally apologised to everyone mentioned in his fierce verbal attack soon after the incident, declaring his love for his hometown and the club, it is likely to have further consequence on the team, and will probably show during their next training session.
Problems like these can cause conflict between players, and an already mentally beaten Adelaide United squad will not easily keep that off their minds over the next few days. The mind doesn’t accept retractions as easily as it does a harsh statement.
This is not helped by the Brazilian Cassio’s two flustered yellow cards that were followed by a rude gesture towards the Melbourne Victory crowd as he left the field.
Melbourne Victory has had a stranglehold over Adelaide United throughout the A-League regular season, beating the Reds in all of their six meetings. This has been credited to their ability to break down Adelaide’s mental barriers, stemming from the 2006-07 Grand Final where Adelaide lost to Melbourne 6-0.
It can also be attributed to Melbourne’s squad strength throughout the year, holding their own at both ends of the season, with what has been called by some an “A-League Dream Team.”
In reality, Adelaide had a healthy lead in the head-to-head statistics, until this season. They now trail by two games.
Adelaide United fans are now unable to blame the team’s lack of rhythm solely on Vidmar’s tactics, after seeing two consecutive matches where the Reds appear beaten from kick-off. It should not matter who they were facing in each game.
With the stigma of “choker” hanging over their heads, due to their inability to perform when it comes to a final, Adelaide United should be hoping to quickly pick themselves up and dust off the cobwebs, and look to their recent successes for inspiration.
After last year’s runs in the AFC Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup that had the whole nation behind them, Adelaide only need to look at the facts to see just how close they are to another chance at international success.
Next Saturday, they play an in-form and confident Queensland Roar in a home preliminary final to decide which team faces Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final. A win gives them automatic passage to the AFC Champions League for the 2010 season, and a rematch against Melbourne Victory.
It’s obvious that Aurelio will want to talk to his team as soon as the next training session, but will need to choose his words carefully. It will also require a rethink of tactics, to throw off those who consider them predictable.
Bringing in changes could lift a weary Adelaide squad and ease the pressure in their minds. It could also help the city of Adelaide sleep easier at night. Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina is sure to be sleeping easier, at least.
If Adelaide were to ever need a professional speech writer, now is the time.
jimbo
Guest
SJ, there are pissants getting into the Adelaide water supply.
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
I don't think you're including pre-season matches in your count, Tom. The first three games were a nil draw, and two 1-0 wins to Adelaide.
Tom
Guest
I think you might have your stats wrong on the head to head record between Adelaide and Melbourne, Ryan. Before this season Adelaide had won five, Melbourne four and three draws. Melbourne now have a head to lead of four games. As Adelaide won the first three times these teams met (1-0 each time), it becomes a pretty big gap over the last three seasons.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Just when we thought that nothing could be more entertaining to the Victory handing out another 6-0 shellacking (yes, it's official folks, that was a dead set shellacking, in comparison, Gamba's was a mere thumping)
Slippery Jim
Guest
Vidmar has topped Kossie for biggest post defeat press conference brain explosion. What are they putting in the water in Adelaide?
Dave
Guest
Das "In any case - KFC is quite popular in China. In fact in China people will dress up in formal clothes to go eat in McDonalds, KFC etc. It’s advertise as upmarket food there (as all western food is upmarket). So he can eat KFC and look prestigious at the same time" LOL Dont forget that KFC is a MV sponsor...surly that means something!!! Maybe we could add to his contract the 'KFC clause'! l'm trying to stay positive here Das...no more stories about Chinese clubs thanks :) BTW What are they doing watching HAL? Memo to KB Add one billion Chinese to the next set of HAL TV viewing figures when it comes up in discussion of the most popular code ;)
dasilva
Roar Guru
TWG also reports that Alajuelense are refusing to loan hernandez to MV next season. If MV are not going to match the transfer bid which is probably about 800k. Then there are two option. Him moving to china or him staying with alajuelense. If he is going to move to Melbourne Victory then he would probably have to reject the china bid. Stay in alajuelense and then move to MV in a free transfer after his contract has expired. How much faith do you have in Hernandez doing that? In any case - KFC is quite popular in China. In fact in China people will dress up in formal clothes to go eat in McDonalds, KFC etc. It's advertise as upmarket food there (as all western food is upmarket). So he can eat KFC and look prestigious at the same time.
Dave
Guest
Das My understanding is 'the Jackals' preference is KFC not Chinese ;) BTW How could he leave us? What player having just giuded MV to the 'Toilet Seat'would want to leave? Ok apart from Frrr...you know that Brazilian!
