Soceroos captain Lucas Neill expresses bemusement – AAP Image/Julian Smith
Surely a little bit of a concern, isn’t it, that Pim Verbeek seems happy to allow Lucas Neill the luxury of not playing for a club between now and the beginning of next year?
This was his comment on the announcement of the Socceroos squad for the September 5 friendly against Korea Republic in Seoul: “’I will start to get worried when he is not playing his games in April and May. Then we have a problem. The situation is a little bit special. I am waiting like everyone else until he knows his final decision. He’s waiting for the right club to sign the right deal. People don’t know his motivations. They don’t know what he is thinking about.”
No, you’re right, Pimbo, we don’t know what he is thinking about, and can only speculate. But we’ve been assured it isn’t about money.
Said Neill’s agent Paddy Dominguez midweek: “He’s already declined some extremely lucrative contracts, so if he was financially motivated, he would have accepted one of those.”
Phew. And people were calling him greedy.
Money hungry or not, it still doesn’t change the fact Neill’s not doing anyone a favour except our opposition in South Africa sitting on the sidelines not playing when other teams are deep into their forward planning for the World Cup.
If anyone suggests otherwise, then why play friendlies at all?
All these experimental line-ups Verbeek is using might come to nought if they aren’t tested in combination, regularly, with our likely World Cup captain. And I don’t think there’s any question Neill is going to be in South Africa. So when’s the penny going to drop? Something has to give.
Personally I think Verbeek has given Neill way too much rope. Just like he did with Viduka (whom he has reportedly spoken to since June).
The soap operas of both players have been an unnecessary even damaging distraction and there is a good case to be made that Verbeek has erred by allowing both to carry on as long as they have.
Equally, though, we have to give Verbeek some credit and assume he is making decisions in line with what he sees as the best interests of the team.
One thing Verbeek is not is a fool. He’s very loyal to his players and is intolerant of criticism of them or his management of team issues. I’ve felt myself his wrath after some things I wrote about Nicky Carle and Richard Porta. We don’t meet for coffees any more.
But the guy is not infallible, and certainly in the case of Lucas Neill comments such as “I will start to get worried when he is not playing his games in April and May” really do give rise to questions of where loyalty ends and lack of objectivity begins.
No Socceroo should be allowed to think he can walk into the team any time he likes. It appears, however, that Neill could well take away that impression.
don
Guest
i actually think it might be... a league sucks man. about the article: i think pim's point was "hey, its not april or may right now. he will find a club. stop whining."
dasilva
Guest
Holman scores from a pretty decent volley for his club http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PznUh2el2XA Funny the other AZ player (Mounir El Hamdaoui) did a holmanish moment by stuffing up the shot before it went to holman who clinically finish it.
jimbo
Guest
Pimbo, is not playing at all for 6 months better than playing in the A-League?
Greg
Guest
I'm sure Fozzy would love to have his name mentioned in between Kenny's and Fitzi's!!
Realfootball
Guest
Pim does indeed have a sense of humour. He learned the words to Advance Australia Fair. More than I've ever done.
dasilva
Guest
I truly hope that SBS do show the AZ Alkmaar match in the UCL I'm seriously interested what on earth AZ Alkmaar see in him and what roles does he play. Is he just another harrasser just like what he plays for Australia or does he have a more attacking roles and score goals. His goal scoring record at club level is not too bad.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Now, now Boniek - don't undo all that good word (hatrick v Belgium, 1982)
Phutbol
Roar Rookie
I know it may be drawing a long bow to think Verbeek might have some semblence of a sense of humor, but do you think he might have been a little tongue in cheek when he made the comment about April/May? Horrible title for the piece by the way. if you wanted to make sure coffee time is a thing of the past, that will do it. The article's reasonably objective, the title? Not really.
Boniek
Guest
If Luca$h Neil is Pim's pet then Brett Holman must be Pim's gerbil
Millster
Guest
I see Carnage has just escaped hell.. ummm sorry cough I mean england.... and signed up for a Dutch club, surely that makes him a shoe-in for the captaincy...
Kazama
Roar Guru
I imagine SBS will be inundated will thousands of e-mails, faxes and phone calls from Roarers requesting to see their hero Holminho in action. So, who else is going to have Holman in their UCL fantasy teams? He'll be my captain.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I was trying to think who that was and scratching my head trying to remember if it was Wilkshires team... Then looked at TWG, leading article Holman excited about Champions League draw and I chuckled. You got me Ben Be interested too see how Wegner counters him.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Erm, let's not do that...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Maybe we should give the Captaincy to the only Australian playing UEFA Champions League football this year
Davos
Guest
I think Liverpool need Lucas or his ilk, very poor defence structure. Your comment is an overreaction, Neill is in a similar position as Schwazer when he went to Fulham, won't get a big club or wont go because no first team guarantee, yes wherever Neill chooses, he'll be first team player, that is a certain.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Posters say it is getting repetitive but to me this is important enough to warrant this attention from Jesse and others. Let's spell it out: the captain of our national team is currently jobless roughly 10 months out from the World Cup Finals. It's a massive concern, on the cusp of becoming a crisis. As captain, surely Neill can comprehend the fact that he has to set an example and perhaps take a hit in the hip pocket in order to do the best thing for his country. Being the captain does not entitle you play whenever the hell you want and expect a free pass into the team. In other words, it is a big responsibility to be captain, not a privilege. I disagree to the special treatment given to Viduka by Pim and now to Neill. No one, regardless of how talented or influential they are, should be above the team. No one is more important than the concept of the team, otherwise it ceases to be one.
Realfootball
Guest
Personally I think Craig Moore would be better choice as skipper. His commitment to the cause has always been first rate. I think part of Neill's appeal as captain is televisual - he's good looking, well spoken, and - for a footballer - unusually articulate. He's to the socceroos captaincy as Roger Moore was to James Bond. Maybe a bit Moore's mongrel would ground the team in reality right now.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Viduka is clearly gone. He wont be selected unless he played well for a club, that hasn't happened so he won't be selected. No need for the national coach to step in WWF style and say Viduka is finished, national legends should be able to announce their own international retirements.
Koala Bear
Guest
Jesse, you are right to have concerns as I also feel uncomfortable with the present player power that seems to be creeping into the Australian camp... Lucas and Viduka are playing a strange game as it seems to me... I think it demonstrates one thing, Pimbo is frighten of losing the dressing room... But to keep on with this insipid nonsense with “the door is always open” to the likes of Dukes and Lucas is having a negative effect on me... I am not sure if any of our Football family supporters will agree with that statement, however, it’s time for Pimbo to be more assertive and tell our two stars to get on with it or retire from the national team ... heaven forbid ... But the credibility of the Australian National Football Team is starting to look tarnished being a secondary concern with these two ... Time to get tough and tell them the door is going to be shut tight if they don’t show some intention to play football this year for who ever, or where ever, as their appetite for the game will wane and the National Football Team’s stocks will suffer because of it, and with all the hard work during the qualifiers, is going to be undone... ~~~~~~ KB
Realfootball
Guest
Agree some topical diversity would be good. The Neill saga has become very tedious.