A football coach with the name of Ferguson benches a player because he has decided to play a different system, and feels said player is jaded. The player refuses to sit on the bench.
I can’t help thinking that if the coach’s name was ALEX Ferguson there would only be one outcome – the player would be shown the door, perhaps with a hair dryer sticking out of their ear.
No player is as big as the team, even when that team is Manchester United. (See Beckham, Van Nistlerooy, Staam)
But in this case, the coach’s name is Iain Ferguson, the team is North Queensland Fury and because the player he is dealing with is known in some circles as God, but is announced as Robbie Fowler, somehow, it’s the coach who’s wrong?
What’s happening here?
Fox Sports pundits Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater denigrated Ferguson and thought Fowler was right to refuse to take his place in the Fury squad for their match last weekend against the Brisbane Roar.
Bosnich has played under that other Ferguson so maybe that experience has soured him. How on earth can Robbie Fowler’s actions have been judged to be right?
Wasn’t Iain Ferguson doing what most coaches/managers throughout the world do and rotating his squad to suit the circumstances as he saw them?
Perhaps we should give more credit to a player like John Aloisi, who to the best of my knowledge has never refused to sit on the bench, regardless of his so-called “marquee” status.
Bosnich suggested that a player of Fowler’s status should never be asked to sit on the bench. Do I need to even bother listing the names of players who have done this in European leagues in the last month alone?
It was evident from Ferguson’s post-match comments that it was his intention to start the game against Brisbane with a lone srtiker. Evidently, he didn’t think the role suited Fowler.
Whether he was right or wrong on that point is conjecture.
What we will never know was whether the plan he had in mind could have worked, and because of that he simply cannot be judged on it. The only person who can be judged is Robbie Fowler, who decided last weekend that he was bigger than the game.
DaveC
Guest
What their past performance was is irrelevant. If in the opinion of the coach, who is employed to make those decisions, the player is not fit, not suitable for the role envisaged, injured or whatever then they don't play or occupy the bench at the coaches discretion. Why should one class of players be exempt from these pragmatic decisions because of past glories? Fowler can always apply for the coaches job if he is up to it. Fowler should have done as he was asked and if he's too big for that then maybe he needs to be elsewhere.
Tommy Smith
Roar Rookie
Towser I agree that sensible recruitment from smaller leagues is more effective than throwing cash at fossils (best example is the perennial underperforming aloisi amongst a host of other flops, elrich at wellington, etc.) but the question is, did an untried manager have the right to embarress a player whose wage packet and achievements - including many performances this year - warrants much greater respect. As you say towser, this is an imbalance that undermines the league at the moment. Mick, i dont dislike the NQ - to avoid the spoon in their first year is a good acheivement. but ferguson is a plodding tracksuit manager who has assembled a squad of Sydney and adelaide rejects, and relatively, Fowler deserves better. Ferguson (or Postecoglou) might be short term winners but these issues will certainly erode unity in the dressing room, and it will be these kinds of merry go round gaffers who get punted if they lose the trust of the players.
Realfootball
Guest
Ferguson has done a first class job with a limited budget and squad this season, playing some very good football along the way. He deserves respect. By any professional football standard, Fowler's behaviour was inexcusable. Personally, I think that there was a lot of sense in using him as an impact player off the bench in the heat against a tiring Brisbane side. I agree with those who maintain that this was the sign of a deep rift between player and coach, not just the result of one selection decision.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Imagine if the players got to choose where they played and if they started the game or not - how many players would be sitting on the bench at the start of the game? Imagine Ufuk Talay saying he's not playing because he didn't get to play on the right side of midfield in an attacking position just behind Fowler. The manager has to be in control or you don't have a team.
Joe FC
Guest
One might also add Roger that the HAL is not the EPL and there is no “marquee player” concept in the UK. Principles are applied to facts marinator and apaway and the facts are not the same.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Brisbane Roar - Postecoglou v Moore. Winner - the gaffer. Nuff said. Unless Ferguson has shown himself to be incompetent (which he hasn't) or Fowler wronged (ditto), boss man wins.
MV Dave
Guest
For the whole situation to have come to a head in this manner indicates only one thing...the relationship between Manager and Star player was poor/non existant/deteriorating. That the Manager and Star player had not spoken of such a scenario prior to the evening of the game would indicate their relationship had become non existant and un workable. Fowler has years of experience at the highest level, as has Ferguson. Why wouldn't Ferguson be using Fowler to bounce ideas off, get his opinion etc? The truth is this situation indicates a complete breakdown between star and player and that this breakdown in communication (and no doubt respect) had been occuring over a considerable period of time. The owner has a decision to make at the end of the season...Fowler or Ferguson.
Towser
Guest
Tommy Smith Thats the whole point isnt it. Treating the players with the respect they deserve. That respect relates to how you perform as a player here & now. In Fergusons opinion(& its his job on the line if he doesnt produce) Robbie was not performing like a great. So the coach has every right to bench him. Normally its never a public issue. The player may be simmering & eventually leave in traditional clubs,but he will sit on the bench. But the A-League is a developing league. Doesnt mean though that it shouldnt be treated with respect & adhere to the same principles as the EPL in regard to coach player relations. As I wrote in another article in the Roar it raises a chink in the 'Marquee player "armour. That the past glories of these former Gods can be used to overide normal coach player dynamics. So even former players like Slater & Bosnich can overlook the normal coach player relationship & favour the player. The player himself automatically puts himself above the coach & sits in the stands. The reality is both points of view have a point. So is it worth it(a marquee player)? If the manager had been Sir Alex at NQF we wouldnt be talking about this. If the club was Man U & had an inexperienced manager the same. Is it better to bring in players like Angulo & Hernandez at MV from countries like Costa Rica than an ageing former superstar. Less potential coach/player relationship problems & if they dont deliver, on the bench with them. After all thats what football(or any professional sport) is about expectation by the fans & deliverance by the individual players& team. The expectation was that Robbie Fowler would keep delivering goals,he hasnt. The expectation was that Angulo would deliver. He did. That through ball to Archie was magnificent. He wont complain if Ernie puts him on the bench though next match.
Mick
Guest
Smith: just another Fury basher. Give them a break, they are a new team whose doing it tough. Have a little faith.
Tommy Smith
Roar Rookie
Apaway, the answer is in the question - ian ferguson is not alex ferguson. the reason slater and bosnich backed fowler was because his stature in the a-league affords him more respect than he was shown. as a manager, ferguson has not earned such respect. Rooney, Giggs and Owen sit on the bench for a large squad of world class players competing in a 38 game league season, two cup campaigns and continental football, under the most prolific manager in English history. Fowler sits on the bench for an a-league side running second last full of sydney fc rejects amidst only a 27 game season for an untried manager. if the a-league wants to continue attracting top notch players it would help if no name managers pulled their finger out and treated greats of the game with the regard they deserve.
apaway
Roar Guru
True Roger, but they are both the bosses of their respective clubs. If it's good enough for Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs or Michael Owen to warm the bench next to Sir Alex, it's good enough for Robbie Fowler to do so next to Iain.
marinator4LYF
Guest
no its not MAN U but the principle is the same, its a football club that chose the manager to MANAGE the squad not Fowler, Ferguson gets paid to MANAGE and Fowler to PLAY
Roger Rational
Guest
Newsflash - Ian Ferguson isn't Alex Ferguson and the North Queensland Fury isn't Manchester United.
Mick
Guest
Well said apaway. About time someone stood up to the Fury naysayers. I'm sick of southern media knocking the Fury every chance they get. No player is bigger than the club.