Dave
Guest
Jimbo Thanks How could he have slipped my mind!!! :)
dasilva
Roar Guru
Dave According the World Game One of the chinese clubs saw the match and are now wiling to pay the transfer fee and buy Hernandez from Alajuelense. It doesn't look good for MV in keeping him. unless they are willing to match the transfer fee from the chinese club and then convince Hernandez to stay in Melbourne for a cut price compared to what he will earn in china.
jimbo
Guest
Dave, Ferrante is it? :)
Dave
Guest
Jimbo The noises coming out of the MV hierarchy are that they wont be complacent but...if they play AU again in the final would be difficult not to be? l think the MV supporters would certainly lsee QR as being the better match up for MV and a better game...but QR will need to be at their best in Adelaide on Saturday night as you would expect AU to be fired up. And yes you are right the mood of the MV crowd was celebratory after the game, even had a wave go around the stadium in the last couple of minutes... :) BTW Hopefully MV find the money to keep 'The Jackal' because he is the difference between MV being good or excellent...dont think l've seen a better performance in HAL by a creative midfielder since that guy Frrr...something, jeez seem to have forgotten his name ;)
Michael C
Guest
das - well, don't take it too much to heart. I love Adelaide (and everything southbound to the Fleureau peninsula!!) - - but, yeah, I had a suspicion (even as a non soccer person) that Vidmar was a local boy (I couldn't be bothered googling his birth place!!) - - so, that's why I was interested. For me the main thing was that it's reflecting really poorly upon the Ade Utd club - - as, nothing seems to have changed since V2 GF and Kossie plus others going way too verbal after the match. Although, that time, it was more people than just the coach. The club just needs to close ranks and let this blow over - - not fan the flames (so to speak).
jimbo
Guest
Good one Dave, you MV supporters must be laughing, on a roll and flushed with more success. :) I don't think Roar are a done deal either to beat AU, They haven't beaten them all year (two draws, one loss) and the AU players will be riled up now to put in a big effort. The Roar have been known to choke too, Last season they played AU at Hindmarsh for the Premiership and failed badly. What an even bigger joke if after all this, AU go on to beat MV for the toilet seat.
dasilva
Roar Guru
MC You have to remember that Vidmar is from Adelaide. Born here, played for Adelaide City for many years. Inducted in hall of fame for Football South Australia If Vidmar was outside south australia that piss ant comment probably would have gotten him sacked but due to his strong links with Adelaide, success in the ACL, there will be elements of forgiveness From Advertiser website Should Aurelio Vidmar be sacked? Yes 20% (80 votes) No 79% (304 votes) Total votes Total of 384 votes Judging from comments people are supporting Vidmar to standing up to the politics from the club. I guess coaches and players are heroes but board members are not. Generally people will support Vidmar who is soccer legend in SA in taking on board memberrs. There is little bit of complaints about the piss-ant comment but it's doesn't seem to be significant. In all honesty- it's not uncommon for South Australian to share the inferiority complex that Vidmar displayed. Many people in Adelaide would agree with his statement of "pissant" town. Many people I've met has always referred to Adelaide as a big rural town, complain how small and boring and aspire to move interstate to a bigger and more interesting city like Melbourne or Sydney. I also read comments that say "I'm from adelaide and I agree with Vidmar that we are a piss-ant town".
Dave
Guest
Looks like Adelaide United will be taking out the 'pissant cup' for 2009 whilst Melbourne Victory will take out the 'toilet seat' !!!
jimbo
Guest
After conspicuously ignoring the A-League finals series, the press up here in the pissant town of Sydney have gone apeshit over Aurelio's outburst. Even Aunty ABC had a headline story about it and showed the juicy bits of the interview and even some shots of Kossie having a spray at the officials (that footage was over two years old). The pissant Sydney media seem to be slipping back into the sporting dark ages frame of mind that the only good news about “Soccer” is bad news about “Soccer”. After the FFA have done an excellent job to tone down the “Ethnic Soccer Hooligan Violence” hysteria and improve the image of the game, the A-League managers and officials are the ones shooting themselves in the foot and giving the pro-football, anti-soccer sharks a feeding frenzy. There is no excusing Vidmar’s, Van Egmond’s, Kosmina’s or Constantine’s behaviour. The players have been terrific and it’d be hard to dig up much dirt about them. It’s funny that the managers of the players, the ones who should be leading by example, are the ones giving out the negative media attention. Such a shame at this important stage of the season and Aurelio himself being nominated for a world-wide FIFA award as football manager of the year for his efforts in the ACL. He’s not going to be remembered for that now is he, in pissant towns right across our nation.
Michael C
Guest
da Silva- I know that Vidmar has apologised, but, his 'pissant' comment was really, really ordinary (and apologising after the event doesn't change that he said it and obviously thinks it - - but normally is too restrained to say it). Thing that get's me, him having a crack at Adelaide the city - - and that they'll never win anything........and straight away I'm thinking Crows, Power, 36r's........it's a little too easy sometimes to blame others. How has the comment gone down in Adelaide??? Is Vidmar going to be run out of town? or is forgiveness on the horizon? (btw - it reminds too much of the public explosions from Kossie et al after V2 GF).
Rusty0256
Guest
The only thing that makes sense to me is the late-season player purge by the club (no mention of Vidmar's views in the announcement) where a number of key senior players will be let go or transferred at the end of this season. I remember thinking at the time that this could not be good for team cohesion / solidarity with the team still with crucial league matches to play, not to mention the finals series. From Viddie's point of view, the players to be let go were still well and truly required to get the team the Premiership plate (failed) and get the Grand Final to Adelaide (miserably failed). If this is the case, and I am guessing Vidmar had little or nothing to do with those announcements, no wonder he was pissed! Could you imagine in your wildest dreams MV doing such a thing?
Joe FC
Guest
This does raise the issue of coaches attending post match press conferences and answering questions when emotions might be running high. We expect our coaches to be technically proficient in their particular sport and hopefully to also possess good player management skills. Dealing with the media is a world all of its own and most of us, not just football managers, would struggle with this job. The coach of the future may very well need to be the proverbial rocket scientist.